eMirror Vol 28, No. 1 (2024-01-05)

 

Sky, tree, star, Photograph by Ven. Fushin Comeau shuso

Sky, tree, star, Photograph by Ven. Fushin Comeau shuso


eMirror Vol 28, No. 1

Friday, January 5th, 2024
Edited by the Practice Council

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



Zen Master Shigong Huicang said to Zen Master Xitang Zhizang, “Do you understand how to grasp space?”
Xitang said, “I know how to grasp it.”
Master Shigong asked, “How do you grasp it?”
Xitang grabbed at space with his hand.
Master Shigong said, “You do not understand how to grasp space.”
Xitang asked, “How do you grasp it, elder brother?”
Master Shigong grabbed Xitang’s nostrils and yanked.
Groaning with pain, Xitang said, “It’s very harsh to grab someone’s nose. It could have come off.”
Master Shigong said, “Directly grabbing hold like this, you should have gotten it from the beginning.”


When asked if they understood how to grasp space, a Buddhist lecturer whose knowledge of the Dharma was derived from study of the sutras would remember that one of the definitions of space is that it is ungraspable. And in fact any usual person asked this question would probably react in the same way. “Don’t be silly. You can’t grasp space.”

Xitang however is not worried about defining space or about appearing to be silly. He has already been up against the wall in zazen long enough and often enough to have seen how foolish he could be, how vain, how uptight, how lazy, how churlish, and all of the various silly strategies of self-image, numberless as the sands of the River Ganges. He knows that open space is not only some kind of blank background but is right here, right in front of him.

Xitang said, “I know how to grasp it.”
Master Shigong asked, “How do you grasp it?”
Xitang grabbed at space with his hand.
But his elder Dharma brother Master Shigong snorts, “You do not understand how to grab space.”
And so Xitang asked, “How do you grasp it, elder brother?”
Master Shigong grabbed Xitang’s nostrils and yanked.


OW!!
Space is not just in front of you. It is right here as you. Emptiness is form is emptiness is form is form is emptiness is emptiness is you.

Groaning with pain, Xitang said, “It’s very harsh to grab someone’s nose. It could have come off.”


Perhaps he got the point, perhaps not. It’s hard to say. Whether you understand the intimacy of forms and space such that space is forms and forms are space or not, pain still hurts. Is Xitang just whining and complaining here? Perhaps. On the other hand, grabbing someone’s nostrils and giving them a hard yank is quite loutish.

Master Shigong said, “Directly grabbing hold like this, you should have gotten it from the beginning.”


He says that if Xitang had already directly taken hold of embodying ungraspability he wouldn’t have needed to do it. Perhaps. Perhaps not.

In any case space was yanked and space shouted “OW!!”

It is not a matter of reaching out to take hold of space. It is not something that you need to add to your experience. It is not something to be experienced. It is just how experiences always are. An experience of the spaciousness of experiences is just a moment in which you attend more openly to what is inherently so: that the space of here and now is not inside or outside because inside and outside both arise within it.

Is that just an understanding that you have had or do you understand now? Is the space of here and now just the brightness of colours and forms and sounds or is it also the pain in the knees, the headache and stuffiness and fever of a cold?

-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 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):  January 10th, January 24th.

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 13th, 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



Associate public student Sarah Goul travelled from her home in Winnipeg to attend Joya and then sit a two-day retreat on Monday, January 1st and Tuesday, January 2nd at Dainen-ji. General public student Brian Lakeman sat a half-day retreat on Monday, January 1st at his home in Brampton, Ontario. General public student Elizabeth Eve began a four-day retreat on Tuesday, January 2nd which concludes on the evening of Friday, January 5th. Elizabeth is in residential training at Dainen-ji until Tuesday, January 9th. General student Rowan Russell sat a one-day retreat on Thursday, January 4th 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
 


Congratulations



Congratulations and deep gassho to Rana Annous of Gatineau, Quebec who has been accepted as an associate student.
 


