Sangha News for January

1/15/2026

January 2026 - In this issue:

Commentary: Taking refuge in the Buddha
From our directors: Thank you!
Practice recap: Introduction to sesshin workshop; January work day

Coming up: World of Soto Zen 2026; Sanshin Salon; Quiet February practice; Uchiyama Roshi memorial sesshin; "Mind itself is Buddha" discussion series with Tonen

Sanshin Network: News from Arkansas and Bloomington

Jizo figurines at home on the common room altar at Sanshin.

Commentary

I Vow With All Beings:
Taking Refuge in Buddha
Commentary and artwork by
Hoko Karnegis

TAKING REFUGE IN THE BUDDHA,
I VOW WITH ALL BEINGS
TO CONTINUE THE LINEAGE OF BUDDHAS,
CONCEIVING THE UNEXCELLED ASPIRATION.

This gāthā is the first of three that we know elsewhere collectively as the Verse of the Three Refuges (San kirai mon 三歸禮文). This first one relates to the Buddha, while the remaining two are about the dharma and the sangha; we’ll consider those in the next two essays.

In the kanji for taking refuge (kie 歸依), the first means to return, with a sense of coming home. The second is about depending or relying on something. When we first encounter Buddhism and learn that taking refuge in the Three Treasures is one of the first steps on the path, it may seem strange that we’re to come home to something that’s new to us. Yet somehow, as we practice, we may feel that this way of being in the world seems comfortable and familiar, like something we’ve been searching for all along. Ah, yes, this is how things really are, in spite of my preconceptions and self-involved ideas. I’m beginning to see that now. That’s where trust begins, and it starts to make sense that what we can really rely on is what’s real, rather than the fabrications in our heads. Buddha may sometimes be a tough taskmaster, reminding us that we can’t ignore what’s right in front of us even if we want to look away, but we know that we can trust him, and the awakening that he embodies, to show us the truth. READ MORE

New resources on the web

Sanshin Source

What's new at Sanshin Source?

We've put a link on the Tonen's Teachings page to her recent talk on paying attention for Hokyoji Zen Practice Community.
We've reorganized the site based on the updated practice vision.
There's a new section on our storytelling tradition, which will be expanded throughout 2026.
The final translated chapters of Kesa no Kenkyuu (Study of the Okesa) have been posted and linked from the Sawaki Nyoho-e Treasury.
We've rewritten the page on the purpose of sesshin and added one on sesshin downtime.
There's a new entry on Tonen's blog, Thinking About Dharma.
There are monthly essays on the I Vow page.

Dharma talks

Dec 14: Doju - Why is Shakyamuni Buddha's awakening meaningful?
Dec 21: Esho - Sawaki Roshi's early life and practice
Dec 28: Hoko - Nyoho: Past & present in accord with dharma

108 Gates

[108] The wisdom that leads us from one state to another state

and, somehow, one more:

[109] The state in which water is sprinkled on the head

Sanshin's sangha celebrated the completion of Hoko's series of talks on the 108 Gates with a good old cherry cobbler.

Sanshin's monthly board meetings are open to the public.

Those who wish are welcome to listen in on this month's meeting on Sunday, January 25th, from 7 - 8:30 pm ET, using the regular Zoom link on our virtual practice page.

Jubyo ("longevity rice cakes") made by ordained sangha at Sanshin and offered to their teachers. Good New Year's wishes to all!

From our directors

Successful end-of-year appeal: Together, we raised over $28,000 during our annual end-of-year appeal, surpassing our goal. These funds will be used to directly support our daily practice and maintain our temple and facilities as a solid base for shared engagement with the Buddha Way, as we continue to offer practice opportunities on-site, facilitate virtual participation and programming, and provide study opportunities through our Dogen Institute and Sanshin Source.

Where ever we are in this world, may our practice bring us together to share peace and joy. Thank you for your practice and for supporting Sanshin.

With Gratitude,
Mark Fraley, Norma Fogelberg, Tonen O'Connor, and Gene Elias
Sanshin Development Committee

Practice recap

Introduction to sesshin workshop: Nine practitioners participated in the Introduction to Sesshin workshop led by Doju Layton at Sanshin on January 10th, learning and deepening their understanding of the simple shared forms we carry out at Sanshin, oryoki meal practice, and the meaning of zazen and sesshin in the context of our everyday lives and practice. Participants reported appreciating the extended opportunity to talk through and ask questions about practical details, and an expanding sense of the importance of the communal aspect of sesshin practice.

