eMirror Vol 26, No. 40 (2022-09-30)

Tripitika Koreana at Haensa
Tripitika Koreana at Haensa


eMirror Vol 26, No. 40

Friday, September 30th, 2022
Edited by the Practice Council

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



Now, as well as language, we also think in imagery. In reading and in writing, it is interesting to notice the images that arise. Poetry certainly evokes strong images. Here is a verse by our Lineage Ancestor Ryoko Jikaze zenji that many of you will know through koan study:

Bones, ground into powder.
Teeth, scattered along the road.
Half a skull, filled with wet moss;
the sunlight gleaming in each drop.

However, in this poem, the dramatic images of death and decay are not the point of the poem at all. In working with this verse in koan study, one finds that the obvious meanings that arise in response to the imagery are traps for the shallow-minded. One has to have an overarching sense of the verse as a whole, one that allows associations to come and go, to find the meaning that was intended by Ryoko zenji. The student must then present her own verse that expresses the same point.

In our Lineage of Zen practice, koan practice works with the sheep presence of thought as a questioning into the context of thinking, of whole bodily experiencing, of experiencing in itself. This is engaged after a certain constancy of mindfulness and a sincerity in following through with this has been established. Following the establishing of a certain constancy and sincerity in the process of this questioning it is augmented by koan study.
  
-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



50 Years of Practice and Teaching
October 1st is Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi's birthday, and 50th year of practising and Teaching the Dharma

Fusatsu: October 12th and 26th.

Re-opening the Monastery:
We will be reopening regular sittings to students, beginning with the Saturday morning sitting for general students on October 15th. The sitting begins at 9:30 a.m. First Bell is at 9:15 a.m. The sitting ends at 11:50 a.m. If required we will be using two practice Halls for sittings  (the Hatto and Zendo) to ensure adequate spacing. All students attending will be required to wear an N-95 or KN-95 mask. We will be sending emails to local students with information about how to register for sittings.

Associate sittings will resume on Mondays and Thursday evenings, beginning on Monday, October 17th and Thursday October 20th. The sittings will begin at 7:30 p.m. First Bell is at 7:15 p.m. The sittings end at 9:10 p.m. 

Both the Monday and Thursday evening sittings are reserved for associate students, who may attend one sitting per week. General students are to attend a minimum of two sittings each week: one morning formal sitting each week and the general sitting on Saturday mornings. Attending both the formal sitting and the general sitting will count as a half-day retreat (breakfast at the monastery, dana $5). 

Introduction to Zen Workshop 
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place on Saturday, October 1st, at 1:45 p.m. 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 

Daruma-ki O-sesshin
The Daruma-ki O-sesshin will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 2nd, and will end on Sunday, October 9th at noon. Formal students are reminded to send their schedules to schedule at wwzc dot org as soon as possible. 

A Note to Preliminary and Public Students Concerning O-sesshin
During an O-sesshin the schedule is such that there is no time for monastics to take telephone calls or reply to email correspondence sent by public students (unless it’s an emergency).  Students are asked to send their weekly practice journals, as they will be reviewed. But unless there is something that needs an immediate reply, you will not receive an email reply until the week following the O-sesshin.

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

Beginning Instruction in Zen Practice for Those Living Outside of Commuting Distance of the Monastery:
For information concerning our Long-distance Training Program, please visit this Web Page: https://wwzc.org/long-distance-training-program
 


Retreats



Deshi Chantal Maheu sat a one-day retreat on Monday, September 26th at Dainen-ji. Sam MacFarlane sat a one-day retreat on Saturday, September 24th at Dainen-ji. Tracey Parker sat a partial retreat on Saturday, September 24th at her home in Perth, Ontario. Mario Delisle sat a half-day retreat on Tuesday, September 27th at Dainen-ji.

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



If you would like to sit a retreat at Dainen-ji, please email schedule@wwzc.org to register.

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 or a KN95 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

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 pillow, 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.
 


Recorded Teachings Schedule


Saturday, October 1st to Saturday, October 8th

Saturday, October 1st: “Wild Time: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on “Uji: Being Time” by Eihei Dogen zenji: “Arising Attains Itself" (8 of 13, 33 minutes)
Sunday, October 2nd: SAkN: "The Anatomy of Awakening" by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi: "Hearing and Speaking" (4 of 9) 
Monday, October 3rd: Hekiganroku 40: Flower in a Dream: "Xuedou's Verse" Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi (2 of 3, 16 minutes)  
Thursday, October 6th: "Transparent" by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei (34 minutes)
Saturday, October 8th: “Wild Time: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on “Uji: Being Time” by Eihei Dogen zenji: “There's No Mistaking It" (9 of 13, 28 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. 
 


