Blog Archives

Sangha News for April 2021

4/15/2021

The three teachings

Shohaku Okumura

Dōgen’s Chinese Poems (40)

Following the Rhyme of Examination Graduate Wenben

The three teachings’ idle names were originally unspoken.
With one word slightly mistaken all aspects are contrary.
Clearly know both people and objects are without self.
Traversing the mysterious barrier arrive at your own home.

During the Song dynasty, influenced by Daoism and Buddhism, Confucians established so-called Neo-Confucianism using metaphysical ideas. These three teachings were considered together as the three legs of a tripod kettle. Government officials were basically Confucianists, but they supported and controlled Daoist and Buddhist institutions to support the system of government centered on the emperor. To become the abbot of a prestigious monastery, Buddhist monks needed to get support from high-ranking government officials. However, there must have been various blends of these ideas. Some officials supported Daoism more than Buddhism, and others liked Buddhism more than Daoism.
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In This Issue:

Okumura Roshi: The three teachings
Practice Recap: Update on May genzo-e; April At-Home retreat; Okumura Roshi guest talk
Sanshin Network: New sangha in Ohio; French-speaking dharma teacher needed in Belgium
Resources from Sanshin
Giving to Sanshin

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Practice Recap

Update on May genzo-e: Due to a shortage of key personnel, the usual May genzo-e will not be held this year. Because of the pandemic, during May 2019 and November 2020 Sanshin's in-person genzo-e was recast as an online event and we expected to be able to hold the May 2020 genzo-e online as well, but it's just not possible at the moment. As an alternative, we hope to make recordings of the intended lectures available online later in the summer or fall. It's not yet clear how and where that will happen, but as soon as we know something we'll post those details.

As a part of its commitment to study, Sanshin Zen Community generally offers two genzo-e per year. These gatherings are led by Okumura Roshi and are opportunities for participants to practice zazen and focus on the study of the Shobogenzo (True Dharma Eye Treasury), the major work of the founder of Soto Zen, Dogen Zenji. The genzo-e retreat is a rare opportunity for in-depth study of Dogen with a teacher who has studied the Shobogenzo extensively and practiced with its insights for many years.

April At-Home Retreat: Hoko was in the zendo for the three days of the retreat, with about twenty other practitioners participating from home over the course of the event. Hosshin joined her onsite for regular Sunday practice, serving as doan and facilitator while she gave the dharma talk. The next at-home retreat is set for June.

.Okumura Roshi guest talk: Okumura Roshi gave a virtual dharma talk for Sonoma Mountain Zen Center in California. The event served as a COVID fundraiser.

Other news

Board focusing on strategic planning and considerations for reopening: Sanshin Zen Community’s board of directors remains deeply engaged in the process of tending to the long-term health of our sangha. Several board members and practice leaders are in communication with TDC, a non-profit consulting group, with the goal of developing a regional dharma center and establishing a residential program. Meanwhile, we are paying close attention to the evolving situation locally with an eye toward re-opening the zendo when it is safe and wise to do so. Please look for updates on this front over the next couple of months. Sanshin’s board members are always eager to hear from people in our dharma community. If you have any concerns or questions you would like to relay to the board, please don’t hesitate to reach out to President Mark Fraley here.

Sanshin Network

New sangha in Ohio: Grove City Zen is now actively offering introduction sessions, zazen and book discussion. All activities are virtual for now; learn more at the sangha's website and Facebook page. Grove City Zen was founded by Michael Komyo Melfi, who took lay precepts with Hoko in 2019.

French-speaking dharma teacher needed in Belgium: Mokusho DePreay of the Centre Shinaktaza in Mons sends the following request:

I am a Belgian disciple of Shohaku Okumura Roshi (Sanshinji, Bloomington, IN). I would normally have received dharma transmission in the fall of 2020, but the coronavirus crisis decided otherwise. If the health situation allows, I hope to travel to the United States next fall.

In September 2018, Okumura Roshi came to Belgium to inaugurate the temple I had built in Mons (50 km from Brussels, 250 km from Paris, 275 km from Amsterdam and 360 km from London). The Mons sangha has existed for 25 years. I myself am 70 years old and my wish is that the practice of Soto Zen and the teaching of Okumura Roshi can continue after my death.

After my demise, the temple will be bequeathed to the association. That is the plan. No one in our group seems to be able to take on such a responsibility. For this project to be realized, we would need a competent, experienced person who speaks a minimum of French and is willing to improve his or her skills. I have the necessary skills to give intensive French courses.

The person who would take over the management of Daishinji Temple for at least a few years should be a practitioner in the lineage of Okumura Roshi, Uchiyama Roshi or Sawaki Roshi. If anyone is interested in this project, I suggest that we have a Skype conversation. If you are interested in this project, you can first contact me at this email address or this one.

Coming up

April 18 work day: While some practitioners will gather at Sanshin itself on Sunday for the work day, there will also be a virtual option. Zazen will happen as usual at 9:10 am both in person outside on the lawn and virtually before work on the grounds gets underway. Outdoor lunch will be served and work will resume for the afternoon. Virtual workers will join the initial zazen period and then work on their own at home until lunch, when they'll be bringing their food to their computers and chatting together. Following lunch they'll work again on their own. The in-person work day has no organized ending or checkout, but virtual participants can decide at lunchtime whether they'd like to come together one more time to end the day. No registration is required for in-person participation; if you've not participated in virtual practice before at Sanshin, please email here to receive link 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. The complete schedule is here; please email us 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.

Giving to Sanshin

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.

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.