"Shin: Heart, Essence", sho by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, 2000
eMirror Vol 27, No. 49
Friday, December 8th, 2023
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
Shiki fu i ku ku fu i shiki shiki soku ze ku ku soku ze shiki.
In Zen monasteries and centres throughout the world and for long over a thousand years these words are chanted daily. Although said in different languages, they say the same thing, “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Form is no other than emptiness, emptiness is no other than form.”
This brief statement in the Mahaprajnaparamita Hridaya sutra is the concise distillation of oceans of texts and Teachings of the Buddha Dharma. The Heart sutra contains within itself the most essential Teachings of the Buddha such as the Abhidharma and the Four Noble Truths; and it also contains their negation. Through negating them, it reconstitutes them and reconfigures them. Essentially, what had over time become solidified into a strategy of withdrawal from experiences and a means of controlling the body and mind was returned to its source: the exposure of bodymind and experiences into the primordial nakedness of direct experiencing.
-Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, Teisho 4: "OW!" February 12, 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.
Fusatsu (Renewal of Vows): December 13th and 27th.
Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place on Saturday, December 9th, at 1:45 p.m. To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa
Dainen-ki
December 12th is the anniversary of the day on which the Roshi’s Teacher, Ven. Yasuda Joshu Dainen roshi died.
Joya (New Year’s Celebration)
On Sunday, December 31st at 10 p.m. until Monday, January 1st at 12:00 a.m., we will celebrate Joya or New Year with 108 recitations of the Mahaprajnaparamita Hridaya sutra mantra at midnight.
January Two-day Sesshin:
The January two-day sesshin will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12th and will end at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 14th. On Saturday, January 12th, there will be a combined associate and general sitting in the Zendo which will begin at 9:30 (please arrive by 9:15 in time for First Bell). The sitting ends at 11:45 a.m. Students are reminded to stay on the first floor.
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
General public student Aaron Ford sat a two-day retreat on Saturday, November 25th and Sunday, November 26th at his home in Calgary, Alberta. Associate student Luis Fumero sat a one-day retreat on Saturday, Nov 25th at Dainen-ji. Artik Chauhan sat a partial retreat on Thursday, November 30th 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 are a public student and 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.
If you would like to engage in a training session either at the monastery or at home by aligning with the schedule of the monastery, please read the information on this page:
https://wwzc.org/training-sessions
Recorded Teachings Schedule
Saturday, December 9th to Saturday, December 16th
Saturday, December 9th 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 Shout” (21 of 22, 16 minutes)
Sunday, December 10th formal sitting: SAkN Five Spheres of SAkN: "Any Questions?" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin (7 of 7, 27 minutes)
Monday, December 11th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “Mirroring” (35 of 71, 9 minutes)
Thursday, December 14th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “Mirroring” (35 of 71, 9 minutes)
Saturday, December 16th 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 'You Don't Understand'” (22 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
“Kwannon”: A teisho by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, transcript of a teisho presented on May 6, 1986, at River Road Zendo
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/kwannon
“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: $16,959
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 week of O-sesshin:
Meals Prepared for Practitioners During the December 2023 Rohatsu O-sesshin:
Saturday:
Breakfast: “Rice and eggs” (two eggs fried very gently over easy, served on top of calrose rice with a sauce of shoyu, mirin and wasabi, garnished with shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven-spice powder).
Lunch: Calrose rice garnished with gomashio (roasted ground sesame seeds and salt); miso shiru (broth made from kombu, slivered ginger, shiro miso, dried shiitake mushrooms, Shanghai bok choy, shoyu, mirin, rice vinegar, cubed silken tofu); takuan and gari.
Supper: Lundberg brown rice mixed with butter and green peas; butternut squash soup (roasted butternut squash and chopped white onions cooked in water then pureed, thyme, cayenne, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper); cubed friulano cheese mixed with sliced gherkins and pickled onions.
Sunday:
Breakfast: Leftover brown rice with butter and peas, habanero chillies, tomato paste, garlic, chopped red bell peppers, corn; scrambled eggs.
Lunch: Thai white and brown rice garnished with diced sauteed daikon; spicy seaweed soup (strained miso shiro from the previous day, wakame, sliced ginger, low sodium soy sauce, sesame oil, chilli oil, cubed silken tofu); baechu kimchi.
