eMirror Vol 23, No. 49 (2019-12-06)

 

Rooftop icycle, Photograph by Ven. Saigyo Cross ino
Photograph by Ven. Saigyo Cross ino

eMirror Vol 23, No. 49

Friday, December 6th, 2019
Edited by Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho

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



 “All sentient beings have never left dharmata samadhi throughout myriads of eons. They are always in the reality of dharmata samadhi, putting on their clothes, eating rice, greeting and speaking, the workings of the six sense organs, all their activities are completely dharmata.”

Mazu’s activities wholly expressed dharmata because the purpose of his activity was to actualize dharmata and to open others to its activity.

Dogen zenji says,

People eat rice, rice eats people. Dharmata emerges as dharmata, and has never left dharmata samadhi. Both before and after its manifestation dharmata has never left anything. Dharmata and myriad eons are dharmata samadhi itself and we can call dharmata “myriad eons.”

Therefore, this place here and now is dharmata, dharmata is this place here and now. “Wearing clothes and eating rice” is wearing and eating dharmata samadhi. It is the actualization of the dharmata of wearing, of eating, of clothes, and of rice. If we do not wear clothes and eat rice, do not greet and speak, do not use the six sense organs, and do not do anything, it is not dharmata samadhi and we cannot enter into dharmata.

Dharmata is the way that things are, the essentially real. We cannot realize dharmata by sheltering ourselves or by perching up in some idea of transcendence. Whether we are absorbed in some state of concentration or are simply lost in our petty worries, spiteful vendettas, and stories of self and other, dharmata is the reality of our actual lives and we have exiled ourselves from it. But we can turn to face the wall and return to life through zazen. Fixated in a samadhi of self-image we cannot do anything other than be fixated until we let go of that fixation. But we can always continue the samadhi of dharmata and our practice of zazen in every action. We bow, we turn, we walk in kinhin, we eat, we speak, we listen. All of these things that we do in formal practice show us how to stroke a cat or drive a car or help the ill or dying or watch a film or take a nap as the actualization of dharmata. We can learn to actualize and express dharmata in each situation by being exposed to each situation as dharmata.

-Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, continuing teisho 5: "Actualizing the Samadhi of Dharmata," Tuesday, December 7, 2004 in the teisho series "Essentially Real: Commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji’s 'Hossho: Dharmata'."


Upcoming Events



Fusatsu: 
December 5th and 19th. 

Shukke-tokudo and Shuso-hossen for Ven. Endai Mayeda shramon
On the evening of Saturday December 7th in a ceremony in the presence of the Sangha assembled at the Rohatsu o-sesshin, Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi will Transmit the Precepts of full monastic ordination to Endai Mayeda shramon. Following this, Endai shramon will begin the major training position as "shuso" or "chief seat" in the sense of someone to be looked to as an exemplar of practice and will be referred to as  “Endai shuso”. 

Endai shramon began practising as an associate student in April of 2006 and was accepted as a probationary formal student by Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho-ajari in March of 2009.  He received the Three Jewels on August 14, 2011 and the 16 Bosatsu-kai in December of 2012 from Jinmyo Renge osho-ajari. He received the Vow of Brahmacharya on May 16th, 2014 from Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi. On February 19th, 2016, Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi gave him shukke-tokudo with the Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts and the Forty-Eight Supporting Precepts to Endai Mayeda and received him as a postulant for monastic training. He received shukke-tokudo from Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi as a novice in monastic training on Friday, May 26th, 2017. Endai shramon is the first student of a Dharma Successor of Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi to receive full monastic vows.

On Saturday, December 14th, Endai shuso will present a Dharma Talk during the 9:30 a.m. general sitting. Associate students will also be eligible to attend, although seating will be limited.

Rohatsu O-sesshin
The Rohatsu O-sesshin began at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 1st, and will end on Sunday, December 8th following Jodo-e (commemorating the Buddha's Awakening).

Cancelled General Sitting
The Monday, December 2nd general sitting that would normally begin at 7:30 p.m. is cancelled as the Rohatsu O-sesshin will be in progress. 

Cancelled Associate Sitting
The Thursday, December 5th associate sitting that would normally begin at 7:30 p.m. is cancelled as the Rohatsu O-sesshin will be in progress.

