eMirror Vol 29, No. 48 (2025-11-28)
Enso by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi
eMirror Vol 29, No. 48
Friday, November 28th, 2025
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
Someone asked Yaoshan, “What is nirvana?”
Yaoshan said, “What was your name before you were born?”
Nirvana is being completely blown out and away, having vanished like a candle flame that has been extinguished. You cannot say that the flame has gone anywhere. It has not gone north or south, to the east or the west. Being beyond reference point while there is a body that eats and buries its shit is nirvana. But the term also means that when the bodymind is completely dead then there is not even that trace to be pointed to. Your true name is the name you had before you were born and after you die. Your true face is the Original Face that is primordially before all events including the birth of your parents and grandparents. What is realized as nirvana is what you always already were.
-Continuing teisho 6: Yaoshan’s Single Phrase, Thursday, May 19, 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 3rd, 17th, and 31st.
Rohatsu O-sesshin:
The Rohatsu Seven-day O-sesshin will begin on Monday, December 1st, at 8:00 p.m., and will end on Monday, December 8th, at 8:00 a.m., following Jodo-e (commemorating the Buddha's Awakening). Formal students are asked to send in their schedules as soon as possible.
Cancelled Associate Sittings:
The associate sittings that would normally take place on the evenings of Monday, December 1st and Thursday, December 4th, are cancelled due to O-sesshin.
Combined Sitting on December 6th
This will be the only sitting open to associate and general students during the Rohatsu O-sesshin (December 1st-8th). First Bell is at 9:15 a.m. The sitting ends at 11:30 a.m. Students are reminded to stay on the first floor. Register to attend the Combined Sitting
A Note to Preliminary and Public Students Concerning O-sesshin
During an O-sesshin the schedule is such that there is no time to meet face to face with preliminary students or to reply to email correspondence sent by public students. Public students are asked to send their weekly practice journals, as they will be reviewed. But unless there is something that needs an immediate reply, you will not receive an email reply until the week following the O-sesshin.
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.
Samu Weekend report by Ven. Saigyo ino
Over the weekend of Saturday, November 22nd and Sunday November 23rd, 30 students attended our early winter Samu Weekend and offered their time to assist the monks with improvements and maintenance of Dainen-ji. A huge amount of work was completed and here are some of the highlights:
In the Zendo, students worked to repair the walls and install new speakers. It has been quite a bad year for new cracks in the old plaster walls of the monastery, most likely due to the very dry summer and subsequent shrinking and compaction of the soil. This creates small movements in the structure of the building, enough to open old cracks and form new ones. At the same time as repairing the cracks in Zendo we used the opportunity to install new speakers in the ceiling, improving the sound quality and dispersion through the room during the presentation of the recorded teisho and Dharma Talks. The rear sash window was repaired and the Zendo is also being fully repainted which has continued this week. Almost all of the public areas of the monastery were thoroughly cleaned, a huge task that takes many hands and many hours to complete fully. Radiators, fans, bookcases, floors, walls, mats and cupboards were all cleaned. New exterior matting and slip proof bullnosing was installed on the front steps, the cleaning cloths were tagged with sewn markers to distinguish them from the other cloths we use daily in the building and full length mirrors were installed in various spaces so students can more easily adjust their practice clothing. The archiving room was re-arranged to facilitate the placement of the new amplifier for the Zendo speakers and a new desk was installed in Myomaku for study. The basement hallwall stone wall was scraped, primed and painted, touch-up painting was done though the building and the laundry room storage unit secured properly. Zafus were repaired, two 3-D printed ringstaff finials were sanded and painted, light fixtures were dismantled and cleaned fully and the large grape vine on the back porch arbor was trimmed back.
Thank you to the Roshi and Jinmyo sensei for designing the lovely midday meals enjoyed by those students who stayed through the full day of work and to Jinmyo sensei and Mishin godo for preparing the meals and refreshments.
