Carol Homstad 2014 RYUMONJI ZEN … ZEN MONASTERYUMONJI ZEN MONASTERY RY RY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 10...

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RYUMONJI ZEN MONASTE RYUMONJI ZEN MONASTE RYUMONJI ZEN MONASTE RYUMONJI ZEN MONASTERY RY RY RY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 10 ISSUE 1 Carol Homstad 2014 The Gap between Heaven and Earth * The Fukanzazengi is a core text of the Soto Zen tradition. Fukanzazengi means The Universal Recommendation for Zazen. It was written by Zen Master Dogen in 1227. Dogen was a young Japanese monk who went to China to deepen his understanding of Zen Buddhism. He had the good fortune to meet the Soto Zen Master, Juching (Rujing), at Tendoji Monastery in China. Dogen returned to Japan and wrote this Fukanzazengi. It was his first teaching. He returned with a deep feeling of responsibility to share this fundamental understanding of zazen. It was a task that occupied him during the next twenty five years of his life. The original calligraphy of the Fukanzazengi is written on a scroll in full display at the museum of Eiheiji Monastery which Dogen founded. The Fukanzazengi has an 800 year history and is recited in monasteries across Japan. It is now recited in monasteries across America. Zen Master Dogen, in the Fukanzazengi* says, “If there is the slightest discrepancy, the Way is as distant as heaven from earth.” What’s he talking about? This is the discrepancy between our desire to have things our way and the reality of the universe as the ultimate way. The universe has its own spin. We’re just a small part of it. If we’re not in harmony with the universe, it’s a huge discrepancy. This is a gap as vast as the distance between heaven and earth. You may want a bright sunny day but if you can’t adjust to the fact that it is a dismal rainy day, this can be a huge gap between you and the day at hand. It’s sometimes hard to deal with things as they are. When things go our way, we’re happy. When things do not go our way, we suffer. We’re tossed by the reality of what is. Zen Master Dogen says, “If the least like or dislike arises, the mind is lost in confusion.” Attaching to our preferences sometimes makes it hard to adjust to the reality of what is. But to adjust to what is is to quiet the mind and deal with things as they are. Dogen says, “This is to learn the backward step that turns your light inwardly to illuminate your self.” To deal with things as they are is to practice suchness. We should practice suchness without delay. Otherwise we’re just fighting with our delusion of how we want things to be. Practicing suchness is a matter of everydayness. It’s the vow to live each day. Life has its own rhythm. Can you dance with life as it is? This is Zen practice! The way of Zen practice is directly in front of you. It’s right under your foot. To go astray from the Way creates a big gap between yourself and the universe. It is where human suffering arises. So in the formal practice of Zen meditation Dogen says, “Sit up straight . . . and think not-thinking. How do you think not- thinking? Non-thinking.Non-thinking is letting go of the commentary we create about our lives. These are the gaps that can be as huge as the distance between heaven and earth. Non-thinking is the essential art of zazen. Zazen is not just sitting on a cushion or in a chair. It’s a way of living that touches every aspect of your life. Non-thinking is truly opening your eyes and seeing what needs to be done, and doing it! Zazen is not a means to attain enlightenment. It is a way of living. Dogen says, “Once the heart of zazen is grasped, you are like a dragon when it gains the water, like a tiger when it enters the mountain. In other words, there is no gap between you and waters, or you and mountain. This is to know sitting as sitting. In the closing paragraph of the Fukanzazengi Dogen says, “Please, honored followers of Zen. Long accustomed to groping for the elephant, do not be suspicious of the true dragon. Devote your energies to a way that directly indicates the absolute.” In other words, quit groping for the elephant of your own ideas of happiness, and don't be frightened by the true dragon of reality as it is. Dogen says, “This is the enlightenment of the buddhas . . . the legitimate lineage of the ancestors’ samadhi. Constantly perform in such a manner and you are assured of being a person such as they. Your treasure-store will open of itself, and you will use it at will.” In Gassho, Shoken Winecoff

Transcript of Carol Homstad 2014 RYUMONJI ZEN … ZEN MONASTERYUMONJI ZEN MONASTERY RY RY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 10...

