Okumura Roshi cuts European tour short
Okumura Roshi has cut short his European teaching tour and is heading back to Bloomington tomorrow. The original plan was for him to spend a month in Europe, visiting four countries, giving 10 talks and leading a sesshin. He was into and out of Italy before that country locked down, and he moved on next to Greece. There he sat sesshin with 30 people and gave a lecture for 100. Zen Center Athens suspended its practice schedule following his departure. Okumura Roshi has now made his way to France. He's in a part of that country that is not heavily affected by the virus, but the sudden travel ban from Europe to the US is posing challenges. When the ban was extended to the UK, the decision was taken that he should cancel his visit to London and return to Bloomington as soon as possible. See our Facebook page for photos of Okumura Roshi in Europe this month. |
IN THIS ISSUE:
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Transience within boundless nature
Shohaku Okumura
無常
Impermanence
To what can this world
be compared?
The moonlight
reflected in water drops
splashed from a waterfowl’s beak.
-- Dogen Zenji
A waterfowl dives into the water of a pond and comes up to the surface. It shakes its bill; water drops are splashed. In each and every one of the droplets, the boundless moonlight is reflected. The water drops stay in the air less than a moment before returning to the pond. Each of them is as bright as the moon itself.
Dōgen sees the scenery in the moment a waterfowl shakes its beak and water drops are splashed. Each and every droplet reflects the boundless moonlight. He thinks our lives in this world is the same. Our lives are as impermanent as the water drops, and yet, as he wrote in Genjōkōan, the boundless moonlight is reflected. READ MORE
Shohaku Okumura
無常
Impermanence
To what can this world
be compared?
The moonlight
reflected in water drops
splashed from a waterfowl’s beak.
-- Dogen Zenji
A waterfowl dives into the water of a pond and comes up to the surface. It shakes its bill; water drops are splashed. In each and every one of the droplets, the boundless moonlight is reflected. The water drops stay in the air less than a moment before returning to the pond. Each of them is as bright as the moon itself.
Dōgen sees the scenery in the moment a waterfowl shakes its beak and water drops are splashed. Each and every droplet reflects the boundless moonlight. He thinks our lives in this world is the same. Our lives are as impermanent as the water drops, and yet, as he wrote in Genjōkōan, the boundless moonlight is reflected. READ MORE
Introduction to Dogen a popular success
Sanshin held its first-ever Introduction to Dogen weekend, which included three talks by Okumura Roshi. About a dozen participants also sat zazen, conducted work periods and became familiar with Sanshin retreats. The objective was to help those who are interested in attending genzo-e to become familiar with this kind of dharma study and to learn some basics about Dogen's teachings. It also served as a training opportunity for Hoko and other Sanshin dharma leaders, who will be offering the event in future.
Sanshin held its first-ever Introduction to Dogen weekend, which included three talks by Okumura Roshi. About a dozen participants also sat zazen, conducted work periods and became familiar with Sanshin retreats. The objective was to help those who are interested in attending genzo-e to become familiar with this kind of dharma study and to learn some basics about Dogen's teachings. It also served as a training opportunity for Hoko and other Sanshin dharma leaders, who will be offering the event in future.
March events cancelled
Although there were two practice events on the March calendar, neither were held. Hoko cancelled the thee-day sesshin when she came down with the flu and a replacement leader could not be found. She had previously cancelled the one-day Introduction to Sesshin because Sanshin was shorthanded and didn't have the human resources to make it happen. Daily and weekly practice have carried on as usual with the help of members of the Practice Committee..
Although there were two practice events on the March calendar, neither were held. Hoko cancelled the thee-day sesshin when she came down with the flu and a replacement leader could not be found. She had previously cancelled the one-day Introduction to Sesshin because Sanshin was shorthanded and didn't have the human resources to make it happen. Daily and weekly practice have carried on as usual with the help of members of the Practice Committee..
