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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Within one year, two springs
Shohaku Okumura
Dōgen’s Chinese Poems (34)
On a year with two beginnings of spring
The severe winter has not yet ended, but early spring arrives.
What’s the use of stretching out my legs?
Leaping from their own natures, [winter and spring] merge together;
Within one year, two springs.
The point of this poem is the difference between months based on moon phase, and seasons based on the movement of the sun. In the lunar calendar, from New Year’s Day to the end of the third month is the spring; the fourth to sixth month is summer, seventh to ninth month is autumn, and tenth to the end of the twelfth month is winter. But in this year, the beginning of spring comes again within the twelfth month in the lunar calendar, yet it is still winter according to the solar calendar. Dōgen uses this confusion of the luni-solar calendar as a metaphor of the interpenetration of two opposite things, in this case the cold, snowy, and dark winter and the sunny, warm, bright spring. He further uses this analogy to imply interpenetration of samsara-nirvana, delusion-realization, practice-verification, and deluded living beings-enlightened buddhas. These are neither one nor two. This is what Dōgen said in the beginning of Shobogenzo Genjokoan. READ MORE
Shohaku Okumura
Dōgen’s Chinese Poems (34)
On a year with two beginnings of spring
The severe winter has not yet ended, but early spring arrives.
What’s the use of stretching out my legs?
Leaping from their own natures, [winter and spring] merge together;
Within one year, two springs.
The point of this poem is the difference between months based on moon phase, and seasons based on the movement of the sun. In the lunar calendar, from New Year’s Day to the end of the third month is the spring; the fourth to sixth month is summer, seventh to ninth month is autumn, and tenth to the end of the twelfth month is winter. But in this year, the beginning of spring comes again within the twelfth month in the lunar calendar, yet it is still winter according to the solar calendar. Dōgen uses this confusion of the luni-solar calendar as a metaphor of the interpenetration of two opposite things, in this case the cold, snowy, and dark winter and the sunny, warm, bright spring. He further uses this analogy to imply interpenetration of samsara-nirvana, delusion-realization, practice-verification, and deluded living beings-enlightened buddhas. These are neither one nor two. This is what Dōgen said in the beginning of Shobogenzo Genjokoan. READ MORE
PRACTICE ROUNDUP
Workshop opened discussion on practice and politics
by Mark Fraley, board president, and Rev. Dennis McCarty, board secretary
by Mark Fraley, board president, and Rev. Dennis McCarty, board secretary
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Our current political environment poses profound challenges for those committed to the alleviation of suffering. The nation is confronting a dangerous pandemic, menacing forest fires, and intensifying street protests. All of this takes place amidst a contentious presidential election that further reveals that deep divisions that exist within our families and communities. Yet, our present situation also provides important opportunities to skillfully engage our Dharma practice and take beneficial action. Earlier this month, Sanshin organized an online conversation about current challenges in politics and how they intersect with dharma practice. What, we asked ourselves: what does it mean to live bodhisattva lives in such trying times? The two of us facilitated under guidance from Vice Abbott Hoko Karnegis.
Local sangha members as well as Zen practitioners and clergy from around the country participated in a two-hour-long deliberation on their own perceptions of today’s political climate. Participants spoke openly about their concerns about the future of democracy, the intensity of political polarization and the enduring wounds of racial injustice. Between the discussion sections, Hoko spoke on the complex nature of trauma and the objectives of skillful action. Based on her remarks, practitioners used the second breakout session to ask themselves two questions: “How can we help ourselves and others see and acknowledge interconnection?” and “How can we help ourselves and others to see and acknowledge cause and effect?” |
Sharing was deep and thoughtful. Participants examined various approaches as to how the dharma can enable us to take skillful action in this autumn of anxiety. Principally, we looked at how the three poisonous minds (greed, anger, and ignorance) help fuel the social maladies around us and how we can recognize them arising in our own minds as we address deep-seeded social problems. We also had the opportunity to recognize the faces and voices who were not present in the room and challenge ourselves to think inclusively as we take beneficial action in a multi-racial democracy.
Next steps will be announced in November and all practitioners in the Sanshin community are invited to join. The only prerequisite is an interest (or concern) with the challenges of our times.
The ultimate goal of these conversations is to work toward greater insight into what beneficial action, as prescribed in the Sanshin Zen Community's mission statement, really asks of us in the context of current, real world events.
Next steps will be announced in November and all practitioners in the Sanshin community are invited to join. The only prerequisite is an interest (or concern) with the challenges of our times.
The ultimate goal of these conversations is to work toward greater insight into what beneficial action, as prescribed in the Sanshin Zen Community's mission statement, really asks of us in the context of current, real world events.
Getting Started goes virtual
Sanshin's free introductory session has been suspended since the facilities closed in March, but it's now available once again as an online offering. Once of the challenges that practice leaders needed to overcome was the need to teach zazen without being physically in the room with participants, demonstrating the form and looking out for potential issues in participants' posture. The new Getting Started in Home Zen Practice includes a video produced by Sotoshu that gives participants a complete view of the forms and postures; following the video there's discussion and experimentation as participants find the way of sitting that works best for them. "There's no question that it's not optimal," Hoko said, "but it's what we have now. We were getting enough inquiries from people who wanted to begin sitting and practicing that we needed to make that possible. As Hojo-san says, this is a crisis and we need to be creative and flexible." The session also introduces the Sanshin style of practice and explains underlying themes. Complete information about Getting Started is here.
