Heartland Sangha Burried Treasure Vase

By Janet Lipner

The Heartland Sangha is not usually involved in Tibetan traditions, but is rather eclectic. We practice American Buddhism, and are interested in many approaches. In February, we decided to do an Earth Treasure Vase after reading in The Turning Wheel about the Open Way Sangha (New Mexico) doing them. It is an ancient practice to bring protection and healing to the earth by filling earthen vessels with prayers and offerings and burying them in the ground.

By the next monthly meeting, Phillip Goff had made a ceramic container and fired it, without ever having seen or made one before, just winging it in his usual capable, creative manner. Once we learned that a box is required to house the vase, Phil also made that. It turned out to be very elegant, as well as practical.

Asayo Horibe, active in many inter-religious groups, as well as President of the Buddhist Council of the Midwest, carried the vase to all of these meetings for over a month. Other attendees added their prayers. These groups were: The Evanston Ecumenical Action Council, Interfaith Task Force, Sikh Gudwara, the Lake St. Church, and the St. Nicholas Church.

At our April meeting, we performed a special service amongst ourselves. I used the guided meditation supplied by the Open Way Sangha. It was very much like a loving-kindness meditation. Then, each of us put our offerings in, first explaining what they meant or reading the poems or prayers. The offerings included: shells from a favorite beach, wildflower seeds, a Tibetan amulet, a program for a memorial service for our recently deceased well-loved sensei, poems, prayers, and pictures of Buddhas. One member gave something to represent each family member she has lost: a cookie for the one who baked cookies, a piece of bread for the bread-baker, a red pom-pom, dried daffodils, her Mother’s favorite flower, and rose petals. Then we stood and did a group-gassho, our arms linked and palms to eachother, while we bowed. It is very happy to be with people so dear.

The next day, the Evanston Circle of the Interreligious Sustainability Project (that’s a mouthful, isn’t it?) had organized a sort of pilgrimage from church to church in honor of Earth Month. The last stop before the Nature Museum (in Chicago) was at the Lake Street Baptist Church, which very generously allows us to borrow their space for services twice a month.

Phil and I had dug a hole outdoors deep enough and wide enough to accommodate the box, about two feet. In the sanctuary, I gave a brief introduction and led the meditation, using much the same wording as the night before.

I hadn’t expected to be leading this group. We had earlier tried to line up a Buddhist minister or monk, to no avail. I found out the night before it would be my responsibility. I had to hurry the meditation along because people were tired and wanted to go on to the next place or home. Almost no one in the group had anything to put in. I stood waiting, hoping, and then it was explained to me that it had happened at another location! One fellow told about the arrow-head he had put in. One little boy came up and inserted a picture from my pile of “extras.” Then Alice finally appeared with a small package of rice, salt, and a penny.

Phil came up on stage to help me seal the box with caulk. Then I tied all different colored ribbons on it. We wrapped soft fleece around it before securing the lid with screws.

People came to the front to do a group gassho. It was very awkward, because of stairs and pews and the number of people, but we did the best we could. Then we went outside to bury the vase. We used the church grounds, although they are not ecologically blighted. This second ceremony was more for show and to represent the Buddhist community in an Earth Month celebration.

I am glad many different people of diverse traditions contributed offerings because it was really full, which was important, and because we all got together for a cause. However, I wish we had not done it for “show,” and had not had to rush so fast in order to stay within a rigorous schedule that was running late. I am not a good public speaker and I am sure I did not do this justice, except within our own little sangha, which had truly energized me the night before.

I am uncertain as to where you can dig in the city, besides your own yard. We had considered planting a tree along the lakefront, but when I checked with the Park District, they said it would cost $250.00 and up, which we couldn’t afford then. There are plenty of blighted urban areas in need of hope, but would any buried treasure really stay buried? Maybe burying it in the church’s little garden is going to work anyway, like generally radiating out all over, even great distances. We can only hope.