Sangha News for June 2022

6/15/2022

Dōgen’s Chinese Poems (54)
A Pitiful Condition
Shohaku Okumura

335. Dharma Hall Discourse
Tathāgata Zen and Ancestral Zen
were not transmitted by the ancients, but only transmitted falsely
in the Eastern Land (China).
For several hundred years some have been clinging with delusion
to these vain names.
How pitiful is the inferior condition of this degenerating world.

This dharma discourse was given during the summer practice period in 1249. Taigen Leighton and I took this title for the discourse from the fourth line. In Shōbōgenzō and Eihei Kōroku, Dōgen Zenji often criticizes various aspects of the Zen he encountered in Song Dynasty China. This verse is about one of the problems he found. He does not agree with the distinction between Tathāgata Zen and Ancestral Zen.

Tathāgata Zen is a translation of Nyorai Zen (如来禅). This expression is used in the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra (Nyū-Ryōgakyō, 入楞伽経). According to scholars, this Mahāyāna sutra was created around the 4th century CE in India. Lanka refers to Sri Lanka; avatāra means “to enter,” so that the title means “Entering Sri Lanka.” In this sutra, somehow, Shakyamuni Buddha is invited by the king, visits Sri Lanka, and answers his questions. Basically, the teaching in this sutra is a combination of the consciousness-only theory of the Yogacara school and the theory of Tathāgata-garbha. READ MORE

In This Issue:

Okumura Roshi: A pitiful condition
Practice recap: Sesshin with Shodo, hossenshiki for Issan
Other news: Video series rolling out, no-mow May, Dogen Institute seeks graphic design volunteer, anniversary preparations continue
Coming up: Shoji workshop with Issan, virtual talks from Okumura Roshi, virtual precepts retreat
Sanshin Network: News from France, Belgium, Arkansas, California

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!

Practice recap

Sesshin with Shodo: Our thanks to Shodo Spring of the Mountains and Waters Alliance for coming from Minnesota to lead our June sesshin. Participants say it was a peaceful time of intensive practice before the many activities of hossenshiki, work days and precepts retreat that take up the rest of the month.

Hossenshiki for Issan: Special guests Gengo Akiba, Teijo Munnich and Koyu Mori were on hand for ceremonies recognizing the coming completion of Issan's term as shuso. After a three year delay due to the pandemic, the hossenshiki finally allowed him to demonstrate his dharma mastery to the sangha and his readiness to teach and serve independently. For the first time, virtual participants were also present and able to ask their dharma questions. Additional photos are posted on Sanshin's Facebook page.

Other news

Video series rolling out: Most of Interior Mythos Journeys' latest series with Okumura Roshi has now been posted. The four remaining segments will be posted over the next four Thursdays, then the full interview (1 hour 39 minutes), is scheduled for Thursday, July 14th.

No-mow May: Residential practitioner Sawyer explains: You may have noticed that during the month of May, some areas of the lawn were left unmowed. This was done as an offering to grasses, flowers, pollinating insects, and all beings on through the food web. In early spring, many bees and other pollinating insects are re-emerging from the winter, and nectar sources are scarce. By not mowing for a month, we allowed flowers such as fleabane, wild strawberry, violets, wood sorrel, clovers, and grasses themselves to develop fully, also thereby providing an early season food source for pollinators. As the season progresses, the wildflowers in the native plant meadow on the east side of the building will provide a continuous source of nectar and habitat.

Seeking graphic design volunteer: The Dogen Institute, the educational arm of Sanshin Zen Community, is looking for a volunteer graphic designer. Even two hours per month can be extremely helpful, and we welcome your participation from anywhere in the world. The work will concentrate on the presentation of our web properties and materials, such as e-books. We are currently working on a couple of logos, as well as a few illustrations for books. Experience with Adobe Illustrator desired.

We understand that your volunteer work for not-for-profit organizations comes at the expense of your personal time. With that in mind, we always respect and appreciate whatever amount of time you have to offer towards these efforts. Please contact DI director David Thompson or use the Contact Us link on the Dōgen Institute website.

