Upcoming 2025 Events
Thanksgiving Day Bowing Service: 108 Bows of Repentance, Refuge, and Gratitude
In-person and on Zoom
Thursday, Nov. 27, 8:30 - 9:30 am
With Sosan Flynn
This program is offered freely, but participants may register with a donation if desired.
Join us on Thanksgiving morning for our annual Day of Gratitude Bowing Service. Sosan Flynn will lead us in 108 bows of repentance, refuge and gratitude. We welcome people of all abilities to bow in whatever way they can fully express this wonderful practice. The bowing service is a great way to begin your holiday. We hope to see you either in-person at the zendo or on Zoom.
Zoom information:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81771214765?pwd=JMbWEHcAjHgax4H16jteH6dlMO6PO5.1
Meeting ID: 817 7121 4765
Passcode: 687356
Refuge and Precepts Ceremony
Hybrid In-person and Zoom
Class: Thursday, Sept. 25, 6:30 - 9 pm.
Ceremony: Sunday, Sept. 28, 9 - 10:30 am.
With Sosan, MyoOn, Myoshin, Koji and Taizan
The Refuge and Precepts Ceremony is a public confirmation for entering the life of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. If you feel drawn to Buddhist practice, this ceremony can support you on your path. In the class, you'll learn about the three refuges, the three pure precepts, and the ten essential precepts. At the public ceremony, you will receive a certificate commemorating your participation.
Anyone is eligible to participate in the Refuge and Precept ceremony - whether you are new to practice, or have been around for a while and want to go deeper. You may also participate if you have received jukai in the past and want to renew your vows.
The Refuge and Precepts Ceremony is a more simplified version of the Jukai Ceremony, which consists of a year of practice and study, sewing of a rakusu (small Buddhist rob), and receiving a Buddhist name. If you may be interested in Jukai at some point in the future, let us know.
By donation.
Please register if you wish to join the class.
Rohatsu Community Ceremony
Hybrid In-person and Zoom
Sunday, Dec. 7, 9 - 10:30 am
Join us as we celebrate the day Buddha’s Enlightenment together! We'll have meditation as usual, followed by a brief dharma talk, and then we'll have an exuberant ceremony that concludes with tossing flower petals. All are welcome, no registration necessary. (Zoom attendees: use Sunday morning link).
Annual Meeting
Hybrid In-person and Zoom
Sunday, Oct. 5, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
With the Board of Directors and Staff
Join us for snacks, door prizes and a gentle deep-dive into what makes Clouds in Water tick. You’ll hear an overview of what we accomplished in FY24-25, and what we’re looking forward to in FY25-26. We’ll share reflections and appreciations, a breakdown of the budget, and more.
It’s a wonderful opportunity to get to know the sangha better, too!
Priest Ordination Ceremony
Hybrid In-person and Zoom
Saturday, Nov. 1, 7 pm
Juken Zach Fehst and Sokyo Chee Xiong
Sosan Flynn, Officiant
All are invited to this auspicious occasion!
In the Soto Zen tradition, when practitioners ordain as priests, they vow to commit themselves forever to the service of others. While traditionally practitioners left their homes to study and practice the Buddhist path, most practitioners in this country do not actually leave their families, occupation, or residence. Instead, they leave the "home" of greed, anger, and ignorance and vow to live a life devoted to freeing all beings from suffering.
Priest Ordination marks the beginning of priest practice. Additional ceremonies of Shuso (head monk) and Dharma Transmission (end of formal training) may follow as a priest continues on the path, formally working with their teacher and the sangha/community.
The priest ordination ceremony includes homage and dedication to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha; a ritual shaving of the head or cutting the hair of the ordainees to represent relinquishing attachments; and the ordainees receiving priest robes, bowls, a "way name," new lineage papers; and the ordainees renewing their commitment to the Buddhist precepts.
Juken and Sokyo have been studying with Sosan for the past several years, sewing priest garments, and deeply entering into Zen practice. Please support their journey with your attendance.
Ringing in the New Year
In-person only
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8 pm - Midnight
With Sosan and Koji
This program is offered freely, but participants may register with a donation if desired.
A fun alternative New Year's Eve celebration. Sosan, Koji, and others will lead us as we reflect on the past year, release what's unwanted, and ring in the new. The evening will include an outdoor fire ceremony, delicious soba noodles (prepared by Koji), and meditation to the sound of bells.
Schedule:
8 - 8:30 pm Zazen
8:30 - 9:15 pm Personal Reflection: Writing & releasing the old year
9:15 - 9:45 pm Fire Ceremony (burning unwanted habits & karma)
9:45 - 10:15 pm Snack Break
10:20 - 10:50 pm Zazen
10:50 - 11 pm Kinhin
11 pm - 12 am Open Zazen with 108 bells
11:07 Bells begin and ring every 30 seconds.
12:00 am Two final rings to indicate the new year