Hello all,
I had quite a few ideas for Vesak, but somehow I haven't come up with many for Rohatsu. Maybe that's okay, maybe we don't need too many. At any rate, I would love to have some help here. Some of the things we do for Vesak could also apply to Rohatsu.
I've included some of your ideas below, but wanted to know if you had anymore. See what you think and please add what you would like.
1. Plant a tree as your Bodhi tree, or buy a potted tree to decorate indoors to plant later. If you can't plant, put up an artificial tree and adorn it with lights.
2. Make your own decorations for the Bodhi tree. Cut out and decorate paper Bodhi leaves. Cut out paper stars to color and decorate with your children. The stars will symbolize the morning star Buddha saw on the morning of his enlightenment. You may also want to put on your tree, pictures of loved ones whom you cannot be with for the holidays (due to death or living too far away from each other).
3. Share at least one meal everyday as a family and reconnect. Light incense or candles to symbolize Buddha's awakening.
4. Help your child(ren) make his/her own Buddha to be placed under your Bodhi tree. Pictures can be found at this site: http://www.emptyhandzen.org/blog/201...e-rohatsu.html
5. Write a letter, card, or thank you note to your family members to tell them just how much they mean to you.
6. Sit Zazen together as a family: under, near, around your Bodhi tree. It doesn't have to be a long sit, maybe between 10-15 minutes depending on the age of your children.
Does anyone know of any stories, for children, that talk about Buddha after he became enlightened. Are there any stories that refer to the Noble truths, or the eightfold path? It would be nice to read something like this together.
My creative juices aren't flowing this week, have some sick kids again. Please help me brainstorm.
Gassho,
Kelly/Jinmei