WATERFALL
2005 fall newsletter
Buddhism through Zen by Eshin
In Zen we’re taught the basic principle of practise. The emphasis is on practise and not so much on Buddhist ideas and theories. The early Chinese masters taught in simple terms, often using the vernacular, to point to the human condition. When we use traditional Buddhist terms like samadhi and shunyata we can easily get the idea that this is something special. These terms are simply pointing to our human experience. Naturally we need some discipline and awareness to investigate this and this is where zazen comes in.
Roshi uses terms such as zero, and the plus and minus activities. We should understand we are doing the plus and minus activities. They happen in the one same space; this moment, this place. The minus activity is bringing ourselves to rest in this moment’s place, to the state of not having to be ourselves. The time and place of this complete rest can be called zero, minus zero. The plus activity brings us into life and expression. We do this until we reach a state of completion, our expression is complete and we rest in that completeness. This time and place of complete expression can be called zero, plus zero. Zero can be considered in the particular way as the completenesses at the fulfillment of the minus and plus activities, it can also be considered in the broader way as the ground of being of all things that is made up of all the various and many plus and minus activities. This isn’t easy to grasp at first. Roshi has said we must hear it hundreds of times, and practise, and in time the wisdom arises that, indeed, this is the way things are.
Zazen is simply the most effective and supportive way to investigate the nature of ourselves, plus, minus and zero. In sitting we begin to find gaps in our internal dialogue, the way we get caught up in ourselves. These gaps are moments of clarity and presence. We find in these moments we wake from our self-involvement and fantasies to find immediacy, awareness, and ease. In time these ‘gaps’ lengthen and occur more often. This is because it is our natural condition beneath our conditioned defences and old habits. We’re beginning to trust resting in the moment and to trust resting in ourselves. It requires us to open, let go of fixed views and behaviour. In opening we become vulnerable and, at first, this may seem frightening. Here it’s very helpful to have a feeling of friendliness and affection for ourselves and others, which helps us become stronger in our newfound self and our newfound relationship with others.
Roshi’s teaching of zero, plus and minus activities, implies a series of steps we take in our practise. We go to zero many, many times, both through plus and through minus activities. Each time we are deeper in being at rest, either with ourselves or with our surroundings. When we begin to see that we are taking steps in our practise we realize this is taking steps in our growth and development. Along this path of stepped, gradual practise we come across many Buddhist teachings. They can be aids or affirmations at differing levels of practise.
Early on we use zazen teachings such as breath practise, just sitting, seeing or hearing practise to help us stabilize our mind and create the space for moments of clarity and insights to appear. Later we practise with plus and minus mutually working together, which is the practise of just how we’re relating with our situation. Here the teachings such as the Six Paramitas, the Silas, and the Four Bodhisattva Vows become real for us. They are no longer Buddhist theory but descriptions of our practise. We journey through Buddhism by continuing with the basic principle of Zen practise. There is no Buddhism outside of our practise.
Judith Johnson
Growth by Ecdysis
Each time I forget how it is.
Leverage gone, claws soft.
No defence.
Just this
naked humanity
tricked out if its confining carapace,
shocked to find itself
vulnerable.
Drinking in the environment, expanding
until growth completes itself, the new skin hardens
and it must all be done again.
(Ecdysis: Lobsters must shed their outer “skin” to permit growth. When they do this they hide because they are soft, rubbery and defenceless. They quickly inflate themselves with water so they grow, then harden the new shell for protection. Other animals do this, but I thought of lobsters because there is no limit to their growth. Internal pressure demands I ask for this, pitting one self against another to crack the shell)
David Carlyle
I spoke 10 thousand words
no one listened
I walked a hundred miles
no one traveled with me
I bowed and sat in silence
no wonder I felt so alone...
----
I used to talk a lot
Buddha nature is in all
I saw the truth and I shared it
Buddha nature is in all
a thousand thoughts racing nowhere
Buddha nature is in all
I talk much less today
beginners mind knows so little
----
I don't believe in fate
and Karma seems elusive
yet something keeps me here
my place within the chaos
the clouds shine, the dew is cold
I no longer care
this is where I find myself
I sit and embrace
Carlo Pirosso
In the vastness of silence
Oh! O mighty breath.
Two old lovers embraced as one
One sleeps the other awakes.
Centre News
Mortgage Retirement Fund Appeal.
