VOLUME 7 ISSUE 2

FALL 2013 Dragon Gate

RYUMONJI ZEN MONASTEMONASTERYR YRYY A Journey into the Mountains

Life is a journey! Ryumonji has been on a journey that has a monastery after that. We just chopped wood and car- taken us deep into the mountains of Iowa. It has been a ried water. thirteen year journey thus far which we celebrated on June By spring the granary became our first zendo. The farmer, 30, 2013. This ceremony marked the completion of the his wife and a few others began to coming to sit zazen. And long range building plan for Ryumonji. Almost two hun- then Rev. Jikan Kondrick came along and together we estab- dred people gathered for the ceremony. A few came all lished the Decorah Zen Center and put the word out that we the way from Japan. were looking for country land to build a monastery. Soon All journeys have their origins. You might say they begin 40 acres were donated deep in the corn fields of northeast from beginningless past. We can also say that this particu- Iowa. It was the year 2000. lar journey started with Dainin Katagiri Roshi, our honor- When we first came to the land there were only vacant fields ary founding teacher, who came to the Midwest in 1973. and an old barn, granary, and old log-cabin farm house. No Soon after coming to the Midwest he expressed the wish to one had lived on the land for fifteen years. There were build a monastery. He said he wanted to establish a place snakes in the walls of the farm house, raccoons in the base- where people could ‘practice the Way revering the old ment, and mice in the rafters. It didn’t seem much like a ways’. monastery, but the journey was continuing. Every journey has its own story. Katagiri Roshi died early I recalled the Buddha pointing to some land for a place to in the journey. He died of cancer at age of 62 in 1990. build a monastery. His disciple, Ananda, placed a blade of Before he died he talked to me about going to Japan. I told grass in the dirt and said, “The monastery is built.” Each him I didn’t know Japanese. He said, “Don’t worry. Just step of the journey is the monastery. Do not measure steps go… and taste the root.” And so my part in the journey as large or small. began. Step by step we built the four traditional monastery build- I spent three years in a monastery in Japan deep the heart ings, complete with bell tower and entry gate. We even of the mountains. People sometime have asked me how I made our own bronze bell. Many people have climbed the could study Buddhism in Japan without knowing the lan- entry steps and passed through the dragon gate. My hope is guage. But the lessons of monastery are taught by doing. I that future generations will continue to find there way to the learned some things about patience and “living in the mo- dragon gate. ment.” Living in the moment is a beautiful concept, but it takes forbearance to actually do so. By the time I returned Living deep in the mountains can teach you how to live with from Japan I was convinced that we should build the mon- the ‘mountain’. This is to taste the root of the ancient ways. astery that Katagiri Roshi’s envisioned. Thank you for being part of this journey. I bow in gratitude Journeys have their own twists and turns. It took time to for your support and heartfelt effort. My hope is that we find the way. Finally some land was donated in northeast can continue the journey walking hand in hand deeper into Iowa. When I first came to Iowa I didn’t know how to the mountains. proceed. I lived in a granary on a farm. The farmer asked . In gassho, me what I was planning to do in Iowa. I told him I was planning to build a monastery. He just looked at me kind Shoken Winecoff. Abbot of funny and smiled. We didn’t talk much about building DRAGON GATE

Ryumonji Happenings . . .

Ryumonji Dedication On June 30, 2013 Ryumonji Zen Monastery was officially dedicated with the completion of its permanent monastery buildings. Rev. Daigaku Rumme, North American bishop officiated the ceremony. Rev. Hokan Saito, Eiheiji Godo Roshi from Japan, officiated for a memorial ceremony honoring Dainin Katagiri Roshi. Rev. Shohaku Okumura, Soto Zen representative, was present for the Shuso ceremony of Rev. Taizen Verkuilen. Rev. Doitsu Harada Roshi from Japan was also present.

Shuso Ceremony International Ango Practice Rev. Taizen Dale Verkuilen was appointed Shuso Rev. Eido Espe is completing his second interna- (head monk) for the summer practice period 2013. tional ango practice. This ango fulfills a Soto Zen requirement of two three month monastic practice Rev. Shohaku Okumura periods. He is in residence at Chosenji Monastery Roshi came as official Soto in Japan. He will return to the Des Moines Zen Zen respresentative for Center as head priest in November. this important step in the process of ordination as a Zen monk. Zuise In early November Shoken Roshi will accompany four dharma transmitted priests from Ryumonji to Japan. They will participate in a Zuise ceremony at the two founding Soto Zen temples in Japan, Eiheiji (Eihei Dogen) and Sojiji (Keizan Jokin). At both of these temples the Ryumonji priests will be abbots- for-the day and receive certificates authorizing them to teach. The four Ryumonji priests are Jinen Mar- sha Conway, Myoshi Roger Thomson, Renshin Bar- PAGE 2 bara Verkuilen, and Taizen Dale Verkuilen. To receive future issues of the newsletter electronically, please e-mail: [email protected] VOLUME 7 ISSUE 2

Ryumonji Zen Monastery

2013 Schedule Oct. 26 Fall Work Day Public Sittings

Nov 1-3 Women’s Retreat Nov 15-17 Sesshin Thursday Evenings Dec 1-8 Rohatsu Sesshin 7:30 p.m.

Dec 31 End of Year Sesshin New Year’s Eve Celebration Sunday Mornings 2014 Schedule 9:00 a.m. Jan 1 Open House Jan 17-19 Sesshin For orientation to zazen Jan17 – Mar 23 Winter Ango arrive 15 minutes early Feb 21-23 Sesshin Mar 1 Winter Gala To register for sesshin, Mar 21-23 Sesshin e-mail: [email protected] Apr 5-6 Family Weekend or call: 563-546-1309 Apr 6 Buddha Birthday Apr 18-2 Sesshin Special Events May 10 Spring Work Day The annual Women’s Workshop will be held May 16-18 Sesshin the weekend of November 1-3, 2013. Rev. Jun 20-22 Sesshin Myoko Laura Demuth will be leader of this retreat. Register by email: June 20-Aug 17 Summer Ango [email protected] or call Myoko Jul 18-20 Sesshin 563-382-9895 Aug 16 Summer Work Day —————-—-- Sep 19-21 Sesshin January 1, 2014 is the annual New Years Day Oct 12 Taste of Ryumonji Open House. Features good food, music, and Oct 17-19 Sesshin tour of buildings. Oct 25 Fall Work Day —————-—-- Oct 31-Nov 2 Women’s Retreat March 1, 2014 is the annual Winter Gala. Features fabulous evening dinner with silent Nov 21-23 Sesshin auction. Dec 1-8 Rohatsu Sesshin Dec 31 End of Year Sesshin PAGE 3 New Year’s Eve Celebration Nonprofit Org RYUMONJI ZEN US Postage Paid MONASTERY Decorah, IA Permit No. 2452

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