We usually come to Zen practise to find our Buddha Nature, to meditate, to heal ourselves, to become whole again, to find our true self, etc. Ceremonies are not usually on our mind. In fact, we may have an aversion to them coming from a religious past or see ceremonies as unnecessary ritual.

Ritual is usually seen as a religious or community thing; seen as expressing, fixing and reinforcing the shared values and beliefs of a group. It’s seen as something from the outside that bonds the individual.
Ritual, in Zen, is a little different. It can be found in simple things and affirms an inter-dependant relationship. To make tea or coffee where the person, the utensils, and the actions come together in that full activity is a ritual. Here it is the expressing and reinforcing the shared values of subject and object, inside and outside, person and thing / activity. Zen ritual is to manifest a true activity where all parts of it are unified and inter-connected.

Ceremonies in Zen have this sense of ritual. It is a mistake to see them in a religious way. The more we practise the more a feeling of gratitude arises for Shakyamuni and the old Zen masters. A ceremony allows us to connect to these ancestors.

The five general Buddhist ceremonies concern Shakyamuni (his birth, enlightenment, and passing), and two major ancestors in our lineage (Bodhidharma and Rinzai). The ceremonies are our expression of gratitude and connect us to these ancestors. Ceremonies work both ways. We participate and in that participation we are changed.

Personal Buddhist ceremonies, such as weddings and memorials, are similar. In these cases they mark major passages in our lives. The ceremony requires our participation and in that participation the passage can become real.

In our modern culture we tend to slide over these events. We may mark it with a few minutes reflection or a busy service. Rarely do we have the occasion and time to reach deep into ourselves. However, when we do then a deeply felt experience allows us to touch our humanity more fully and deeply. These days this is something very needed.

The deep commitment of a marriage is outwardly expressed and inwardly felt in a ceremony. The recognition of change and passing is recognized at a memorial. A person’s contribution is recognized at a funeral or memorial, a contribution to life’s changing flow. In our lineage’s ceremonies gratitude and closeness is felt for the ancestors that have carried this tradition for the benefit of later generations.

Ceremonies are not on our minds as we start Zen practise. They may mean more as we practise. This small article is to consider their place.

Jon Contorines

The Bodhisattva Way

Taking the hand of Buddha
Which is no hand
I walk the path
That is no path
Going from here to there to here
Each step
A thousand miles.

David Ashton

Through the eyes
Of a cow
I suffer

Thinking about thinking about thinking
Ripples on the pond
Where the frog jumped in

Tiger eats the strawberry
Cliff eats the tiger
Strawberry eats the cliff

Reflection
Connection
Affection

You and I
High five
One hand claps

The Waterfall

Chaos and bedlam
No droplet misplaced
Pandemonium
Cacophony
Every splash harmony
Even the moment
Of thunderous impact
Silent water
Gives silent birth
To silent spray
The waterfall
Is the water
The rocks
The trees
The waterfall
Writes this
Reads this
Is this
Is just
A waterfall

Centre News

Buddha’s Birthday ceremony will be at 11am Sunday April 23rd. It will be followed by a potluck lunch. All members, their partners and children are most welcome.
Please make a point of attending our main gathering of the year. Ceremonies are a way of expressing deep appreciation for our practise that has been handed down over the generations. Our potlucks always provide a varied and exciting range of food, plus there’s time to share with fellow travellers on the path.
There will be no 9am -11am zazen that morning.

2006 sesshin dates are May 6th – 13th, August 12th -19th, and October 28th – November 4th.
Some sesshins have been filling up. In February we had seventeen participants and had to turn away another three people because of lack of space. Priority is given to full timers and a payment secures a place.

The Zen Centre of Vancouver’s “Mortgage Retirement Fund Appeal” closed on December 31st 2005. The intent was to give flexibility for future growth of the centre. Without a mortgage it is easier to move to a larger place or to have the basement suite available for resident Zen students. These options are likely to be needed within a couple of years. The appeal was highly successful. $22,890 was raised giving a total of $45,780 with the matching funds. This is almost exactly the remaining mortgage amount. The mortgage has now been ‘retired’. A great thankful appreciation to everyone.

