eMirror Vol 28, No. 22 (2024-05-31)
Dainen-ji Chimney Crow,
Photograph by Ven. Mishin godo
eMirror Vol 28, No. 22
Friday, May 31st, 2024
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
In meeting Miccaka, Vasumitra is pulled past what has defined his life, pulled past self and other and a world of things. Rather than holding onto his most important possession, he put it down before Miccaka and questioned it. And then Keizan zenji says,
This is where Teacher and student can truly meet. When there is nothing obscuring anything you can receive my transmission. Because there is nothing but your own Actual Nature, there is nothing to be received or given.
Penetrate this and there is nothing that we can call “Teacher” or “student.” In this way the student clambers up over the Teacher’s head and the Teacher is the ground on which the student can stand up.
Here there is no duality, no separation. There is nothing to be called a “bowl.” The disappearance of the bowl shows the realization of the path between Miccaka and Vasumitra.
If you reach it here and now, it isn’t your old body or mind anymore so we can’t speak of past or present, let alone something that was born or dies, comes and goes. How will you hold on to that skin, meat, bones and marrow? This is a realm in which the sky is thick as a single mass with nothing before or behind, inside or out.
As, you can see, it can be hard to draw forth something useful from the Indian stories. Keizan zenji does wonderful work of it here. Dogen zenji rarely makes reference to the Indian legends but at this point in the text Koku he picks up one of the traditional Transmission verses attributed to those Ancestors.
The seventh Ancestor Vasumitra said,
“Awareness is the same as sky-like space
revealing reality as a sky-like expanse.
Experiencing this expanse of space
there is nothing to accept or deny.”
This is Vasumitra daiosho’s Transmission verse to his heir Buddhanandi. Each of the Indian Ancestors down even to the Sixth Chinese Ancestor were said to have chanted a gatha or verse as well as passing on the robe and bowl as symbols of the Transmission. Most of these are stiff and unimpressive. Vasumitra’s verse isn’t particularly wonderful, but it brings forth another way of speaking of open space.
-Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, Teisho 8: "Passing Through, Passing Past”, February 16, 2001, in the series "Playing With Space: Commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji's Koku”
The Hatto (for formal sittings)
The Zendo (for associate and general sittings)
Practice Schedule and Upcoming Events
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.
Sunday Formal Sitting: The Sunday morning formal sittings are reserved for monastics, formal students, and probationary formal students.
Fusatsu (Renewal of Vows): June 5th and June 19th.
Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next two Introduction to Zen Workshops will take place on Saturday, June 1st and Saturday, July 6th, at 1:45 p.m. 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 until the COVID-19 situation clarifies.
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.
Congratulations
Congratulations and deep gassho to David Alexander of Ottawa who has been accepted as a general student and to Julian Yates of Hamilton who has been accepted as a general public student.
Retreats and Training Sessions
Rev. Chiso anagarika sat a semi-retreat on Tuesday, May 28th in Berkshires, Massachusetts. Aaron Ford sat a two-day retreat on Saturday, May 25th and Sunday, May 26th at his home in Calgary, Alberta.
If you are a student of Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi and would like to sit a retreat at Dainen-ji, please email schedule@wwzc.org to register a week in advance. For further information please visit this page: https://wwzc.org/retreats
If you are a public student and would like to sit a retreat at home please follow the schedule outlined in this page: https://wwzc.org/retreat-schedule-public-students. After your retreat, please send an email to schedule@wwzc.org to confirm that you sat a retreat and include the duration and location.
If you would like to engage in a training session either at the monastery or at home by aligning with the schedule of the monastery, please read the information on this page:
https://wwzc.org/training-sessions
Recorded Teachings Schedule
Saturday, June 1st to Saturday, June 8th
Saturday, June 1st general sitting: “Without Difficulty”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Jianzhi Sengcan's “Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness”: “The Importance of Earnestly Being” (teisho 19 of 25, 28 minutes)
Sunday, June 2nd formal sitting: SAkN The Self-Secret Matrix of the Total Field: "Only Knowing Is" (4 of 5, 22 minutes)
Monday, June 3rd associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "Four Ways of Working with Energy" (59 of 71, 18 minutes)
Thursday, June 5th associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "Four Ways of Working with Energy" (59 of 71, 18 minutes)
Saturday, June 8th general sitting: “Without Difficulty”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Jianzhi Sengcan's “Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness”: “Existence Stands Out” (teisho 20 of 25, 20 minutes)
Recorded teisho playback schedule during the June Sesshin.
Saturday, June 8th: SAkN Presencing the Open Body: "The Fundamental Process of Self-image" (4 of 5, 36 minutes)
Listening to Teisho and Dharma Talks
Associate and general students should continue to follow the recorded Teachings schedule for the sitting you were attending at the monastery, and listen to that during your home practice.
You can access the online Recorded Teachings Library at wwzc.org/recorded-teachings-schedule.
You can also use the streaming site at app.wwzc.org to live stream recordings from the online Library. If you have forgotten your password or need assistance with accessing the recorded Teachings, please email schedule@wwzc.org.
