VOLUME 31, ISSUE 6 SEPT-Oct 2019 Walking Mountains “The green mountains are always walking” — Daokai

Dear and Friends, The Term Student Program begins this month and sisters and brothers come together to support one another to ensure each other’s success in attaining whatever goal has been set. But this program also calls for the support of family members, friends, and even neighbors, as they make sacrifices and provide support to Term Students as well. It’s a time when we’re reminded that because of our increased effort on the mat, the fruit of our effort spills out the front door into the world in which we live. Inside This Issue

And there are lots of other activities over the next couple of months when Garden Tour Reflections opportunities to support one another abound. Sangha Garden Weekend is filled 1 with camaraderie, fun, and work as we enjoy each other’s company while getting The Worldliness of the 3 World the gardens ready for the winter. The World Peace Ceremony in September and the Oxfam Famine Relief Ceremony in October are opportunities to bring our S angha Garden Work and 4 Social Weekend practice into the world at a time when it is so needed. Day fills us with gratitude for the founder of our sect and practice. Then we move into the Bodhidharma Day 4 Jataka with stories of the Buddha and his care for all sentient beings. And Calendar 5 lastly the Hungry Ceremony, again filled with fun, but also remembering those who have passed from this life to the next. All of this we do together, and it Ordination 6 reminds us that Sangha, too, is perfect, whole, and complete. Please join us. World Peace Ceremony 6 Oxfam Fast for a 6 —Joan White World Harvest

Upcoming Courses 6 Ceremony 7 Workday 7 Garden Tour Reflections by Joan White Jataka Sesshin 8

he recent Flynn Center Garden The Vermont Center’s T Tour at the turned mission is to create a peace- out to be a great learning experience ful and inviting environ- for me, mostly because it brought ment to support those who seek wisdom, compassion, gardeners galore to the Center. It was joy, and equanimity within a real give-and-take of curiosity and a Buddhist context. The two- knowledge. For example, I learned fold practice of the Center is to overcome the causes of that the ground cover under Harry through spiritual Lauder’s Walking Stick (the twisted development and to alleviate mass of a small tree in the front the world’s suffering through garden) was probably a knotweed. outreach activities and the cultivation of a caring atti- (continued on page 2) tude to the earth. (continued from page 1)

And a bit of research (read: wild katsura trees were much ... what we see in that Google) turned up Bistorta affinis more widespread. Unearthed “ or Himalayan Knotweed. fossils show that these trees grew tree cannot be cut in Europe and even western North I’ve also always wanted to know America during the Miocene down. There it stands, what variety of Japanese maple Epoch (twenty-three to five stands in the front garden, and a shaggy-bark tree million years ago). However, having searched for it numerous during the Pleistocene, they times, I could only tell you that shielding the Jizo vanished everywhere except in there are hundreds and hundreds Asia. These days, the species is of varieties. Well, when one guest garden with its crown listed as endangered there (though told me she had one in her garden, classified as being lower risk). I leapt at the opportunity─“Really, of hearts from the do you know what variety it is?” Today, the katsura is native to “Well, Emerald something, she said, mainly Japan, China, and Korea. scorching southern but I have it written down at home. Particularly in Japan, the tree sun­­—a tree treeing. Give me your email and I’ll send is imbedded in folklore—some­ it to you.” And she did! Low and legends say that the shadow areas The specimens that he found there behold, the Emerald Elf, one of two on the moon are the silhouette ” were enormous due to the fertile at the Zen Center, with the second of a magic katsura that cannot valley in which they grew—the residing at the southern end of be cut down. The tree is also largest that he measured had a the fence around the meditation linked in name with the Katsura trunk diameter of 17½ feet. garden. (I’m also telling you this, Imperial Villa in Kyoto, where the should I forget.) palace garden contains many of Which brings us to the history these trees, as well as a viewing and lore of our Jizo garden katsura. But maybe the most interesting platform where you can watch the It was actually a wedding gift to gift of the day had to do with the moon rise. Kelly and Glenn Story from a couple katsura tree in the Jizo garden of Sangha members, and Ti’an where Heather Kelman was The tree was introduced to the planted it. But it was also chosen stationed for the tour. She later United States in 1865 by Thomas by her. It’s easy to imagine her at told me that someone mentioned Hogg Jr, whose family owned a Rocky Dale Gardens (which she that the tree had a fossil record plant nursery on Broadway in frequented in those days), looking like the gingko. Even without one, Manhattan. In 1862, Thomas was over their nursery stock, and her the katsura is a gem with its heart- appointed to be a US Marshal by smile as she came upon the tree shaped leaves that emerge reddish- President Lincoln and was sent with heart-shaped leaves; it’s easy purple in the spring, changing on a diplomatic mission to Japan. to understand her choice to plant to blue-green as they mature. In In the ten years that he served it in the Jizo garden. How long ago autumn the color display changes there, he sent the seeds of several was that? Well, as long as Glenn and again as leaves turn clear yellow noteworthy plant specimens Kelly have been married: twenty- or apricot color, and some say home to his brother, James— three years. Although we wouldn’t that the leaf fall has a spicy scent. including those of the katsura. In call it magical, what we see in that Others say it is more like brown 1907, the notable English plant tree cannot be cut down. There it sugar or caramel. Come fall, I’ll let collector E. H. Wilson found stands, a shaggy-bark tree shielding you decide. forests of these trees in south- the Jizo garden with its coronna of Anyway, I looked it up, and central China (specifically, the hearts from the scorching southern it’s true that at one time the northwest Szechuan province). sun─ a tree treeing.— 2 Walking Mountains September - October 2019 “The Worldliness of the World” by Dharman Rice

