Sangha News for April

4/16/2025

Commentaries

Dōgen’s Chinese Poems (87)
The Thundering Canon
Commentary by Shohaku Okumura

Tripitaka Koreana

The traces of the teachings are here from the Buddha’s transformation of the great thousandfold world.
A raised fist produces clouds and thunder.
In this place converges the ocean of boundless meanings.
He is able to open the eighty thousand Dharma gates.

467. Dharma Hall Discourse for Appointing the [New] Librarian

“The great thousandfold world” is a translation of 三千大千世界 (sanzen daisen sekai). In Sanskrit: tri-sāhasra-mahā-sāhasro lokadhātuḥ. Other English translations are: “Three-thousandfold great-thousandfold world system” or “trichiliocosm.” This is like the entire universe we can hold in our imagination, the universe through which Shakyamuni Buddha’s influence reaches. This is also called the sāha world. In Mahāyāna Buddhist cosmology, a Buddha teaches the entire “great thousandfold world.” Other buddhas such as Amitabha Buddha, Medicine Master Buddha, etc. have their own great thousandfold world, outside Shakyamuni’s trichiliosm. The traces of Buddha’s teachings to edify all beings in this entire world is the collection of the Tripiṭaka. One set of Tripiṭaka scriptures is stored in the library at Eiheiji and the zōsu (librarian) is taking care of it.

When we read Dōgen’s verse, it is important to remember that the scriptures do not simply refer to written material on the paper; the librarian needs to take care of the true reality of all beings. READ MORE

I Vow With All Beings:
Danger and Difficulty
Commentary by Hoko Karnegis

WHEN IN DANGER AND DIFFICULTY,
I VOW WITH ALL BEINGS
TO BE FREE AND UNHINDERED
WHEREVER I GO.

In the traditional deck of Tarot cards there is one known as the Hanged Man. The image is of a man suspended upside down by his right ankle with his hands behind him, and one interpretation is of delay or stuckness that is of one’s own making, or the inability to move oneself forward by one’s own power.

When we’re faced with challenges, it can feel like there’s nothing we can do. There’s a barrier in front of us called danger and difficulty, and there’s no getting over or around it. It seems we just have to sit here, immobilized, trapped, waiting for something, anything to happen.

Yet if we’re successful in overcoming our challenges, it’s often because suddenly we gain a new perspective. Aha! I do have agency in this situation. There is something I can do. It’s not the obvious thing, or the easiest thing, but why not consider all possibilities? Are we not actually free and unhindered all the time, until we decide we’re not? READ MORE

In this issue:

Commentaries: The thundering canon; Danger and difficulty
New on the web: Sanshin Source; 108 Gates; Sunday talks
News: Message from the head priest of Sotoshu for 2025; New book featuring Okumura Roshi
Practice recap: Buddhist essentials series complete; Buddha's birthday; Sewing retreat; April work day
Coming up: Virtual dharma study intensive; Nyoho food; 5-day June sesshin
Sanshin Network: A book by Shodo Spring

New on the web

Sanshin Source:

Zazen That Amounts to Nothing: Shundo Aoyama describes her experience of sesshin at Antaiji led by Uchiyama Roshi
Sawaki Roshi's 20th century nyoho-e movement
Appetite Is Also a Blessing by Shundo Aoyama
Videos at the Sawaki Nyoho-e Treasury:
- Koun Franz on nyoho materials, color and amount
- Hoko on "covering the canal with a kesa"
Buddhist essentials: 18 important topics to know

108 Gates: New written commentaries from Hoko on the 108 Gates of Dharma Illumination are posted HERE each Monday.

Sunday talks on Youtube:

Mar 16th: Myogen Ahlstrom -- The naked dharma

Mar 23: Hoko -- The kesa covers the canal
Mar 30: Hoko on Kodo Sawaki and the 20th century nyoho-e movement

News

A message from the Head Priest of Sotoshu in 2025:
Every year the head priest of Sotoshu gives an official message. The following is a translation offered by Sotoshu for English speakers.

The various problems facing the world today are complex and layered. It is not an exaggeration to say that the crisis threatening basic human rights, such as the right to live in peace and the dignity of life, is only growing.

As followers of Shakyamuni Buddha and two founders of Soto Zen Buddhism, we must know the sure path to follow.
Shakyamuni Buddha realized the law of dependent origination (the interconnectedness of all things) and, through his wisdom, observed everything correctly. He demonstrated with his own life that harmony with others is achieved through compassion. This way of life, free from self-interest and egoism, is what we should follow.

Dogen Zenji taught, “Learn the backward step that turns the light and shines it inwards.” This means to pause in our steps, adjust our breath, step back two or three paces, and humbly reflect on our actions in the light of the Buddhist path.

