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Rohatsu Ceremony: Awakening the Buddha Mind
Join us for a ceremony commemorating the awakening of Shakyamuni Buddha (Jodo-e, or realization of the way)!
Following many years of difficult ascetic practice, Shakyamuni sat in zazen beneath the Bodhi tree. At dawn on December 8th, Shakyamuni saw the morning star and realizing awakening, he then became Shakyamuni Buddha. He was no longer an ordinary, common person and instead had achieved the brilliance by which to free all of humankind.
In the Soto Zen School, we call this day Jodo-e and perform a ceremony as a gesture of our gratitude to Shakyamuni Buddha.
We will sit together on December 7th from 6:00 pm to 1:30 am on the morning of the 8th.
The schedule will consist of zazen, kinhin, teisho, and dokusan followed by two ceremonies: Jodo-e Kenshuku (Porridge Offering Ceremony after Rohatsu Sesshin) and Rohatsu Shosan (Dharma Combat with the Guiding Teacher: Convocation Upon Completion of Rohatsu).
All are welcome in person at the zendo and on the Zoomdo (Zoom link will be emailed with registration).
Rohatsu is for anyone able to participate for the entire duration of the ceremony. If you are joining us via zoom, plan to log in no later than 5:55 pm on December 7th. There is no guarantee that you will be admitted into the zoomdo after 6 pm.
Registration will close at 5:45pm Eastern Time on December 7th.
Attendees should wear a robe and a kimono or black or dark modest clothes.
