Great Matter Publications



The Great Matter of Zen is the fact of being alive now. Great Matter Publications is the publisher of books, transcripts, and audio tapes that present the essential Teachings of Dogen's Lineage of Zen.

For more information, please contact greatmatter@wwzc.org


Our publications:


Bendowa

A Talk on Exerting the Way

by Eihei Dogen zenji translated by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi and
Ven. Yasuda Joshu Dainen roshi

Now available for free download, under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative Works license.

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Freedom and Tyranny

A series of Dharma Talks and Zen Mondo

presented by Ven. Shikai Zuiko osho

5.5" by 8.5", 215 pages, perfect bound with colour cover
ISBN 1-895082-24-2
e-book: PDF 1Mb


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The Buddhas and Lineage Ancestors were people, human beings just like you and me. The Teachings are what the Lineage Ancestors understood and subsequently expressed from their own experiencing as uncovered through their own practice. The Teachings are about their experiencing. The Teachings are a record of how those experiencings and understandings were transmitted to students.

The Teachings are about you in this moment. We cannot know this moment by memorizing and spouting back some little slogan about “each thing making everything else what it is” and expect to be convincing. We can see how self-image is used to being a mimic, how it tries to construct and present a self that “understands” rather than being the expression of understanding itself.

The recognition of this moment of body, breath, speech, and mind, is practicing yourself as you are. Through this continuous practice, this gyoji, you become, and recognize that you are, the Buddhas and Awakened Ancestors. When you truly are the full expression of that understanding in every moment, “You steal the nostrils of the Buddhas and Ancestors and make them breath out.”

- Ven. Shikai Zuiko osho,

from “Being Breathed”, 2000.


The Straight Path

Zen Teachings on the Foundations of Mindfulness

by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

6.5" by 9.5", 145 pages, perfect bound with colour cover
ISBN 895082-16-1
Book - CAD $18.50 + shipping:





The Straight Path is the practice of our own experiencing, the path that presents itself with every moment of our lives.

In this volume, Zen Master Anzan Hoshin plumbs the depths and distills the essence of the ocean of Dharma and presents us with a detailed map of the pathless path of Zen practice. From beginning instruction in zazen and kinhin through a detailed commentary on the Satipatthana sutta, the essential classic of Buddhist practice, given during a seven-day sesshin for monks and formal students, the relationships between concentration, mindfulness, insight, and realization are presented with rare humour, subtlety, and practicality. Following this, the Roshi unfolds yet more radical issues of the practice of realization and then finally circles back to teisho on Dogen zenji's "Fukanzazengi" or "How Everyone Can Sit". Whether a beginner, a hardcore meditator, or a scholar, a practitioner of Zen, Theravadin vipassana, or Mahamudra, the reader will find the Straight Path cuts through complexity and strategy and provides that which is needed to clarify the more often than not confused presentations that are the products of today's spiritual marketplace.


Before Thinking

Foundations of Zen Practice

by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

6.5" by 9.5", 172 pages, perfect bound with colour cover
ISBN 1-895082-20-X
e-book: PDF 687KB


Book - CAD $25.00 + shipping:




ebook (PDF) - CAD $5.00:




In the autumn of 1989 at Zazen-ji, the Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, founding Abbot of Dainen-ji and Teacher of the White Wind Zen Community, began to present a series of informal talks to the associate and general members of the Community who gathered for practice on Saturday mornings. These Teachings were concluded in the autumn of 1991 just previous to the Roshi’s formal retirement from public Teaching and the beginning of the next phase of his presentation of the Dharma through his deep work with monastics and formal students at more advanced levels of practice.

These “Saturday Morning Dharma Talks” as they were called were incisive and detailed Teachings on the process of preparing for and entering the depths of Zen practice. In contemporary language accessible to the beginner and the most mature practitioner alike, these Teachings came to form the basis of practice in the Zen Community through introducing the primacy of radical and wordless questioning as the foundation and process of the Path of Zen. While phrases from classical texts and traditional Teachings are sprinkled here and there in the talks, rather than obstruct our ability to understand the Teachings in language and terms unfamiliar to those born and raised without any preparation for Zen practice, we are led to begin to recognize the meaning and usefulness of the classical Teachings and how they might be made to live again in this new time and place. Even words and terms that form our everyday language such as "Awareness" are delved into, split open, and reformed with radical and practical meaning.

