eMirror Vol 29, No. 43 (2025-10-24)

Bodhidharma zenga with "Tokan" (Just Seeing) By Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

Bodhidharma zenga with "Tokan" (Just Seeing)
By Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

eMirror Vol 29, No. 43

Friday, October 24th 2025
Edited by the Practice Council

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


    What is the source of wisdom? What is it that wisdom cannot reach because wisdom comes from it? They say that horns will grow on your head if you try to speak of it. Dogen zenji says that even if you say it as clearly as you can, your eyebrows will fall out (which is a traditional folk sign of lying). This is why Daowu’s answer of immediately leaving to go and practice is such a wonderful answer.
    But since we are all already sitting here anyway, I had might as well give it a go. Prajna paramita sees clearly the openness of experiences as the radiance of experiencing but the luminosity of Experiencing outshines seeing. The eye cannot see itself, the fingertip cannot touch itself, and sticking your finger in your eye just does not help. You can look in a mirror to see how red the eye now is, but the mirror cannot reflect itself. Still, "a jewel in bright light loses its edges."
    Please, this evening, enjoy yourselves.  

-Concluding teisho 5: The Source of Wisdom (Nyuck-Nyuck-Nyuck), Wednesday, May 17, 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):  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.


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 An Nguyen sat a half-day retreat on Saturday, October 18th at Dainen-ji. General student Christine Comeau sat a half-day retreat on Saturday, October 18th at Dainen-ji. General student Daniel Roach sat a one-day retreat on Saturday, October 18th at Dainen-ji. Associate student Alexander de-Wit sat a one-day retreat on Sunday, October 19th at Dainen-ji. Associate student Nicolas Chalifoux sat a half-day retreat on Sunday, October 19th at Dainen-ji. General student Mario Delisle sat a one-day retreat on Tuesday, October 21st at Dainen-ji. General public student Silas Wamsley sat a one-day retreat on Tuesday, October 21st at his home in Halifax, Nova Scotia. General public student Beth Buerkle sat a one-day retreat on Wednesday, October 22nd at her home in Chamcook, New Brunswick.


Recorded Teachings Schedule

Listening to Recorded Teisho and Dharma Talks

October 25th to November 1st:
General sitting Saturday, October 25th: Without Difficulty: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on "Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness" by Jianzhi Sengcan: Teisho 20: Existence Stands Out (19 minutes)
Formal sitting Sunday, October 26th: SAkN Root Cycle Three: Aware Space by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: Teisho 7: Surrender Into Radiance (12 minutes)
Associate sittings Monday, October 27th and Thursday, October 30th: “Being Breathed” by Ven. Shikai Zuiko o-sensei: Being Breathed part 4 (17 minutes)
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)


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:
Linguine in garlic-butter sauce (diced white onion, minced garlic, chile flakes, lime juice, salt, pepper, touch of cream); tomato soup (tomato juice, San Marzano tomatoes, diced carrots, celery, and yellow onion, sliced zucchini, dried thyme, herbes de Provence); salad of thinly sliced Napa cabbage, carrots, daikon, green cabbage, and white onion, with an optional dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar, with black pepper and honey.

Tuesday Yakuseki:
Warmed bocata ronda buns with butter; green split pea soup (split green peas cooked in water, diced carrots, spanish onion, celery, minced garlic, thyme, and dill, apple cider vinegar and lots of black pepper) served with grated friulano cheese; a salad of chopped green leaf and romaine lettuce, radicchio, grated carrot, thinly sliced red onion, and thinly sliced celery with an optional dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar, with black pepper and honey. 

Thursday Yakuseki:
Mixed grain (white and brown Calrose, long grain rice, and barley); medium-firm tofu sauteed and then braised in a sauce made from shoyu, black vinegar, shaoxing cooking wine, minced ginger and garlic, brown sugar and sambal oelek, to which chopped gailan, dai gai choy, and Shanghai bok choy were added and then steamed; bean sprout soup (vegetable stock, water, dried mushroom powder, white pepper, shoyu, sesame oil, beansprouts, chopped white onion, chopped celery, shaoxing cooking wine); chopped tomatoes mixed with baechu kimchi seasoned with lime juice.


Thank you

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 recommendations of books to read on a wide variety of topics and for making the Shuryo and Hojo collection of books available to monastics to borrow. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for sprouting from seed a number of basil, parsley, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and dwarf tomato plants in the dining hall where they can be used in the meals prepared by the Office of the Tenzo and will also brighten the dining hall especially during the autumn and winter months. Thank you to the Roshi and Saigyo ino for designing the ringstaff and finial for the Jizo statue which the Ino then painted after arranging 3D printing of the finial.

From Saigyo ino:
Thank you to the Roshi for designing a strikingly simple Buddha rupa that over the coming weeks I will build and then refine with his help. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for the setup and maintenance of the developing herb garden in the dining hall. Thank you to Mishin godo for organizing the schedule of teisho and Dharma Talks each week which includes creating the teisho schedule poster. Thank you to Fushin shuso for preparing the Zendo each week for the Thursday evening sitting, to Myocho for cleaning after morning sittings and to Yujin for soji every morning to prepare the Practice Halls. Thank you to Tarik Kaya for samu to assist in building the ringstaff for Jizo Bosatsu and for helping to fix the Hatto main door. Thank you to the following students for offering samu over the last weeks on wide variety of tasks in the building and grounds: David Alexander, Kaleb Shumway, Krystina Pasut, Mario Delisle, George Donovan, Greg Parker, Daniel Roach, Sam McFarlane, An Nguyen, Stacey Loyer and Ian Reynolds. Thank you to Claude Schryer for donating a seiza bench. 

From Shannon Craig:
Thank you to Anzan Hoshin roshi for everything you do for students and the Teachings of Chapter 4: “The Bodymind of Zazen”. Thank you Jinmyo sensei for the recording of “The touchstone 6: Not a tourist” and the many times you spoke to me during daisan whether I was really listening or not.Thank you to Mishin godo for everything that you’ve done to help my practice and for other students.Thank you to Saigyo ino for the many helpful practice interviews. I see something you’ve worked on or mended in on every corner of the practice space and I am grateful for the time you spent. Thank you Fushin shuso for what you do to help the practice environment and students.

From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to Gillian Hern for a donation towards building maintenance and repairs.

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