eMirror Vol 27, No. 38 (2023-09-22)

 

Reflection from a water glass in the sun, photograph, digital image, by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

Photograph, digital image, by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi


eMirror Vol 27, No. 38

Friday, September 22nd, 2023
Edited by the Practice Council

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



The fact of this ungraspability is intimately a part of who we are. When we understand who we are we understand what this “right here and right now” actually is. When we understand this, we understand it intimately. If we try to put a space between ourselves and the space of “right here and now” and its ungraspability in order to understand it, we can only misunderstand it. If we try to understand this space of “right here and now” as something that can be taken hold of or let go of, we can only misunderstand ourselves.

The Buddhas and our Awakened Ancestors have always pointed to the spaciousness and ungraspability of who we are and what the world is and they have done so in all manner of ways. In order to counter self-image’s heavy-handed and leaden approach to reality and its continual retreat into density and contraction, they have always challenged the illusion of a solid self and a solid world of solids. It is easiest to think about and represent the world and ourselves as separate, discrete, substantial and unchanging things. Despite the fact that all of our experiences are experiences of change and that we can never experience a thing but only experiences and so we have to ignore and contradict the reality of our experiences, it can seem easier to hold to the simple-minded certainties of images and concepts and descriptions.

-Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, Teisho 2: "The Space of Here and Now," February 10, 2001, in the series "Playing With Space: Commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji's Koku”

 

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



Fusatsu (Renewal of Vows):  September 27th, October 11th and 25th. November 1st.

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

Autumn Samu Weekend:
We shall be holding Samu Weekend on Saturday, September 23rd and Sunday, September 24th. As part of the weekend we shall be working on our yearly window washing, continuing with a renovation in the 1st floor guest room, doing some organisation in the basement and starting the various winterizing projects we need to do each year. Thank you to all of the local students who have registered to attend to assist the monastics and residents in the maintenance and upkeep of Dainen-ji. 

Daruma-ki O-sesshin
The Daruma-ki O-sesshin will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 1st, and will end on Sunday, October 8th at noon. Formal students are reminded to send their schedules to schedule@wwzc.as soon as possible. 

Combined Associate and General Sitting During O-sesshin:
There will be a combined associate and general sitting that will take place in the Zendo on Saturday, October 7th. Arrival time is 9:15 (in time for First Bell). The sitting starts at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 11:45 a.m. Students attending are reminded to remain on the first floor.

Cancelled Associate Sittings:
The Monday, October 1st associate sitting that would normally begin at 7:30 p.m. is cancelled due to O-sesshin.
The Thursday, October 5th, associate sitting that would normally begin at 7:30 p.m. is cancelled due to 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 for monastics to take telephone calls or reply to email correspondence sent by public students (unless it’s an emergency). 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.

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

 

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):  September 27th, October 11th and 25th. November 1st.

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

Autumn Samu Weekend - September 23rd and 24th 
We shall be holding the next Samu Weekend on Saturday, September 23rd and Sunday, September 24th. Please pencil these dates into your calendar so that you will be able to attend. As part of the weekend we shall be working on our yearly window washing, continuing with a renovation in the 1st floor guest room, doing some organisation in the basement and starting the various winterizing projects we need to do each year. As there will be a great deal to get done we encourage you to please make time to attend and assist the monastics with the maintenance and improvements of the practice environment of Dainen-ji. Saigyo ino has written to all local students about the Samu Weekend so if you have not yet replied to his email please do so soon so that he is able to arrange the many tasks happening over the two days.

Daruma-ki O-sesshin
The Daruma-ki O-sesshin will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 1st, and will end on Sunday, October 8th at noon. Formal students are reminded to send their schedules to schedule@wwzc.as soon as possible. 

Combined Associate and General Sitting During O-sesshin:
There will be a combined associate and general sitting that will take place in the Zendo on Saturday, October 2nd. Arrival time is 9:15 (in time for First Bell). The sitting starts at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 11:45 a.m. Students attending are reminded to remain on the first floor.

Cancelled Associate Sittings:
The Monday, October 2nd associate sitting that would normally begin at 7:30 p.m. is cancelled due to O-sesshin.
The Thursday, October 5th, associate sitting that would normally begin at 7:30 p.m. is cancelled due to 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 for monastics to take telephone calls or reply to email correspondence sent by public students (unless it’s an emergency). 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.

