On Aug. 16, we will hold an all-day O-Bon retreat.

O-Bon is a traditional ceremony during which we remember and honor those who have passed away. This is a very beautiful and deeply meaningful Buddhist event, and I do hope everyone will attend. Families and friends are welcome to attend Sunday afternoon and evening.

To practice the O-Bon Dai Segaki ceremony, we will do Mizu Segaki chanting on Thursday evening, August 13. On the evening of Saturday, Aug. 15, lighting a small fire near our little pond/fountain and chanting the Heart Sutra, we will invite those in the spirit world to return.

North Country Sangha and other out-of-town students are welcome to arrive on Friday or Saturday and stay at Hoen-ji through Sunday night.

Everyone is invited to come to help prepare the zendo and surrounding areas any time after 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, and to attend the brief fire ceremony that evening.

Sunday will begin with morning service followed by two periods of zazen until noon. After temple cleaning, we'll take a lunch break (bring bag lunch or go to an area eatery). From 2 to 4 we'll decorate the woods and make paper boats with the names of our departed loved ones on the boats’ sails.

We'll have a period of zazen from 4:15 to 5, followed by an informal O-Bon dinner, at which we symbolically offer sustenance to those who have passed away.

The chanting service in the zendo will begin at 6:30, and will be followed by teisho.

Around 8:30 p.m. we will have a procession with lanterns to the Sangha Grove and then down to Onondaga Creek, setting forth the spirit boats and a floating lantern, thus bidding farewell to our loved ones for another year, with chanting of Namu Dai Bosa.

We’ll end with a gathering for dessert and beverages in the Forman House.

Register by sending your payment of $75 for members; $85 for non-members, to the Zen Center of Syracuse. You may also leave a check in the donation box with "O-Bon" on the memo line. As with all Zen Center events, no one is ever excluded due to financial hardship. There will be work-exchange scholarships available if you are able to contribute your time and energy during the days ahead of the event.