"Mu" sho by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi 2022
eMirror Vol 26, No. 34
Friday, August 19th, 2022
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
In the West there has traditionally been a division between thinking or cognition or the mind and the senses, with sensory experience being regarded as lesser. The Dharma has always considered consciousness, or cognitive capacities, to be another of the senses, to be part of a continuum of ways of knowing which are interdependent. Seeing is a mode of knowing, a way of experiencing, a kind of intelligence. As is hearing. As is feeling. As is smelling. As is tasting. Consciousness is another mode of knowing, one that derives and emerges from seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting and other mental factors such as the capacity for memory, pattern recognition, symbol forming and manipulation, the autonomic nervous system, and so on. A conventional contemporary viewpoint might be that consciousness coordinates the activities of the body and the senses. A more intelligent view would be to recognize consciousness as a range of capacities that emerge from the co-ordination and interactions between the other senses and senses that we do not often consider to be senses, for example such as those involved with adjusting the internal temperatures of the body and monitoring environmental temperatures. The mind is not “the” mind. It is not one thing. It is a network of processes.
For seeing, the sense base is the eyes, for hearing the ears. The sense base for consciousness is not the brain but the body as a whole because every part of the body participates in it to greater or lesser degrees. The sense field is perceptual and cognitive events.
The intricate nesting of hierarchies of knowing that are present as the capacity to think and feel has given rise to ways of extending and broadening and deepening itself just as language. Through the process of learning language as a child, the capacity to organize and coordinate events and activities, to think, to plan, to intend become more and more articulated and nuanced. Language can make it possible to think in ways that simply could not occur without it. Language as such and particular languages can also constrain what can be thought of and how it is thought of, especially if we confuse thinking with language, with discursive thoughts. Thinking can occur as words or images. This is one of the skills that a bodymind has. But most of our thoughts do not require language and are hindered by them. A discursive commentary during binaural fusion, for the bringing together of the sounds heard by the left and right ears and through comparing the difference between when it occurred to the left and then the right ear in microseconds calculating distance and direction and then merging them into a single sound that arises with distance and direction encoded within it, is not only impossible but would make binaural fusion impossible. Hearing the sound of a bird and recognizing it as birdsong does not require naming it. If there is naming of it, it is likely to dulling the hearing of it and all of the other sounds that are present. In fact, the only thoughts that really require words are when you are thinking about words, for example when writing a poem. Learning language sharpens thinking. Studying or playing with language can sharpen thinking. But thinking compulsively in words or in pictures or in congealed feeling-tones is a distortion of thinking, of the capacity to form images, and of the capacity to feel deeply.
-Ven Anzan Hoshin roshi, continuing Class Six: "The Mind Is Not 'The' Mind" in the series "Zen Arts: The Flowering of the Senses", October 1999 Daruma-ki O-sesshin, Dainen-ji.
Upcoming Events
Fusatsu: August 24th, September 7th and 28th.
Dogen-ki (August 28th)
Dogen-ki August 28th is Dogen-ki, the memorial of Eihei Dogen zenji's death.
Samu Weekend
The next Samu Weekend will take place on August 27th and 28th. Each day begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m. Please pencil these dates into your calendar so that you will be able to attend some or all of this weekend of samu practice. Saigyo ino will be writing soon to students with more details about the activities taking place over the weekend. To register please send an email to Saigyo ino at saigyo.cross@gmail.com.
September Two-day Sesshin:
The September two-day sesshin will begin on Friday, September 9th at 8:00 p.m. and will end on Sunday the 11th at 6:00 P.M.
Hermitage:
The Roshi is currently in an extended period of "self-isolation" due to underlying health issues until the COVID-19 situation clarifies.
Beginning Instruction in Zen Practice:
For information concerning our Long-distance Training Program, please visit this Web Page: https://wwzc.org/long-distance-training-program
Congratulations
Congratulations and deep Gassho to Jensen Burghardt of Campbell River, British Columbia who has been accepted as a general public student by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi.
Retreats
Rev. Chiso anagarika sat her weekly semi-retreat on Tuesday, August 16th at her home in the Berkshires. Thach Hoang sat a half day retreat on Sunday, August 14th at his home in Laval, Quebec.
If you 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.
Retreats at Dainen-ji
Although the monastery is not open to associate and general students for scheduled sittings, if you would like to sit a retreat at Dainen-ji, that is now possible.
You would need to schedule your retreat a week in advance. You will also need to get a rapid antigen Covid test done the day before you arrive and email us to let us know that you are Covid negative.
You will need to wear an N-95 mask while in the monastery. This link will let you know where you can pick up a free rapid antigen test https://covid-19.ontario.ca/rapid-test-locator
During the retreat, where the timing occurs along with scheduled sittings, you would join monastics and formal students in the Hatto on the second floor and wear a mask as we all do. During the other periods, you would sit in the Zendo on the first floor and would not wear a mask unless there are other students present.
You can sit a partial retreat, half-day retreat or full retreat for one or more days (providing you stay in the monastery and do not leave). The duration of retreats is as follows:
Half-day Retreat
You would need to arrive 15 minutes before the actual starting time. Begin at 6:00 a.m., end at noon. Or begin at 9:30 a.m., end at 6:00. Or begin at 3:00 p.m., end at 9:10.
