In this issue: September 2026
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A work day picnic table lunch at Sanshin.
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 ~ New commentaries & resources ~
This is the concluding poem of Dōgen’s short speech (jōdō). I think it is necessary to understand what Dōgen says in the jōdō to appreciate this poem, so I will first write about Dōgen’s presentation in the speech. First, Dōgen says that there are many kinds of knowledge (識知, shikichi). 識 (shiki) is a translation of the Sanskrit word vijñāna (Pali, viññāṇa), translated into English as “consciousness.” This is one of the five aggregates (skandhas): form, sensation, perception, formation, and consciousness. In early Buddhism there are six kinds of sensory consciousness caused by the contact of the six sense organs (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind), with the six objects of them (color, sound, fragrance, taste, touch, object of mind). The six consciousnesses are: eye consciousness, ear consciousness, nose consciousness, tongue consciousness, body consciousness, and mind consciousness. Read more.  I Vow With All Beings: Setting Out a Seat Commentary and artwork by Hoko Karnegis WHEN SETTING OUT A SEAT, I VOW WITH ALL BEINGS TO CAUSE GOOD PRINCIPLES TO BLOOM, AND SEE THEIR TRUE CHARACTER. If we sit alone at home, we may not have a space we can dedicate solely for zazen. It may be a matter of getting out our cushions each time and arranging our sitting space with whatever accoutrements we need and putting everything away when we’re finished. The set-up and tear-down becomes part of our practice. We’re entering into zazen even before we take the posture, keep the eyes open, breathe through the nose and open the hand of thought. We undergo the same process when we arrive in a permanent zendo in which the seats are always there and all we need to do is choose where to sit. Bowing at the zendo door, walking silently to a seat with hands in shashu, bowing to the seat in gassho, turning to the right and bowing to the room before sitting down—all these standard activities help us break preoccupation and get our minds and bodies in order. We’re preparing the ground for practice whether or not we’ve carried our cushions to the spot and laid them out. Read more. More new resources on the web:
dharma recordings
Sanshin source
What's new at Sanshin Source?
dharma for all from soto Zen North america
Every other month, supervising kyoshi affiliated with Soto Zen North America share teachings for the benefit of all practitioners. Living in the cold, windy city of San Francisco, as a single parent raising three teens, and working a full-time job that sucked the life out of me, threw me into a disheartening decline. Every day I’d rise early and ride the bus from the fog belt to the financial district to spend the day in front of a computer screen. By the time I trudged the six blocks from the bus stop to home in darkness through driving cold rain, my umbrella turning inside out, I’d be fully spent. Yes, I had meditation, but I began to disbelieve its value. Yes, I had notions of Kanzeon, but where was she? What could I rely on? Read more.  ~ From our directors ~
The Building and Campus Committee reported out on a recently conducted inspection of the temple building, and is working to identify some of the important maintenance needs that can be addressed in the near future, and to plan for longer term needs (such as our heating and cooling system). The board continues to work on our strategic plan, and as part of that work, Hoko led the board in a discussion of strategic outreach. The conversations focused on how we might fruitfully support Sanshin's visibility to persons in the region who may be interested in in-person practice at Sanshin, but don't yet know we're here. If you have any questions about these or other board-related endeavors, feel free to reach out to Neil or other board members.  ~ Practice recap ~
Learn more about sesshin at Sanshin, including schedule, logistics, & approach. September work day: Several significant maintenance projects were addressed during last Sunday's monthly work day. Hosshin and Clark completed wiring for security and convenience lighting around our tool and storage sheds, Sawyer passed on to Gyuri and Andrew knowledge of the tying technique used for our bamboo moss garden fence, and Adam bolstered the support-trellis for our ground-leaning evergreen bonsai shrub. We also managed to attend to regular ongoing tasks like clearing leaves from the parking lot, mowing the lawn, weeding the moss garden, and tidying the inside of the Kannon shrine in the yard. Thanks to everyone for sharing your work practice with Sanshin. Sangha work days are a regular and important element of our practice activities at Sanshin, held once a month on the second Sunday, after the usual 9 am period of zazen. The next work day is scheduled for October 11th.
 ~ Coming up ~ 3-day retreat: Ten Major Themes of Dogen, with Hoko Thurs, Oct 1 - Sun, Oct 4 -- Register by Sep 24 When we're familiar with and can recognize the major themes of Dogen's teaching, his writings become a little less opaque, and their relationship to our ordinary day to day practice becomes clearer. Join Hoko and fellow practitioners for an introduction to these themes within the structure of a retreat including zazen, formal meals, and lectures with Q & A sessions. The aim is to give participants a framework and resources for their continuing dharma study beyond the retreat. Learn more & register for the full retreat or for lectures-only (virtually or in-person).  Virtual dharma study intensive: Dogen Zenji Goroku with Okumura Roshi Oct 26 - 30 & Nov 2 - 6 This fall, as well as in the spring of 2027, Okumura Roshi intends to lecture on a selection from his new translation of the Dogen Zenji Goroku, the Recorded Sayings of Dogen Zenji (道元禅師語録). This text is a version of the Eihei Koroku (Dogen's Extensive Record) with a very interesting history. There are important differences between the Goroku and the Koroku, and these differences will be the focus of the two upcoming Intensives. Learn more & register. One-day sit with Hosshin Saturday, Oct 24th, 7:30 am - 6 pm Join us for one day of practice led by Hosshin Shoaf in the style of our sesshin, a retreat devoted simply to sitting zazen.
For complete information about the schedule of upcoming practice opportunities at Sanshin, visit our Schedules & Calendars page.  ~ Sanshin Network ~
 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!
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