eMirror Vol 29, No. 50 (2025-12-12)
Butsudan in the Shuryo (Library),
Photograph by Ven. Mishin Roelofs godo
eMirror Vol 29, No. 50
Friday, December 12th, 2025
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
The rain that has fallen over the last days is gone but the lushness of the air and the lustrous shades of green of the trees show it still. The Dharma of Yaoshan was received by Yaoshan and transmitted by Yaoshan and is shown even now in this very hall.
Tonight we will consider a Teaching by Yaoshan that echoes chapter nine of the Vimalakirti Nirdesa sutra, in which Vimalakirti asks the multitude of bodhisattvas including Manjusri, the embodiment of radical insight, who have assembled in his hut to express their understanding of Advaya-dharma-mukha-pravesa, the Gate of Nondual Reality. Each gave an answer stating two opposing principles and then a nondual understanding. For example:
Srikuta, Highest Peak, being open to Openness, said, "Defilement and purity are a duality. When the nature of defilement is known, concepts of purification cease to arise. Cessation of these concepts is the Gate of Nondual Reality."
Bhadrajyotis, Beautiful Light, being open to Openness, said, "Reactivity and open attention are two opposites. When there is no reactivity, there is no focusing and framing, no movement of attention as a vector of intentionality, and no conceptualizing. Thus, releasing reactivity is the Gate of Nondual Reality."
Subahu, Good Arm, being open to Openness, said, "The mind of opening to Openness and the mind of renunciation and recoil are a duality. If the mind is seen as illusory, then neither of these minds can be found. This is the Gate of Nondual Reality."
This goes on for many pages until:
After the Wakeful ones had all spoken, they asked Manjusri how he would express the Gate of Nondual Reality.
Manjusri said, "Good friends, you have all said some good things but your explanations are all still dualistic. There is nothing to teach. Nothing to express. Nothing to say. No explanation. Nothing to proclaim. Nothing to point to. Nothing to refer to. This is the Gate of Nondual Reality."
Then the noble Manjusri asked Vimalakirti, "All of us have spoken; please, now why don't you tell us of the Gate of Nondual Reality."
Vimalakirti kept silent, saying not a word,
At that, Manjusri exclaimed, "Excellent, excellent, good friend. This is truly the Gate of Nondual Reality. Here there is no need for syllables, sounds, or ideas."
Vimalakirti’s silence was an answer, a statement, because of the context which framed it. If Vimalakirti had not been asked the question and was just silent, as he had been throughout while listening to the bodhisattvas speak, it would not have said anything. But given the context of Manjusri’s question it became a silence which spoke.
-Beginning 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): December 17th, and 31st.
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.
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
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
Rev. Chiso anagarika sat her weekly semi-retreat on Tuesday, December 9th in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Deshi, Isshin, sat a week-long retreat in alignment with the O-sesshin schedule, in her home in Saint John, N.B. General student Mario Delisle sat a partial retreat on Monday, December 8th at Dainen-ji. Associate student Onur Onder began an eight-day retreat on Tuesday, December 9th which concludes on Monday, December 15th at Dainen-ji. General public student Beth Buerkle sat a one-day retreat on Tuesday, December 9th at her home in Chamcook, New Brunswick. General public student Sarah Goul sat a three-day retreat from the evening of Tuesday, December 9th which finishes on Friday, December 12th at Dainen-ji. General public student Elizabeth Eve arrived at Dainen-ji on Thursday, December 11th and will sit for two periods of retreat during her stay, leaving on Thursday, December 18th. Associate student Kathleen Johnson sat a half-day on Thursday, December 11th at Dainen-ji.
Recorded Teachings Schedule
Listening to Recorded Teisho and Dharma Talks
December 13th to December 20th:
General sitting Saturday, December 13th: Without Difficulty: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin’s Commentaries on “Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness” by Jianzhi Sengcan: Teisho 25: Three Cases of Zhaozhou part two (Hekiganroku 57-59) (20 minutes)
Formal sitting Sunday, December 14th: SAkN Root Cycle Five: The Field of Open Knowing: Teisho 4 of 5: Unborn (21 minutes)
Associate sittings Monday, December 15th and Thursday, December 18th: "Measureless" by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei (5 minutes)
General sitting Saturday, December 20th: The Primordially Awakened Way: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji's "Kobutsu-shin": Reading of the text "Kobutsu-shin" (14 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 during the the last three days of the Rohatsu O-sesshin:
Friday:
Breakfast: Butternut squash congee (leftover mixed white and brown Calrose rice and Thai white rice, diced roasted butternut squash, minced garlic, salt, black pepper) with toasted pumpkin seeds, garnished with a drizzle of black vinegar and roasted chile oil.
Lunch: White and brown Thai jasmine rice garnished with sauteed daikon; spicy wakame seaweed soup (leftover strained miso shiru broth and shiitake mushrooms, wakame, ginger, shoyu, roasted chile oil, with silken tofu); baechu kimchi.
