eMirror Vol 23, No. 34 (2019-08-23)

 

"Kai-in, Ocean Seal", sho by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi
"Kai-in, Ocean Seal", sho by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

eMirror Vol 23, No. 34

Friday, August 23rd, 2019
Edited by Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho

The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.



In our practice there can be lesser and greater times of openness which can be called zanmai or kensho. Zanmai has a continuity to it but is not as deep as a kensho. A kensho might perhaps only be momentary but it unravels at least some tightly held grasping of self-image and weakens the grip of contraction. And of course, the point is to continue to practice without holding back, which is itself a kind of zanmai, and allows deeper kensho.

The term zanmai might also refer to a particular approach or method that is used such as the Hokyo-zanmai of Dongshan Liangjie daiosho’s Teaching. These are like demonstrations, such as those I have presented to deshi and monastics of Kai-in-zanmai, that allow students to recognize a much more open quality of practice than they usually allow. What is realized through these zanmai eventually become part of how one practises as such. I often translate samadhi or zanmai as “harmonization” as in “Ocean Seal Harmonization” because it is becoming aligned with or harmonized with the openness of experience being expressed.             

-Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, continuing teisho 2: "What is the Samadhi of Dharmata," Saturday, December 4, 2004 in the teisho series "Essentially Real: Commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji’s 'Hossho: Dharmata'."


Upcoming Events



Fusatsu: 
August 28th, September 11th, September 25th, October 16th and October 30th.

Dogen-ki
August 28th is Dogen-ki, the memorial of Eihei Dogen zenji's death.

Hermitage
The Roshi will begin a period of hermitage on Wednesday, September 4th, which will end on Sunday, September 8th, at 9:30 a.m., when he leads monastics in Acalanatha Sadhana.

Introduction to Zen Workshop
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place at Dainen-ji on Saturday, September 7th. For more information please see: http://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa
For information concerning our Long-distance Training Program, please visit this Web Page: http://www.wwzc.org/long-distance-training-program

September Two-day Sesshin
The September 2-day sesshin begins at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 13th and will end at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday,  September 15th. Formal students are reminded to send their schedules to schedule at wwzc dot org as soon as is possible.
On Saturday, September 14th, associate and general students may attend a sitting held in the Zendo. Arrival time is 9:15 a.m. (in time for First Bell). The sitting ends at 11:30 a.m. Students attending are reminded to remain on the first floor.

Hermitage
The Roshi will begin a period of hermitage on Wednesday, September 25th, which will end at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 29th, when he leads monastics in Acalanatha Sadhana. 

Introduction to Zen Workshop
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place at Dainen-ji on Saturday, September 28th. For more information please see: http://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa
For information concerning our Long-distance Training Program, please visit this Web Page: http://www.wwzc.org/long-distance-training-program

Daruma-ki O-sesshin
The Daruma-ki O-sesshin will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 4th, and will end at noon on Sunday, October 11th at noon. Formal students are reminded to send their schedules to schedule at wwzc dot org as soon as is possible.
For associate and general students: Please note that there are no sittings on Monday and Thursday evening during the week of O-sesshin. Instead, you may attend a morning sitting on Saturday, October 5th. The sitting begins at 9:30 a.m. (please arrive by 9:15 in time for first Bell) and ends at 11:30 a.m. Students are reminded to remain on the first floor.

A Note to Preliminary and Public Students Concerning O-sesshin
During an O-sesshin the schedule is such that there is no time to meet face to face with preliminary students or to reply to email correspondence sent by public students. Public students are asked to send their weekly practice journals, as they will be reviewed. But unless there is something that needs an immediate reply, you will not receive an email reply until the week following the O-sesshin.

Cancelled Sitting October 7th
The general sitting that would normally take place on the evening of October 7th is cancelled as O-sesshin will be in progress.

Cancelled sitting October 10th
The associate sitting that would normally take place on the evening of October 11th is cancelled as O-sesshin will be in progress. 

Dharma Assembly
On Saturday, October 19th, Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho will lead a Dharma Assembly, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. (please arrive by 9:15, in time for first Bell) and will end at 9:00 p.m. Dana is $40.00, which includes two meals: lunch and supper. Participants are asked to bring clothing and shoes appropriate for samu practice. To register, please send an email to schedule at wwzc dot org or leave a message on the office answering machine at 613-562-1568. Dharma Assemblies are open to all students.
Note: The 9:30 a.m. general sitting that would ordinarily take place on October 19th is cancelled owing to the Dharma Assembly.
 


