Commentaries
 From our directors Ethics and Reconciliation (EAR) Committee appointees: As part of carrying out Sanshin's Ethics Policy, Sanshin's board of directors appointed three members to an Ethics and Reconciliation (EAR) Committee at its February board meeting. This is a standing committee tasked with implementing restorative justice principles to assist in resolving conflicts, clarifying ethical issues, and responding to allegations of misconduct, in the event that more informal attempts at conflict resolution and restoration of wholesome relations within the sangha are not sufficient. The appointees are Shoryu Bradley, a dharma heir of Okumura Roshi who leads practice at Gyobutsuji in Arkansas, Dennis McCarty, a retired Unitarian Universalist minister who lives in Bloomington, IN, and Sonia Leerkamp, who brings extensive experience and expertise in restorative justice, law, and public service and currently lives in Brown County, Indiana. You can find full bios and contact information of EAR Committee members, as well as the full text of our Ethics Policy (grounded in the sixteen bodhisattva precepts, with more specific guidance) HERE. Practice recap Tangible Thusness resources available: As part of our yearlong focus on nyoho teachings and practice throughout 2025 here at Sanshin, recorded clips from our nyoho workshop with Koun Franz in January are now available. From January through April, we're focusing primarily on nyoho teachings related to clothing, from traditional Buddhist robes to what we wear to work. More clips from Koun's workshop on nyoho in general will be released in the coming weeks and months, posted to relevant pages within the nyoho section of Sanshin Source:
March work day: On Sunday, March 2nd, practitioners emerged from our Quiet February practice schedule with a full sangha work day. Much of the work practice was focused on "spring cleaning" inside the temple, with Hoko and Sawyer reorganizing our administrative office, Esho cleaning Okumura Roshi's office, Will updating our office computer setup, Reghan painting the zendo kitchen, and Hosshin and Clark working together on routing electrical wires in the zendo. Our next work day is scheduled for April 13th. Uchiyama Roshi memorial sesshin: Seven practitioners carried out sesshin at Sanshinji from March 6 - 9, with several others participating for a portion, in-person and virtually. Because this sesshin falls near the anniversary of Uchiyama Roshi's death each year, we dedicate it in his honor and carry out a memorial service for him with the sangha during Sunday practice immediately following sesshin. Even here at the end of winter, much of the produce for this sesshin was sourced locally, from Wilderlove Farm and public farmers' markets in Bloomington.
Recordings of Hoko's remarks on each study topic as well as text summaries of the material presented will be posted HERE as they become available in the coming weeks. Beginning and experienced practitioners are welcome to participate in upcoming discussions, whether or not you've been present for these early sessions. LEARN MORE about how to participate, virtually or in-person (no registration or fee). Coming up
All are welcome to join us for the joyous occasion and opportunity to practice with one of the sanbukki, or Three Buddha Days.
 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN: Virtual dharma study intensive on Ejo's Komyozo-Zanmai May 1 - 10, 2025, 10 - Noon with Okumura Roshi Over the course of ten mornings this May, Okumura Roshi will offer ten lectures on his own new translation of Komyozo-Zanmai (The Samadhi of the Radiant Light Treasury), attributed to Koun Ejo Zenji. Koun Ejo (1198 - 1282) was Dogen Zenji's close attendant, principle dharma heir, and the second abbot of Eiheiji following Dogen's death. He transcribed and compiled many of Dogen's writings and discourses, but Komyozo-zanmai is the only original writing attributed to Ejo. In it, Dogen's shikantaza (our practice of zazen) is discussed as the samadhi of the radiant light treasury. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER For full information about Sanshin's practice schedule, see our Schedules & Calendars webpage. Sanshin Network
Only 8 days for a trip to Japan! Well, actually it was a business trip. Koryu and I were invited by the Japanese External Trade Organization to Shiga Prefecture to taste and perhaps buy the famous Omi tea from various tea farmers. Of course, we also took the opportunity to extend the trip to Kyoto, Tokyo and Izumo in Shimane Prefecture, where our current tea partner is based. The trip was a great success for our tea business, we learned a lot and were even on Japanese television. I was able to see Mount Hiei, where Dogen Zenji's journey began, from a distance on the other side of Lake Biwa and in Kyoto we visited Kennin-ji, the temple where Dogen lived before and after his trip to China. In Izumo we visited the second oldest shrine, Izumo Taisha, which was very important for the development of Japanese culture, the development of an architectural style independent of China began here.
It was good to see that the temple in the middle of Tokyo faces very similar challenges like we do here in Vienna. Only two people, Yamada Roshi and another nun, run the temple, just like we do in Vienna. However, the funding is different. We try to do it with our tea business and in Japan it is mainly ceremonies and rituals for the community, especially funerals, or taking care of the home altars of the Sangha members. We are very grateful for the generous donation we received for our talk. 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 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!
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 Buddhism grew out of the ancient Indian sramana (‘one who strives’) tradition, also sometimes called the ‘renouncer or ascetic tradition,’ and its continuity was dependent on the offerings of the wider society for material support. Siddhartha Gautama followed this tradition prior to his awakening as Buddha. And it has continued as a basis of our practice since the time when Rome was a small village. But what does that mean in these modern times? Just like there's no practice without practitioners, the dedicated financial support of our wide-ranging community also remains essential to Sanshin's part in carrying forward the Soto Zen tradition in the West. With your support and involvement, we strive together to create and offer a field of merit through teachings, research, practice resources, and numerous opportunities to gather and practice in community. In January of last year, I provided the following breakdown: “Our largest expenses have been and will continue to be teaching, research and content generation – that is by far our primary mission.” And so it was in 2024, which also included growth in program-related income. For 2025, we have approved a budget that continues to focus on these priorities, while ensuring that our facilities are safe, inviting, and suitable for practice. Your gifts of financial support continue to be vital in enabling Sanshin to make Soto Zen practice available in our own particular style, grounded in the teachings of the Buddha, Dōgen Zenji, and Sawaki, Uchiyama and Okumura Roshis. If you have questions about Sanshin's finances, please email me. Thank you for your practice and support, and may your life be filled with kindness, joy and magnanimity. Other newsRecent and upcoming publications connected to our lineage: Books featuring the work of Okumura Roshi, Hoko Karnegis, Uchiyama Roshi, and Shinshu Roberts will be published this year. Translators include Daitsu Tom Wright, Howard Lazzarini, and Okumura Roshi. You can click on the cover images below for more information.