Keizan Zenji taught, “We must always generate thoughts of harmony and reconciliation.” The disturbance of harmony is, throughout all ages, caused by human self-interest and desire, namely greed. It is this greed that is the source of suffering and the root of conflict.

Since this world is impermanent and selfless, the sun and moon shine without personal attachment, illuminating everything. We too wish to engage with all things and all circumstances with the utmost sincerity.

The act of gassho (palms together in reverence) is to align oneself with the Buddha. By engaging in zazen (seated meditation), where we can awaken to the Buddha within ourselves, let us pray and wish for a peaceful life for all people across the world, ensuring that no one is left behind. Let us continue to practice the way of the Bodhisattva together.

Gassho
Homage to the Buddha Shakyamuni
Homage to Zen Master Dogen, Great Master Joyo, Eminent Ancestor
Homage to Zen Master Keizan, Great Master Josai, Great Ancestor

1 April 2025
Donin Minamisawa
Head Priest of the Sotoshu

New book featuring Okumura Roshi: When Thinking is a Problem is a collection of essays examining the activity of thinking and how it is a primary factor in suffering at the individual as well as at the collective level, while at the same time, a necessary function that is often taken for granted and misused.

The collection includes a chapter and translation by Okumura Roshi. The book is edited by Charles Eigen, who practices at Milwaukee Zen Center, and is now available for pre-order.

Practice recap

Buddha's birthday: The sangha marked Buddha's birthday on Sunday, April 6th with a dharma talk by Okumura Roshi and our brief annual ceremony. Buddha's birthday is one of the sanbukki, or three Buddha days, marking the important event's in Shakyamuni's life -- his birth, awakening, and death. Our Dogen Institute recently published an e-book (Plum Blossoms in the Snow) featuring teachings given on these three days over the years at Sanshin by Okumura Roshi and Hoko.

Shakyamuni to Sanshin: Buddhist essentials series complete (resources now available)

About thirty practitioners, in person and online, participated in a six-week series led by Hoko introducing eighteen fundamental Buddhist study topics and the ways in which they underpin our practice at Sanshin today. Most of Hoko's remarks during the series, divided according to topic (see video at right), are now available along with curated resources on the Buddhist Essentials page of Sanshin Source. Much appreciation to local practitioner Will for his involvement in editing these recordings so that they can remain available for the long term.

Sewing retreat: This year's cohort of three lay precepts recipients spent the week of April 7 - 14 sewing their rakusu, which they will formally receive as part of the jukai-e ceremony at the end of this year's precepts retreat in July. Two others dropped in for parts of the retreat to sew robes along their paths to ordination and dharma transmission. Esho Morimoto led several hours of sewing instruction each day, Hoko and Yuko offered teachings and presentations related to the meaning of sewing and wearing nyoho-e, and Hoko and Hosshin (this year's preceptor) worked together to cook meals for the participants. Recordings of Hoko's and Yuko's presentations will be made available in relevant sections of Sanshin Source in the coming weeks.

April work day: The sangha gathered at Sanshin for our monthly work day on Sunday April 13th. Inside the temple, practitioners worked on electrical wiring in and around the zendo while sewing retreat participants continued to sew their rakusu. In the breezy sunny weather outside, practitioners weeded the moss garden and native flower planting area, cleared the area where a new toolshed will be placed later this year, and screened our temple compost heap toward use in our sangha vegetable garden plot. Our next work day is scheduled for May 11th.

Coming up

Virtual dharma study intensive on Ejo's Komyozo-Zanmai (register by Tues, Apr 29th)
May 1 - 10, 2025, 10 - Noon online 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), a text 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 BY APR 29

Tangible Thusness: Exploring nyoho food this May - August

Continuing our yearlong investigation of the teachings of nyoho (things done or made according to dharma), we'll shift our primary focus from clothing to food during the second third of the year, May - August. Clothing, food, and shelter are traditionally regarded as the "three faces" of nyoho. Look out for Sunday talks as well as regular opportunities to engage in communal food practice through oryoki meals, local farm partnerships, and participation in our sangha vegetable garden.

5-day June sesshin (June 3 - 8): 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. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

Sanshin Network

Upcoming book release from Shodo Spring: Pre-orders are now being accepted ahead of the September release of a book by Shodo Spring, a dharma heir of Okumura Roshi, who leads practice at Mountains and Waters Alliance in Minnesota. The book is titled Open Reality: Meeting the Polycrisis Together With All Beings. Shodo writes:

When Dharma eye looks at modern existence, things open up. This book is a deep dive into that opening, including questions of human nature, relationship with all sentient beings, and ways to open up our lives to allow the whole world to flourish.

Shodo Spring practiced at Sanshinji from 2004 to 2011. Her teaching now grows from that training and from learning and practicing permaculture during that time. LEARN MORE AND PRE-ORDER

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