I encourage you
to look closely Shohaku Okumura Dōgen’s Chinese Poems (32) Two Verses on the Winter Solstice (1) 冬至二首（其之一）冬至二首 （その一） Yesterday was short; today is longer. Though without edge or corners, [the solstice] is good to examine. I encourage you to look closely. Stop asking for the sun in the sky. Dōgen Zenji encourages his monks to examine the importance of this subtle, but decisive turning point. A turning point might not only occur once a year, or once in our lifetime. We may experience the same sort of subtle transforming point every day within our not-so-exciting, rather boring day-to-day continuous practice. Arousing bodhi-mind each moment and continuing to practice steadily is precious but difficult. This verse is Dōgen’s encouragement to his monks during the long winter. It is not meaningful to search for the sun above the dark snow clouds and escape to a fantasy in which the spring sun appears, and the entire world becomes bright and warm. We need to continuously practice with lively and peaceful mind during not only the hard winter but also the joyful spring, the hot summer, and the cool autumn. This is the meaning of the magnanimous mind, as Dōgen wrote in Tenzokyokun: “Although drawn by the voices of spring, do not wander over spring meadows; viewing the fall colors, do not allow your heart to fall. The four seasons cooperate in a single scene; regard light and heavy with a single eye. READ MORE |
IN THIS ISSUE:
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OTHER NEWS
Fund appeal underway:
Our doors are closed, but the dharma lights are still on. Please help if you can.
Our doors are closed, but the dharma lights are still on. Please help if you can.
Like so many other dharma centers, Sanshin has been affected financially by the pandemic, and we’re asking for your help. Both because we can’t safely offer our usual calendar of practice events and because friends like you have your own financial challenges at the moment and aren’t able to give as freely as in the past, we’re facing revenue shortfalls and some tough decisions. Learn more and make your gift here.
New directors appointed and work priorities set at annual board retreat
Sanshin's board and staff spent three days meeting virtually to discuss everything from practice during the pandemic and the potential for a membership program to strategic planning activities and a draft ethics policy. Also on the agenda was the appointment of new directors and officers. For the next 12 months, Mark Fraley (Bloomington area) will serve as president, David Thompson (Philadelphia area) will be the vice president, Dennis McCarty (Bloomington area) will serve as secretary and Gene Elias (Bloomington area) will remain in place as treasurer. The two appointed clergy seats will continue to be occupied by Shodo Spring (Minnesota) and Zuiko Redding (Iowa) for another one-year term. Jeff Alberts (Bloomington area) joined the board as a director at large. For more information about voting and non-voting members of Sanshin's board, please see this page.
PRACTICE ROUNDUP
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Guest teachers offer Sunday talks
Sanshin Network member Shoryu Bradley of Gyobutsuji in Arkansas joined our Sunday morning practice to offer a talk that explored the roots and consequences of racial prejudice. His recorded talk is available here. On September 6 our guest will be Tonen O'Connor, a former member of Sanshin's board and the resident teacher emerita of Milwaukee Zen Center. Current board secretary Dennis McCarty will speak on October 4; in addition to being a Sanshin practitioner he is also a retired UU minister. |
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Genzo-e was in San Francisco, but Okumura Roshi was in Bloomington
Nearly 200 practitioners participated in San Francisco Zen Center's August genzo-e, but unlike previous years, Okumura Roshi was not in the Bay Area himself -- he gave his two daily talks on Mujo-seppo (Dharma-expounding of Insentient Beings) from Sanshin's zendo. Doju Layton provided tech support, traveling to and from Sanshin twice every day. 
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coming up
One-day at-home retreat
Saturday, September 12, 4 am - 9 pm EDT
The retreat we held in July was so successful that we'll be holding another on Saturday, September 12. Hoko and Hosshin will be carrying out a sesshin day in the typical Sanshin style in our physical zendo while others are free to come and go virtually as their lives permit. There's no cost to participate; donations will be gratefully accepted. Please see this page for complete information.
Saturday, September 12, 4 am - 9 pm EDT
The retreat we held in July was so successful that we'll be holding another on Saturday, September 12. Hoko and Hosshin will be carrying out a sesshin day in the typical Sanshin style in our physical zendo while others are free to come and go virtually as their lives permit. There's no cost to participate; donations will be gratefully accepted. Please see this page for complete information.
Resources from Sanshin
Virtual morning and evening practice: Sanshin offers weekday morning zazen and liturgy via Zoom. The zazen period begins at 6:10 EST and lasts 50 minutes; liturgy follows directly afterward. In the evenings, zazen begins at 6:30 and lasts 30 minutes. Please email our office if you're interested in participating.
Sanshin Solo: Recognizing that more folks than ever are now practicing in Sanshin's style by themselves, we've added a Sanshin Solo page to our website offering tips and information about practicing on your own.
Dharma study: Study materials remain available from our Dogen Institute and video recordings of dharma talks on our YouTube channel.
Virtual morning and evening practice: Sanshin offers weekday morning zazen and liturgy via Zoom. The zazen period begins at 6:10 EST and lasts 50 minutes; liturgy follows directly afterward. In the evenings, zazen begins at 6:30 and lasts 30 minutes. Please email our office if you're interested in participating.
Sanshin Solo: Recognizing that more folks than ever are now practicing in Sanshin's style by themselves, we've added a Sanshin Solo page to our website offering tips and information about practicing on your own.
Dharma study: Study materials remain available from our Dogen Institute and video recordings of dharma talks on our YouTube channel.
