eMirror Vol 28, No. 20 (2024-05-17)

Chinese woodlock of Miccaka

Chinese woodblock of Miccaka


eMirror Vol 28, No. 20

Friday, May 17th, 2024
Edited by the Practice Council

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



Since the time of Sakyamuni Buddha, there have been those amongst us who have realized the way things are, the Way of Reality, the Dharma, and have Transmitted it to others. I have received it from my Master Joshu Dainen daiosho and I offer it to you. Joshu Dainen received it from Daiji Tenku daiosho. Daiji Tenku received it from Shinchi Jozan daiosho. Back through the generations it has been Transmitted and received through this wonderful practice of zazen. The further back through the generations we peer however, the more that the features and forms of those long dead Awakened Ancestors become cloudy, become featureless, like space.

This is especially so of the Indian Lineage successors who preceded the Transmission to China. The Jingde-Chuandenglu and the Denkoroku provide the stories and legends about those Awakened Ancestors and try to make some sense of them, make them come alive for us in a way that can inform our practice. But this was difficult because rather than the recorded sayings and doings of Masters, there were only stories and legends. And many of these legends were sometimes more to the tastes of Indian than Chinese culture. They are full of strange magic and prophecies of future lives and revelations of past lives. It’s not that Chinese folk-culture lacked these elements as such but that the magic they preferred tended to have to do with rainmaking or healing illnesses and longevity.

For example, the Chuandenglu recounts that the sixth Ancestor Miccaka, upon ordaining Vasumitra and passing on the Transmission to him, flew up in the air to the height of seven palm trees, landed again on his seat, burst into flames and cremated himself. Vasumitra gathered up the relics and put them in a jewelled box and sealed them in a stupa. In gathering material for his Denkoroku, Keizan zenji just passes this story by.

Miccaka’s Dharma-heir Vasumitra was a bit of an interesting figure. Keizan zenji presents Vasumitra’s story beginning with a koan or public case representing the relationship between Miccaka and Vasumitra in case 8 of the Denkoroku:

The seventh Ancestor was the Venerable Vasumitra. Vasumitra places a bowl of wine before the Venerable Miccaka, bows, and then stands.


Venerable Miccaka asks, “Is this my bowl or is it yours?”

As Vasumitra thinks it over, Miccaka says, “You might say that it is mine; but it is your Actual Nature. If it is yours, use it to receive my transmission.”     

Hearing this, Vasumitra realizes the fundamental nature of the Unborn.


-Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, Teisho 8: "Passing Through, Passing Past”, February 16, 2001, in the series "Playing With Space: Commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji's Koku”

 

The Hatto (for formal sittings)

The Hatto (for formal sittings)
 

Zen with renovated floors (May 2024)

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):  May 22nd.

Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next two Introduction to Zen Workshops will take place on Saturday,  June 1st and July 6th 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. 

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.

Combined Associate and General Sitting:
There will be a combined associate and general sitting held in the Zendo on Saturday, May 18th which both associate and 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. Seating is limited, registration is required. Register to Attend Combined Sitting on May 18th

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, May 7th, in Cambridge, Massachusetts; general student Tarik Kaya sat a one-day retreat on Saturday, May 11th 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 Zachary Claxton of San Antonio, Texas, USA on being accepted as a general public student by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi. Congratulations and deep gassho to Sarah Little of Ottawa on being accepted as an associate student by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi. Congratulations and deep gassho to An Nguyen of Ottawa on being accepted as an associate student by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi. Congratulations and deep gassho to Ian Reynolds of Ottawa on being accepted as an associate student by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi. Congratulations and deep gassho to Stuart Vickers of Toronto, Canada on being accepted as an associate public student by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi.
 


Recorded Teachings Schedule


Saturday, May 18th to Saturday, May 25th

Saturday, May 18th combined sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "Tenderness" (56 of 71, 14 minutes)
Monday, May 20th associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "Samu" (57 of 71, 14 minutes)
Thursday, May 23rd associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "Samu" (57 of 71, 14 minutes)
Saturday, May 25th general sitting: “Without Difficulty”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Jianzhi Sengcan's “Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness”: “Wise Up, Down, and All Around” (teisho 18 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

 


Bargeboard Restoration


 

Bargeboard at Dainen-ji

From the “Heritage Conservation Glossary”: Bargeboard (bordure de pignon): Boards or other decorative woodwork fixed to the edges or projecting rafters of a gabled roof, sometimes called “gingerbread”.

Being subjected to the extreme fluctuation of Ottawa’s freezing, dry winters and the heat and humidity of summers for 150 years have taken their toll on the monastery’s elaborate gingerbread. Some of it is so old and damaged that it was necessary to take it down before it fell down. Other areas are badly cracked and all of it needs restoration, sanding and repainting.

Bargeboard at Dainen-ji

From across Friel street showing the height of the window in the above photograph.

As all of the gingerbread is four floors up and difficult to access because of the steep pitch of our roofs, this is not work we can do ourselves. It is going to require someone skilled in the use of a “cherry picker” and scaffolding, and will also require excellent carpentry skills as some of the gingerbread will need to be recreated. And so we are beginning the process of finding a company that we can hire to do the work.

In the meantime, the Caretaking Council (monastics Saigyo ino and Fushin shuso) are “ringing the bell” to let the Sangha know that help will be needed. 

