eMirror Vol 24, No. 10 (2020-03-06)

 

Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra (8,000 Line Radical Wisdom Sutra) Sculpture by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi
Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra (8,000 Line Radical Wisdom Sutra)
Sculpture by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

eMirror Vol 24, No. 10

Friday, March 6th, 2020
Edited by Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho

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



Shitou, on the other hand, felt quite comfortable using terms that had originated in Daoism. In fact, the Chinese title of the text that we are studying is the Cantong Qi 參同契 (T’san-t’ung-ch’i), which is the same title that a Han dynasty Daoist, Wei Boyang, gave to a treatise considering the interpenetration of yin and yang, dark and light, as a kind of alchemical process from which one could brew immortality.

Shitou used this title to indicate that one could use the interactions between the radiance of experiences and the hiddenness, the darkness, of experiencing in itself, to transcend all coming and going, all birth and death, entirely and utterly.

This transcendence is not a matter of avoidance. It is not a matter of inventing some kind of story about our lives that will help us to "go with the flow" and avoid the sharp edges of birth and death. Instead, it is a matter of using those sharp edges to cut everything open, and to expose the hidden which presents itself as the coming and going, the living and dying, the bodies and minds and worlds that shine everywhere as this Total Field, this Dharmadhatu. And having brought together ultimate and relative, having brought together darkness and light, releasing both.

And that is the kind of thing that we do here.

-Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, concluding teisho 1: "What We Do Here" Saturday, June 15th, 1996 in the teisho series "Studying the Mystery", Commentaries on Shitou Xiqian's "Sandokai".


Upcoming Events



Fusatsu: 
March 11th and 25th

Hermitage
The Roshi began a period of hermitage at midnight on Wednesday, March 4th, which will end at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 8th, when he leads monastics in Acalanatha Sadhana.

Introduction to Zen Workshop
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place at 1:45 p.m., on Saturday, March 7th. For more information please see:
https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa
For information concerning our Long-distance Training Program, please visit this Web Page: https://wwzc.org/long-distance-training-program

March Two-day Sesshin
The March two-day sesshin will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13th and will end at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 15th. On Saturday, March 14th, associate and general students may attend a sitting held in the Zendo. Arrival time is 9:15 a.m. (in time for First Bell). The sitting ends at 11:30 a.m. Students attending are reminded to remain on the first floor.

Keizan Ki
March 21st is the memorial for Keizan Jokin zenji.
 


Retreats



Elizabeth Eve sat a one-day retreat on Wednesday, March 4th at her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  

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.
 


Recorded Teachings Schedule



Saturday, March 7th: "Birth and Death: The Works": Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji's “Zenki: Complete Activity” and “Shoji: Birth and Death”: "The Working of Reality" (2 of 9)
Sunday, March 8th: SAkN: "The Anatomy of Awakening" by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi: "Living the Body" (2 of 9)
Monday, March 9th: "The Dragon in His Waters, The Tiger in Her Mountains, Part 3" by Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho-ajari (3 of 3)
Thursday, March 12th: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “Yes, No, Maybe" (41 of 71)
Saturday, March 14th: “Every Breath You Take” by Ven. Shikai Zuiko sensei: “Putting on Lower Garments" (Dharma Talk 36)

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.

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


Translations



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. Many of these will be posted on our website over the next few months.
 


Newly-Presented Teachings



During the January 2020 Sesshin, Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi presented the following teisho as part of the ongoing series, "The Lineage of Luminosity: Part Two: The Lineage in China”:
          January 11th: “Rujing's Broken Broom of Mu”.
During the December 2019 Rohatsu O-sesshin, Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi presented the following teisho as part of the ongoing series, "The Lineage of Luminosity, Part Two: The Lineage in China”:
          December 2nd: Rujing’s Plum Blossoms Again
          December 3rd: Rujing’s Flower for Pindola
          December 4th: Rujing’s Painting Plum Blossoms
          December 5th: Rujing’s Frogs and Worms
Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi presented the following teisho during the November Sesshin, as part of the ongoing series, "The Lineage of Luminosity: Part Two: The Lineage in China”:
          November 9th: Rujing and the Old Plum Tree


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
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
 


Update on the Plan for Essential Repairs to the Hojo
(Abbot’s Quarters)



Hojo renovation funds raised to date: $13,035
Fundraising goal: $40,000

Essential repairs are needed to the Hojo (Abbot’s Quarters). The needed work includes taking down the ceiling in the Hojo washroom in order to insulate, raising the floor, repairing interior moisture damage, and addressing other structural problems (extremely uneven floors, and ventilation, plumbing, and electrical issues). 

