eMirror Vol 29, No. 46 (2025-11-14)

Chuanzi Decheng
eMirror Vol 29, No. 46
Friday, November 14th, 2025
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
Great Master Daowu Yuanzhi Zongzhi eventually resided on Mt Daowu near Changsha in Hunan. He transmitted the Dharma to Shishuang Qingju who had practised as rice steward under his old friend Guishan Lingyou.
There is an account in the Wudeng Huiyuan of a meeting between Daowu and Guishan sometime before Daowu’s death in 1253:
Guishan asked Daowu, “Where did you go to?”
Daowu said, “To see a doctor.”
Guishan said, “How many people are sick?”
Daowu said, “Some are sick. Some are not.”
Guishan asked, “Is one of the ones not sick the monk Zhi?” [referring to Daowu]
Daowu said, “Being sick or not has nothing to do with It. Speak! Speak!”
Guishan said, “Being able to speak also has nothing to do with It.”
The only other student known to have been a Dharma-heir of Master Yaoshan Weiyan was Chuanzi Decheng who lived sometime from the 8th century to the 9th. I cannot find any record of his interactions with Yaoshan but he was known to have practiced with Yaoshan for thirty years.
The Wudeng Huiyuan says,
Zen Master Chuanzi Decheng of Huating in Xiuzhou possessed great integrity and ability. When he received Dharma Transmission from Yaoshan he was practicing intimately with Daowu and Yunyan. When he left Yaoshan he said to them, “You must each of you go your own ways into the world and maintain the essence of our Master’s path. My own character is undisciplined. I love nature and do as I please. I am not fit to lead a monastery. But remember where I dwell. Should you come upon people of capacity, send one of them to me. I will teach him and pass on everything I have learned in this life. In this way I can repay the compassion of our late Master.”
He was called “the boatman” because he lived as a ferryman after the persecution of Buddhism in 842 in seclusion at Huating on the bank of the Wu river near modern Shanghai. Perhaps he had been directed to do so by Yaoshan, who knew of his student’s limitations as well as his capacities. Eventually Daowu sent a Dharma lecturer named Jiashan Shanhui to see Decheng. After transmitting the Dharma to Jiashan, Chuanzi Decheng overturned his boat and disappeared into the water. The Denkoroku quotes this verse of his:
“There should be no traces where you dwell
but you should not dwell where there are no traces.
After thirty years with my Master Yaoshan
this one thing is what I understand.
Total purity does not hide the body.”
The Lineage streams of both Daowu and Chuanzi both soon died off and only Yunyan Tansheng daiosho’s has continued.
-Continuing teisho 6: Yaoshan’s Single Phrase, Thursday, May 19, 2005, in the series "Wandering on Medicine Mountain" presented by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin at Dainen-ji

The Hatto (for formal sittings)

