Sangha News for December 2021

When will we meet the compassionate Buddha?

Shohaku Okumura

Dōgen’s Chinese Poems (48)
When Will We Meet the Compassionate Buddha?

In Crane Forest with the moon fallen, how could dawn appear?
In Kusi[nagara] flowers wither, and spring is not spring.
Amid love and yearning, what can this confused son do?
I wish to stop these red tears, and join in wholesome action.

“Crane Forest” is a translation of kakurin (鶴林). It is said that at the place of the Buddha’s passing away, there were four twin trees of sāla—together, eight trees surround the Buddha’s death bed. The flowers of those sāla trees suddenly bloom and change their color into white, as if white cranes are flying. Therefore, the place came to be called Crane Forest. In paintings of the Parinirvāna, half of the sāla trees are withered and the leaves have become brown; another half of the tees continue to flourish with green leaves. This shows the impermanence of rupa-body and the eternity of Dharma body. The Buddha’s mother Queen Maya is coming down from the heavens. She wants to offer some medicine, but it seems too late, so she throws the medicine down. But still, it is not in time. Monks, bodhisattvas, lay people, and heavenly beings come to see the Buddha’s passing away. Not only human and heavenly beings, but also all different kinds of living beings gather around the death bed to show their respect and sadness.  READ MORE

​In This Issue:

• Okumura Roshi: When will we meet the compassionate Buddha?
• Practice recap: Rohatsu sesshin
• Other news:  Techinology and facilities committees seeking members, gifts of calligraphy, Sanshin prepares for Sotoshu's 100th anniversary, Okumura Roshi podcast available
• Coming up: January sesshin, Introduction to Dogen retreat, March sesshin, Experiencing Zen
• Sanshin Network: Great Wind launches new publication, Austria COVID update, Kyoku helps lead Buddhist women in Germany

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Holiday closures

Please note that Sanshin will be closed for the following holidays and regular practice will not be held.

• Christmas: Friday, December 24 through Sunday, December 26
• New Year: Saturday, January 1 through Tuesday, January 4

Practice recap

Some of the participants in the Rohatsu sesshin, following the midnight service.

Rohatsu sesshin:  Local practitioners returned to the zendo for Rohatsu sesshin, the first relatively normal sesshin held at Sanshin since the pandemic shutdown nearly two years ago.  Participants sat for seven days and concluded by sitting until midnight on the last day and holding a brief chanting service.  Everyone remained masked in accordance with Monroe County mandates.  Since nearly all participants were commuters, returning home each night and arriving again in the morning, the daily schedule was shortened slightly to allow time for both driving and getting adequate sleep.  Virtual participants came and went during the seven days as their lives permitted.

Other news

Practitioners participate in morning zazen, service and soji both in person and virtually.

Technology and facilities committees seeking members:  Sanshin needs your skills to help us spread the dharma.  We are in particular need of people with technological understanding to help  1) assess hardware and software needs 2) develop new technological tools and leverage existing ones to enhance our infrastructure and 3) store, archive, and maintain works created by Okumura Roshi.  If this meets your skillset, we encourage you to inquire about participating on our technology committee.
 
We also need people to help the sangha make best possible use of its facilities and assess possibilities for expanding our Bloomington campus.  If you have knowledge of architecture, construction, building trades or space planning, we encourage you to enquire about our facilities committee.  

All interested parties are encouraged to reach out to board chair Mark Fraley to find out more information.

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Gifts of calligraphy:  Bloomington resident Woody McGee has given several pieces of calligraphy to Sanshin, items he acquired in Japan many years ago.  A large framed copy of the Hannya Shingyo now hangs in the stairway on the way to the zendo.  Additional pieces of cursive calligraphy have also been added to Sanshin's collection.

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Sanshin prepares for Sotoshu's 100th anniversary:  Hoko was in Los Angeles for the annual conference of the Association of Soto Zen Buddhists, arriving several days early in order to work with staff there on the jukai ceremony scheduled for next November.  The 5-day event, at which 100 people will receive the precepts, will mark the 100th anniversary of Soto Zen in North America.  Hoko will serve as ino, leading chanting in both shomyo (melodic) and more everyday style.  Shoryu Bradley will serve as assistant ino, Okumura Roshi will give one of the dharma talks, and board members Mark Fraley and Gene Elias will be among those receiving the precepts.  Board member Zuiko Redding will participate, representing her sangha at Cedar Rapids Zen Center, as will Mark Myogen Ahlstrom who maintains dual citizenship, if you will, in both the Cedar Rapids and Sanshin sanghas.