Thank you to the following students who offered samu: Senbo, Myocho, Yujin, David Alexander, George Donovan, Daniel Roach, An Nguyen, Alexander de-Wit, Ian Reynolds, Tarik Kaya, Luis Rene Fumero Leon, Shannon Morphew, Onur Onder, Jeremy Miller, Matt Broda, Jean-Francois St-Louis, Stacey Loyer, Rowan Russell, Carl Anderson, Stephanie Houle, Linda Rombough, Nicolas Chalifoux, Don Charette, Greg Parker, Rana Annous, Loïc-Alexandre Ouellette, Sean Rombough, Sam MacFarlane, Mario Delisle and Claude Schryer.
Retreats and Training Sessions
Information About Scheduling Retreats or Training Sessions
Mario Delisle sat a one-day retreat on Tuesday, November 25th at Dainen-ji. Onur Onder began a seven-day training session at Dainen-ji on Monday, November 24th.
Recorded Teachings Schedule
Listening to Recorded Teisho and Dharma Talks
Recorded Teisho schedule November 29th to December 6th:
General sitting Saturday, November 29th: Without Difficulty: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on "Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness" by Jianzhi Sengcan: Teisho 24: Three Cases of Zhaozhou part one (Hekiganroku 57-59) (18 minutes)
Combined Associate and General Sitting Saturday, December 6th: "Dongshan's Hot and Cold" by Ven. Shikai Zuiko o-sensei: Dharma Talk 1: Hot (25 minutes)
Recorded Teisho Schedule for the Rohatsu O-sesshin:
Tuesday, December 2nd:
Afternoon: SAkN Root Cycle Four: Moving in Knowing: Teisho 2: Unknown Knowing (32 minutes)
Evening: SAkN Root Cycle Four: Moving in Knowing: Teisho 3: Introduction to Finite and Infinite Motion (32 minutes)
Wednesday, December 3rd:
Afternoon: SAkN Root Cycle Four: Moving in Knowing: Teisho 3: Introduction to Finite and Infinite Motion (32 minutes)
Evening: SAkN Root Cycle Four: Moving in Knowing: Teisho 4: Tantra is Unnecessary (20 minutes)
Thursday, December 4th:
Afternoon:SAkN Root Cycle Four: Moving in Knowing: Teisho 4: Tantra is Unnecessary (20 minutes)
Evening: SAkN Root Cycle Four: Moving in Knowing: Teisho 5: Always Moving (2 minutes)
Friday, December 5th:
Afternoon: SAkN Root Cycle Four: Moving in Knowing: Teisho 5: Always Moving (2 minutes)
Evening: SAkN Root Cycle Five: The Field of Open Knowing: Teisho 1: The End of All Knowledge (8 minutes)
Saturday, December 6th:
Afternoon: SAkN Root Cycle Five: The Field of Open Knowing: Teisho 1: The End of All Knowledge (8 minutes)
Evening: SAkN Root Cycle Five: The Field of Open Knowing: Teisho 2: Beyond the Fields (25 minutes)
Sunday, December 7th:
Afternoon: SAkN Root Cycle Five: The Field of Open Knowing: Teisho 2: Beyond the Fields (25 minutes)
Evening: SAkN Root Cycle Five: The Field of Open Knowing: Teisho 3: The Collapse of SAkN (18 minutes)
Monday, December 8th, Jodo-e:
Morning: Reading of Denkoroku Case 1: Shakyamuni
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.
The following meals were made for lunches served during the Samu Weekend:
Saturday:
White and brown basmati rice; Mango curry (chopped red onion, diced sweet potatoes, diced carrots, diced butternut squash, minced garlic, chopped daikon, Thai red curry paste, tamarind paste, peanut butter, light and dark soy sauce, lime juice, small amount of maple syrup, coconut milk, served with toasted peanuts; raita (chopped cucumbers and cherry tomatoes, plain yogurt, ground cumin, cardamom, and coriander, salt, black pepper).
