eMirror Vol 30, No. 1 (2026-01-02)
Wolvile Zazenkai's outside rupa and lantern,
Photograph by Dr. Jinen S. Boates
eMirror Vol 30, No. 1
Friday, January 2nd, 2026
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
This was also collected in the Shoyoroku and is included in the back of Medicine Mountain. I’ll read it for you now.
Shoyoroku Case 7:
Yaoshan Ascends the Seat
Wansong Xingxiu’s Pointers:
Eyes, ears, nose, tongue --- each do what they do. Eyebrows are up here. Warriors, farmers, artisans and merchants --- each have their own tasks. One who is truly useless is always at ease. How does the Zen master use skillful means?
The Koan:
Yaoshan hadn’t ascended the teaching seat for a long time. The monastic in charge of coordinating the temple’s activities said, “Everyone has been waiting for some teachings for a long time. Please, master, present the teachings for the community.”
Yaoshan told him to strike the bell. When the community had gathered, Yaoshan ascended the seat. After sitting there for a while, he descended the seat and went back to his room.
The monastic followed after him and said, “You had agreed to teach the community but you didn’t say a single word. Why?”
Yaoshan said, “Sutra-teachers teach about the sutras and commentary-teachers teach about the commentaries. What do you want to ask this old monastic about?”
Dogen’s Comments:
Dogen said: What Yaoshan wanted to say is that upraised fists have teachers of fists, awakened vision has teachers of awakened vision. Anyway, the monastic should have just asked Yaoshan, “I’m not questioning your actions, I’m asking what is it that you teach?” (Shobogenzo 30: Kangin: Studying the Sutras)
Tiantong Hongzhi’s Verse:
Give a foolish child some leaves
and say it's “money” to stop his tantrum.
The finest horse runs like the wind
after seeing only the shadow of the whip.
Clouds sweep the vast sky
and the white crane nests in the moon.
Cold and clear, her bones ache
so she can’t nod off.
In his comments from Kangin, Dogen zenji says that Yaoshan is a teacher of Yaoshan, that Yaoshan himself is the Teaching. Whether with an upraised fist or awakened vision or sitting down and standing up, coming or going, Yaoshan’s Dharma is Yaoshan himself. He then suggests how the monk could have pressed Yaoshan to reveal himself further: “I’m not questioning your actions, I’m asking what is that you teach?” It is unfortunate that the monk didn’t say this because Yaoshan’s answer might have been even funnier than his taking the seat and leaving the seat.
-Continuing teisho 7: Yaoshan Sits Down and Gets Up,Saturday, 18 June 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): January 21st
Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place on Saturday, January 3rd at 1:45 p.m.
To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca ; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa
January Two-day Sesshin:
The January two-day sesshin will begin on Friday, January 16th at 8:00 p.m. and will end on Sunday, January 18th at 6:00 p.m. Probationary formal students and formal students attending are asked to send their schedules as soon as possible.
General Sitting On January 17th:
On Saturday, January 17th, 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.
Daiji-ki:
January 22nd is the memorial of the date of death of Daiji Tenku daiosho, who was the Teacher of Joshu Dainen daiosho, both of whom Anzan Hoshin roshi studied with.
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 Tarik Kaya sat a two-day retreat on Friday, December 26th and Saturday, December 27th at Dainen-ji. General public student Sarah Goul arrived at Dainen-ji on Thursday, January 1st to begin a three-day retreat.
Recorded Teachings Schedule
Listening to Recorded Teisho and Dharma Talks
January 3rd to January 10th:
General sitting Saturday, January 3rd: The Primordially Awakened Way: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji's "Kobutsu-shin": Teisho 2: Assorted Old Buddhas (22 minutes)
Formal sitting Sunday, January 4th: SAkN “The Anatomy of Awakening" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: Teisho 2: Living the Body (32 minutes)
Associate sittings Monday, January 5th and Thursday, January 8th: Freedom and Tyranny" by Ven. Shikai Zuiko o-sensei: Dharma Talk 2: Isms and Ists: The Language of Self-image (18 minutes)
General sitting Saturday, January 10th: The Primordially Awakened Way: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji's "Kobutsu-shin": Teisho 3: Subtle and Mysterious Mind (19 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.