Practice recapDharma offerings from 'Being Old' participants: Our three part virtual discussion series on The Zen Practice of Being Old, with Tonen O'Connor, was completed in January. A recap of some of the group's collaborative conclusions on being old, as well as examples of the yuige (death poems) written by participants, are now available on Sanshin Source.
Coming up Nirvana day: This Sunday, February 16th, we will mark the occasion of Shakyamuni Buddha's parinirvana (passing away, or "nirvana without remainder") with a brief ceremony and a potluck lunch. 9:10 am Zazen 10:10 Dharma talk by Hoko: Death and the robe ~11:15 Nirvana day ceremony, followed by a potluck lunch Although this Sunday's schedule departs from the simplified schedule of this month's other three Sundays, the occasion is in keeping with our less busy attitude, offering space for practicing with our tradition's central teachings on life-and-death and impermanence. All are welcome to participate.  Uchiyama Roshi memorial sesshin (Mar 6 - 9): Sesshin at Sanshin is an opportunity to practice zazen without distraction. We dedicate our March sesshin each year to the memory of Kosho Uchiyama Roshi, the teacher of our founder, Shohaku Okumura and author of the foundational book Opening the Hand of Thought. We will hold a brief memorial service following the usual Sunday morning zazen and dharma talk, given by Okumura Roshi himself. LEARN MORE & REGISTER  Buddhist essentials: Shakyamuni to Sanshin Six Wednesday evenings, Mar 5 - Apr 9, 7 - 8:30 pm Beginning in March, Hoko will lead a six-evening lecture and discussion series tracing the connections between foundational early Buddhist teachings, through the development of Mahayana teachings and practice, and into the history of the Soto Zen tradition and practice at Sanshin and beyond today. The material is intended to be accessible and useful for all practitioners, whether beginner or experienced. Those just establishing their practice are especially encouraged to attend in order to gain a firm foundation for zazen, work, study and ritual going forward as members of the sangha. Note that these sessions will replace our usual Wednesday evening dharma book discussions between March 5th and April 9th, and will allow extra time for Q&A, ending by 8:30 ET at the latest each evening. All are welcome to participate, virtually or in-person. There is no registration or fee, and donations are welcome and appreciated.  Save-the-date: Virtual dharma study intensive with Okumura Roshi on Koun Ejo's Komyozo-zanmai (The Samadhi of the Radiant Light Treasury) May 1 - 10, 2025 (10am - noon ET) Over the course of ten mornings this May, Okumura Roshi will offer ten lectures on his own new translation of Komyozo-zanmai (The Samadhi of the Radiant Light Treasury), attributed to Koun Ejo Zenji. Koun Ejo (1198 - 1282) was Dogen Zenji's close attendant, principle dharma heir, and the second abbot of Eiheiji following Dogen's death. He transcribed and compiled many of Dogen's writings and discourses, but Komyozo-zanmai is the only original writing attributed to Ejo. In it, Dogen's shikantaza (our practice of zazen) is discussed as the samadhi of the radiant light treasury. Registration for this virtual-only event is not yet open; look out for further details in the coming weeks! For full information on our regular and upcoming practice activities, visit our Schedules & Calendars page. Sanshin NetworkSanshin Network teachers gather in Mons, Belgium: Mokusho's report:
EUROPEAN SANSHIN NETWORK First Teachers’ Meeting Daishinji (Mons, Belgium), February 6th-9th, 2025 The desire for closer collaboration between the European heirs of the lineage of Kodo Sawaki Roshi, Uchiyama Roshi and Okumura Roshi arose a few years ago, just before the first wave of Covid. A date had been set to meet in Mons, but the health situation and the multiple restrictions imposed by the authorities prevented the meeting from taking place. In July 2024, Jokei Lambert Sensei, a disciple of Joshin Bachoux Sensei and Aoyama Roshi, took the initiative of inviting Shoju-san, Doryu-san and Mokushō-san to give teachings at the Demeure Sans Limites (Hokaiji, Saint-Agrève, France). It was at this point that the idea of a network re-surfaced. This led to the organisation of a meeting in Mons in February 2025. This meeting gave us the opportunity to work and relax together. All this helped to strengthen the links that already existed between us, and we decided to meet once a year if possible, in February-March if possible, always in an informal and friendly setting, as Dharma brothers and sisters. Our discussions focused mainly on topics chosen from among the many suggestions made by all the participants. The main themes proposed were: teaching within the sangha; communicating with people who are not practising but who might be interested in the Dharma (the market place: how to reach people without resorting to ‘advertising’, which often opens the door to illusions); financing practice centres; voluntary work for the benefit of vulnerable people in hospitals, prisons, etc.; the isolation of teachers living far from the big urban centres; the teachers’ vision of their own center (offering an urban setting conducive to meditation; a place for spreading the Dharma; a space for inner peace in the midst of nature, etc.). The group decided to address the first two subjects proposed: teaching the Dharma and communicating with non-practitioners (the so-called ‘outside’ world, the marketplace). The various aspects of the discussion were addressed in relation to the following questions: Teaching what? To whom? What for? How? When? These questions and many others should enable the teacher to accompany the practitioner on the Way, in the knowledge that each person has different skills, potential and characteristics, and that one person’s Way is not necessarily another’s Way. During the week-end, a great deal of space has been set aside for the notion of upaya [as: an (enlightened) person’s ability to tailor their message to a specific audience]. Tea ceremony, ikebana, calligraphy, chanting, even “blessings” (see below) can be skilful means, specific ways to touch people and open them up to the Dharma by paying attention to the body (the deep meaning of gestures; the way you give something to someone; developing listening skills by listening to the body, etc.); we can respond to a request for a ‘blessing’ for (a) pets(s); we can listen to a practitioner who has had a miscarriage and create a space in the temple where she can meditate or light a candle if she feels the need; etc. Someone noted: - “My body is my temple”; “the practice of body and mind” - “Do we teach what people want to hear?” - “What we teach is not “our” teaching”. The way we teach can be personal. - If I change, the world changes. All discussions were very inspiring: teachers learning from their fellows’ experience(s). For the first arrivals in Belgium, the trip began with a visit to the Bois du Cazier colliery, the site of a huge mining disaster in which 262 miners of twelve different nationalities, including 136 Italians, perished on 8 August 1956. This day is commemorated every year in Italy. Not only the Italians among us, but everyone present was deeply moved by this visit to the site of the disaster, which is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Those who stayed a little longer in Belgium visited a very fine exhibition, Buddha, the experience of sentience, at the Royal Museum in Mariemont. It’s important to point out that Jisho san took part in all our work. Everyone was delighted to have her with us. We are convinced that she can become an important link in our sangha between the European Sanshin Network and Japan. We’d like to make her our ‘ambassador’ for the future. Participants: Koryu-san (Vienna), Jinryu-san (Germany), Gyoriki-san (Germany), Moku-shō-san (Belgium), Gyoetsu-san (Rome), Shinko-san (Vienna), Doryu-san (Rome), Ten-shin-san (Brussels), Jokei-san (France), Myōsen-san (Belgium), Jisho-san (Japan), Shoju-san (Alès, France, online) Shinko & Koryu's report:
