eMirror Vol 27, No. 29 (2023-07-21)


Dripping wet fungi, photograph by Dr. Jinen S. Boates, Wolfville Zazenkai, NS
Photograph by Dr. Jinen S. Boates, Wolfville Zazenkai, NS 


eMirror Vol 27, No. 29

Friday, July 21st, 2023
Edited by the Practice Council

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



[Learn how to integrate all of the various elements of your life by relating to them thoroughly and properly.]

When we begin to do this, then a great harvest of richness makes itself available to us. We plant a seed for that harvest, and we reap that harvest, with the same breath when we allow ourselves to truly breath this breath, without trying to calm anything down, without trying to stir up any kind of happiness. When we allow ourselves to be as we are, then richness, joyfulness, and happiness become available to us because they are part of our own intelligence rather than something extra, rather than something that we must get from outside.

In Zen practice we must be very suspicious, we must be very clever, we must be very crafty about how sly we are, about how devious we are. Now, on the whole we are very upright people. When we lay down to sleep we might drool a little bit, but on the whole we are very upright kind of people. And so we sit up straight. And when we stand up, we stand up, and when we breathe, we breathe. Because there is nothing to be ashamed of. There is really no problem. Except the problems that we make with our web. The problems that we make when we tie things together instead of allowing each thing to be as it is.

When we allow each thing to be as it is, we begin to find out that each thing is intimately related to everything else. Everything is mixed and merged with everything else without things getting jumbled up and confused like some kind of yard sale. When we give up trying to consume things all of the time, trying to buy and sell things all of the time, then we receive exactly what we need. And we can give everything that we have got to each moment because there is never anything lacking. We breathe in, and we breathe out, and the colours and forms and sounds are all right here.

Except for that panicky sense of poverty, there is nothing wrong. Except for our attempt to try to match ourselves up to mythical standards that have arisen from how the worm has tried to hide itself from itself by glorifying its activities, there is nothing wrong. Maybe there is something wrong with mythologies, maybe there is something wrong with the stories, because there is certainly nothing wrong with us.

When we allow ourselves to be intelligent in this kind of way, we begin to realize a great harvest of richness, and we begin to see clearly each thing as it is. We begin to see that mind and body are aspects of each other. We begin to see that there is a sameness in the uniqueness of each thing. The heaviness of a thought is very much like the firmness of the floor that we feel as we stand. The fieriness of anger is very much like the brilliance and heat of the sun. We begin to discern the elements of our experience very clearly through our all-pervasive intelligence, through our primordial intelligence, which presents itself to us as what is seen, as what is heard. We see clearly what is eaten and what is left behind in how each moment arises, dwells and decays, and how we can afford to leave behind what is already behind, because there is so much available to us, right here.

-Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, continuing Teisho Six: "Beginning at the Beginning" 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):  August 2nd, 16th, and 30th.

Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place on Saturday, August 5th at 1:45 p.m. To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa

August Two-day Sesshin:
The August two-day sesshin will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 11th and will end at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 13th. 

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
 


What to do if you Arrive After the Sitting Begins



If you arrive after the sitting starts and the door is locked, you don't need to turn around and go home. Ring the bell once and then sit on the bench on the front porch. If possible, we will come and unlock the door for you right away. If we are in the middle of the chants or listening to a teisho, we will come to let you in as soon as the teisho finishes.
 


Retreats



Elizabeth Eve sat a one-day retreat on Sunday, July 16th at her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Rodney Gallant sat a half-day retreat on Tuesday, July 18th at his home in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

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, Saturday, July 22nd to Saturday, July 29th, 2023

Saturday, July 22nd general sitting: “Wandering on Medicine Mountain”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on "Medicine Mountain": The Recorded Sayings and Doings of Zen Master Yaoshan Weiyan: “Try to Lift It” (teisho 3 of 22, 17 minutes)
Sunday, July 23rd formal sitting: SAkN: Dimensions of Space by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi: "Opening the Space of Understanding" (1 of 8, 22 minutes)
Monday, July 24th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “The Arising of Spring” (15 of 71, 6 minutes)
Thursday, July 27th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “The Arising of Spring” (15 of 71, 6 minutes)
Saturday, July 29th “Wandering on Medicine Mountain”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on "Medicine Mountain": The Recorded Sayings and Doings of Zen Master Yaoshan Weiyan: “Shit, Bowls, Lion, and a Knife” (teisho 4 of 22, 21 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.
 


