Digital image by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

 

eMirror Vol. 11, No. 38

Friday, September 21st, 2007

Edited by Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho

 

 


Quotes from teisho are run sequentially in the eMirror

 

The body is not separate from the mind. The mind is an activity of the body. The world does not stand out there at a distance from your mind. Your mind arises within the world, within physical space. And the experience of what we call the world and physical space arises within your mind. The colours and forms of trees and buildings and faces are as intimate with who you are as is your most private thought. They are more authentically and completely aspects of who you are than your flickering thoughts or even your deepest longing or most looming fear.

  Who you are presences as everything and everyone and every thing and every one has the shape of space and is sunya, space-like, in its ungraspability as a thing or object. When we say "I" or "you" or "fist" or "tree" it can seem as if we are referring to something. But there is nothing there. Although there is nothing there, this " nothing" or " sunya" is not the blank and dead space we might think of when we hear the word " nothing”. What is spoken of is the intimacy of hearing, the presencing of sounds, of colours, of the ten directions. It is a space rich with stars and trees and rice grains and warmth and cold. When we meet ourselves as we truly are and meet the world as it actually is then the absence of our projections and assumptions and frameworks stands forth in the standing forth of a cup. The nothing of sunya is the absence of dualism between knower and known, self and other, this and that. We don't arrive at sunya by taking away colours, forms, sounds, stones, cloth, grass, and flowers. We arrive at sunya by exposing ourselves to reality by attending openly with the whole bodymind and by releasing any structure of attention that is revealed into the expanse of knowing that it arises within.

 

-Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi, continuing teiso 2: "Naked Awareness" in the the teisho series " Five Fingers, Ten Directions: Commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji's text 'Jippo'", presented Saturday, April 14, 2001.

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

Fusatsu and the Vow of Samantabhadra

Chanting of the Precepts will take place on September 26th , October 10th and October 24th. The Vow of Samantabhadra will be chanted on October 3rd , 17th , and 31st .

 

Senior's Dharma Talk

Ven. Chunen Rampal ino will present his first Senior's Dharma Talk, on the subject of the Four Noble Truths, entitled "It's Worse Than You Realize But Better Than You Think" at the Thursday evening associate sitting on September 27th .

 

Hermitage

The Roshi will begin a period of hermitage on Wednesday, September 26th , which will end on Sunday the 30th , at 10:00 a.m., when he leads monastics in Acalanatha Sadhana. (Please note that these dates were not included in the Practice Calendar).

 

Daruma-ki O-sesshin

The 7-day Daruma-ki O-sesshin will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 5th and will end at noon on Friday, the 12th of October. Deshi and monastics are reminded to send in their schedules as soon as is possible.

  During the week of the O-sesshin there will be two sittings that associate and general students may attend: Saturday, October 6th , beginning at 9:30 a.m. (please arrive by 9:15 for first bell), ending at 11:30. Saturday, October 6th , beginning at 3:00 p.m. (please arrive by 2:45 for first bell), ending at 5:30. Students attending either of these sittings are reminded to remain on the first floor.

 

A Note to Preliminary and Public Students Concerning O-sesshin

During a 7-day 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 these 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.

 

Oryoki for General Students

On Saturday, October 20th , 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 at wwzc dot org.

 

Dharma Assembly

The next Dharma Assembly will be led by Ven. Jinmyo Renge osho and will take place on October 27th. The Dharma Assembly 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 at wwzc dot org or leave a message on the office answering machine at 613-562-1568. 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.

 

Hermitage

The Roshi will begin a period of hermitage on Wednesday, October 31st , which will end on Sunday, November 4th at 10:00 a.m. 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, November 3rd. 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 .

 

Recorded Teisho Schedule

Saturday, September 22nd general sitting – Turning the Wheel of the Way: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji's "Gyoji: Continuous Practice": "Shakyamuni Buddhas" (teisho 4 of 44).

Sunday, September 23rd formal sitting - SAkN: The Anatomy of Awakening: "Tasteing, Smelling and Seeing Light" (teisho 5 of 7).

Monday, September 24th general sitting – Wild Time: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji's Uji: Being Time: "Shining Forth" (teisho 6 of 10).

Tuesday, September 25th formal sitting – Mikkyo-zo: Monastic Jishu: "Komyo Shingon" (class 9 of 15).

Thursday, September 27th associate sitting – Immo: Suchness: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji's Immo: "People of Suchness" (teisho 2 of 18).

Saturday, September 29th general sitting – Turning the Wheel of the Way: Zen Master Anzan Hoshin's commentaries on Eihei Dogen zenji's "Gyoji: Continuous Practice": "Big Kasyapa" (teisho 5 of 44).

