eMirror Vol 28, No. 8 (2024-02-23)

 

Huineng, the Sixth Chinese Ancestor

Huineng, the Sixth Chinese Ancestor


eMirror Vol 28, No. 8

Friday, February 23rd, 2024
Edited by the Practice Council

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



Dogen says,

Anyone who wants to learn to play with space must learn deeply about its inside and outside, learn deeply of the vitality and deadening of space, know it as light and as heavy.  

Space cannot be obstructed by anything that arises. In the Maharahalavada sutta, Sakyamuni Buddha advises his son, the monk Rahula, to practise like space so that whatever arises does not abide and the mind does not take hold of anything. He also advises Rahula to recognize the elements of earth, water, fire, air, and space within the body and outside of the body, to see the weariness of identifying with them, to see them with perfect knowing and freedom from identifying with any of these elements or all of them together as a self. In this way, he points to realizing oneself as a space larger than space.

In the Platform sutra , sections 24-25, the Sixth Ancestor Huineng says,

The capacity of the mind is broad and great like the vast sky. It is infinite, neither round nor square, neither great nor small, neither green nor yellow, neither red nor white, neither above nor below, neither long nor short, neither angry nor happy, neither right nor wrong, neither good nor evil, neither first nor last. All of the many Fields of Awakening are the same as the empty sky. The wonderous nature of humans is fundamentally empty; there is not a single thing to be found. The true emptiness of our nature is also like this. Good friends, when you hear me speak of emptiness, do not become stuck on an idea of voidness. Sitting quietly and keeping the mind blank is just abiding in a state of void indifference. Good friends, empty space contains myriads of various shapes and forms, such as the sun, the moon, stars and planets, mountains and rivers, forests and grasses, good people, bad people, good and bad things, heavens and hells. Space takes in all these, and so does the emptiness of our nature. So we say that our nature is vast because it embraces all things. The ten thousand things are all within our nature.

 

-Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, concluding Teisho 6: "Learning Space With Space”, February 14, 2001, in the series "Playing With Space: Commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji's Koku”

 

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



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 you will need to make a $5.00 dana contribution for the meal. 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.
Sunday Formal Sitting: The Sunday morning formal sittings are reserved for monastics, formal students, and probationary formal students.

Fusatsu (Renewal of Vows):  March 13th, March 27th.

Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place on Saturday, March 2nd at 1:45 p.m. To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa 

March Two-day Sesshin:
The March two-day sesshin will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 8th and will end at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 10th.

Associate and General Sitting
There will be a combined associate and general sitting in the Zendo on Saturday, March 9th. The sitting will begin at 9:30 a.m. (please arrive by 9:15 in time for First Bell). The sitting ends at 11:45 a.m. Students are reminded to stay on the first floor.

Keizan-ki
March 21st is the memorial for Keizan Jokin zenji.

Hermitage:
The Roshi is continuing an extended period of hermitage due to underlying health issues until the COVID-19 situation clarifies.

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



Chunen angya sat a one day retreat in Guelph, ON on Sunday, after travelling throughout the week. Chiso anagarika sat a partial retreat on the afternoon and evening of February 20th in her home in Cambridge, MA. Deshi Jinen sat a one day retreat at Wolfville Zazenkai's Nowlan Mountain Zendo on Wednesday, February 21st. General public student Aaron Ford sat a two-day retreat on Saturday, February 17th and Sunday, February 18th at his home in Calgary, Alberta. General public student Elizabeth Eve sat a one-day retreat on Monday, February 19th in her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

If you are a student of Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi and  would like to sit a retreat at Dainen-ji, please email schedule@wwzc.org to register a week in advance. For further information please visit this page: https://wwzc.org/retreats

If you are a public student and would like to sit a retreat at home please follow the schedule outlined in this page: https://wwzc.org/retreat-schedule-public-students.  After your retreat, please send an email to schedule@wwzc.org to confirm that you sat a retreat and include the duration and location.

If you would like to engage in a training session either at the monastery or at home by aligning with the schedule of the monastery, please read the information on this page: 
https://wwzc.org/training-sessions
 


Recorded Teachings Schedule


Saturday, February 24th to Saturday, March 2nd

Saturday, February 24th general sitting: “Wandering on Medicine Mountain”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on "Medicine Mountain": The Recorded Sayings and Doings of Zen Master Yaoshan Weiyan: “Unthinkable” (teisho 8 of 22, 29 minutes)
Sunday, February 25th formal sitting: SAkN The Drift of Meaning by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi: “Set Adrift” (4 of 7, 27 minutes)
Monday, February 26th associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "New Years Resolution" (46 of 71, 9 minutes)
Thursday, February 29th associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "New Years Resolution" (46 of 71, 9 minutes)
Saturday, March 2nd, general sitting: “Wandering on Medicine Mountain”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on "Medicine Mountain": The Recorded Sayings and Doings of Zen Master Yaoshan Weiyan: “Going Home” (teisho 9 of 22, 20 minutes)
 


Listening to Teisho and Dharma Talks



​Associate and general students should continue to follow the recorded Teachings schedule for the sitting you were attending at the monastery, and listen to that during your home practice.