As with the Roshi's teisho and other Teachings, the "Saturday Morning Talks" were not intended to explain or to convince anyone of anything, but rather to awaken moments of direct recognition in the listener and then to instruct the listener in how to apply that recognition and deepen it.

The first thirty-seven of these Dharma Talks were published in 1992 as this book, Before Thinking, which along with the book The Straight Path and other Teachings on the development of basic mindfulness and insight form the curriculum of preparation for koan practice, shikan-taza and the other facets of the more advanced practice engaged by formal students of the Roshi and his Dharma successors. With this new edition of the book the Roshi would like to offer his deep appreciation and gassho to all those who have worked to make these Teachings available to others and especially to those students whose practice gave rise to the words that were spoken.


Chanting Breath and Sound

Hakukaze Soto Zen Sutras

5.5" by 8.5", 115 pages, Wire-O binding
ebook: PDF 338KB

ebook (PDF) - CAD $13.00:





In chanting practice you needn’t be shy, needn’t hold back and whisper. You’re not praying to gods or angels or Buddhas. You are manifesting the power and integrity of breath, sound, and posture as this sound of the moment. Allow the sound to swell from the hara in your lowest natural voice register. Abandon hesitation and self-consciousness and feel the sounds vibrating in belly, throat, and mouth. Feel air as breath being drawn in and released as sound. Penetrate the ten directions with this chanting and wake up all beings by exerting both the dignity of the words and the dignity of your expression of them.

The mind is clear and traceless, it does not ponder the meaning of the words as you chant. An alert posture, pure intention, and moment to moment awareness actualize the meaning of the words.

The words come and go and, within the words, the sounds come and go. Observe this, celebrate this, and polish the nameless and priceless jewel of your Buddha-nature. Chanting, allow this jewel to shine and, in so doing, see that the jewel has no boundaries and is never limited by any single facet or reflection of light. The Four Great Vows are the essence of the Bodhisattva’s energy, the Heart sutra the Bodhisattva’s mind and so on. Express and actualize these in each sound, each moment of chanting, sitting, walking, working, breathing. In so doing, liberate all beings, all times, all directions, all sounds, all breaths.

Open sky
rings the bell.

The bell’s tone echoes
and the sky is blue.

Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi 1986


Our draft editions

Draft editions are made available so that you can make use of them before the formal publications take place. Slight variations might occur between them and the final published editions. They are not to be reproduced in any form without prior permission


Xinxin Ming (draft edition)

Words on Trusting Awareness

by Jianzhi Sengcan, the Third Ancestor [died 606AD]
translated by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

8.5" by 11", 16 pages, saddle stitch binding with colour cover
ebook: PDF 422KB


Draft edition book - CAD $5.00 + shipping:






Draft edition ebook (PDF) - CAD $2.50:






the Way of Intimate Knowing (draft edition)

Selections from the Lankavatara sutra

translated by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi with Tory Cox

8.5" by 11", 98 pages, perfect bound with colour cover
ebook: PDF 664KB


Draft edition book - CAD $15.00 + shipping:






Draft edition ebook (PDF) - CAD $10.00:






Medicine Mountain (draft edition)

Recorded Sayings and Doings of Zen Master Yaoshan Weiyan

compiled and translated by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

8.5" by 11", 30 pages, saddle stitch binding with colour cover
ebook: PDF 547KB


Draft edition book - CAD $12.00 + shipping:






Draft edition ebook (PDF) - CAD $8.00:





The old Buddha Yaoshan Weiyan inherited the Dharma from the old Buddha Shitou Xiqian. This makes him in the ninth generation of the Transmission of the Zen Lineage in China. Yaoshan’s Dharma heir Yunyan Tansheng passed on the Transmission to Dongshan Liangjie whose Teachings were so vast and rich that he is regarded as the founder of one of the Five Chan Houses, the Caodong. Eventually this was passed from Tiantong Rujing to Eihei Dogen who established it in Japan. And eventually this was passed from Joshu Dainen roshi to myself. As I write this, there are two Dharma holders who carry the Transmission, Shikai Zuiko and Jinmyo Renge. I bow before all of these old Buddhas, these Daiosho.