SANSHIN STYLE AND SPIRIT |
Judy says farewell
Administrative assistant Judy Owens has left her position at Sanshin after about a year and a half. She became well known to those registering for events, reserving accommodations and seeking general help navigating visits to Sanshin. Her help with bookkeeping, contact list management, mailing and other administrative work has been invaluable, and sangha and staff wish her well.
Sanshin is now looking for its next administrative assistant and bookkeeping assistant.
Follow the links to more information about these open positions. |
Zen and Place video now available
A videorecording of Okumura Roshi's recent talk at the Zen and Place conference at San Francisco University is now available on YouTube.
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Kodo Sawaki interview on our website
In the Sanshin Style and Spirit section of our website we've linked to an audio recording of a 1965 NHK interview with Kodo Sawaki and posted a translated transcript.
Wisdom podcast in the works
Okumura Roshi recorded an interview with Wisdom Publications for an upcoming podcast. Wisdom says the quality of the recording is very good and it will now go through some editing before becoming available for listening. We'll keep you posted.
Okumura Roshi recorded an interview with Wisdom Publications for an upcoming podcast. Wisdom says the quality of the recording is very good and it will now go through some editing before becoming available for listening. We'll keep you posted.
Knit and crochet squares add up to dorm blankets
Friends of Sanshin are invited to send in knitted or crocheted squares to be sewn together to make blankets for the dorm. Last year all the bed linens were replaced and the blanket project will complete that effort. Squares can be any color, pattern or stitch, but they must be 12-inches on each side in order to fit together with others into blankets. Because of hypersensitivities and the need for washability, please use synthetic yarn rather than wool or exotic fibers. We'll be making eight blankets in all to provide a handmade welcome from our community to our visiting practitioners.
ONE DAY SITTING
with Hosshin Shoaf
April 4 7:30 am - 6 pm
Join us for one day of practice in the style of our sesshin, a retreat devoted simply to sitting zazen. We will be sitting in honor of Buddha's Birthday, and participants are welcome to stay over and participate in the sangha's annual celebration the next morning.
READ MORE.
with Hosshin Shoaf
April 4 7:30 am - 6 pm
Join us for one day of practice in the style of our sesshin, a retreat devoted simply to sitting zazen. We will be sitting in honor of Buddha's Birthday, and participants are welcome to stay over and participate in the sangha's annual celebration the next morning.
READ MORE.
BUDDHA'S BIRTHDAY
April 5
The dharma talk considers a topic related to the Buddha's birth. Following the talk, the sangha chants the Heart Sutra and offers incense, then enjoys a potluck lunch.
April 5
The dharma talk considers a topic related to the Buddha's birth. Following the talk, the sangha chants the Heart Sutra and offers incense, then enjoys a potluck lunch.
ANGO (PRACTICE PERIOD)
April 6 - July 6
Okumura Roshi has appointed Issan Koyama of New York to serve as shuso, or head practitioner, for the term of the ango as an opportunity for leadership development in his training as clergy. He will give Sunday dharma talks, officiate at the monthly World Peace ceremony, serve as the ino for the monthly Ryaku Fusatsu, develop and lead a one-day workshop, and take on other kinds of practice leadership throughout the ango. In June, Sanshin holds a shuso hossen, a ceremony that allows the shuso to demonstrate dharma mastery by answering questions from the sangha. READ MORE
April 6 - July 6
Okumura Roshi has appointed Issan Koyama of New York to serve as shuso, or head practitioner, for the term of the ango as an opportunity for leadership development in his training as clergy. He will give Sunday dharma talks, officiate at the monthly World Peace ceremony, serve as the ino for the monthly Ryaku Fusatsu, develop and lead a one-day workshop, and take on other kinds of practice leadership throughout the ango. In June, Sanshin holds a shuso hossen, a ceremony that allows the shuso to demonstrate dharma mastery by answering questions from the sangha. READ MORE
Our complete calendar of practice events is available here.