Hoko serves as ino for the conference's closing ceremony, Photo by Gyokei Yokoyama.

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Okumura Roshi podcast available:  Sanshin's founder talked informally with David Chadwick on this podcast in late November.

Coming up

January sesshin (6 - 9):  ​Sesshin at Sanshin is an opportunity to practice 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.  We practice in complete silence following a 4 am to 8 pm daily schedule that consists simply of thirteen 50-minute periods of zazen with one-hour periods for 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 Antaji in Kyoto, Japan.  We carry on and offer this tradition of our lineage here at Sanshin.  More information about in-personal participation for local practitioners and virtual participation for others is here.

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Introduction to Dogen retreat with Hoko:  Dogen's writings are a lifetime study, and one introductory weekend isn't nearly enough to prepare participants to study the Shobogenzo on their own.  However, this retreat introduces basic elements of Dogen's teaching and provides some grounding in the major themes, the structure of his writing and awareness of the texts he found influential.  While this retreat is not a prerequisite for genzo-e participation, those aspiring to participate in such study may find it helpful.  More information about in-personal participation for local practitioners and virtual participation for others is here.

March sesshin in honor of Uchiyama Roshi (10 - 13):  Uchiyama Roshi's memorial day is March 13.  We will sit in recognition of  the very important role our founder's teacher has played in the development of the practice we carry out at Sanshin today.  More information about in-personal participation for local practitioners and virtual participation for others is here.

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Experiencing Zen: An Introduction to the Basics (begins April 4, 7 pm):  We'll explore what Zen Buddhism is really all about, beginning with the central ideas of Buddhism itself and moving on to the teachings and practices particular to its Zen form. Class will include instruction in sitting practice (zazen) and walking practice (kinhin), as well as plenty of time for questions and discussion. Enthusiastic participants in this class from previous years went on to form a zazen/book discussion group that is still meeting today.  Class is taught by Doju Layton at Ivy Tech Community College.  Complete information is here.

Sanshin Network

Great Wind launches new publication:  Mark Hotoku Howell reports that the first issue of Midwest Zen is now available online and on paper.  The small magazine was created by Great Wind Zendo in Danville, IN and includes material from Okumura Roshi and from Hoko in this inaugural issue, which also marks the center's seventh anniversary.  Mark observes, "While Zen is Zen, it moves and resides in individuals individually. The practice contains our beliefs, delusions, and actions and invites us to let them all go. That journey is unique for each person and Midwest Zen hopes to share the experiences of a variety of people."

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Austria COVID update:  Shinko Hagn from Daijihi sends this report of life and practice in Vienna during a time of repeated lockdowns.

We are in the middle of the 5th full lockdown in Vienna for three weeks now, all shops are closed, with the exception of pharmacies and supermarkets. Hotels and restaurants are closed, too. There is a 24/7 curfew, leaving the apartment is allowed only for working, walking, and taking care of relatives. There are a lot of police patrols and high fines.  In addition, compulsory vaccination has been announced for everyone over the age of 14 from February on, the law has already been sent out for assessment.  There will be high fines and prison sentences for those who are not willing to vaccinate.  This 5th lockdown was decided practically overnight and is a real shock for many.   In addition, we have had the 3rd Chancellor (the highest political position) within two months and none of the last two were elected.

This harshness of the measures and the way all of this is communicated is difficult to understand for anybody who does not live in Austria.  This enormous pressure that is built up here does something to everyone, people feel more and more paralyzed, it’s a burden many cannot carry much longer.  I don't know how people can live their lives under these circumstances without practice.  We keep our zendo open, religious practice is allowed and a few courageous people come, too.  Our prison chaplaincy currently consists of phone calls and letter writing.  In addition, we support a constantly growing group of people with guided meditations, which is very helpful for many in this situation.  We try to help wherever we can.

 A time of great challenge, a tremendous practice. 

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Kyoku helps lead Buddhist women in Germany:  At a recent meeting of Sakyadhita Germany, Kyoku Lutz of Frühlingsmond Zendo in Hannover was named a member of the advisory board, representing East Asian Chan/Zen.  She will serve with Ayya Phalanyani representing the Theravada tradition and Rev. Vajramala representing Tibetan Buddhism.  Sakyadhita (literally "Daughter of Buddha") aims to unite Buddhist women of various countries and traditions, to promote their welfare, and to facilitate their work for the benefit of humanity. Sakyadhita now has nearly 2,000 members in 45 countries around the world.

Kyoku also notes that during these times of COVID distress, her center is freely open on Tuesdays for silent use from 11 am till 5 pm for those who wish to sit, study and rest.

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