In trying to speak of Yaoshan’s Teachings to monastics and lay students, I was unable to find a collection of his sayings and doings such as the Dongshan yulu, the Zhaozhou yulu, the Yunmen yulu and so on. However, throughout the ancient Transmission of the Lamp histories and in other classical sources there were many sections and passages where Yaoshan was up to tricks, doing the work of the Way. I have collected whatever I have been able to find and present them here. I hope that Yaoshan’s humour and wisdom are clear to you and that they make clearer for you who you are.

Spring rain explodes in the air.

The budded branches sway in the wind.

Standing out in the open,

How can you not get wet?


Mountains and Rivers (draft edition)

Zen Teachings on the San Sui Kyo of Dogen zenji

by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

8.5" by 11", 80 pages, perfect bound with colour cover
e-book: PDF 426KB


Draft edition book - CAD $18.00 + shipping:






Draft edition ebook (PDF) - CAD $13.00:





Mountains and Rivers is a translation of the text “San Sui Kyo” by Dogen zenji, the founding master of the Soto Zen lineage, together with commentary on the text by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, a direct descendant of Dogen’s transmission.

The “San Sui Kyo” has inspired countless Zen teachers and students since its composition in 1240 at the Kosho-horin-ji monastery in Japan. In this important essay, Dogen zenji explores the fundamental issues of Zen practice and realization. The text ranges from the practice of koan to comments on childbirth.

Anzan roshi, a Soto Zen priest and Zen master and Abbot of the Zen Centre of Ottawa, translated this important text with his own teacher, Yasuda Joshu Dainen roshi. Having studied not only the text, but also through having completed formal practice of the koan that Dogen zenji uses in the “San Sui Kyo,” Roshi brings Dogen’s words to vibrant life. In four classes with his students at the River Road Zendo in 1986, Roshi uses the text as a starting-point to consider such diverse themes as mindfulness practice, transmission, impermanance, the relativity of all viewpoints, the Bodhisattva Vow and the moment to moment practice of opening to our own realization.


The Heart of This Moment (draft edition)

Zen Teachings on the Seven Factors of Awakening

Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentary on the "Seven Factors of Awakening"

8.5" by 11", 40 pages, saddle stitch binding with colour cover
e-book: PDF 239KB


Draft edition book - CAD $10.00 + shipping:






Draft edition ebook (PDF) - CAD $5.00:





“The heart of our lives is the heart of this moment.”

This heart is the open awareness that is the essence of Buddhist Teachings, practice, and realization. The Seven Factors of Awakening (mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, calm, concentration, and equanimity) are the Buddha's description of how to practise and Wake Up to this heart.


Intimate Reality (draft edition)

Zen Teachings on the Practice of Suchness

by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

8.5" by 11", 40 pages, saddle stitch binding with colour cover
e-book: PDF 433KB


Draft edition book - CAD $15.00 + shipping:






Draft edition ebook (PDF) - CDN $10.00:





Intimate Reality is a translation of the text “Genjokoan: The Question of Our Lives” by Dogen zenji, the Founding Master of the Soto Zen Lineage, together with commentary on the text by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, a direct descendant of Dogen’s transmission.

The “Genjokoan” is one of the most important essay of Dogen’s masterwork, the “Shobogenzo, the Eye of the True Dharma”. A Teacher actually said that the ninety-five essays of the “Shobogenzo” are all offshoots of this one. In this essay, Dogen exposes some of the deepest and most radical aspects of Zen practice. By doing so, he brings us into a process of radical questioning into the very details of our moment to moment experience.