Please note that teisho should be listened to in the correct order and with none missed out as themes, metaphors, questions raised and answered evolve in spirals throughout the series.
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 https://wwzc.org/dharma-position
Eyes See, Ears Hear https://wwzc.org/eyes-see-ears-hear
Embarrassment https://wwzc.org/embarrassment
Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi's reading of his translation of Eihei Dogen zenji's “Bendowa: A Talk on Exerting the Way”: https://wwzc.org/bendowa-talk-exerting-way
Translations and Texts
Photograph of Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Daijozan, mid-1980s,
by Ven. Shikai Zuiko sensei
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 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 ongoing.
Roshi is also finishing 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
“Kwannon”: A teisho by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, transcript of a teisho presented on May 6, 1986, at River Road Zendo
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/kwannon
“Cultivation of the Ground of Mind”: transcript of a teisho Presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, on June 4, 1989
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/cultivation-ground-mind
The Practice of Boards and Stones” teisho presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, on June 18, 1989
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/practice-boards-and-stones
"Difficulty, Strangeness, Beauty": transcript of a Dharma Talk presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, December 13, 1988: https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/difficulty-strangeness-beauty
"Standing in the Rain (Tangaryo)": transcript of Dharma Talk presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, December 15th, 1988: https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/standing-rain-tangaryo
"Snow": transcript of Dharma Talk presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, November 18, 1989: https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/snow
Bargeboard Restoration
From the “Heritage Conservation Glossary”: Bargeboard (bordure de pignon): Boards or other decorative woodwork fixed to the edges or projecting rafters of a gabled roof, sometimes called “gingerbread”.
Being subjected to the extreme fluctuation of Ottawa’s freezing, dry winters and the heat and humidity of summers for 150 years have taken their toll on the monastery’s elaborate gingerbread. Some of it is so old and damaged that it was necessary to take it down before it fell down. Other areas are badly cracked and all of it needs restoration, sanding and repainting.
From across Friel street showing the height of the window in the above photograph.
As all of the gingerbread is four floors up and difficult to access because of the steep pitch of our roofs, this is not work we can do ourselves. It is going to require someone skilled in the use of a “cherry picker” and scaffolding, and will also require excellent carpentry skills as some of the gingerbread will need to be recreated. And so we are beginning the process of finding a company that we can hire to do the work.
In the meantime, the Caretaking Council (monastics Saigyo ino and Fushin shuso) are “ringing the bell” to let the Sangha know that help will be needed.
In Japan, monastics traditionally walk "Takuhatsu” or “Alms Round". They wear a straw hat that hides their eyes and they carry a bell and an alms bowl. As they walk they strike the bell to let people know that there is need. But their eyes cannot be seen below the brim of their straw hat and so they do not look directly at anyone, whether they put something in the alms bowl or do not. Their purpose is to simply let the community know that there is need.
We are pointing to the need, not to or at anyone or how large or small the dana is being offered.
Request for help with upkeep of the monastery grounds
If you would like to help with the upkeep and improvements to the monastery grounds through the summer months your help would be much appreciated. A regular commitment of an hour or two each week would go a long way to keeping the gardens looking good for the sangha and visitors we have at Dainen-ji. Saigyo ino will provide all of the instruction so even if you don't know much about gardening this is no problem. Please write to Saigyo ino at saigyo.cross@gmail.com if you would like to get involved. Thank you.
Office of the Tenzo
Dogen zenji taught in the Tenzo Kyokun: Instructions for the Tenzo (Tenzo kyokun: Instructions for the Tenzo | White Wind Zen Community) 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 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 Yakuseki:
Linguine with a rose sauce (passata with sauteed onion, basil, oregano, black pepper, chilli flakes, cream, served with Parmesan cheese; “greens and beans” (baby gai lan fried on the griddle in rice bran oil and butter with red kidney beans, salt, black pepper and balsamic vinegar; cubed friulano cheese mixed with green olives stuffed with almonds.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Vegetarian option: tofu pie: sauteed medium-firm tofu in a parsley sauce (roux made from bran oil and flour, mixed with cashew milk, seasoned with old bay seasoning, mixed with finely chopped parsley and topped with mashed potatoes. Served with peas, carrots and corn.
For those who wished to supplement their diet with fish, the same pies mentioned above were made but we used chopped, cooked, basa fillets rather than tofu, with peas, carrots and corn.
Thursday Yakuseki:
Penne pasta with garlic-butter sauce (butter, bran oil, minced garlic, chopped white onion, lime juice, vegan ‘chicken bouillon’ powder; chopped radicchio grilled with butter and red balsamic vinegar, tossed with cubed feta cheese and toasted walnuts; tomato soup (blended cooked carrots, celery, garlic, onion, san Marzano tomatoes, Italian seasonings and a small amount of cream.
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 Loic Ouellette
Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for providing precise and profoundly helpful instruction during daisan.
From David Alexander:
Thank you to the Roshi for accepting me as a general student. Thank you to Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for instruction and guidance during practice interviews. Thank you to the office of Tenzo for many delicious Thursday evening suppers.
From Julian Yates:
Thank you and deep gassho to the Roshi for accepting me as a general public student.