For Associate and General Students:
A morning sitting will take place in the Zendo on Saturday December 7th. 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.

Jodo-e: December 8th

Dainen-ki
December 12th is the anniversary of the day on which the Roshi’s Teacher, Ven. Yasuda Joshu Dainen roshi died.

Hermitage
The Roshi will begin a period of hermitage on Wednesday, December 11th, which will end at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 15th, when he leads monastics in Acalanatha Sadhana.

Ven. Endai shuso Dharma Talk
On Saturday, December 14th, Endai shuso will present a Dharma Talk during the 9:30 a.m. general sitting. Associate students will also be eligible to attend, although seating will be limited.

Introduction to Zen Workshop
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place at Dainen-ji on Saturday, December 14th. For more information please see: http://www.wwzc.org/content/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

Joya (New Year’s Celebration)
On Tuesday, December 31st at 10 p.m. until Wednesday, January 1st at 12:00 a.m., we will celebrate Joya or New Year's. Join Zen Master Anzan Hoshin, Ven. Shikai Sensei and Ven. Jinmyo osho and the monastics of the Northern Mountain Order in ringing in the New Year with 108 recitations of the Mahaprajnaparamita Hridaya sutra mantra. Following the sitting there will be an array of shojin-ryori (Zen vegetarian cuisine) dishes for an informal feast. All students are welcome to attend. There is no better way to begin the year. Dana is $25. Please register by sending an email to schedule at WWZC dot org, or telephone the Zen Centre office (613) 562-1568.

Hermitage
The Roshi will begin a period of hermitage on Wednesday, January 1st, which will end on Sunday, January 5th, at 9:30 a.m. when he leads monastics in Acalanatha Sadhana.
 


Retreats



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.
 


Recorded Teachings Schedule


 

  • Saturday, December 7th: “Every Breath You Take” by Ven. Shikai Zuiko sensei: “When Uncrossing the Legs" (Dharma Talk 33)
  • Monday, December 9th: "The Four Noble Truths" by Ven. Shikai Zuiko sensei: "Life is Suffering?" (Dharma Talk 1 of 4)
  • Thursday, December 12th: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “The Game” (28 of 71)
  • Saturday, December 14th: “Bright Right Through”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on Dogen zenji's "Muchu Setsumu": "The Final Truth" (4 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.
 


Newly Presented Teachings


 

  • During the December 2019 Rohatsu O-sesshin, Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi presented the following teisho as part of the ongoing series, "The Lineage of Luminosity, Part Two: The Lineage in China”:
    • December 2nd: Rujing’s Plum Blossoms Again
    • December 3rd: Rujing’s Flower for Pindola
    • December 4th: Rujing’s Painting Plum Blossoms
    • December 5th: Rujing’s Frogs and Worms
  • Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi presented the following teisho during the November Sesshin, as part of the ongoing series, "The Lineage of Luminosity: Part Two: The Lineage in China”:
    • November 9th: Rujing and the Old Plum Tree
       

WWZC Website


wwzc.org
 

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:

 


Update on the Plan for Essential Repairs to the Hojo (Abbot’s Quarters)



Hojo renovation funds raised to date: $4,185
Fundraising goal: $40,000

Essential repairs are needed to the Hojo (Abbot’s Quarters). The needed work includes taking down the ceiling in the Hojo washroom in order to insulate, raising the floor, repairing interior moisture damage, and addressing other structural problems (extremely uneven floors, and ventilation, plumbing, and electrical issues). 

The Office of the Shissui has met with 3 local design/build companies to discuss the scope of this substantial work and is reviewing their quotations. The total cost of the work will be in the region of $40,000. Provided that we are able to meet the fundraising goal, we anticipate undertaking the work in the summer of 2020.

All donations towards the Hojo renovation fund will be much appreciated, and will receive a charitable tax receipt. 
 

MVIMG_20190127_084840.jpg

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 mold inside the walls.

Description of the work
After a recent risk inspection by our insurance company, one requirement for ongoing insurance coverage is to address a buildup of large icicles over winter from the roof over the Hojo washroom. The ice buildup is caused by heat loss through the roof that melts the winter snow, which refreezes into icicles. 