Finally, after a 5-year delay due to the pandemic, the Dharma leaders of the European Sanshin network met in person at Daishinji, Mons (Belgium). Warmly welcomed by our hosts Mokusho and Myosen, we enjoyed several days of discussions, practice, cultural events and relaxed times. Sanshin community members from all over Europe took part: Doryu and Gyoetsu from Italy, Gyoriki and Jinryu from Germany, Jisho from Japan, Shinko and Koryu from Austria as well as Shoju from France (online). Two close friends of the Sangha, Jokei from France and Tenshin from Belgium, joined the meeting as well. In a workshop-like manner, we explored several topics of interest and then settled for two main questions: How do we communicate our way of practice to people before they come to the Zendo? And how do we teach the Dharma? These inspiring exchanges were accompanied by cultural trips to a former mining site, where hundreds of Italian workers died in the 1950s, and an exhibition showing Buddha statues, pictures, and ceremonial objects. As with many meetings, the most fruitful conversations happened over dinner, where we discovered several ways how we can support each other, be it with encouragement, practice opportunities, or a wonderful cup of matcha skillfully prepared by Jisho-san. Our thanks also go to the Sangha at Daishinji who supported us by lending a car and cooking lunch. This was only the first meeting of many more to come. The idea is to rotate places all across Europe. Sadly, we could not be there on the last day because we had to leave for Japan (on a business trip for our teashop and a meeting with Dharma friends in Tokyo). We are deeply grateful for experiencing the community spirit of Sanshin. It is extremely helpful to realize that we're all facing similar, if not the same, challenges, and that there is a dharma family that supports us.
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Other newsIntroducing Sanshin Source: Sanshin Source is Sanshin Zen Community's newly available and continuously evolving online library of context and in-depth information about our style of practice within the Soto Zen tradition. It serves as a partner-site to our main operational website (www.sanshinji.org), with many linkages growing between the two sites over time. Anyone is welcome to peruse and study these resources as our collection continues to grow. We've organized the content according to our practice vision diagram so that you can see the relationships between the elements. Intersecting these elements with each other gives interesting new insights into our practice. Watch for new content throughout the year and beyond -- may it support us in understanding our practice and practicing our understanding.   Practice recap
Being Old discussion series underway: More than two dozen practitioners have come together online for the opening sessions of a three part discussion series on The Zen Practice of Being Old led by longtime friend of Sanshin and respected teacher in her own right, Tonen O'Connor. Discussions have revolved around new opportunities for practice and dharma insights available at 70 years of age and beyond that differ from the experience of our younger years. Participation has ranged from Bloomington to Vermont to Australia. 
Coming up Tangible Thusness in 2025: Following our practice theme for 2024, lineage and legacy, in 2025 we embark on an exploration we're calling Tangible Thusness, a deep investigation of the teachings of nyoho, or things done or made according to the dharma. Here at Sanshin, we sometimes put a lot of attention on seemingly-abstract teachings from the Buddha, Dogen, and our 20th century ancestors; Tangible Thusness is our opportunity to experience the truth of these teachings in our concrete, everyday lives. Over three four-month segments, beginning this month with clothing, we'll explore each of the traditional three faces of nyoho (clothing, food, & shelter) in turn, seeing what we can learn about the specific face and also how we can apply those teachings throughout our practice life, in and out of the temple. LEARN MORE  Nyoho: The Dharma of Just This (registration closing Tuesday, Jan 21) A one-day workshop led by Koun Franz Saturday, January 25th from 9 am - 5 pm There is a tradition—within the Soto Zen tradition—called nyohō, a practice of exploring the dharma as it’s expressed through the material world around us. These teachings offer a way for us to touch, smell, taste, view, and hear the dharma—to hold it in our hands. They invite us not only to consider our practice in terms of the Buddha's original teachings but also to take creative responsibility for it in each moment. Join Koun for a day which will frame our year of Tangible Thusness, exploring nyohō teachings and practice as a sangha throughout 2025. In-person and virtual participation is welcome. Koun, who leads practice at Thousand Harbours Zen in Nova Scotia, has traveled to Bloomington to lead workshops at Sanshin a couple of times over the years, including one also focused on nyoho, and one examining Keizan Zenji's writing, Zazen Yojinki. Koun is also a member of the advisory committee for our Sawaki Nyoho-e Treasury. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER by Tues, Jan 21st Quiet February simplified practice schedule: During February and August at Sanshin, the regular practice schedule becomes quieter, less busy, and more focused on zazen. We let go of chanting services and Shobogenzo Zuimonki readings on weekday mornings, most Sunday dharma talks (which are replaced by one more period of zazen), and all evening practice activities. Keep an eye on our Schedules & Calendars page to see how regular practice activities shift next month.  Save-the-dates for Buddhist Essentials with Hoko: From Shakyamuni to Sanshin Six Wednesday evenings, March 5th - April 9th This spring, Hoko will lead a six-part lecture and discussion series tracing the connections between foundational Buddhist teachings such as the Four Noble Truths and three marks of existence, through the development of Mahayana teachings and practice, and into the history of the Soto Zen tradition. We'll see how all of this underpins our day to day practice at Sanshin and beyond. The material is intended to be accessible and useful for all practitioners, whether beginner or experienced. Those just establishing their practice are especially encouraged to attend in order to gain a firm foundation for zazen, work, study and ritual going forward as members of the sangha. Note that these sessions will replace our usual Wednesday evening dharma book discussions between March 5th and April 9th, and will allow extra time for Q&A, ending by 8:30 ET at the latest each evening. Virtual and in-person participation is welcome and encouraged.  Uchiyama Roshi memorial sesshin (Mar 6 - 9): Sesshin at Sanshin is an opportunity to practice zazen without distraction. We dedicate our March sesshin each year to the memory of Kosho Uchiyama Roshi, the teacher of our founder, Shohaku Okumura and author of the foundational book Opening the Hand of Thought. As he is one of the main shapers of our style of practice, we can't help but be grateful for his life and practice. He died on March 13, 1998. We will hold a brief memorial service following the usual Sunday morning zazen and dharma talk, given by Okumura Roshi himself. LEARN MORE & REGISTER Sanshin Network: New Year's greetings
 A sangha greeter, sculpted by Masaki 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!
