Dharma Rain - News

Zen Center News

March-April 2006

Shuso Hossen
Rohatsu Sesshin
Women of the Way Book
Jôjû Books
Thank You
Begging Bowl
Newsletter Submissions

Shuso Hossen

On Sunday, January 29, Fall Term officially closed with the annual Shuso Hossen. During this ceremony, the sangha and visiting teachers formally tested the understanding of the past year's shuso (chief junior), Tom Zenkyo Howard, through Mondo, or dharma combat. Despite his hesitancy to announce this event during the weeks leading up to it, Zenkyo passed with flying colors. The entire sangha is grateful for his year of service.

For the ceremony, the shuso selects a verse of teaching to present and those in attendance test the shuso's understanding of the verse. Zenkyo presented this teaching verse by Kakuan Zenji. It is associated with the 10th Ox-herding picture:

Barefooted and naked of breast, I mingle with the people of the world.
My clothes are ragged and dust-laden, and I am ever blissful.
I use no magic to extend my life;
Now, before me, the dead trees become alive.

Shuso Hossen

Following a period of questioning, the shuso offers a capping verse on the teaching presented. This summarizes what the teaching means to the shuso personally. Here is Zenkyo's verse:

Buddha's pure land is not far off as some might say.
Traveling distant roads I could not find the way.
Now before me spring buds awake, and pure dharma rain falls.
Uttering the name I surrender and let go.
In Amida's pure land I have found my home.

— Tom Zenkyo Howard

Our new Shuso, Mark Sosetsu Stauffer, was installed on Sun., Feb 5. Good Luck in the year ahead, Sosetsu!

Rohatsu Sesshin

The annual Rohatsu Sesshin was held jointly with the GVZM, ZCO and Eugene Zendo sanghas at Great Vow Zen Monastery from Dec. 411. All five teachers (Kyogen and Gyokuko Carlson, Chozen and Hogen Bays, and Ejo McMullen) shared sanzen time and gave Dharma talks on various aspects of the Buddha's (and our own) enlightenment. On the last night, Gyokuko and Chozen led the Shosan ceremony. Bukkai was tenzo, assisted by Kenryu — a truly daunting job, since there were altogether about 80 participants over the course of the week.

Included in that number were three wild turkeys who took up residence at Great Vow around the time of Thanksgiving, and were given amnesty. They have been loosely designated as Tryptophan, Pot Pie and Tetrazzini. All three were prompt attendees at each Dharma talk, coming to the window with attention (and sometimes criticism) just in time every afternoon.

Many thanks to everyone for arriving with firm resolve and intention to practice intensely throughout the week.

14 of the ordained members of the three groups

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Women of the Way Book

Women of the Way, written by Sallie Jiko Tisdale, will be published by Harper San Francisco on Mar. 1. This book grew out of the women's lineage project here, and includes an essay on the meaning of women's lineage and narrative stories about each of the women recited in our women's line. Copies will be available in the bookstore.

 

Jôjû Books

Newly updated Jôjû books are now available in the bookstore. Jôjû means “everlasting” or “unchanging,” and is used in this context to talk about our experiences with death and dying. The binder of material includes Buddhist perspectives, practical guidance for such issues as talking to your family and doctor about your wishes, organ donations, leaving instructions for after death, and the actual ceremonies used in several types of Buddhist funerals, including those for animals and an unborn child. This is a guide for how to plan for a time when you are unable to make decisions for yourself, and the Advance Health Directive used in such emergencies. The price is $15 with the DRZC chant book. If you already have one, you can buy the binder separately for $10.

 

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Thank you

Thank you to all who give and support the stability and growth of the Center. Gassho to: Luisa Centeno for the lopper and shears; Joseph Wolder for bread and jam; Harold and Maiya for garbage cans, pillows, silverware, etc.

 

Begging Bowl

In addition to the ongoing financial needs, especially given the roof situation, the center is in need of duct tape, and a strawberry bush and an elderberry bush for our bird garden.

 

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Newsletter Submissions

The paper copy of the newsletter is assembled and edited during the first week of every other month. Submissions are welcome and needed. Please submit short or long articles, which can focus on any point of practice, including travel, research or personal experience; descriptions of events we've had; the occasional poem or drawing. We do not print anonymous articles. Please submit typed submissions if at all possible, and by e-mail if you can, to: newsletter@Dharma-Rain.org. (This saves the newsletter staff from having to re-type the work.) If you have questions or ideas for an article, contact Choten at the above email address.

Deadlines and possible topics:

  • May-June issue (Ango, Denkoe, end of term, summer): deadline April 1
  • July-August issue (summer practice, poems, cartoons): deadline June 1
  • September-October issue (fall term, term student program, Segaki): deadline August 1
  • November-December issue (Founders' Day, Rohatsu, Holiday Season): deadline Oct. 1