Changes to the Grounds at Dainen-ji



In preparation for planting a new stretch of hedge along the East (Friel Street) side of the monastery, all of the old cedars were cut down and the roots removed. The cedars were very old and had become quite ‘bald’ in some areas and were encroaching into the sidewalk. Cedars need a lot of light and they were not able to thrive under the shade of the massive Chinese elm on that side of the property. 

Cutting the hedge down now will make the work of planting 59 yews much simpler in the spring, as they preferably should be planted as early in the spring as possible after the ground thaws. For the winter months we will put the fence back up. Most of us had never really seen the whole of the monastery from that side as the old cedar hedge blocked the view. 

This is the side view of the monastery showing the bay window of the Shuryo (library) on the first floor. The rain shelter (seen next to the elm tree) was moved and will be relocated on the grounds. The cedar stumps have now been removed so we can put the fence back up for the winter.

We were able to purchase the 59 yews needed to complete the hedge at the same price we paid for them last year. Funding is already in place for the new yews and to cover the cost of removing the old hedge. 

And in this view you can also see a few of the Roshi’s pigeon friends up on the roofs, waiting for lunch seed. 

East side of Dainen-ji

The fence installed for the winter months.
The fence installed for the winter months. 
 


Painted Cakes
(do not satisfy hunger)

Begun by Ven. Shikai Zuiko o-sensei
Finished by Rev. Fushin Comeau shramon following her death



scroll

Tendai (J); T'ien-t'ai (C ): The school of Buddhist study founded in T'ang dynasty China and continued in Japan by Saicho. Dõgen zenji was originally ordained as a Tendai monk.

Posted September 23rd, 2022. New entries are posted every two weeks.

 

Tenzo in kanjiTenzo in kanji


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 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 following meals were prepared on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings for residents:

Monday Yakuseki:
Fried rice (long-grain Chinese rice seasoned with shoyu, ginger, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, white pepper, cooked egg, carrots, peas, chopped scallions, sesame oil); sauteed tofu with poblano peppers and red bell peppers in a sauce made from shoyu, orange extract, brown sugar, onion and garlic powder, white pepper, ginger, black vinegar, brown sugar, shaoxing cooking wine; sauteed gai lan and baby bok choy with celery salt, onion powder and salt; tamarind soup (tamarind soup base with mirin, slivered ginger and shoyu.

Tuesday Yakuseki:
Shepherd’s pie (vegetarian):
Carrots, peas, corn, and lentils in a mushroom gravy topped with mashed Yukon gold potatoes, vegetable stock, garlic powder, Dijon mustard, black pepper baked to a golden brown, served with cooked cabbage seasoned with Myoko’s Vegan butter, salt and lots of black pepper.
Shepherd’s pie (for those who wished to supplement their diet with meat we added ground beef and pork to the meal described above, also served with cooked green cabbage.

Thursday Yakuseki: 
Ace Bakery buns; bean burgers (black beans, chickpeas, lentils, cooked mushrooms, rolled oats, grated beets, pea protein, mushroom powder, onion and garlic powder, smoked paprika, cumin, chipotle adobo, tomato paste, marmite, arrowroot starch (binder) nutritional yeast and thyme); choice of cheese and condiments; corn chips or salt and pepper potato chips. 

 

Gassho sign (hands in gassho in in a circle)


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 Leonardo Nobrega for archiving samu to digitize the Vimalakirti series. Thank you to Chantal Maheu for archiving samu to update the teisho database with information about which recordings still need to be transferred to digital format.

From Sam MacFarlane:
Thank you to Mishin godo and Jinmyo sensei for preparing meals during my recent retreat.  Thank you to Saigyo ino for his instruction throughout my retreat and thank you to the Roshi for Dainen-ji which allowed me the setting for my full day retreat.

From Carol Hodgson:
Thank you to the Roshi for making the Teachings available in written and recorded forms. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for providing instruction in Komyo Shingon. Thank you to Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for many practice interviews, interesting conversations, and helpful instruction.
 

 

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