January work day: The sangha gathered for our monthly work day on a chilly Sunday, January 11th. Practitioners worked on trouble-shooting Okumura Roshi's office printer, developing a budget for Sanshin's technology needs, changing furnace filters, and re-organizing several temple storage spaces, sharing a warm meal of Indian food in the middle of the day. Thank you for your work practice!

In the work meeting, Hosshin, Clark, and Jeff laugh at the never-ending list of work priorities.

A new shelf puts our lawnmower and weed trimmer batteries in order!

Coming up

Our practice theme for 2026: World of Soto Zen

Our look at the world of Soto Zen will have two aspects. One is the way we understand and describe our core beliefs and values. We might call it "what it means to be a Soto Zen Buddhist." The other is the ways we express or manifest that identity in the world: our denomination as a human organization, Soto Zen culture, how we express and interact with the dharma and incorporate teachings and practice into our lives. LEARN MORE

Winter Sanshin Salon: Transmitting Tales - RSVP by Jan 28th
Saturday, Jan 31st

Join us for an in-person evening salon that offers sangha fellowship as the backdrop to discussion of the role of myths and stories in our practice of Soto Zen: transmitting the tradition, building connections and community, and encouraging personal and spiritual growth. Learn more & RSVP by Jan 28th.

Quiet February simplified practice schedule: During February and August at Sanshin, the regular practice schedule becomes quieter, less busy, and more focused on zazen. We let go of chanting services and Shobogenzo Zuimonki readings on weekday mornings, most Sunday dharma talks (which are replaced by one more period of zazen), and all evening practice activities. Keep an eye on our Schedules & Calendars page to see how regular practice activities shift next month.

3-day Uchiyama Roshi memorial sesshin
Mar 5 - 8

We dedicate our March sesshin each year to the memory of Kosho Uchiyama Roshi, the teacher of our founder, Shohaku Okumura. As he is one of the main shapers of Sanshin style, we can't help but be grateful for Uchiyama Roshi's life and practice. He died on March 13, 1998. We will hold a brief memorial service following the usual Sunday morning zazen and dharma talk, given by Okumura Roshi himself - as it happens, this will be the final talk in his long-running series on Uchiyama Roshi's foundational book Opening the Hand of Thought. Learn more & register.

"During sesshin, we don't do anything as individuals." Read more about the purpose of sesshin in a new essay by Hoko, part of a series on understanding Sanshin-style sesshin.

Sokushin zebutsu: Mind itself is Buddha
Mar 12, 19, & 26 OR Mar 16, 23 & 30 online with Tonen O'Connor

Practitioners are invited to join Tonen O'Connor, longtime friend of Sanshin and resident priest emerita of the Milwaukee Zen Center, for a series of three virtual discussions exploring a central teaching in the Soto Zen tradition: "Mind Itself is Buddha" (sokushin zebutsu). We'll delve into the meaning(s) of its component terms -- Mind, Itself, and Buddha -- to discover how they work together to create the vast, beautiful and ever-changing world Buddhism speaks of. We will also take a look at why shikantaza is paired with teachings on sokushin zebutsu. Understanding Mind itself is Buddha is particularly important within the context of this year's practice theme. Learn more & register.

For a complete listing of our regular practice activities and upcoming extended practice opportunities, visit our Schedules & Calendars page.

Sanshin Network

Shoryu's dharma activities: Shoryu was recently appointed to the newly formed Ethics Committee for Soto Zen North America (he is also already a member of Sanshin's own Ethics & Restorative Justice Committee).

Shoryu was also recently interviewed on the podcast of Dharma Gates, a nonprofit organization dedicated to opening pathways into deep meditation practice for young adults.

Japanese language study opportunity: Esho Morimoto offers lessons or tutoring for basic conversational Japanese, online or in person. If there is interest in forming small classes and studying with others, that may be possible. Note that this offering is not about translating Dogen texts, reading classical Japanese, or doing other high-level Buddhist study. However, some knowledge of basic Japanese can be very helpful for practitioners, especially those planning to practice in Japan itself.

Please contact Esho directly for more information or to make arrangements.

Are we reaching you?

Do we have the best and most current contact information for you? If you've changed your e-mail address or moved to a new place of residence, or if we've never had complete information about how to reach you, it's time to update your record. Please take a moment to go here to send us the contact information you'd like us to use. We'll check it against your current record and update as needed. Don't miss any of the upcoming communications from Sanshin -- update your info today!

We're grateful for the financial support of our many friends and community members worldwide. Coming together as a sangha to take care of our temple and practice in this way is simply an instance of the universe carrying out its functioning. Thank you for your participation!