A new year, each day a new day for making use of our human opportunity of awakening to illumined mind.
So why don’t we?
Knowing we are all endowed with this clear Bright Mind, what keeps us from experiencing it directly and irreversibly?
When the Buddha saw the morning star he realized it was him, so why don’t we also realize this when we look at the morning star?
It is something so simple to realize but not easy.
It requires that we believe that it is actually possible for our self and it requires rubber on the road efforts to not constantly focus on something else.
As Master Rinzai wrote, “Do not add on any thoughts or second thoughts or third associations to a perception. If we do this practice continually it is of more value than ten years of pilgrimage”.
Master Hakuin says , ” We need only straightforward bravery and then realizing this original and true nature with which we are each endowed from the origin is as certain as touching the ground on which we put our foot.”
Every person reading this has a kharmic affiliation with a master who teaches us daily exactly how to do this and shows us by his life how possible it is.
Master Daie says we should not be worried about being distracted and looking away, we just have to continue to get back to our focus, but definitely what we should worry about and be upset about is to Not continue until we really break through.
Tahoma Zen Monastery’s February Osesshin with Shodo Harada Roshi is scheduled for February 16-23, 2012.
Kokuho will be in the evening of Thursday, February 16. There will be seven full days of zazen, ending with closing statements the night of Thursday, February 23. Please note that these dates are subject to change, should Roshi’s schedule require it.
There will be no kosesshin following this retreat. Roshi will go directly to Mexico to offer a mini-sesshin at Zendo Una Gota.
Our facilities limit the number of participants who can be accommodated for osesshin. Please note that admission is not on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority is given to monks in residence at Tahoma Monastery or Enso House and to longstanding students of Harada Roshi who are able to sit the entire retreat. If there are more applicants than spaces available, we will use a lottery. It is common to have a wait list of from 7 – 30 people for each osesshin. People on the wait list are contacted if spaces become available. Part-time places will be made available only after all full-time sitters have been accommodated.
PLEASE- Do not ‘hold’ a place until the last minute if you have serious doubts that your schedule will allow your attendance at the osesshin. Timing can make the crucial difference for someone on the wait list being able to attend. Of course, situations can arise at any time that prevent people from attending.
Please let us know immediately if your plans change.
The fee for this retreat is $350. Upon acceptance to the retreat, a non-refundable deposit of $100 will be required to hold your place. If the deposit has not been received on time, your place will be offered to someone on the waiting list.
If you need financial assistance to be able to attend, please let us know with your initial application. A limited amount of financial aid is available but usually something can be worked out. Please explore creative possibilities for financial support within your community.
If you are able, please also consider the possibility of helping out someone in need of financial assistance by making a ‘scholarship’ donation.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS SUNDAY DECEMBER 4, 2011. Notice of acceptance will go out as soon as possible following the deadline. Applications received after 12/4/11 are likely to result in a place on the wait list.
On Wednesday morning, September 14, the moment arrived for Yuho and me to deliver our distinguished visitor Sanshuin-san to the monastery grounds to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime event, the installation of Abbot Shodo Harada and Assistant Abbots Daichi and Dairin at Tahoma-san Sogenji Zen Monastery. Having had in my mind that the earliest the event would begin was 8:00 am, I confidently pulled into the driveway at 7:45. Then my jaw dropped and I had this sinking feeling when the person greeting us informed me that Roshi had already arrived and the procession was in progress. I felt ill– on the one task that I had been assigned, I had just screwed up!
But then I remembered something Roshi had told me at the time of a similar screw-up on my part: “That’s just dualistic thinking!” Engaging in thoughts like that is totally useless, so just get over it! That helped. We all hustled as quickly as possible to our assigned positions, and the ceremony proceeded smoothly.
As the day unfolded, I realized that this whole experience was a good lesson: Life is MUCH shorter than you think!
Shodo Harada Roshi arrives at the monastery and is handed his staff. Senior sangha member Jisai leads the procession. Roshi is followed by Shinsan, acting as his assistant. Next are Daichi Zenni and Dairin Zenji who will be installed as Assistant Abbots.
Arriving at the pair of daruma totem poles representing the mountain gate, Roshi is greeted by monks Sogen and Hogen.
Roshi offers a verse at the Mountain Gate:
At Tahoma there is no gate—
Heaven and earth, wide open!
Offering the One Drop of Sogen
We repay our deep obligation to the Buddhas and Ancestors.
Poems are offered by Roshi, Daichi and Dairin.
Roshi’s Poem:
For twenty years, coming to America—
Whatever has been accomplished I owe to the efforts of my predecessors.
The current of Sogen’s true Zen will forever flow—
The Dharma lamp of the Buddha’s enlightenment, forever complete!
Daichi’s Poem:
Forty years seeking the wisdom of the ancients—
Bodhidharma’s living wisdom: to return with empty hands.
The Sixth Patriarch’s Dharma: limitless in intent
Unrelenting determination:
Infinite peace
For all lands
Dairin’s Poem:
Advancing towards the mountain:
Long years silently, steadily working on Blind Ass Zen,
Forgetting body, forgetting mind, cultivating fields of merit.
Tahoma-san: the living road passes through,
Spreading virtue, fostering connections in all directions!
Humble Words Offered to the Founder:
Mumon Roshi—how exalted the man, how strict the standards he set,
Fearsomely striking down demons and buddhas both!
Yet serenely recalling my teacher:
How refreshing, the bright, full moon over Tahoma!
Tea is served as the shakuhachi is played.
In the Dai Hannya ceremony, the 800 volumes of the Greater Prajnaparamita Sutra (The Perfection of Great Wisdom) are symbolically read. It is performed to purify the place so that the Dharma can flourish. The participants ceremoniously shout as they fan ancient sutra books.
The camera scans the guests gathered outside the zendo who watch the proceedings via a video projector.
A group photo of the Installation Ceremony participants
Shinzanshiki Closing Poem:
Tahoma-san is full of smiling faces!
In this way all share in the merit of this occasion.
Hand in hand with those of the past who have helped us,
we all attain Buddhahood,
Gaining boundless good fortune and peace throughout the world.
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