 


Roshi's mudra, photograph by Ven. Shikai Zuiko osho, digital image by Roshi

 

Retreats

Jido anagarika sat a one-day retreat on Saturday and a partial retreat on Sunday. Nathan Comeau sat a two-day retreat on Saturday and Sunday. Alex Tzelnic began a retreat on Monday evening which ended on Thursday morning following the formal sitting. Henry Dawe sat a half-day retreat on Tuesday. Deshi Vicki Robichaud sat a one-day retreat on Thursday in her home on Gabriola Island. Gillian Higenbottam began a retreat on Thursday which will end at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.

 

 

To Schedule a Retreat

Please email schedule at wwzc dot 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 rengezo at vianet dot ca, 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 at wwzc dot org after they sit a retreat mentioning the date of their retreat and whether it is a partial, half-day or full retreat. Please also include the name of the city in which you live.

 

Autumn Garden Work

As the summer turns to Autumn, help will be appreciated to keep the grounds of the monastery tidy. If you can offer some time for this please contact Saigyo chiden at saigyo at telecomottawa dot net or by leaving a message on the office answering machine at 613 562 1568

 

 


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. Meals served on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, prior to the sitting:

 

Monday Yakuseki

Small flat Korean cabbages cut into wedges and braised with oyster mushrooms in mirin, Xiaoxing wine, and stock; squares of pillow tofu topped with chile miso paste and roasted with sesame oil; noodle fritata with a panko crust; long slivers of Sheperd bell peppers, cubanelle peppers and chopped yellow bell peppers, jalapeno, cherry pepper, and green chile; Lebanese cucumbers sliced thickly on the bias and tossed with oi and oi sabagi kimchi.

 

Tuesday Yakuseki

Slow roasted kalbi (beef ribs) pulled from the bone and mixed with ten grains (gohan, Lundberg Farm organic short grain brown rice, Korean white and brown sticky rice, untoasted kasha, red and white quinoa, wild rice, Indian barley, millet); eryingi and shitake mushroom soup with beef broth, kimchi juices, shoyu, and sesame oil; asparagus with slivered ginger and lime; atsuage tofu rectangles and Shepherd's red bell pepper roasted with bang bang sauce, shoyu, and sesame oil; slaw of fennel and white onion with cardamom, chaat masala, celery seeds, lime juice, and mayonnaise.

 

Thursday Yakuseki

Black bean "butter" with chipotle and adobo, oregano, garlic, paprika, cumin, coriander, extra virgin olive oil, red wine, lime juice, garnished with coriander leaves; white kidney bean "butter" with white wine and sage, dried chiles, parsley, rosemary, zataar, Dijon mustard, sesame oil and extra virgin olive oil garnished with slivered almonds; warm naan bread and mache, raddichio, and frisee to go with the "butters"; dai gai choy (mustard greens), celery, and oyster mushrooms in a curry soup with toasted white and brown mustard seeds; roasted sliced field tomatoes with red hot chiles; roasted white and red onions; field Kirby cucumbers, halved, scooped and filled with labneh (yogurt cheese).

 

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 at wwzc dot 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 rengezo at vianet dot ca. (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 Saigyo chiden for putting together a small sewing table for my use; to Paulette Theriault for a gift of cucumbers for the monastery kitchen."

From Chunen ino, "Thank you to the Roshi for the series of classes 'The Lion's Roar Discourse of Queen Srimala'; to Shikai osho for loan of the DVD 'Bodyworlds'; to Mishin tando for preparing retreatants breakfasts; to Saigyo chiden for planning construction of a guardrail for a section of the building on the 3rd Floor; to Senbo shuso for several hours of archiving samu; to Jido anagarika for cleaning and preparing candles for the Hatto for the past few years; to Carl Anderson for creating MP3 files for the media site."

From Mishin tando , "Thank you to the Roshi and Jinmyo osho for the meals prepared for residents and retreatants before evening sittings, including a fantastic baby Korean cabbage soup on Monday evening; to Saigyo chiden for preparing the recorded teisho playback schedule each week; to Senbo shuso for looking after getting new dana envelopes printed; to Nathan Comeau for archiving samu; to Jane Brown for assisting with dana processing."

From Saigyo chiden , "Thank you to the Roshi for two beautiful sho for the administration office and for the workshop. Thank you to Neil Porter for purchasing materials to make repairs on the front porch pillars and for his work on this project. To Michael Landay for work in the grounds each week."

 


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 at trytel dot 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 at wwzc dot 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.

 

 

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