eMirror Vol 27, No. 2 (2023-01-13)



Dharmadhatu mudra
Dharmadhatu mudra


eMirror Vol 27, No. 2

Friday, January 13th, 2023
Edited by the Practice Council

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



I think that what the Buddha was saying here was that, in order to understand anything about practice, we have to start with the basics. We have to start with the body, we have to start with the fact that we are sitting here. What is it like to sit here? We have to start with our posture: ears over the shoulders, nose over the navel. We have to feel the bones, we have to feel the flesh. We have to see the colours, hear the sounds. We have to understand that all of our experience has a kind of sameness to it. What is inside the body and what is outside the body are not really all that different because the body is composed of all of the things which are outside the body: the wheat and rice, the water, the sunlight. All of the minerals, elements, chemicals of the body do not appear out of the speaking of some sort of magical spell. Instead, the body is comprised or made up out of the same elements as the entire world is made up out of.

And, in the sensations of the body, we find that if we simply pay attention to the sensations as they present themselves instead of judging them in any kind of way, that there are certain basic factors such as a quality of earthiness. Something is hard or soft, has some kind of tactile quality to it. Or it extends, it has a surface. Something is wet, or coheres, is held together in some kind of way. It is moist, it flows. A quality of heat or cold, because both heat and cold are described by tejo, the fire element. And a sense of burning, of consuming, of decaying, of lightening. And air: movement, vibration.

Feel the body as sensations. Feeling the itches, the twinges, the pains, the tensions, the release of those tensions, the lightness, the vigour, the frailty of the body, we are feeling the same kind of sensations that we feel when we feel the floor. Or we feel the wall. Or we feel a tree, or the steering wheel of our car, or a friend’s hand. And in fact when we are feeling the floor as we take a step on it, we are partially feeling the floor and partially feeling the foot. So inside the body and outside the body, just at this level, are not as different as they might at first appear to be.
                                 
-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 18th, February 8th and 22nd.

Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place on Saturday, February 4th, at 1:45 p.m. To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa

January Two-day Sesshin:
The January two-day sesshin will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 13th and will end at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 15th. Probationary formal students and formal students are reminded to send their schedule as soon as possible.

A Sitting for General Students During the January Sesshin:
A sitting for general students will take place in the Zendo on Saturday, January 14th. 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.

Daiji-ki:
January 22nd is the memorial of the date of death of Daiji Tenku daiosho, who was the Teacher of Joshu Dainen daiosho, both of whom Anzan Hoshin roshi studied with.

Nehan O-sesshin:
The Nehan O-sesshin begins at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 10th, and ends at noon on Friday, February 17th. 

A Sitting for Associate and General Students During the Nehan O-sesshin:
A combined sitting for associate and general students will take place in the Zendo on Saturday, February 11th. 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.

Cancelled Associate Sitting:
The Monday February 13th associate sitting that would normally take place at 7:30 p.m. is cancelled due to the O-sesshin.

Cancelled Associate Sitting:
The Thursday February 16th associate sitting that would normally take place at 7:30 p.m. is cancelled due to the O-sesshin.

A Note to Preliminary and Public Students Concerning O-sesshin:
During an O-sesshin the schedule is such that there is no time to meet face to face with preliminary students or to reply to email correspondence sent by public students. Public 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.

Nehan:
Commemoration of the Buddha’s Death (Nehan-e) February 15th.

Hermitage:
The Roshi is continuing an extended period of "self-isolation" 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
 


Retreats



Rev. Chiso anagarika sat her weekly semi-retreat on Tuesday, January 10th at her home in the Berkshires. Beth Buerkle sat a half-day retreat on Thursday, January 5th at her home in Chamcook, New Brunswick. Aaron Ford sat a two-day retreat on Saturday, January 7th and Sunday, January 8th at his home in Calgary, Alberta. Charlane Bishop sat a half-day retreat on Monday, January 9th at 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, January 14th to Saturday, January 21st

Saturday, January 14th: "The Landscape of Reality" by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi: "What the Wind Wants" (5 of 12, 26 minutes) 
Monday, January 16th: "The Touchstone" by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei: "The Touchstone 9, Serenity Is Not Special" (teisho 10 of 22, 18 minutes)
Thursday, January 19th: "The Touchstone" by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei: "The Touchstone 9, Serenity Is Not Special" (teisho 10 of 22, 18 minutes)
Saturday, January 21st: "The Landscape of Reality" by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi: "Beneath Your Feet" (6 of 12, 28 minutes)

Recorded teisho playback during the January Sesshin:
Saturday, January 14th: “Sitting Up Straight”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on Keizan Jokin zenji's "Zazen Yojinki": “It's Just That Simple” (16 of 18)


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

Tiantong (C ); Tendo ( J): The monastery where Dogen received Transmission from his Teacher Rujing.

Posted January 13th, 2022. New entries are posted every two weeks.
 

 

Age Tofu


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:
Inari tofu (tofu pockets filled with vinegared rice mixed with crumbled nori seaweed); mushroom soup (mushroom stock, vegetable stock, sauteed cremini mushrooms, white pepper, shoyu); Napa cabbage salad (thinly sliced Napa cabbage, slivered carrots, shaved white onion), served with a dressing made from low sodium shoyu, rice vinegar, chili oil, sesame oil, black pepper, a bit of sugar.

Tuesday Yakuseki:
Mixed grain (calrose, arborio, and Thai sticky rice, barley); Ganmodoki (mashed silken tofu, chopped medium-firm tofu, minced shiseido, seeded red chilies, jalapeno peppers, minced scallions and ginger, egg whites, salt, rice flour) formed into balls, rolled in potato flour and deep-fried); sliced gailan stir fried and seasoned with salt, pepper and lime juice.

Thursday Yakuseki:
Baguettes with butter; vegetable soup (chopped parsnips, rutabaga, carrots, turnips, leeks, potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, celery, and minced garlic, seasoned with rosemary and thyme, lots of black pepper, apple cider vinegar, served with finely chopped basil, coriander, and parsley mixed with lemon juice; celeriac salad (celeriac grated and mixed with mayonnaise, black pepper, Dijon mustard). 

 

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 Saigyo ino:
Thank you to the Roshi for introducing me to Krita, an open-source drawing program. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for really delicious nut cheeses she has been making. Thank you to Mishin godo for the excellent meals prepared for residents each Sunday evening. To Fushin shuso for picking up monastery supplies, to Leonardo Nobrega for overseeing the cleaning of the cloths and kitchen laundry and to David Gallant for work to improve the building's server. Thank you to Ian Richard for continued work to ensure our archive of physical copies of the eMirror is complete and to Tarik Kaya for regular samu each Sunday on various tasks. Thank you to Alex Bourne for priming the sash windows we have removed for restoration from the unfinished guest room on the first floor and thank you to those students who stay behind after the sittings to help with general cleaning and disinfecting. 

From David Gallant:
Thank you to Roshi, through many teisho, and to Jinmyo sensei, through much one-on-one instruction, for showing me how to trust awareness moment after moment. Thank you to Fushin shuso for often getting the snow blower out to clear snow from the driveway in the winter months.

From Ian Richard:
Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for the instruction, understanding, honesty, clarity and compassion in recent Daisan. Thank you to Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for leading daily sittings, chanting, and kata. Thank you to Fushin shuso for printing missing eMirror issues, serving as jikido, and playing the mokugyo at formal sittings. Thank you to many students for cleaning boot mats, disinfecting door handles, shovelling and salting, transcribing and archiving, and all manner of samu. 

From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to Ian Richard for a donation.

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