White Wind Zen Community Website Update



“Cultivation of the Ground of Mind”: transcript of a teisho Presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, on June 4, 1989 
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/cultivation-ground-mind

The Practice of Boards and Stones” teisho presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, on June 18, 1989
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/practice-boards-and-stones

"Difficulty, Strangeness, Beauty": transcript of a Dharma Talk presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, December 13, 1988: https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/difficulty-strangeness-beauty

"Standing in the Rain (Tangaryo)": transcript of Dharma Talk presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, December 15th, 1988: https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/standing-rain-tangaryo

"Snow": transcript of Dharma Talk presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, November 18, 1989: https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/snow
 


Painted Cakes
(do not satisfy hunger)

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



scroll

Zazenkai (J): Zen sitting group — sometimes used to refer to a gathering of laypeople for practice or the practice period itself — used for branch centres of the Zen Community.

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


Fundraising 2023: Roofs



Total donated to date: $5,650.00

After receiving several estimates for the repairs to the remaining areas of the roof, we now know that the total cost will be between $30,000 and $35,000 (depending on when the work begins, as estimates are only good for three to six months and costs keep increasing). All of the other (grey) sections of roof have already been taken care of. We have needed to redo the roofs a section at a time because the costs of replacing them, given the size and extreme angle of our roofs is very high. 

Any contribution that you can make will be gratefully received. 

Thank you and Gassho
 

Roof Sketch

 

Graphic of a kettle held by a fish hook with a fish on it


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. If you are adhering to a strictly vegan diet, you can write to the tenzo, Jinmyo Renge sensei, at jinmyo.renge@wwzc.org a week prior to attending an event to request vegan foods. If you are lactose intolerant or have allergies to foods, you should write to the tenzo about dietary restrictions a week before attending events.

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

Monday Yakuseki:
Pasta salad (shell pasta, black beans, diced red onion, cooked diced jalapeno, chopped celery and leaves, artichoke hearts, olives, capers, minced garlic) dressing made from cooked Turkish hot pepper paste mixed with mayonnaise; creamy lentil soup (blended, cooked red lentils, chopped Spanish onion, bran oil, flour, vegetable stock, vegan ‘chicken bouillon’ powder,  red pepper flakes, served with a spoonful of Greek yoghourt).

Tuesday Yakuseki:
Mixed grain (Calrose short-grain white rice, arborio rice, pearled barley and basmati rice; thinly sliced green cabbage leaves with lemon wedges.
Vegetarian option: tofu katsu (firm tofu cut into 1.5 cm squares, dipped in a batter made from seasoned flour mixed with water, then coated in panko and deep fried. 
For those who wished to supplement their diet with meat: tonkatsu (sliced pork loin pounded until very thin, dipped in a batter made from seasoned flour, mixed with water, then coated in panko and deep fried. 

Thursday Yakuseki:
Crusty rolls with butter; egg salad (chopped boiled eggs, thinly sliced scallions, cooked minced garlic, finely chopped white onion and jalapeno, chopped celery, lots of black pepper, mayonnaise), served with Romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes and thinly sliced red onion; tomato soup (blended cooked carrots, onion and celery, minced garlic, San Marzano tomatoes, tomato juice, thyme, basil, cayenne, black pepper, mushroom stock. 

 

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 Saigyo ino for overseeing the work being done by Artium Construction to build the first floor washroom. Thank you to Fushin shuso for picking up and installing several new smoke detectors.

From George Donovan: 
Yesterday I listened to the recording of “The Rabbit-Killing Tree” in the “Before Thinking” series of teisho. I would like to thank the Roshi for making these series available to me as I practise each day.

From Glenn Murphy:
Thank you to Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi for accepting me as an associate student, and to Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for the guidance that they provided during my preliminary practice interviews.  Thank you to Mishin godo also for her recent clarification of several points related to my practice.  

From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to an anonymous donor for a donation to the Roof Repair Fund.

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