n Thursday, July 11, I we can always, somehow, open to black rain clouds I was hoping to O was driving home from this—is very centering. It centers us outrun on my drive home may the sitting at the Zen Center. It was and our practice. seem odd. At the time, though, about 9:15 p.m. I was on Vermont all these perceptions, ideas, and Route 128, driving from Essex It was in this frame of mind, as I reactions seemed of a piece. I Center north, up toward Westford. drove home through the blackening just wanted to get home safely, About half the way to my turnoff, wildness, that I was somehow, but the worldliness of the world I became aware of a huge bank of oddly, reminded of Immanuel seemed very much with me. And roiling, pitch-black clouds, which Kant’s understanding (in his book that seemed more than okay. It seemed to climb from the top of about aesthetic judgment) of the seemed staggeringly beautiful the hills in the west to maybe 40 or beautiful as “the quintessence of and threatening and familiar all at 50,000 feet! It was hard to tell in the the worldliness of the world”(die once. rapidly blackening sky. The clouds Weltlichkeit der Welt). I drove home the rest of the were towering and majestic—and Although I’m not exactly sure ominous too. way, with tears in my eyes and what Kant meant by this unusual feeling unspeakably happy. Curiously, though, the sight of phrase, at least two distinguished — those clouds, which I could only Kant scholars—philosopher Karl barely make out in the rapidly Jaspers and historian of ideas This realization that darkening sky, also gave me an Hannah Arendt—regarded it “ overwhelming sense of being at as the very essence of Kant’s the world is always home. That everything is always understanding of the beautiful. just the way it is, just the way it is—and is supposed Remembering these connections to be. This realization that the as I was literally dwarfed and whole and complete ... world is always just the way it is, overshadowed by those towering, whole and complete—and that September - October 2019 Walking Mountains” 3 Sangha Garden Work and Social Weekend