The Zendo (for associate and general sittings)
Practice Schedule and Upcoming Events
Fusatsu (Renewal of Vows): November 19th, December 3rd, 17th, and 31st.
Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place on Saturday, December 13th at 1:45 p.m.
To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca ; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa
November Samu Weekend
We shall be holding a winter Samu Weekend over the weekend of Saturday, November 22nd and Sunday, November 23rd. As part of the weekend of work we shall be making wall repairs to the Zendo and during this time we will use the opportunity to upgrade the sound system to improve the quality of recorded Teachings playback. Saigyo ino is currently researching the best methods for this. Saigyo ino has written to local students with the details of this weekend of caretaking practice. Please pencil these dates into your diary so that you will be able to attend some or all of the Samu Weekend and assist the monastic in the maintenance and improvement of the practice environment of Dainen-ji. Thank you.
Rohatsu O-sesshin:
The Rohatsu Seven-day O-sesshin will begin on Monday, December 1st, at 8:00 p.m., and will end on Monday, December 8th, at 8:00 a.m., following Jodo-e (commemorating the Buddha's Awakening). Formal students are asked to send in their schedules as soon as possible.
Cancelled Associate Sittings:
The associate sittings that would normally take place on the evenings of Monday, December 1st and Thursday, December 4th, are cancelled due to O-sesshin.
Combined Sitting on December 6th
This will be the only sitting open to associate and general students during the Rohatsu O-sesshin (December 1st-8th). First Bell is at 9:15 a.m. The sitting ends at 11:30 a.m. Students are reminded to stay on the first floor. Register to attend the Combined Sitting
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.
Dainen-ki
December 12th is the anniversary of the day on which the Roshi’s Teacher, Ven. Yasuda Joshu Dainen roshi died.
Joya (New Year’s Celebration)
On Wednesday, December 31st at 10 p.m. until Thursday, January 1st at 12:00 a.m., we will celebrate Joya or New Year with 108 recitations of the Mahaprajnaparamita Hridaya sutra mantra at midnight. Join Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei and the monastics of the Northern Mountain Order to ring 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. There is no better way to begin the year. Dana is $25. Seating is limited and registration is required. Registration is open to those who are formal students, general and associate students in this Lineage. Register for Joya 2025
Hermitage:
The Roshi is continuing an extended period of hermitage due to underlying health issues.
Weekly Practice Schedule
Formal Sittings for WWZC Students: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday Mornings. The formal sittings begin at 6:00 a.m. You would need to arrive by 5:45 in time for First Bell. The sitting ends at 7:25 with the Chants. Following that there is a Daruma-kata Aiki review which ends at about 7:50. If you need to leave before the kata, please let us know that in advance by sending an email to schedule@wwzc.org.
Saturday Morning General Sitting for WWZC Students: The general sitting begins at 9:30 a.m. You would need to arrive by 9:15 a.m., in time for First Bell. The sitting ends at 11:45 a.m. Some general students attend the 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning formal sitting, stay for breakfast and then attend the general sitting. If you stay for breakfast, there is a $5 contribution which can be made through Eventbrite: Register for Saturday Breakfast Proceeds from meals go to White Wind Zen Community.
Monday and Thursday Evening Associate Sittings for WWZC Students: The associate sitting begins at 7:30 p.m. You would need to arrive by 7:15 p.m., in time for First Bell. The sitting ends at 9:10 p.m.
Friday (Hosan): There are no formal sittings scheduled at the monastery on Fridays, but you are expected to sit at home if you have committed to sitting zazen daily. Retreats may be scheduled on Fridays.
Sunday Formal Sitting: The Sunday morning formal sittings are reserved for monastics, formal students, and probationary formal students. It starts at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 10:10 a.m. with the chants. Following that there is a Daruma-kata Aiki which ends at about 10:30 a.m.
Please Do Not Wear Scented Products to Sittings
Please refrain from wearing perfume, aftershave, cologne, or other scented products (strongly scented soaps, bodywash, etc) when attending sittings or sitting retreats at Dainen-ji as they are made with chemicals which can trigger asthma and allergies in sensitive individuals.
Long Distance Training Program
For students living an hour or more commuting distance from the monastery in Ottawa, please visit this Web Page: https://wwzc.org/long-distance-training-program
What to do if you Arrive After the Sitting Begins
If you arrive after the sitting starts and the door is locked, 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.
Retreats and Training Sessions
Information About Scheduling Retreats or Training Sessions
Rev. Chiso anagarika sat her weekly semi-retreat on Tuesday, November 11th in Cambridge, Massachusetts. General student An Nguyen sat a partial retreat on Monday, November 11th at Dainen-ji. Associate student Nicolas Chalifoux sat a half-day retreat on Tuesday, November 12th at Dainen-ji. General public student Silas Wamsley arrived at Dainen-ji on Wednesday, November 13th and will be sitting a seven-day retreat concluding on Thursday, November 20th.
Recorded Teachings Schedule
Listening to Recorded Teisho and Dharma Talks
November 15th to November 22nd:
General sitting Saturday, November 15th: Without Difficulty: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on "Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness" by Jianzhi Sengcan: Teisho 23: Zhaozhou Does Not Abide (Hekiganroku 2) (21 minutes)
Formal sitting Sunday, November 16th: SAkN Root Cycle Four: Moving in Knowing: Teisho 2: Unknown Knowing (32 minutes)
Associate sittings Monday, November 17th and Thursday, November 20th: "Choice" by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei (24 minutes)
General sitting Saturday, November 22nd: Without Difficulty: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on "Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness" by Jianzhi Sengcan: Teisho 24: Three Cases of Zhaozhou part one (Hekiganroku 57-59) (18 minutes)
Recorded Teachings for Public Access
While most of the online Recorded Teachings library is password-protected and only accessible to students of the Lineage of Zen Master Anzan Hoshin, a small selection of MP3 recordings of teisho are accessible to the public at wwzc.org/recorded-teachings Additional recordings will be uploaded periodically. MP3 recordings of four recorded teisho by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi are currently available:
Dharma Position http://wwzc.org/dharma-position
Eyes See, Ears Hear http://wwzc.org/eyes-see-ears-hear
Embarrassment http://wwzc.org/embarrassment
Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi's reading of his translation of Eihei Dogen zenji's “Bendowa: A Talk on Exerting the Way”: http://wwzc.org/bendowa-talk-exerting-way
Translations and Texts

