eMirror Vol 29, No. 29 (2025-07-18)
Zenga of Bodhidharma and Mushin (No "Mind")
By Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, 1985
eMirror Vol 29, No. 28
Friday, July 18th, 2025
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
The text continues,
Later, as Yunyan stands attending to the Zen Master, Yaoshan asked, “What other Teachings does Baizhang present?”
Yunyan answered, “Sometimes he said, ‘Know it beyond all concepts and views.’”
Yaoshan said, “Three thousand miles off. Missed it completely.”
Here Yaoshan is not criticizing Baizhang’s Teaching but rather keeping the pressure on Yunyan. At this point, Yunyan feels like a hammerhead without a hole for the handle to fit in. Completely useless. Yaoshan is completely aware of how Yaoshan is holding himself at this point and so he presses on.
He then asked, “What else does he teach?”
Yunyan said, “Once he ascended the hall to present a teisho. Everyone was standing there and he chased them away with his staff. Then he called out to them and, when they turned their heads, asked, ‘What is this?’”
Yaoshan said, “Why didn’t you tell me about this before? Today I have been able to see my brother Baizhang through you.”
Hearing these words, Yunyan has great awakening.
Finally, the point that Baizhang had been trying to make by swinging his staff and roaring, “What is this?” becomes clear to Yunyan. Although he and so many others had fled the staff, then been startled by Baizhang’s question they had all been frozen. Even at this distance from the event, Yaoshan could see his Dharma-brother Baizhang clearly. And now Yunyan can see himself clearly, can see Baizhang clearly, can see Yaoshan clearly.
In the Eihei Koroku, Dogen zenji presented this case and then provided a verse written from Yunyan’s perspective.
Later, Dogen wrote this appreciatory verse:
After so many mistakes I followed Yaoshan, another poison hand.
Rubbing my body in misery, I hated the clouds and wind.
Though I had a thousand pounds of flesh,
My wisdom was barely an inch.
I hated you before, but now I’m filled with gratitude.
After this, Yunyan’s practice of realization deepened and opened under the care of Great Master Medicine Mountain’s poison hand. The thousand pounds of his density was shed and his wisdom was constantly measured and tested by Yaoshan.
-Continuing teisho 3: Try To Lift It, Sunday, May 16, 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): July 23rd, August 6th and 20th.
Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next two Introduction to Zen Workshops will take place on Saturday, August 2nd at 1:45 p.m. and Saturday, September 6th at 1:45 p.m. To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca ; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa
August Sesshin:
The August two-day sesshin will begin on Friday, August 8th at 8:00 p.m. and will end on Sunday, August 10th, at 6:00 p.m. Formal students are reminded to send their schedules as soon as possible.
General Sitting:
On August 9th, during the sesshin 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.
Dogen-ki (August 28th)
The memorial of Eihei Dogen Kigen zenji's death.
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 Denise Beaudot sat a half-day retreat on Tuesday, July 15th at Dainen-ji. General public student Julien Jefferson began a one and a half-day retreat on Thursday, July 17th at Dainen-ji.
Congratulations
Congratulations and deep gassho to Stuart Vickers of Toronto who has been accepted as a general student.
Recorded Teachings Schedule
July 19th to July 26th, 2025
Listening to Recorded Teisho and Dharma Talks
General sitting Saturday, July 19th: Without Difficulty:
Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on "Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness" by Jianzhi Sengcan: Teisho 8: Vast Intimacy Is All That Is (23 minutes)
Formal sitting Sunday, July 20th:
"The Secret Life of Manjusri" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: Teisho 6: Shimitsu Part 3 (35 minutes)
Associate sittings Monday, July 21st and Thursday, July 24th:
Sitting Up Straight: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on Keizan Jokin zenji's "Zazen Yojinki": Teisho 8: Egad (20 minutes)
General sitting Saturday, July 26th:
Without Difficulty: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on "Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness" by Jianzhi Sengcan: Teisho 9: Straying? Dimming? Sinking? Rotting? Flowering? (21 minutes)
Troubleshooting Access to the Recorded Teachings Library
Some students are having issues accessing the Recorded Teachings library. Recent scheduled maintenance by our web hosting company resulted in everyone being logged out of their account. If you can no longer see the "Recorded Teachings" link in the left-hand menu bar, this means that you have been logged out and you will need to log back in again. You will find the log-in link under "Account" at the bottom of the left-hand menu bar.
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 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 -
https://en.parkopedia.ca/parking/parkade/loblaws/k1n/ottawa/?arriving=202503101130&leaving=202503101330
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 meal served during Yaza (all-night sitting) on July 12th:
Thai white rice; medium-firm tofu sauteed and then braised in a sauce made from minced ginger, shitake mushrooms and mushroom stock, fermented black bean paste, Chinese cooking wine, chili garlic paste and vegetarian oyster sauce, thickened with a little potato starch, to which glass noodles (made from sweet potato) were added; garnished with sesame oil and chopped scallions.
The following meals were made on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Monday Yakuseki:
Crusty rolls with butter; Etruscan legume and vegetable soup (spoon sized pieces of Spanish onion, leeks, green cabbage, zucchini, celery, diced carrots, potatoes, spoon sized pieces of fresh kale and Swiss chard sauteed in olive oil infused with rosemary, garlic, and sage with vegetable broth made from the scraps and peelings of the vegetables, chick peas and whole cannellini beans, chickpeas and cannellini beans (some of the cannellini beans were blended and then emulsified with olive oil infused with rosemary, sage, and garlic to make a ‘crema’ which was added to the soup); salad of chopped romaine and green leaf lettuce, radicchio, thinly sliced white onion and grated carrots with an optional dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar with honey and black pepper, with optional mixed seed topping.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Lundberg brown rice mixed with sauteed yellow onion, chopped kale and green chard;
roasted chicken thighs seasoned with smoked paprika, ancho and chipotle chilis, garnished with yogurt mixed with lemon juice and chopped scallions; green cabbage coleslaw with Granny Smith apples and chopped fresh dill.
Thursday Yakuseki:
Calrose short grain white rice with pearled barley, chopped scallions and sesame oil; miso soup made with vegetable stock, shiro miso, minced garlic, sauteed medium-firm tofu, finely sliced ginger, white onion, and bokchoy; blanched green beans sauteed with garlic; baechu kimchi.

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 the annual Yaza practice and making it available to students of all categories of enrolment. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for leading Yaza and for the excellent Yaza meal. Thank you to Fushin shuso for looking after sending out the weekly eMirror newsletter through Mailchimp. Thank you to Yujin for testing and setting up a new app for using the media site which will be launched soon.
From Yujin:
Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for leading Yaza this year. Thank you to Stacey Loyer and Loïc-Alexandre Ouellette for offering to audit pages to be published on the new WWZC website.
From David Alexander:
Thank you to the Roshi for the Recorded Teaching that was played during Yaza. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for leading Yaza and for daisan. Thank you to the Office of the Tenzo for refreshing refreshments.
From Stephanie Houle:
Thank you to Mishin godo for supporting my practice through difficult moments.
Kaleb Shumway:
Thank you to the Roshi for establishing White Wind Zen Community and the opportunity to practise Yaza. Thank you to Mishin godo, and Saigyo ino for their support during my first retreat last week. Thank you to the Office of the Tenzo for the delicious and sustaining food during the retreat as well as during Yaza. Thank you to Saigyo ino for the most recent practice interview which helped open my eyes to the efforts of the Sangha to support the environment of practice for students practising now and those yet to come.