eMirror Vol 23, No. 38 (2019-09-20)
Photograph by Frank Tettsu Woods, Harrow Zazenkai
eMirror Vol 23, No. 38
Friday, September 20th, 2019
Edited by Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
Continuing with the text of Hossho, Dogen zenji says,
When we drink water we know if it is hot or cold but the principle of the Great Way is not like that. All the Buddhas and all those open to openness1, and all living beings realize and clarify the Great Way of dharmata through the power of natural wisdom. Following the sutras or masters and clarifying the Great Way of dharmata is the actualization of one's own dharmata. The sutras are dharmata, they are one's self. Masters are also dharmata, and are one's self. Dharmata is masters, dharmata is our self. Since it is dharmata that is one's self, it is not the mistaken presumptions of a “self” of those outside of the Way or demons. In dharmata there are none outside of the Way or demons; there is just eating congee when it is served, receiving rice when it is served, and drinking tea when it is offered.
As the cold of winter blows, we can feel its chill. When we hold a bowl of hot soup in our hand we can feel the warmth. When our name is called we know to answer. This is the natural wisdom of the bodymind and, as we have seen, even this we have had to learn and to develop and enlarge and open. Each of these activities is the samadhi of dharmata if we use each of them to open to the total activity of the whole moment in which they arise through mindfulness and insight. The prajna paramita, the radical insight that recognizes the emptiness and openness of all dharmas is the ability to know cold from hot. But simply avoiding the cold and moving towards the heat is not the same as prajna paramita.
1 Bodhisattvas.
-Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, continuing teisho 3: "This is the Samadhi of Dharmata," Sunday, December 5, 2004 in the teisho series "Essentially Real: Commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji’s 'Hossho: Dharmata'."
Upcoming Events
Fusatsu:
September 25th, October 16th and October 30th.
Hermitage
The Roshi will begin a period of hermitage on Wednesday, September 25th, which will end at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 29th, when he leads monastics in Acalanatha Sadhana.
Introduction to Zen Workshop
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place at Dainen-ji on Saturday, September 28th. For more information please see: http://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa
For information concerning our Long-distance Training Program, please visit this Web Page: http://www.wwzc.org/long-distance-training-program
Daruma-ki O-sesshin
The Daruma-ki O-sesshin will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 4th, and will end at noon on Friday, October 11th at noon. Formal students are reminded to send their schedules to schedule at wwzc dot org as soon as is possible.
For associate and general students: Please note that there are no sittings on Monday and Thursday evening during the week of O-sesshin. Instead, you may attend a morning sitting on Saturday, October 5th. The sitting begins at 9:30 a.m. (please arrive by 9:15 in time for first Bell) and ends at 11:30 a.m. Students are reminded to remain on the first floor.
Shukke-tokudo and Shuso-hossen for Ven. Endai Mayeda shramon
On the evening of Thursday, October 10th in a private ceremony, Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi will Transmit the Precepts of full monastic ordination to Endai Mayeda shramon. Following this, Endai will present a brief Dharma Talk and will begin the major training position as "shuso" or "chief seat" in the sense of someone to be looked to as an exemplar of practice.
Endai shramon has been practising as a student since April of 2006 and was accepted as a probationary formal student by Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho-ajari in March of 2009. He received the Three Jewels on August 14, 2011 and the 16 Bosatsu-kai in December of 2012 from Jinmyo Renge osho-ajari. He received the Vow of Brahmacharya on May 16th, 2014 from Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi. On February 19th, 2016, Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi gave him shukke-tokudo with the Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts and the Forty-Eight Supporting Precepts to Endai Mayeda and received him as a postulant for monastic training. Received shukke-tokudo from Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi as a novice in monastic training on Friday, May 26th, 2017. Endai shramon is the first student of a Dharma Successor of Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi to receive full monastic vows.
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.
Cancelled Sitting October 7th
The general sitting that would normally take place on the evening of October 7th is cancelled as O-sesshin will be in progress.
