Dharma Rain Zen Center - News

Zen Center News

March 2010 issue

 

Kanzeon Festival

Saturday, January 9, marked our annual Kanzeon Festival. Designed to generate great compassionate vigor and determination, it was a morning of chanting and bowing. We did 108 bows, three full recitations of the “Universal Gateway Chapter” of the Lotus Sutra, 108 recitations of the Kanzeon dharani, and 108 recitations of the Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo.

After raising all that energy, we had lunch, and upwards of 15 people participated in getting the January newsletter ready for mailing in record time. A nice tea with homemade brownies, followed by zazen and the Founders Ceremony rounded out the day.

 

Shuso Hossen

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde finished his year as Shuso on January 31, in the Shuso Hossen ceremony (see cover photo). He presented a verse and was questioned by all attending, including visiting teachers. Kakumyo’s verse comes from a section of the Shushogi, a compilation of Dogen’s writings, about the Precepts. The verse is:

From these precepts come forth such a wind and fire, that all are driven into enlightenment, when the flames are fanned by the Buddha’s influence.

 

After poking and prodding from all assembled, his teacher, Gyokuko Carlson, announced that he had done well, and teachers offered congratulatory statements. We add our congratulations to theirs.


Kakumyo Lowe-Charde answers questions during the Hossen ceremony (left). At right, Gyokuko hands him the shipei to let him know he had done well.

On February 7, Mike Gyoshi Kaplan was installed as the new Shuso. Best wishes to Gyoshi as he takes on this new role.

top

 

Beginner’s Retreat

February 5-7 marked a Zen Meditation Retreat for Beginners. About 25 people participated. The retreat gave people who are relatively new to retreat practice an opportunity to participate with extra support and explanation. More experienced practitioners were able to model and support the container while also getting to do a weekend retreat. Dharma Rain Zen Center offers these retreats a couple of times each year.

 

Lay Teachers Conference

On the weekend of Feb. 19-21, Dharma Rain was host to a historic meeting of 22 lay teachers and leaders from American Soto Zen sanghas. (At least eleven more people had hoped to attend, but were unable to do so.) The meeting was sponsored by the Soto Zen Buddhist Association and intended to allow lay teachers and leaders to meet each other and consider their role in American Zen in both informal and institutional terms. Many of us knew each other by name or by email address, but had never met face to face.

We represented several different lineages and teachers. A great variety of paths had led us to this meeting and to our shared responsibility as senior lay members of our communities. Fellowship was an important part of this meeting. We shared stories and enjoyed Portland’s lovely early spring sunshine. Over the course of the weekend, we decided to form a loose association of Zen lay leaders, and are already planning to meet again. A fair amount of our time was spent discussing the relationship between lay and ordained Buddhists and the meaning of the transmission of the teaching to the next generation.

We could not have met with such ease or in such numbers without help from many people. Gratitude to all who supported us, including (but not limited to) Kyogen and Gyokuko Carlson for their support; Anthony Fujaku Stevens and Todd Josan Fifield, who cooked for us; Jeanna Annen Moyer, who took copious notes; Polly Lauser, Cindy McKinley, Diana Vitells, Troy Dillard, Jeff Stookey, Logan Forehand, Genko Rainwater, Kyri Kengan Trieman, Domyo Burk, Maya Williams, and Kevin Dorney, for helping with transportation, housing and cleaning.

top

 

Andy Ferguson Public Talks

Andy Ferguson, Chinese scholar and tour guide, offered two public talks in February. On Thursday night, February 25th, during Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple’s regular program, he presented a slide show about his recent research into Bodhidharma, who we venerate as the founder of Chinese Zen. On Friday night the 26th his slide show explored Zen temple cosmology, why they are laid out as they are and their significance. Both talks were peppered with references to and photos of places we will visit during the China tour planned for Dharma Rain October 28-November 12, 2010. Andy will be leading that tour, and several people have already indicated an interest in participating. If you are interested in that trip, please contact the Center.

 

Silent Auction Success

Jeanna Annen Moyer (center), board chair,
with co-abbots Kyogen and Gyokuko Carlson

The third annual Silent Auction held March 6, 2010, raised a record $28,000 to support DharmaGarden programs at Dharma Rain Zen Center. Held in the Treasury Ballroom downtown for the first time, it featured wonderful food from Vibrant Table, live music by the Northwest Jazz Project, and many high-quality items to bid on, as well as a fantastic video about DharmaGarden, created by sangha member Emily Vidal. Another first was an opportunity for people to donate cash on the spot in various amounts without having to take an item home. Thomas Bruner (pictured below with co-abbot Gyokuko Carlson) flew to Portland from Vermont to serve as MC.