Page 1: Carol Homstad 2014 RYUMONJI ZEN … ZEN MONASTERYUMONJI ZEN MONASTERY RY RY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 10 ISSUE 1 Carol Homstad 2014 The Gap between Heaven and Earth * The Fukanzazengi is

R Y U M O N J I Z E N M O N A S T ER Y U M O N J I Z E N M O N A S T ER Y U M O N J I Z E N M O N A S T ER Y U M O N J I Z E N M O N A S T E R Y R Y R Y R Y

SPRING 2016

VOLUME 10

ISSUE 1

Carol Homstad 2014

The Gap between Heaven and Earth

* The Fukanzazengi is a core text of the Soto Zen tradition. Fukanzazengi means The Universal Recommendation for Zazen. It was written by Zen Master Dogen in 1227. Dogen was a young Japanese monk who went to China to deepen his understanding of Zen Buddhism. He had the good fortune to meet the Soto Zen Master, Juching (Rujing), at Tendoji Monastery in China. Dogen returned to Japan and wrote this Fukanzazengi. It was his first teaching. He returned with a deep feeling of responsibility to share this fundamental understanding of zazen. It was a task that occupied him during the next twenty five years of his life. The original calligraphy of the Fukanzazengi is written on a scroll in full display at the museum of Eiheiji Monastery which Dogen founded. The Fukanzazengi has an 800 year history and is recited in monasteries across Japan. It is now recited in monasteries across America.

Zen Master Dogen, in the Fukanzazengi* says, “If there is the slightest discrepancy, the Way is as distant as heaven from earth.”

What’s he talking about? This is the discrepancy between our desire to have things our way and the reality of the universe as the ultimate way. The universe has its own spin. We’re just a small part of it. If we’re not in harmony with the universe, it’s a huge discrepancy. This is a gap as vast as the distance between heaven and earth.

You may want a bright sunny day but if you can’t adjust to the fact that it is a dismal rainy day, this can be a huge gap between you and the day at hand. It’s sometimes hard to deal with things as they are. When things go our way, we’re happy. When things do not go our way, we suffer. We’re tossed by the reality of what is.

Zen Master Dogen says, “If the least like or dislike arises, the mind is lost in confusion.” Attaching to our preferences sometimes makes it hard to adjust to the reality of what is. But to adjust to what is is to quiet the mind and deal with things as they are. Dogen says, “This is to learn the backward step that turns your light inwardly to illuminate your self.”

To deal with things as they are is to practice suchness. We should practice suchness without delay. Otherwise we’re just fighting with our delusion of how we want things to be. Practicing suchness is a matter of everydayness. It’s the vow to live each day. Life has its own rhythm. Can you dance with life as it is?

This is Zen practice! The way of Zen practice is directly in front of you. It’s right under your foot. To go astray from the Way creates a big gap between yourself and the universe. It is where human suffering arises.

So in the formal practice of Zen meditation Dogen says, “Sit up straight . . . and think not-thinking. How do you think not-thinking? Non-thinking.” Non-thinking is letting go of the commentary we create about our lives. These are the gaps that can be as huge as the distance between heaven and earth.

Non-thinking is the essential art of zazen. Zazen is not just sitting on a cushion or in a chair. It’s a way of living that touches every aspect of your life. Non-thinking is truly opening your eyes and seeing what needs to be done, and doing it!

Zazen is not a means to attain enlightenment. It is a way of living. Dogen says, “Once the heart of zazen is grasped, you are like a dragon when it gains the water, like a tiger when it enters the mountain. In other words, there is no gap between you and waters, or you and mountain. This is to know sitting as sitting.

In the closing paragraph of the Fukanzazengi Dogen says, “Please, honored followers of Zen. Long accustomed to groping for the elephant, do not be suspicious of the true dragon. Devote your energies to a way that directly indicates the absolute.” In other words, quit groping for the elephant of your own ideas of happiness, and don't be frightened by the true dragon of reality as it is.

Dogen says, “This is the enlightenment of the buddhas . . . the legitimate lineage of the ancestors’ samadhi. Constantly perform in such a manner and you are assured of being a person such as they. Your treasure-store will open of itself, and you will use it at will.”

In Gassho,

Shoken Winecoff

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DRAGON GATE

Ryumonji Happenings . . .

