Thousand Harbours Zen in Halifax, Nova Scotia made history this weekend with some first-of-their-kind — for Canada— ceremonies. The community, headed up by Soto Zen priest and former Buddhadharma editor Koun Franz — officially installed Franz as the abbot of its temple, Sensouji (pictured), in a “Mountain Seat Ceremony” (shinsanshiki). A Dharma Combat Ceremony (hossenshiki) was also held, as well as a one-day retreat. (You can read Koun’s explanations of the ceremonies here.)
Sensouji is the first temple in Canada to hold these ceremonies, which were attended in person by about twenty Soto Zen priests from Canada, the US, and Japan on June 21 and 22.
