Photograph by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi
eMirror Vol 28, No. 11
Friday, March 15th, 2024
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
In the Eihei Goroku 1:23, Dogen says,
In the Dharma Hall the Master said, “Daowu said to Shitou, ‘What is the fundamental teaching of the Way of Awake Awareness?’ Shitou said, “Nothing can be grasped, nothing can be known.’ Daowu then said, ‘Is there anything to say beyond this?’ Shitou said, ‘The openness of the sky does not obstruct the movement of the white clouds.’”
Dogen went on to say,
“The fundamental Teaching is non-grasping and not-knowing. The fundamental teaching of Awake Awareness is the same even if put into the smallest space. The openness of the sky does not obstruct the movement of the white clouds. Daowu shouldn’t have had to ask Shitou about this.”
No matter how small and narrow our view might be, in whatever space we might find ourselves, the fundamental Teachings are still true. We need only to apply them. If it’s closed, then open around it. Whatever we understand in the deepest openings and kensho in our practice is what we are capable of practising and realizing in each following moment as a minimum from then on. If it’s open, then open further.
Space is always available because all of our experiences are experiences of and about space and come and go in the space which is immediately present here and now.
-Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, Teisho 6: "Learning Space With Space”, February 14, 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): March 27th.
Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next two Introduction to Zen Workshops will take place on Saturday, April 6th and May 4th at 1:45 p.m. To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa
Keizan-ki
March 21st is the memorial for Keizan Jokin zenji.
March Samu Weekend - March 23rd and 24th
We shall be holding the first Samu Weekend of 2024 on Saturday, March 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 continuing work on the renovation in the first floor guest room, doing spring work in the grounds and painting and reorganising in the basement rooms. 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.
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
Deshi Chantal Maheu sat a half-day retreat on Monday, March 11th. Public general student Aaron Ford sat a half-day retreat on Saturday, March 9th at his home in Calgary, Alberta. General student Jean Francois St-Louis sat a one-day retreat on Thursday, March 14th 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, Saturday, March 16th to Saturday, March 23rd
Please note: Due to an error during the playback at the recent Monday evening associate sitting we shall be repeating the Dharma Talk "Saying the Word Fire Does Not Burn the Mouth" this week.
Saturday, March 16th general sitting: “Without Difficulty”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Jianzhi Sengcan's “Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness”: “The One Way is All Directions” (teisho 10 of 24, 24 minutes)
Sunday, March 17th formal sitting: SAkN The Drift of Meaning by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi: “Feeling into Sambhogakaya: Ocean Seal Instruction” (6 of 7, 32 minutes)
Monday, March 18th associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "Saying the Word Fire Does Not Burn the Mouth" (48 of 71, 9 minutes)
Thursday, March 21st associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "Saying the Word Fire Does Not Burn the Mouth" (48 of 71, 9 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
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 for practitioners during the March Sesshin:
Saturday:
Breakfast: Acorn squash congee (cubed roasted acorn squash, jasmine rice, minced garlic, bran oil, green peas, salt, sesame oil; scrambled eggs.
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: Thai peanut red curry (chopped red onion, diced sweet potatoes, diced carrots, minced garlic, chopped daikon, chopped green cabbage, Thai red curry paste, tamarind paste, peanut butter, light and dark soy sauce, small amount of maple syrup, coconut milk, served with toasted peanuts and warm naan; Napa cabbage salad with a dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar, blended with honey, black pepper, mango chutney, and lime pickle; sliced fresh pineapple.
Sunday:
Breakfast: Fried perogies (potato-cheese and potato-garlic perogies boiled then fried in butter, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika, thick slices of fried yellow onion) with sour cream mixed with greek yogurt; scrambled eggs.
Lunch: White and brown Thai jasmine rice mixed with chopped scallions and optional garnish of furikake (nori-wasabi sprinkles); spicy seaweed soup (strained miso shiro from the previous day, wakame, sliced ginger, low sodium soy sauce, sesame oil, chilli oil, cubed silken tofu); Korean pickled daikon (cubed fresh daikon pickled for 4 days with apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, salt).
The following meals were prepared on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings:
Monday Yakuseki:
Mixed grain (white and brown calrose, arborio, barley); bulgogi tofu (chopped yellow onion, poblano and red bell peppers, sliced seared medium-firm tofu, bulgogi sauce, shoyu); Napa cabbage salad (chopped Napa cabbage, thinly sliced carrot, daikon, and white onion) with a dressing of canola oil, rice wine vinegar, shoyu, minced garlic, minced ginger, sesame oil, honey.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Thai jasmine white rice; Thai red coconut curry with tofu and fried basa fish (coconut milk, Thai red curry paste, chopped mixed vegetables, tofu.
For those who wished to supplement their diet with fish, pieces of basa fillet, scallops and shrimp.
Spears of gailan boiled for 3 minutes in water with rice bran oil and salt, dressed with a sauce of oyster sauce, shoyu, fish sauce, and Maggi.
Thursday Yakuseki:
Brown calrose rice mixed with seared chopped Shanghai bok choy; Napa cabbage soup with seared sliced tofu (vegetable stock, minced garlic, ginger, miso, gojuchang, shoyu, mushrooms stock, thinly sliced carrots, sauteed mushrooms, chopped Napa cabbage, leeks); salad of tomato spears with speckled pea sprouts with a dressing of canola oil, rice vinegar, shoyu, minced garlic, minced ginger, sesame oil, honey and Korean gochugaru chile flakes.
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 Artik Chauhan:
“Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for daisan. Thank you for showing examples of how to open attention and for sharing stories and laughter. Thank you for your time.”
