eMirror Vol 28, No. 16 (2024-04-19)

 

Spring 2024 in Dainen-ji's grounds, Photograph by Ven. Mishin Roelofs godo

Spring 2024 in Dainen-ji's grounds,
Photograph by Ven. Mishin Roelofs godo


eMirror Vol 28, No. 16

Friday, April 19th, 2024
Edited by the Practice Council

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



We have to use the Dharma in our own experience, in our own lives, because that is what the Dharma is about and what it is for. If we are told to feel the feet and the hands both at the same time and we can’t, this doesn’t mean that it is impossible so the instructions were flawed so we can just ignore what the practice advisor tells us and focus on the breath. It means that we have to recognize how narrow and congealed our attention tends to be and open it by doing the practice, by following the instructions. If we are told to feel whole bodily and we can’t, this doesn’t mean it is impossible. If we are told to let the seeing see and the hearing hear and we can’t, it is not because we actually cannot but that we tend not to. Or won’t. If we are told to release the bodymind past the Total Field, the Dharmadhatu, into that which is radiant as it, it is because we can. You can. The Dharma is not a set of beliefs or doctrines but a vast body of instructions on how to realize for ourselves that which is realized by the Buddhas and Awakened Ancestors.

However, there is the tendency for people to play out their tendencies in how they are with the Dharma. People buy dozens of books on Zen and never sit. They can even point to passages from these books that prove to them that they are enlightened because they don’t do zazen. Other people sit and think about the books they’ve read. Other people write books and give lectures on Zen and creative writing, Zen and the art of the deal, Zen and better sex, Zen and how to be a nice person.

In Tang China, the situation was the same. For every person who practised zazen under the direction of a Master there were dozens if not hundreds of monks and Teachers of various schools who enjoyed talking about the Dharma but didn’t want to listen to it. They gave lectures on the sutras without hearing the Buddhavacana, the voice of Wakefulness.

-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 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):  April 24th, May 8th and 22nd.

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 

Sogaku-ki O-sesshin
The May Sogaku-ki O-sesshin will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 12th and will end at noon on Sunday, May 19th. Formal students and probationary formal students are asked to send in their schedule as soon as possible.

A Note to Preliminary and Public Students Concerning O-sesshin:
During an O-sesshin the schedule is such that there is no time to meet face to face with preliminary students or to reply to email correspondence sent by public students. Public students are asked to send their weekly practice journals, as they will be reviewed. But unless there is something that needs an immediate reply, you will not receive an email reply until the week following the O-sesshin.

Cancelled Associate Sittings:
The associate sitting that would ordinarily take place on Monday, May 13th at 7:30 p.m. is cancelled due to the Sogaku-ki O-sesshin. 
The associate sitting that would ordinarily take place on Thursday, May 16th at 7:30 p.m. is cancelled due to the Sogaku-ki O-sesshin.

Cancelled General Sitting:
The general sitting that would ordinarily take place at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 18th, is cancelled due to the Sogaku-ki O-sesshin.

General Sitting:
There will be a sitting held in the Zendo on Saturday, May 18th which general students may attend. The sitting will begin at 9:30 a.m. (arrival time is 9:15, in time for First Bell). The sitting will end at 11:30 a.m. 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



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, April 20th to Saturday, April 27th

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)
Monday, April 22nd associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "So Much To Say" (53 of 71, 9 minutes)
Thursday, April 25th associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "So Much To Say" (53 of 71, 9 minutes)
Saturday, April 27th general sitting: “Without Difficulty”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Jianzhi Sengcan's “Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness”: “Resting in Motion” (teisho 15 of 24, 18 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

 


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.

Roof Work, photograph by Ven. Jinmyo sensei

Roof Work, photograph by Ven. Jinmyo sensei


 

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. 

Meals served during the April two-day sesshin:

Saturday:
Breakfast
: “Rice and eggs” (two eggs very gently fried over easy in butter served on Calrose rice, garnished with a sauce of shoyu, mirin, and wasabi and shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven-spice powder).
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: Rutabaga, turnip and potato oven fries seasoned with garlic and onion powder, smoked paprika, lots of black pepper, with a dipping sauce made from tahini, yogurt, lemon juice, a drop of maple syrup, salt, garlic, finely chopped parsley; sauteed tofu (semi firm tofu, butter, salt, smoked paprika, lime juice); coleslaw (thinly sliced green cabbage, white onion, and carrots mixed with a dressing of mayonnaise, horseradish, dijon mustard, lime juice, salt and pepper).

Sunday:
Breakfast
:  Acorn and butternut squash congee (cubed, roasted acorn squash, butternut squash, minced garlic, jasmine rice, green peas, salt) garnished with toasted pumpkin seeds; scrambled eggs; optional garnishes of black rice vinegar and roasted chile oil.
Lunch: Mixed grain (Chinese white and brown Thai jasmine rice) topped with small cubes of daikon braised in a sauce of oyster sauce, sweet chile, sake, shoyu with optional freshly made gomashio (roasted ground sesame seeds and salt); seaweed soup (strained miso shiru broth, wakame seaweed, julienned ginger, shoyu, handmade Szechuan chile oil, mirin); sliced fresh pineapple.

Monday Yakuseki 
Farfalle pasta and baby green peas with a sauce made from butter, lime juice, Parmesan cheese, chopped white onion, chilli flakes; “greens and beans” (sliced mustard greens and Shanghai bok choy cooked on the griddle with red kidney beans, minced garlic, red balsamic vinegar, salt and black pepper; friulano cheese and Spanish “Queen” olives mixed with lemon zest.

Tuesday Yakuseki:
White Thai jasmine rice; tamarind curry (cooked ground pork, chopped red onion, sliced 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 smashed peanuts; salad of chopped romaine lettuce, arugula, and radicchio, thinly sliced red onion, thinly sliced celery, chopped tomatoes, with a dressing made from equal parts mayonnaise, dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar, with honey and black pepper.

Thursday Yakuseki:
Noodle soup (spaghettini noodles, seared bok choy, strips of poblano and red bell peppers, thinly sliced carrots, chopped celery, red onion, seared daikon and sauteed tofu in a vegetable/mushroom broth seasoned with shoyu, ginger and white pepper, served with a chilli crisp oil made by Mishin godo; kimchi. 


 

Monk holding a gong

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 the Roshi for menu design; to Mishin godo for a contribution towards the cost of veterinarian care for Shindo, one of the monastery cats. Thank you to Saigyo ino for overseeing the refinishing of the floors in the Zendo and main hallway; to Fushin shuso and Senbo for ongoing archiving work; to Senbo and Elizabeth Eve for their work to prepare the Roshi’s book, “The Straight Path: Zen Teachings on the Foundations of Mindfulness” for reprinting.

 

 

Printer Friendly, PDF & Email