Photograph of Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Daijozan, mid-1980s, by Ven. Shikai Zuiko osho
Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi has recently completed translation work on some shorter texts by Eihei Dogen zenji from the Shobogenzo. The work on these particular texts is based upon the literal translations that he worked on with Joshu Dainen roshi at Hakukaze-ji around 1977-78 followed by many years of putting them down, picking them up, and polishing. Naturally, more essential texts such as Uji, Genjokoan, Shinjin Gakudo and some 40 others were completed first and have been given extensive commentaries by the Roshi. This batch of texts includes Keisei Sanshoku: Sounds of Streams, Forms of Mountains, Baike: Plum Blossoms, Ryugin: Howling Dragon, and Udonge: The Udumbara Blossoming and many others are nearing completion. Annotation details and successfully conveying them across various document formats are the issue at this point.
Work on Bussho: Buddha Nature, a very long and nuanced text by Dogen zenji, is still ongoing.
Roshi also finished an update to the “Saijo Shingi: The Deportment of Radiance”, our manual of monastic training standards which is a supplement to the ancient Eihei Shingi and Keizan Shingi.
White Wind Zen Community Website Update
Dharma Talk: “Embarrassment”
Dharma Talk presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi on August 25th, 1990.
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/embarrassment
Teisho: “Practising Without an Edge”
Teisho presented by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei on February 19th, 2025
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/practising-without-edge
Teisho: “I Know Who You Are!”
Teisho presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, presented at Dainen-ji on March 13th, 1999
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/teisho-i-know-who-you-are
Dharma Assembly: On Karma
Mondo by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, Presented in April of 1986, River Road Zendo.
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/dharma-assembly-karma
Request for Help to Maintain the Grounds
If you would like to offer time to help with maintenance in the grounds your help will be appreciated. You can offer a regular period of samu or make arrangements with the shissui to come for a single period of caretaking practice. Please write to info@wwzc.org or directly to Saigyo ino at saigyo.cross@gmail.com if you can assist with this work. Thank you.
Wooden Practice Materials for Sale in Myomaku

Saigyo ino has made a selection of wooden practice materials which are now for sale in Myomaku. These include boxes for storing incense, incense bowls, kneeling benches and kaishaku. He is donating a portion of the proceeds to WWZC. You are welcome to go into myomaku before or after sittings to see what’s available.
Alternate parking for sittings near Dainen-ji
If you need alternate parking near the monastery due to snow parking bans or lack of parking spots you can use the Loblaws car park located at 363 Rideau Street - Parking - Loblaws.
The car park is open until 10:00 p.m and charges $4 per hour. A full day 6:00a.m. to 6:00 p.m. is $10.