Resources from around the Sanshin Network
Centers and groups from around our global network are offering virtual practice in multiple languages and are willing to include practitioners from outside their immediate sanghas. Please see this page of our website for a complete listing.
Centers and groups from around our global network are offering virtual practice in multiple languages and are willing to include practitioners from outside their immediate sanghas. Please see this page of our website for a complete listing.
SANSHIN STYLE AND SPIRIT |
SANSHIN NETWORK
Land care retreat offers time outdoors
Practitioners spent solitary time in favorite natural spaces during the land care retreat offered by Shodo Spring at Mountains and Waters Alliance in southern Minnesota. Iris Cushman and Hoko were among those participating. In addition to outdoor and indoor zazen, dharma talks and discussion, the retreat included work to care for trees, insects and the creek.
Practitioners spent solitary time in favorite natural spaces during the land care retreat offered by Shodo Spring at Mountains and Waters Alliance in southern Minnesota. Iris Cushman and Hoko were among those participating. In addition to outdoor and indoor zazen, dharma talks and discussion, the retreat included work to care for trees, insects and the creek.
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A time of ceremonies Centro Zen Anshin
The calendar has been full for Gyoetsu Epifania and Doryu Capelli in Rome. An Obon ceremony connected sangha members with loved ones no longer physically present, and a rakusu sewing retreat prepared participants for the jukai ceremony happening lin September. |
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New talks for the Spanish-speaking sangha
Densho Quintero in Bogota has added several new videos to Soto Zen Colombia's YouTube channel. Most recent are talks on abandoning body and mind, Zen as a path of transformation, and the bodhisattva ideal. |
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Zendo takes shape in Austria
Shinko Hagn and the sangha at Daijihi in Vienna are at work on upgrading the zendo space. In addition to carrying out construction and cleaning, they've acquired new statues of Shakyamuni and Avalokitesvara. |
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Are we reaching you?
Do we have the best and most current contact information for you? If you've changed your e-mail address or moved to a new place of residence, or if we've never had complete information about how to reach you, it's time to update your record. Please take a moment to go here to send us the contact information you'd like us to use. We'll check it against your current record and update as needed. Don't miss any of the upcoming communications from Sanshin -- update your info today!
Do we have the best and most current contact information for you? If you've changed your e-mail address or moved to a new place of residence, or if we've never had complete information about how to reach you, it's time to update your record. Please take a moment to go here to send us the contact information you'd like us to use. We'll check it against your current record and update as needed. Don't miss any of the upcoming communications from Sanshin -- update your info today!
Gifts of financial support
Whether as a practitioner, a financial supporter, a listener/reader or simply as an interested friend, Sanshin welcomes you to our international sangha. Like all nonprofit organizations, Sanshin depends on the generous offerings of those whose lives are helped by the work it does. Visit this page to set up a monthly donation or make a one-time gift online, or download a form to use when giving by check.
Community give-back programs
Designating Sanshin Zen Community as the recipient of give-back programs is a painless way to provide funding support simply by making your usual purchases!
Amazon Smile: Instead of going to Amazon's regular homepage, go to Amazon Smile and sign into your Amazon account. Choose Sanshin Zen Community as your charity, and .05% of what you spend will come to us. Remember, only purchases at smile.amazon.com (not www.amazon.com or the mobile app) support Sanshin.
CharityCharge: If you're in the market for a new Mastercard, consider getting it here and joining the friends of Sanshin who have designated us as their nonprofit beneficiary. One percent of what you spend will come to us.
Kroger: If you shop at Kroger with a Plus card, your regular purchases of groceries and household goods can provide financial support for Sanshin. Create or sign in to your Kroger account, enroll in Kroger Community Rewards® with your card, and choose Sanshin as your organization. Every time you shop and swipe your card, a percentage of what you spend will come to us. Fifteen households are already participating on Sanshin's behalf.
Employer giving programs
Friends of Sanshin who work at companies like Google and Adobe are providing regular financial support through payroll deduction and employer gift-matching programs. Check with your employer's human resources or community relations department to see whether giving opportunities like these are available at your workplace.
Whether as a practitioner, a financial supporter, a listener/reader or simply as an interested friend, Sanshin welcomes you to our international sangha. Like all nonprofit organizations, Sanshin depends on the generous offerings of those whose lives are helped by the work it does. Visit this page to set up a monthly donation or make a one-time gift online, or download a form to use when giving by check.
Community give-back programs
Designating Sanshin Zen Community as the recipient of give-back programs is a painless way to provide funding support simply by making your usual purchases!
Amazon Smile: Instead of going to Amazon's regular homepage, go to Amazon Smile and sign into your Amazon account. Choose Sanshin Zen Community as your charity, and .05% of what you spend will come to us. Remember, only purchases at smile.amazon.com (not www.amazon.com or the mobile app) support Sanshin.
CharityCharge: If you're in the market for a new Mastercard, consider getting it here and joining the friends of Sanshin who have designated us as their nonprofit beneficiary. One percent of what you spend will come to us.
Kroger: If you shop at Kroger with a Plus card, your regular purchases of groceries and household goods can provide financial support for Sanshin. Create or sign in to your Kroger account, enroll in Kroger Community Rewards® with your card, and choose Sanshin as your organization. Every time you shop and swipe your card, a percentage of what you spend will come to us. Fifteen households are already participating on Sanshin's behalf.
Employer giving programs
Friends of Sanshin who work at companies like Google and Adobe are providing regular financial support through payroll deduction and employer gift-matching programs. Check with your employer's human resources or community relations department to see whether giving opportunities like these are available at your workplace.