WATERFALL

2003/4 winter newsletter

Lately I’ve felt a deep appreciation and love for the sangha that practises Zen together. Gaining a clearer mind, a larger heart and a fuller self from practise I now feel strongly for others walking the same path. It is a rare and precious thing for people to practise in the world given the state it is in these days. We practise in the lineage of Kyozan Joshu Roshi. A few of the sangha have been to sesshin with him. He first came to Vancouver in 1967 and a Zen group started practising together a few years later. The strength of the Zen Centre of Vancouver has had its ups and downs over the years.

Roshi teaches in the Tathagata Zen tradition. This teaching points directly to the reality of ourselves and the world we’re in. It addresses the basic principle that everything works by. It does not initially address the things of the world. We find the principle in things rather than analyse things conventionally. As we come to realize this principle we can more genuinely work with the things of the world. It is our practise to grow and evolve from current misunderstanding and confusion towards clearer and deeper expression of how we truly are. The teaching points to realizing and doing the concurrent activities of releasing into this moment and of appearing within it without doubting ourselves.

To release into this moment is to be so at ease and at home with this moment that the distance and separation between self and this moment dissolves.

To appear within it without doubting ourselves is to be so at ease and at home with ourselves that we loose self-consciousness while grounded in the moment.

These two activities are like two sides of one coin. This moment, we find, is also ourselves. In manifesting ourselves we find we are filled with, or have as our ground, this moment. We need to practise gaining confidence in ourselves while seamlessly being with this moment.

Buddhism talks of being at one with. No one can see this. We can only be doing it. Along the way we see as passing scenery all our struggles and immature stages as we grow and evolve. We do our best not get caught up and lost in this and to stay clear in the direction of our practise. These concurrent activities bring out our humanity. Not according to social, political, cultural or familial ideas but from the very core of our humanness. Master Lin Chi (Rinzai) said “Do not seek adornments, adornments come of their own’. We do not try to be a particular type of person. We practise letting go what is hindering and how we restrict ourselves and thus come to let naturally blossom what is genuine.

We have a deep gratitude for the members that raised the down payment for the Zen Centres first building around 1980. There is also a deep gratitude for all those that have helped develop our practise home to what it is today. It has become a very suitable environment to do formal practise together. A year ago, following a sesshin, there started talk of a retreat centre. It seemed this would long remain a dream yet recently I’ve heard of eighty acres of land close to Salmon Arm to be donated to a Buddhist group. We are investigating and reviewing this kind and generous offer.

Over the years our formal practise has strengthened. Early on when he was younger Roshi visited to do sesshin with us. Since then zazen-kais and our own sesshins have been established and have grown in participation and intensity. A good core group now practises regularly together. Many have sat together for many years and give inspiration to newer folks. Without knowing it they are bodhisattvas. I have evolved in my responsibilities for the centre and am deeply grateful for the patience and understanding of members as I’ve grown along with their growth. Although people are committed and help the centre there is not yet anyone that wishes to become a lay monk/nun taking more responsibility for helping the centre and its members. This is our weak link if we go ahead with a rural retreat centre. My time would be divided between the two centres and someone would have to take more responsibility in Vancouver. We are also part of a larger family in our association with other Zen centres in Roshi’s lineage. The head temple and association name of this lineage is Rinzai-ji. We are associated locally with the Victoria Zen Centre under Eshu’s guidance, John and Michelle’s zendo on Bowen Island, and an independent Zen group in Prince George that I visit to lead zazen-kais.

It is now the end of this year and beginning of next year. It is a most appropriate time to renew our commitment to practise awakening and to strengthen the sangha with our practise. I sincerely hope we can continue supporting each other, can find more time for this precious practise, and help establish something of great value to society.

Eshin

Centre News

End of Year and New Year schedule.

December 25 th (Xmas day) Thursday no evening zazen.

December 28 th Sunday 11am on. End of year grand cleaning of the centre. Please stay after the sit, or just come at 11am , to clean inside and out before we start the new year. No doubt there’ll be refreshments at the end of the cleaning.

January 3 rd Saturday 11:30am is a New Year potluck lunch . Partners and children are most welcome. There will be the regular Saturday morning zazen so bring your delicious food with you or just turn up at 11:30am.

Please phone beforehand to check on the early (6am - 7:30am) zazen during the December 22 nd to January 2 nd period. Some days may be cancelled.

The annual administrative meeting will be held Sunday January 18 th at 11.30am . It is open to all current members. The annual financial and Zen Centre reports will be presented. The present directors are Brad, Eshin, Ian and Gareth. They all have good practical life experiences to contribute to the Zen Centre administration. All are willing to continue next year if proposed and voted. Is there anyone else interested in being a director in 2004? If so please come to this meeting and let Eshin know your intention.

The last sesshin of this year was in November. In attendance was a small solid group of seven. All had done sesshin before. The small experienced group made it easy for people to try new positions for the first time. Congratulations to Chris as jikijitsu, Adrian as shoji, Carlo and Brent as tenzos. All did very well in their new roles.

Sesshin dates for 2004 –

February 21 st to 28 th, May 8 th to 15 th, August 14 th to 21 st, and November 13 th to 20 th

The Zen Centre has some boxes of Eiju incense available for $15. Eiju is an excellent sandalwood incense for home use.

This is the last newsletter of 2003. A grateful thank you is expressed to everyone that has supported the centre this last year; whether by sitting with others, giving financially, giving of time, helping in the running and administration of the centre, donating gifts or simply wishing the centre well. Thank you!

To save costs people will be removed from the mailing list if we do not see them at the centre or if we do not hear from them.

Sangha News

Janice will be in Vancouver over the holiday season. She’ll be staying at the Centre for a couple of days, probably just before Xmas day. Come then to the zazen meetings to say ‘Hi’ and catch up with her news from Winnipeg and the Zen group she has started there.

Jason phoned from Toronto to say ‘Hi’ to the centre. He will be travelling to Vancouver several times at the start of the new year and looks forward to visiting the Centre and meeting old friends.

Tracey has started a meditation group in Calgary. She came to the August 2003 sesshin and took the initiative on returning home. Erin, who looked after the centre this autumn and returned to Calgary, has joined her. News is that both are very involved in getting a brand new group going and are considering zazen-kais!

Martina and Niki are both in good health and well set for the birth of their babies on January 14 – the identical date set by their doctors! Uwe is as excited as Martina at becoming a parent for the first time. Eshu is all set for the second time and has just got a new job with regular hours which will provide stability for the family as well as regular time for the zendo.

Here’s some belated work news of members. Branko is working for The Law Society now that his school work is over. Gareth has started to shift focus from just consulting to teaching and mentoring. Best wishes to both of them in their new paths.

Eshin led the annual weekend zazen-kai in Prince George in November. Ten experienced local folks attended all of whom sat strongly with a good spirit. The daily schedule was lengthened this year and formal meals introduced. The enthusiasm and commitment for zazen-kais was strong and it’s likely Eshin will now visit twice a year and the local group will also start more one day zazen-kais.

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.

A great thank you for all the donations this year from Adrian, Brad, Branko, Brent E, Brent G, Bryson, Chris M, Chris R, Dale, David, Fred, Gareth, Gordon D, Gordon G, Ian, Ivan, Jason and Laura, Jerry, John D, Joni, Judith, Jules, Keith, Kim, Lorena, Martina, Matt, Michael, Michelle, Mike, Myorei, Paul C, Paul F, Peggy, Peter, Pouyan, Richard, Shade, Stephan, Steve H, Steve W, Stuart, Susan B, Susan T, Terry, Travis, Trevor and the many anonymous donors. Thank you !!