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Sangha News for October, 2022

10/14/2022

 

Grieving for my late teacher

​Shohaku Okumura
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Dōgen’s Chinese Poems (58)
Grieving for my Late Teacher
515. Dharma Hall Discourse in Memorial for Tiantong [Rujing, 1252]

On this day my late teacher suddenly went on pilgrimage,
Kicking over the barrier of his previous births and deaths.
The clouds grieve, the wind moans, and the valley streams are turbulent,
As his young child (Dōgen) yearns and looks for his beloved face.

​The first dharma discourse on Tiangtong Rujing’s memorial recorded in 
Eihei Kōroku was given on the 17th day of the 7th month in 1246.  After that, Dōgen gave a discourse each year on this occasion until 1252. We don’t know if Rujing’s memorial was held at Kōshōji before moving to Echizen or not. It is difficult for me to imagine that Dōgen and his sangha did not have memorial ceremonies for Rujing at Kōshōji, but somehow there is no record of it. Although Dōgen’s discourse for Rujing’s memorial was held each year, somehow Dōgen recited only a verse without any speech, except on this occasion. This was his final memorial discourse for his teacher. In the 7th month in 1253, he was already sick; at the beginning of the 8th month, he went to Kyoto and passed away on the 27th day.  READ MORE


In This Issue:
  • Okumura Roshi: Grieving for my late teacher
  • News: Org development skills sought, daily work practice open to the sangha, help Sanshin receive round-up funds
  • Practice recap: October sesshin, Rosicrucians visit Sanshin 
  • Coming up: Talks for Great Tree, virtual genzo-e, online precepts retreat, Rohatsu sesshin
  • Sanshin Network: News from Spain, Germany, Belgium and Indianapolis
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News

Org development skills sought
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Board president Mark Fraley comments: The Sanshin Zen Community Board of Directors is collaborating with friends and sangha members to support our dharma community well into the future.   This includes plans to renovate our Bloomington campus to meet the needs of our local community; enhance the capacity of the Dogen Institute to create and disseminate new content worldwide, and to expand our residential program to accommodate more sincere practitioners.  We are doing this work while planning for a leadership transition as Okumura Roshi moves to the role of founding teacher.  We know we need to continue to cultivate strong leadership to meet the aspirations of our community.   Please reach out to me
 if you have skills and interests in organizational development or leadership.  We are deeply grateful to those who volunteer their time to help care for the future of our sangha.   ​
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Daily work practice open to the sangha:  Sanshin's residential practitioners carry out a daily schedule of zazen, study and work, and they'd like to open the work practice portion of the day to any local sangha member who'd like to join in.  Work happens on weekday  afternoons from 1 to 3:30 pm and is mainly focused on groundskeeping and other outdoor activities.  It's a chance to build community as well as to engage in mindful work.  If you'd like to participate, it's helpful to let Sawyer know so that he can be prepared to help make best use of your time.

Help Sanshin receive round-up funds
Doju suggests:  Practitioners who live in Bloomington may be familiar with our local grocery co-op, Bloomingfoods. Each month, Bloomingfoods asks customers to round up their bill for the benefit of local nonprofits as part of their “Positive Change” program. This year, Sanshin Zen Community is on the ballot to receive these round-up donations. Each month this could be a substantial amount that has the potential to greatly benefit Sanshin. If you have a Bloomingfoods membership, you can vote for us here.  The deadline to vote is just a few days a way on October 20th, so act soon!  If you don’t have a membership and you are interested in having one, you can investigate here.
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Practice recap

October sesshin:  Nine practitioners carried out the three days of the sesshin, sitting fourteen periods of zazen a day.  All were either local or regional practitioners and most had previous experience of sesshin at Sanshin.
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Rosicrucians visit Sanshin
Ritoku Robinson reports: A small group of Rosicrucians paid a visit to our community to learn about Zen Buddhism. After a general introduction and outline of Buddhist philosophy and history we went into the zendo for formal instructions on how to practice zazan. Issan was kind enough to assist me by demonstrating proper posture and mindset. He also participated in the general discussion on the philosophy of Buddhism. Rosicrucianism is a Hermetic philosophy within the tradition of esoteric Christianity which historically played a significant role in the introduction of Buddhism into the West. In the 18th and 19th century the Rosicrucians appropriated elements of Buddhist philosophy into their own asserting a belief in perennialism that all True Religion agrees on the fundamentals. Most Westerners of the time period that studied Buddhism had this presupposition as a paradigm of interpretation of Buddhism. This continues well into the 20th century, although today we have much more direct knowledge of Buddhist tradition.  Just as the history of Buddhism has it that it adapts itself to the cultural circumstances in which it operates, this is no less the case when introduced into Western Civilization.

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Coming up

Talks for Great Tree Zen Women's Temple:  Doju, Issan and Shoryu will all be giving virtual talks on a variety of topics for Great Tree in Asheville, NC over the next few months.  Talks are open to the public and information about all of them is on this page.​

Virtual Genzo-e: Bussho II (November 3 - 7):  Okumura Roshi will continue his virtual lectures on the Bussho fascicle of the Shobogenzo, begun with the May 2022 genzo-e and concluding with the May 2023 genzo-e.  These will be Okumura Roshi's final genzo-e offered in this form.  LEARN MORE

Soto Zen North America 100th Anniversary Online 5-day Precepts Retreat (November 16 - 20):  Okumura Roshi will be among the sekkaishi (precepts explaining teachers) giving lectures at this retreat, held at Zenshuji in Los Angeles.  The week also includes dharma talks, zazen and ceremonies.  LEARN MORE     REGISTER (do not use the form on the information page)

Rohatsu sesshin (November 30 - December 8): Rohatsu sesshin marks Shakyamuni's awakening under the bodhi tree.  On the final evening we sit until midnight and hold a brief chanting service.  This is our longest and most intensive sesshin of the year.  Registration has not yet opened, but mark your calendar and watch for updates.  LEARN MORE
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Sanshin Network

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Densho Quintero from Soto Zen Colombia reports: I am happy to share with you the news that the Spanish translation of Living by Vow has been finally published in Spain. The name of the book is Vivir guiados por el Voto and the publisher is Editorial Nous.  It's available through the publisher's website.
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Doju in Europe: Doju and his partner, Allie, visited Sanshin Network members Kyoku Lutz (Germany) and Mokusho DePreay (Belgium) and their sanghas during recent travels through Europe.
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Gardens for Peace: Sawyer and Hoko represented Sanshin at the Gardens for Peace event held at Marian University in Indianapolis. They held a World Peace ceremony for attendees and Hoko gave a brief talk; then they joined participants in folding cranes, doing calligraphy and enjoying refreshments.  More images are available on Sanshin's Facebook page.
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For complete information about Sanshin and our style of practice, visit our homepage.
Adele
10/22/2022 07:40:50 am

Hi,
I live in Bloomington, IN. I am interested in learning more about Zen Buddhism. Hope to learn more by reading your newsletters.
Thank you


Comments are closed.

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