eMirror Vol 29, No. 47 (2025-11-21)

Kon ("Now") by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi 2012

Kon ("Now") by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi 2012

eMirror Vol 29, No. 46

Friday, November 21st, 2025
Edited by the Practice Council

The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.


The rest of the passages concern Yaoshan’s teachings to an assortment of students, some named and some not.

A monastic came back to see Yaoshan. 
Yaoshan asked, “What is your name?”
The monk said, “My name is Changtan.” 
Yaoshan shouted, “You used to be Changtan and you’ll always remain Changtan as well!” 

    Who are you? Who are you really? If you think you are your name and your personal history then you will just go on being as you have been, following the same rut run into the mud of your life. Perhaps Changtan took this teaching to heart and really became who Changtan really was instead of just remaining the same old Changtan. We will never know.
    These kinds of accounts are not narratives. The stories begin where they begin and end where they end and we are to take them up and use them for the Dharma that they contain rather than to follow a tale to a satisfying conclusion. As we have seen from some of the passages concerning Yunyan and Daowu that I have stitched together from various sources such as the Jingde Chuandenglu, the Wudeng Huiyuan, the Denkoroku and the Shoyoroku, one story was often broken into many different pieces and scattered for what purpose they might serve here or there. Since it is useful for us to know something of the lives and styles of the ancients I have gathered together some of those fragments that were also relevant to our consideration of Master Yaoshan’s life and style. But most of the rest of the people we will encounter appear but once and then vanish. Their names and personal histories do not really matter and are not the point. What matters is their participation in the Teachings that have been passed down to us.


-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 Hatto (for formal sittings)

The Zendo (for associate and general sittings)

The Zendo (for associate and general sittings)

Practice Schedule and Upcoming Events

Fusatsu (Renewal of Vows):  December 3rd, 17th, and 31st.

November Samu Weekend
We shall be holding a winter Samu Weekend over the weekend of Saturday, November 22nd and Sunday, November 23rd. As part of the weekend of work we shall be making wall repairs to the Zendo and during this time we will use the opportunity to upgrade the sound system to improve the quality of recorded Teachings playback. Saigyo ino is currently researching the best methods for this. Saigyo ino has written to local students with the details of this weekend of caretaking practice. Please pencil these dates into your diary so that you will be able to attend some or all of the Samu Weekend and assist the monastic in the maintenance and improvement of the practice environment of Dainen-ji. Thank you. 

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.


Retreats and Training Sessions

Information About Scheduling Retreats or Training Sessions

Deshi Isshin arrived at Dainen-ji on Saturday, November 15th and sat a five-day retreat which concluded on Thursday, November 20th. Deshi Senbo sat a one-day retreat on Wednesday, November 19th at Dainen-ji.  General public student Silas Wamsley arrived at Dainen-ji on Wednesday, November 13th and concluded an eight-day retreat on Thursday, November 20th. General public student Thach Hoang sat a one-and-a-half day retreat from Saturday, November 15th to Sunday, November 16th at his home in Laval, Quebec.


Recorded Teachings Schedule

Listening to Recorded Teisho and Dharma Talks

November 22nd to November 29th:
Associate sittings Monday, November 24th and Thursday, November 27th: "The Circle" by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei (13 minutes)
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)


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

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

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

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.

Monday Yakuseki:
Mixed grain (white and brown calrose rice, white and brown Thai rice, white basmati rice, Arborio rice and pearled barley); mendoan tofu (cubed medium-firm tofu in a batter made from equal parts all-purpose flour, rice flour, and potato starch, seasoned with minced garlic, finely chopped scallions, coriander powder, minced red chillies, chopped fresh coriander, and salt) served with a dipping sauce made from minced garlic, ginger and chillies, Kecap Manis soy sauce and lime juice; vegetable broth with slivered ginger and white pepper; stupid soup; salad of chopped romaine, green leaf lettuce, thinly sliced celery and cucumber served with an optional dressing of coconut milk, Thai red curry paste, and lime juice. 

Tuesday Yakuseki:
Crostini (sliced baguette brushed with a mix of rice bran oil, salt, pepper, dried oregano, dried basil and garlic powder, and toasted under the broiler);
Vegetarian option for retreatants: Canellini bean soup (vegetable stock, minced garlic, chopped, sauteed celery, onions, carrots, diced potatoes, pearled barley, smoked paprika, lots of black pepper, apple cider vinegar, Old Bay spice mixture, thyme, vegan ‘chicken powder’ (nutritional yeast, onion powder, sea salt, turmeric, Italian seasoning, celery salt, dried thyme, cooked cannellini beans); 
For those who wished to eat meat, sauteed pieces of marinated chicken thigh were served in a separate pot. 
Salad of thinly sliced Napa cabbage, green cabbage; red cabbage and carrot with an optional dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey, and black pepper. 

Thursday Yakuseki:
Fettuccine in garlic butter sauce (chopped onion, minced garlic, lime juice, salt, pepper, chile flakes); 
tomato soup (blended, cooked diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, onion, minced garlic, Italian herbs, drop of cream); salad of chopped radicchio, green leaf lettuce, romaine, thinly sliced celery, cucumber with an optional dressing of white balsamic vinegar.

 


Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei

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 Tenzo anja Mishin godo for many hours of food preparation to provide meals each day to students sitting retreats and for refilling jars of rice, pasta and spices (to name a few), for ordering supplies and keeping track of inventory. Thank you to Saigyo ino for researching new speakers for the Zendo to upgrade the sound quality of recorded teisho played during sittings; to the Ino and Tarik Kaya for their work to prepare the Zendo for installation of the speakers and repairs to cracks and other details prior to repainting the whole room. 

From Mishin godo:
Thank you to the Roshi for the many sho and zenga that he has brushed over the years which hang in practice halls and every room and hallway in the monastery, lighting up the space of seeing and reminding us to open to reality. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for leading Fusatsu (renewal of the precepts for monastics and deshi) held every new and full moon, and for instruction to practice advisors about how to respond to the situations and questions of associate and general students. Thank you to Saigyo ino for planning out the renovation of the Zendo and working on the renovation this week and next.

From Yujin:
Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for dokusan this week and instruction on practicing using peripheral vision. Thank you to the Office of the Tenzo for delicious resident meals this week.

From Shannon Craig:
Thank you to Anzan Hoshin roshi for the countless hours you’ve spent researching and presenting the Dharma; to Jinmyo sensei for again presenting exactly what I needed to hear during “The touchstone 14 : Karuna.” I will use the important reminders to continue my practice. Thank you to Mishin godo for the many practice interviews and time spent teaching the practice to students; to Saigyo ino for the many hours of time you spend taking care of the practice space and students and the many tasks to prepare for a Samu Weekend; to Fushin shuso for being available to support the practice environment and students.

From Bryan Roh:
Thank you to Anzan Hoshin roshi for accepting me as an associate student and for all the Teachings presented in the books “The Straight Path: Zen Teachings on the Foundations of Mindfulness”, “Before Thinking: Foundations on Zen Practice”, and in the publicly accessible Dharma texts on the WWZC website. Thank you to Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for their guidance on proper posture, breath, and mindfulness for zazen during the preliminary practice interviews. 

From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to the following for donations towards the upcoming Samu Weekend: David Alexander, Julien Jefferson.

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