eMirror Vol 29, No. 36 (2025-09-05)

Painting by 狩野元信 Kanō Motonobu (1476–1559)
eMirror Vol 29, No. 36
Friday, September 5th 2025
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
Yunyan Tansheng, Daowu Yuanzhi, and Guishan Lingyou were all Dharma-brothers under Master Baizhang. There are many koan and mondo about the adventures of the three of them and also many about Yunyan and Daowu. Yunyan and Daowu both came to study with Master Yaoshan. Eventually all become outstanding Zen Masters and they appear in the major koan collections repeatedly. However, as students, perhaps the three might be compared to the Three Stooges of the comic short films from the mid-twentieth century with Guishan as Moe, Daowu as Larry, and Yunyan as Shemp. When Yunyan and Daowu were on their own, they were Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.
There are so many things that we can learn from these great Awakened Ancestors. They show us not only how to understand but what misunderstandings are like. Seeing them at various stages in their training and teaching we can see that, although the tales are stripped down to their essentials and thus heightened in intensity, they were often as we ourselves might tend to be. They fumbled, they froze, they overshot, they fell down, they were caught in embarrassing situations. This can all be quite encouraging, I suppose.
However, more importantly they can show us how they moved past what seemed to bind them and lived a life beyond just eating and burying their shit even while eating and burying their shit. And that any of the stories that we might have about our own incompetence or our own gloriousness are all to be left behind. We might tell ourselves that we are good at something but if we are actually good at it then why do we have to tell ourselves that except out of insecurity? If we tell ourselves that we are no good then why should we bother listening to a no good bum like us? The Awakened Ancestors stepped past all such stories about themselves and found that their bodies and minds were bright and shining, beyond the value of jewels. And so the stories that others have recounted of them can help to show us not only how we tend to be and how to move past that by sitting up straight but to sit, walk, stand, and lie down as who we really are.
-Beginning teisho 5: The Source of Wisdom (Nyuck-Nyuck-Nyuck), Wednesday, May 17, 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): September 10th and 24th.
September Two-day Sesshin:
The September two-day sesshin will begin on Friday, September 12th at 8:00 p.m. and will end on Sunday, September 14th, at 6:00 p.m. Students attending are to send in their schedules as soon as possible.
General Sitting:
On Saturday, September 13th there will be a general sitting in the Zendo. The sitting will begin at 9:30 a.m. (please arrive by 9:15, in time for First Bell) and will end at 11:30 a.m. Students attending are reminded to remain on the first floor.
Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next two Introduction to Zen Workshops will take place on Saturday, September 6th at 1:45 p.m. and November 1st at 1:45 p.m. (There is no workshop in October due to the 7-day Daruma-ki O-sesshin).
To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca ; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa
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.

August Samu Weekend report by Saigyo ino
Over the weekend of August 30th and 31st we held a summer Samu Weekend. 32 students worked with the monastic Sangha on various projects in the monastery and in the grounds. Here are some of the highlights.
Due to some sinking of the concrete supporting the front porch pad, a complete rebuild of the front stairs was required and this was completed over the two days. An extra set of handrails designed by Jinmyo sensei was installed in the centre of the stairs which makes traversing the stairs much safer, especially during the winter months. In the coming weeks the new stairs will be painted and matting and nosing added. Screens will also be built to cover the spaces under the stairs. On the east side of the building next to the front porch a large area of wall and high areas of the porch were scraped, sanded and repainted. This area is near the vents for the boiler and so degrades faster than other exterior areas of the building. The porch screens were cleaned and repainted and a large load of new pea gravel was spread in the areas surrounding the new landscaping at the east side car parking area. Inside the building a great deal of thorough cleaning was done in areas of the monastery that are seldom tackled. This included the Shuryo (library) and deep cleans of Myomaku, the archiving room and storage room. A trailer load of renovation waste was secured and driven to the local waste facility.
