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Spring 2015 Volume 4, Issue 1

SOJI CENTER NEWSLETTER

Jukai at Soji’s Winter

Soji’s 2014 Winter Sesshin took shin, three members Ed Schieferstein: Daikanchi, place from December 26 to 31 at took the Buddhist precepts 大鑑知 (Great Mirror ) the Malvern Retreat House. in a moving Jukai ceremony. Twenty-nine participants joined Their new names David Dahl: Ryumon, 竜門

Inside This Issue in part or all of the six-day re- and meanings are listed (Dragon Gate) treat led by Soji founder and below: In the following article, Jakudo Jukai at Soji’s Win- 1 now Abbot, Shuzen Sensei. On Valda Woodson: Jakudo, shares her experiences before, ter Sesshin Sunday afternoon of the ses- 寂度 (Serenity Awakened) during and after the ceremony. The Precepts and 1 Practice are One The Precepts and Practice are One Zen Teachers on the 1 Precepts By Valda Jakudo Woodson, Soji Student

The Precepts Enter 2 Upon reading the precepts, my myself. But soon I came to doesn’t stop once the words and Re-enter Our understand that I needed to have been said. The commit- Lives thoughts were - “not so hard.” As I read them over and over see myself as the precepts. ment goes on. Living the life, Not Being Stingy: 2 keeping the promises, takes Action on the Eighth again and considered how they Excitement began to really over. The transformation that Precept function in our daily lives, I real- build as the Jukai ceremony began with the first reading ized that committing to living by approached in late Decem- Fusatsu: Renewing 3 of the precepts continues to Our Commitment to the precepts required a shift in ber. Finally the day arrived the Precepts unfold. The precepts are my thinking and my behavior. and I stood before, and becoming internalized and The Precepts and 3 As I worked on my rakusu, I with, the Sangha making not something to live by, but Our Wedding Vows would review the precepts, still the promise to live by the reading them and seeing them a way to live. The precepts The Sixteen Bodhi- 4 precepts. Great!! It was an and the practice become sattva Precepts as something separate from emotional high. BUT!! It one. Overview and 4 Upcoming Schedule Zen Teachers on the Precepts

In On Zen Practice: Body Breath Robert Aitken Roshi’s tends to become a and Mind (2002, p 71), Taizen book, The Mind of Clover: hobby, made to fit the needs A Note from Shuzen Sensei Maezumi Roshi writes “receiving Essays in Zen Buddhist of the ego…the true Zen Bud- the precepts and maintaining Ethics (2000, p, 3) is devot- dhist center is not a mere “...To study the precepts is them is not easy...we may see ed to a deep understanding sanctuary, but a source from to cultivate compassion -– that in the very living itself we are of the Zen Buddhist pre- which ethically motivated the activity of fundamental almost constantly violating the cepts. Aitken Roshi com- people move outward to en- wisdom.” precepts. That means constant ments: “Without the pre- gage in the larger communi- atonement is necessary.” cepts as guidelines, Zen ty.” (continued on Page 3) Page 2

The Precepts Enter and Re-Enter Our Lives

By Michael Daitoku Palumbaro, Zen Priest and Soji Student

The Sixteen Precepts are cepts and to deepen my understanding one of our very own Sangha mem- woven throughout everyday practice at of what that means. At Soji, we also have bers who writes about it in this issue. Soji Zen Center and are the centerpiece a beautiful opportunity to renew our com- Finally, during a Zen Buddhist funer- of ceremonies that mark our lives as mitment to the precepts at a Fusatsu al service the precepts once again Zen practitioners. ceremony held every other month. Led hold a central position. If the de- by one of the Center’s priests, Fusatsu ceased had not taken the precepts The first time we “take the precepts” includes chanting the names of Buddha during his or her lifetime, then the occurs at the Jukai ceremony or Zaikei and while bowing and re- precepts are given during the funeral Tokudo, the time when we formally membering our vows to save all sentient service along with a dharma name. If commit to Buddhism. In this ceremony beings. the deceased had already participat- we promise to live by the precepts and are given a dharma name. At Soji Jukai The Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts also ed in Jukai during their lifetime, the ceremonies, Shuzen Sensei reads each are at the core of the American Zen wed- precepts are given again but the precept aloud and asks the candidate if ding ceremony. The wedding partners same dharma name remains the she or he will fulfill it, a process accom- vow to take each precept and additional- same. panied by repeated bowing and often ly vow to help one another to fulfill them. Thus, throughout our lives, we return deep emotion. For me this is deeply moving. The idea of to the Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts someone I love vowing to help me fulfill and they, in turn, help us to find the Becoming a novice Zen priest, I partici- the precepts always brings me to tears. way to end our suffering. pated in the Shukke Tokudo ordination We have had several wedding ceremo- ceremony. In front of the Sangha, again nies at Soji, the most recent one being I was asked to vow to live by the pre-

Not Being Stingy: Positive Action on the Eighth Grave Precept By Craig Shodo Bundick, Zen Priest and Soji Student

“I vow not to be stingy.” This precept relieve arthritis pain and inflammation. does not necessarily mean monetarily I volunteer to teach these exercises to holding back. As a priest, I am respon- seniors in a nursing home in my com- munity. Some of the seniors walk in to sible for giving and sharing all that I seniors. These seniors, who range the class on their own power, some possess, including time, experience, in age from 60 to 100, know very come into the room using walkers and love, and compassion. One of the well what these exercises mean to canes, and others come into the class things I share with others is my time their bodies and their wellbeing. I being pushed in a wheelchair by an and experience as a Tai Chi teacher. don’t do this teaching for a reward assistant. but I am rewarded by the smiles on The exercises of Tai Chi strengthen my students’ faces and the number the immune system and send synovial I don’t have to say a word about how who attend every class each week. fluid to all the joints in the body to help important these exercises are to these PagePage 3 3

