eMirror Vol. 11, No. 11

Friday, March 16th, 2007

Edited by Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho

 


Quotes from teisho are run sequentially in the eMirror

 

Dogen zenji speaks of the samadhi of dharmata. In the various Indian yogic traditions and in some Buddhist traditions “samadhi” or in Japanese “zanmai” means a state of concentration in which there is an almost complete suppression of all sensory and mental activity. These states of concentration can be of different extremity but in general the goal is to create a state in which there is no consciousness of anything except for the sensation of the suppression, of the narrowing and constriction, which is usually mistaken to be the nature or essence of consciousness. Before he woke up Sakyamuni Buddha had learned several methods of internalizing and abstracting attention like this and had mastered them fully. He found that while they were pleasant, they meant nothing. In the Cula Sunnata sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya, it says, “Concentrating the mind in signlessness is still something which is fabricated and a strategy. Whatever is fabricated and strategic is impermanent and will fall.” And so instead the Buddha practised and taught a balance of samatha or steadying and vipashyana or insight. Nonetheless, these kinds of narrowed states can be deeply attractive to people. Sometimes this is because they interpret the concentration states as having cosmological importance such as transcendence from the messy and flawed world into perfection, much like Western philosophers preferred to live in their ideas. Basically, self-image finds concentration states appealing because they are the perfection of its strategies of recoil from experiences through congealing and fixation of attention. Abiding in such a state, one cannot be bothered, cannot be contradicted, cannot be aware of aging or loss or illness. It is like deep sleep or even death. Which, at its most naked extreme, is what self-image most desires: for the death of everything that is not it and for there to be only it forever and ever without having to be aware of anything whatsoever including itself. And so various techniques involving extremes of concentration have always tainted Buddhism.

           In the Mahayana sutras however samadhi often began to mean something else. Many different samadhis were described, which represented aspects of vaster and deeper realizations. In the various sutras the Buddhas sometimes present Teachings from within a particular samadhi. For example the Avatamsaka sutra is taught as the Buddha is within Ocean Seal samadhi and he reveals the Dharmadhatu or Total Field of All Possible Experiences as a constellation of spaces and worlds and beings and times which all interpenetrate each other. And so samadhi became a term that could imply an engagement with and opening to experiencing and experiences instead of a withdrawal.

 

-Zen Master Anzan Hoshin, continuing teisho two “What is the Samadhi of Dharmata?” presented Saturday, December 4, 2004, in the series “Essentially Real, commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji’s Hossho: Dharmata”

 

Upcoming Events

 

Fusatsu and the Vow of Samantabhadra

Chanting of the Precepts will take place on March 21st, April 4th and April 18th. The Vow of Samantabhadra will be chanted on March 28th, April 11th and April 25th.

 

March Two-day Sesshin

The March two-day sesshin will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 16th and will end at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 18th.

On Saturday, March 17th, associate and general students may attend a sitting held in the Zendo, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. (please arrive by 9:15 in time for first Bell) and will end at 11:30 a.m.

 

Hermitage

The Roshi will begin a period of hermitage on Wednesday, April 4th, which will end at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 8th, when he leads monastics in Acalanatha Sadhana.

 

Introduction to Zen Workshop

Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho will present the next Introduction to Zen Workshop at Dainen-ji on Saturday, April 7th. For more information please see:

http://www.wwzc.org/programs/Introduction_To_Zen_Workshop_Ottawa.htm.

            For information concerning our Long-distance Training Program, please visit this Web Page:

http://www.wwzc.org/programs/longDistance.htm.

 

Hanamatsuri Two-day Sesshin

The Hanamatsuri two-day sesshin will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 13th, and will end on Sunday, April 15th, at 6:00 p.m.

On Saturday, April 14th, associate and general students may attend a sitting held in the Zendo, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. (please arrive by 9:15 in time for first Bell) and will end at 11:30 a.m.


