eMirror Vol 27, No. 41
Friday, October 13th, 2023
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
At the new monastery of Daibutsu-ji, Eihei Dogen zenji said,
Through the question of “where this here and now is”, the realization of the Buddhas and Awakened Ancestors comes forth. This is the realization that is truly transmitted through skin, meat, bone, and marrow from successor to successor of the Buddhas and Awakened Ancestors of the “whole body, hanging in space.” This empty space is beyond such categories as the twenty kinds of emptiness and space. How could there only be twenty kinds of space? There must be eighty-four thousand kinds of spaces and more.
Through questioning right here and now into what this right here and now actually is and where it is, Buddhas have become Buddhas. By practising this wordless questioning with our mouths and eyes and fingers and spine, we emerge as the Buddhas and Awakened Ancestors. This is not only the meat but also the skin, bone, and marrow of the Dharma. To realize it for ourselves we must realize who we are with our own skin, meat, bone, and marrow. To understand the Dharma we must become intimate with it. To become intimate with the Dharma we must ourselves become the intimacy between experiencing and experiences.
Then our whole bodies are like open mouths hanging in space, always speaking the intimate and radical truth of the realization, the prajna or perfect knowing, of our own lives as the Activity of Aware Space.
Dogen’s phrase, “whole body, hung in space” comes of course from a verse that his own Master Rujing had composed in China.
“Its whole body is a mouth, hung in space.
No matter which way the wind blows
--north, south, east or west—
the windbell always speaks
of perfect knowing.
Ring! Ring! Ring!”
[The Roshi strikes the keisu gong three times]
We all know this verse well or, if we don’t, we will. Dogen uses it again and again in the teisho and essays collected in the Shobogenzo. It occurs in the course of our own koan study in the Kaigenroku, the Book of Open Eyes.
In the Makahannyaharamitsu Dogen says about Rujing’s verse,
This is the sound of perfect knowing in the Transmission of the Lineage of Awakened Ones and Ancestors. It is the knowing of the whole body, the whole knowing of other, the whole knowing of self, the whole knowing of north, south, east, west.
Although it has no form and cannot be grasped, the wind can rattle the windows in their frames, can tangle branches amongst themselves. It can push boats on the surface of the seas and can push and pull the seas themselves. It swings chimes against each other, and it makes hanging windbells sing. It can come from the north or south, the east or west. It can sweep upwards or hurtle downwards. Where in the sky does air first become wind? We don’t know, but we know it when we feel it.
The formless activity of Aware Space moves as all directions. It is present as the coming and going of all things, all experiences, all bodies and minds. It is the space which moves within itself and opens out as our lives. Rujing daiosho and Dogen zenji have Transmitted to each of us how we can release our lives into this open space through sitting and opening to openness.
-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 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.
October Samu Day
On Sunday, October 15th we shall be holding a day of samu to continue with project from the recent Samu Weekend and work on various other tasks that are required in the building and grounds. We shall be doing some final organisation to the storage areas in the basement and in the new washroom on the first floor as well as continuing with the renovation of the first floor guest room. There are still some winterising projects in the grounds that are needed as well as a project to sort the basement storage room. Saigyo ino has written to students with details of the day of samu and so if you have not yet replied to him, please do that soon so that he can plan the day of caretaking practice. Thank you.
Fusatsu (Renewal of Vows): October 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
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 and Training Sessions
Chunen angya in Guelph, ON sat a Training Session throughout the week ending with a two-day retreat on the weekend aligned with the O-sesshin at Dainen-ji. Dr. Jinen S Boates and Charlane Boates of the Wolfville Zazenkai in Nova Scotia sat a one-day retreat on Monday. Julien Jefferson sat a half-day retreat on Saturday, October 7th at his home in Halifax, 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, October 14th to Saturday, October 21st
Saturday, October 14th 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: “Bodhidharma's Meaning” (teisho 14 of 22, 19 minutes)
Monday, October 16th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “The Gong” (27 of 71, 5 minutes)
Thursday, October 19th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “The Gong” (27 of 71, 5 minutes)
Saturday, October 21st 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: “A Dog's Mouth” (teisho 15 of 22, 18 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
Fundraising 2023: Roofs
Total donated to date: $13,359
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 during the Daruma-ki O-sesshin:
Friday:
Breakfast: Fried rice (leftover Thai white and brown rice mixed with sauteed daikon, sauteed chopped yellow onion, poblano and red Shepherd bell pepper, leftover chickpea curry); scrambled eggs.
