Buddha's Birthday 2018

April 21, 2018 No Barriers Zen - 無関寺 - Mukanji

Image description: A composite image of four pictures; a group shot of 8 NBZ Sangha members posing with one hand pointed up and one hand pointed down, they are a variety of gender expressions, races, ages and abilities. A picture of pink and wh… — Image description: A composite image of four pictures; a group shot of 8 NBZ Sangha members posing with one hand pointed up and one hand pointed down, they are a variety of gender expressions, races, ages and abilities. A picture of pink and white flowers closer up, a picture of NBZ's statue of Monju Bosatsu holding a daisy. A picture of the Hana Mido, with pink water and a bamboo dipper. Overlaid over the composite image, "Buddha's Birthday! 2018 Hana Matsuri @Gallaudet" surrounded by flowers.

We had a wonderful and joyous Hana Matsuri celebration for Buddha's Birthday on April 21st. The sangha came together for meditation, a potluck meal, and chanting and flower scattering, and cake, so much cake!

Oshin's Hoshi gave the customary talk on Shakyamuni Buddha's birth and life, where he asked us to sit with, "What is born this moment? And this one?" The talk ended with Ōshin challenging us to consider the historical first words of the Buddha, "On heaven and earth I alone am the world honored one" and how that relates to Buddha's words under the Bodhi tree, "I and all beings simultaneously achieve the way." What more can be said?

“天上天下唯我独尊”

While we chanted, visiting priest Rev. Colleen Jirin Shaughnessy scattered flowers over us, each one of us re-born and so fresh and alive!

Happy spring to all!

Oshin Jennings named Dharma Holder

August 23, 2016 No Barriers Zen - 無関寺 - Mukanji

Oshin smiling, wearing a brown rakusu, standing in front of a large rock.

Rev. Oshin Jennings has been named a Dharma Holder by his teacher Enkyo O'Hara Roshi!
While away on summer retreat Oshin and his Dharma brother, Tokuyu, were named Hoshi, or assistant teachers in the White Plum lineage. They were given brown rakusu in a private ceremony on August 14th, and look forward to serving in their new role. This is exciting news for the No Barriers Zen community and for the future of accessible Buddhism. 9 bows!

New ASL Dictionary Entries

March 26, 2016 No Barriers Zen - 無関寺 - Mukanji

We just uploaded our first 6 entries into our ASL Buddhist Dictionary here on the website! The site is starting to really come together, and front and center is this great new educational page; our dictionary! Our hope for this dictionary is that it helps to create a culture of education and access. With study and communication being two of our Five Expressions, it is vitally important to continually foster the study of our languages. Our communication, or how we express the Dharma in our lives, and how we connect with each other while doing it, is an important piece of our spirituality!

Added to this new dictionary are ASL signs for: "Buddhism", "Buddhist", "Nirvana", and three sign variations for "Buddha". With many more signs to come in the near future. If you have questions about these signs, or you would like to offer feedback, please contact us.

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