eMirror Vol 28, No. 24 (2024-06-14)

Kiden at the Hoza, Photograph by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei

Kiden at the Hoza,
Photograph by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei


eMirror Vol 28, No. 24

Friday, June 14th, 2024
Edited by the Practice Council

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



Dogen says,

For those who can be liberated by this body, the Buddhas at once manifest this body and present the Dharma. This is “revealing reality as a sky-like expanse.” For those who can be liberated by some other body, the Buddhas at once manifest that body and present the Dharma. This is “revealing reality as a sky-like expanse.” Using the twelve hours and being used by the twelve hours are both the time of “experiencing this expanse of space.” A big stone is big and a small stone is small. “There is nothing to accept or deny.”


The Suchness of reality can be revealed by a post. It can be displayed by the shape of grains of rice, the taste of sesame seeds, the colour of a pickled radish. When we expose ourselves to reality than the Buddha can appear as this form or that sound and we can receive the Dharma which is beyond this and that and enfolds and unfolds itself everywhere just as the vast sky stretches over flowers and smokestacks and clouds and yet is right here as this breath.

In the Lotus sutra and other classical Indian texts, the Buddhas and bodhisattvas are always taking up this form or that, speaking or not-speaking, moving or not-moving, in response to the situations of beings and leading them to realization through skilful means. In this day and in this age the appearance of a Buddha blazing with light is most likely to be a lump of plaster painted with garish colours, surrounded by neon tubing and is no more a source of liberation than any other religious icon. But it is no less a revelation of reality than a shoe, a bowl, a cloud, a hand. In the realized-practice of Zen Transmitted to us by Sakyamuni Buddha and his successors we learn how to use each moment of the hours of the day and night and be used by them. We can use the coming and going, the rising and vanishing, we can use every moment and every hour to open to the space of here and now and where it arises.

Just as a big stone is big and a small stone is small, space is space. Whether it is the space of a stone or the space around the stone, the space within a sleeve that you slide your arm into or the space around the body, space is space. Whether it is the space of sensations or the space of hearing space is space. If it is a small compacted space, it is small and cramped. If it is a space of panoramic vistas, it is big and open. But each space, large or small, arises within spaces larger than it. Space is always open. We can always open. Open space is our very nature.

We might be peering at a tiny corner of the vast sky of our lives by looking through our habitual views as if they were a bamboo tube. But in the moment of recognizing the congealing of a state, the solidifying of thought and attention, we can open around it. The stirring of this moment of recognition is bodhicitta, the mind that seeks the Way. Opening to that openness as a continual understanding is the Way of the bodhisattvas. Realizing ourselves and all that is to be open and radiant space is taking our place as the Buddhas of the realm in which the space of here and now arises.

-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, there is a $5 contribution which can be made through Eventbrite: Register for Saturday Breakfast. 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): June 19th, July 3rd and July 24th. 

June Samu Weekend - Saturday, June 29th and Sunday, June 30th
We shall be holding a Samu Weekend on Saturday, June 29th and Sunday, June 30th. 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 works in the grounds and making improvements to the landing area outside the rear door to the Hatto. 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 will be writing to all local students about the Samu Weekend this week.

Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa:
The next two Introduction to Zen Workshops will take place on Saturday, July 6th and Saturday, August 3rd at 1:45 p.m. To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca; for more information please see Introduction to Zen Workshop (Ottawa) | White Wind Zen Community 

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, June 11th at her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Shannon Morphew sat a half-day retreat on Wednesday, June 12th 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 Jie Wu of Ottawa who has been accepted as an associate student.
 


Recorded Teachings Schedule


Saturday, June 15th to Saturday, June 22nd

Saturday, June 15th general sitting: “Without Difficulty”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Jianzhi Sengcan's “Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness”: “One Thing” (teisho 21 of 25, 24 minutes)
Sunday, June 16th formal sitting: SAkN The Self-Secret Matrix of the Total Field: "Jodo-e: Teaching the Unteachable" (5 of 5, 18 minutes)
Monday, June 17th associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "Choice" (61 of 71, 11 minutes)
Thursday, June 20th associate sitting: "Before Thinking: Foundations of Zen Practice" by Zen Master Anzan Hoshin: "Choice" (61 of 71, 11 minutes)
Saturday, June 22nd general sitting: “Without Difficulty”: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Jianzhi Sengcan's “Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness”: “Shinjin Funi, Shinjin Datsaraku” (teisho 22 of 24, 20 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.
 


