Staring at the moon
Shohaku Okumura Dōgen’s Chinese Poems (29) The Night of the Fifteenth; Verse on “Before the gates of each house, the moon shines bright.” Eyelids cut off, also his front teeth broken, He aimed his eyes high to clearly see the moon. The toad in the sky’s brightness reaches even the black mountain. Nevertheless, the jade rabbit falls into the demons’ cave. In this poem, “eyelids cut off” means that the eyes are open. His front teeth broken,” refers to what Rujing said in the final line of the verse in his dharma discourse: “How laughable; the barbarian monk with front teeth broken.” According to a legend, Bodhidharma’s teeth were broken by his debate opponents, so that he could not say anything. But Rujing says it is laughable that his opponents attacked Bodhidharma to keep him silent, because even if Bodhidharma had teeth, in order to perfectly express the beauty of nature illuminated by the moon, he would not say anything. Another interpretation could be that he does not need his mouth to express the ultimate truth beyond language– his nine-year sitting facing the wall was a perfect expression of it. Here Dōgen meant he (she, Bodhidharma, Rujing, Dōgen, or anyone else who is sitting) does not say anything. In the original Chinese, there is no subject in these two lines. I think Dōgen meant in zazen, the person sitting opens his/her eyes and closes his/her mouth. READ MORE |
IN THIS ISSUE:
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Local practitioner Mark Fraley recently conducted a two-day sit on his own at home. He writes here about that experience and what he learned.
Thousands of miles away, a bat had a chance encounter with a pangolin and now residents of Indiana are sheltered in their homes.
This pandemic is a tragic reminder of the deep web of interrelations that form our reality and how inseverable our situation is from the causes and conditions that create it. The current crisis invites us to reflect on our Zen practice and consider the ways in which our distancing efforts need not separate ourselves from the suffering that pervades the interconnected world we inhabit. In this spirit, I was inspired to convert my 150 square foot guest room into a makeshift zendo to prepare for a two-day sit in the style of sesshin practice cultivated by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi.
Following a 6am to 9pm schedule, I participated in twelve 50-minute periods of zazen (with ten minutes of kinhin in between each period) with one-hour breaks for meals. While the practice was solitary, I was not alone. Several acts of kindness conditioned my practice.
Myriad other actors who I have never met provided invaluable gifts to support my zazen practice. These include the people who grew and sold the food I ate, supplied the heat that warmed my home, and tended to the water supply that kept me hydrated. These people are essential to our well-being, regardless of the public health situation. Okumura Roshi reminds us that “we must appreciate that we can practice as a result of such interconnectedness” (Realizing Genjokoan).
Anyone inspired to engage in in intensive practice at home may expect some similar experiences as practice in a zendo -- hours facing a wall wading through passing thoughts, desires, and emotions with an acute awareness of boredom and backache. Practicing during pandemic may give rise to feelings of frustration and sorrow sewn into storehouse consciousness. A solitary practice may not capture the intimacy of a communal sit. But a supportive community can enrich our mutual connections whether we sit solo or with a sangha. In the interdependent fabric of our reality, we never practice alone.
Thousands of miles away, a bat had a chance encounter with a pangolin and now residents of Indiana are sheltered in their homes.
This pandemic is a tragic reminder of the deep web of interrelations that form our reality and how inseverable our situation is from the causes and conditions that create it. The current crisis invites us to reflect on our Zen practice and consider the ways in which our distancing efforts need not separate ourselves from the suffering that pervades the interconnected world we inhabit. In this spirit, I was inspired to convert my 150 square foot guest room into a makeshift zendo to prepare for a two-day sit in the style of sesshin practice cultivated by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi.
Following a 6am to 9pm schedule, I participated in twelve 50-minute periods of zazen (with ten minutes of kinhin in between each period) with one-hour breaks for meals. While the practice was solitary, I was not alone. Several acts of kindness conditioned my practice.
- Hoko and the folks at Sanshin developed a web page where sangha members could share resources for maintaining our Zen practice at home. Hoko shared her experiences with intensive home practice and offered encouragement.
- My wife supported my shikantaza by preparing meals according to a set schedule. She did this even while she was struggling with the news that an ailing colleague of hers had just contracted the virus at the hospital.
- My supervisor and work colleagues encouraged my inclination to set aside my responsibilities for a time and commit myself to zazen.