Fusatsu: Renewing Our Commitment to the Precepts By Annalisa Rakugo Castaldo, Zen Priest and Soji Student

Fusatsu is an ancient ritual, going on a renewed commitment to the pre- mony with lots of bows is not when prac- back to the earliest days of Bud- cepts. ticing the precepts begins. Everyone dhism. It is the ritual of atonement who comes to Soji regularly is practicing This renewed commitment comes in and renewal of vows, traditionally the precepts, and all can benefit from several forms. The first is simply setting done on the night of the full moon. renewing a commitment, whatever the aside the time to come to the ceremony Fusatsu is Japanese for , level. And while sitting is vital to our on a Monday night! Since the ceremony the word for observance (in San- practice, Shuzen Sensei is always point- happens only every other month, it is skrit: upavasatha). One source I ing out that people who separate their easy to see it as an “extra” or an imposi- found suggested that Fusatsu actual- sitting from the rest of their lives are tion on the schedule. “I was just at Soji ly began as a Vedic lunar sacrifice practicing “spiritual bypassing” and noth- for three hours Sunday. That’s plenty!” and became an important day of fast- ing in their lives will change. The public, It’s also difficult for me to think of going ing and purification for Hindus, and explicit declaration to practice the pre- out on a Monday night, with almost the was seen as a time when gods en- cepts is one concrete step we can all entire work week looming. take. Thus I hope that everyone, wheth- tered human dwellings. The first Bud- dhist didn’t want to give up an Then there’s the sense some people er you have formally taken the precepts observance that connected them to have that ceremonies are only for or not, will come to the next Fusatsu and their communities, so they began to priests, that the meat of the practice is experience the rich satisfaction the cere- gather for meditation. Lay practition- in sitting. Those who have not taken the mony offers. ers asked for teaching and the monks precepts may even feel they are not began by reciting the 227 rules of the supposed to attend—after all, how can order. This gradually evolved into a one renew commitment to the precepts recommitment to the rules and the if one hasn’t formally taken them yet? practice overall. In Zen the focus is But sewing a rakusu and doing a cere-

The Precepts and Our Marriage Vows Zen Teachers

By Jill Kyokugo Ripkin, Soji Student *(continued from Page 1) Both Joseph and I came to stand to- Taking our marriage vows with In her book, Most Intimate: A Zen gether at the altar after many years Shuzen Sensei as our officiant was a Approach to Life’s Challenges (2014), and many life challenges. We have cherished milestone in my life. Stand- Roshi Pat Enkyo O’Hara shares (p learned on our journey that we are ing at “my Soji Center” with our fami- 131): the “precepts are not com- much stronger together and this prin- lies and Sangha to bear witness, we mandments; rather, they are princi- ciple is also true for the practice of voiced our promise to uphold the pre- ples for living a life of freedom and Zen. We are better able to be fo- cepts as a couple. Two separate peo- services… Make them your own. Be cused, committed and realize our ple being joined as a united force intimate with them. Rather than simply vows through the practice of sitting committing to upholding these sacred trying to follow them, embody them, in when we are accompanied by fellow principles for living. We symbolized much the same way you ‘become’ travelers on the path. one of the main foundations of Zen - your .” no separation. Soji Zen Center Newsletter Page 4

The Sixteen Bodhisattva Soji Zen Center is a contemporary Buddhist center providing instruction in Zen medi- Precepts tation, philosophy and contemplation techniques for training the mind. We are guided by our founding teacher, Sensei Jules Shuzen Harris. The Three Treasures

I vow to take in the Buddha. Soji Zen Center is part of the White Plum which brings together elements of I vow to take refuge in the Dharma. Japanese Soto and Rinzai traditions of Zen Buddhism to teach intensive awareness I vow to take refuge in the Sangha. sitting practice (Zazen) and study to beginners who want to learn about medita-

tion, as well as to experienced practitioners of Zen Buddhism to strengthen their tech- The Three Pure Precepts nique. I vow to cease from evil. I vow to do good. Weekly Schedule I vow to liberate all sentient beings. Sunday Meditation & 9:30 am

The Ten Grave Precepts Monday Meditation 7:00 pm I vow to refrain from killing. Tuesday Yoga 7:00 pm I vow to refrain from stealing. Wednesday Meditation 6:30 am I vow to refrain from improper sexual Study Group 7:00 pm conduct. Thursday Meditation & Dokusan 7:00 pm I vow to refrain from telling lies. Friday & 12-Step Recovery 7:00 pm I vow to refrain from being intoxicated and ignorant. Saturday Iaido 9:00 am I vow to refrain from talking about oth- ers’ errors and faults.

I vow to refrain from elevating myself and blaming others. COMMIT TO PARTICIPATE!!! I vow to refrain from being stingy and One-Day Retreat April 18 10:00 am selfish. I vow to refrain from indulging in anger Bringing Zen Home April 25 10:00 am and hatred. May 2 10:00 am I vow to refrain from speaking ill of the Summer Sesshin June 26— 4:00 pm Buddha, Dharma and Sangha Treasures 30 1:00 pm

Contact Information

Soji Zen Center 2325 W. Marshall Road Lansdowne, PA 19050

www.sojizencenter.com

Teacher Sensei Shuzen Harris, Abbot Editor Abby Jingo Lang Contributing Editor Michael Daitoku Palumbaro

Layout & Publisher Brenda Jinshin Waters