Cancelled sitting October 10th
The associate sitting that would normally take place on the evening of October 11th is cancelled as O-sesshin will be in progress.
Dharma Assembly
On Saturday, October 19th, Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho will lead a Dharma Assembly, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. (please arrive by 9:15, in time for first Bell) and will end at 9:00 p.m. Dana is $40.00, which includes two meals: lunch and supper. Participants are asked to bring clothing and shoes appropriate for samu practice. To register, please send an email to schedule at wwzc dot org or leave a message on the office answering machine at 613-562-1568. Dharma Assemblies are open to all students.
Note: The 9:30 a.m. general sitting that would ordinarily take place on October 19th is cancelled owing to the Dharma Assembly.
Retreats
Robin Whitehead sat a one-day retreat on Tuesday, September 17th.
To Schedule a Retreat
Please visit this Web page for information about scheduling a retreat and an explanation of the different kinds of retreat (duration and timing) you can sit: https://wwzc.org/retreats. Please note that retreats should be scheduled one week in advance.
Public students sitting retreats should send an email to schedule@wwzc.org to confirm they sat a retreat so that notice of it can be included in the eMirror. Please include the location of the retreat and the duration.
Teisho
Newly Presented Teachings
- On Saturday, September 14th during the September sesshin, Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi presented the Reading of Denkoroku Case 51: Tiantong Rujing as part of the ongoing series, "The Lineage of Luminosity: Part Two: The Lineage in China.”
- On Saturday, August 24th, Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho-ajari presented the Dharma Talk “The Sky Sits Up Straight”, the first presentation in “The Sky Around the Clouds”, a new series of Dharma Talks.
- On Saturday, August 10th during the August sesshin, Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi presented the teisho “Zhijian's Concealed and Unconcealed” as part of the ongoing series, "The Lineage of Luminosity: Part Two: The Lineage in China.”
- During Yaza on Saturday, July 13th, Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi presented the teisho “Yaza: The Buddha and the Lies”.
Recorded Teachings Schedule
- Saturday, September 21st: “Flowers and Clouds” by Ven. Anzan Hoshin: “Clouds and Flowers” (10 of 12)
- Sunday, September 22nd: SAkN “Root Cycle Three: Aware Space" by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi: “The Body of Knowing” (teisho 3 of 8)
- Monday, September 23rd: "Rhythm and Song": Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on Dongshan Liangjie's "Hokyo Zanmai": "Sitting Up Straight" (13 of 15)
- Thursday, September 26th: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “Primordial Space" (19 of 71)
- Saturday, September 28th: “Flowers and Clouds” by Ven. Anzan Hoshin: “Sunflower” (11 of 12)
Missed Sittings and Teisho
If associate students are unable to attend the Thursday evening associate sitting, they may attend one of the general sittings to make up for the sitting they missed. General sittings are held on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. (first Bell is at 7:15) and Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m. (first Bell at 9:15 a.m.). Please send an email to request permission to attend one of these sittings.
Teisho presented at general and associate sittings which are part of a series need to be listened to in the correct order and with none missed out. If you miss a sitting please borrow a copy of the missed teisho from the library or download it from the WWZC Media Site as soon as possible, so that the continuity of what is being presented is not disrupted. The weekly list of recorded teisho played at sittings is posted on the web site at:
https://wwzc.org/recorded-teachings-schedule
Online Access to Recorded Teachings
Students can access the password-protected online Recorded Teachings library on the WWZC website at https://wwzc.org/recorded-teachings or through the streaming site at http://app.wwzc.org. The custom-built media streaming site allows students to live stream recordings from the WWZC Recorded Teachings collection. It is optimized for use on smartphones and tablets, and works with most modern browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. It can also be used on desktops.