Myriad other actors who I have never met provided invaluable gifts to support my zazen practice. These include the people who grew and sold the food I ate, supplied the heat that warmed my home, and tended to the water supply that kept me hydrated. These people are essential to our well-being, regardless of the public health situation. Okumura Roshi reminds us that “we must appreciate that we can practice as a result of such interconnectedness” (Realizing Genjokoan).
Anyone inspired to engage in in intensive practice at home may expect some similar experiences as practice in a zendo -- hours facing a wall wading through passing thoughts, desires, and emotions with an acute awareness of boredom and backache. Practicing during pandemic may give rise to feelings of frustration and sorrow sewn into storehouse consciousness. A solitary practice may not capture the intimacy of a communal sit. But a supportive community can enrich our mutual connections whether we sit solo or with a sangha. In the interdependent fabric of our reality, we never practice alone.
Sanshin's buildings remain closed to the public, as they have been since March 24. At that time the board of directors suspended all in-person activities through July. While Monroe County restaurants and businesses will be able to open on a limited basis beginning Saturday the 16th, the county health administrator will ask that religious organizations not resume in-person activities until June, well in advance of Sanshin's earliest potential reopening.
BUDDHA'S BIRTHDAY GREETINGS FROM THE ARCHBISHOP
Virtual genzo-e is underway
As expected, the Dogen Institute's first virtual genzo-e is a sellout, with 90 households participating from 21 US stages and seven other countries. With the indefinite pandemic closure, a small team, largely volunteer, had to very quickly turn an in-person genzo-e for 50 in a rented facility into a virtual genzo-e for 90. "We usually have six months to prepare for genzo-e," said Hoko, Sanshin's vice abbot. "This time we had only a few weeks." Everything from the registration process to the technical infrastructure in the building to the way orientation is handled had to be revamped, and resources developed for at-home participants who would suddenly be serving as their own inos, tenzos and work leaders.
While DI has been at work on a longer-term plan to livestream genzo-e lectures and other practice opportunities in the future, implementation was vastly accelerated in response to the closure. "Things haven't happened in the order we expected, but this has been an opportunity to try new ways of reaching practitioners and to develop new offerings," noted DI director David Thompson.
The 5-day virtual genzo-e offered participants a suggested daily schedule to follow at home plus two online communal zazen periods and two lectures from Okumura Roshi per day. Meanwhile, the local sangha's daily online practice went on as usual since there was no competition for zendo space.
As expected, the Dogen Institute's first virtual genzo-e is a sellout, with 90 households participating from 21 US stages and seven other countries. With the indefinite pandemic closure, a small team, largely volunteer, had to very quickly turn an in-person genzo-e for 50 in a rented facility into a virtual genzo-e for 90. "We usually have six months to prepare for genzo-e," said Hoko, Sanshin's vice abbot. "This time we had only a few weeks." Everything from the registration process to the technical infrastructure in the building to the way orientation is handled had to be revamped, and resources developed for at-home participants who would suddenly be serving as their own inos, tenzos and work leaders.
While DI has been at work on a longer-term plan to livestream genzo-e lectures and other practice opportunities in the future, implementation was vastly accelerated in response to the closure. "Things haven't happened in the order we expected, but this has been an opportunity to try new ways of reaching practitioners and to develop new offerings," noted DI director David Thompson.
The 5-day virtual genzo-e offered participants a suggested daily schedule to follow at home plus two online communal zazen periods and two lectures from Okumura Roshi per day. Meanwhile, the local sangha's daily online practice went on as usual since there was no competition for zendo space.
Resources from Sanshin
Virtual morning practice: Sanshin offers weekday morning zazen and liturgy via Zoom. The zazen period begins at 6:10 EST and lasts 50 minutes; liturgy follows directly afterward. Please email our office if you're interested in participating.
Sanshin Solo: Recognizing that more folks than ever are now practicing in Sanshin's style by themselves, we've added a Sanshin Solo page to our website offering tips and information about practicing on your own.
Dharma study: Study materials remain available from our Dogen Institute and video recordings of dharma talks on our YouTube channel.
Virtual morning practice: Sanshin offers weekday morning zazen and liturgy via Zoom. The zazen period begins at 6:10 EST and lasts 50 minutes; liturgy follows directly afterward. Please email our office if you're interested in participating.