Oryoki for General Students

On Saturday, April 21st, general students who attend the 6:00 a.m. formal sitting may participate in oryoki practice led by Jinmyo osho. Associate or visiting public students who are in retreat at the monastery on that day may also participate in oryoki. Dana is $10.00. You do not need previous experience of oryoki to attend. For more information or to register please send an email to schedule@wwzc.org.

 

Dharma Assembly

On Saturday, April 28th, Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho will lead a Dharma Assembly which will begin at 9:30 a.m. (please arrive by 9:15, in time for first Bell) and will end at 9:10 p.m. Dana is $40.00, which includes two meals: lunch and supper. Participants are asked to bring clothing and shoes appropriate for samu practice. To register, please send an email to schedule@wwzc.org or leave a message on the office answering machine at 562-1568. Dharma Assemblies are open to all students.

          The general sitting that would ordinarily take place from 9:30 to 11:40 on Saturday morning will be cancelled due to the Dharma Assembly.

 

Recorded Teisho Schedule

Saturday, March 17th associate sitting – Eight Awarenesses: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin’s Commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji’s “Hachi Dainin-gaku”: “Knowing How to be Satisfied” (teisho 2 of 8).

Monday, March 19th general sitting – Without Difficulty: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin’s commentaries on “Xinxin Ming: Words on Trusting Awareness” by Jianzhi Sengcan: “Not Holding the Mind” (teisho 12 of 25).

Tuesday, March 20th formal sitting – Mikkyo-zo: Monastic Jishu: “Maras and Obstructions” (Class 6 of 15).

Thursday, March 22nd associate sitting – Eight Awarenesses: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin’s Commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji’s “Hachi Dainin-gaku”: “Serenity and Tranquility” (teisho 3 of 8).

Saturday, March 24th general sitting – Sitting Up Straight: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin’s commentaries on Keizan Jokin zenji’s “Zazen Yojinki”: “Straighter!” (teisho 16 of 17).

 

Retreats

Francoise Fournier sat a two-day retreat on Saturday and Sunday. Samantha Drouin sat a one-day retreat on Saturday. Ian Hepburn sat a half-day retreat on Saturday. John McCaffrey sat a two-day retreat on Tuesday and Wednesday. Andrew Campbell began a retreat on Wednesday evening which will end at 6:00 p.m. this evening. Jane Brown sat a one-day retreat on Thursday.

 

To Schedule a Retreat

Please email schedules@wwzc.org to schedule a retreat, even if you have made verbal arrangements with a practice advisor or a Dharma Teacher. Emails sent to that address are routed to all members of the Practice Council who will need this information for the purposes of meal planning, preparing tapes for your retreat and planning samu assignments. Retreats are defined in the following way:

 

Half-day Retreat (you would need to arrive 15 minutes before the actual starting time) Begin at 6:00 a.m., end at noon. Or begin at 9:30 a.m., end at 6:00. Or begin at 3:00 p.m., end at 9:10.

Partial Retreat (You would need to arrive 15 minutes before the actual starting time) Begin at 6:00 a.m., end at 6:00 p.m. Or begin at 9:30 a.m., end at 9:10 p.m.

Full retreat (you would need to arrive by 5:45) Begin at 6:00 a.m., end at 9:10 p.m. Please remember to bring a change of clothes suitable for samu (caretaking practice). If staying overnight, please remember to bring a sleeping bag, a towel and other such necessities. If you have been diagnosed by a medical doctor as having allergies to specific foods, please contact the tenzo, Jinmyo osho at Jinmyo@trytel.com a week in advance of your retreat to inform her of dietary restrictions as this affects food purchases and meal planning. The suggested dana for retreats is $40 a day, which covers the basic cost of food and other materials. Donations above this figure are very welcome and all donations are tax deductible. There is also a retreat schedule for public students posted on our Website at:

http://www.wwzc.org/Resources/Public.student.retreat.schedule.htm

Public Students’ Retreats

For retreats to be mentioned in the eMirror, public students are asked to send an email to schedule@wwzc.org mentioning the date of their retreat and whether it is a partial, half-day or full retreat.  

