Iceberg, Summer 2023, by Dr. Jinen S. Boates
eMirror Vol 27, No. 31
Friday, August 4th, 2023
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
It is only when we really work with our stupidity that we begin to recognize our intelligence. We can try to be devious and to justify everything and say, “Well! There is a perfectly good reason for it, if only you’ll shut up and listen!” We can go on, giving excuse after excuse. But somehow that’s just too embarrassing because we know how stupid that is. That is why we are defending it. If there were nothing wrong with our stupidity, we wouldn’t need to defend it so thoroughly. We wouldn’t need to defend it at all, in fact. Instead we could be quite proud of our stupidity, so proud that we wouldn’t need to puff up ourselves in any kind of way. We wouldn’t need to justify anything with the mythologies of worm talk. But our stupidity does need to defend itself all the time. Pushing away that thought, that feeling, that sensation. Grabbing at something else. Scrambling after it, trying to name it, trying to find the right name for it so that you can know it, so you can stick it to your web like a fly. And then name it further, talk about it endlessly, wrap it up in the web, store it for later on when you will suck the juice out of it.
Well, I believe that we are too intelligent for such stupidity. And that therefore we can afford to look at such stupidity without any kind of shame, without any kind of deviousness. Because no matter how stupid we might get, no matter how entrapped we might get, still this entrapment arises in the midst of Openness. No matter how lost we might get in our thoughts, and feelings, our intelligence is still seeing and hearing, still touching and tasting and smelling. And our thoughts, and feelings, that we appear to be entrapped in, are continually rising and falling, are continually shifting and changing. There are all kinds of gaps in the web.
Our intelligence cannot be held by anything that arises within it. And so we don’t need to be afraid at all.
-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 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 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
Rev. Chiso anagarika travelled from her home in the Berkshires and arrived at Dainen-ji on the evening of Sunday, July 30th. She sat a retreat until she left on the morning of Wednesday, August 2nd. General public student Alexander Tzelic sat a two-day retreat on Monday, July 31st and Tuesday, August 1st. General student Julien Jefferson sat a four day retreat from Saturday, July 29th to Tuesday, August 1st at Dainen-ji as well as two half-day retreats on Thursday, July 27th and Friday, July 28th. General student Challian Christ sat a two-day retreat on Saturday, July 29th and Sunday July 30th at Dainen-ji. General student Mario Delisle sat a half-day retreat on Wednesday, August 2nd at Dainen-ji.
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, August 5th to Saturday, August 12th, 2023
Saturday, August 5th 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: “The Source of Wisdom” (teisho 5 of 22, 23 minutes)
Sunday, August 6th formal sitting: SAkN: Dimensions of Space by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi: "Dimensions of Bodily Space" (3 of 8, 24 minutes)
Monday, August 7th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “Beginners Mind Workshop Part 2” (17 of 71, 13 minutes)
Thursday, August 10th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “Beginners Mind Workshop Part 2” (17 of 71, 13 minutes)
Saturday, August 12th 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: “Yaoshan's Single Phrase” (teisho 6 of 22, 19 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
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
Zen (J); Ch’an (C); Dhyana (S) — sitting practice.
Posted August 3rd, 2023. New entries are posted every two weeks.
Fundraising 2023: Roofs
Total donated to date: $5,950.00
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
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:
Roasted Yukon gold and russet potatoes; frittata (caramelized onions, sauteed poblano, cubanelle and red bell peppers, minced garlic, eggs, topped with sliced tomatoes and friulano cheese, baked until golden brown; cream of vegetable soup (blended, chopped onions, carrots, leeks, zucchini and spinach stems made with vegetable stock, thyme, lots of black pepper, apple cider vinegar, vegan ‘chicken’ bouillon powder and a little cream.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Mixed grain (calrose rice, arborio rice, basmati rice and pearled barley); ganmodoki (finely diced pressed extra-firm tofu, minced scallions and jalapeno, minced garlic, ginger and nagaimo yam, potato starch, white pepper, whipped egg whites, served with a dipping sauce of shoyu, grated ginger and rice vinegar; mushroom stock soup with fresh spinach (mushroom stock, finely sliced ginger, mushroom concentrate, shoyu, sesame oil.
Thursday Yakuseki:
Noodles (spaghettini, seared sliced poblano and red bell peppers, carrots, vegetarian oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, Dom’s hot sauce, chilli crisp sauce made by Mishin godo, minced garlic, minced ginger, shoyu; sauteed tofu in bulgogi sauce with toasted sesame seeds (sliced deep-fried tofu seasoned with garlic, rice vinegar, shoyu, dark shoyu, sesame oil, chilli oil); kimchi gazpacho (diced kimchi, cucumbers, red onion, tomatoes, scallions, celery, minced garlic, vegetable juice, salt).
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 Chiso anagarika:
Thank you to Roshi for creating and maintaining Dainen-ji, for his unending support received over many years. Nothing can compare to that. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei, for her support, emails and humour. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for the tour of the new Shuryo and explanation of what things are and future plans, and for the incredible meals during my retreat. Thank you to Mishin godo for her support, warm smile and leading through example. Thank you for practising Sadhana and helping with the forms. Thank you to Sagyo ino for the incredible work he did and does on a daily basis -- the book cases in the Shuryo are a work of art. Thank you to Fushin shuso for a warm welcome, taking my sleeping bag and mattress to the Undo and for overseeing kitchen clean up. Thank you to Alexander for driving the long round trip drive from Cambridge to Ottawa, 687 Km (one way ) and for serving as jikido during my retreat. Thank you to Julien for showing me where things belong in the kitchen. Thank you to the residents and the Sangha of Dainen-ji for all the hard work in and around the monastery.
From David Gallant:
Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for regular dokusan, and for timely instruction on practising with a demanding work environment.
From Alex Tzelnic:
Thank you to all who made my recent retreat possible: to the Roshi for the teachings and for a sho to enliven my home practice space; to Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for practice interviews (both while on retreat and for many, many months from afar), and for their warmth and guidance in navigating the monastery and retreat schedule; to the office of the Tenzo for rousing and bright meals; to Fushin shuso, David, and Julien for their patience in pointing out where various items go and their clarifying example; to Chiso anagarika and Julien for their steady presence in the practice halls; and to Chiso anagarika for companionship and conversation on our first drive to Ottawa since 2019.
From Julien Jefferson:
Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for a lovely array of soups served in the past week, and for recent daisan. Thank you to Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for practice interviews. Thank you to the members of the Sangha, with whom I have been grateful to practise this past month during sittings, retreats, meals, and samu.