Experiencing Zen resumes at Ivy Tech
Eight women are participating in the fall session of Hoko's 6-week Experiencing Zen course, offered through Ivy Tech Community College's Center for Lifelong Learning. Until this term Hoko had taught the class in person on campus, but like so many activities it's now being done online. Participants have learned to sit zazen and now spend some time sitting as part of each weekly class before engaging in discussion of basic Buddhist and Zen teachings. According to CLL staff, it's one of the better-attended courses being offered online this term. Previous participants enjoyed practice so much that they asked to form an ongoing zazen and discussion group at Sanshin; several years later, that group still meets on Wednesday evenings and is open to all.
OTHER NEWS
Ethics policy adopted and available
Sanshin's board has recently finalized and approved the organization's ethics policy. It includes information about restorative justice and conflict resolution, ethical behavior, nondiscrimination and avoiding conflicts of interest, and establishment of an ethics and resolution committee and grievance procedure. The complete policy is available here.
There's still time to have your gift matched
As part of our current fundraising campaign a generous funder has pledged up to $3,000 in matching funds to encourage you to become a Sanshin Sustainer. This donor will contribute $100 to Sanshin for each of the first 30 people who becomes a new Sanshin Sustainer in any amount or increases his or her current monthly donation by any amount. This opportunity is available until October 31, 2020. Click here to become a Sanshin Sustainer and to explore other ways to make gifts of financial support.
Purdue class encounters Zen
Hoko joined Purdue's class on Japanese culture to explain some Zen basics and take student questions. The invitation came in before the pandemic shutdown, so what was to have been an on-site visit became a virtual conversation. Instructor Izumi Harris noted, " Students including me learned a lot and we are encouraged to contribute to our society. This is exactly I want my students to learn."
coming up
Work Day
Sunday, October 18, beginning 9 am
Following social distancing guidelines and making masks available as needed, we'll be holding a fall work day at Sanshin itself. There are myriad outdoor tasks to be attended to related to groundskeeping and cleanup; an outdoor lunch will be provided. There will be an outdoor zazen period beginning at 9:10 am but there will be no dharma talk that day. If you're in Bloomington, we'd be happy to see you in person.
Sunday, October 18, beginning 9 am
Following social distancing guidelines and making masks available as needed, we'll be holding a fall work day at Sanshin itself. There are myriad outdoor tasks to be attended to related to groundskeeping and cleanup; an outdoor lunch will be provided. There will be an outdoor zazen period beginning at 9:10 am but there will be no dharma talk that day. If you're in Bloomington, we'd be happy to see you in person.
One-Day At-Home Retreat
Sunday, October 31, 4 am - 9 pm EDT
Hosshin and Hoko 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.
Sunday, October 31, 4 am - 9 pm EDT
Hosshin and Hoko 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.
Virtual Genzo-e:
Shobogenzo Bukkyo (Buddha Sutras)
November 18 - 23, 2020
As we cannot hold genzo-e in the usual way at this time, we're offering a slightly modified online version. Participants will do most of their shikantaza on their own following a suggested schedule and will join the online session twice daily for a communal sitting period and Okumura Roshi's lecture. Deep study of Dogen Zenji’s teachings as a means of truly understanding the practice of regular intensive shikantaza is one of the three elements of Sanshin's mission. Complete information and registration is here.
Shobogenzo Bukkyo (Buddha Sutras)
November 18 - 23, 2020
As we cannot hold genzo-e in the usual way at this time, we're offering a slightly modified online version. Participants will do most of their shikantaza on their own following a suggested schedule and will join the online session twice daily for a communal sitting period and Okumura Roshi's lecture. Deep study of Dogen Zenji’s teachings as a means of truly understanding the practice of regular intensive shikantaza is one of the three elements of Sanshin's mission. Complete information and registration is here.
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. The complete schedule is here; 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. The complete schedule is here; 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
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US members attend Sotoshu conference
The annual three-day conference of the Association of Soto Zen Buddhists (Sotoshu in North America) is usually held at Zenshuji in Los Angeles, but was shortened and virtual this year. The Sanshini Network was represented by Shoryu Bradley, Hoko Karnegis and Eido Reinhart with her student Onryu Kennedy. Participants received updates on organization development, temple building activities in California, and efforts to finalize guidelines in areas like vestments and clergy ranks. |
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Activities in Austria
by Shinko Hagn with Susanne Halbeisen The opening of our new zendo The inauguration of our zendo was a fulfilling event. Not only sangha members but also neighbors came to our opening event, which included sitting, ceremony and dharma talk. Jukai for Susanne in Rome We are very grateful for the support of our dharma sister and brother Gyoetsu and Doryu and their whole sangha in Rome for making it possible for Susanne Halbeisen from our sangha to complete jukai. We spent a whole week together and their hospitality was a wonderful experience. We got so excited about how their practice is integrated into their entire life, with this special Italian flair for being in the world We also enjoyed talking about the situation of Zen in Europe. 1000 Hands Beneficial action has many faces - or, in the case of our sangha in Vienna, many hands. Earlier this year, Shinko and Susanne, who both work as volunteer Buddhist prison chaplains, started their project "1000 Hände" - "1000 hands". The idea is to create jobs for people who would otherwise have a hard time getting employment, such as ex-inmates or homeless people. They plan to produce high quality organic pastries in a catering kitchen and sell them to cafés, retail, and online. The project is rooted in the concept of "contemplative care" - taking care of oneself and others as a form of practice, of carrying our zazen experience from the cushion into the world. Apart from baking, the project also includes public discussions. The launch event will take place at the end of October, starting with a lecture on "Interconnectedness and the Microbiome" by Prof. Gabriele Berg. We warmly invites you to take a look at the project and, if you are able, to support it, be it through donations, advice, opinions, telling friends and family about it. Visit our English-language website here. Rakusu for Mokusho The last months we sewed in our sangha, together with the rakusu for Susanne, the new Rakusu for Mokushu Depray from Belgium. It was a pleasure to support Mokusho for his transmission. |
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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.