 


Office of the Tenzo

Dogen zenji taught that the work of preparing and serving meals was "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. Jinmyo Renge osho serves as tenzo and Mishin tando and Saigyo chiden offer assistance as tenzo-anja. The following is a list of meals served prior to the evening sittings on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday:

 

Monday yakuseki

Mixed grain (Korean black rice, toasted farro, gohan) with peas, tofu, ngoc mam and seasonings; roasted eryingi mushrooms biased sliced and chopped onions with shoyu, sesame oil, and dried chiles; seared baby zucchini with bulgogi sauce; salad of blanched Chinese long beans with kkuduji kimchi.

 

Tuesday Yakuseki

Udon noodles dressed with tiny cremini mushrooms in a chile miso sauce with mirin and Xioaoxing, garnished with parsley; sauteed colossal  shrimp marinated in shoyu and roasted chile oil; salad of blanched sugar snap peas, slices of dai gai choy stems, and raw pea greens dressed with mirin and lime with shredded ginger; baechu kimchi.

 

Thursday Yakuseki

"Samosas" (twice-baked potatoes, scooped and seasoned with toasted black mustard seeds, cumin and coriander seeds, tumeric, and garam masala, mixed with buttermilk and Mediterranean yogurt and peas, refilled and topped with panko breadcrumbs); Chinese red leeks, fennel, cremini mushrooms, and red bell peppers in a coconut milk broth with Thai yellow curry, lime leaves, lemongrass, toasted fennel seeds, ngoc mam, lime juice, and mirin; sliced plum tomatoes and banana chiles roasted with Sichuan pepper corns and dried basil in extra virgin olive oil; squares of aburage tofu topped with almond paste, garlic, and smoked paprika.

 

Monastery Breadbasket

2 dozen mini roasted flour “black” buns; 2 loaves whole wheat batter bread; 5 dozen oatmeal raisin walnut muffins; 2 loaves “24 hour” white bread.

 

Students attending sittings on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings may make arrangements to join residents for meals prepared by the Office of the Tenzo. Please email schedule@wwzc.org at least one day in advance; Contribution is $10.

 


Thank You

If you would like to thank someone for a contribution they have made, please feel free to send an email to Jinmyo osho at jinmyo@trytel.com. (Owing to the volume of mail I receive, please note that an email sent to me containing a thank you intended for the eMirror should specify that it is to be included. Otherwise I will likely assume that you are just sending me an email, will think, "Thank you very much," and that will be the end of it).

 

From Jinmyo osho, “Thank you to Chunen ino for the many hours he spent this week upgrading monastery computers; to Marrie Schryer for scouring fabric stores in Toronto and finding a fabric used for monastic robes.”

From Chunen ino, “Thank you to the Roshi for leading Shinrei (morning bells) at Dainen-ji, to Shikai osho for directly pointing out how to stop interpretations and discursiveness, to Jinmyo osho for many corrections regarding students' correspondence, to Mishin tando for administrative work, to James MacAulay for work on the media site, to Nathan Comeau for clock repairs, to Carl Anderson for weekly samu.”

From Mishin tando, “Thank you to the Roshi and Jinmyo osho for designing and preparing evening meals on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays and Sunday brunch for residents with sufficient leftovers for residents to pack excellent lunches for work; to Jane Brown, Ian Hepburn, and Francois Fournier for dana processing; to Gillian Higenbottam helping produce laminated name labels to be used on retreatants’ trays; to Charles Enman for assisting with evening soji (preparation of the practice halls).”

From Tettsu: “Thank you to Saigyo chiden for taking such great care of the forms - of the clarifying of spaces here and this grizzly old buddha while with us at Harrow Zazenkai. Thank you for your practise. And thank you to Kumyo for picking up Saigyo chiden from the airport and for being here for the Introduction to Zen Workshop. And for all your continuing Treasury work.”