Office of the Tenzo
Dogen zenji taught in the Tenzo Kyokun: Instructions for the Tenzo (Tenzo kyokun: Instructions for the Tenzo https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/tenzo-kyokun-instructions-tenzo) 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 sensei serves as Tenzo and Mishin godo and Saigyo ino offer assistance as tenzo-anja.
The WWZC does not advocate any particular diet. However all meals prepared during practice events, such as Dharma Assemblies, sesshin, or retreats are vegetarian or vegan as most people can eat this. On Tuesday evenings there is an optional meat dish, as some people find that a purely vegetarian diet, especially as they get older, is not sufficient for their health. If you are adhering to a strictly vegan diet, you can write to the tenzo, Jinmyo Renge sensei, at jinmyo.renge@wwzc.org a week prior to attending an event to request vegan foods. If you are lactose intolerant or have allergies to foods, you should write to the tenzo about dietary restrictions a week before attending events.
The Following Meals were Prepared for Oryoki During the November 2-day Sesshin:
Saturday:
Breakfast: Noodles (spaghettini, sauteed thin strips of yellow onion, poblano and red bell peppers, light shoyu, sambal oelek, oyster sauce, grated ginger, minced garlic , sugar, sesame oil); scrambled eggs.
Lunch: Calrose rice garnished with gomashio (toasted sesame seeds and salt); miso shiru (broth made from kombu, slivered ginger, shiro miso, dried shiitake mushrooms, shoyu, mirin, rice vinegar, Shanghai bok choy, cubed silken tofu); takuan and gari.
Supper: Mixed grain; Tamatar Dhania ka Shorba (Punjabi-style tomato soup made with red lentils, caramelised onions, blended San Marzano tomatoes, diced tomatoes, besan (chickpea) flour, curry leaves, Kashmiri chilli powder, lemon juice, coconut milk, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, pinch of sugar; salad made from thinly sliced Napa cabbage, carrots, daikon and white onion, with a mango dressing.
Sunday:
Breakfast: Fried rice (leftover mixed grain and green peas fried with diced red onion, red bell peppers, chopped Shanghai bok choy, curry powder, cumin); scrambled eggs.
Lunch: White and brown Thai jasmine rice; spicy wakame seaweed soup (leftover strained miso shiru broth, wakame, slivered ginger, shoyu, roasted chile oil, silken tofu); julienned daikon and Asian pear quick kimchi mixed with gochugaru, minced garlic, rice vinegar, finely chopped scallions, sugar, sesame seeds.
The following meals were prepared on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings:
Monday Yakuseki:
Pasta e Fagioli (macaroni with ‘cheese’ made from cannellini beans, chickpeas, cashews, cooked carrots, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, white miso paste, lemon juice, coconut milk, lion’s mane mushroom powder); coleslaw of thinly sliced green cabbage, white onion, carrot, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, horseradish, lime juice, salt, black pepper; fresh cantaloupe.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Beef and mushroom stroganoff (farfalle, ground beef, diced onion, minced garlic, cremini mushrooms, minced garlic, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, chopped fresh parsley, and sour cream); salad of chopped romaine, green leaf lettuce, radicchio, thinly sliced celery, red onion, and cubed feta with an optional white balsamic dressing.
Thursday Yakuseki:
Warm buttered naan; mango curry (ground onions, tomatoes, ginger and garlic sauteed and then spiced with Kashmiri chilli, ground fennel seeds, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, garam masala, coconut cream, diced mango and yogurt with chickpeas and fresh coriander; mixed greens blanched, shocked and spun, and then seasoned with butter, lime juice, salt and pepper.

Thank You
If you would like to thank someone for a contribution they have made, please feel free to send an email to Jinmyo sensei at rengezo@gmail dot com, but be sure to type "eMirror” in the subject line.
From Mishin godo:
Thank you to Fushin shuso for archiving samu to update the MP3 tags on the media site for Recorded Teachings. Thank you to Yujin for providing troubleshooting and set up instructions to students having trouble accessing the AirSonic site for recorded Teachings.
From Senbo:
Thank you to Roshi for the Root Cycle Teachings of the SAkN series, which unfolds for me deeper and more complete meanings every time I allow myself to actually hear them; to Jinmyo sensei for constantly reminding me how these Teachings can be applied in everyday activities no matter what's going on or how I feel, for sharing culinary discoveries, enthusiasm and knowledge, and for recommending a science fiction book; to Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for being such great living examples of what it means to leave behind personal concerns for the benefit of all beings.
From Stacey Loyer:
Thank you to Saigyo ino for guidance in setting up a home practice space, clear instructions on how to hang a floating shelf, and for making the shelf.
From Shannon Craig:
Thank you to Anzan Hoshin roshi for the way you express your teachings in the series Without Difficulty and for making so much available to students and monastics; Thank you Jinmyo sensei for the important reminder of my practice in The touchstone 12 The practice of taking care. There were some things I needed to hear. Thank you to Mishin godo for the time you spent to help me realize aspects of my practice that I greatly appreciate. Thank you to Saigyo ino for organizing the upcoming Samu weekend and the time it takes to plan everything and thank you for the many helpful practice interviews that continue to guide my practice. Thank you Fushin shuso for the years of support you’ve given students and monastics.
From Scott Annan:
I wanted to express my gratitude to Anzan Hoshin roshi for making all of his Teachings available, but specifically the clarity, depth, rhythm, and poignancy in Flowers and Worms. A true masterpiece. And thank you to Mishin godo for recommending it to me, and her ongoing support along with Saigyo ino, in my ongoing practice.
From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to the following for donations towards the upcoming Samu Weekend: Ian Reynolds, Helen Jelich, and an anonymous donor. Thank you to An Nguyen for a donation to the health fund for monastics on behalf of her brother Tan Nguyen.