Dharma Rain Character

Still Point

Newsletter of Dharma Rain Zen Center

Portland, Oregon

Volume XXVII Number 5

September-October 2002

 


 


By Kakumyo Lowe

Being sent to train with another teacher and sangha is one of the hurdles in preparing for monastic ordination here at Dharma Rain. Accordingly, I spent three months this spring at Zen Mountain Monastery in upstate New York. Initially I resisted the idea -- it seemed neither relevant nor practical, but, alas, clearly inevitable, so I tried to make the best of it.

Without the assortment of jobs that I have accumulated here, my only task was to follow the schedule, which felt glorious; just this side of intoxicating. I was disappointed to find I was carrying a hefty chip on my shoulder about the intensity and intimacy of the training environments; there was a lot of comparing mind. Still, I could recognize that training was happening,and as it began to feel more familiar than foreign, I gradually relaxed into the differences in values and styles of training.

It did take a whole month to adapt to new hand positions for gassho and meditation, and to not turn clockwise in the zendo. It took over two months to drop my resistance to a phrase in the meal verse that is just a little bit off from the way we do it; I fussed over the difference between 'ambrosia' and 'nectar.' Many times I tossed up metaphorical hands at the absurdity of my resistance: 'sorry! this is what I have to train with', only to remember 'this is what I have to train with.' Paranoia about doing everything just right transformed into gratitude for the many training opportunities I was offered.

Songbirds and earthworms, frisbee and Genjokoan, the elusive moon and the slate steps up the hill, making coffee in torrents, finishing woodwork, moving furniture -- and most especially, many dedicated individuals -- all formed impressions that illustrate the time and process that I will continue to learn from. I worked hard to be a part of that community and was frankly unprepared for how much that happened. Although one of the true lessons involved deepening and clarifying my connection with the Dharma Rain Sangha, leaving the friends I had made was difficult. Sangha is broader and more urgent than I had thought. I have caught a glimpse of the reasons why pilgrimages to other teachers have been an important part of the Zen tradition for a thousand years.

Editor's note: For a detailed description of Kakumyo's ordination go to this link.

 


by Mark Sosetsu Stauffer

As the summer closes and the social butterfly within flits on fewer flowers, fall emerges with great internal energy, dedication, crispness in the air and a shedding off of the extraneous. I tend to become more goal oriented, structured and make plans for newly emerged intentions. Did schooling follow a seasonal mandate or do we take up such energy out of conditioning from years and years of starting anew in fall? I remember shopping each September for clothing and school supplies and looking forward to what the next grade would bring. As a new sixth grader, I let go of the fifth grade.

At the Zen Center, each fall we start classes, take on personal vows and intentions and return to formalized practice with renewed energy. One difficult task in handling this energy, at least for myself and many others in this fast-paced, production-minded culture where choice abounds, is how to say 'yes' completely to the right amount of involvements. That entails saying 'no' to other things, often worthy enterprises. I guess no matter how much one 'commits' to, there is only this day and this moment. If we use the construct of a day, we get a whopping 86,400 seconds. At times, I watch mental clarity turn to haziness while multitasking through too many expectations. Burning a candle on both ends might exhaust the entire candle, but then again the candle seems inexhaustible. I laugh, knowing that each fall I will mentally and emotionally muster and resolve around intentions and then watch them fizzle, coming up short by winter. Sometimes, I just forget them. Inevitably, I do not know the myriad needs of the future; in the process something changes, something dies out.

Another notable stream of mind during the fall is honoring the hungry ghosts. Hungry ghosts may be recurrent or resurfacing personal, almost internal karma. We also celebrate our departed who were recently present in a tangible physical quality. Each year loved ones and precious things are lost. Grief and emotions swirl around unwilled separations. Celebrating the past, passing and present form is an integral part of our experience and, therefore, part of our spiritual tradition. Ceremony helps me acknowledge and connect with the Dharma of life. At Segaki Toro, the festival of the hungry ghosts, we write on karma slips what it is that we want to release. We then toss the slips, like trees dropping leaves, into the fire where it is burned up.

An exhortation I took a fancy to last year connected the concept of putting energy into intentions and the dying process. As I understand what he said, Hogen Sensei suggested that we not think of intentions and vows as taking on something new, of adding to gain, but rather to think of such dedication as a letting go, letting go of the extraneous.

 

by Nagarjuna


Going for refuge with all forms of respect to the Buddhas, excellent Doctrine, Supreme Community, and Bodhisattvas,

I bow down to all that are worthy of honor. I will turn away from all ill deeds and thoroughly take up all meritorious actions.

I will admire all the merits of all embodied beings.

With bowed head and joined palms I petition the perfect Buddhas to turn the wheel of doctrine and remain as long as transmigrating beings remain.

Through the merits of having done thus and through the merit that
I did earlier
and will do,

May all sentient beings aspire to the highest enlightenment.

May all sentient beings have all the stainless faculties, release from all conditions of non-leisure, freedom of action, and endowment with good livelihood.

May all embodied beings have jewels in their hands, and may all the limitless necessities of life remain unconsumed as long as there is cyclic existence.

May all beings at all times become supreme persons.

May all embodied beings have the intelligence of wisdom and the legs of ethics.