In order to address this, we should be insulating the ceiling of the Hojo washroom. We will use an application of spray foam insulation which will require taking down the interior ceiling. As there is also heat loss through the very poorly insulated walls, we shall also be removing all of the wall plaster and lathe and using spray foam insulation on the exterior walls. As well as heat insulation, this closed cell foam insulation will impede moisture transfer and eliminate the possibility of moisture buildup and mold issues in the room. Because the plaster and lathe will need to be removed in order to insulate, we will be replacing the old shower stall and re-plumbing the shower. 

Replacing the ceiling allows us to raise the height of the ceiling so that we can eliminate the 8-inch step down into the washroom, which is a potential tripping hazard. We can also add new lighting, improved ventilation and proper venting of fixtures. Raising the floor height requires replacing two hot water radiators with under-floor electric heating and installing a new vanity. 

Once completed, all of this work will result in a substantial improvement to the functionality of the living and working environment of the Hojo, the Abbot’s Quarters, and eliminate potential hazards. As the last area of the building to receive any major renovation work, this improvement is a priority.
 


Samu Weekend Report by Saigyo ino



Over the weekend of November 23rd and 24th we held our winter Samu Weekend. 24 students attended over the two days and worked on a wide variety of projects in the building and grounds. Here are some of the "highlights": In the grounds we completed winterizing, protecting delicate plants, setting up the snowblower and its winter housing and storing various garden items cleaned and ready for next year. Leaves were collected in the parking areas and the porches were cleaned. Inside the building some extra winterizing tasks were completed including new insulation for the electrical panel room window in the basement, removable caulking on windows and insulating the attic hatch. A great deal of reorganization was completed in the basement now that new laundry room next to the workshop and the new storage room in the pantry have been completed. The basement toilet room was repainted. In the attic a repair was worked on to replace the insulation and vapour barrier in an area of the ceiling damage by water.  All of the public areas of the monastery were cleaned thoroughly and a truck load of renovation waste was taken to the local dump. 

Thank you to Jinmyo osho for designing and preparing the excellent midday meals for those students who stayed for the full day of samu and to Shikai sensei for the lovely afternoon refreshments. 

Thank you to the following students who offered their time to work on the projects to maintain and improve the practice environment of Dainen-ji:  

Mishin godo, Fushin shramon, Endai shramon, Isshin, David Gallant, Leonardo Nobrega, Ian Richard, Claude Schryer, Greg Parker, Sydnee Burgess, Matt Broda, Julien Jefferson, Hannah Kent, Jean-Francois St-Louis, Alison Burke, Tarik Kaya, Jesse Steinberg, Kathleen Johnson, Shannon Morphew, Don Charette, George Donovan, Marc Valade and Constantine Tikhonov. 
 

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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.

Shiho (J) Transmission. The student has gotten the basic point and is able to actualize it without distortion in each moment of experiencing. This is acknowledged by the Teacher in the form of a public statement or ceremony.

Further, from "Monkish Talk": “Teaching of the Dharma”, which is received in Transmission through menju (face to face Transmission) or menzan (face to face study) between Teacher and student; in modern Soto-shu transmission through copying the kirigami or silks, usually from one’s father as inheritor of his temple; in WWZC the second of three depths of Transmission; includes Denkai (empowerment as a preceptor) and Denbo (Sealing the Transmission ceremony) both of which occur in private, followed by a public ceremony called Den’e (“receiving the robe”); in Joshu Dainen daiosho’s Transmission, becoming a kyoshi or practice advisor is the first stage of the process of Shiho, which can extend over many years.

Note: Shikai Zuiko sensei and Jinmyo Renge osho-ajari have received Shiho as Dharma Successors of the Abbot, Anzan Hoshin roshi.

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

 

Oryoki set drawing


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 godo and Saigyo ino offer assistance as tenzo-anja. 

Meals Prepared During the Week of O-sesshin

Monday
Breakfast
: Fried rice (calrose and white and brown jasmine rice left over from previous meals, diced spanish onion, poblano, and red bell pepper, slivered ginger, shoyu, salt, white pepper); scrambled eggs.
Lunch: Mixed grain (white and brown calrose rice); miso shiru (kombu stock, shiro miso, ginger, shoyu, mirin, rice vinegar, silken tofu, rehydrated shitake mushrooms); takuan and gari.
Supper: Yukon gold potatoes roasted with bran oil, salt and black pepper; mushroom soup with tofu (shitake, cremini and king oyster mushrooms, chopped onion, garlic, mushroom stock, thyme, shoyu, black pepper, drop of red wine vinegar, puffed deep-fried tofu); cubed friulano cheese with sweet gherkins.

