eMirror Vol 29, No. 7 (2025-02-14)

Butsudan Shadow, Harrow Zazenkai, UK,  photograph by Frank Tettsu Woods

Butsudan Shadow, Harrow Zazenkai, UK, 
photograph by Frank Tettsu Woods


eMirror Vol 29, No. 7

Friday, February 14th, 2025
Edited by the Practice Council

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



[Student]: At certain moments in my life I have had an intense intuitive feeling about something and at that point I have rejected it, subconsciously, I guess, denied it. Do you have any advice on how to detect when that happens and not allow it to happen?

[Roshi]: Well, again I think that is a matter of paying attention to what is going on.

First of all, we have attachments to certain ways of knowing about things because they usually work out for us - you know - that if we can name things and so on and so forth, keep them orderly and managed in a certain way, then that usually means that because we have managed things in a certain way, things are manageable for us. We can get up,  we can go to work, and so on and so forth. But most of what we are knowing is in fact happening in what we could call an intuitive manner.
    
You walk into a restaurant and you pretty well know whether or not you are going to like it or not just at the moment of walking in. You know you don’t really have to think about it or even look at the menu really. You sort of walk in, you get some sort of taste, some sort of flavour of what is going on. So the thing is that our first impression is often correct unless it is partial.

Now what can happen is, you see somebody and your first impression is based on some conditioning, some past pattern. They move in a particular way. They have a certain kind of voice, certain kind of smell and it reminds you of something in your past that you really liked. You had a lot of comfort from this particular kind of person or you loathed this kind of person because of something that they did to you. So that kind of first impression is always a narrowing. We can always notice that our attention contracts when something of that nature happens. When we fall into that kind of first impression, everything narrows, becomes locked and frozen for a moment and then we start to think and figure it all out and we go “Well I don’t like this person”. The words actually come up at the end of this process.
    
So, in terms of that what we are looking at here is what we traditionally call the five skandhas: form, basic reactivity, symbolization, habitual patterning, and consciousness, which can be a way of talking about bodymind. The body is form and the other four skandhas are mind or mental activities.
    
Or the five skandhas can be a way of talking about how our conditional  experience presents itself. In this there is usually a first contact with something, it’s “THAT” (subject/object/form). There is something there. Basic reactivity: is there a threat, is it good, something that is neither and so can be ignored? You start to try to figure it out and this is where we can have a moment of intuition and then symbolization: is it something like what we have known before? Something starts to become clearer to us, the details start to become clear. Habitual patterning: this is where the patterning and conditioning is going to come in and are applied to similar things already encountered. And then consciousness, where we think about it.

- Continuing the Mondo "Confusion is the Mother of Wisdom", from a Dharma Assembly presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi at Zazen-ji, May 1991

 

The Hatto (for formal sittings)

The Hatto (for formal sittings)
 

Zen with renovated floors and new Butsudan (August 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. It starts at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 10:10 a.m. with the chants. Following that there is a Daruma-kata Aiki which ends at about 10:30 a.m.

Fusatsu (Renewal of Vows): February 26th.

Introduction to Zen Workshop Ottawa: The next two Introduction to Zen Workshops will take place on Saturday, March 1st at 1:45 p.m. and Saturday, April 5th at 1:45 p.m. To register: https://IntroductionToZenWorkshop.eventbrite.ca; for more information please see https://wwzc.org/introduction-zen-workshop-ottawa 

Nehan O-sesshin:
The Nehan O-sesshin begins at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 9th and ends on Sunday, February 16th at noon. Students attending are reminded to send their schedules as soon as possible. 

Nehan:
Commemoration of the Buddha’s Death (Nehan-e) February 15th.

A Sitting for Associate and General Students During the Nehan O-sesshin:
A combined sitting for associate and general students will take place in the Zendo on Saturday, February 15th. Arrival time is 9:15 a.m. (in time for First Bell). The sitting ends at 11:30 a.m. Students attending are reminded to remain on the first floor. Seating is limited and registration is required. Register for the Combined Sitting

Cancelled Associate Sitting:
The Monday February 10th associate sitting that would normally take place at 7:30 p.m. is cancelled due to the O-sesshin.