This year we took advantage of an online software package specifically made for working with auctions, that greatly smoothed the processes of check-in and checkout. It also gave us a lot of information and accounting about how things went. The online package made it easy for people to purchase tickets online, helped us to put the catalog online and made items available for bidding on in advance of the live auction. Brian Magill set up the computers on site so they would all work properly at the auction.

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde hands a receipt to an auction guest, while Jyoshin Clay enters information for another. Brian Magill (standing) oversees the process.

Of course, the auction required a lot of work by staff, especially by overall coordinator, Development Director Domyo Burk. Many volunteers made the event possible, coming in before the event to help with prep, setting up the day of, staffing the event, and cleaning up. We may miss a few names (so sorry!) but thanks to: Tsarra Berger, Emilie Teiko Cartoun, Jyoshin Clay, Kevin Dorney, Todd Josan Fifield, Kip Frey, Deborah Gant, Mary Raika Garrard, Colin Haney, Rob Ki’an Holt, Kate and Apollo Jensen, Zach Knight, Rob Lecrone, Yoan Lowe-Charde, Jeanna Annen Moyer, Carlene Zoki Orman, Jamie Parsons, Ole Riise, Marty Genso Skinner, Jeff Stookey, Kyri Kengan Trieman, Rich Koken Vail-Mackin, Diana Vitells and Kathy Whitehead. It wouldn’t have worked without you!

From left: Emily Teiko Cartoun, Dr. Martin Genso Skinner, Dr. Troy Dillard, Terry Carnahan, Ginnie Churchill


top

 

DharmaGarden News

by Heidi Enji Hoogstra

The theme for Dharmagarden this year is Bodhisattvas. I asked Dharmagarden teachers if there were any lessons or moments that stood out for them so far, and if a specific Bodhisattva particularly resonated with their classes.

Kogetsu said, “One of my high-schoolers at the end of last class said something like, “that’s going to stick with me for the rest of the day until my head explodes.” I replied, “Then my job here is done.” It was almost mondo-esque, and I found it delightful. It’s rare to get any kind of affirmative feedback from that age group, so that felt pretty major.”

While the aim with the teen group is about unearthing those connections, the method with the little ones is more directive, steering their energies toward the simple lesson. With her preschoolers, Gyokuko has been concentrating on just one Bodhisattva, Kanzeon.

Gyokuko said, “In one class, I introduced Kanzeon, the statue, as someone who was kind and gentle and loved little children, then had them put both hands on the floor. I asked them to stroke one hand and think about doing so gently. Then I had them stroke someone else’s hand gently. Then I gave them each a plush toy to hold kindly and gently. When they were starting to get restless, I had them put their ‘babies’ on the couch to sleep and we played ‘ring around the rosie’ in whispers so as not to disturb the ‘babies’.”

I have been teaching the kindergarteners about various Bodhisattvas, but with each I have been emphasizing one basic trait. For me, a moment that always stands out is when I bring out the picture book for the story part of the lesson. I introduce the Bodhisattva of the day, briefly, and then share a picture book which demonstrates the quality of that Bodhisattva. All of the kids gather in eagerly; they are at an age where they love story times.

When I first introduced the idea of Bodhisattvas, two of my kindergarteners already emphatically knew about the one with many arms and heads. The Kinder kids have learned about the protectiveness of Jizo through the story of “The Little Stone Buddha,” by K.T. Hao. Thich Nhat Hanh’s “The Coconut Monk” amply demonstrates the wisdom of Manjusri. Going with the generosity of Hotei in the marketplace, I compared him to Santa, as well as the clever generosity of “The Beckoning Cat,” by Koko Nishizuka. Most recently, we all lost track of time when the kids helped me define compassion, and then we looked for instances when each character was being compassionate, or being Kanzeon, in Jon J. Muth’s “Zen Ties.”