Retreats



Claude Schryer sat a one-day retreat on Saturday, August 17th. Chiso anagarika, visiting from her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, sat a one and a half-day retreat from the evening of Sunday, August 18th to the morning of Tuesday, August 20th. Alexander Tzelnic visiting from his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts sat a one and a half day retreat from the evening of Sunday, August 18th to the morning of Tuesday, August 22nd. Deshi Isshin sat a one-day retreat from the evening of Wednesday, August 21st to the evening of Thursday, August 22nd. Elizabeth Eve, visiting from her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia began a three and a half-day retreat beginning on the evening of Wednesday, August 21st which will include the upcoming Dharma Assembly. 

To Schedule a Retreat
Please visit this Web page for information about scheduling a retreat and an explanation of the different kinds of retreat (duration and timing) you can sit: https://wwzc.org/retreats. Please note that retreats should be scheduled one week in advance.

Public students sitting retreats should send an email to schedule@wwzc.org to confirm they sat a retreat so that notice of it can be included in the eMirror. Please include the location of the retreat and the duration.
 


Teisho



Newly presented teisho

On Saturday, August 10th during the August sesshin, Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi presented the teisho “Zhijian's Concealed and Unconcealed” as part of the ongoing series, "The Lineage of Luminosity: Part Two: The Lineage in China.”

During Yaza on Saturday, July 13th, Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi presented the teisho “Yaza: The Buddha and the Lies”.

Recorded Teachings Schedule

  • Sunday, August 25th: SAkN “Root Cycle Two" by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi: “The Energy of Framing” (teisho 3 of 3)
  • Monday, August 26th: "Rhythm and Song": Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on Dongshan Liangjie's "Hokyo Zanmai": "The Path of Birds" (9 of 15)
  • Thursday, August 29th: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “The Arising of Spring" (15 of 71)
  • Saturday, August 31st: “Flowers and Clouds” by Ven. Anzan Hoshin: "Changing Changes" (8 of 12)

Missed Sittings and Teisho

If associate students are unable to attend the Thursday evening associate sitting, they may attend one of the general sittings to make up for the sitting they missed. General sittings are held on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. (first Bell is at 7:15) and Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m. (first Bell at 9:15 a.m.). Please send an email to request permission to attend one of these sittings.        

Teisho presented at general and associate sittings which are part of a series need to be listened to in the correct order and with none missed out. If you miss a sitting please borrow a copy of the missed teisho from the library or download it from the WWZC Media Site as soon as possible, so that the continuity of what is being presented is not disrupted. The weekly list of recorded teisho played at sittings is posted on the web site at:
https://wwzc.org/recorded-teachings-schedule

Online Access to Recorded Teachings

Students can access the password-protected online Recorded Teachings library on the WWZC website at https://wwzc.org/recorded-teachings or through the streaming site at http://app.wwzc.org. The custom-built media streaming site allows students to live stream recordings from the WWZC Recorded Teachings collection. It is optimized for use on smartphones and tablets, and works with most modern browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. It can also be used on desktops.
 


Help Required with Archiving Project



We would like assistance from students to work on an archiving project which has been underway for a number of years. Approximately 100 recordings of teisho and Dharma Talks presented by the Roshi in the late 1980's and early 1990's are still not available to students on our web-site. These were recordings were made on audio cassette. The process for preserving these cassette recordings and making them available to students is as follows:

  • Transfer the cassette recording to a digital format
  • Edit the single digital files from each cassette side to separate the presentations.
  • Clean up the quality of the recording as much as possible using computer software and in the cases of a recording being of very poor playback quality, using the services of a professional audio restoration company.
  • Rename, digitally tag each presentation and add the recording information to the database.
  • Create archive quality master CD copies of the recordings for long term storage including printing all of the CD case inserts and graphics.
  • Upload completed audio files to the WWZC sound-site so that they are available to students to listen to.


This process is extensive and time consuming, requiring at least 4-5 hours of work for each individual recording. The amount of work required for the monastic sangha to complete this project expediently is not possible, so we are asking for help from the rest of the sangha.

A student would be required to offer regular commitment of time, a block two to three hours weekly is ideal but also a commitment every two weeks would work well. Students would be trained in the work they would be doing and so no specific skill set is needed. 

If you are able to assist with this vital project to preserve the Teachings please write to Mishin ino or Saigyo tando or send a message to WWZC.org. Thank you very much.
 