Anniversary preparations continue: The ino team of Hoko and Shoryu spent nearly a week at Zenshuji in Los Angeles working on the many ekos, shomyo elements and other chants needed for the five days of ceremonies set for November to celebrate 100 years of Soto Zen in North America. Activities will include a jukai-e during which 100 people from around the country, including several practitioners from Sanshin, will receive the precepts. Okumura Roshi will give three talks during the event.

Coming up

Shoji (Life-Death) workshop with Issan (June 25): At this time of isolation, doubt, and grief, learning from Buddha’s and Dōgen’s teachings, we explore a way to connection, trust, and healing. In this one-day workshop, we alternate supportive Buddhist texts readings, including Shōbōgenzō Shōji – Life-Death, and exercises to share our experiences. Read more and register here.

Virtual precepts retreat: June 29 - July 4
with Shohaku Okumura:
This retreat focuses on the study of the bodhisattva precepts that Buddhists receive as guidelines for living a life of practice. This year's group of precepts recipients will be in the zendo in person engaging in zazen, lectures, work practice and silent meals; the schedule is here. A precepts ceremony (jukai) is held during the last day of the retreat in which those practitioners will receive the Buddhist precepts and a rakusu, or lay robe, which they have sewn beforehand. Outside of these recipients, all participation in the retreat will be virtual. All spaces for precepts recipients are filled for this year and the retreat will not be opened for general in-person registration. Please contact us for access to our virtual practice page if you don't already have it. Registration for virtual participation is not necessary, however dana will be gratefully accepted.

Sanshin Network

Ordinations in France: On May 15 Shoju Mahler gave the priest precepts to her student Raphaël Benoit who received the Dharma name Jido Shogen, and also to Mokusho Depreay's student, Laurent Nieblas Ramirez who received the Dharma name Shozan Keido. Shoju is the founder and head priest of Hosuiji in Alès, France. Mokusho is the founder and head priest of Daishinji in Mons, Belgium. "We are very lucky to both be Okumura Roshi's disciples and very grateful to be receiving his teachings. Mokusho and I support each other and work closely together to spread the Dharma." says Shoju. Everyone enjoyed the ceremony and the beautiful sunny day! Mokusho observed, " A beautiful ceremony, which opens a new chapter for Shôgen and Keidô, but also for our center, since it is the first time that one of its members receives the ordination of "Buddhist priest" (except Mokusho)."

Genzo-e participation and new dorm in Belgium: Seven people joined Mokusho in online participation in Sanshin's May genzo-e from Daishinji in Mons. He says "It was also the occasion for us to inaugurate the dormitory installed by me and Fabien, since four people stayed there for one or more nights. We are already looking forward to the next retreat in November, in the same form."

Dongelberg retreat in Belgium: It had been a year since the last retreat, Mokusho explained, since last fall's event had to be cancelled. Practitioners met again in Dongelberg for a weekend of practice which included zazen, samu, meals using oryoki, and teachings by Jokei Lambert Sensei, Abbess of the Demeure sans Limites (Ardèche). The focus was on the role of the tenzo, and Jokei Sensei drew on Master Dogen's Tenzo Kyokun and on her own Tenzo practice. Participants also had the opportunity to see the film Tenzo, with several talks by Aoyama Roshi, Abbess of Nissodo in Nagoya and one of Jokei Sensei's teachers.

New communications from Gyobutsuji in Arkansas: Shoryu has been working with his novice Myoho Kendall to create a monthly electronic newsletter for the temple, and the first issue is now available here. Gyobutsuji also has a new YouTube channel, built by Michael Komyo Melfi of Grove City Zen, which makes available a growing number of Shoryu's talks and workshops.

Graduation in California: On May 22, Jokei Molly Whitehead completed her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her first class for graduate school, four years ago, began with the question, “What is the self?” Jokei has enjoyed integrating insights from Western psychology with Zen study and practice. She looks forward to ongoing learning as a therapist and priest, and to supporting people’s efforts toward liberation, meaning, and joy.

After training at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, she studied for several years with Shohaku Okumura and was ordained by him in 2011. She has helped to edit several of Okumura Roshi’s books, including The Zen Teaching of Homeless Kodo. Her geographic location may change in the coming months, but she can be reached through her soon-to-be-revived blog and is always happy to hear from fellow sangha members.

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