eMirror Vol 30, No. 11 (2026-03-13)
Acala Vidyaraja cartoon by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi
eMirror Vol 30, No. 11
Friday, March 13th, 2026
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
In the Zazenshin, Dogen zenji picks up the Great Ancestor Yaoshan’s Teaching and presents it as the basis and activity of zazen. He says,
The Awakened One's essential function
is the functioning essence of the Ancestors.It manifests Before Thinking
and accomplishes without obstacle.Manifesting Before Thinking,
its manifestation is inherent intimacy.Accomplishing without obstacle
it completes itself inherently.Its manifestation inherently intimate,
It is always stainless and undefiled.Completing itself inherently,
it is beyond all up or down.This stainless and undefiled intimacy
drops itself without losing anything.Complete and beyond duality
it penetrates without effort.Water is clear right through to the earth:
the fish swims like a fish.The sky's vastness penetrates the heavens:
the bird flies like a bird.
Dropping ourselves the way that the moment drops away in each moment in zazen, we are just like the wateriness of water, the way that a fish is just like a fish, the spaciousness of space and the way that a bird flies just like a bird. Water, fish, the sky, birds do not have to think about themselves to be what they are. In true zazen we complete ourselves by being completely ourselves by intimately recognizing that we are Unthinkable. We are Before Thinking.
Please, this evening, enjoy yourselves.
- Concluding teisho 8: Unthinkable, Saturday, August 13,, 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): March 18th, April 1st.
Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place on Saturday, April 4th, at 1:45 p.m.
To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca ; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa
March Two-day Sesshin:
The March two-day sesshin begins on Friday, March 20th at 8:00 p.m. and ends on Sunday, March 22nd at 6:00 p.m. Students attending are asked to send their schedules in as soon as possible.
Keizan-ki:
March 21st is the memorial for Keizan Jokin zenji.
General Sitting
The Saturday, March 21st general sitting will take place in the Zendo. Please arrive by 9:15 a.m. The sitting ends at 11:30 a.m. Students are reminded to stay on the first floor.
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.
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
General student Julien Jefferson sat a partial retreat on Friday, March 6th at Dainen-ji. Associate student Sarah Goul sat a three-day retreat from Tuesday, March 10th to Friday, March 13th at Dainen-ji.
General public student Beth Buerkle sat a partial retreat on Tuesday, March 10th at her home in Chamcook, New Brunswick.
Recorded Teachings Schedule
Listening to Recorded Teisho and Dharma Talks
March 14th to March 21st:
General Sitting Saturday, March 14th: Studying the Mystery: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on Shitou Xigran's Sandokai: Teisho 3: Waking Up is Not a Matter of Up (23 minutes)
Formal Sitting Sunday, March 15th: SAkN "Presencing the Open Body": Teisho 3: Objectifying Reality (24 minutes)
Associate Sittings Monday, March 16th and Thursday, March 19th: Flowers and Worms: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentary on the Maharahulovadasutta: Teisho 5: The Flower of Twilight (17 minutes)
General Sitting Saturday, March 21st: Studying the Mystery: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on Shitou Xigran's Sandokai: Teisho 4: The Root of Your Life (29 minutes)
on Shitou Xigran's Sandokai: Teisho 3: Waking Up is Not a Matter of Up (23 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/embarrassment-0/
Teisho: “Practising Without an Edge”
Teisho presented by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei on February 19th, 2025
https://wwzc.org/practising-without-an-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/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-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.
Saturday Breakfast (Mishin godo):
Eggs Dainen-ji (two over-easy eggs gently fried in butter served on calrose rice, drizzled with a mix of shoyu, mirin, and wasabi and garnished with shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven-spice seasoning).
Sunday Brunch:
Thai white jasmine rice; buttered chicken raw cashews, chicken breasts cut into one-inch cubes, Greek yogurt, Kashmiri chilli powder, turmeric, salt, coconut oil, unsalted butter, chopped onions, ginger garlic paste, coriander, chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, pinch of sugar, dried fenugreek leaves, ground cumin, chaat masala, milk, chopped cilantro for garnish; chopped Asian pear mixed with lime juice and chile flakes.