Request for help with upkeep of the monastery grounds



If you would like to help with the upkeep and improvements to the monastery grounds through the summer months your help would be much appreciated. A regular commitment of an hour or two each week would go a long way to keeping the gardens looking good for the sangha and visitors we have at Dainen-ji. Saigyo ino will provide all of the instruction so even if you don't know much about gardening this is no problem. Please write to Saigyo ino at saigyo.cross@gmail.com if you would like to get involved. Thank you.
 

Tenzo (Japanese characters)


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 June Sesshin:

Saturday:
Breakfast: “Rice and eggs” (two very gently fried eggs over easy served on Calrose white rice drizzled with shoyu mixed with mirin and wasabi and garnished with shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven-spice).
Lunch: Mixed grain (Calrose white and brown rice and arborio rice) served with optional 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: White jasmine rice; Thai coconut curry (coconut milk, chopped poblano and red bell peppers, carrots, and yellow onions, Thai red curry paste, lime juice, fried slices of medium-firm tofu); thinly sliced red apples, red onions and chopped scallions, lime juice and minced mango chutney.

Sunday:
Breakfast
: Fresh Chinese egg white noodles mixed with sauteed thinly sliced carrots, white onion and cabbage in a chile-garlic sauce (sambal oelek, light shoyu, brown sugar, vegetarian oyster sauce, minced garlic, minced ginger, sesame oil).
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); quick-pickled cucumber (salted and rinsed thinly sliced cucumber mixed with rice vinegar, minced garlic, shoyu, chopped scallions, sesame oil, gochugaru (Korean chile flakes), sesame seeds, roasted crushed peanuts).

The Following Meals were Prepared on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday Evenings:

Monday Yakuseki:
Linguine with tomato-lentil sauce (French green and brown lentils cooked with bay leaves and garlic added to marinara sauce made from San Marzano tomatoes, minced garlic, minced yellow onion, dried oregano, dried Italian seasoning, chile flakes); “greens and beans” (chopped baby bok choy and gailan seared on the griddle with red kidney beans, lots of minced garlic, salt, black pepper and balsamic vinegar); cubed friulano cheese mixed with sliced gherkins.

Tuesday Yakuseki:
White jasmine rice; Thai coconut tamarind pork curry (coconut milk, red Thai curry paste, peanut butter, light and dark soy sauce, small amount of maple syrup, coconut milk, thinly sliced carrots, leeks, white onion, celery, daikon, and red bell peppers, fried ground pork), served with toasted peanuts and slices of lime;  salad of chopped romaine, radicchio and green leaf lettuce, thinly sliced celery and radishes,  with an optional dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, dijon mustard, honey, black pepper. 

Thursday Yakuseki:
Lundberg brown rice with butter and peas; minestrone soup (roasted tomatoes, tinned diced tomatoes, tomato juice, cannellini beans, roasted garlic, tomato paste, red wine, chopped carrots, celery and yellow onion, dried thyme, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper); salad of fresh greens from the monastery roof garden (Black simpson lettuce, winter density romaine, baby spinach, arugula, radish leaves), fresh speckled pea sprouts, thinly sliced cucumber, celery, and red onion with an optional dressing of equal parts mayonnaise, dijon mustard, honey, black pepper. 
 

 

Jinmyo sensei bowing in gassho


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 Mishin godo for preparing all of the meals this week and for helping me with various tasks as I was not able to easily navigate the stairs with an injured foot. Thank you to Saigyo ino for helping me with tasks and for doing all of the food shopping. Thank you to Fushin shuso and Senbo for archiving work and to David Gallant for IT work. 

From Fushin shuso:
Thank you to Zen Master Anzan Hoshin roshi for the SAkN Teachings and for the June Sesshin. Thank you to Jinmyo Renge sensei for leading the June Sesshin despite an injured foot that required the use of a cane and staircases to climb up and down. Thank you to Mishin godo for consistently exceptional meals and for fresh produce grown on the roof garden. Thank you to Saigyo ino for making sure things happen when they are supposed to and for leading the retrieval of a very large german “Shrenk” cabinet. Thank you to David Gallant for research, maintenance and installing a doorbell system for the Monastery.

From David Gallant:
Thank you to the Office of the Tenzo for planning and preparing delicious meals for residents each week at Dainen-ji.

From Rana Annous:
Thank you to the Roshi for the teisho explaining ''the seven times down, eight times up'' advice,  and for its visual art representation by Ven. Shikai Zuiko O-sensei in Zen boxes: Art installation 14. Thank you to Jinmyo sensei for daisan and generous advice on practicing in work and home contexts. Thank you to Mishin godo for last week's help in correcting forms, adapting posture and dropping thoughts. Thank you to the caretaking council for efforts towards keeping the practice environment welcoming and neat. Thank you to Saigyo ino for last week's samu instructions, grounds tour, and uplifting smiles. Thank you to Fushin shuso for email correspondence and kind words.

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