Sangha News for November, 2023

The importance of zazen

Shohaku Okumura

Dōgen’s Chinese Poems (71)
The Importance of Zazen
375.  Dharma Hall Discourse

The essence of patch-robed monks’ study of the way is meditation.
The dharma of dropping off body and mind has been transmitted to the present.
All right and wrong are never executed.
[Bodhidharma’s arrival in China in] the years of Universal Penetration is not the same as a petty matter.

This Dharma hall discourse was probably given during the summer practice period in 1250, three years before Dōgen Zenji’s passing away. Seven years had passed since he had moved from Fukakusa near Kyoto to the remote mountains in Echizen.

Dōgen and his sangha moved to Echizen in the 7th month in 1243. Until the next spring, in 1244, they stayed at Yoshiminedera and Yamashibu — both old, small temples. Since they did not have monastery buildings, Dōgen focused on writing fascicles of Shōbōgenzō. Among them, he wrote Shōbōgenzō Zazengi (坐禅儀, Standards of Zazen). To the assembly, he presented Shōbōgenzō Zazenshin (坐禅箴, Acupuncture needle of Zazen), written in 1242. Based on these writings, I suppose that he revised The Way of Zazen Recommended Universally (普勧坐禅儀, Fukanzazengi). Thus, he accomplished his final and decisive expressions of the instructions for zazen practice.   READ MORE

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Board of directors

From the Treasurer
Gene Kishin Elias

I live in the forest of Southern Indiana.  Fall and spring are by far the busiest times of year for me.  Fall especially – wood to stack up for the winter, leaves to mulch for the garden and various other chores to get ready for the cold weather. We’ve already had a hard freeze.  The squirrels are scrambling as well.  Nut production is down this year; on my back deck, some years I get several hundred nuts falling from the trees daily.  This year, it's maybe 20 a day.

Like the seasons, Sanshin finances have ebbs and flows.  September was a good month for our community; enough money came in from our programs and donations to cover all of our expenses.  October was not quite as good as we had to dip into our savings to cover all of the bills,  Less than $700 was needed to cover them, so it wasn't too bad.

Once I get my wood stacked and the leaves mulched, I’ll be back to work on our 2024 budget.  I’ve already submitted a preliminary budget to the board, and since then I’ve gotten good feedback and updates to send to the board before our December meeting.

Have a great Thanksgiving holiday, and if you have questions or comments please email me.  Thank you for your support, and may your life be filled with kindness, joy and magnanimity.

In This Issue:

• Okumura Roshi: The importance of zazen
• Just for fun:  Many hands make light work
• Board of directors: From the treasurer; from the development committee 
• Other news:  New article by Okumura Roshi; bye bye bamboo
• Practice recap: Virtual dharma study intensive; work day
• Coming up: Holiday closures; Rohatsu sesshin; ryaku fusatsu
• American religious landscape:  Religious participation declines as kids grow up
• Sanshin Network: News from Germany, Minnesota and Italy

Just for fun:
What if Dogen Zenji taught using Western proverbs?

Many hands make light work.

A Western ancestor said, "Many hands make light work."  We should understand that all hands are doing the work of the light at all times and in all places.  The work of the hands is nothing other than the complete functioning of the light.  The light manifests itself through the work of the hands, and the hands completely realize the light.  The many hands are necessary to the light because they make it work.  However, do not think that there are many hands or few hands.  All hands are one hand.  Thus no hand carries the entire responsibility for the work and light  work does not become heavy.  Because the light shines continuously without obstruction, the working of the light is always light work.

We must practice our understanding that the hands and the light are completely one piece.  The thousand hands of Kannon are nothing other than the manifestation of the light, and the light is nothing other than the thousand hands of Kannon as they wave, point or clap.  The hands of fences, walls, tiles and pebbles are also like this.  They make light-work and yet they do not make anything.  If we can see the light-work we illuminate the ten-direction dharma world.  

And yet, there is light-work which is light and light-work which is dark.  Within light-work which is light, there are many hands.  Within light-work which is dark, there are no hands.  Our hands must practice and understand light-work which is light, light-work which is dark, and light-work which is beyond light and dark.  By their nature, all hands are working together without a gap and with none left out.  When the light is handed to us, we should investigate it thoroughly.   
-- Hoko

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From the Development Committee
Mark Jo-e Fraley

Sanshin Zen Community's development team is working to end the year strong.  We are two-thirds of the way to our year end goal of $25,000.  You can help us meet that goal by clicking here to make a donation.  We thank everyone who has made a contribution to Sanshin and especially extend our deepest gratitude to Norma Fogelberg, Jeff Alberts, Tonen O'Connor, Neil Chase, Karla Passalacqua, Laura Miller, Komyo Melfi, Henry Coffey, Mark Fraley, and Gene Elias for leading our annual fund drive.