Lunch: Pajeon (Korean vegetable pancakes) (julienned turnips, carrot, yellow onion, scallions, potato, all purpose flour, water, salt, miso, shoyu) served with a dipping sauce of shoyu, rice vinegar, gochugaru, sesame seeds; celery soup with silken tofu (chopped celery, chopped white onion, small amount of minced garlic, vegetable stock, vegan bouillon powder, shoyu, white pepper and the liquid from the braised daikon); braised daikon (rounds of daikon braised in vegetable stock with shoyu,mirin, white pepper, sesame oil).
Supper: Lemon-garlic pasta with asparagus: (fettucini, olive oil, butter, minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, fresh lemon juice and zest, chopped parsley, Parmesan cheese, chopped asparagus); mushroom soup (sauteed sliced cremini mushrooms, chopped onions, minced garlic, mushroom stock, dehydrated mushroom powder, thyme, basil, lots of black pepper, sliced medium-firm tofu); cubed friulano and gherkins with lemon zest.
Saturday:
Breakfast: “Rice and eggs” (white calrose rice drizzled with a sauce of shoyu, mirin and wasabi topped with eggs gently fried in butter drizzled with the same sauce and shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven-spice powder).
Lunch: Rice cakes (mixed grain of white calrose, Thai white sticky rice, arborio and sushi rice, formed into rice cakes then put on the griddle) with a dipping sauce of shoyu, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, and sesame seeds); miso shiru (broth made from kombu, slivered ginger, shiro miso, dried shiitake mushrooms, shoyu, mirin, rice vinegar, Shanghai bok choy, cubed silken tofu); takuan and gari.
Supper: Baked mushroom and cheese naan (sliced cremini mushrooms sauteed in butter with thyme, minced garlic, salt, and pepper; grated friulano cheese); salad (thinly sliced Napa cabbage, julienned daikon and carrot) with a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper); tomato soup (blended cooked carrot, celery and white onion, minced garlic, San Marzano tomatoes, thyme, basil, oregano, black pepper, small amount of cream).
The Following Meals were Prepared on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday Evenings:
Monday Yakuseki:
Thai Jasmine rice and basmati rice; Kung Pao tofu (chunks of Spanish onion, poblano peppers and red bell peppers, sauteed semi-firm tofu, shoyu, black vinegar, Chinese cooking wine, Chilli-garlic sauce, vegetable stock); sauteed sugar snap peas, green runner beans and chopped gai lan with minced garlic.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Thai white and brown Jasmine rice cooked with diluted coconut milk; coleslaw (finely sliced green cabbage, carrots and daikon, thinly sliced white onion, Mayonnaise, lime juice, horseradish, lots of black pepper); oven baked chicken thighs seasoned with a dry rub (onion powder, garlic powder, Madras curry powder, garlic powder, cumin and coriander powders, sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, bran oil).
Thursday Yakuseki:
Roasted Yukon gold potatoes; cauliflower and cheese (sauce made from a roux - butter and flour, mixed with milk, water, grated cheese, Keen’s mustard powder, sauteed onions); steamed gai lan (Chinese broccoli).
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 Jinmyo sensei for purchasing a new stand mixer for the monastery kitchen. Thank you to Saigyo ino for arranging for the monastery's annual furnace cleaning and the various plumbing and electrical repairs that are sometimes needed.
From Saigyo ino:
Thank you to the Roshi for the terrific teisho series "Wandering on Wandering on Medicine Mountain”: Commentaries on "Medicine Mountain": the Recorded Sayings and Doings of Zen Master Yaoshan Weiyan" which we are currently listening to during the Saturday general sittings. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for reorganising the dining hall coffee station to a much more sensible and functional arrangement. Thank you to Mishin godo for taking care of many administration and treasurer related details each week. Thank you to Fushin shuso for meeting with the plumber and furnace technician and for assisting with monastery groceries each week; to Sam McFarlane for regular samu each week, this week repainting the attic staircase ceiling. Thank you to Sydnee Burgess for samu to clean some public areas of the monastery and to Challian Christ for continued work on drywalling in the 1st floor guest room.
From David Gallant:
Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for leading the recent Daruma-ki O-sesshin, and for dokusan during that week. Thank you to Saigyo ino for organizing the upcoming Samu Day this Sunday. Thank you to Fushin shuso for regular trips to the grocery store to pick up milk for residents.
From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to Chiso anagarika and Brian Lakeman for donations to the Roof Repair Fund. Thank you to Ian Richard for a donation to the upcoming Samu Day.