Sanshin clergy at Sotoshu conference: Sanshin was well-represented at the 2024 Sotoshu conference at Zenshuji in Los Angeles. Hoko, Myogen and Esho attended from Bloomington, Shoryu came in from Arkansas, as well as Eido and Onryu from Minnesota and Doshin from Iowa. Attendees tended to general denominational business before hearing about and discussing several new translations of texts by Keizan Zenji. Hoko is also the vice president and communications officer for Soto Zen North America, a newly forming organization being created to eventually take over some of the functions of the denomination in North America, and she delivered an update presentation at the conference.
Students visit Sanshin: Members of DePauw University's Buddhist club traveled to Bloomington from Greencastle, IN to participate in regular Sunday practice at Sanshin on November 24th. After some brief instruction, the group of about 15 students participated in zazen, listened to Hoko's dharma talk, and met the sangha during informal tea afterwards.
Practice recapNovember work morning: The sangha gathered for monthly work practice on the morning of Sunday, November 17th, following zazen and our monthly World Peace Ceremony. Practitioners worked to rake leaves off the lawn and into a future native woodland area on the northeast corner of our grounds, planted bulbs and native wildflower seeds as part of an effort to supply our altars with season-long homegrown flowers next year, and repaired our limping electric lawnmower. Rohatsu sesshin & ceremony: A close-knit group of five practitioners carried out this year's 7-day Rohatsu sesshin. Several others participated in extended portions of the sesshin, supplied ingredients and cooked meals, dropped in occasionally for periods of zazen, and/or joined the group for the formal tea and late night zazen periods leading up to the Rohatsu Heart Sutra service at midnight on December 8th. Since December 8th (the traditional date marking Shakyamuni Buddha's awakening) this year fell on a Sunday, local practitioners joined sesshin participants for a potluck breakfast that morning, followed by regular Sunday practice including a dharma talk from Okumura Roshi and a Rohatsu ceremony with the wider sangha.
Coming up
The discussions will focus on the practice opportunities and dharma insights available at 70 years of age and beyond that differ from the experience of our younger years. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
Sanshin NetworkIssan and European sanghas in Japan: Issan Koyama, a dharma heir of Okumura Roshi, coordinated with several European dharma heirs and organizations carrying out "sangha pilgrimage tours" in Japan between October and December this year. These travels included visits to Buddhist and historic sites in Tokyo, Kyōto, Fukui, Matsumoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Kamakura and Kōfu. Learn more at Issan's New York Zen Community for Dogen Study Facebook page.
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From our treasurer
With the election behind us and requests for political contributions no longer coming in, we can turn our attention -- and our financial support -- to enabling zazen, work, study and ritual at Sanshin. This year alone, contributions to political parties and candidates generated $7.6 billion, and if Sanshin had just 0.0125% of those contributions, we could dissolve our Development Committee, paint our facility, build a new zendo, replace our roof, increase our teaching, research and study, and establish a permanent residential practice. Dollars for the dharma can go a long way! Sanshin's fund drive is an opportunity to invest in the future of Soto Zen practice in North America through supporting your own sangha and temple. If you're able to make a contribution of any size, or increase your current level of giving, it will be greatly appreciated. Please email me with your questions about Sanshin's finances and plans. Thank you for your support, and may your life be filled with joy, magnanimity and nurturing. Other News Sawaki Nyoho-e Treasury: Nyoho-e has no market value A brief teaching from Okumura Roshi The monks [in the early sangha] washed abandoned rags and then cut off only the unstained pieces. They sewed those pieces together and made their robes. Those rags found in the grave yard or on the street had no market value any more; they were just abandoned, so the monks could take them without other people objecting. A robe made this way is free from greed or desires. READ MORE
Practice recap
 Six Points discussion #5: Work practice as an investigation of community A group of practitioners gathered at Sanshin and virtually from home on November 14th to sit zazen and then discuss the fifth of the six points of practice fundamental to Sanshin's mission and practice vision: work practice as an investigation of community. A recording of Hoko's opening remarks for the evening will be made available soon. See other Six Points talks on our Youtube channel. As part of our yearlong investigation of lineage & legacy, we'll discuss the sixth and final point, deeply encountering the teaching of ehou ichinyo (dharma and Buddha's robe are one), on December 19.