Sangha Garden Work and members. It would be a big help to Childcare: As there will be formal A Social Weekend will be held know who is coming for planning sittings each day, childcare will be from Friday evening, September 6, purposes, so please send a reservation need to be arranged by parents for through Sunday afternoon, September to the Center by September 10, if at those times. Also, children should not 8. The objective is to work together all possible. The registration form is enter the fenced area around the fire on buildings and especially grounds, online at www.vermontzen.org/events_ pond. The sides are steep, slippery, and enjoying the beauty of our land and gardenweekend.html dangerous, which is why it’s fenced. the company of Dharma brothers and Meals: Meals will be provided, so there’s sisters. Sangha members and their Everyone can participate. No special skills are needed. We will sit a bit more no need to bring food unless you have families, including children of all ages, special food requirements. In that case, are invited. You are welcome to stay than the regular schedule, and dokusan will be offered Friday and Saturday you’ll be responsible for your own meal at the Center. There is no fee for this mornings, but this is most definitely not preparation. Breakfast and lunch will event, but you must be a member of a sesshin. be eaten together, and in the evening the Sangha. Roshi will offer morning soup and leftovers will be available. If dokusan on Thursday evening as well What to bring: Work clothes, boots you must bring food, remember that as Friday and Saturday mornings. She or other sturdy footwear, a hat, water no alcohol, meat, fish, or poultry are bottle, (bedding, towel if staying will be away on Saturday afternoon allowed on Center grounds. through Sunday. overnight), and sitting robe. If you are allergic to wasps or bees, remember to Registration: Please visit the web page We will schedule the bulk of the bring your medication. on the Center’s site for more information work for the morning in order to and for the registration form www. leave most of the afternoon free When to arrive: The Sangha weekend vermontzen.org/events_gardenweekend.html for unstructured activity as well as starts Friday morning, September 6. It’s mini-workshops offered by Sangha fine to come for all or part of the weekend. —

Bodhidharma Day

Once you stop clinging and let things be, you’ll be free, even of birth and death. You’ll transform everything. You’ll possess spiritual powers that can’t be obstructed. And you’ll be at peace wherever you are. — Bodhidharma

On Sunday, September 29,z we honor our great ancestor, Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen. Following an hour of sitting, we will have a chanting service with circumambulation and incense offerings. Children and family members are cordially invited. The ceremony will be during the morning sitting and will begin around 10:00 a.m.

4 Walking Mountains September - October 2019 September 2019

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 TS3 2 3 4 5 6 7 Application Set up for Deadline Metta Garden ZEN CENTER CLOSED Course 2 Weekend Sangha Garden Work Weekend

8 9 AM 10 11 12 13 14 PM ZAZEN MON-SAT PM ZAZEN Metta Workday for Garden Zoom Dokusan Course 3 Ceremony Finding Your Seat Meeting

15 16 ZC CLOSED 17 AM ZAZEN 18 19 20 21 TUE-FRI PM ZAZEN Ordination of Sitting & Workshop Louise Piché PM ZAZEN Metta Tai Chi Course 1 Workshop Prep Afternoon Work Term Student Course 4 Sesshin Deadline TS2 period for Application Program 3 Zoom Dokusan Ceremony Deadline Begins

22 23 24 25 26 PM ZAZEN 27 28 AM ZAZEN PM ZAZEN ✻✻✻ MON-FRI World Peace Metta Indian Term Student Zoom Dokusan Ceremony Course 5 Cooking Meeting Tai Chi Course 2 Class: Festive

29 30 AM ZAZEN ✻ Throughout the Term Student Program, on MON-FRI Bodhidharma Tuesday evenings there will be a very short sitting Ceremony followed by a meeting in the Buddha Hall for Term Students only. Non-participants are welcome to Tai Chi Course 3 continue sitting informally in the zendo.

October 2019

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 PM ZAZEN 4 5 PM ZAZEN ✻✻✻ ROSHI IN CR Term Student Program 2 Metta Costa Rica 3-Day Sesshin (10/3-6) Begins Course 6

6 Sitting and 7 AM ZAZEN 8 9 10 11 12 Sesshin Prep MON-FRI PM ZAZEN ✻✻✻ Sitting and CR Sesshin Sesshin Prep Tai Chi Course 4 Term Student VT Jataka Sesshin TS1 Application Finding Your Meeting Zoom Dokusan Deadline Seat Meeting 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Workshop Vermont 7-Day Jataka Sesshin with Rafe Martin 10/11-18 VZC CLOSED DURING SESSHIN