The following meals were prepared on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings:
Monday:
Roasted garlic crostini (thickly sliced bread brushed with a mix of rice bran oil, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, dried oregano, Italian spices); minestrone (San Marzano tomatoes, chopped Spanish onion, leeks, poblano and red bell peppers, cremini mushrooms, carrots, minced garlic, chopped fresh parsley, thyme, oregano, basil, Parmesan cheese); salad of chopped radicchio, romaine and green leaf lettuce, thinly sliced celery and cucumber, served with optional white balsamic dressing.
Tuesday:
‘Bubble and squeak’ (leftovers from Festivus meal - chopped roast potatoes, seared brussel sprouts, green beans, broccoli, seared cabbage, vegetarian stuffing); served with crispy vegetable fritters (leftover cooked peas, diced carrots and corn, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, garlic powder, egg, milk, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions) with a yogurt dipping sauce; sliced roasted pork in a mushroom gravy (roux, diced Spanish onion, seared sliced cremini mushrooms, mushroom stock, fresh parsley, thyme, smoked paprika, shoyu, garlic); cranberry sauce (cranberries, minced apples, tangerine juice and zest, pinch of salt, sugar).
Thursday:
Udon noodles in chile-garlic sauce (noodles, thin strips of Spanish onion, poblano and red bell peppers, thinly sliced ginger, scallions, reduced sodium shoyu, minced garlic, sambal oelek, vegetarian oyster sauce, ginger and sesame oil); wakame seaweed soup; Korean mayak eggs (6-minute soft boiled eggs marinated in light shoyu, water, honey, minced garlic, minced green chile peppers, sesame oil, minced white onion, garnished with sesame oil and chopped scallions); chopped Asian pears mixed with lime juice and chile flakes.

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 all of the teisho he has presented at Joya (new year's celebration) over the past several decades, including the Joya 2016 teisho "Cause for Celebration" the recording of which we listened to during Joya 2025. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for leading Joya and Fusatsu (renewal of the precept for monastics and deshi) and for all of the recipes and food preparation techniques she has instructed me in while training me as tenzo-anja.
From Senbo:
Thank you to Roshi for this wonderful poem, written in January 2025:
Wintering wind,
Ghosts of music and voices
Raising spectres above the snow
Of white fields to the treeline.
Amidst the branches
The voices divide but multiply.
Birds shelter quietly
As nests of squirrels chirp murmurs.
Deer hooves break snowcrust
And wolves quietly pad into a circle.
Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for regular dokusan and for promptly finding me a flu vaccine appointment during the latest o-sesshin; to Myocho for taking care of shipping & handling for Great Matter Publications; to Ian Reynolds for fine-tuning the online Great Matter Publication bookstore.
From Yujin:
Thank you to Roshi for establishing Dainen-ji; a vast and rich practice environment that has been of immeasurable benefit to myself and countless other students. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for leading Joya on Wednesday evening this week - always the best way to ring in the new year. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for the priceless gift of much dokusan and instruction over the past year, and for often showing me when I need to turn my head and look in a different direction. Thank you to Mishin godo for many hours of treasurer work each year. Thank you to Saigyo ino for organizing a large number of samu activities throughout the year. Thank you to Fushin shuso for regular guidance on the best ways to take care of various samu tasks at Dainen-ji.
From Shigemi Ichino:
Thank you to everyone. monastics and students, for keeping in order at the temple, and special thanks to Fushin shuso for attending every Thursday evening for sitting.
From Krystina Pasut:
Thank you to the Roshi for the Teachings I have received thus far, making formal practices available to me during retreat, and guiding the community that I may practice with; to Jinmyo sensei for many teisho, namely The Touchstone series, and the fascinating eMirror newsletter; to the Office of the Tenzo for delicious meals during retreat; to Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for warmly accommodating me during retreat, reviewing forms, and for invaluable practice interviews over the past months.