Most of you will have received the centre’s appeal card for this fund. We’re at a transition point in the centre’s growth. New space is needed for residential students, storage, a dining area, etc; the present zendo, bathroom, and sangha area are becoming cramped as more students appear. A larger place is needed. We can get by for a while in a limited way. The basement could be used for students, a few more people can fit in the zendo on busy days, etc. However, soon a larger place will be needed, ideally with enough room for students to stay during intensives.
The donations of the sangha and supporters continue to help, covering our ongoing costs with the little excess going into paying down the mortgage each year. The mortgage now stands at $50,000. Paying this off entirely will give the flexibility for our growth. It would mean the basement could become free for our use, and with no mortgage the equity would be maximized for moving a larger new place. Please reflect on the need for the centre and practise, both for our individual selves and for our troubled world, and contribute accordingly. The Zen Centre directors are asking people to dig deeper than usual for this occasion.
Making the goal of this appeal more possible is the offer of an anonymous donor, who will match our donations for the mortgage fund. This means our donations are effectively doubled. Let’s make the most of this opportunity. Please stretch in what you can give and we’ll see if we can retire the mortgage!
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The centre now has three tokudo, or ordained, people. As part of the new tokudo’s training the five Buddhist ceremonies will be observed during the year. At present we observe Buddha’s Birthday in spring. The other four ceremonies are Buddha’s Enlightenment (early December), Buddha’s Passing (February), and memorials for Bodhidharma (October) and Rinzai (January). The setups for the ceremonies can be quite elaborate and take time. Myorei and Echō will be learning and practising shortly for Bodhidharma’s memorial. In time these ceremonies will be part of the centre’s public services. There’ll be advance notice and they would be followed by a potluck lunch.
The November sesshin is half full and we still have to send out the notice for it. In fact, it’s a big help administration-wise to have people on the list early. It gives an idea of how the sesshin is shaping up. Please remember a down payment on the cost will actually secure a place.
2006 sesshin dates are February 18 th – 25 th, May 6 th – 13 th, July 22 nd – 29 th, and October 28 th – November 4 th.
Sangha News
Gareth had his tokudo shiki, or ordination ceremony, on September 11 th. His Buddhist name is Echō. The ‘ch’ has a hard pronunciation – not a ‘k’. His family and most of the sangha attended. The ceremony contains many of the fundamental vows of Zen and Buddhism. Although the ceremony was for Echō the sangha also found themselves taking these vows simply be being present. Many people were very moved by them. They include Sangemon, the Three Treasures, the Silas (often translated incorrectly as Precepts as Roshi points out in describing the Zen way of seeing and practising them) and the Four Bodhisattva Vows.
After the ceremony everyone happily mixed together and enjoyed refreshments provided by Echō. The Zen Centre has two new tokudo people this year and Eshin has the responsibility to train them to share responsibility for the Centre.
Summer was quieter than usual in the zendo. It always is, most likely with people being away and the pull of Vancouver ’s summer festivals, etc. Now autumn has settled in we’re beginning to see the zendo fill up. Autumn is also the time when a burst of newcomers inquire and learn about Zen.
Janice visited in August from Winnipeg, Matt, from Victoria, visited on his way back from Mt Baldy ZC, and Steffi, from Germany, was able to attend a one day sit during her stay in BC. Best wishes to Chris R with his thesis. This is going to require a lot of time and we’ll rarely see him at the centre until it’s finished. Best wishes to Jerry in recovering from his heart operation.
Contributions
The Centre asks for a contribution from its friends. This is a way to support the Zen Centre itself and to repay benefits from the Centre’s practise. A contribution of $20 per month is expected and many contribute $35 or $50 per month as appreciation of the practise and centre grows.
A great thank you for all the membership and general donations this spring: Andrei , Branko, Brent, Bryson, Carlo, Chris H, Chris M, Chris R, Cristian, David, Echō, Fred, Gordon, Grant, Greg, Hector, Ian, Ivan, Jerry, Joni, José, Keith, Mark, Martin, Matt, Michael, Mike, Myorei, Paul A, Paul C, Paul M, Peggy, Ric, Steffi, Steve, Stuart and for all the anonymous donors. Thank you!
Thanks also for sesshin dustpan and first aid supplies from Chris R.
Thank you to the several people that contributed items for the newsletter. These will appear in this and following issues. |