20 21 AM ZAZEN 22 23 24 PM ZAZEN 25 26 PM ZAZEN ✻✻✻ MON-FRI Zoom Dokusan Ceremony ZC CLOSED Term Student Workday Tai Chi Course 5 Program 1 Oxfam Begins Ceremony

Throughout the Term Student Pro- 27 28 29 AM ZAZEN 30 31 gram, on Tuesday evenings there will TUE-FRI Hunger ZC CLOSED be a very short sitting followed by a Hungry Ghost PM ZAZEN ✻✻✻ Banquet meeting in the Buddha Hall for Term Ceremony Workday Students only. Non-participants are Tai Chi Course 6 Term Student welcome to continue sitting infor- Meeting mally in the zendo.

September - October 2019 Walking Mountains 5 Ordination of Louise Piché

n Sunday, September 15, Louise Piché will enter the Way as a Zen O Buddhist Priest. All members of the Sangha are cordially invited to support Louise by attending her ordination, one of the most important ceremonies in . Louise will be the sixth person ordained by Roshi Graef. Many years of training and a deeply rooted commitment to practice are just some of the prerequisites for ordination. The ceremony will take place from 9:00 to approximately 11:00 a.m. and will be followed by a reception. We ask that you not bring young children to the ceremony, though children are welcome to attend the reception afterwards.

World Peace Ceremony Oxfam Fast for a World Harvest

Sunday, September 22, 9:00-11:00 a.m. In this month of abundance, it is sobering to remember that millions of people are hungry all the time. Taking our vows An International Day of Peace was established by the seriously means opening our eyes and hearts to this suffering United Nations in 1981. In 2002 the General Assembly and resolving to offer help where it is needed. officially declared September 21 as the permanent date On Thursday, October 24, we will commemorate the Oxfam for the International Day of Peace. At the Center, we Fast for a World Harvest. For this ceremony, the Center will conduct this ceremony on a Sunday close to that date. match all donations received, which will be sent to Oxfam The World Peace Ceremony begins with a chanting America. Members are encouraged to fast in whatever way they service, which is followed by a group recitation of the are able and contribute the money they would have spent on names of all the world’s countries along with the Peace food to Oxfam. Of course, you are free to give as much money Prayer—“May Peace Prevail in [name of country].” as you wish. In addition to the monetary donation, please bring a vegetarian packaged food , which will be sent Please join us on this special day. All are welcome. to the local emergency food shelf. If you know anyone who would like to participate, please feel free to invite them to the ceremony. (Remind them about the offerings.) The ceremony will take place at 7:50 p.m., after the Thursday evening zazen Upcoming Courses and dokusan. Tai Chi Tai Chi offers many benefits for health, relaxation, and Indian Cooking— concentration. There are numerous medical studies Festive Meal demonstrating the physical and mental benefits of Tai Chi, Learn how to prepare including for many people with arthritic and neurological a delicious and conditions. authentic vegetarian Dr. Eric Berger offers several six-week courses in Tai Chi at Indian meal in the the Vermont Zen Center. Each hour-long Monday evening Vermont Zen Center’s session includes instruction, practice periods, and Q&A. spacious kitchen. These courses fill almost immediately, so sign up soon to Manju Selinger will guide you through the process of reserve your space. preparing the meal, which all will enjoy for lunch at 1 p.m. With a cookbook of the recipes in hand and practical Time: Mondays 6:30-7:30 for those who have taken at least experience from the Zen Center’s cooks, you will be ready to 5 prior courses. 7:30-8:30 p.m. for everyone else. prepare a delicious Indian meal for your family and friends. Dates: 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/21, 10/28 No cooking experience is necessary. Fee: $100 for the six classes Date: Saturday, September 28. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. More information and registration is available on the Zen Fee: $85 ($75 member price) Center’s website at www.vermontzen.org/taichi.html See website for more information and registration: www. vermontzen.org/indian_cooking_festive.html.

