eMirror Vol 23, No. 40 (2019-10-04)
Photograph by Rev. Chiso Tzelnic anagarika
eMirror Vol 23, No. 40
Friday, October 4th, 2019
Edited by Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
On hearing the phrase “dropping bodymind” or “falling through the bodymind” many people might assume that this means an inversion of attention in which bodily experience is turned off. But it means the opposite. Just as the “great ease” of realized-practice does not mean “take it easy” but rather continuously release all struggle by letting go of all holding on and “from the beginning all beings are Buddha” means “realize and actualize this now and in each moment”, some people have misunderstood Dogen to have meant the opposite of his intention. Dropping through the bodymind means realizing that there is no inside and outside of the bodymind. There is no one located inside the bodymind perceiving a world out there. The world and the bodymind arise seamlessly together as this moment of experiencing, this radiance of now.
Dogen is pointing out to his students and to us a clear and open Way to embodying and actualizing the Way through the practice of realization in each moment. He had seen the futility of those who just think and talk about already being Buddhas. In the Tendai school there were many no doubt sincere monks who idled away their days in hongaku hummery but who had no idea how shallow their understanding was. And there were many other insincere monks in the Tendai and Shingon schools who wielded great power and wealth while fully gripped by grasping and the various poisons of conditioned attention and yet called themselves Buddhas.
Even now there are people who confuse themselves with reading books about “already being Buddha” who just use it as a way to inflate their sense of themselves. Other people attend satsang with Advaita Vedanta gurus who talk about Tat Tvam Asi or “I Am That” and follow the direction to contemplate their sensation of self or “I am” as the transcendent reality. Of course they are simply noticing a sense of localization of attention and congealing it further. Then there are Zen and Tibetan Buddhist Teachers who justify acting as predators of their students as the display of their enlightened Crazy Wisdom.
Self-image is not just a bad idea and you cannot think your way out of it. You cannot just talk your way out of what you are actually doing moment by moment. The process of self-image has compromised how the capacities of the bodymind function and it must be undone by loosening, opening, and releasing those capacities.
-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:
October 16th and October 30th.
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
Tarik Kaya sat a one-day retreat on Saturday, September 28th. Beth Buerkle sat a one-day retreat on October 3rd, in her home in Chamcook, New Brunswick.
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.
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, October 5th: “Every Breath You Take” by Ven. Shikai Zuiko o-sensei: “Crossing the Legs" (Dharma Talk 30)
- Saturday, October 12th: “Flowers and Clouds” by Ven. Anzan Hoshin: “Hidden Not Hidden" (12 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.
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.
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.
New Range of Incense For Sale
A wide assortment of incense is now available for sale in the first floor library. The selection includes incense suitable for regular use during zazen, premium incense, gift sets including incense holders, and a variety of small fragrant sachets perfect for any area that needs a fresh scent.
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:
Penne with garlic-butter sauce (butter, garlic, chopped white onion, lime juice, Parmesan cheese, red chili flakes); firm tofu mixed with seared poblano, cubanelle and red shepherd bell peppers in chipotle adobo sauce with cumin; friulano cheese with sweet gherkins.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Mixed grain (Chinese white rice, Calrose medium-grain white rice, white basmati rice, Arborio rice, pearled barley and coix lacryma-jobi (widely known as Job's tears); sliced chicken breast seared on the griddle with a sauce made from shoyu, gochujang (Korean chili paste), pureed white onion, rice wine, minced fresh garlic, sesame oil, minced ginger, black pepper; baechu kimchi.
Thursday Yakuseki:
Toasted whole wheat and white naan with butter; Kala chana dal (black chickpeas, cumin, chopped Spanish onions, chopped tomatoes, garlic, finely chopped green chilli, kashmiri red chilli powder, turmeric, pinch of asafoetida, Punjabi garam masala and fresh coriander leaves); tomato salad (chopped tomatoes and thinly sliced red onion with lime pickle, lime juice, salt and pepper).
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 Claude Schryer:
Thank you to Saigyo tando for advice during a practice interview about letting go of discursive thoughts, in particular clever thoughts about the practice itself. Thanks also for insights on how to set up my home sitting room and for corrections to form, notably on following the Ino’s lead when sitting on a bench. Thanks again to the monastics who have been moving our benches after every sitting. Thank you also to Mishin Ino guidance on samu practice and for this opportunity to contribute to the Sangha.
From Marc Valade:
Thank you to Mishin ino for practice interview and for an insightful discussion about birth and death, and the practice of Chuu-jo. And also for sharing an explanation about the Komyo Shingon by Jinmyo osho, plus a link to the Sensei's Dharma talks "Life, Death and All That."
From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to Endai shramon and Jean-Francois St. Louis for donations to the Hojo repair fund.
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.