Thank you to the Roshi and Jinmyo sensei for designing and planning the meals and to Jinmyo sensei and Mishin godo for preparing the meals and refreshments enjoyed by the participants of the Samu Weekend.
Thank you to the following students who offered their time over the weekend to do caretaking practice and assist the monks in maintaining and improving the practice environment of Dainen-ji:
Senbo, Myocho, Yujin, David Alexander, Shigemi Ichino, Onur Onder, George Donovan, Artik Chauhan, Nicolas Chalifoux, Mario Delisle, Jean-Francois St-Louis, Glenn Murphy, Jeremy Miller, Brandon Smith, Kaleb Shamway, Tarik Kaya, William Hinz, Kelly Babcock, Christina Comeau, Stacey Loyer, Rana Annous, Loïc-Alexandre Ouellette, Krystina Pasut, Greg Parker, Denise Beaudot, Rowan Russell, Ian Reynolds, An Nguyen, Sam MacFarlane, Don Charette, Christian Hansen and Helen Jelich.
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
Laymonk, Chiso anagarika, sat a semi-retreat on September 2nd in her home in Cambridge, Ma. General public student Brian Lakeman sat a half-day retreat on Sunday, August 30th at his home in Brampton, Ontario. Associate student Onur Onder sat a three-day retreat from Tuesday, September 2nd to Thursday, September 4th at Dainen-ji. General student Artik Chauhan sat a one-day retreat on Wednesday, September 3rd at Dainen-ji. Kathleen Johnson sat a half-day retreat on Thursday, September 4th at Dainen-ji. Tarik Kaya began a three-day retreat on Friday, September 5th which concluded on Sunday, September 7th. General student Mario Delisle sat a half-day retreat on Thursday, September 4th at Dainen-ji.
Congratulations
Congratulations and deep gassho to David Alexander on being accepted as a probationary formal student by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei, during the morning formal sitting on Thursday, August 21st. David was accepted as an associate student on June 13th, 2023; and as a general student in May of 2024. Congratulations and deep gassho to Krystina Pasut of Ottawa who has been accepted as an associate student.
Recorded Teachings Schedule
Listening to Recorded Teisho and Dharma Talks
September 6th to September 13th
General sitting Saturday, September 6th: Without Difficulty: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on "Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness" by Jianzhi Sengcan: Teisho 14: A Single Suchness (16 minutes)
Formal sitting Sunday, September 7th: SAkN "Transcending Sleep, Dreams, Death, and Everything Else" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: Teisho 2: Closing verse and comments (6 minutes)
Associate sittings Monday, September 8th and Thursday, September 11th: Sitting Up Straight: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on Keizan Jokin zenji's "Zazen Yojinki": Teisho 15: It's Just That Simple (20 minutes)
General sitting Saturday, September 13th: Without Difficulty: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on "Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness" by Jianzhi Sengcan: Teisho 15: Resting in Motion (17 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.
Samu Weekend Mid-day Meals:
Saturday: Basmati white and brown rice; chopped red onion, diced sweet potatoes, diced carrots, minced garlic, chopped daikon, chopped green cabbage, Thai red curry paste, tamarind paste, peanut butter, light and dark soy sauce, small amount of maple syrup, coconut milk, served with toasted peanuts; chopped cantaloupe with Tajin.
Sunday: Thai white and brown rice mixed with chopped scallions; deep-fried sliced tofu in a batter made from all purpose flour, corn starch, finely minced garlic, finely chopped scallions, coriander powder, minced red ‘pencil’ chillies and salt; chopped pineapple.