Tuesday
Breakfast: Hainan-style congee (leftover Hainan rice: calrose rice, arborio, pearled barley, Korean short-grain white rice, Chinese rice, basmati rice, chopped scallions, garlic, ginger), diced shitake mushrooms removed from strained miso shiru broth, shoyu, memmi, white pepper, garnished with toasted peanuts.
Lunch: Mixed grain (Jasmine white and brown rice); topped with cubed, sauteed daikon with chile sauce; seaweed soup (strained leftover miso shiru stock with wakame seaweed, slivered ginger, shoyu, sesame oil, chili paste, and silken tofu); baechu kimchi.  
Supper: Lundberg Farms short-grain brown rice with butter and baby green peas; butternut squash soup (pureed roasted butternut squash, sauteed onions, chickpeas, thyme, lime juice, butter, small amount of cream, chopped parsley); tomato spears and black olives dressed with white balsamic vinegar, black pepper and salt. 

Wednesday
Breakfast: Chow mein noodles with sauteed strips of yellow onion, poblano, and red bell peppers, slivered ginger, garlic, shoyu, chile oil, white pepper; bulgogi sauce; scrambled eggs.
Lunch: Mixed grain (calrose and arborio rice); miso shiru (kombu stock, shiro miso, ginger, shoyu, mirin, rice vinegar, silken tofu, rehydrated shitake mushrooms); takuan and gari.
Supper: Chopped leftover roasted Yukon gold potatoes mixed with caramelized onion, Lundberg short-grain brown rice, baby peas, monastery-made ‘zafrani masala’ powder, raisins; blended leftover butternut squash soup, chickpeas and sauteed onion, with added sauteed daikon, seasoned with plain yogurt, Madras curry powder, and chopped fresh cilantro; green cabbage, carrots and white onion coleslaw seasoned with mayonnaise, lime juice, horseradish, dijon mustard, chopped lime pickle, and sunflower seeds.

Thursday
Breakfast: ‘Zafrani masala’ rice and potatoes left-over from the previous evening’s meal, topped with toasted peanuts. 
Lunch: Fried rice (mixed grain of Jasmine white and brown, calrose, and arborio rice left over from the previous day’s meal, sauteed diced white onion, minced rehydrated shiitake from strained miso shiru, minced garlic and ginger, shoyu, white pepper) garnished with toasted sesame seeds; seaweed soup (strained leftover miso shiru stock with wakame seaweed, slivered ginger, shoyu, sesame oil, chili paste, and silken tofu); baek kimchi.  
Supper: Pasta ‘bow ties’ with butter-garlic sauce (butter, minced garlic, chopped white onion, red chili flakes, lime juice, Parmesan cheese, cream); sauteed vegetables with beans (chopped Spanish onion, bok choy, gai lan and dai gai choy, red and white kidney beans, red balsamic vinegar, lots of black pepper and garlic; artichoke hearts and cubed friulano cheese with a few sweet gherkins, drizzled in olive oil, with lemon zest.

Baking by Shikai sensei
Oat chocolate chip cookies; Peanut butter molasses popcorn balls; Garlic, cheese, chocolate chips popcorn balls; Sticky lemon cake; Three ingredient peanut butter cookies; Molasses cookies; Buddha in the snow-date, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, lime, coconut; Apple cake;
Feta biscuits.

 

Ven. Mishin godo bowing in 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 Mishin godo: 
Thank you to Anzan Hoshin roshi for the teisho presented so far during the Rohatsu O-sesshin, picking up and turning Rujing’s plum blossoms so we can meet him and “total freshness”. Thank you to Shikai sensei for always-excellent oat cakes and baked O-sesshin refreshments everyday. Thank you to Jinmyo osho for leading the O-sesshin and instruction to clarify oryoki forms, and for wonderful suppers prepared each evening for O-sesshin practitioners.


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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