WWZC Website


wwzc.org

Newly Added Recorded Teachings for Associate and General Students

MP3 of “Yaza: The Buddha and the Lies”: Yaza: The Buddha and the Lies

Recorded Teachings for Public Access

While most of the online Recorded Teachings library is password-protected and only accessible to students of Zen Master Anzan Hoshin, a small selection of MP3 recordings of teisho are accessible to the public at https://wwzc.org/recorded-teachings. Additional recordings will be uploaded periodically.

MP3 recordings of five teisho are currently available:

 


Roof Repair and Essential Repairs to the Hojo (Abbot’s Quarters)


 

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The image above shows the icicle that forms every winter on the roof of the Hojo. It is often over 20 feet long and is causing damage to the exterior trim and roof line and may be causing interior damage and mould inside the walls. Following a recent inspection from our insurance company, a stipulation for continued insurance was that we rectify this situation. The problem is caused by structural issues, inadequate ventilation, and very poor insulation in the ceiling of the Hojo washroom. To insulate this space we need to take down the ceiling in the Hojo washroom, tear out the shower, and use spray foam insulation on the underside of the roof between the joists. As this will make it necessary for the Roshi to vacate the Hojo during these repairs, we have decided that we will also address other problems in that wing of the building, which include extremely uneven floors (a difference of seven inches from one side of a room to the other), as well as other structural problems, ventilation, plumbing and electrical issues. The Hojo has never been renovated properly because emphasis has always been placed on renovating public spaces in the monastery. 

We have met with three renovation companies in the last few months to obtain quotes for this work and the cost will obviously be substantial. How much we are able to achieve will depend on donations from students. The Roshi does not travel and spends the majority of his time in the Hojo (Abbot's Quarters). It is therefore appropriate that we ensure that the Hojo is an adequate living space. 

All donations are tax deductible. 

Thank you very much, 
The Office of the Caretaking Council.
 


Samu on Sundays



Each Sunday afternoon (except during O-sesshin and Sesshin), Caretaking Council (Saigyo tando, Fushin shramon and Endai shramon) do samu from 1:30p.m to 4:30p.m. on the various small projects required around the monastery.  There are always a great many tasks that need to be done and so any students are welcome and encouraged to come to Dainen-ji to join the monastics in caretaking practice. If you would like to partake in the samu practice on Sundays please write to Saigyo tando at saigyo.cross@gmail.com.
 


What to do if you arrive late for a sitting



You don't need to turn around and go home. Ring the bell once and then sit on the bench on the front porch. If possible, we will come and unlock the door for you right away. If we are in the middle of the chants or listening to a teisho, we will come to let you in as soon as the teisho finishes.
 

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Painted Cakes
(do not satisfy hunger)

by Ven. Shikai Zuiko sensei



Continuing on with “Painted Cakes: A Zen Dictionary” a limited edition text written by Anzan Hoshin roshi in the 1980s and last revised in 1994.

Sesshin (J): “Gathering up the heart”. A period of intensive formal practice led by the teacher of anywhere from two to seven days. 

Questions can be sent to me, Shikai sensei, at shikai.sensei@gmail.
 

Zenga by Sengai
Zenga by Sengai


Office of the Tenzo



Dogen zenji taught in the Tenzokyokun that the work of preparing and serving meals is "a matter for realized monks who have the mind of the Way or by senior disciples who have roused the Way-seeking mind." In alignment with this, part of Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's samu for the Community involves personally overseeing the activities of the ancient office of tenzo. Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho serves as tenzo and Mishin ino and Saigyo tando offer assistance as tenzo-anja.

Monday Yakuseki:
Mushroom soup made with sliced, sauteed crimini mushrooms, ginger, shoyu, sesame oil, mushroom stock; white and brown Thai rice mixed with sauteed cubed potatoes, chopped onion and minced garlic; bulgogi tofu (deep-fried tofu, chopped red and orange bell peppers, cubanelle and poblano peppers, chopped Spanish onions, ginger, bulgogi sauce); baechu kimchi. 

Tuesday Yakuseki:
Roasted chicken legs and thighs, seasoned with garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, lots of black pepper, shoyu, gojuchang, sesame oil; hainan rice (barley, arborio and Chinese rice cooked with sauteed chopped scallions, white onion, ginger and garlic, blended with chicken stock); white kimchi. 