The following meals were made on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings:
Monday Yakuseki:
Fried rice cakes (mixed grain leftover from the Samu Weekend, mixed with all-purpose flour and a bit of potato starch, seasoned with coriander seeds, cumin seeds, Fenugreek seeds, black mustard seeds, cinnamon, cardamom, Kashmiri chilies, peppercorns, curry leaves, ground turmeric; toor dal, cumin and mustard seeds, hing, dried red chillies, green chillies, ginger/garlic paste, chopped tomatoes and onions, garam masala, Kashmiri chilli powder, dried fenugreek leaves, fresh coriander; Napa cabbage salad (thinly sliced Napa cabbage, white onion, carrots, and daikon) with an optional dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, dijon, and apple cider vinegar with lime pickle and mango pickle.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Naan baked with grated cheddar cheese; corn chowder (diced onion, carrots, celery, minced garlic, diced potatoes, corn kernels blended with vegetable stock to form a thick soup base, whole kernels of corn, cumin, chipotle adobo, apple cider vinegar, Old Bay Seasoning, lots of black pepper; coleslaw of thinly sliced green cabbage, white onion, and carrot dressed with mayonnaise, horseradish, Dijon mustard, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
Thursday Yakuseki:
Minestrone (small shell pasta, chopped red and white onion, carrots, celery, minced garlic, chopped poblano and red bell peppers, zucchini, green cabbage, strained tomatoes, chilli flakes, black pepper, a pinch of cumin, oregano, fresh basil leaves, fresh parsley, pinto and red kidney beans, red balsamic vinegar; rosemary ‘triangle’ buns, toasted in the oven); salad of chopped romaine and green leaf lettuce with thinly sliced celery, chopped radishes, and julienned white onion with an optional balsamic vinegar dressing.

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 establishing Dainen-ji, the structure of training and practice for monastics and lay students, and overseeing all aspects of the practice environment including traditional monastic offices such as the Office of the Tenzo. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for her decades of work as the monastery tenzo (working with the Roshi on the design of the meals), purchase of groceries and ingredients, and preparation of meals for retreatants, for sesshin and O-sesshin meals, for residents, and during practice events, and for creating binders with hundreds of recipes of tried and tested dishes, and for constant innovations. Thank you to Saigyo ino for building an entirely new front porch staircase complete with middle handrail designed by Jinmyo sensei with the help of other students during the Samu Weekend to replace the deteriorated unsafe stairs. Thank you to Senbo, Fushin shuso, and Yujin for work on the migration to the newly launched AirSonic streaming platform for the WWZC Recorded Teachings Library.
From Senbo:
Thank you to Mishin godo for a wonderful Sunday morning breakfast, consisting of Mayak Gyeran (Korean "drug eggs") over rice, and for preparing and sending emails to students with instructions for the new Recorded Teachings Library; to Saigyo ino for organizing, assigning and overseeing samu tasks over the samu weekend; to Yujin for countless hours spent overseeing the development of the new website and the review of its content as well as developing the new Recorded Teachings streaming platform; to Ian Reynolds for developing the upcoming new Great Matter online store and for documenting the development of the new website on Github.
From David Alexander:
Thank you to the Office of the Shissui for holding a fun and productive Samu Weekend; to the Office of the Tenzo for preparing delicious meals and refreshment; and, to the students who participated. Thank you to Fushin shuso for detailed instruction about cleaning incense bowls.
From Artik Chauhan:
Thank you to Saigyo ino for encouraging to practice with fear, self-talks and assisting throughout my retreat. Thank you Godo for a very helpful practice interview, for showing how I hold myself back and for always correcting my forms. Thank you Roshi for thousands of teachings and making this practice available for anyone who wants to practice.
From Stacey Loyer:
Thank you to the Roshi for creating recorded teisho so that students can listen to recordings as part of our practice at home. Thank you to Mishin godo for helping me with the side door. Thank you to Saigyo ino for coordinating the recent Samu weekend, and for responding to my questions about maintaining the grounds. Thank you to Yujin for organizing the webpage review for the new website. Thank you to all the students who helped install the new front steps at Dainen-ji.
From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to the following for donations towards the Samu Weekend: Matt Broda, Stephanie Houle, An Nguyen, Linda Rombough, Alexander de Wit, and an anonymous donor.