Coming upNovember work morning (10:30 am - 1 pm) this Sunday, Nov 17th: This Sunday we'll gather for a work morning, following regular zazen at 9:10 am and our monthly World Peace Ceremony. Hosshin will lead a few practitioners on projects inside the temple, and Sawyer and Esho will coordinate work around some fall flower planting. All are welcome to participate in this monthly opportunity to engage body and mind and actively study interconnectedness as a sangha. Ryaku fusatsu (Mon, Nov 18th at 7pm): This Monday we'll hold our monthly ryaku fusatsu ceremony. We carry out this ceremony on the Monday evening closest to the 15th each month, as a regular renewal of our aspiration to practice with the sixteen bodhisattva precepts. Virtual and in-person participation is welcome, regardless of whether or not you've formally received the precepts. If attending in person, please show up by 6:50 pm, to allow enough time for offering incense and purifying rakusu or okesa (if you have one) before the ceremony. Rohatsu sesshin: Registration for our 8-day Rohatsu sesshin is open through next Friday, Nov 22nd. You can register for the whole sesshin or for a selection of full days. Rohatsu is carried out each year across the Buddhist world in recognition of Shakyamuni's awakening under the bodhi tree. Sesshin at Sanshin is an opportunity to practice zazen without distraction. We set aside the usual activities -- or entertainments -- of temple life, like work periods, meetings with teachers and dharma talks, and focus completely on zazen. Learn more and register here.
Sanshin NetworkSanshin visitors at Muryoji: Muryoji, in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, is the home temple of Aoyama Shundo Roshi, a well known and respected Soto Zen teacher. Jisho Takahashi, a dharma heir of Okumura Roshi who currently lives and practices at Muryoji, helped to guide and coordinate visits there from several other Sanshin Network teachers and practitioners in October.
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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!
Fall Fund Appeal: Practicing Today, Building Our Future TogetherThis is the time of year when Sanshin Zen Community gathers together offerings of financial support and looks to what's ahead.
"Whether we give or we receive, we connect ourselves with all beings throughout the world." -- Eihei Dogen Zenji Throughout this year, Sanshin has kept expenses under budget while offering important opportunities for practice, but we are falling short on our projected annual donations. To address our deficit, we are committed to raising $50,000 together by December 31st so that we can balance our 2024 budget. In the same way that work practice is not simply volunteer work, offering financial support as a part of the sangha is not simply giving a handout. Both are the practice of being in a dharma community and investigating the nature of giving and receiving. Is there really someone giving and receiving something, or is there simply a call and response that arise together, without separation? Financial contributions of any amount are appreciated at any time. For further information and to donate, visit our Fall 2024 Fund Appeal webpage. Practice recap
 Sangha Stewardship workshop: Introduction to the role of director Practitioners explored the theme of dharma center board directorship as bodhisattva practice through a day of study, discussion, and zazen with Hoko on October 5th. This was the second and final Sangha Stewardship workshop of the year at Sanshin, the first being focused on the roles of the tenzo and ino. Recordings and resources based on the teachings explored in these workshops will be made available to sanghas and practitioners in the near future.
Coming up Virtual dharma study intensive (Nov 1 - 10): Over the course of ten mornings (10am - noon ET) this November, Okumura Roshi will offer ten lectures on Eihei Dogen Zenji's Gakudo Yojinshu. Dogen wrote and compiled this text in 1234, the year after he founded his first temple, Koshoji. It is thus thought to have been Dogen's first writing for his students as a guide for practice at Koshoji. The dharma study intensive accommodates virtual participation only. Our intention is to make each lecture recording available to participants before the next day's lecture begins - these recordings will also remain available to registrants for a period of one month after the conclusion of the lecture series. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER (closes Tuesday, October 29th)
Ryaku fusatsu ceremony (Nov 18): Our next ryaku fusatsu ceremony will be carried out on Monday, Nov 18th, at 7 pm ET. Ryaku fusatsu is our monthly ceremony of renewing our aspiration to practice with the sixteen bodhisattva precepts. All are welcome, in-person and virtually, whether or not you've formally received precepts. If attending in person, please show up by 6:50 pm, to allow enough time for offering incense and purifying rakusu or okesa (if you have one) before the ceremony.
For complete information about our regular practice schedule and upcoming activities, visit our Schedules and Calendars webpage. Sanshin Network
 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!
Every year we put together our budget, and in that document we try to anticipate what we may run into as "extra-ordinary" expenses. As our facility ages, we accrue more and more expenses in keeping the place healthy and safe. And, yes, we do actually have a leak in the roof; it's above Okumura Roshi’s office and library. Our insurance may defer a portion of the repair cost, but of course we'll have a deductible to cover regardless. And then there is the aging appliance that needs to be replaced. And then there is the garden shed out back which has deteriorated to the point that it requires two IU Football linemen to assist us in opening its doors. And then there is… well, you get the picture – especially if you are a homeowner. We strive every day to make sure your donations support the dharma, our teaching and practice, translations and research. As we deal with the challenges of impermanence like everybody else, if you are in a position to enhance your financial support and help us meet our facilities expenses within the ebb and flow of your life, it would be greatly appreciated. If you have questions about Sanshin's finances, please email me. Thank you for your support, and may your life be filled with joy, magnanimity and nurturing. Other news New translation at the Sawaki Nyoho-e Treasury: The Robe and the Dharma are One Thusness by Kōdō Sawaki Translation by Michele Sevik and Issan Koyama This is the robe of faith of no form. It is Buddha’s teaching itself. The kesa is ultimately the complete expression of Buddha Dharma. It pervades the entire universe and has immeasurable width and breadth. It is infinitely large and encompasses space in all directions. It is infinitely small and is present in the most incomprehensibly small spaces. It is exactly the Mind Seal of Liberation of No Form and Realization itself. READ MORE Ceramic dharma donations: Sangha member Ed McEndarfer recently donated two pieces of ceramic dharma art to Sanshin, which have now found homes in our zendo and gardens. Ed, a retired professor of fine arts and respected ceramic artist, has now moved from Bloomington to North Carolina. Photos by local practitioner Reghan Stonier.
Practice recap
September sesshin: Eight practitioners participated in a 3-day sesshin at Sanshin from September 5 - 8. In addition to beets from our own garden, much of the produce for our oryoki meals was sourced from Outlier Farmstead in Bloomington. Many thanks to local practitioner Eunyoung for donating a meal, to Esho for her steady practice in and out of the kitchen throughout sesshin, and to all those who participated in part or all of the sesshin, in-person and virtually from home. Click here to read Hoko's recent writing on Sanshin style sesshin practice. Our next sesshin is Rohatsu, marking and honoring Shakyamuni Buddha's awakening at the beginning of December.
