eMirror Vol 26, No. 53 (2022-12-30)



Snowy fir on the monastery grounds
Photograph by Ven. Mishin Roelofs godo


eMirror Vol 26, No. 53

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

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



Instead of being open to the flowering of this moment, it is lost in the weeds. Entangled in vines, snagged in the undergrowth. We sit, we breathe in and we breathe out, and then we wonder what the hell is going on. “What do I do next? What?” Every time that we think that we have a handle on the practice we lose it. Because some days it is very clear and some days it is very confused. But does that even make sense? What is confused? Can the breath be confused? What is it that is confused when there is confusion? Somehow we seem to need to be told over and over and over again how to sit and be mindful of the breath… How to sit and be mindful of the koan, to be mindful of the sounds, to be mindful of seeing, to be mindful of standing and of taking a step. To be mindful of working and eating and living.

In fact, the more that we do the practice, the more that we realize that we have no idea at all of how to do the practice. Because the practice is so simple and we are so concerned with complexity, with judgments, with playing out patterns of the past, with achievements, trying to get something to happen instead of just paying attention to what is happening now.

And, if you are just paying attention to what is happening now, what is the point of that? “What’s going on? Why am I doing this? Sariputta says that it will bring a vast harvest, and great richness. But what does that mean? Acha.”

-Ven Anzan Hoshin roshi, continuing Teisho Two: "The Elements of Bodymind" in the series "Flowers and Worms", Hanamatsuri sesshin, April 11th to 14th, 1991, Zazen-ji.
 


Upcoming Events



Fusatsu:  January 4th and January 18th.

Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place on Saturday, January 7th, at 1:45 p.m. To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca
For more information please see: Introduction to Zen Workshop (Ottawa) 

For information concerning our Long-distance Training Program 
For students living an hour or more commuting distance from the monastery in Ottawa, please visit this Web Page: Long Distance Training Program | White Wind Zen Community

Joya (New Year’s Celebration)
On Saturday, December 31st at 10 p.m. until Sunday, January 1st at 12:00 a.m., we will celebrate Joya or New Year with 108 recitations of the Mahaprajnaparamita Hridaya sutra mantra at midnight.

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


White Wind Zen Community Website Update



“River of Memory”: transcript of teisho presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, on March 21st, 1991: 
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/river-memory
 


Retreats



Ian Richard sat a two-day retreat on Monday, December 26th and Tuesday, December 27th at Dainen-ji. Julien Jefferson arrived at Dainen-ji on Thursday, December 29th from his home in Halifax, Nova Scotia to begin a four and a half day retreat which will include attending Joya. 

If you 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 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.
 


Recorded Teachings Schedule


Saturday, December 31st to Saturday, January 7th 

Saturday, December 31st: "The Landscape of Reality" by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi: "Flowers Fall" (3 of 12, 24 minutes)
Monday, January 2nd: "The Touchstone" by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei: "The Touchstone 8, The Nobility of Truth" (teisho 8 of 22, 21 minutes)
Thursday, January 5th: "The Touchstone" by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei: "The Touchstone 8, The Nobility of Truth" (teisho 8 of 22, 21 minutes)
Saturday, January 7th: "The Landscape of Reality" by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi: "The Practice of Wonder" (4 of 12, 24 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. 
 


Painted Cakes
(do not satisfy hunger)

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



scroll

Three worlds; Triloka (S, P); Sangai (J):  Desire, form, formlessness. Coarse to subtle modes of conditioned experience or samsara.

Posted December 30th, 2022. New entries are posted every two weeks.

 

Seeds on a tray


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:

Monday Yakuseki:
Biryani (Lundberg Farms short-grain brown rice, sauteed diced carrots and potatoes, caramelised onion, biryani spices, dried currants); Pakora (gram flour, thinly sliced onion, potatoes and cauliflower, garam masala, turmeric, chilies, ginger, chopped coriander, fenugreek leaves, cumin, kashmiri chilli powder); samosas (filling: potatoes, baby peas, cumin seeds, chilli powder, fresh chilies finely chopped, garam masala, grated ginger and chopped fresh coriander); both pakora and samosas served with ‘imlee’ (dipping sauce made with tamarind paste, salt, garam masala, lemon juice, chilies, carrot and onion finely chopped); spicy carrot soup (blended cooked carrots, leeks, garlic, ginger, chopped apple,  tomato, cumin, cayenne, sweet paprika, turmeric, miso, coconut cream); chopped fresh pineapple.

Tuesday Yakuseki:
Mixed grain (white and brown basmati rice, white and brown Thai jasmine rice); Mushroom soup (mushroom stock, vegetable stock shitake mushroom powder, slivered ginger, pea sprouts grown by Mishin godo under grow lights. Stir-fried vegetables (minced garlic and ginger, chopped scallions, thick sliced cremini mushrooms, vegetarian oyster sauce, shaoxing cooking wine, vegetable stock, white pepper, light soy sauce and sesame oil). Vegetarian option: firm tofu (deep fried in a batter of egg, potato starch, corn starch and all-purpose flour, seasoned with garlic and onion powder, cayenne pepper) added to the vegetables and sauce above. For those who wished to supplement their diet with meat, sauteed thinly sliced marinated pork loin with the above vegetables and sauce.

Thursday Yakuseki:
Mexican bean soup (chopped Spanish onion, carrots, celery, black beans, red kidney beans, diced fresh tomatoes, minced garlic, tomato paste, tomato juice, smoked paprika, ancho powder, dried oregano, cumin, coriander, fresh thyme, bay leaves, vegetable broth, olive oil, salt, pepper, lime juice, fresh chopped coriander); salad (leaf and romaine lettuce, radicchio, chopped radishes, tomatoes, slivered white onion); warmed buns with butter. 

 

Little monks bowing, Japanese drawing


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 Chantal Maheu and Elizabeth Eve for transcribing recordings in the “Before Thinking” series.

From David Gallant:
Thank you to Roshi for designing the residential training program at Dainen-ji, which has played a large part in my 'life reboot' over the past three years. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for much dokusan this year and for often providing practical advice at just the right time.

From Mary Korica:
Thank you to the Roshi for the environment of practice at Dainen-Ji and the practice opportunities that stem from it, including the Long Distance Training Program. Thank you to the Roshi also for the “Christmas Gift” reading material. Thank you for the time and efforts of the Practice Council for supporting the Long Distance Training Program.

From Artik Chauhan:
Thank you Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for all the telephonic and in-person practice interviews, helping with the forms and providing all the instructions so far. Thank you Jinmyo sensei for The Touchstone series and for simplifying doubts in the daisan. Thank you Roshi for making your teachings and this place available and for accepting me as a student.

From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to Chantal Maheu for a donation.

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