Partial Retreat
You would need to arrive 15 minutes before the actual starting time. Begin at 6:00 a.m., end at 6:00 p.m. Or begin at 9:30 a.m., end at 9:10 p.m.
Full retreat
You would need to arrive by 5:45 a.m. Begin at 6:00 a.m., end at 9:10 p.m.
Please remember to bring a change of clothes suitable for samu (caretaking practice). If staying overnight, please remember to bring a sleeping bag, a towel and other such necessities. If you have been diagnosed by a medical doctor as having allergies to specific foods, please contact the tenzo-anja, mishin godo at mishin at gmail dot com, a week in advance of your retreat to inform her of dietary restrictions as this affects food purchases and meal planning. The suggested dana for retreats is $50 for a full day or $40 for a partial day, which covers the basic cost of food and other materials. Donations above this figure are very welcome and all donations are tax deductible.
If you would like to schedule a retreat, please send an email to schedule@wwzc.org.
Monastery Room for Rent
Framing for the new room showing a nearby small kitchen area. A washroom is located to the far right and to the left is the entrance to the rooftop garden and seating area.
We are in the process of building a new room in the monastery which will be available for rent in the Autumn. If you would like to engage in a period of long-term training, please contact Mishin godo at mishin@gmail.com for further details.
It is recommended for students thinking of moving into the monastery to engage in a period of temporary residential training (a week, two weeks, a month or so) before making the decision to move in permanently. Students living in the monastery are required to attend all of the scheduled sittings, so you need to be practising as a general student to meet this requirement.
Recorded Teachings Schedule
Saturday, August 20th to Saturday, August 27th
Saturday, August 20th: Wild Time: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on "Uji: Being Time" by Eihei Dogen zenji: “Now and Then” (2 of 13)
Monday, August 22nd: "Every Breath You Take" by Ven. Shikai Zuiko o-sensei: “Coming to Someone's Door" (Dharma Talk 103)
Thursday, August 25th: "The Forms of Attention" by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei
Saturday, August 27th: “Wild Time: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on “Uji: Being Time” by Eihei Dogen zenji: “Totality of Time” (3 of 13)
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
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.
Painted Cakes
(do not satisfy hunger)
Begun by Ven. Shikai Zuiko o-sensei
Finished by Rev. Fushin Comeau shramon following her death
Ten directions; jippo (J) Everywhere: the four cardinal directions, four sub-directions, up, down.
Posted August 12th, 2022. New entries are posted every two weeks.
Photograph by Ven. Mishin Roelof godo
Office of the Tenzo
Dogen zenji taught in the 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 “. 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 following meals were prepared on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings for residents:
Monday Yakuseki:
Brown short-grain calrose rice with chopped scallions; thick slices of deep-fried tofu seared on a griddle to create grill marks, served with a dipping sauce of kecap manis mixed with shoyu, sesame oil, minced ginger and minced red chilis; Napa cabbage soup made with vegetable stock, miso, minced garlic, chopped onion, and thinly cut ginger.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Brown and white Thai jasmine rice seasoned with turmeric and vegetable stock; green cabbage slaw made with green cabbage, slivered carrots, thinly sliced white onion, lime juice, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lime pickle and honey.
Vegetarian option: tofu sauteed with butter, kashmiri chili powder, garlic and onion powder, smoked paprika, Madras curry powder, cumin and coriander.
For those who wished to supplement their diet with meat: roasted chicken thighs and drum sticks in a dry rub (kashmiri chilli powder, garlic and onion powder, smoked paprika, Madras curry powder, cumin and coriander)
Thursday Yakuseki:
Bean burgers made with black beans, chickpeas, lentils, soy granules, sauteed chopped mushrooms, red beetroot powder, Marmite, shitake mushroom powder, onion, garlic, hot paprika powders, lots of black pepper, tapioca starch; served with Ace Bakery hamburger buns, lettuce, tomato, sliced onion, pickled jalapeno and a selection of condiments; tomato soup (cooked, blended carrots, celery, onion, garlic, San Marzano tomatoes, tomato juice, thyme, and parsley.
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 Jinmyo sensei:
Thank you to Stacey Loyer for taking care of a sick pigeon she and Saigyo Ino found in the grounds of Dainen-ji. Stacey took the pigeon to a wildlife centre in Ottawa for treatment.
From David Gallant:
Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for the delicious resident meals that lately have included experimentations with tempeh. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for regular dokusan and for showing me how to look at situations from many different perspectives, which has helped me make carefully thought out decisions. Thank you to Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for leading kata during the morning formal sittings, and during Sesshin and O-sesshin. Thank you to Saigyo ino for organizing the upcoming Samu Weekend, which I look forward to participating in. Thank you to my father, Michael Gallant, for offering more help to fix up and improve the wired doorbell system at Dainen-ji.
From Jensen Burghardt:
Thank you to all the students and everyone who makes the Long Distance Training Program possible. Thank you Jinmyo sensei for the email correspondence and first instructions when I began to practise. Thank you Saigyo ino and Mishin godo for every telephone practice interview; I am grateful for your patience, kindness and commitment. And thank you to the Roshi for accepting me as a public general student and for all your Teachings so far.
From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to Sam MacFarlane for a donation. Thank you to the following for donations toward the upcoming Samu weekend: Ian Richard, Matt Broda, and Daryl David.