You can access the online Recorded Teachings Library at wwzc.org/recorded-teachings-schedule. 

You can also use the streaming site at app.wwzc.org to live stream recordings from the online Library. If you have forgotten your password or need assistance with accessing the recorded Teachings, please email schedule@wwzc.org.

Please note that teisho should be listened to in the correct order and with none missed out as themes, metaphors, questions raised and answered evolve in spirals throughout the series.
 


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 https://wwzc.org/dharma-position
Eyes See, Ears Hear https://wwzc.org/eyes-see-ears-hear
Embarrassment https://wwzc.org/embarrassment
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
 


Translations and Texts



Photograph of Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Daijozan, mid-1980s, by Ven. Shikai Zuiko sensei
Photograph of Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Daijozan, mid-1980s,
by Ven. Shikai Zuiko sensei

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 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 ongoing.

Roshi is also finishing 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



“Kwannon”: A teisho by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, transcript of a teisho presented on May 6, 1986, at River Road Zendo
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/kwannon

“Cultivation of the Ground of Mind”: transcript of a teisho Presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, on June 4, 1989 
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/cultivation-ground-mind

The Practice of Boards and Stones” teisho presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, on June 18, 1989
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/practice-boards-and-stones

"Difficulty, Strangeness, Beauty": transcript of a Dharma Talk presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, December 13, 1988: https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/difficulty-strangeness-beauty

"Standing in the Rain (Tangaryo)": transcript of Dharma Talk presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, December 15th, 1988: https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/standing-rain-tangaryo

"Snow": transcript of Dharma Talk presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, November 18, 1989: https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/snow
 


Fundraising 2024: Roofs



Total donated: $20,959

Thank you to all who have generously contributed to the Roof Repair Fund. We have now reached the fundraising goal and donations will fully cover the cost of the repairs. We have signed a contract with Firon Roofing, chosen because they provided the most comprehensive quote at a good price, with very good customer reviews and Better Business Bureau rating. The work will be done in the spring.

Thank you and gassho.
 

Roof Sketch
Areas of the roof that need repair

 

Japanese teapot on fire

 


Office of the Tenzo



Dogen zenji taught in the Tenzo Kyokun: Instructions for the Tenzo (Tenzo kyokun: Instructions for the Tenzo | White Wind Zen Community) 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 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. The following meals were prepared on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings:

Monday Yakuseki:
Lundberg Farms short-grain brown rice with butter, shoyu, wasabi, a drop of mirin, and chopped scallions; a jjigae (Korean style stew) made from vegetable stock, minced garlic, chopped white onion, slivered ginger, white pepper, chopped Napa cabbage, and slices of deep-fried tofu; cucumber pickle made from peeled and deseeded English cucumber, gochugaru (Korean chile flakes), minced garlic, salt, sesame oil, rice vinegar, sugar, sesame seeds; daikon pickle made from cubed daikon, water, sugar, white vinegar, salt.

Tuesday Yakuseki:
Baked russet potatoes with a choice of sour cream and/or butter; miso braised beef (beef blade seasoned with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper, seared and then slow cooked for several hours in a broth of chicken stock, shiro miso, minced chillies, seared eryngii mushrooms, tomato paste and rice wine vinegar; haricot verts with butter, salt and pepper. 

Thursday Yakuseki
Warm crusty rolls with butter, split pea soup (green split peas, vegetable stock, diced carrots, onions and celery, minced garlic, cubed potato, finely chopped parsley, tomato paste, thyme, lots of black pepper, smoked paprika, apple cider vinegar; salad of chopped romaine and leaf lettuce, radicchio, thinly sliced celery, red onion, and chopped tomatoes served with a dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and dijon mustard with honey and black pepper.

 

Image of a begging monk with begging hat, bowl, and bell

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 David Gallant:
Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for regular dokusan and much practical wisdom. Thank you to Mishin godo for preparing the annual charitable receipts for students. Thank you to Saigyo ino for regularly organizing Samu Weekends. Thank you to Fushin shuso for maintaining the snowblower so it's always ready to use when needed in the winter.

From Rana Annous: 
Thank you to Mishin godo for welcoming me in a way that helped me to align bodymind and open around the state that I arrived in. Thank you to Saigyo ino for helpful instructions on kinhin. Thank you to the Sangha member sitting next to me for suggesting to switch places.

 

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