Supper: Basmati white and brown rice cooked with turmeric, sauteed cubed Yukon gold potatoes, diced carrots, caramelised onion, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, cinnamon, cardamom, Kashmiri chilies, peppercorns, curry leaves, dried currants; Punjabi-style tomato soup (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, caramelized diced Spanish onion, and red lentils); sliced fresh cantaloupe.
Saturday:
Breakfast: Fried rice (leftover white and brown basmati rice with potatoes, chopped Spanish onion, red bell peppers, green peas); scrambled eggs.
Lunch: Calrose rice garnished with gomashio (toasted ground sesame seeds and salt); miso shiru (broth made from kombu, slivered ginger, shiro miso, fresh shiitake mushrooms, Shanghai bok choy, shoyu, mirin, rice vinegar); takuan and gari.
Supper: Conchiglie pasta with tomato sauce and red kidney beans (extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, dried oregano, tomato paste, whole peeled tomatoes, basil kosher salt, red kidney beans); vegetable soup (vegetable stock, mushroom powder, minced garlic, diced carrots, onion and celery, red bell peppers, poblano peppers, zucchini, black pepper, teaspoon of HP sauce); cubed friulano cheese mixed with artichoke hearts and lemon zest.
Sunday:
Breakfast: Fried pasta (leftover conchiglie pasta, diced red onion, diced red bell and poblano peppers); scrambled eggs.
Lunch: Korean-style fried kimchi rice (leftover Thai white and brown rice and Lundberg brown rice, chopped baechu kimchi); spicy wakame seaweed soup (leftover strained miso shiru broth and shiitake mushrooms, wakame, ginger, shoyu, roasted chile oil, with silken tofu); Korean cucumber pickle (chopped cucumber, rice vinegar, gochugaru Korean chile powder, shoyu, salt, sugar).
Supper: Coconut rice (white and brown Thai rice, diluted coconut milk); mango curry with chickpeas (ground onions, tomatoes, ginger and garlic sauteed and then spiced with Kashmiri chilli, fennel seeds, cardamom, cinnamon, fresh coriander, garam masala, coconut cream, diced mango and yogurt); pineapple with lime pickle (sliced fresh pineapple, minced lime pickle, minced mango pickle, lime juice, salt, chillies, and finely sliced scallions).
The following meals were prepared on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, following the Rohatsu O-sesshin:
Monday:
Ramen noodles; medium-firm tofu sauteed and then braised in vegetable stock with shoyu, chili sauce, garlic, with added chopped diced carrots, onion and celery, red bell peppers, poblano peppers, zucchini, black pepper; baechu kimchi.
Tuesday:
Vegetarian option:
Corn chips; chilli (whole and diced tomatoes, tomato juice, red kidney beans, sauteed chopped onion, red bell peppers and poblano peppers, chipotle adobo, Yeo’s hot chilli sauce, Mexican chilli sauce, ancho powder, gochugaru, cumin, and oregano, served with sour cream; coleslaw of thinly sliced green cabbage, white onion, and carrot with a dressing of mayonnaise, horseradish, Dijon mustard, lime juice, salt and black pepper.
For those who wished to supplement their diet with meat:
The same meal listed above with the addition of seared ground beef to the chilli.
Thursday:
Macaroni and bean cream (blended cannellini beans, cooked carrots, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, mustard powder, porcini mushrooms, citric acid, white pepper, Farm Boy “smoked gouda” vegan cheese, lion’s mane mushroom powder, served with a topping of toasted panko mixed with onion and garlic powder, salt and black pepper); stewed San Marzano tomatoes seasoned with oregano, smoked paprika, chilli flakes, salt and pepper; salad of chopped green leaf lettuce, romaine, radicchio, thinly sliced celery and slivered red onion with an optional dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard with honey and black 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 Jinmyo sensei:
Thank you to the Roshi for a last-minute pickle suggestion for oryoki: sliced fresh pineapple, minced lime pickle, minced mango pickle, lime juice, salt, chillies, and finely sliced scallions -- delicious.
From Mishin godo:
Thank you to the Roshi for designing the annual Jodo-e commemoration of the Buddha's enlightenment celebrated every December 8th, with the recorded reading of Denkoroku Case 1: Shakyamuni Buddha, with candles lit through the day in the practice halls and dokusan room, the morning chanting of the Shakyamuni mantra as we circumambulate the Hatto then one by one, the O-sesshin practitioners offer incense at the various stations and finally in front of the Buddha rupa on the front porch. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for leading the Jodo-e celebration and for clarifying oryoki forms and the activities of monks, deshi, and probationary deshi throughout the Rohatsu O-sesshin.
From Shannon Craig:
Thank you to Anzan Hoshin roshi for making your Teachings available to students and monastics and for the many hours skillfully translating texts; to Jinmyo sensei for the recording of The Touchstone and for showing humour even while pointing to the importance of continual practice; to Mishin godo for the care you show preliminary, associate and general students and for the kind persistence in teaching the forms and reminders to students to practice; to Saigyo ino for consistently being available to students and the care of the practice environment while also doing your work outside the monastery; to Fushin shuso for the many years you’ve spent on the practice environment and supporting students and monastics while also working a full time day job.