Other news

New article by Okumura Roshi:  The most current issue of Buddhadharma takes as its theme "Glimpses of Buddha nature" and features a short piece by Okumura Roshi entitled "How Insentient Beings Expound Dharma."  The article is also available here on the Lion's Roar website. 

Bye bye bamboo:  During the October work day, practitioners completed removal of the large patch of yellow-groove bamboo that had been growing on the northeast edge of the temple grounds since before it was purchased by Sanshin.  This was in response to a notice from the city of Bloomington calling for its removal as a recently designated invasive species.  Since then, Sawyer, Sanshin's event coordinator, has been coordinating with the local sangha and small farmers in the area to distribute the large number of resulting bamboo poles for re-use in yard and farm projects such as fencing and plant-trellising.  A portion of the poles will remain at Sanshinji, primarily for use in fencing around the moss garden.  Since the bamboo had to go, we are glad to see it go to good use.

Volunteer Erik unloading bamboo; most of it 15 to 20 feet long, and 1 to 2 inches thick.

Erik and Sawyer with farmer Robert after dropping off bamboo at Sobremesa Farm.

Sawyer with Yvonne from the People's Cooperative Market, his main contact for coordinating with local farms.

Practice recap

Dharma study intensive: Founding teacher Okumura Roshi gave a series of ten morning lectures focused on Shobogenzo Zazenshin.  The virtual-only event was the successor to genzo-e, with a less strenuous lecture schedule for Okumura Roshi.  There was no "retreat" schedule beyond the daily lectures and Q&A periods; participants were encouraged to incorporate regular zazen practice throughout the ten days of the study intensive, as their own schedules and time zones allowed.  About 40 people participated on any given day, and a crew of three were in the zendo with Okumura Roshi to manage technical systems and provide general support.  The next lecture series is on the calendar for May 2 - 11, 2024, with the topic yet to be announced.

November work day: Sanshin's monthly work day was aimed at finishing the work of bamboo removal and yard cleanup as well as  preparing the building for Rohatsu sesshin.  Sangha members began installation of a barn door on the kitchen, constructed fold-down shelves in the hall for use during meal prep, recovered the remaining two chairs in the common room and began work on assembly of new folding tables for use during oryoki meals in the zendo.

Coming up

Holiday closures: Sanshin will be closed, with no practice activities or administrative work going on.

• November 23 - 25 for Thanksgiving
• December 24 - 26 for Christmas
• January 1 - 3 for New Year

Rohatsu sesshin (November 30 - December 8): Rohatsu sesshin marks Shakyamuni's awakening under the bodhi tree.  On the final evening we sit until midnight and hold a brief chanting service.  This is our longest and most intensive sesshin of the year.  LEARN MORE

Ryaku fusatsu:  Our monthly ceremony of renewing our aspiration to practice with the precepts happens December 18 at 7 pm.  Both in-person and virtual participation is possible, and everyone is welcome regardless of whether or not you've formally taken precepts.

Visit our Schedules and Calendars page for information on all upcoming events.

American religious landscape

Religious participation declines as kids grow up: A majority (80%) of Americans say they have a religious affiliation, and about 70% of those call themselves Christian.  However, the number of those who have a religious identity and are members of or attend a church, mosque, synagogue or temple has declined steeply in the last 20 years.  Although practicing a religion with family as a child is associated with regular participation in later life, most of those who attended regularly as children now say that attend infrequently if at all as adults.  Those who are not in the habit of regular religious participation say they think it unlikely their pattern will change.  Nonetheless, 16% of US adults who did not attend as children now attend weekly or nearly every week now.   LEARN MORE

Sanshin Network

German-language discussion of a text:  "Dharma Dinge," a free exchange about short dharma texts takes place via Zoom every Tuesday from 7-8 pm CET.  It is meant to be a safe place to share ideas and explore what this means for our lives.  Participants take turns in suggesting texts and moderating the group.  If you are interested, please email Jinryu Wachowitz.

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Minnesota sesshin: Mountains and Waters Zen Community will hold Rohatsu sesshin December 1-7.  Arrival is on Thursday evening November 30, with orientation on Friday morning.  Partial participation is welcome, and arrangements will be made for less experienced practitioners.  For details and registration, see this page. 

Gyoetsu tells her story:  Gyoetsu Epifania from Centro Zen Anshin is featured in a new web series celebrating women’s creativity, passion, and initiative.  "She has danced with the best of the best dancers, but she realized she wanted to do more for others - so she changed her practice to the power of Zen."

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