Coming upRegistration now open: Virtual dharma study intensive with Okumura Roshi Nov 1 - 10, 2024 Over the course of ten mornings this November, Okumura Roshi will offer ten lectures on Eihei Dogen Zenji's Gakudo Yojinshu. Dogen wrote and compiled this text in 1234, the year after he founded his first temple, Koshoji. It is thus thought to have been Dogen's first writing for his students as a guide for practice at Koshoji. The dharma study intensive accommodates virtual participation only. Our intention is to make each lecture recording available to participants before the next day's lecture begins. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER  Ryaku fusatsu ceremony: Our monthly ryaku fusatsu ceremony will be carried out on Monday, Sep 16th, at 7 pm EDT. Ryaku fusatsu is our monthly ceremony of renewing our aspiration to practice with the sixteen bodhisattva precepts. All are welcome, in-person and virtually, whether or not you've formally received precepts. The next ceremony will be October 14.
Dharma talk by Okumura Roshi for Atlanta Soto Zen Center: Okumura Roshi will be giving a dharma talk on Sunday, October 13th at 10:30 am ET via Zoom as part of ASZC's fall retreat, which itself has the theme of “Celebrating the Legacy of the Kodo Sawaki, Kosho Uchiyama & Shohaku Okumura Lineage.” To learn more about the retreat as whole, see ASZC's website. Note that we will hold Sunday practice on that day, both virtually and in-person, adjusting our usual timing to align with ASZC's schedule. Thus, please note that the dharma talk begins twenty minutes later than the usual time, and that the usual timing of zazen will likely also be shifted. Stay tuned to our Schedules and Calendars page for updates in the coming days. Sanshin Network
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!
 From our directors
 Updated mission statement for Dōgen Institute David Thompson Editor-in-Chief, Dōgen Institute Dōgen Institute is the educational outreach arm of the Sanshin Zen Community, and its existing mission statement outlines its role supporting the work of Okumura Rōshi. As part of the recently concluded annual retreat of the Sanshin Board of Directors, board member Karla Passalacqua and I presented an updated version of the DI mission statement, which the board formally endorsed: “The mission of Dōgen Institute is to preserve and make available Shohaku Okumura Rōshi’s life work on Dōgen and to provide a venue for works on Dōgen by teachers from within the Sanshin Network and the Sōtō Zen community.” The new mission statement re-emphasizes continued support for Okumura Rōshi, and adds a forward-looking statement outlining its role in support of the next generation of teachers and authors. DI remains focused on works by and about Dōgen, his tradition, and the themes which run through his teaching. The new statement offers a path of continuity into the future for the work of DI. The new mission statement also offered us the opportunity to realign with Sanshin's current mission statement, updated in 2023. Both of these statements now reflect an updated understanding of Sanshin's mission as outlined in Senior Dharma Teacher Hoko Karnegis’ work on Sanshin style. We are grateful that we are able to publish this new mission statement in support of Hoko and the next generation of teachers. Karla and I understand the importance of DI's role as a venue for the ongoing work of bringing Buddhism into the West. We appreciate the support we have received over the years from our website readers, our book readers, our subscriber communities, our volunteers, and our staff.  Other newsBamboo giveaway complete: Since the removal of the bamboo grove on temple grounds at the request of the City of Bloomington last August, Sanshin practitioner and operations manager Sawyer has been coordinating with the sangha, Bloomington farmers and gardeners, and a few local organizations to distribute the resulting bounty of sturdy cut poles for use in local small-scale agricultural endeavors (in addition to our own use as fencing in the moss garden and along our north boundary). Last month, the last of the bamboo was given away to a pair of local farmers and to Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, a local food security and education organization in Bloomington, for distribution to gardeners in the community.
 Practice recap
Quiet August practice carries on: During February and August at Sanshin, the regular practice schedule becomes quieter, less busy, and more focused on zazen. We let go of chanting services and Shobogenzo Zuimonki readings on weekday mornings, most Sunday dharma talks (which are replaced by one more period of zazen), and all evening practice activities (except for our Getting Started in Zen Practice sessions, to keep open a meaningful access point during this quieter time for folks who are new to the practice or community). Read more about our quiet months on this page.
 Coming up
 Sangha Stewardship workshop with Hoko: Introduction to the role of director Oct 4 & 5, 2024 This October, Hoko will lead our second Sangha Stewardship workshop, this time exploring the role of director, particularly in a sangha board of directors context. Registration is now open, here. Whether your sangha is new and small with a more hands-on working board, or a larger community with a policy or governing board, service as a director can and should be a meaningful opportunity for bodhisattva practice, not just volunteer work.
Registration for this virtual-only event is not yet open; stay tuned for further details in the coming weeks!  World religious landscape
Pew also asked Buddhists in Asia if a person can be truly Buddhist if they:
 Sanshin Network
Buddhism and economics are a difficult topic in the West, one could almost speak of a taboo. The view of monasticism here is characterized by the old idea of renouncing possession, of begging. This is also the case in most Buddhist traditions in Asia, but not in Japan. Many of our brothers in Japan have a regular job alongside their monastic vocation. Large monasteries are also commercial enterprises. But how do we finance ourselves here in the West, especially in Europe, where philanthropy is not as big an issue as in the United States? One of the main reasons for this is certainly that countries in Central Europe provide state-organized social systems that cover many needs. In our culture, begging is considered offensive and immoral. There are no Buddhist monks on the streets chanting sutras and asking for alms. But in a way, we are beggars indeed, for we receive donations. Thanks to a generous donation from a foundation, we have been given a house in which we can realize our project. But we pay rent, and our project must be self-supporting. That will be a big challenge. The two of us work almost exclusively on a voluntary basis. We want to base our funding on three pillars: private donations, public funding and income from our business activities, i.e. our tea store shinkoko.at (unfortunately not yet available in the USA). Our house consists of a public area on the ground floor with a zendo, tea showroom, tasting room and communal kitchen. There are two offices, two guest rooms with three beds, and a guest bathroom. On the upper floors there are two apartments: one apartment (complete with kitchen and bathroom) is given to our pastoral care protégés. The second apartment is intended for our Zen community. The two of us currently live there, but there is room for two more residents. We can provide up to 10 beds for sesshins and retreats: there are 3 double rooms, one single room and three beds in the zendo. We would like to invite the Sanshin community from all over the world to pay us a visit. You can stay for a few days or a few months, practice with us or even actively participate in the project. Looking forward to seeing you!"