Help Required with Archiving Project
We would like assistance from students to work on an archiving project which has been underway for a number of years. Approximately 100 recordings of teisho and Dharma Talks presented by the Roshi in the late 1980's and early 1990's are still not available to students on our web-site. These were recordings were made on audio cassette. The process for preserving these cassette recordings and making them available to students is as follows:
- Transfer the cassette recording to a digital format
- Edit the single digital files from each cassette side to separate the presentations.
- Clean up the quality of the recording as much as possible using computer software and in the cases of a recording being of very poor playback quality, using the services of a professional audio restoration company.
- Rename, digitally tag each presentation and add the recording information to the database.
- Create archive quality master CD copies of the recordings for long term storage including printing all of the CD case inserts and graphics.
- Upload completed audio files to the WWZC sound-site so that they are available to students to listen to.
This process is extensive and time consuming, requiring at least 4-5 hours of work for each individual recording. The amount of work required for the monastic sangha to complete this project expediently is not possible, so we are asking for help from the rest of the sangha.
A student would be required to offer regular commitment of time, a block two to three hours weekly is ideal but also a commitment every two weeks would work well. Students would be trained in the work they would be doing and so no specific skill set is needed.
If you are able to assist with this vital project to preserve the Teachings please write to Mishin ino or Saigyo tando or send a message to WWZC.org. Thank you very much.
WWZC Website
wwzc.org
Newly Added Recorded Teachings for Associate and General Students
MP3 of “Yaza: The Buddha and the Lies”: Yaza: The Buddha and the Lies
Recorded Teachings for Public Access
While most of the online Recorded Teachings library is password-protected and only accessible to students of Zen Master Anzan Hoshin, a small selection of MP3 recordings of teisho are accessible to the public at https://wwzc.org/recorded-teachings. Additional recordings will be uploaded periodically.
MP3 recordings of five teisho 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
- Yaza 2007: Sit Through the Night, the Night is Bright Right Through https://wwzc.org/yaza-2007
- 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
Roof Repair and Essential Repairs to the Hojo (Abbot’s Quarters)
The image above shows the icicle that forms every winter on the roof of the Hojo. It is often over 20 feet long and is causing damage to the exterior trim and roof line and may be causing interior damage and mould inside the walls. Following a recent inspection from our insurance company, a stipulation for continued insurance was that we rectify this situation. The problem is caused by structural issues, inadequate ventilation, and very poor insulation in the ceiling of the Hojo washroom. To insulate this space we need to take down the ceiling in the Hojo washroom, tear out the shower, and use spray foam insulation on the underside of the roof between the joists. As this will make it necessary for the Roshi to vacate the Hojo during these repairs, we have decided that we will also address other problems in that wing of the building, which include extremely uneven floors (a difference of seven inches from one side of a room to the other), as well as other structural problems, ventilation, plumbing and electrical issues. The Hojo has never been renovated properly because emphasis has always been placed on renovating public spaces in the monastery.
We have met with three renovation companies in the last few months to obtain quotes for this work and the cost will obviously be substantial. How much we are able to achieve will depend on donations from students. The Roshi does not travel and spends the majority of his time in the Hojo (Abbot's Quarters). It is therefore appropriate that we ensure that the Hojo is an adequate living space.
All donations are tax deductible.
Thank you very much,
The Office of the Caretaking Council.
Samu on Sundays
Each Sunday afternoon (except during O-sesshin and Sesshin), Caretaking Council (Saigyo tando, Fushin shramon and Endai shramon) do samu from 1:30p.m to 4:30p.m. on the various small projects required around the monastery. There are always a great many tasks that need to be done and so any students are welcome and encouraged to come to Dainen-ji to join the monastics in caretaking practice. If you would like to partake in the samu practice on Sundays please write to Saigyo tando at saigyo.cross@gmail.com.
What to do if you arrive late for a sitting
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.
Painted Cakes
(do not satisfy hunger)
by Ven. Shikai Zuiko sensei
Continuing on with “Painted Cakes: A Zen Dictionary” a limited edition text written by Anzan Hoshin roshi in the 1980s and last revised in 1994.
