On the 24th of August I left Syracuse and drove to Buffalo, NY to attend the Enkyo-ji Buddhist Network retreat to be held at a private farm on the shore of Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes of North America.
My first stop was to visit a friend who I have known for several who now serves as the Chief Rabbi of Temple Beth Zion in Buffalo, New York. Rabbi Jonathan Frierich an
d I have worked together in various political and religious activities over the years. It was great to see him once again. The beautiful and inspiring stained glass behind the Arch holding the Torah scrolls depicts the Hand of God.
On Saturday morning 25 August I joined the retreat in progress at the private Singer Farms and all natural organic farm located on the banks of the beautiful Lake Ontario. It is the first time I had seen this lake or any of the lakes in the Great Lakes region.
Tom, husband of owner of Singer Natural Farm giving a presentation on the symbiotic relationship of organism in our bodies and the food we eat.
Here is Tom the husband of the owner of the farm giving a presentation on the symbiotic relationship of the organisms within our bodies. I was not present for all of his presentation sadly. I did speak to him later in the day and I asked him of all the things he does to maintain the farm what he finds the most exciting. His enthusiasm was so great I was not able to fully write down what he told me exactly, so I’ll only be able to share with you a general idea.
There is something from the farm that he puts into a box and then puts the box into the ground and then a week later he comes back and there is a fungus that begins to grow. From this fungus which he harvests he then adds some nutrients and puts it through a type of fermentation process which increases the nutrient value of the original thing (I wish I could remember what it is but it is basically a cast off item normally discarded). The end process which sounded like it takes about a month or so is a very rich type of compost fertilizer, all natural all powerful and all important to the enrichment of the soil and production of the many crops he grows on the farm.
Contented frog
Here is a little frog I spotted shortly after I got there seemingly contented and happy and certainly not endanger of being poisoned by chemical fertilizers and pesticides. And seemingly not at risk of the two large playful friendly farm dogs.
The retreat was held under an open air pavilion within a few hundred feet of the shore of Lake Ontario. In fact throughout the retreat you could constantly hear the sound of the waves coming ashore which added to the intimate feeling of being at one with nature as the wind also rustled the leaves.
 Participants listening to lecture in pavilion |
 Participants listening to lecture in pavilion |
 Participants listening to lecture in pavilion |
 Shore of Lake Ontario one of the Great Lakes of North America |
 Shore of Lake Ontario one of the Great Lakes of North America |
 Medina sandstone rocks along the shore of Lake Ontario one of the Great Lakes of North America |
In the afternoon we did walking meditation while chanting the Odaimoku which is called angya. We walked from the pavilion up the gravel path to the main road then across the road to a “Spiral.” The Spiral is an organic planting whose path leads the walker around a great spiral towards the center which is planted with massive sunflowers.
 Angya practice, chanting Odaimoku while walking |
 Angya practice, chanting Odaimoku while walking |
 Walking the Spiral in silent meditation |
 Walking the Spiral in silent meditation |
 Walking the Spiral in silent meditation |
 A small sampling of the huge sunflowers of the Spiral some of which are over 6 feet tall. |
After the presentations of the day all related to plants, their growing, harvesting, value to human nutrition, and relationship to our Buddhist practice Kanjin Cederman Shonin performed the Eye-Opening ceremony on various religious objects for members. This consecration is a traditional blessing of objects in Nichiren Buddhism. When one draws or otherwise depicts an image of the Buddha it is traditional that the eyes are the last of the features completed. In the same way as an object transition from being merely an art object or statue, or other implement it is Eye-Opened specifically for the intended user of the item.
 Bestowal of Eye-Opened religious item |
 Bestowal of Eye-Opened religious item |
 Bestowal of Eye-Opened religious item |
 Bestowal of Eye-Opened religious item |
 Bestowal of Eye-Opened religious item |
 Flower petal which was tossed during service at Kuon-ji the head temple of Nichiren Shu given as a gift to all the participants of the weekend retreat by Kanjin Cederman Shonin. |
Group photo of participants of the Enkyo-ji Buffalo Sangha weekend retreat on the shore of Lake Ontario, NY.
Kate, one of the participants shared with me a drawing she did inspired by my presentation on the Simile of Herbs chapter from the Lotus Sutra.
Emory who purchased this original art from my Lotus of Your Life art series. I am so happy it has found a new home and it is my wish that it can in some small way inspire her to maintain faith and continue her practice for years to come.
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