The Office of the Shissui has met with 3 local design/build companies to discuss the scope of this substantial work and is reviewing their quotations. The total cost of the work will be in the region of $40,000. Provided that we are able to meet the fundraising goal, we anticipate undertaking the work in the summer of 2020.

All donations towards the Hojo renovation fund will be much appreciated, and will receive a charitable tax receipt. 
 

MVIMG_20190127_084840.jpg

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 mold inside the walls.

Description of the work
After a recent risk inspection by our insurance company, one requirement for ongoing insurance coverage is to address a buildup of large icicles over winter from the roof over the Hojo washroom. The ice buildup is caused by heat loss through the roof that melts the winter snow, which refreezes into icicles. 

In order to address this, we should be insulating the ceiling of the Hojo washroom. We will use an application of spray foam insulation which will require taking down the interior ceiling. As there is also heat loss through the very poorly insulated walls, we shall also be removing all of the wall plaster and lathe and using spray foam insulation on the exterior walls. As well as heat insulation, this closed cell foam insulation will impede moisture transfer and eliminate the possibility of moisture buildup and mold issues in the room. Because the plaster and lathe will need to be removed in order to insulate, we will be replacing the old shower stall and re-plumbing the shower. 

Replacing the ceiling allows us to raise the height of the ceiling so that we can eliminate the 8-inch step down into the washroom, which is a potential tripping hazard. We can also add new lighting, improved ventilation and proper venting of fixtures. Raising the floor height requires replacing two hot water radiators with under-floor electric heating and installing a new vanity. 

Once completed, all of this work will result in a substantial improvement to the functionality of the living and working environment of the Hojo, the Abbot’s Quarters, and eliminate potential hazards. As the last area of the building to receive any major renovation work, this improvement is a priority.
 

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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.

Shinjin datsuraku (J): “ Dropping through the bodymind” Completely beyond reference point. One of Dogen’s most important phrases. Refer to The Way of the Bodymind and other sources.

Questions can be sent to me, Shikai sensei, at shikai.sensei@gmail.com.

 

Korean side dishes


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 godo and Saigyo ino offer assistance as tenzo-anja. 

Meals Prepared During the Week Prior to the Evening Sittings:

Monday Yakuseki:
Conchiglie pasta with chickpeas and spinach (bran oil, chopped onion, minced garlic, toasted cumin seeds, black pepper, tomato paste, chickpeas, vegetable stock, cayenne pepper, oregano, torn fresh spinach); cubed friulano cheese with gherkins.

Tuesday Yakuseki:
Lo mein noodles with curried chicken, mushrooms and tofu (seared strips of chicken breast, shitake mushrooms and deep-fried tofu in a sauce made from caramelized onion, chopped tomatoes, turmeric, cumin, coriander, garlic and cayenne, served with roasted peanuts; salad of Napa cabbage, thinly sliced carrots and daikon, thin slices of white onion with a dressing made from coconut milk and lime juice. 

Thursday Yakuseki:
Biryani made with Thai and basmati rice, cubed Yukon gold potatoes, caramelized onion, chopped carrots, Madras curry powder, raisins; tofu with peppers (chopped cubanelle, poblano, red bell peppers, chopped white onion, with deep-fried tofu in a peanut sauce made from peanut butter, chili sauce, cumin, coriander, and lime juice); lime pickle salad (salad of Napa cabbage, thinly sliced carrots and daikon, thin slices of white onion, mayonnaise, chopped lime pickle). 
 


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 Endai shuso
Thank you to the Roshi for his translation of two short texts by Dogen zenji, “Zenki: Complete Activity” and “Shoji: Birth and Death”; his teisho on these texts will be played back over several weeks at general sittings on Monday evenings. Thank you to Jinmyo osho, Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for planning the many stages of the upcoming repairs to the Hojo and for Saigyo ino for organizing and doing a large part of the preparatory construction. 

From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to Fushin shramon for a donation. Thank you to Constantine Tikhonov for a donation to the Hojo renovation 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.

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