Tuesday Evening
6:30 - 710 Zazen 7:15 - 8:45 Getting Started in Zen Practice Wednesday Evening 6:30 - 7:00 Zazen 7:00 - 8:00 Dharma book discussion |
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!
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!
Donate your used dharma books
If you have dharma books you're no longer using, you're invited to donate them to Sanshin for the used book section of our sales area in the common room. It's a good opportunity to clear space on your shelves for new dharma books, to make your books available to new readers, and to help make a few dollars for Sanshin. There's a shelf labeled for used books in the common room -- you can leave your donated books there anytime.
Gifts of financial support
Whether as a practitioner, a financial supporter, a listener/reader or simply as an interested friend, Sanshin welcomes you to our international sangha. Like all nonprofit organizations, Sanshin depends on the generous offerings of those whose lives are helped by the work it does. Visit this page to set up a monthly donation or make a one-time gift online, or download a form to use when giving by check.
Community give-back programs
Designating Sanshin Zen Community as the recipient of give-back programs is a painless way to provide funding support simply by making your usual purchases!
Amazon Smile: Instead of going to Amazon's regular homepage, go to Amazon Smile and sign into your Amazon account. Choose Sanshin Zen Community as your charity, and .05% of what you spend will come to us. Remember, only purchases at smile.amazon.com (not www.amazon.com or the mobile app) support Sanshin.
CharityCharge: If you're in the market for a new Mastercard, consider getting it here and joining the friends of Sanshin who have designated us as their nonprofit beneficiary. One percent of what you spend will come to us.
Kroger: If you shop at Kroger with a Plus card, your regular purchases of groceries and household goods can provide financial support for Sanshin. Create or sign in to your Kroger account, enroll in Kroger Community Rewards® with your card, and choose Sanshin as your organization. Every time you shop and swipe your card, a percentage of what you spend will come to us.
Employer giving programs
Friends of Sanshin who work at companies like Google and Adobe are providing regular financial support through payroll deduction and employer gift-matching programs. Check with your employer's human resources or community relations department to see whether giving opportunities like these are available at your workplace.
If you have dharma books you're no longer using, you're invited to donate them to Sanshin for the used book section of our sales area in the common room. It's a good opportunity to clear space on your shelves for new dharma books, to make your books available to new readers, and to help make a few dollars for Sanshin. There's a shelf labeled for used books in the common room -- you can leave your donated books there anytime.
Gifts of financial support
Whether as a practitioner, a financial supporter, a listener/reader or simply as an interested friend, Sanshin welcomes you to our international sangha. Like all nonprofit organizations, Sanshin depends on the generous offerings of those whose lives are helped by the work it does. Visit this page to set up a monthly donation or make a one-time gift online, or download a form to use when giving by check.
Community give-back programs
Designating Sanshin Zen Community as the recipient of give-back programs is a painless way to provide funding support simply by making your usual purchases!
Amazon Smile: Instead of going to Amazon's regular homepage, go to Amazon Smile and sign into your Amazon account. Choose Sanshin Zen Community as your charity, and .05% of what you spend will come to us. Remember, only purchases at smile.amazon.com (not www.amazon.com or the mobile app) support Sanshin.
CharityCharge: If you're in the market for a new Mastercard, consider getting it here and joining the friends of Sanshin who have designated us as their nonprofit beneficiary. One percent of what you spend will come to us.
Kroger: If you shop at Kroger with a Plus card, your regular purchases of groceries and household goods can provide financial support for Sanshin. Create or sign in to your Kroger account, enroll in Kroger Community Rewards® with your card, and choose Sanshin as your organization. Every time you shop and swipe your card, a percentage of what you spend will come to us.
Employer giving programs
Friends of Sanshin who work at companies like Google and Adobe are providing regular financial support through payroll deduction and employer gift-matching programs. Check with your employer's human resources or community relations department to see whether giving opportunities like these are available at your workplace.