eMirror Vol 29, No. 44 (2025-10-31)
Bodhidharma zenga with "Mushin" (Not a Mind), 1987
by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi
eMirror Vol 29, No. 44
Friday, October 31st, 2025
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
Although both he and Yunyan will have a comment or two to append to mondo later in the text, there are just two more passages directly involving Daowu Yuanzhi.
Yaoshan entered the hall and addressed the monastics, saying, “I have a single phrase that I have never said to anyone.”
Daowu stood up and said, “I follow you.”
A monastic asked Yaoshan, “How is Yaoshan’s single phrase spoken?”
Yaoshan said, “Without words.”
Daowu said, “It’s already spoken.”
It is always speaking. If you think you are hearing anything else, then you are deluded. Regardless of what anyone says, whether they are lying or gossiping or complaining or blaming or cajoling or demanding, what you are hearing is the truth. Sounds directly point to the space of hearing that they arise within. Every sound and the activity of hearing directly point to the open luminosity of experiencing.
The twittering and shrieking of birds, the purring of cats, the rumbling of stomachs, the shock of gunshots, the creaking of floor boards and the popping of joints all call out to you to recognize who you are.
-Beginning 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): November 5th and 19th and December 3rd.
November Two-day Sesshin:
The November two-day sesshin will begin on Friday, November 7th at 8:00 p.m. and will end at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 9th. Students attending are to send in their schedules as soon as possible.
General Sitting On November 8th:
On Saturday, November 8th 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.
Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place on Saturday, November 1st at 1:45 p.m. (There is no workshop in October due to the 7-day Daruma-ki O-sesshin).
To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca ; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa
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.
Please Do Not Wear Scented Products to Sittings
Please refrain from wearing perfume, aftershave, cologne, or other scented products (strongly scented soaps, bodywash, etc) when attending sittings or sitting retreats at Dainen-ji as they are made with chemicals which can trigger asthma and allergies in sensitive individuals.
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 Artik Chauhan sat a partial retreat on Saturday, October 24th at Dainen-ji. General student George Donovan sat a two-day retreat on Saturday, October 24th and Sunday, October 25th at Dainen-ji. General student An Nguyen sat a half-day retreat on Sunday, October 25th at Dainen-ji. Associate student Nicolas Chalifoux sat a half-day retreat on Saturday, October 24th at Dainen-ji. General public student Gillian Hern sat a two-day retreat from Tuesday, October 28th to Thursday, October 30th at Dainen-ji.
Recorded Teachings Schedule
Listening to Recorded Teisho and Dharma Talks
November 1st to November 8th:
General sitting Saturday, November 1st: Without Difficulty: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on "Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness" by Jianzhi Sengcan: Teisho 21: One Thing (24 minutes)
Formal sitting Sunday, November 2nd: SAkN Root Cycle Three: Aware Space by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: Teisho 8: The Spectrum of Radiance (14 minutes)
Associate sittings Monday, November 3rd and Thursday, November 6th: “Simple Minded" by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei (8 minutes)
General sitting Saturday, November 8th: Without Difficulty: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on "Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness" by Jianzhi Sengcan: Teisho 22: Shinjin Funi, Shinjin Datsaraku (20 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
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.
Monday Yakuseki:
Rice cakes (calrose short-grain rice mixed with a little all-purpose flour, formed into cakes and fried on the griddle); tamarind-peanut curry (chopped red onion, diced sweet potatoes, diced carrots, minced garlic, chopped daikon, broccoli, Thai red curry paste, tamarind paste, peanut butter, light and dark soy sauce, small amount of maple syrup, coconut milk and lime juice; salad of thinly sliced Napa cabbage, carrot, daikon, and white onion with an optional dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar with black pepper, honey, mango chutney, and lime pickle.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Spaghetti with Bolognese sauce (ground beef, sauteed mirepoix (diced onion, carrots, celery, minced garlic, red wine, whole milk, San Marzano tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, thyme, basil, lots of black pepper, slow cooked for several hours); salad of chopped romaine and green leaf lettuce, radicchio, thinly sliced red onion, thinly sliced celery, and chopped tomatoes with an optional dressing of white balsamic vinegar.
Thursday Yakuseki:
Oven-warmed naan with butter; toor and masoor dal, cumin and mustard seeds, hing, dried red chillies, green chillies, ginger/garlic paste, chopped tomatoes and onions, garam masala, Kashmiri chilli powder, dried fenugreek leaves, fresh coriander; coleslaw of thinly sliced green cabbage, carrots, and white onion dressed with mayonnaise, dijon mustard, horseradish, lime juice, salt, and black 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 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 overseeing the practice of all students, associate, general, deshi, and monastics, in the Sangha and ensuring they are given the instruction needed to deepen their practice. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for The Touchstone series of Dharma Talks which has been so useful to so many students, with the first Dharma Talk in the series clearly explaining where to feel the breath and why we practise feeling the touchstone as we do. Thank you to Chunen angya for identifying several dead links on the new website so they can be fixed. Thank you to Senbo for updating the Introduction to Zen Workshop sign for the Mountain Gate and front entrance.
From Yujin:
Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for regular dokusan, and for instruction on how to ensure resident leftover meal portions don't go to waste. Thank you to Saigyo ino for overseeing the recent installation of a new light fixture for the 3rd floor kitchenette area.
From Shannon Craig:
Thank you to Anzan Hoshin roshi for the years that you have dedicated to make these teachings available to monastics and students. Thank you Jinmyo sensei for the depth of care you put into everything you’ve done for the students and monastics. Thank you to Mishin godo for many insights that challenged me and how it brought awareness to my practice. Thank you to Saigyo ino for the many years you’ve spent creating a space that is beneficial for practice and the humour and insight that has been a part of many practice interviews. Thank you Fushin shuso for the many ways you support students and monastics.
From George Donovan:
I would like to say a thank you to Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for making my retreat on the weekend a very good experience. I appreciated the great meals and the practice interviews I had with them. I would like to thank everyone at the monastery who each day works to create the environment that permits me to come to a retreat.
From Mario Delisle:
Thank you to the roshi for establishing Dainen-ji, for his vast work and making it available for us. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for the touchstone series. Thank you to Mishin godo for practice interviews over the years that have lightened my practice. Thank you to Saigyo ino for practice interviews over the years that have been so helpful and each time realigning my practice. Thank you to Fushin shuso for everything he brings to support the environment of practice. Thank you to the office of the Tenzo for preparing delicious meals during my retreat. Thank you to Yujin for responding rapidly for helping me to have access to recorded teachings.
From Artik Chauhan:
Thank you Mishin Godo for a very helpful practice interview.
From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to Adda Hernandez for a donation.