Sanshin Solo: Recognizing that more folks than ever are now practicing in Sanshin's style by themselves, we've added a Sanshin Solo page to our website offering tips and information about practicing on your own.
Dharma study: Study materials remain available from our Dogen Institute and video recordings of dharma talks on our YouTube channel.
Resources from around the Sanshin Network
Centers and groups from around the network are offering virtual practice and are willing to include practitioners from outside their immediate sanghas. All times given are local time in the location of the centers offering the practice. Please contact them directly for information about how to participate; Sanshin does not have the details.
Centers and groups from around the network are offering virtual practice and are willing to include practitioners from outside their immediate sanghas. All times given are local time in the location of the centers offering the practice. Please contact them directly for information about how to participate; Sanshin does not have the details.
In English
With Shodo Spring at Mountains and Waters Alliance (MN, USA):
With Issan Koyama at the New York Sangha (NY, USA):
With the Everett (WA) sitting group:
With Shodo Spring at Mountains and Waters Alliance (MN, USA):
- Sundays: The Gift of Fearlessness: Conversations on the Pandemic. 4 - 5 pm
- Wednesdays: Introduction to Zen. 6:30 - 8 pm
With Issan Koyama at the New York Sangha (NY, USA):
- Mornings: Zazen. 7:30 - 8:20 am
- Mondays: Study group on ancient Buddhism and early Mahayana Buddhism. 6 - 8 pm. Now studying the Mahaparinibbana Sutta from the Pali Canon.
- Thursdays: Dogen study group, 6 - 8 pm. Now studying Shobogenzo Kesa Kudoku with a triligual version.
- Monthly on a Sunday: All-day study intensive. 11 am - 5 pm with one hour lunch and 30-minute coffee break. Now studying materials from the Monday and Thursday groups.
- Monthly: Full Moon Uposatha (Fusatsu) study intensive evening. 6 - 10:30 pm with one hour dinner break. Now studying materials from the Monday and Thursday groups.
With the Everett (WA) sitting group:
- Saturday mornings: Zazen and kinhin. 9 am - noon. Sit one or more 50-minute periods alternating with 10 minutes of kinhin.
In French
With Mokusho DePreay at Centre Shikantaza (Mons, Belgium)
With Mokusho DePreay at Centre Shikantaza (Mons, Belgium)
- Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Zazen and study/discussion. 10 - 11 am. Twenty minutes of zazen followed by discussion of pandemic-related dharma articles (MW) or Ajahn Sumedho's The Four Noble Truths (F),
In Spanish
With Densho Quintero at Soto Zen Community of Columbia (Bogota, Columbia)
With Densho Quintero at Soto Zen Community of Columbia (Bogota, Columbia)
- Weekdays: Zazen and chanting (morning); 6 am and 7 pm. 50-minute zazen period; in the mornings, chanting Hannya Shingyo and Daihishin Dharani.
- Saturdays: Zazen and chanting; 7 am.
- Sundays: Teisho or Q&A. 7 - 9 am.
In Italian
With Gyoetsu Epifania and Doryu Cappelli at Centro Zen Anshin (Rome, Italy)
With Gyoetsu Epifania and Doryu Cappelli at Centro Zen Anshin (Rome, Italy)
- Tuesdays and Fridays: Practice discussion and study of Shobogenzo Zenki and Shobogenzo Shoji. .
In German
With Shinko Hagn at Daijihi (Vienna, Austria)
Daijihi is developing its virtual practice activities; visit its webpage for updates or email here.
With Shinko Hagn at Daijihi (Vienna, Austria)
Daijihi is developing its virtual practice activities; visit its webpage for updates or email here.
SANSHIN STYLE AND SPIRIT |
Latest on our blog:
Why zazen is good for nothing, parts 1 and 2 |
This new design displays the Sanshin logo at upper front and original artwork by Misaki Kido on the back. The circle design is her interpretation of the diagram Okumura Roshi frequently draws during his dharma talks to illustrate the interconnection of all beings within Indra's net. Underneath is Okumura Roshi's phrase "One equals zero equals infinity." He often explains that the individual (one), as a collection of five skandhas, is empty of any fixed and permanent self nature (zero). Because we are empty, we are infinite, interconnected with the entire universe.
Available in men's and women's styles, and in black, white or tan. Click here to order.
Available in men's and women's styles, and in black, white or tan. Click here to order.
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.