Dharma heirs gather for a week of teaching and practice in France: From July 10th to 17th, three of Okumura Roshi's European dharma heirs (Shoju Mahler of Zendo l'Eau Vive Hosuiji in Ales, France, Doryu Cappelli of Anshin Zen Centre in Rome, Italy, and Mokusho Depreay of Centre Shikantaza in Mons, Belgium) took part in a retreat at the invitation of Jokei Ni, the abbess of Hokaiji in France. Mokusho reports: "Each teacher gave one or two Dharma talks. The practitioners liked that very much. The teachers enjoyed it also. The teachers in our lineage were very happy to meet for this occasion, spend time together and get to know each other better. We decided to meet again in February 2025 not for a retreat but for a weekend of practice, reflection and deepening the dharmic ties between us. We hope that other Dharma brothers and sisters in our lineage will join us at this occasion."
Shuso ceremonies at Daishinji: Honsoku gyocha and hossenshiki ceremonies were carried out at Daishinji, founded and led by Okumura Roshi's dharma heir Densho Quintero, in Bogota, Colombia. The shuso was Hosho Arredondo, who had also previously trained at Toshoji in Okayama Prefecture, Japan for one year.
 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!
Precepts retreat and jukai-e: Four people received lay precepts at the end of the annual July 5-day precepts retreat, which included lectures and discussion, work periods, and meals taken using oryoki. Brad Keiku Uebinger, Alli Dokin Gillet, Owen Gentoku Miller and Abby Eiju Johnson received their rakusu, dharma names and lineage papers, and other sangha members joined some or all of the retreat.
Novice ordination: On the afternoon following the morning jukai-e, Myogen Ahlstrom was ordained as a novice. He received his koromo, rakusu, zagu, okesa, dharma name paper and lineage paper, and will be officially registered with the denomination. Ordination as a novice is the first step to becoming fully authorized clergy. Myogen transferred to Hoko when his original teacher, Zuiko Redding of the Cedar Rapids (IA) Zen Center became terminally ill last year.
 Coming upRyaku fusatsu: Our monthly ryaku fusatsu ceremony will be carried out tonight, Monday, July 15th, at 7 pm EDT, with Hoko officiating. Ryaku fusatsu is our monthly ceremony of renewing our aspiration to practice with the sixteen bodhisattva precepts. All are welcome, in-person and virtually, whether or not you've formally received precepts. Great Tree guest talk: Esho will be giving a virtual dharma talk on Saturday at 10 am EST for Great Tree Zen Women's Temple in Asheville, NC. Her topic is "Uncertainty," and the talk will be preceded by half an hour of zazen. Join here, and go here for the complete schedule at Great Tree. Talks are generally recorded and posted to the Great Tree YouTube channel.  Six Points discussion #3: Uchiyama Roshi's balancing peace and progress (Thursday, July 25)
We'll discuss the significance of zazen and study in modern daily life so that we can maintain a balance between progress and peace of mind. We live with a tension between chasing after or escaping from things and avoiding taking any action at all in order to remain calm. How does shikantaza teach us how to take the necessary wise and compassionate action without fanning the flames of our delusion? Those participating online can join using the green button on our virtual practice page. Learn more about lineage & legacy here. Quiet August's simplified practice schedule: During February and August at Sanshin, the regular practice schedule becomes quieter, less busy, and more focused on zazen. We let go of chanting services and Shobogenzo Zuimonki readings on weekday mornings, most Sunday dharma talks (which are replaced by one more period of zazen), and all evening practice activities (except for our Getting Started in Zen Practice sessions, to keep open a meaningful access point during this quieter time for folks who are new to the practice or community). Read more about our quiet months on this page.  September 5 - 8 sesshin: Sesshin at Sanshin is an opportunity to practice zazen without distraction. It's one of the core activities for us in this dharma family, and we pay a lot of attention to it. We set aside the usual activities -- or entertainments -- of temple life, like work periods, meetings with teachers and dharma talks, and focus completely on zazen. We practice in complete silence following a 4 am to 9 pm daily schedule that consists simply of fourteen 50-minute periods of zazen with one-hour periods for oryoki meals and a bit of personal time. This sesshin-without-toys style of practice was created by our founder's teacher, Kosho Uchiyama Roshi, and practiced at Antaiji in Kyoto, Japan. We carry on and offer this tradition of our lineage here at Sanshin. We've added some new resources to help participants better understand our style of sesshin. See those here, particularly this comprehensive page on the origin and intention of Sanshin style sesshin. You may also register on this page. World religious landscapeNew research from Pew offers insights into religion and spirituality in East Asian societies today
Sanshin Network Esho's offerings: Having completed her term as shuso at Sanshin, Esho Morimoto is offering two kinds of teaching to practitioners and sanghas. 1) Rakusu and okesa sewing at any temple in need of a sewing teacher. Esho became a sewing teacher in 2018 and taught at the Brooklyn Zen Center and Ancestral Heart Zen Monastery in Millerton, NY. She moved to Bloomington, IN in the spring of 2022 to carry out an okesa sewing apprenticeship with Yuko Okumura and to practice with Sanshin. Completing the apprenticeship in the summer of 2023, she taught rakusu and okesa sewing at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Carmel Valley, CA during its fall 2023 and winter 2024 angos while she was practicing there as a part of her priest training. She now teaches robe sewing in the style of our dharma great-grandfather, Kodo Sawaki. 2) Basic conversational Japanese. Esho offers lessons or tutoring online or in person. If there is interest in forming small classes and studying with others, that may be possible. Note that this offering is not about translating Dogen texts, reading classical Japanese, or doing other high-level Buddhist study. However, some knowledge of basic Japanese can be very helpful for practitioners, especially those planning to practice in Japan itself. If you are interested in either of these offerings, please contact Esho directly for more information or to make arrangements. Three new ordinations in Colombia: Densho says, "I am sharing some pictures of the Tokudo ceremony we had on Saturday. I ordained three new monks, Chisho, Shojun and Sozan, from left to right in the picture wearing white kimono. We are grateful that our monks' sangha is growing so we can strengthen our vow to spread Todo-san's lineage and teachings."
