 Buddhism grew out of the ancient Indian sramana (‘one who strives’) tradition, also sometimes called the ‘renouncer or ascetic tradition,’ and its continuity was dependent on the offerings of the wider society for material support. Siddhartha Gautama followed this tradition prior to his awakening as Buddha. And it has continued as a basis of our practice since the time when Rome was a small village. But what does that mean in these modern times? Just like there's no practice without practitioners, the dedicated financial support of our wide-ranging community also remains essential to Sanshin's part in carrying forward the Soto Zen tradition in the West. With your support and involvement, we strive together to create and offer a field of merit through teachings, research, practice resources, and numerous opportunities to gather and practice in community. In January of last year, I provided the following breakdown: “Our largest expenses have been and will continue to be teaching, research and content generation – that is by far our primary mission.” And so it was in 2024, which also included growth in program-related income. For 2025, we have approved a budget that continues to focus on these priorities, while ensuring that our facilities are safe, inviting, and suitable for practice. Your gifts of financial support continue to be vital in enabling Sanshin to make Soto Zen practice available in our own particular style, grounded in the teachings of the Buddha, Dōgen Zenji, and Sawaki, Uchiyama and Okumura Roshis. If you have questions about Sanshin's finances, please email me. Thank you for your practice and support, and may your life be filled with kindness, joy and magnanimity.  Other newsRecent and upcoming publications connected to our lineage: Books featuring the work of Okumura Roshi, Hoko Karnegis, Uchiyama Roshi, and Shinshu Roberts will be published this year. Translators include Daitsu Tom Wright, Howard Lazzarini, and Okumura Roshi. You can click on the cover images below for more information.
Practice recapDharma offerings from 'Being Old' participants: Our three part virtual discussion series on The Zen Practice of Being Old, with Tonen O'Connor, was completed in January. A recap of some of the group's collaborative conclusions on being old, as well as examples of the yuige (death poems) written by participants, are now available on Sanshin Source.
Coming up Nirvana day: This Sunday, February 16th, we will mark the occasion of Shakyamuni Buddha's parinirvana (passing away, or "nirvana without remainder") with a brief ceremony and a potluck lunch. 9:10 am Zazen 10:10 Dharma talk by Hoko: Death and the robe ~11:15 Nirvana day ceremony, followed by a potluck lunch Although this Sunday's schedule departs from the simplified schedule of this month's other three Sundays, the occasion is in keeping with our less busy attitude, offering space for practicing with our tradition's central teachings on life-and-death and impermanence. All are welcome to participate.  Uchiyama Roshi memorial sesshin (Mar 6 - 9): Sesshin at Sanshin is an opportunity to practice zazen without distraction. We dedicate our March sesshin each year to the memory of Kosho Uchiyama Roshi, the teacher of our founder, Shohaku Okumura and author of the foundational book Opening the Hand of Thought. We will hold a brief memorial service following the usual Sunday morning zazen and dharma talk, given by Okumura Roshi himself. LEARN MORE & REGISTER  Buddhist essentials: Shakyamuni to Sanshin Six Wednesday evenings, Mar 5 - Apr 9, 7 - 8:30 pm Beginning in March, Hoko will lead a six-evening lecture and discussion series tracing the connections between foundational early Buddhist teachings, through the development of Mahayana teachings and practice, and into the history of the Soto Zen tradition and practice at Sanshin and beyond today. The material is intended to be accessible and useful for all practitioners, whether beginner or experienced. Those just establishing their practice are especially encouraged to attend in order to gain a firm foundation for zazen, work, study and ritual going forward as members of the sangha. Note that these sessions will replace our usual Wednesday evening dharma book discussions between March 5th and April 9th, and will allow extra time for Q&A, ending by 8:30 ET at the latest each evening. All are welcome to participate, virtually or in-person. There is no registration or fee, and donations are welcome and appreciated.  Save-the-date: Virtual dharma study intensive with Okumura Roshi on Koun Ejo's Komyozo-zanmai (The Samadhi of the Radiant Light Treasury) May 1 - 10, 2025 (10am - noon ET) 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), 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. Registration for this virtual-only event is not yet open; look out for further details in the coming weeks! For full information on our regular and upcoming practice activities, visit our Schedules & Calendars page. Sanshin NetworkSanshin Network teachers gather in Mons, Belgium: Mokusho's report:
