Kiden in the Hatto,
Photograph by Ven. Saigyo Cross ino
eMirror Vol 27, No. 52
Friday, December 29th, 2023
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
He [Dogen] goes on to say that,
Perfect knowing is sometimes analyzed into the twelve spheres: eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind; form, sound, smell, taste, touch, mental objects. Or even into eighteen which would be these twelve and also the visual consciousness, the auditory, the olfactory, gustatory, kinaesthetic and mental. Fourfold perfect knowing would be: contraction, its cause, its ending, and the way to end it. Sixfold perfect knowing would be: generosity, integrity, flexibility, energy, practice and knowing. Single perfect knowing presents itself directly as the immediate present and this is completely and utterly Awake. Threefold perfect knowing is past, present and future. Another kind of sixfold knowing is earth, water, fire, air, space and mind. The fourfold activity of perfect knowing is called walking, standing, sitting and lying down.
Every aspect of body and mind, every aspect of the Way of Awake Awareness is prajna because every aspect of every thing is utterly empty and exposed in the realization of their actuality.
Prajna is not acquired by naming a thing or calling it a no-thing. The Prajnaparamita literature’s strategy of negation is an effective medicine against certain kinds of sicknesses of understanding and practice. But like any medicine, it can become poisonous. All of the various Teachings of the Buddha Dharma, whether about dharmas or the emptiness of dharmas come from perfect knowing or prajna and are aspects of prajna. What Dogen calls prajna does not fall into one-sided strategies of affirmation or negation. It is realization and what is realized.
In this immediate present, in the space of here and now, it is completely and utterly Awake and bright as the direct presencing of here and now. The past, present, and future are just three aspects of it. The hand is a five-fingered aspect of it. A circle is its round aspect. A square is its square aspect. A bowl is its presencing as a bowl. A nose is a two-nostrilled aspect of prajna. Prajna is the nondual knowing of space and forms. Perfect knowing and open space, prajna and koku,
This is what Shigong and Xitang are grappling with in the koan. Instead of analysing what is experienced into bits and pieces and then analysing those bits and pieces as scraps of emptiness as would Masters and students of other traditions, as Zen monks they approach the matter more directly.
-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): January 10th, January 24th.
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 (New Year’s) by ringing in the New Year with 108 recitations of the Mahaprajnaparamita Hridaya sutra mantra. Registration for Joya is now complete.
Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next Introduction to Zen Workshop will take place on Saturday, January 6th at 1:45 p.m. To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa
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
David Alexander sat a two-day retreat on Thursday, December 21st and Friday, December 22nd and two one-day retreats on Monday, December 25th and on Thursday, December 30th at Dainen-ji. Aaron Ford completed a two-day retreat on Saturday, December 23rd and Sunday, December 24th at his home in Calgary, Alberta. Elizabeth Eve arrived at Dainen-ji on Monday, December 25th for two weeks of residential training. She began a three and half-day retreat when she arrived which concluded on the evening of Thursday, December 28th. Brian Lakeman sat a half-day retreat on Monday, December 25th at his home in Brampton, Ontario.
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 30th to Saturday, January 6th
Saturday, December 30th general sitting: "Without Difficulty": Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Jianzhi Sengcan's "Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness"; reading of the text. (1 of 26, 11 minutes)
Sunday, December 31st formal sitting: SAkN Releasing by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "How Do You Do? Anything At All?" (3 of 5, 37 minutes)
Monday, January 1st associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “So Absurd" (38 of 71, 8 minutes)
Thursday, January 4th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “So Absurd" (38 of 71, 8 minutes)
Saturday, January 6th general sitting: "Without Difficulty": Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Jianzhi Sengcan's "Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness": "It Wasn't Sengcan" (2 of 26, 24 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: $17,959
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 on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings:
Monday Yakuseki:
Short grain brown rice mixed with diced Japanese sweet potato sauteed with sesame oil, garnished with toasted sesame seeds; cubed semi-firm tofu served on a bed of lightly cooked bokchoy, seasoned with a sauce made from minced garlic and ginger, sesame oil, rice vinegar, dark shoyu, and chilli sauce; soup made from mushroom stock, slivered ginger, white pepper.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Vegetarian option: Spaghetti with tomato sauce (San Marzano tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato juice, thyme, oregano, basil, lots of black pepper, red wine, minced garlic, finely diced carrots, onion and celery, brown lentils. Served with a salad of green leaf and romaine lettuce, thinly sliced red onion, and thinly sliced celery.
For those who wished to supplement their diet with meat: Spaghetti bolognese (Spaghetti with tomato sauce (San Marzano tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato juice, thyme, oregano, basil, lots of black pepper, red wine, minced garlic, finely diced carrots, onion and celery, ground beef, pork and hot Italian sausage meat). Served with the salad mentioned above.
Thursday Yakuseki:
Mixed grain (pot barley, calrose and Arborio rice, seasoned with sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds); Korean-style stew made from vegetable stock, minced garlic, shiro miso, gojuchang, sesame oil, chopped Napa cabbage, chopped spinach, sliced deep-fried tofu; a salad of pea sprouts, sliced Asian pear and celery, in a dressing made from light soy sauce, gochugaru (hot pepper flakes), chopped green onion, minced garlic, sesame oil, roasted sesame seeds, a pinch of sugar).

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 Alexander for assembling two bookshelves.
From David Gallant:
Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for showing me how I can release the energy of various states into whatever needs to be taken care of in the present moment.
From David Alexander:
Thank you to the Roshi for a Christmas gift of a signed copy of one of his publications. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for preparing an Indian feast on Christmas Eve; to Mishin godo for a Christmas gift and practice guidance; to Saigyo ino for practice guidance; to Senbo for instruction on how to wear a kunsu; and, to David Gallant for a Christmas gift, and his mother for baked goods given to residents.
From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to Ian Richard for a donation to the Roof Repair Fund. Thank you to Adda Hernandez for a donation. Thank you to Barbara Pulling for a donation in memory of Ven. Shikai O-sensei.
