eMirror Vol 27, No. 16 (2023-04-21)


Round glass bowl filled halfway with water on glass table, a play of shadows and reflexions
Photograph by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi


eMirror Vol 27, No. 16

Friday, April 21th, 2023
Edited by the Practice Council

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



In the same way, the mahabhutas are mixed. Earth, air, water, and fire are present in every element of experience in different combinations. We can notice this about a feeling in the knee that we will provisionally call a “painful” sensation. It can be a feeling of something tight, which is earth. Then we notice something sort of leaping out of that, shaped like a spike or a nail, which is fire. We notice that "the sensation" is actually many strange tingling sensations which are the vibrations of air. We notice a kind of heaviness and binding, which is water. And it runs through that cycle very, very quickly. The pain is not one thing, it is many things coming and going. And a “pleasant” sensation is much the same.

And so the Buddha asks his son and each of you, his great, great, great, great grandkids, to learn how to experience your experience as it is, with great wisdom. And first of all to drop the mind of aversion and grasping and attend directly to the quality of the sensations themselves. That doesn’t mean that you should try to name and label everything that arises and say, “ Oh, that one was earth! Oh! look, there is fire! Oh look...,” but just to feel it. And to notice the shifting, and changing of it, to notice the coming and going of it. Now, as well as sensations of the body, we can talk about sensations of the mind. Although, of course, “body” and “mind” are different ways of speaking of the same thing, still we can afford to be a little more specific in our language, as long as we realize that we are not describing a real separation between anything.

In the tradition of the old suttas one sometimes talks about “nama” and “rupa,” name and form. “Name” is mind in the sense of that naming that is always going on, the commentaries, the categories, the words, the curses, the promises, the threats. And “form” is just the pain in the knee, the colour, the sound. We don’t want to talk about how name and form are aspects of each other and of how both the naming and the forms are forms of Knowing right now. We don’t want to get into that yet, because that would just be cotton candy perhaps at this point. Instead, let’s simply notice how “nama” or naming as the thoughts, the feelings, the discursiveness, the emotions is very similar to physical sensations.

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

 

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):  May 3rd, 17th, and 31st.

Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place on Saturday, May 6th, at 1:45 p.m. To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa

May Sogaku-ki O-sesshin:
The May Sogaku-ki Seven-day O-sesshin begins at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 12th, and will end on Friday, May 19th, at noon. Probationary formal students and formal students are reminded to send their schedules as soon as possible. 
Formal sittings During the Week of O-sesshin are reserved for participants of the O-sesshin.
The Saturday, May 18th general sitting will take place in the Zendo. The sitting begins at 9:30. Please arrive by 9:15 in time for First Bell. Students attending are reminded to stay on the first floor. 

Cancelled Sittings:
The Monday, May 15th and Thursday, May 18th associate sittings are cancelled due to O-sesshin.

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
 


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

The Practice of Taking Care: short text by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei while training as Shuso. Zazen-ji, 1991.
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/practice-taking-care
 


Retreats



Rev. Chiso anagarika sat her weekly semi-retreat on Tuesday, April 18th. General student Elizabeth Eve sat a retreat from the evening of Thursday, April 13th to midday on Friday, April 14th at her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia. General student Aaron Ford sat a half-day retreat on Saturday, April 15th at his home in Calgary, Alberta. General students Gillian Hearn sat a partial retreat on Sunday, April 16th at her home in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. On Wednesday April 19th, general student Charlane Bishop sat a half -day retreat in her home in Newtonville, 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 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, April 22nd to Saturday, April 29th

Saturday, April 22nd general sitting: “Bowing and Receiving”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on Dogen zenji's "Raihai Tokuzui: Bowing and Acquiring the Essence": "Moshan" (6 of 13)
Sunday, April 23rd formal sitting: SAkN: Infinite Infinities by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi: "Unfolding, Enfolding" (1 of 7)
Monday, April 24th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “Shamatha and Vipashyana” (2 of 71, 26 minutes)
Thursday, April 27th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “Shamatha and Vipashyana” (2 of 71, 26 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 Ven. Fushin Comeau shuso following her death



scroll

Usual mind:  confusion, dullness

Posted April 21st, 2023. New entries are posted every two weeks.

 

Dainen-ji's dining hall table with dinner served


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. 

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

Monday Yakuseki:
Spaghetti with Vegan Rosé sauce (aged almond cream cheese, tomato paste, tomato juice, minced garlic, thyme, basil, oregano, red chilli flakes, red wine, lots of black pepper, torn basil); vegetable soup (diced butternut squash, carrots, zucchini, chopped onion, minced garlic, vegetable stock, thyme, rosemary, cayenne pepper; cubed friulano cheese with black olives. 

Tuesday Yakuseki:
Sandwiches made with crusty rolls (choice of hummus, sliced friulano cheese, sliced tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, Romaine lettuce, assorted condiments. Sliced ham was available for those who wished to supplement their diet with meat); celeriac salad (grated celery root, lime juice, mayonnaise, black pepper); tomato soup (mirepoix, San Marzano tomatoes, tomato juice, a dash of red balsamic vinegar, basil, oregano, thyme). 

Thursday Yakuseki:
Mixed grain (brown and white basmati rice); paneer makhani (red onions, green chillies, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cardamom, peppercorns, diced tomatoes, cumin, coriander seeds, turmeric, kashmiri chilli powder, fenugreek leaves, chopped coriander stems, garam masala, cubed paneer); red lentil soup (red lentils, chopped onion, kashmiri chilli powder, tomato juice, garam masala); Napa cabbage salad (thinly cut Napa cabbage, thin carrot matchsticks, red onion, toasted mustard and cumin seeds, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar.); yogurt served as a condiment for the paneer makhani.

 

Monk in gassho - 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 Jinmyo sensei:
Thank you to Ven. Saigyo ino for transcribing four teisho last week. Thank you to Ven. Fushin shuso for serving the evening meal on Thursday and for regularly growing cat grass for resident felines; to deshi Senbo for IT work; to deshi Leonardo for taking care of many dishes that needed to be washed this week;  to general student Denise Beaudot for fresh maple syrup from her trees.

From Mishin godo:
Thank you to Anzan Hoshin roshi for the classes on Fusatsu and Vows presented in 1989 in the series "Study of the Precepts." Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for overseeing the Long-distance Training Program and providing email instruction to many preliminary, associate, and general public students in addition to her own students. Thank you also to the Sensei for preparing meals for me while I was ill. Thank you to Senbo working on the set up of a new, more robust email system for White Wind Zen Community email.

From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to David Gallant for donations to the work of the Office of the Tenzo, and to Ian Richard for donations for the Hojo Library Fund and the upcoming Samu Weekend.
 

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