6 Walking Mountains September - October 2019 Ceremony for the Liberation of Hungry

Ceremony for the Liberation to the beings of the preta realm. A of Hungry Ghosts will be In making this gift we must held on Sunday, October 27 at overcome our own greed, thereby 10:30 a.m. During this observance, setting an example for the hungry we offer food and drink to the ghosts. This freely-offered food hungry, thirsty inhabitants of the and drink does not turn into preta realm. poison or fire, which is why at many Buddhist homes and Hungry ghosts, or pretas, are temples small bowls are passed beings in a sub-human state of at the beginning of each meal development. Due to their extreme to make offerings to the hungry greed in prior lifetimes, they have ghosts. been reborn into a state where they constantly suffer from hunger and Although the ceremony is At our Center, we combine the thirst. Their stomachs are grossly directed particularly to these Hungry Ghost Ceremony with a distended, their limbs emaciated, beings, it is also a time to Halloween celebration. Children and their mouths as small as the eye remember all beings who have are especially welcome, so please of a needle. Whatever they eat turns died in the preceding year. After extend a cordial invitation to all to poison; whatever they drink the ceremony proper, a fire is lit your family members. Friends turns to fire. at which time people offer the and relatives who are not Sangha names of deceased loved ones. members are also invited. Come in According to legend, Moggallana, street clothes or wear a costume if a disciple of the Buddha, was The ceremony is also an you wish. plagued by nightmares of his opportunity to appease our mother being tormented in a realm personal ghosts—the voracious Please bring a canned or dry in which she could neither eat nor who fill us with passions vegetarian food offering for each drink. The Buddha told Moggallana for food, drink, recognition, member of your party. Everyone that his mother was in the realm of possessions, money, and all will give this gift to the hungry pretas, and he should try to help her manner of unhappiness. As ghosts during the ceremony. overcome her bad through a such, the ceremony is one of Afterwards it is taken to a food special ceremony. personal, as well as other-worldly, shelf. cleansing, appeasement, and During the Hungry Ghost We hope you will join us in this renewal. It is an expression of our Ceremony, we chant and ceremony of aid for the beings in the compassionate concern for beings make offerings of food and water realm of the Hungry Ghosts. in all realms. —

Hungry Ghost Ceremony Workday

Saturday, October 26 from 10 to 12 is a workday to set up for the Hungry Ghost Ceremony. Come help turn the Center into a spooky, haunted house, replete with ghosts and goblins, carved pumpkins, and lots of goodies for the Hungry Ghosts.

September - October 2019 Walking Mountains 7 Vermont Zen Center Nonprofit Organization Post Office Box 880 U.S. POSTAGE Shelburne, VT 05482 PAID Shelburne, VT Permit No. 60 802-985-9746 www.vermontzen.org

The slanting sun: October 11- 18, 2019 Jataka Sesshin The shadow of a hill with a deer on it Deadline September 20

Enters the temple gate. e are extremely fortunate to be able to offer once again a Jataka W ales/working person sesshin with Rafe Martin as the guest —Buson teacher. The sesshin begins on Friday evening, October 11, rather than the usual Saturday start of a 7-day sesshin. The first two days (Saturday and Sunday) will be full-time. The last five days sittings will be in the early morning and the evening, with nothing scheduled during the day so that people can go to work. Roshi will be giving dokusan three times a day during the first two days, and twice a day during the last five days. The full seven days of sesshin will be devoted to working with Jataka tales. Sensei Rafe Martin will be conducting discussions of the Jatakas during the first two days, and giving teishos using the Jatakas throughout the seven Contributors: days. The emphasis will be on how these ancient stories of the Buddha’s • Maria Delia Crosby, layout previous lifetimes relate to our own lives here and now. • Greg Sheldon, copy editor A reminder that there is a flat rate $70 surcharge for all those who attend • Roshi Sunyana Graef this sesshin either part-time or full-time. This is the honorarium for our • Dharman Rice guest teacher. This year, once again, there will be the option of Zooming in • Kelly Story, production for the Jataka talk portion of the sesshin. Please go to www.vermontzen.org/ • Joan White, editor jataka-zoom.html for more information.—