Practitioners in Gassho

In the ancient tradition of Japanese Zen training temples, Sanshin Zen Community values three central practices: zazen, dharma study, and community work. Soto Zen teaches devotion to the daily practice of Buddhadharma through zazen. Dogen Zenji (1200-1253) held that the essential art of zazen was to "think of not thinking" or "beyond thinking". Uchiyama Roshi called this "opening the hand of thought". Opening the hand of thought is shikantaza, or "just sitting." A unique meditation tradition in Buddhism, shikantaza avoids techniques such as counting breaths or meditating on koans, and emphasizes sitting in the upright posture, breathing deeply, and letting go of thoughts. This is, in itself, the realization of the Buddhadharma.

As a Guide to our practice here, you can read - -

Sanshin Zen Community's program offerings include five-day sesshins and community retreats, practice periods focusing on the study of one of Dogen Zenji's writings, Sunday zazen and dharma talks, and events marking important days of the Buddhist calendar, such as the New Year, Buddha's birthday and enlightenment days, and ryaku fusatsu (repentence) ceremonies. Every summer, practitioners who wish to make a committment to Buddha's Way by sewing a rakusu and receiving the precepts are invited to participate in a retreat and zaike tokudo ceremony. For complete information about upcoming Sanshin Zen Community events, click here.

Sanshin: The Three Minds

In Japanese, Sanshin means "three minds". Dogen Zenji recommended that a person working to benefit Buddha's family, or sangha, should maintain three mental attitudes: Magnanimous Mind (daishin), Nurturing Mind (roshin), and Joyful Mind (kishin).

Magnanimous Mind is like an ocean or a mountain: calm and steady, yet accepting and nourishing countless beings and situations without differentiation. The ocean is serene beacuse it accepts the many rivers without resisting.

Nurturing Mind , literally "old mind", is akin to the attitude of a kindly grandmother or parent who delights in caring for others. It is the spirit of the bodhisattva, the fully mature person.

Joyful Mind is the joy that comes from deep in our hearts even in the midst of difficulty. It arises from the insight of zazen, that we live together with all beings and are not separate.

Together, the three minds form the basis of a Buddhist community. When grounded in zazen, these three mental attitudes allow us to live and work in harmony with others at all times.

The Seven Points of Practice

Offered by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi in the last formal talk he gave at Antaiji, on February 23, 1975.

1.   Study and practice the Buddha-dharma only for the sake of the Buddha-dharma, not for the sake of human emotions and worldly ideas. 

2.   Zazen is the most venerable and only true teacher. 

3.   Zazen must work concretely in our daily lives as the two practices (vow and repentance), the three minds (magnanimous mind, parental mind, and joyful mind), and as the realization of the saying, "Gaining is delusion, losing is enlightenment."

4.   Live by vow and root it deeply. 

5.   Realizing that development and backsliding are your responsibility alone, endeavor to practice and develop.

6.   Sit silently for ten years, then for ten more years, and then for another ten years.

7.   Cooperate with one another and aim to create a place where sincere practitioners can practice without trouble.