With the grade-school boys, Fred and Gabe have “been making the analogy with super-heroes, and plan to have the boys develop their own bodhisattva super-heroes. A lesson that stood out for Gabe: “We had the boys try to transmit a picture by drawing it on each other’s backs — one by one taking turns receiving and then passing it on to the next person by drawing the shape on their back. Good concentration, connection, and working together. We turned it into a slightly competitive game with teams, which, for the boys, got them engaged and motivated. Focused and fun.”

top

 

Sangha Support Net (SSN)

As part of our Bhodisattva vow, the Sangha Support Net is a group of Dharma Rain Zen Center Sangha members who are dedicated to coordinating services and assistance to other Sangha members in times of personal difficulty. We are able to provide various kinds of temporary, non-financial assistance such as transportation, hospital or sick-bed visits, help in accessing the larger community’s social service system, and so forth.

We are not alone in this world, this community, or this Sangha. If you or some member you know of is experiencing difficulty beyond your immediate capabilities, please contact the SSN Director (JD Onryu Devros; 503-319-1472; [deafrose58 at hotmail.com]) or call the center, and see if we can assist you.

top

 

Prison Sangha News

Eastern Oregon

by Mugaku

TRCI sangha has blossomed into a determined group of sitters.

Through the holidays, we watched the DVDs Amongst White Clouds and Why Has Bodhidharma Left for the East? These deserve another viewing after we have gone through the Ten Ox herding Pictures. We offer our gratitude to Chaplains Cardona and Hodney for quickly certifying these DVDs for our continued use.

One of the men will be taking the Precepts from Getsushin in February.

EOCI sangha also enjoyed same DVDs over the holidays. We look forward to another look into the lives of hermit monks in China and Korea, both beautiful and thought-provoking.

Yet another sangha member will be taking the Precepts from Getsushin in February. We have a new member from Snake River who practiced with Getsushin for several years at OSP. He is truly inspirational to us all. A very strong practice emanates from him.

Our group of half-dozen has looked into many things together, most recently The Ten Ox Herding Pictures, copied and drawn by hand from a text read by a young member of our group.

top

Oregon State Penitentiary

by Getsushin

The OSP group has been studying the Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts for several weeks. At the end of this series of classes in early March, we are planning a Jukai ceremony. Three of our sangha members have indicated an interest in taking the precepts at that time. Several of the old-timers in the group already took the precepts in a ceremony we did at OSP in November 2007.

Gyoshi has joined our group at OSP as a volunteer. He adds a valuable perspective to our classes, and we are very happy to have him.

Maclaren

by Josan

Eric Daitoku Curtis has stepped in for Yuetsu Wolf as Yuetsu begins his world travels. We are continuing a long study on the Precepts, one at a time, and will be finishing up this month. Next we will move on to cover some of the basic teachings.

Coffee Creek

by Genko

Both Medium and Minimum groups have been studying the Six Realms. This teaching is especially appropriate to a prison environment, and the women can see daily evidence of the mind states described by it. We used Domyo’s booklet describing the Six Realms, and found it helpful, as it describes the significance of each realm and then also how to practice with it.

Prison Transition Support Group Beginning

A new monthly support group is planned to meet at Dharma Rain Zen Center beginning April 4.

top

 

Thank you

Dharma Rain Zen Center is entirely supported by membership and donations. We appreciate all the hard work volunteers put into keeping the Center running. In addition, a “thank you” goes out to: Koken Vail-Mackin for cheese and muffins; Chuck Powers for cookies; Jomon and Bansho for pears; Elaine Ota for 67 lbs of tofu and three pounds of age; Kozen Sampson for 1 dozen pullet eggs and a bag of organic dried pears. Special thanks are due to Zen Community of Oregon for a generous donation to the Zendo carpet fund.

 

Begging Bowl

The Center could use a handheld mixer, a ceramic knife sharpener, and a front-loading washer.

top

 

Newsletter Submissions

The newsletter is assembled and edited during the first week of every other month. Submissions are welcome and necessary. Articles can be long or short, and they can focus on any point of practice, with an emphasis on personal experience preferred (i.e. not highly theoretical). Descriptions of events at the Center and the occasional poem or drawing are also welcome. We do not print anonymously-submitted articles, but we can publish anonymously. Submissions sent by mail should be typed. E-mail attachments sent to [newsletter at dharma-rain.org] are preferred. If you have questions or ideas for an article, contact the Center.

Deadlines

  • May issue: deadline March 21
  • July issue: deadline May 21
  • September issue: deadline July 21

If you have information about upcoming events (published on alternate months from StillPoint news), remember to get them in early. Deadlines are similar: April 21 for the June-July flyer, June 21 for the August-September flyer, August 21 for the October-November flyer.

top