EUROPEAN SANSHIN NETWORK First Teachers’ Meeting Daishinji (Mons, Belgium), February 6th-9th, 2025 The desire for closer collaboration between the European heirs of the lineage of Kodo Sawaki Roshi, Uchiyama Roshi and Okumura Roshi arose a few years ago, just before the first wave of Covid. A date had been set to meet in Mons, but the health situation and the multiple restrictions imposed by the authorities prevented the meeting from taking place. In July 2024, Jokei Lambert Sensei, a disciple of Joshin Bachoux Sensei and Aoyama Roshi, took the initiative of inviting Shoju-san, Doryu-san and Mokushō-san to give teachings at the Demeure Sans Limites (Hokaiji, Saint-Agrève, France). It was at this point that the idea of a network re-surfaced. This led to the organisation of a meeting in Mons in February 2025. This meeting gave us the opportunity to work and relax together. All this helped to strengthen the links that already existed between us, and we decided to meet once a year if possible, in February-March if possible, always in an informal and friendly setting, as Dharma brothers and sisters. Our discussions focused mainly on topics chosen from among the many suggestions made by all the participants. The main themes proposed were: teaching within the sangha; communicating with people who are not practising but who might be interested in the Dharma (the market place: how to reach people without resorting to ‘advertising’, which often opens the door to illusions); financing practice centres; voluntary work for the benefit of vulnerable people in hospitals, prisons, etc.; the isolation of teachers living far from the big urban centres; the teachers’ vision of their own center (offering an urban setting conducive to meditation; a place for spreading the Dharma; a space for inner peace in the midst of nature, etc.). The group decided to address the first two subjects proposed: teaching the Dharma and communicating with non-practitioners (the so-called ‘outside’ world, the marketplace). The various aspects of the discussion were addressed in relation to the following questions: Teaching what? To whom? What for? How? When? These questions and many others should enable the teacher to accompany the practitioner on the Way, in the knowledge that each person has different skills, potential and characteristics, and that one person’s Way is not necessarily another’s Way. During the week-end, a great deal of space has been set aside for the notion of upaya [as: an (enlightened) person’s ability to tailor their message to a specific audience]. Tea ceremony, ikebana, calligraphy, chanting, even “blessings” (see below) can be skilful means, specific ways to touch people and open them up to the Dharma by paying attention to the body (the deep meaning of gestures; the way you give something to someone; developing listening skills by listening to the body, etc.); we can respond to a request for a ‘blessing’ for (a) pets(s); we can listen to a practitioner who has had a miscarriage and create a space in the temple where she can meditate or light a candle if she feels the need; etc. Someone noted: - “My body is my temple”; “the practice of body and mind” - “Do we teach what people want to hear?” - “What we teach is not “our” teaching”. The way we teach can be personal. - If I change, the world changes. All discussions were very inspiring: teachers learning from their fellows’ experience(s). For the first arrivals in Belgium, the trip began with a visit to the Bois du Cazier colliery, the site of a huge mining disaster in which 262 miners of twelve different nationalities, including 136 Italians, perished on 8 August 1956. This day is commemorated every year in Italy. Not only the Italians among us, but everyone present was deeply moved by this visit to the site of the disaster, which is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Those who stayed a little longer in Belgium visited a very fine exhibition, Buddha, the experience of sentience, at the Royal Museum in Mariemont. It’s important to point out that Jisho san took part in all our work. Everyone was delighted to have her with us. We are convinced that she can become an important link in our sangha between the European Sanshin Network and Japan. We’d like to make her our ‘ambassador’ for the future. Participants: Koryu-san (Vienna), Jinryu-san (Germany), Gyoriki-san (Germany), Moku-shō-san (Belgium), Gyoetsu-san (Rome), Shinko-san (Vienna), Doryu-san (Rome), Ten-shin-san (Brussels), Jokei-san (France), Myōsen-san (Belgium), Jisho-san (Japan), Shoju-san (Alès, France, online) Shinko & Koryu's report:
Finally, after a 5-year delay due to the pandemic, the Dharma leaders of the European Sanshin network met in person at Daishinji, Mons (Belgium). Warmly welcomed by our hosts Mokusho and Myosen, we enjoyed several days of discussions, practice, cultural events and relaxed times. Sanshin community members from all over Europe took part: Doryu and Gyoetsu from Italy, Gyoriki and Jinryu from Germany, Jisho from Japan, Shinko and Koryu from Austria as well as Shoju from France (online). Two close friends of the Sangha, Jokei from France and Tenshin from Belgium, joined the meeting as well. In a workshop-like manner, we explored several topics of interest and then settled for two main questions: How do we communicate our way of practice to people before they come to the Zendo? And how do we teach the Dharma? These inspiring exchanges were accompanied by cultural trips to a former mining site, where hundreds of Italian workers died in the 1950s, and an exhibition showing Buddha statues, pictures, and ceremonial objects. As with many meetings, the most fruitful conversations happened over dinner, where we discovered several ways how we can support each other, be it with encouragement, practice opportunities, or a wonderful cup of matcha skillfully prepared by Jisho-san. Our thanks also go to the Sangha at Daishinji who supported us by lending a car and cooking lunch. This was only the first meeting of many more to come. The idea is to rotate places all across Europe. Sadly, we could not be there on the last day because we had to leave for Japan (on a business trip for our teashop and a meeting with Dharma friends in Tokyo). We are deeply grateful for experiencing the community spirit of Sanshin. It is extremely helpful to realize that we're all facing similar, if not the same, challenges, and that there is a dharma family that supports us.
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March 2025
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