Zen ceremony

For Steve’s passage (see post titled ‘A passing’ below) ..I’ve prepared a short zen ceremony to be performed at the unity church later this week. They let you do that there. When traveling someplace new ..it is good to have a guide. Like most things in zen ..it is meant to be simple so it doesn't obscure the way. All that is needed is a bowl of water ..candles ..incense ..food items ..and flowers. It goes something like this:

• We perform this ceremony to help guide Steve on the path to his new home.
• We call on Steve to break the bounds of karma ..leave selfish desire behind ..and enter a world beyond birth and death ..delusion and suffering.
  
• We offer water to cleanse the lenses and reveal the path to existence beyond.
  
• We offer light to illuminate the path to existence beyond.
  
• We offer food to remind us of the cyclic nature of life on earth.
  
• We offer flowers to remind us that life is as transient as dew.
  
• We say goodbye to Steve in clouds of incense ..may it’s fragrance help him pass beyond the clouds that hide heaven from our sight
  
• We recite these words in hope that Steve is now at home in peace.