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.

 


Congratulations



Congratulations and deep gassho to Graham Clarke of Astorville, Ontario on being accepted as an associate public student by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi.
 


Retreats



Elizabeth Eve completed a four-day retreat on Sunday, September 17th before returning to her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia. General public student Aaron Ford sat a two-day retreat on Saturday, September 16th and Sunday, September 17th at his home Calgary, Alberta. General student Loic Ouellette sat a one-day retreat on Saturday, September 16th at Dainen-ji. Associate student Glenn Murphy sat a one-day retreat on Saturday, September 16th at Dainen-ji. Associate public student Zachary Claxton sat a two-day retreat on Monday, September 18th and Tuesday, September 19th and a one-day retreat on Friday, September 23rd. Zachary will complete his three week period of residential training on Saturday, September 23rd. Artik Chauhan sat a partial retreat on Thursday, September 21st 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, September 23rd, to Saturday, September 30th. 

Monday, September 25th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “World and Body, Feelings and Thoughts” (25 of 71, 25 minutes)
Thursday, September 28th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “World and Body, Feelings and Thoughts” (25 of 71, 25 minutes)
Saturday, September 30th: “Wandering on Medicine Mountain”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on "Medicine Mountain": The Recorded Sayings and Doings of Zen Master Yaoshan Weiyan: “Yaoshan Solves a Problem” (teisho 12 of 22, 23 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
 


Fundraising 2023: Roofs



Total donated to date: $10,584

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

 

Vegetables on drying dining hall counter


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:
Brown and white basmati rice; saag “paneer” (caramelized diced white and Spanish onions, minced garlic, minced ginger, finely chopped hot finger chilies, jalapeno and poblano peppers, finely chopped spinach leaves and stems, garam masala, ground coriander, ground cumin, a few tablespoons of vegan yogurt; 
Vegan option added to the saag: cubes of vegan ‘gouda’ cheese sauteed in a mixture of turmeric, cayenne and salt. Non-vegan option: cubed paneer sauteed in a mixture of turmeric, cayenne and salt. Salad of Romaine lettuce, chopped radicchio, celery, red onion, tomatoes.

Tuesday Yakuseki:
Yukon gold mashed potatoes; mushroom gravy (chopped seared cremini mushrooms, diced onion, wheat flour roux, mushroom stock, garlic, vegan bouillon powder, thyme, smoked paprika, vegan ‘browning’ liquid; diced carrots with peas and corn; Vegan option: wheat gluten and chickpea cutlets  (ground chickpeas and wheat gluten mixed together, kneaded and formed into ‘cutlets’ which were then braised in a savoury broth of vegetable stock, garlic and onion powder, smoked paprika, Kashmiri chilli powder, Dijon mustard, black pepper and apple cider vinegar, and then pan fried until crispy). For those who wished to supplement their diet with meat: seared pieces of seasoned chicken thigh added to a portion of the gravy.

Thursday Yakuseki:
Basmati rice; warm naan with butter or vegan butter; curry made from chopped spinach stems, zucchini, chopped poblano and red bell pepper; chopped Spanish onion, minced ginger, Madras curry powder, garam masala, coriander, cayenne pepper, chickpeas, coconut milk; cucumber and tomato raita (chopped cucumbers and roof garden Reme Rouge tomatoes, yogurt, salt, pepper, ground coriander, ground cumin (vegan option made with vegan oat yogurt).

 

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 Mishin godo:
Thank you to David Gallant for picking up the Nest doorbell system we have started using for the monastery front and side entrances, and to Fushin shuso for setting it up on our phones.

From David Gallant:
Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for meeting with the stove repairman this week, and for suggestions for post dental surgery meals to prepare. Thank you to Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for leading kata at the formal sittings. Thank you to Fushin shuso for bringing in the garbage bins from the street this week while I was at work.

From Artik Chauhan:
Thank you so much Ino for the practice interview. Thank you Ino and Godo for assisting with the retreat throughout the day. Thank you Godo for patience with my mistakes and briefly explaining about mindfulness. And thank you to the Sensei and Mishin godo for a delicious breakfast and lunch.

From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to Matt Broda and Sam Macfarlane for donations to the Roof Repair Fund. Thank you to Matt Broda and Daryl David for donations to the upcoming Samu Weekend.

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