Sunday:
Cavatappi pasta with tomato sauce (extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, dried oregano, tomato paste, whole peeled tomatoes, basil kosher salt)
“Greens and beans” (chopped Shanghai bok choy, thickly sliced onions, poblano and red bell pepper, red kidney beans, minced garlic, red balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper); cubed friulano cheese mixed with chopped gherkins, pickled onions, and lemon zest.
The following meals were prepared on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings:
Monday Yakuseki:
Pasticcio made from leftover pasta from the Samu Weekend with added chickpeas, topped with cheddar cheese, baked to a golden brown, served with toasted panko seasoned with lemon zest and chillies; salad (chopped romaine, green leaf lettuce, thinly sliced cucumbers, thinly sliced celery, red onion) with an optional dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, with honey and black pepper; cubed friulano cheese with sweet gherkins and lemon zest.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Mixed grain (calrose white rice and arborio rice); tsukune (ground chicken mixed with finely chopped onion, egg yolks, grated ginger, katakuriko (potato starch), minced garlic, finely chopped scallions, minced chillies, shoyu, in a sauce made from chicken stock, shoyu, mirin, ginger, thickened with potato starch; dai gai choy and gai lan, sliced poblano and sliced onion steamed and served with lime juice, salt and pepper.
Thursday Yakuseki:
Mashed yukon gold potatoes; seared slices of medium-firm tofu in onion and parsley gravy (roux, chicken stock, minced parsley, black pepper, thyme); diced carrots mixed with corn and peas, butter, salt, black pepper; thinly sliced fresh pineapple.
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 Anzan Hoshin roshi:
Thank you to all who offered their efforts during the recent Samu Weekend.
From Mishin godo:
Thank you to Anzan Hoshin roshi for always being available to answer questions from monastics about all aspects of the Dharma and about the functioning of the monastery. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for instruction to students that provides them with the context for understanding why and how things are done within the practice environment. Thank you to Saigyo ino for ongoing renovation work in the Zendo requiring long hours to finish in time for the Rohatsu O-sesshin. Thank you to Myocho for ongoing bookkeeping samu. Thank you to Yujin for setting up AirSonic accounts for new students and providing technical support so they can listen to recorded Teachings.
From Isshin:
A deep Gassho and bow to Jinmyo sensei for dokusan and understanding issues I’m trying to deal with; to the Godo for your keen perception, meal preparation and teaching me forms I’ve forgotten over the years; to Saigyo ino for your advice and help making me understand why certain details are important; to Yujin for helping me with a technical issue I was having with my iPhone. I appreciate each and everyone of you.
From David Alexander:
Thank you to the Roshi for making samu practice available to the Sangha, especially during Samu Weekends. Thank you to Mishin godo for a reminder to slow down while working; to Saigyo ino for his role as shissui to coordinate a productive and enjoyable weekend; to Fushin shuso for managing tasks and offering helpful guidance, and, to the Office of the Tenzo for exceptional meals and refreshment.
From Shannon Craig:
Thank you to Anzan Hoshin roshi for making countless recordings available to students and monastics. Thank you for the wealth of knowledge in the books “Before Thinking” and “The Straight Path”. Thank you Jinmyo sensei for presenting “The Touchstone” series and for organizing and preparing the delicious meals during this past Samu Weekend. Thank you to Mishin godo for everything you did for Samu Weekend and for preparing filling and tasty food for students and monastics. Thank you to Saigyo ino for all of the planning and organizing that went into this Samu Weekend. Thank you for the skill and patience you showed during the weekend of work. Hearing the sound of the new speakers in the Zendo was memorable.
From Stacey Loyer:
Thank you to Anzan Hoshin roshi for designing the space of Dainen-ji in a way that offers students so many opportunities and reminders to open up and practice. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for a delicious lunch during the Samu Weekend. Thank you to Mishin godo for providing helpful explanations about the Daruma-kata Aiki. Thank you to Saigyo ino for your efforts to organize the recent Samu Weekend. Thank you to Fushin shuso for guidance on tasks and finding supplies and tools during the Samu Weekend.
From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to an anonymous donor for a donation towards the recent Samu Weekend.