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!
Other news
 Soto Zen North America gets underway: Hoko has been asked to serve on the board of directors for the newly-forming Soto Zen North America, an organization of Sotoshu-recognized clergy that will very gradually take over some of the functions of the existing denomination on this continent. As Soto Zen N. A.'s communications officer, she's put together a website, and an initial newsletter went out this month. There is still much to organize and build and many structures to put in place, but the actual beginning of operations is the fruition of many years of work and planning.  New translations: Chapters Six and Seven of Great Robe of Liberation: A Study of the Kesa (Kesa no Kenkyu) by Echu Kyuma have now been translated and are available online. Chapter Six covers classification of different categories of kesa, and Chapter Seven discusses teachings on the virtue or merits of practicing with the kesa. The book has served as an indispensable resource for anyone wanting to study, sew, or wear robes in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition. Kyuma Roshi, a longtime student of both Kodo Sawaki and Kosho Uchiyama, generously shares his research and personal experience, presenting a kind of technical manual with in-depth explanations of everything from the proper color, size, and materials of a robe, to the actual sewing, to how to wear it and care for it. Practice recap
Coming upRyaku fusatsu: Our monthly ryaku fusatsu ceremony will be carried out tonight, Monday, June 17th, at 7 pm EDT, and Hosshin Shoaf will officiate as a recently transmitted teacher. Ryaku fusatsu is our monthly ceremony of renewing our aspiration to practice with the sixteen bodhisattva precepts. All are welcome, in-person and virtually, whether or not you've formally received precepts.
Precepts retreat with Hoko (July 2 - 7): Registration is now open for practitioners who wish to participate in this year's precepts retreat without formally receiving precepts. This retreat focuses on the study of the sixteen bodhisattva precepts that Buddhists receive as guidelines for living a life of practice. The daily schedule includes zazen, group discussions on the precepts led by Hoko, work practice and silent meals. A public precepts ceremony (jukai-e) is held on the last day of the retreat, during which those receiving the precepts will make their vows and receive a dharma name and a rakusu, or small robe, which they have sewn beforehand. Registration for in-person participation will remain open through Tuesday, June 25th; virtual participation without registration is also welcome. Learn more and register here.   Myogen Ahlstrom ordination (July 7, 2 pm): Following the jukai-e potluck lunch, the sangha will return to the zendo to lend its support as Mark Myogen Ahlstrom takes ordination as a novice. He was a leader of the Bloomington-Normal (IL) Zen Group and a student of Zuiko Redding of the Cedar Rapids (IA) Zen Center for many years before moving to Indiana and establishing his practice at Sanshin. Virtual as well as in-person attendance is welcome. American religious landscapeMost religious groups show declines in attendance over the past two decades: According to a new Gallup study, majorities of Jewish, Orthodox, Buddhist and Hindu Americans say they seldom or never attend religious services. Twenty-six percent of Orthodox adults, 22% of Jewish adults, 14% of Buddhist adults and 13% of Hindu adults attend services regularly. Although Buddhist and Hindu adults have similar levels of regular attendance, Buddhist adults are much more likely to say they seldom or never attend (75%) than Hindu adults (51%). The largest segment of Hindu Americans, 36%, say they attend about once a month. READ MORE Sanshin Network
In general, I think it is difficult to appreciate the value of a way of life whose heart is the intensive practice of zazen. During the week we sit for five periods of zazen a day, and monthly, with the exception of February and August, the intensive sesshin of fourteen periods each day is held for five days. Furthermore, as it is a practice that is carried out in the mountains, daily activities are carried out in solitude, silence, without any type of toys, distractions or promises. This creates the conditions so that the individual cannot escape from himself, and is forced to accept and let go of the flow of thoughts and emotions. It is a practice that, in my limited experience, is quite confronting, and, at the same time, illuminating and peaceful. When I began my practice approximately 9 years ago in Bogotá, Colombia, under the guidance of Densho Sensei, I remember that sitting through a forty-minute session was a great achievement that I celebrated for the simple fact of not having moved despite the anxiety and physical pain. Likewise, I keep in mind that the first day in my first sesshin, which was not so intensive, I wanted to run away. My whole body hurt, the silence at meals tormented me. I can't imagine how physically I could have endured just one day of 14 50-minute sittings. As a student of Densho Sensei, I not only worked on my physical posture, but I had the valuable opportunity to study fundamental texts, such as the Bendowa and GenjoKoan, which helped me in my quest to understand the type of attitude to have during practice. For this reason, from my experience, the possibility of appreciating and being grateful for the type of practice that Shoryu Sensei offers, depends on having had previous experience in the lineage of Okumura Roshi under the guidance of Densho Sensei, to whom I am extremely grateful. This short memory exercise on the history of my practice has made me consider the value of having a family called the Sanshinji network. A project that I still do not fully understand, but I believe, from the bottom of my heart, that it is essential to preserve and share the teachings and practice of Okumura Roshi. There need to be temples in the city as well as in remote areas, free from the hustle and bustle of society, for the movement of the wheel of dharma to remain alive. I believe that, among the many factors that allow the expression of personal vow, community is one of the most important. As final words, I also appreciate Hoko's practice and efforts to nurture this family, and I hope that these words and my daily practice can collaborate to strengthen the ties of the Sanshinji Network. Updates: Support for Soto Zen temples affected by the Noto earthquake in January For several months, Jisho Takahashi, a dharma heir of Okumura Roshi, has been leading an effort to collect donations for two temples in the Noto area of Japan which were damaged by an earthquake in January, and which have connections to Sanshin: Ryushoji and Eifukuji. Visit Jisho's fundraising page for more background on Sanshin's connections and to donate. Below, Jisho offers a few updates on the situation, as well as photos of the rebuilding process:
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!
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