This translation arose through the interaction between Anzan roshi and his own Teacher Yasuda Joshu Dainen roshi, and is the fruition of many years of refining and polishing. In the commentary, Anzan roshi picks up each phrase and presents them to us in a way that relates the “Genjokoan” to Zen as it is practiced daily by each of us. Another very skillful, poetic and humorous Teaching is generously given for us to apply on a day to day, minute to minute, second to second, mind moment to mind moment basis.

“[…] for the teacher there is no one here or there,

there is only Awareness communicating itself to itself intimately.”


The Practice of Co-Emergent Mahamudra (draft edition)
By Padma Karpo Ngawang Norbu

translated by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

8.5" by 11", 28 pages
e-book: PDF 1Mb


Draft edition ebook (PDF) - CAD $8.00:





"The Practice of Co-Emergent Mahamudra" is a classic Tibetan Buddhist text which presents the four yogas of the path of Mahamudra in concise and clear form. This small book will be invaluable to practitioners of any spiritual path especially students of Vipassana, Zen, Mahamudra and Dzogchen.


Paramita: the Pathless Path (draft edition)

Classes and teisho on the practice of the Six Paramitas

by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, 1995

8.5" by 11", 95 pages, Cerlox binding


Draft edition book - CAD $15.00 + shipping:






Cutting the Cat into One

Zen Teachings on the Practice of the Bodhisattva Precepts

by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, 1995

8.5" by 11", 94 pages, Cerlox binding
ebook: PDF, 70 pages, 400KB


Draft edition book - CAD $15.00 + shipping:






Draft edition ebook - CAD $10.00:






One Taste

Commentaries on Dogen zenji's Kai-in Zanmai

by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, 1995

8.5" by 11", 32 pages, Cerlox binding


Draft edition book - CAD $13.00 + shipping






The Recorded Teachings of Vimalakirti

Vimalakirti Nirdesa sutra

edited and rendered by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, 1992

8.5" by 11", 121 pages, Cerlox binding


Draft edition book - CAD $16.00 + shipping:






Wild Time

Commentaries on Dogen zenji's Uji: Being Time

by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, 1995

8.5" by 11", 142 pages, Cerlox binding


Draft edition book - CAD $15.00 + shipping:






Only Knowing

The Thirty Verses of Vasubhandu

A new translation of the Trimsika Karika from the Sanskrit
by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi and Tory Cox
with commentary by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, 1990

8.5" by 11", 18 pages, Cerlox binding


Draft edition book - CAD $10.00 + shipping:






The Thread of Practice

Pali Discourses of the Buddha

translated by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi and Tory Cox, 1995

8.5" by 11", 60 pages, Cerlox binding


Draft edition book - CAD $14.00 + shipping:






The Bodymind of the Way

Zen Teachings on the Shinjin Gakudo of Dogen zenji

by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, 1992

8.5" by 11", 93 pages, Cerlox binding


Draft edition book - CAD $15.00 + shipping:






The Matrix of Suchness

The Lion's Roar Discource of Queen Srimala

translated by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

8.5" by 11", 44 pages, Cerlox binding


Draft edition book - CAD $13.00 + shipping:






Flowers and Worms

Commentaries on the Maharahulovada sutta

by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

8.5" by 11", 43 pages, Cerlox binding


Draft edition book - CAD $13.00 + shipping:






The Master List of Masters

a biographical Concordance

compiled by Ven. Jinmyo Renge, osho-ajari
from the Teachings of Zen Master Anzan Hoshin

8.5" by 11", 27 pages, Cerlox binding


Draft edition book - CAD $11.00 + shipping:






Maitri Bhavana

The Practice of Compassion

by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

8.5" by 11", 15 pages, Cerlox binding
ebook PDF


Draft edition book - CAD $10.00 + shipping:






Manjusri Nama Samgiti

Song of the Names of Manjusri

translated by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi and Tory Cox

8.5" by 11", 35 pages, Cerlox binding


Draft edition book - CAD $10.00 + shipping:






For more information, please contact greatmatter@wwzc.org


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