Cancelled Associate Sitting:
The Thursday February 13th associate sitting that would normally take place at 7:30 p.m. is cancelled due to the O-sesshin.

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.

Dharma Assembly
A Dharma Assembly (a day of retreat that all formal, general and associate students may attend) will take place on Saturday, February 22nd from 9:30 am to 9 pm, (please arrive in time for First Bell at 9:15 a.m.) led by Jinmyo sensei. A Dharma Talk will be presented. For those attending the full day, three vegetarian meals will be provided along with instruction for informal oryoki; there will be instruction in the Daruma Kata-aiki, and students will meet with monastics for daisan (meeting with Jinmyo sensei) and practice interview (meeting with Mishin godo and Saigyo ino). 

Registration for the Dharma Assembly is now full. Students who wish to be added to the waitlist should email schedule at wwzc dot org.

Cancelled general sitting: 
The Saturday February 22nd general sitting that would normally take place at 9:30 a.m. is cancelled due to the Dharma Assembly.

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 her weekly semi-retreat on Tuesday, February 4th in Cambridge, Massachusetts. General student David Alexander sat a two-day retreat on Friday, January 31st and Saturday, February 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 
 


Recorded Teachings Schedule


February 8th to February 15th

General sitting Saturday, February 8th: Five Fingers, Ten Directions: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on Dogen zenji's "Jippo": Teisho 1: Opening comments (7 minutes)
Formal sitting Sunday, February 9th: SAkN Oceans of Realms: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's Commentaries on the Vow of Samantabhadra: Teisho 13: Inconceivable Magic (17 minutes)
Combined sitting Saturday, February 15th: “The Touchstone" by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei: Dharma Talk 11: Entering the Space of Maitri (17 minutes)

Recorded Teachings During the Nehan O-sesshin:

Series: Koan: The Real Question
Monday, February 10th: Teisho 1: The Real Question (40 minutes)
Tuesday, February 11th: Teisho 2: Gnashing Its Teeth (30 minutes)
Wednesday, February 12th: Teisho 3: A Little Story (42 minutes)
Thursday, February 13th: Teisho 4: Not Raising a Finger (47 minutes)
Friday, February 14th: Teisho 5: Please Don't Miss This (36 minutes)
Saturday, February 15th: Teisho 6: Embarrassing (33 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. Teisho and Dharma Talks are presented during sittings and so should be listened to while you are sitting.

You can access the online Recorded Teachings Library at https://wwzc.org/recorded-teachings

Please note that recorded teisho should be listened to in the correct order and with none missed out as themes, metaphors, questions are raised and answered from different angles throughout each 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



Teisho: “I Know Who You Are!”
Teisho presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, presented at Dainen-ji on March 13th, 1999
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/teisho-i-know-who-you-are

Dharma Assembly: On Karma 
Mondo by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, presented in April  of 1986, River Road Zendo. 
https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/dharma-assembly-karma

Dharma Assembly: Freefall
Dharma Talk presented by Ven. Jinmyo Renge sensei on January 7th, 2007: https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/dharma-assembly-freefall

Before Thinking (Dharma Talk 68): A Jewel in Bright Light
Dharma Talk by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi presented at Zazen-ji on September 14, 1991: https://wwzc.org/dharma-text/jewel-bright-light

Kwannon
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



We received a first detailed quotation for this work of $22,700 plus HST and after receiving other quotations hope to be able to move forward with this project in the spring of 2025. The amount raised to date is $9,800.

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.

Gingerbread

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.

Because Dainen-ji is a heritage building, these repairs must be done or we could lose our heritage status. 

We will post the estimated cost of the repairs as soon as we have received that information from contractors we are negotiating with. Any amount you can contribute would be gratefully received.
 

