WATERFALL

2005 summer newsletter

The way of the Bodhisattva by Eshin

The way of the bodhisattva appears as we do Zen practise. Bodhi means awakened and sattva is person. A bodhisattva is a person who has awakened to their practise and is taking the responsibility that comes from this.

We may start with understanding. We may gain understanding from reading books, from talking with our friends, it may be the insight from a realization. There can be a great satisfaction in understanding and there is a tendency to rest in the understanding and not go forward. Yet, in the end, it is only understanding about something.

Zen, of course, emphasises the balance of practise and understanding. Our practise of being part of everything has been addressed many times in the past and won’t be addressed now. Through practise it inevitably arises, little by little. The more we experience being part of everything the more the bodhisattva appears.

We find our heart opening. As we feel more part of everything and, conversely, let everything be part of ourselves, a feeling of connectedness and closeness arises. As we grew up we found our heart was open to things and people that we were naturally close to. These are the old connections to friends, family, nation, etc. With practise we accept more and more things and situations. We’re more fully part of the whole world. We find we do not react, reject, or grasp so much. There is an acceptance of things just as they are. Our hearts open because things are part of our world. Conversely, there is only one world and we are part of it.

As an example we find that as our practise deepens we hear more than just the voices of people. We hear the tone and feeling of the person talking. We have a sense of how they are. They are more part of us. We see more deeply into the whole world.

Yet there is another aspect to our practise. This is how we respond within the increasing oneness of things. We find ourselves responding with care and concern for others because they are part of this one world and thus close to us. We find ourselves willing to give more and more of ourselves.

At the beginning of practise this can be scary. At this point in our practise to give ourselves seems to just please others or simply do what others want. What’s happening here is that we lose all sense of ourselves in giving. We must be stronger. We have the insight that we must be stronger in order to relate more deeply and effectively. Increasing our inner strength allows us to relate better without being bent out of shape. Just getting stronger without the bodhisattva spirit is just having a stronger ego and a self-centered self. But when we realize we are part of everything then our increasing strength allows us to respond in a more helpful way; in a way where we become fulfilled by helping and caring. We are strong enough to give without losing ourselves. We are strong enough to find great satisfaction in our bodhisattva practise.

Myorei - One branch ikebana

A branch: dissolve into it, become it and truly experience the curves, colors, texture, strength and weaknesses. The branch leads you to the experience of true love - no separation – zero, where branch and self are in harmony, with true equality. Stay there and there is no arrangement, just appreciation. Appear from that common space in differentiation with all your personality and purpose, position the branch, trim it. You, together with the branch are the arrangement. You have been leading both in a manifestation of beauty.

Gareth - Fragments from spring sesshin

Centre News

In the last newsletter we solicited views on how to present and send the information of the centre. The following arrangement is being implemented. The web site for visitors and newcomers remains www.zen.ca. It is orientated to people outside the centre looking for information. A sangha section has been created at sangha.zen.ca (no www). This is orientated to sangha members, people that already know the centre. Printed newsletters will continue. Email announcements will continue; schedule changes, etc will be emailed to a list of current sitters; ceremony announcements, etc will be emailed to the full list of sitters and supporters. Send in your email address if you want to be on these lists but aren’t currently receiving anything. The sangha.zen.ca section of the web site will include the schedule, the maroon coloured announcements of schedule changes, and could be the main web site for sangha members.

On July 9 th we had our latest yard sale. Thanks to everyone that donated items and / or came to help. As usual we raised a few hundred dollars. Yard sales have always been a regular and effective fund-raiser.

The May sesshin on Galiano Island was full. The facilities allow a maximum of fifteen people. August is filling slowly and is likely going to be smaller than usual. The dates for the November sesshin has been changed to the 11 th – 19 th, a week earlier that first planned. The dates for the 2006 sesshins are now being worked out.

Maintenance that’s on the ‘to do’ list:- tile the basement bathroom shower, put anti-slip on the front steps for winter, widen the side path for the new garbage containers City Hall is planning, the zendo will need re-painting sometime as it’s stained by incense smoke and has some roughly painted areas. 

Sangha News 

On the weekend of April 20 th and 21 st Eshin and Myorei visit Koshin and Soshin. They are our nearest Rinzai-ji neighbours in the USA on Vashon Island near Seattle . They are more settled into their new home and have a new baby girl, Eva. Their sangha has grown since the last visit and a seminar was arranged with Red Pine, a Buddhist scholar and translator. This September another seminar is planned with Professor Mark Unno.

The weekend of April 23 rd and 24 th saw the latest two day zazen-kai for the Prince George sangha. All the core members attended and there were Zen group meetings initiated by Eshin to review the direction and practise there.

On June 10 th Michelle, John and their three daughters left for an indefinite period to study with Roshi. They will initially stay next to Mt Baldy ZC in a cabin. Latest news is that things are working out for the complicated situation. Two other people from BC are training for two thirds of the summer seichu. Judith, from Prince George , is there for the July and August sesshins; and Matt, from Victoria , is there for the August and September sesshins. Eshin and Myorei attended the July Rinzai-ji sesshin to honour Roshi’s arrival in the west. Roshi gave a strong talk at the morning tea after sesshin. Gareth will be attending the Mt Baldy ZC September sesshin. Shade is still at Bodhi Manda ZC in New Mexico . News is that he’s content there and is getting deeper into Zen practise.

It’s summer and many sangha members are on vacation and / or visiting family. The zendo is always quieter in summer although out of town visitors from other centers come to sit with us at this time. Eshin and Myorei visited family in Europe late May to early June. Branko visited his family in Bosnia in July for three weeks. Gareth spent two weeks with his family in Los Angeles this June. Steve is in London for summer. Pouyan is spending three months with his sister in England . Brad has been spending time looking after his mother. Ian and Linda have been touring Canada in their camper van. Janice visited the centre early August on a trip back west.

Congratulations to Joni and Jose who are expecting their second child this December.

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 as appreciation of the practise and centre grows.

A great thank you for all the membership and general donations this spring: Adrian, Brad, Branko, Brent, Brett, Chris M, Chris R, Cristian, David, Dorothy, Fred, Gareth, Gordon, Graham, Grant, Hector, Ian, Ivan, Jacqui, Jeremy, John, José, Judith, Mark, Martin, Matt, Michael, Michelle, Mike, Myorei, Paul A, Paul C, Paul M, Peggy, Peter, Pouyan, Shade, Steve, Stuart and for all the anonymous donors. Thank you!

Thanks also for a coffee grinder and French press from Gareth, and the specialty coffee from Peggy. Thanks for the deck repair and painting done by Brad. The deck is finally fully weather-proof and the basement bathroom leaks should now be a thing of the past.