 

 


 

Ongoing

 

Samu

Request for Assistance, Office of the Treasurer

As part of clarifying and streamlining the financial processes of White Wind Zen Community, we would like to have pairs of students rotate to help process dana contributions on a weekly basis. To date, most of this work has been done by Mishin tando with the assistance of one or two other students, but it is time to restructure the system so that the work of the Office of the Treasurer becomes more manageable and more students are helping with this responsibility. If you would be available on Saturdays prior to the General Sitting for about a hour (from 8:15-9:15 a.m.), your help will be appreciated. Please email mishin@trytel.com. Training will be provided. No special financial skills are needed other than an eye for detail and accuracy.

 

Archiving Samu

Since 2002 the teisho presented by the Roshi and the Dharma Talks given by the Dharma Teachers have been recorded directly onto CD and copies made available to students. Prior to this time all of the recordings were made on cassette tape. Over the last years the monastics, with the help of several students, have worked to transfer the taped material onto CD, not only because cassette tape technology is fast becoming outdated but because the early tape recordings are deteriorating quickly and may soon become unplayable. To lose these teaching would be disastrous. We are presently making direct CD copies of all of the early tapes so that there is a back-up copy available should anything happen to the master tape which makes it unplayable but there is much work to be done. There are still over 100 tapes from the 1980’s and 1990’s that need to be re-mastered, relabeled and copied and this constitutes many hundreds of hours of work. If you are able to commit to a regular weekly schedule of two or three hours samu to continue this vital work, please let us know by writing to tapes@wwzc.org. Full training will be given.

 

Daily Samu

Samu each day to prepare the monastery for the arrival of the students is a very important practice for the monastics. Any help to assist the monks with brightening and clarifying the practice environment is very much appreciated. If you are able to come early before a sitting to do samu, please consult the samu notice board situated between the side entrance doors to find a task which has not been done recently. If you have any questions about the task please ask any monastic.

 

Improvements to the Second Floor Washroom

A project that has been on the high priory list for a number of years is the renovation of the second floor washroom. Even though this is the most frequently used washroom in the building it has never had any substantial improvements apart from being painted last year. Work on this washroom, which was scheduled to be taking place late this year or early next year, will again need to be delayed due to the necessity of a urgent roof repair to the west side of the roof. This repair will cost in the region of $13,000 and as this is considerably higher than our available budget we have had to cut back on other important work. Because of this, we have decided to fundraise in order to gather sufficient money to make the improvements to the washroom. The work to be done will include a new sink and cabinet and a new ceiling light, fan and exhaust. This will cost in the region of $1000 to complete. Students are encouraged to donate towards this project so that it can be scheduled some time in the winter and the improved facilities will be available by 2007. Improvements to this room will benefit every student that comes to the monastery for sittings.

Thank you for your generosity to help with this project.

Gassho,

Saigyo chiden, shissui.

 

CDs Available to the Public

A selection of CDs of teisho and Dharma Talks is available on our web-site. The page is found at http://wwzc.org/CDWebSales/CDWebSales.htm or follow the link for Dharma Texts and CDs on the home page. Over time more teisho and Dharma Talks from the over 2500 presentations made by the Roshi, Shikai osho and Jinmyo osho will be made available for purchase.

 

Ongoing Project: “All is Change”

Dainen-ji, being a 135-year-old building, is continuously in need of maintenance and the costs associated with this can be astronomical when such things as roof repairs or painting are needed. This is something that we cannot afford to do, yet must do and so the “All is Change” project has been created. The “All is Change” project is very simple. Most of us have a bowl or a jar or some other kind of container that we keep somewhere at home and fill up with loose change because it's too heavy to carry around. Several hundred dollars has been collected so far both in loose change and Canadian tire money which has been put towards the building maintenance fund. Most of the collected money was spent on materials for the new front path and we have also been able to purchase several new tools which will help greatly with ongoing renovations. If anyone would like to contribute to this fund, each penny will be appreciated.

 

 

 

WWZC home

© 1999-2007 White Wind Zen Community. All rights reserved.