2016 Summer Ango

Ryumonji Summer Ango will begin on May 20, 2016 and conclude August 21, 2016. Rev. Shinsen Couillard will serve as Shuso.

The Shuso Ceremony will be held on Sunday, July 17, 2016. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m.

The Shuso Tea will be held the previous evening at 7:30 p.m. Rev. Shohaku Okumura will be the guest lecturer.

Summer Ango is open to partial participation if full time at-tendance is not possible. Please register on Ryumonji’s website www.ryumonji.org if you wish to attend.

Buddha’s Birthday Ryumonji celebrated Buddha’s Birthday on Sunday, April 10. Families and friends enjoyed the traditional Buddha’s birthday celebration.

Family Weekend

Ryumonji held its annual Family Weekend April 23-24. Several families gathered around the theme of “How to

Lay Entrustment On May 1, Ryumonji observed the Lay Entrustment of Mary Myo-an McCulley. Preceptor was Rev. Ryoten Lehmann. This is the first Lay Entrustment Ceremony held at Ryumonji. It was also an opportunity for old and new prac-titioners to meet and connect with each other.

Spring Work Day

May 14 was the Spring Work Day at Ryumonji. Many tasks were completed in preparation for then upcoming growing season. The garden was planted, windows were washed, flower gardens cleaned out, and grass mowed. It was a great out-pouring of sangha effort. Thank you to all who participated.

Winter Gala

Ryumonji held its annual Winter Gala on Saturday, March 12. The evening included an elegant dinner, mu-sic, and a silent auction. It was a wonderful event for all who attended.

Train Your Dragon”.There were great dragon masks and adventures on the high seas!

2016 Winter Ango Shuso Ceremony On February 21, 2016 Ryumonji held its Shuso Ceremony for Winter Ango. Rev. Myoko Demuth served as Shuso for that Winter Ango.

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VOLUME 10

To register for sesshin

please complete the

Event Registration Form

at

www.ryumonji.org

Public Sittings

Thursday Evenings

7:30 p.m.

Sunday Mornings

9:00 a.m.

For orientation to zazen

please arrive

15 minutes early

2016 Ryumonji Calendar

May 20-22 Sesshin and Ango Opening

May 20-Aug 21 Summer Ango

Jun 17-19 Sesshin

Jul 15-17 Sesshin & Shuso Ceremony

Aug 20 Summer Work Day

Aug 21 Summer Ango Closing

Aug 26-28 Men's Retreat

Sep 16-18 Sesshin

Oct 16 Taste of Ryumonji

Oct 21-23 Sesshin

Oct 29 Fall Work Day

Nov 4-6 Women’s Retreat

Nov 18-20 Sesshin & Jukai Ceremony

Dec 1-8 Rohatsu Sesshin

Dec 31 End of Year Sesshin

New Year’s Eve Celebration

To receive future issues of the newsletter electronically,

please e-mail: [email protected]

On March 22, Dragonfly Books in Decorah, IA held a book signing featuring Shoken Roshi’s book, Zen Seeds for Fallow Ground.

Zen Seeds may be ordered through [email protected].

Book Signing

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Zen Seeds for Fallow Ground

Copies of Zen Seeds for Fallow Ground can be ordered by sending e-mail to:

[email protected].

Books are $12 each (plus $3 shipping).

R Y U M O N J I Z E N R Y U M O N J I Z E N R Y U M O N J I Z E N R Y U M O N J I Z E N R Y U M O N J I Z E N R Y U M O N J I Z E N R Y U M O N J I Z E N R Y U M O N J I Z E N R Y U M O N J I Z E N R Y U M O N J I Z E N R Y U M O N J I Z E N R Y U M O N J I Z E N

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Solar Update Ryumonji continues to move forward with its multi-year solar project. During the summer of 2016, we will install the second set of 20 solar panels.

Installation of this second set of panels will increase from 20% to 40% the amount of the monastery’s electrical need that is met by solar energy.

We hope to continue with this schedule of solar panel installation over the next three years, ultimately eliminating Ryumonji’s dependence on fossil fuel.

Please join us in this effort. Ryumonji will undertake a capital development fundraising campaign this summer. We appreciate your support.