In January many members came for an extended work period to widen the path at the side of the centre. This allows for the new standardized garbage contains from City Hall.

There have been suggestions of robes for core members if they wish. These are the lay robes of kimono, hakama and collar. The suggestion was that it would contribute at sesshins and they could also be used at the city zendo. Also suggested was that the centre get a few sets for use at sesshins. Anyone interested in getting a set? Please let Eshin know and if there are enough people we can look at finding group prices.

Eshin will lead the next Prince George Zen group weekend zazen-kai April 7th – 9th.

Sangha News

Jan Irwin found she had cancer at the end of last year. In mid-January she had surgery and started chemo-therapy. Jan is strongly supported by her husband Bill and daughter Selena, as well as the community in the Yalacom valley. There have been a group of Roshis students homesteading there for a long, long time. Tony Ross, one of the Zen Centre of Vancouver’s founding members, moved there a couple of years ago and is continuing the zendo practise. Sincere and best wishes to Jan during these uncertain and difficult times.

Myorei is starting a floral art business. She has been studying Japanese Ikebana, Western floral art, botanics, and taking business classes. Myorei intends to focus on special events arrangements from weddings to corporate events. She will soon offer exquisite arrangements for delivery in the Lower Mainland. Please mention her site at www.myorei.ca to anyone who may be interested.

E’cho will be leaving for China at the end of April for a visit of up to a year. He will be staying with his fiancé and plans to work and study the language there. The centre will miss one of its tokudo people.

Congratulations to Chris Reuten for gaining his doctorate in atmospheric science.

Andre, from Switzerland, has been sitting at the centre while studying English in Vancouver. He returned home in February and no doubt continues his practise with his local sangha.

John, Michelle and their family are likely returning to Bowen Island by summer. They have been living on Mt Baldy for a year studying with Roshi. It was a large undertaking with the three girls and the pets but there is only appreciation for the opportunity.

Contributions

A great thank you to the following donors to the Mortgage Retirement Fund: A MacKay, Adrian Dobre, Ali-sa Thompson, Anne Mills, Betsy Williams, Brad Leggett, Branko Vrbic, Brent Eichler, Brett Wearne, Carlo Piroso, Carol Ptolemy, Catherine and Ken Maneker, Chris Massey, Dayle Baykey, Dorothy Michiel, E'cho, Eshin, Fred and Louise Newman, Gordon Davidson, Graham McCaffrey, Hoben Kim Hansen, Ian Hignell, Ivan Grabovac, Janice Nelson, Jeff Creek, Jenny Fujita, John Candy, Jon and Josée Contorines, Joni Cooke, Judith Johnson, Ken Bilski, Ken Niguma, Laurie McEwen, Les Desfosses, Liz Weis, Marina Zeipper, Martina Vavra, Matt MacLean, Mike and Barbara Mulcahy, Myorei, Naomi Shikaze, Nathan Elliot, Paul Frost, Paul Martin, Peggy Scott, Peter Smith, Prince George Zen Group, Ric Hunter, Roger Graves, Shade Josip Perkov, Steve Swenson, Steve Weiner, Stuart Slind, Susan Tennant, Tama Copithorne, Tei Taku, Toby Krell, Tony Ross and Yves Leduc.

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 since the start of 2006: Attila Szabo, Branko Vrbic, Carlo Piroso, Chris Massey, Chris Reuten, Claudia Ruitenberg, David Ashton, E'cho, Gordon Davidson, Gordon Grdina, Ian Hignell, Jason Zurba, Jonathan Gallant, Mike Henley, Paul Martin, Peggy Scott, Peter Smith, Shamus Finegan, Steve Weiner, Stuart Slind, Trevor Thomas, Val and for all the anonymous donors. Thank you!

Thanks also to Brad for genmai tea, Trevor for books, E’cho for ceremonial butsudan stands and a statue of a baby Buddha, Myorei for butsudan flowers and the attractive floral art throughout the centre.