Supper: Cavatappi pasta with a sauce made from the last of the rooftop cherry tomatoes, roasted with bran oil, garlic, and chilli flakes; mushroom soup with puffed tofu (sauteed mushrooms, mushroom stock, dehydrated mushroom powder, shitake powder, garlic, onion, thyme, smoked paprika, a dash of soy sauce; large jalapeno peppers sliced lengthwise, stuffed with friulano and goat cheese, topped with a sprinkling of lemon zest.
Monday:
Breakfast: Fried leftover pasta; scrambled eggs.
Lunch: Mixed grain (Calrose rice mixed with white and brown Thai jasmine rice, leftover from previous meals, garnished with gomashio (roasted ground sesame seeds and salt); miso shiru (broth made from kombu, slivered ginger, shiro miso, dried shiitake mushrooms, Shanghai bok choy, shoyu, mirin, rice vinegar, cubed silken tofu); takuan and gari.
Supper: Roasted potatoes (parboiled yukon gold potatoes tossed with rice bran oil, salt and pepper then fried on the griddle); lime tofu (slices of medium-firm tofu sauteed with butter, lime juice, salt, black pepper); salad of green leaf lettuce dressed with vegan caesar dressing (plain hummus, spicy mustard, lemon juice, garlic, bran oil) served with vegan parmesan croutons.
Tuesday
Breakfast: Noodles (egg white noodles mixed with sauteed leeks, red bell and poblano peppers, and a sauce of sambal oelek, minced garlic, shoyu, lime juice, sugar); scrambled eggs
Lunch: Thai white and brown rice garnished with diced sauteed daikon; spicy seaweed soup (strained miso shiro from the previous day, wakame, sliced ginger, low sodium soy sauce, sesame oil, chilli oil, cubed silken tofu); baechu kimchi mixed with sliced cucumbers.
Supper: Indian butter chickpeas (tomato puree, coconut milk, garam masala, paprika, Kashmiri chilli powder, cayenne, minced garlic and ginger, fenugreek leaves, yogurt, served with fresh coriander; chopped pineapple.
Wednesday:
Breakfast: Acorn squash congee (roasted then cubed acorn squash, minced garlic, jasmine rice, green peas, salt) garnished with toasted pumpkin seeds.
Lunch: Mixed grain (Calrose rice mixed with white and brown Thai jasmine rice, leftover from previous meals, garnished with gomashio (roasted ground sesame seeds and salt); miso shiru (broth made from kombu, slivered ginger, shiro miso, dried shiitake mushrooms, Shanghai bok choy, shoyu, mirin, rice vinegar, cubed silken tofu); takuan and gari.
Supper: Mixed grain (white and brown Calrose rice, arborio rice); Jiggai (chopped baechu kimchi, chopped tomatoes, tomato juice, chopped red onion, minced garlic and onion, small amount of sugar to counter the acidity of the tomatoes, sliced deep fried tofu, chopped scallions for garnish; chopped Asian pears mixed with lime juice and chile flakes.
Thursday:
Breakfast: “Rice and eggs” (two eggs fried very gently over easy, served on top of calrose rice with a sauce of shoyu, mirin and wasabi, garnished with shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven-spice powder).
Lunch: Grilled rice cakes (leftover mixed grains from pervious meals formed into rice cakes then fried in butter on the griddle); spicy seaweed soup (strained miso shiro from the previous day, wakame, sliced ginger, low sodium soy sauce, sesame oil, chilli oil, cubed silken tofu); baechu kimchi mixed with thinly sliced red apple.
Supper: Cavatappi pasta in garlic butter sauce (chopped white onion sauteed in butter, chile flakes, lime juice); “beans and greens” (sliced gailan fried on the griddle, red kidney beans, salt, pepper, minced garlic, balsamic vinegar); salad of chopped romaine, thinly sliced celery, chopped tomatoes, and sliced red onion, dressed with mayonnaise, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey, and black pepper.
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 Fushin shuso:
Thank you to Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi for establishing the environment of practice. Thank you to the Office of the Tenzo for excellent meals prepared. Thank you to residents for picking up extra duties and snow clearing while I have been unwell.
