Kestrel on Dainen-ji roof
eMirror Vol 28, No. 12
Friday, March 22th, 2024
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
Dogen says,
We should understand that exerting the Way, establishing the aspiration, realized-practice, and the statements and dialogues of the Buddhas and Ancestors are all grasping space.
Grasping space is releasing ourselves into koku, the Way that the Buddhas and Ancestors have presented in releasing themselves and exerting the Way. From beginning to end and all of the way through, in practice, in study, and in Teaching, we are grasping ungraspability and releasing Reality. Grasping space, we are grasped by space.
Dogen says,
My late Master, the Old Buddha, Tiantong Rujing said, “The whole body is a mouth, hung in space.” Clearly, the whole body of space is hung in space.
The whole body is a play of spaces arising in empty space, suspended in space. North, south, east, west and in all directions and dimensions the vast expanse of our lives is always open. Clouds and wind do not obstruct the sky. The sky does not hinder clouds and wind. Clouds pile upon clouds. Winds howl and sling snow and rain. The sky is blue then golden and rose hued then purpled like a bruise and then black and then lightens into dawn. Never stained.
-Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, concluding 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
March Samu Weekend - March 23rd and 24th
We shall be holding the first Samu Weekend of 2024 on Saturday, March 23rd and Sunday, March 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 18th. General public student Beth Buerkle sat a half-day retreat on Saturday, March 16th at her home in Chamcook, New Brunswick.
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, March 23rd to Saturday, March 30th
Monday, March 25th associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "The Sky Talking" (49 of 71, 13 minutes)
Thursday, March 28th associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "The Sky Talking" (49 of 71, 13 minutes)
Saturday, March 30th general sitting: “Without Difficulty”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Jianzhi Sengcan's “Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness”: “Wuwei” (teisho 11 of 24, 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

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:
Minestrone (chopped red onion, celery, carrots, green cabbage, daikon, poblano peppers, red bell peppers, minced garlic, San Marzano tomatoes, tomato juice, thyme, oregano, basil, lots of black pepper, pinch of sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes) served with optional pasta shells and Parmesan cheese; chopped Romaine hearts with Caesar dressing and Caesar croutons; cubed Friulano cheese with chopped pickles and lime zest.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Rutabaga fries (rutabaga cut into thick pieces, seasoned with bran oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper, roasted until golden-brown; braised beef (seared pieces of beef slow cooked for hours in a savoury sauce made from chicken stock, shiro miso, chopped ‘red pencil’ chillies, tomato paste, minced garlic, rice vinegar, onion powder, cayenne pepper); “Caesar salad” (chopped Romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, Caesar croutons).
Thursday Yakuseki:
Chinese white rice; bulgogi tofu (sauteed cubed semi-firm tofu, chopped Spanish onion, leeks, poblano and red bell peppers, chopped zucchini, minced garlic, rice vinegar, shoyu, dark shoyu, sesame oil, chilli oil; mustard greens, choy sum and Shanghai bok choy blanched in boiling water, bran oil and salt; cremini mushrooms tossed in butter and chilli sauce, roasted.

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 Jinmyo sensei:
Thank you to Fushin shuso for remastering 30 year-old recordings of Dharma Talks presented by the Roshi to increase their volume.
From Mishin godo:
Thank you to Fushin shuso for cleaning candle holders and preparing the candles needed every week in practice halls. Thank you to Tracey Parker for transcribing the teisho "Magu's Fan".
From David Gallant:
Thank you to Jinmyo sensei and Mishin godo for preparing the midday meals during the upcoming Samu Weekend. Thank you to Saigyo ino for organizing the Samu Weekend tasks to be completed. Over the past few years and especially as a resident at Dainen-ji I have come to more deeply appreciate both the individual efforts of those students offering samu and the overall effect of the Sangha gathering to take care of the practice environment.
From Jeffrey Wilkins:
Deep Gassho to Saigyo ino for our telephone practice interviews. Thank you for your time, humour and guidance.
From the Office of the Treasurer:
Thank you to the following for donations towards the upcoming Samu Weekend: Matt Broda, Rowan Russell, Loic Ouellette, Sam MacFarlane, and Stephanie Houle.
