Hanamatsuri is our annual commemoration of Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth. The name literally means festival of the flowers. We mark the occasion by creating an altar of fresh flowers and holding a special service. Born in a grove of … [Read more...] about Hanamatsuri
Chanting Services
If you'd like to include chants in your home practice, scroll down to find links to our complete chant book and Zendo recordings of several of the seminal chants in Zen. Services introduce the aspect of ritual into our practice. … [Read more...] about Chanting Services
Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo
The Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo is a dharani, an exhortation designed to produce specific energy though the articulation of sound. The Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo, or the Ten-Phrase Life Prolonging Kannon, evokes the compassionate and eternal nature … [Read more...] about Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo
Identity of Relative and Absolute
The Identity of Relative and Absolute is a poem about the enlightened mind written by our Dharma ancestor Shitou (Jap: Sekito Kisen) in the 8th century and chanted in our services. For the words to this chant, see the Hazy Moon Chant Book. … [Read more...] about Identity of Relative and Absolute
Maha Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra
The most commonly chanted sutra in Mahayana Buddhism, the Heart Sutra expounds the core, or heart, of the Buddha's teaching. For the words to this chant, see the Hazy Moon Chant Book. … [Read more...] about Maha Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra
The Light of a New Year
Under the bright shine of a supermoon, the Hazy Moon Sangha marked its 20th consecutive New Year's Eve ceremony. Concluding the annual Year-End Sesshin, participants dedicated the merit of their practice through all space and time by … [Read more...] about The Light of a New Year
Vickie Reiju Cumberland’s Jukai
When Vickie Cumberland attended her first formal Zen retreat five years ago, she drove eight hours from Kansas City to Cincinnati to sit with a fledging group that would later become the Dewdrop Sangha, an affiliate of the Hazy Moon. Since … [Read more...] about Vickie Reiju Cumberland’s Jukai
Parinirvana Day
Parinirvana Day commemorates the death of Shakyamuni Buddha and his entry into Nirvana. At the age of 80, after 45 years of teaching following his enlightenment, the Buddha fell ill. His cousin and attendant, Ananda, became disturbed. … [Read more...] about Parinirvana Day
Nate Kojun Hayes’s Jukai
After practicing with Maezen Sensei at retreats around the country, Nate Hayes returned to the Hazy Moon from his home in Athens, Ohio, for his Jukai, receiving the Bodhisattva Precepts and the dharma name Kojun, which means "genuine … [Read more...] about Nate Kojun Hayes’s Jukai
Fusatsu
Fusatsu, our service of atonement, is one of the most beautiful and profound ceremonies in the Zen tradition. We perform it monthly, usually around the time of the full moon. In doing Fusatsu, we acknowledge the truth of suffering caused by … [Read more...] about Fusatsu
The Language of Zen
At the Hazy Moon, we use many Zen terms carried forward from ancient monastic practice. Here is a glossary of words and phrases that you may encounter when you practice in a Zendo. Explanations of other Zen ceremonies and activities are … [Read more...] about The Language of Zen
Lurleen Honshin Benzian’s Jukai
After several years of practice at the Hazy Moon, Lurleen Benzian took the Buddha precepts and received Jukai from Nyogen Roshi on October 7 with sangha and family members in attendance. She received the Dharma name, Honshin, which means … [Read more...] about Lurleen Honshin Benzian’s Jukai