Recorded Teachings Schedule


Saturday, January 6th to Saturday, January 13th

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)
Sunday, January 7th formal sitting: SAkN Releasing by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "Five Ways of Working With States: A Commentary on the Awareness Doha Featuring Granny Roshi" (4 of 5, 38 minutes) 
Monday, January 8th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “Without Difficulty" (39 of 71, 8 minutes)
Thursday, January 11th associate sitting: “Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice” by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: “Without Difficulty" (39 of 71, 8 minutes)
Saturday, January 13th general sitting: "Without Difficulty": Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Jianzhi Sengcan's "Faith in Mind, Trusting Awareness" (3 of 26, 21 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



“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
 

Roof Sketch

 

kettle over fire drawing


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 root vegetables (rutabaga, turnips, parsnips, carrots, seasoned with onion and garlic powder, smoked paprika, bran oil); chipotle tofu (sliced firm tofu cooked with a mixture of butter, chipotle adobo, lime juice, cumin powder, salt and pepper); butternut squash soup (diced shallots, minced garlic, chopped butternut squash, Madras curry powder, cinnamon, coconut milk, vegetable broth, chilli-garlic paste, and a little maple syrup); green cabbage coleslaw (thinly sliced green cabbage, white onion, and carrots) dressed with mayonnaise, apple cider, dijon mustard, honey, black pepper, popped mustard seeds and cumin seeds. 

Tuesday Yakuseki:
Vegetarian option: Crusty rolls with butter; white bean soup (cannellini beans, diced carrots, onions and celery, minced garlic, baby peas, corn, pot barley, vegetable stock, vegan ‘chicken bouillon’ powder, thyme, white wine, apple cider vinegar, lots of black pepper; salad of chopped romaine and leaf lettuce, radicchio, thinly sliced red onion, thinly sliced celery, chopped tomatoes with a dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and dijon mustard with honey and black pepper. 
For those who wished to supplement their diet with meat: Crusty rolls with butter; white bean soup (chopped cooked chicken thighs, cannellini beans, diced carrots, onions and celery, minced garlic, baby peas, corn, pot barley, vegetable stock, vegan ‘chicken bouillon’ powder, thyme, white wine, apple cider vinegar, lots of black pepper; salad of chopped romaine and leaf lettuce, radicchio, thinly sliced red onion, thinly sliced celery, chopped tomatoes with a dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and dijon mustard with honey and black pepper. 

Thursday Yakuseki:
Boribap (brown Calrose rice and barley) garnished with gomashio and chopped scallions; bulgogi tofu (chopped yellow onions, poblano and red peppers, cubed deep fried tofu, bulgogi sauce, shoyu, water, black pepper); Napa cabbage salad (chopped Napa cabbage, thick julienned daikon, carrots, and thinly sliced white onion) with a dressing of rice vinegar, sesame oil, shoyu, toasted sesame seeds).

 

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 Saigyo ino:
Thank you to the Roshi for establishing the forms and schedule for the Joya celebration which take place every December 31st and to Jinmyo sensei for leading Joya this year. Thank you to Mishin godo for overseeing the registration for the monthly Introduction to Zen Workshops. Thank you to Fushin shuso and David Gallant for bringing in the supplies needed for the continuation of the renovation in the first floor guest room and to David Alexander for many periods of samu during his period of residential training on a variety of projects around the monastery. Thank you to Tarik Kaya for coming each Sunday afternoon to assist the residents with samu tasks and to Rowan Russell for regular archiving samu. Thank you to Cate Gallant for a gift of festive treats for the residents of Dainen-ji.   

From David Gallant:
Thank you to Roshi for the teisho we listened to at Joya 2023, and to Jinmyo sensei for leading Joya. 

From Ian Richard: 
Thank you to the Roshi for a wonderful Joya teisho and for providing us this way of celebrating the New Year with practice. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for leading the sitting last night. Thank you to Mishin godo for a delicious first meal of the new year. Thank you to both Mishin godo and Saigyo ino for very helpful practice interviews in the past week.

From Sarah Goul:
Thank you to Roshi and the monastics for establishing and maintaining the monastery as a place to practice amongst the Sangha and to follow the schedule. Thank you to Sensei for Daisan, especially how to respond to the suffering in Gaza. Also for much guidance in response to my practice journals. Thank you to the Office of the Tenzo for delicious meals during my retreat. Thank you to Godo and Ino for practice interviews, especially understanding Teisho and Dharma texts by practising, and practising consistently no matter keenness. Also to Ino for responding to my practice journals and being available for any questions during my retreat. 

From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to Constantine Tikhonov for a donation in memory of Ven. Shikai Zuiko O-sensei.

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