Thursday Yakuseki:
Brown rice and barley; dai gai choy soup (dai gai choy, chopped celery and Spanish onion, bean sprouts, vegetable stock, shaoshing, shoyu and ginger); sauteed meinjin and minced gluten with strips of onion and crimini mushrooms seasoned with chili sauce and a small amount of curry powder; gai lan greens and stems steamed and then seasoned with vegetarian oyster sauce and garlic; sauteed green beans with lots of garlic. 

 

Monk gassho


Thank You



If you would like to thank someone for a contribution they have made, please feel free to send an email to Jinmyo osho at rengezo at Gmail dot com, but be sure to type "eMirror" in the subject line.

From Chiso anagarika:
Thank you to Roshi for dokusan, and for the wonderful teisho  series "Rhythm and Song: commentaries of Dongshan Lienge's Hokyo Zanmai: True Center" which we listened during the Monday night sitting; thank you to Shikai sensei for an interesting discussion; to Jinmyo osho for a meaningful daisan; to Mishin ino for support;  to Saigyo tando, for always being at the right place at the right time (when you look for him); to Fushin shramon for bringing my sleeping bag and bringing my chair to all the places it needed to be, and thank you to Alexander Tzelnic for the extra 100 miles he drove to pick me up, which added to the 1374 km round trip.

From Isshin:
Thank you to the Roshi for the teisho “Zhijian’s Concealed and Unconcealed” (The Lineage of Luminosity) during Sesshin.  Thank you Shikai sensei for delicious refreshments during Sesshin and tasty date squares during retreat.  Thank you Jinmyo osho for leading Sesshin,  for nutritious meals and for daisan. Thank you Mishin ino for your help sorting out my computer issues and adding teisho to my Dropbox.  Thank you Saigyo tando for sending me instructions for my recent retreat  and for accommodating me at short notice.  

From David Gallant:
Thank you to Jinmyo osho for leading the August sesshin, for regular daisan, and for help with a new pair of glasses. Thank you to Mishin ino for two measuring cups and helpful advice on microwaving oatmeal. Thank you to Saigyo tando for recent instruction in painting techniques and best practices, for instruction during a variety of samu tasks, and for organizing tasks for Samu Weekends.

From Alexander Tzelnic:
As a long-distance student I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to come to Dainen-ji as a retreatant. I would like to thank the Roshi for establishing the space and community that make this practice possible for so many. Thank you to Shikai sensei for daisan and Mishin ino and Saigyo tando for practice interviews that reminded me in no uncertain terms of what to do and how; to Sensei for delicious brown butter cookies and the Office of the Tenzo for consistently invigorating meals; to Ino and Tando for clear samu instruction, and to the Tando for organizing the details regarding my stay; to Fushin shramon and David for patiently explaining kitchen clean-up and showing me where various things have moved since last time I was in Ottawa; to all the monks, residents, and Sangha for their example of practice; and to Chiso anagarika for 16 years now of accompanying me on the long narrow road to the north (and back).

From Claude Schryer:
Thank you to all monastics for their support during my one day retreat. I was able to deepen my practice and opened my attention a little more, in particular with more persistent storylines, that allowed me to notice and experience more of the richness around me through the bodymind and note that my storylines, even the most compelling, are not necessary. Thank you to the Ino and Tando for insights during practice interviews, notably in answering my questions about teisho readings and how to do the forms more completely. Thank you also to the Roshi for the immensely rich teisho materials we have access to on the web site. I listened to Birth and Death:The Works series recently that helped me deepen my understanding of zen and the larger historic and social context. I’ve been a general student 15 months now and feel that I am beginning to begin a more consistent approach to my practice and give deep thanks to the support and care of monastics, who I know are attentive to every detail of each and every student’s practice.
 


Ongoing Project:
"All is Change"



Dainen-ji, being a 140-year-old building, is continuously in need of maintenance and the costs associated with this can be astronomical when such things as porch repairs or exterior painting are needed. This is something that we cannot afford to do, yet must do and so the "All is Change" project has been created. The "All is Change" project is very simple. Most of us have a bowl or a jar or some other kind of container that we keep somewhere at home and fill up with loose change because it's too heavy to carry around. Several hundred dollars has been collected so far both in loose change and Canadian tire money which has been put towards the building maintenance fund. If anyone would like to contribute to this fund, each penny will be appreciated. The “All is Change” container is on the wooden wall shelf under the Sangha Board in the cloak room.

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