eMirror Vol 28, No. 15
Friday, April 12th, 2024
Edited by the Practice Council
The White Wind Zen Community:
An international community practising and teaching Dogen’s Zen since 1985.
When our Lineage Ancestor Dongshan Liangjie was a child, his tutor taught him the Heart sutra. Denkoroku 39 recounts this.
When they were reciting the Heart sutra and came to the line, “No eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind,” he suddenly touched his face with his hands. “I do have eyes and ears, nose and tongue and all of those. Why does the sutra say that I don’t?” His tutor was astonished and said, “I am not your Teacher.”
And so Dongshan then went off to study Zen, was ordained, and eventually received the Transmission from Yunyan Tansheng. Even as a child, for him the sutras were not something to be believed simply because they were supposed to be the words of the Buddha. He wanted to know what they meant.
This is very important. We need to know what the Teachings actually mean, rather than merely believe them. But of course it is not that the Teachings should confirm what we already believe or what makes sense for us. We might not believe or even understand all of the things that the sutras say, that the koan and recorded sayings of our old Masters say, or even what our own Teacher or a practice advisor says. But then it is not up to them to agree with us but instead for us to practice the instructions, to understand the source and origin of their statements and phrases, to realize for ourselves what they are trying to show us. If Dogen says that the whole body is space hanging in space, he is trying to show us something about how he and others who have realized luminosity experience the world. We need then to move past what makes sense to us, our “old nest of views”, and investigate what he is saying within our own practice by doing the practice. This isn’t a matter of saying to ourselves, “I’m hanging in space” and seeing how we feel about that. Instead it is a matter of feeling whole bodily, of opening to how space and body are related, of opening to openness.
-Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, Teisho 7: "Sutras Speaking”, February 15, 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): April 24th.
Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next two Introduction to Zen Workshops will take place on Saturday, May 4th and June 1st at 1:45 p.m. To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa
Hanamatsuri Sesshin:
The April Hanamatsuri (Festival of Flowers) Sesshin will begin on Friday, April 12th at 8:00 p.m. and will end at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday the 14th.
On Saturday, April 13th, there will be a general sitting in the Zendo which will begin at 9:30 (please arrive by 9:15, in time for First Bell). The sitting will end at 11:30. Students attending 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
Rev. Chiso anagarika sat a semi-retreat on Tuesday, April 2nd at her home in Berkshires, Massachusetts. General public student Aaron Ford sat a two-day retreat on Saturday, March 30th and Sunday, March 31st at his home in Calgary, Alberta. Associate student Glenn Murphy sat a one-day retreat on Monday, April 1st 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 Linda Kenny-Rombough of Ottawa who has been accepted as an associate student.
Recorded Teachings Schedule
Saturday, April 13th to Saturday, April 20th
Saturday, April 13th general sitting: “Without Difficulty”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Jianzhi Sengcan's “Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness”: “Satori and Fleurs du Mal” (teisho 13 of 24, 19 minutes)
Monday, April 15th associate sitting:"Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "Waters Original Sound" (52 of 71, 9 minutes)
Thursday, April 18th associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "Waters Original Sound" (52 of 71, 9 minutes)
Saturday, April 20th general sitting: “Without Difficulty”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Jianzhi Sengcan's “Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness”: “A Single Suchness” (teisho 14 of 24, 16 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
Roof Work
The work on the very steep roofs of the monastery is now finished. Thank you to all whose contributions made this possible.
The photographs below were taken by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei.
Zenga by Sengai
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.
Monday Yakuseki
Baked Russet potatoes with sour cream and chives; rocket, spinach and caramelised onion frittata topped with friulano cheese; a salad of thinly sliced Napa cabbage, strips of carrot and daikon, thin slices of white onion, served with choice of white balsamic vinegar or a dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, dijon, and apple cider vinegar with black pepper and honey; slices of fresh pineapple.
Tuesday Yakuseki:
Pasta shells with a meat sauce (sauteed ground beef, pork and hot Italian sausage meat, San Marzano tomatoes, minced garlic, chopped carrots, celery and onion, tomato paste, dehydrated mushroom powder, Italian herbs); salad of chopped green leaf lettuce, romaine, thinly sliced celery, red onion, and chopped tomatoes served with a dressing made from equal parts mayonnaise, dijon, and apple cider vinegar with black pepper and honey; cubed friulano cheese mixed with Spanish queen olives and lemon zest.
Thursday Yakuseki:
Calrose brown rice with butter, shoyu and roasted peanuts; a soup made from mushroom stock, finely sliced ginger, a drop of rice vinegar, shoyu, white pepper, mustard greens, leeks, pea sprouts grown by Mishin godo, semi-firm tofu cooked on a griddle until golden brown; Napa cabbage salad (thinly sliced Napa cabbage, slivered carrots and daikon, thinly sliced red onion).
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 Jinmyo sensei for purchasing eclipse glasses for residents so we could enjoy watching Monday's solar eclipse. Thank you to Fushin shuso for cleaning the incense burners in practice interview rooms.
From Tettsu (Harrow Zazenkai):
Thank You to Mariano Marcigaglia who very generously travelled down from east London weekly to help set up the new and fast PC. Thank You to Kail Shanker who has advised me to regularly order online food shopping.
