Sangha News for September, 2021

The dharma drum

Dōgen’s Chinese Poems (45)

[Dōgen’s] Verses of Praise
on Portraits of Himself
自賛　Jisan 15

Bamboo splints and ox skins used for counting
Total more than eleven hundred.
Before, I placed this smelly skin-bag on the drumhead,
On the mountain of ignorance beating thundercloud.

​According to commentaries, “bamboo splints” and “ox skins” are some kinds of devices used to count things, for example, the number of cattle. In this case, they are used to count the time, days, or years. In Monkaku’s version, it says, “total more than eleven hundred,” and in Manzan’s version, “total more than twenty-one hundred.”

Some commentaries on Manzan’s version say that this is the number of years after Shakyamuni Budddha’s death. In Shobogenzo Ango (Practice Period), Dogen Zenji mentions Shakyamuni Buddha’s example of the 90-day ango, and says, “It has been two thousand one hundred ninety-four years since then. Today is in the third year of the Kangen era [1245].”[2] His new monastery, Daibutsuji (later the temple name was changed to Eiheiji) was constructed in 1244, and he and his sangha moved into there in the autumn of the same year. Beginning the 4th month of 1245, he held the first summer 90-day ango (practice period) at the new monastery. If Dogen composed this jisan verse in that year, this number might be the year from Shakyamuni’s ango   READ MORE​

​In This Issue:

• Okumura Roshi:  The dharma drum
• Practice recap: September at-home retreat; work morning; Getting Started
• Coming up:  Joint practice with Minnesota Zen Center; European conference postponed; Work day; Ryaku fusatsu
• Other news:  From the president; Hoko helps with Sotoshu's 100th
• Sanshin Network: Centro Anshin video; Sharing across traditions

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Practice recap

September at-home retreat:  A few local sangha members dropped in for parts of the retreat as Hoko and Hosshin carried out the regular activities of Sanshin-style sesshin and virtual practitioners participated from home.  It was the first time since the pandemic shutdown that practitioners joined them in the zendo, and everyone was masked and brought and prepared his or her own meals.  It's another step toward fully resuming the practice we were holding before the pandemic.  The next sesshin will be held in honor of Rohatsu in December; the length and participation opportunities are as yet undecided as public health conditions continue to change.

Getting Started:  Our free introductory session, Getting Started in Zen Practice, has resumed.  Doju Layton and Mark Myogen Ahlstrom offer it in person on the first Tuesday evening of the month and virtually on the third.  The session covers the basics of zazen, some core teachings of Soto Zen, and the elements of Sanshin style.  ​

Work morning:  Second Sunday mornings are now devoted to communal work following a few dharma remarks by work leader Hosshin Shoaf.  This month the sangha took on overgrown planting beds and walking paths and in just a couple of hours made a lot of progress on cleaning things up under the direction of Doju Layton.  More photos are posted on our Facebook page.  

Coming up

Joint practice with Minnesota Zen Center (Sep 19): Zazen (10:10 am) and dharma talk (11 am) by Okumura Roshi on Ryokan and his poems.  Note one-time-only change to Sunday schedule and link.  

European conference postponed:  The weekend conference set for early October in Belgium that would have brought together the European members of the Sanshin Network, the European Sokan and Okumura Roshi and Hoko has been postponed until travel conditions and public health considerations make that a safer and more manageable event.  Eighteen people from six countries had been set to attend.

Work day (Oct 10):  Following zazen and some brief dharma remarks, we'll spend the entire day working together to take care of our buildings and grounds.  Lunch will be provided.  Work is one of the key activities of our practice, the other two being zazen and dharma study.  Work takes our practice off the cushion and into the world.

​Ryaku Fusatsu: (Oct 18, 7 pm):  Everyone is welcome to participate in our ceremony of renewing our aspiration to follow the precepts, whether or not you've formally made vows.

Other news

From the President: Mark Fraley notes that diversity and inclusion are among the topics receiving the attention of Sanshin's board of directors, as well as the activation of a variety of committees dedicated to carrying out elements of the emerging strategic plan.

At Sanshin Zen Community, we remain committed to nurturing zazen, work, and study as the foundational elements of our practice.  Doing so requires careful collaboration on the part of practitioners, clergy, and sangha leadership.  Sanshin’s board of directors and practice leaders have initiated a coordinated effort to ensure that we carry out our mission in an inclusive and sustainable manner. 

A central aspect of our ongoing partnership is a meaningful reflection on the diversity of our sangha and a renewed commitment to break down any barriers to inclusion that affect our dharma community. We will continue to engage sangha friends on these important matters and welcome your input as we deepen our discernment.

We are also working to sustain our sangha over the long-term.  To do this, we are activating several working committees that will carry out different aspects of Sanshin’s strategic aims.  These committees include a Development Committee, Facilities Committee, Residential Program Committee, Technology Committee, and an Ethics and Reconciliation Committee.  We need as much help as we can get to strengthen our commitment to zazen, work, and study in a rapidly changing environment.  If you are interested in serving on any of these committees, please send me an email.

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Seeking the next treasurer:  Current treasurer Gene Elias has agreed to remain in office until his successor can be found, but that can't go on indefinitely.  If you or someone you know has business experience, can read basic financial documents and would be willing to join our board of directors to offer your services, please contact Mark Fraley  The treasurer is not responsible for day-to-day bookkeeping but does supervise the administrative assistant who carries out these functions.  The board meets virtually on the evening of the fourth Sunday of the month.

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Hoko helps with Sotoshu's 100th:  Hoko will be serving as ino for the large jukai ceremony set to happen at Zenshuji in Los Angeles in 2022 as part of Sotoshu North America's 100-year anniversary.  She's assigned to the hatto kei (法堂系), the group leading activities in the dharma hall and will initially help to finalize the English versions of the fourteen ekos that will be chanted over the course of the five days of ceremonies.

Sanshin Network

Centro Anshin video:  Doryu and Gyoetsu are featured in a video produced by the Italian Buddhist Union.  See it here on Facebook.

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Sharing across traditions:  Shinko and his sangha at Daijihi in Vienna were visited by bhikkhuni Santacitta, co-founder of Aloka Vihara Forest Monestary near Sacramento, California. She is a native Austrian and will remain in Austria until early next year.

For complete information about Sanshin and our style of practice, visit our homepage.