May all be skilled in the means to extinguish suffering, inclination to the Three Jewels, and the great wealth of Buddha's doctrine.

May they be adorned with love, compassion, joy, even-mindedness, giving, ethics, patience, effort, concentration, and wisdom.

Completing the two collections of merit and wisdom, may they have the brilliant marks and beautiful features even while on the path, and may they cross without interruption the ten inconceivable grounds.

May I also be adorned completely with those and all other good qualities, be freed from all defects, and have superior love for all sentient beings.

May I perfect all the virtues for which all sentient beings hope, and may I always relieve the sufferings of all embodied beings.

As long as any sentient being anywhere has not been liberated, may I remain for the sake of that being though I have attained highest enlightenment.

If the merit of saying this had form, it would never fit into realms of worlds as numerous as the sand grains of the Ganges.

 

 

by David Robinson


These blackberries
   these fat, black honeycombs,
        sweet with summer's hardy work
                         these

are the last flames of the sun.

I take them one by one,
    without thought,
          with fingers ripped
and stained, raked open
by the rigid, hidden spurs.

This tongue and chin are clearly marked,
    grotesquely colored by the heedless taking.

Nevertheless,
there is this rich darkness.

Or is it fire I breathe in?

 

 

Driftwood and Ferns. Photo taken in Dharma House side yard - early August 2002

 

 

Annual Board Retreat July 6, 2002

Present: Kyogen Carlson, Gyokuko Carlson, Jeanette Ryan, Gwen Kisei Martin, Jody Shintai Dungay, Elizabeth Erin Luthy, Joe Niski. Absent: Jay Dosho VanSant, Nicole Ko'in Newsom, Gary Oshiro.

A motion to elect Joe Niski secretary was unanimously passed

Financial Status: YTD comparisons from last year. * Bottom line shows a $26,000 deficit compared to a $3,000 deficit last year. * Annual pledge, fund raising and Fee Activity income are all up from last year. * Residential income is up but almost completely canceled out by increased utilities. * Approximately $15,000 were spent on capital expenses such as a new roof on the Dharma House. * Expenses are up significantly this year because we are spending the money we obtained through fundraising and refinancing to pay for capital improvements. Because we are spending what amounts to capital gain, not income, we show a large deficit. As the treasurer was not present at the retreat there was some difficulty in interpreting the numbers and a discussion was started on how we can improve our accounting system in order to analyse year to year trends. * Gyokuko made a report on what she felt was needed to complete the remodel on the Sangha House kitchen. A motion was made and unanimously approved to allotting a budget not to exceed $3000 for these improvements.

Property Committee A committee was formed of two board members, Joe Niski and Gwen Kisei Martin and one sangha member to be confirmed at a later date. * Criteria for examining future land purchase possibilities was formulated. * In the future they can bring the information to one of these committee members. The committee will then evaluate the property using the criteria list and make a report to the board as well as communicate the information to the person who presented the option.

Priest Support Currently Kyogen and Gyokuko receive room and board, health insurance, $250/mo/person before deductions and $1000 a year professional development to be shared. * Junior priests receive room and board, health insurance and retreat scholarships but no cash stipend. * A motion was unanimously passed to review the Carlsons' stipend on a yearly basis. * A motion was unanimously passed to increase the Carlsons' stipend to $275/mo/person

Delegation/Apprenticeship Concerns were voiced on how it is difficult for the Apprenticeship Committee to stay on top of certain jobs and that Gyokuko was the person that things usually fell back on. * The board's concerns were (1) the need to follow through on volunteer commitments and (2) to reduce the time that jobs are vacant. Suggestion/recommendations for the Apprenticeship Committee were (1) meet more frequently, possibly monthly and (2) appoint a Volunteer Coordinator to monitor job vacancies and be responsible for keeping them filled.

Communication Much time was spent on coming up with ideas to improve communication within the sangha. The following are some initial steps that will be instituted. * The binder of board minutes in the office will be updated. * Future board minutes will be edited via email and posted as soon as possible rather than waiting to do so at the next meeting. * A summary of the minutes will be posted on the web, in the newsletter and on the bulletin board in the Buddha House. * Kyogen made a motion to set aside 15 minutes at the beginning of each board meeting for members to bring issues to the board. Sangha members should contact the Board president (currently Jeanette Ryan) before the meeting to be put on the agenda . The motion passed unanimously.

Membership Dues-paying membership is up 13 to 162.

Transition/Succession A discussion was started on some of the issues that will need to be decided in looking forward to the Carlsons' eventual retirement.

 

(Click on image for larger view)

beginning of Newsletter


Zen Center News

News now has its own, separate page. If you want to know what the news was for September/October 2002 go to this link.

 

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The newsletter is always seeking submissions of news items, essays, poetry and artwork related to Zen. All items must be signed (we will withhold your name if requested) and will be edited for length and style (Even the editors get edited!).Send submissions through email (Newsletter@Dharma-Rain.org), by regular mail or drop it off in the newsletter slot in the Center house office.

 

   
 

 

 

 


STILL POINT archive edit of 4 March 2003
Dharma Rain Zen Center Newsletter
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Volume XXVIII Number 5 September/October 2002
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