Sakyamuni (S) “Sage of the Sakya clan”. The Buddha Siddhartha Gautama.
Questions can be sent to me, Shikai sensei, at shikai.sensei@gmail.
Office of the Tenzo
Dogen zenji taught in the Tenzokyokun 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 osho serves as tenzo and Mishin ino and Saigyo tando offer assistance as tenzo-anja.
Monday Yakuseki:
Mixed grain (barley, arborio, Thai and basmati rice); medium-firm tofu sauteed until ‘pockmarked’ and then braised in a sauce made from garlic, ginger, lime juice, mirin, and shoyu, tossed with spinach leaves; baek (white kimchi).
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Noodle soup (Cantonese noodles mixed with beansprouts, topped with sauteed strips of poblano peppers mixed with shredded carrot, sauteed sliced cremini mushrooms, steamed baby bok choy, and soft-cooked eggs, served in a broth made with concentrated mushroom stock, vegetable stock, ginger, garlic, shoyu, wasabi, lime juice.
Thursday Yakuseki:
Red lentil dal (red lentils, tomato paste, caramelized onion, diced Yukon gold potatoes, chopped coriander, garam masala); toasted naan with butter; salad of Romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, and radishes with a balsamic dressing.
Baking by Shikai sensei:
Rustic apple tart; Oat with peanut butter chocolate pieces cookies; Oat, raisin, walnut cookies.
Baking by Shikai sensei:
Apple filled cookies; Mini-oaties; Old fashioned one crust raisin pie; 1-2-3 Cookies; apple tart.
Thank You
If you would like to thank someone for a contribution they have made, please feel free to send an email to Jinmyo osho at rengezo at Gmail dot com, but be sure to type "eMirror" in the subject line.
From Shikai sensei:
Thank you to Mishin ino for taking care of all the details of treasurer work.
From Jinmyo osho:
Thank you to Fushin shramon for picking up bird seed earlier this week; to Endai shramon for taking on various tasks that need to be done; to Isshin for a gift of dana.
From Saigyo tando:
Thank you to the Roshi for the reading of Denkoroku Case 51: "Tiantong Rujing", presented at the September Sesshin. Thank you to Shikai sensei for baked goods for residents. Thank you to Jinmyo osho for clearing and organizing the covered balcony (now that the roof doesn’t leak). Thank you to Mishin ino for assembling excellent ready-to-make oatmeal for breakfasts for residents. Thank you to George Donovan, Robin Whitehead and Jean-Francois St-Louis for regular samu each week in the monastery on various tasks. Thank you to Katherina Janevski for samu to clean the basement hallways and Undo.
From Endai shramon:
Thank you to the Roshi for presenting the next teisho in the series "The Lineage of Luminosity: Part 2: The Lineage in China", this time on our Lineage Ancestor Tiantong Rujing daiosho. Thank you to Jinmyo osho for leading sesshin last weekend and planning all of the oryoki meals that were served. Thank you to Mishin ino for preparing breakfast and lunch during sesshin, and to the Ino and Saigyo tando for leading oryoki practice. Thank you to Saigyo tando for continuing to oversee the repairs to the various roofs of the building.
Ongoing Project:
"All is Change"
Dainen-ji, being a 140-year-old building, is continuously in need of maintenance and the costs associated with this can be astronomical when such things as porch repairs or exterior painting are needed. This is something that we cannot afford to do, yet must do and so the "All is Change" project has been created. The "All is Change" project is very simple. Most of us have a bowl or a jar or some other kind of container that we keep somewhere at home and fill up with loose change because it's too heavy to carry around. Several hundred dollars has been collected so far both in loose change and Canadian tire money which has been put towards the building maintenance fund. If anyone would like to contribute to this fund, each penny will be appreciated. The “All is Change” container is on the wooden wall shelf under the Sangha Board in the cloak room.