Oryoki set 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 (chow mein noodles, sauteed thin strips of yellow onion, poblano and red bell peppers, light shoyu, sambal oelek, oyster sauce, grated ginger, minced garlic , sugar, sesame oil); scrambled eggs.
Lunch: Calrose rice garnished with gomashio (toasted sesame seeds and salt); miso shiru (broth made from kombu, slivered ginger, shiro miso, dried shiitake mushrooms, shoyu, mirin, rice vinegar, Shanghai bok choy, cubed silken tofu); takuan and gari.
Supper: Roasted root vegetables (rutabaga, carrots, turnips, parsnips, sweet potato, Yukon gold potatoes, seasoned with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, lots of black pepper, cooked with bran oil); sauteed tofu (medium firm tofu cut into thick batonnets, cooked with butter and bran oil, lemon, lemon zest, small amount of chipotle barbeque sauce; garlic, cumin); Punjabi-style tomato soup (blended San Marzano tomatoes, tomato juice, coconut milk, lemon juice, Kashmiri chilli powder, curry leaves).

Tuesday
Breakfast: Seared cabbage congee (leftover Calrose rice, chopped seared green cabbage, leftover roasted root vegetables and tofu, sesame oil, shoyu, salt, white pepper, roasted peanuts).
Lunch: White and brown Thai jasmine rice; spicy wakame seaweed soup (leftover strained miso shiru broth, wakame, slivered ginger, shoyu, roasted chile oil, silken tofu); kimchi.
Supper: Basmati rice mixed with sauteed cubed Yukon gold potatoes, diced carrots and baby green peas; curried oyster mushrooms (sauteed monastery-grown oyster mushrooms, ground Spanish onion, minced garlic and ginger, cubed mango, yoghurt, pureed tomato, fennel, cumin seeds, garam masala, fresh coriander); coleslaw (green cabbage, slivered carrot, slivered red onion, fresh monastery grown pea sprouts, dressed with mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard mixed with mango chutney and toasted cumin and mustard seeds, garnished with roasted pumpkin seeds.

Wednesday:
Breakfast: Fried rice (leftover basmati rice fried with chopped red onion, red bell pepper, and green peas); scrambled eggs.
Lunch: Calrose rice garnished with toasted sesame seeds; miso shiru (broth made from kombu, slivered ginger, shiro miso, shoyu, mirin, rice vinegar, Shanghai bok choy, cubed silken tofu, fresh shitake mushrooms); takuan and gari.
Supper: Farfalle pasta with a mushroom/goat cheese sauce (sliced sauteed cremini mushrooms, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, lots of black pepper, goat cheese, small amount of cream; carrot-miso soup (garlic, ginger, chopped carrots, apple, leeks, tomato, cumin, cayenne, sweet paprika, turmeric, coconut cream, shiro miso, crushed chili flakes); roasted chopped zucchini seasoned with butter, lime juice, minced garlic, black pepper. 

Thursday:
Breakfast: Fried pasta (leftover pasta fried with chopped white onion and red bell pepper); scrambled eggs.
Lunch: Mixed grain (Chinese rice mixed with leftover Calrose and Thai white and brown rice, garnished with small cubed daikon sauteed with chile sauce); spicy wakame seaweed soup (leftover strained miso shiru broth, wakame, slivered ginger, shoyu, roasted chile oil, silken tofu); kimchi.
Supper: boiled potatoes with butter, baby green peas and mint; harira (diced onion, celery, chopped carrots, ground turmeric, cumin, harissa, chopped parsley and coriander, San Marzano tomatoes, vegetable stock, chickpeas, green lentils, black pepper, unbleached flour, one large egg, lemon juice); halloumi cheese sauteed in butter with lemon juice and zest.

 

 

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 the Roshi for clarifying a form and for menu design during the O-sesshin; to Mishin godo for ensuring a supply of fresh pea sprouts for meals. 

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