Takuhatsu, Alms Round, painting

In Japan, monastics traditionally walk "Takuhatsu” or “Alms Round". They wear a straw hat that hides their eyes and they carry a bell and an alms bowl. As they walk they strike the bell to let people know that there is need. But their eyes cannot be seen below the brim of their straw hat and so they do not look directly at anyone, whether they put something in the alms bowl or do not. Their purpose is to simply let the community know that there is need. 

We are pointing to the need, not to or at anyone or how large or small the dana is being offered.
 

Two person eating soba (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 During the Week of O-sesshin

Monday:
Breakfast
:  Noodles (fresh Chinese egg noodles mixed with sauteed yellow onion, red bell and poblano peppers, slivered Korean green chiles, light soy sauce, sambal oelek, minced garlic, minced ginger, vegetarian oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar); scrambled eggs.
Lunch:  Calrose white rice served with optional gomashio (roasted ground sesame seeds and salt); miso shiru (broth made from kombu, slivered ginger, shiro miso, fresh shiitake mushrooms, Shanghai bok choy, shoyu, mirin, rice vinegar, cubed silken tofu); takuan and gari.
Supper: Brown calrose rice mixed with chopped scallions and sesame oil; ; dai gai choy soup (chopped dai gai choy, celery and white onion, slivered ginger, shaoxing cooking wine, shoyu, vegetable stock, white pepper, deep fried puffed tofu); chopped tomatoes mixed with baechu kimchi.

Tuesday: 
Breakfast
: Fried rice (leftover white and brown calrose rice, minced leftover tomatoes and baechu kimchi, minced onion, minced garlic and ginger, chopped poblano and red bell peppers and green Korean chile, chopped scallions, shoyu, salt, white pepper); scrambled eggs.
Lunch: Chinese white rice and brown Thai jasmine rice garnished with sauteed diced daikon (cooked with shoyu, sake, sweet chile sauce); spicy seaweed soup (strained miso shiro from the previous day, wakame, sliced ginger, low sodium soy sauce, sesame oil, chilli oil, cubed silken tofu); thinly sliced cucumber and celery mixed with baechu kimchi.
Supper: Roasted Yukon gold potatoes seasoned; tofu in a mushroom gravy (sauteed semi-firm tofu in a sauce made from King oyster mushrooms, cremini mushrooms, finely chopped white onion, mushroom stock, dehydrated mushroom powder, thyme, smoked paprika, minced garlic, onion powder, lots of black pepper; lightly cooked greens seasoned with butter, salt and black pepper. 

Wednesday: 
Breakfast
: Acorn and butternut squash congee (cubed, roasted acorn and butternut squash, minced garlic, jasmine rice, green peas, scallions, salt) garnished with toasted pumpkin seeds; scrambled eggs; optional garnishes of black rice vinegar and roasted chile oil.
Lunch:  Calrose white and brown rice served with optional gomashio (roasted ground sesame seeds and salt); miso shiru (broth made from kombu, slivered ginger, shiro miso, fresh shiitake mushrooms, Shanghai bok choy, shoyu, mirin, rice vinegar, cubed silken tofu); takuan and gari.
Supper: Penne pasta with garlic butter sauce (finely chopped white onion, minced garlic, butter, oil, lime juice, vegan ‘chicken bouillon’, red chilli flakes; miso-carrot soup: blended cooked garlic, ginger, chopped carrots, apple, leeks, tomato, cumin, cayenne, sweet paprika, turmeric, coconut cream, shiro miso, crushed chili flakes; Napa cabbage salad (thinly sliced Napa cabbage, carrots, daikon, and white onion) served with toasted sunflower seeds and a dressing of equal parts apple cider vinegar, mayonnaise, and dijon mustard with honey and black pepper; cubed friulano cheese mixed with sliced gherkins and lemon zest.

Thursday: 
Breakfast
: Fried pasta (leftover penne pasta with garlic butter sauce, sauteed minced yellow onions and red bell peppers, chile flakes); scrambled eggs.
Lunch: Mixed grain (Chinese white rice, white and brown Thai jasmine rice) mixed with toasted chopped peanuts and chopped scallions; spicy seaweed soup (strained miso shiro from the previous day, wakame, sliced ginger, low sodium soy sauce, sesame oil, chilli oil, cubed silken tofu); thin, bias cut cucumber mixed with baechu kimchi, sesame oil, shoyu, and sugar.
Supper: Baked, buttered naan; tFrom Jinmyo sensei:hree bean dal (Masoor dal (red lentils), moong dal (split mung beans) and ahar (split pigeon peas), cooked together and seasoned with toasted cumin seeds, finely chopped yellow onions and tomato, grated ginger, dried Thai chillies, kashmiri chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric, fenugreek leaves, fresh coriander); salad of chopped romaine, red and green leaf lettuce, radicchio, sliced radishes, thinly sliced red onion, sliced celery, with a dressing of equal parts apple cider vinegar, mayonnaise, and dijon mustard with honey and black pepper mixed with popped cumin and mustard seeds and mango pickle; sliced fresh pineapple.
 

Little monks bowing, Japanese 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 Jinmyo sensei:
Thank you to the Roshi for the SAkN (Space, Activity and Knowing) series of teisho. 

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