Sunday Supper (Mishin godo):
Baked jacket potatoes and sweet potatoes with an optional topping of yogurt mixed with sour cream, Danish cream cheese, and chopped scallions; chile-lime tofu (thickly sliced medium-firm tofu sauteed in butter, Dom's chile sauce, lime juice, salt, black pepper); salad of shaved brussel sprouts, grated carrots, sunflower seeds, and thinly sliced red onion dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, grated parmesan cheese, salt, sugar, black pepper.
Monday Yakuseki:
Focaccia; Etruscan legume and vegetable soup (spoon sized pieces of Spanish onion, leeks, green cabbage, zucchini, celery, diced carrots, potatoes, spoon sized pieces of fresh Swiss chard sauteed in olive oil infused with rosemary, garlic, and sage with vegetable broth made from the scraps and peelings of the vegetables, cannellini beans (the cannellini beans were blended and then emulsified with olive oil infused with rosemary, sage, and garlic to make a ‘crema’ which was added to the soup); salad of chopped iceberg, boston and green leaf lettuce, thinly sliced red cabbage, and grated carrot with an optional dressing of white balsamic vinegar.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Farfalle in a mushroom sauce (sauteed sliced cremini mushrooms, chopped Spanish onion, roux, mushroom powder, black pepper, fresh rosemary, thyme, smoked paprika, shoyu, minced garlic, mushroom stock); polpetone ((ground beef, pork and chicken mixed with eggs, breadcrumbs, pureed vegetables (carrots, onions, celery, jalapeno and garlic), Worcestershire sauce, HP sauce, thyme, smoked paprika, lots of black pepper, glazed with monastery-made barbecue sauce mixed with HP sauce);
salad of chopped romaine, green leaf and boston lettuce with thinly sliced celery and halved grape tomatoes with an optional dressing made from equal parts mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar, with black pepper and honey.
Thursday Yakuseki:
White and brown Thai jasmine rice; sauteed tofu, chopped Spanish onion, poblano peppers, red bell peppers, gai lan, minced garlic, minced ginger, Thai red curry paste, lime juice, shoyu, a drop of rice vinegar, garnished with roasted, salted peanuts; salad of chopped radicchio, leaf and boston lettuce, romaine, thinly sliced red onion, and red and yellow cherry tomatoes grown by Jinmyo sensei in the dining hall, with a dressing made from blended peanut butter, unseasoned rice vinegar, lime juice, shoyu, honey, garlic, ginger, salt, Korean pepper flakes and chopped coriander stems.
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 the Roshi for the translation of the Rahulavadasutta and commentaries on this sutta in the series "Flowers and Worms" which we are listening to during the Associate sittings, and for the translation of the Sandokai by Shitou Xiqian and commentaries on this in the series "Studying the Mystery" which we are listening to during the general sittings. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for having transcribed so many of the Dharma texts published on the White Wind Zen Community website.
Thank you's from Saigyo ino
Thank you to the Roshi for working with Jinmyo sensei to design the meals each week for retreatants and residents. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for sourcing seeds to experiment with growing edible plants in the grounds and to Stacey Loyer for working to get the seedlings started. Thank you to Mishin godo for the many extra hours of work as treasurer during the busy tax season. Thank you to Ian Reynolds for mending a humidifier, to Krystina Pasut for a thorough cleaning in the monastery kitchen and to Tarik Kaya and Julien Jefferson for samu to sand and paint and new table for the Shuryo. Thank you to Kaleb Shamway for cleaning the monastery paths and front porch during the recent melting of snow and ice.
From Sarah Goul:
Thank you to the Roshi for making the Dharma available through the monastery schedule, forms, teisho and translations. Thank you to the Sensei for a pleasant exchange in the hallway and for many Dharma Talks, in particular the Dharma Talk “Crunch”. Thank you Office of the Tenzo for delicious meals throughout my retreat, particularly for an exceptional salad dressing on Thursday and a favorite - eggs on rice. Thank you to the Godo for clarifications regarding residential training and for the humble but spectacular carrot daikon soup. Thank you to Ino for a wake up call regarding my sitting schedule and for the suggestion of a residential period. Thank you to Yujin for hanging back to help me put away the dishes.
