~ ZetvBw/Newslefur The Center 7 Arnold Park/ Rochester/ New York/ 14607 VOL.I, No.2 Summer 1979

A JOURNEY THROUGH BUDDHA LANDS - II

The four principal sites on the tradi­ bers now but zigzagging knee-high brick tional Buddhist pilgrimage route through walls. Reaching the foot of the steps India are those of the Buddha's birth leading up to the housing the re­ (, Nepal), enlightenment, (Boah clining Buddha, we remove our shoes, as Gaya), first sermon (Deer Park, ), customary, and start up. It is a newly­ and (). Since built stupa, white and of simple nobility. Lumbini, we were told, is tiny and nearly A young caretaker squats just outside the inaccessible, we had decided to omit it doorway, staring at us out of his shroud­ from our itinerary, and now as we leave ed garments. It seems we have disturbed Vulture Peak and the area, with his solitude. Deer Park also behind us, only Kushinagar awaits our visit. At some fifteen feet long, this Buddha is the smallest reclining one we will see on Our primitive sleeping platforms aboard the trip. But this makes it more intimate the night train en route to Kushinagar are and human-size, and occupying most of the adequate, but we step out at dawn stiff floor space of this little stupa, its im­ and tired. Later in the day we squeeze pact is heightened even more. into a bus for the final, stifling 3-hour leg of the trip, through green fields Eight bare feet pad over the cool stone along a roadway canopied by great old floor to the area behind the Buddha, trees. where we sit down and fold up our legs for . For a while we are left alone in We are let off at an intersection skirted the soothing stillness of this monument, by a SO-yard stretch of nameless, broken­ but then find ourselves in the waili~g down structures: Kushinagar. Twilight is company of mosquitos, many mosquitos. And falling as we come to the local tourist what is that--the caretaker chanting his bungalow, the only such accommodation in Hindu liturgy! Time to go. town. They have vacancies, luckily, but only until tomorrow morning, when a bus­ After vacating our rooms we head for the load of Japanese tourists roll in with Burmese vihara (monastery) with packs on advance reservations. our backs, gratefully clutching a letter of introduction given us by a Burmese Up before sunrise, with sitting cushions monk in Bodh Gaya. We turn into the mon­ in hand we head for Kushinagar's main at­ astery grounds and immediately come upon a traction, the reclining Buddha, located in group of village boys toiling at a pile of a park across the road. The deep serenity bricks; next to them a saffron-clad Bud­ of this shady island in the sun literally dist monk sits on a chair with arms folded stops us in our tracks. What a welcome across his chest. That's right-- contrast to the pell-mell activity of the monks don't do manual labor. He takes our trip thus far. And not a soul in sight. letter, nods yes, you may stay here, but makes no move to show us our rooms. In his Silently we wend our way through ancient hand is a book titled Manual of Internation­ monastery ruins, their once-thriving cham- al Law. 2

Our accommodations for the night: two After a morning spent on laundry with plaster-wall cells with wooden plank Dhammadipa, a mountain of rice on each "beds." Period. By the time the even­ of our plates. While she treats us as for­ ing chill sets in we have moved all four mal guests, the nanny in her is not to be planks into one cell in order to consol­ denied this opportunity, and she scurries idate body heat. Next we empty our packs from table to kitchen exhorting us to eat and spread out the contents as mattresses: more, more. shirts, socks, underwear, gloves, hats, scarves, mosquito netting--anything that An hour later we stride along under the will pad. After zazen back at the stupa afternoon sun bound for the Buddha's crem­ and then a ceremonial flashlight supper ation site. At one point we pass a group of peanuts--which along with tangerines of Tibetans--men and women both--showering and bananas have become our staple in exuberantly at a roadside faucet. We India--we bed down on our zany quilt­ round a bend and come upon undoubtedly the mattresses for a tolerable night's sleep~ world.!.s smallest museum, and another mile past we reach the ancient stupa marking The next day we venture next door for a the Buddha's cremation. Historian s re­ visit to the Chinese nunnery, a small, count that after cremation the Buddha's colorful stucco building with a compound relics were divided among eight kings, who enclosed by a high wall. An old woman each built a stupa over them in a differ­ looks up as we enter and with a shriek ent part of India. claps her hands in delight: visitors! Beaming, she leads us into the A deep serenity envelopes this misshapen . In an instant she becomes sol­ mound of bricks. We sit for hours without umn and, standing at the altar, launches a word spoken, spellbound by this stirring into a one-woman chanting service. For connection with the distant past. But, as thirty minutes we stand in respectful if designed to pry us loose from this silence before the altar while she plays honey-sweet peace and quiet, a bus packed the keisu, eyes closed in absorption. with hollering Nepalese high school stu­ Finally the service ends and we all sit dents roars up near the stupa and dis­ down on chairs for tea and talk. gorges some fifty passengers who swarm over the stupa like noisy ants. After a Her name is Sister Dhammadipa, a Vietnam­ while they vanish as suddenly as they ese nun who is spiritual mentor, surrogate arrived. mother, and straw boss to her three teen­ age "disciples." As we are talking, these After dark we scatter through the excav­ three enter, respectfully bow down three ations and mo naste r y ruins at the rec lining times to us, and begin shelling peanuts Buddha site-for zazen. Upon returning to for us, skins and all. the nunnery, Sister Dhammadipa is eager to sit with us, and we do so. The next Dhammadipa talks up a storm. A Buddhist morning we extricate ourselves from her nun of 30 years, she ingenuously repeats with great difficulty, declining breakfast. again and again that she is versed in both the and Vipassana schools The Buddhist Caves - From Delhi we leave of . She gives each of us her northern India and jet 800 miles south to card, reading, "Founder of the Buddhist Bombay and hotter climes. As we approach Meditation Center, Saigon, Vietnam." the town of Ajanta the landscape grows What impresses us, though, is her spark­ harsh and arid. Our bus snakes through ling enthusiasm and energy, and the precipitous desert hills until it reaches bright smiles that break over her face a clearing filled with vendors and comes one after another. She exclaims that since to a stop: the end of the line. this is not her temple but ours as well, we can stay as long as we want--"two, To reach the caves we must ascend stone three months is fine." steps high into the hill. It is midday 3

and hot, and we are glad to pause at the second century A.D. and the fifth to the top to look over the setting before us: ninth centuries A.D. As we move on through We are on the inner rim of a semicircular the caves we notice the iconographic dev­ rocky escarpment that disappears at the elopment of the Buddhas, from the earliest, bottom into trees and other vegetation. where monolithic figures combining cubes, The caves follow one after another in an spheres, and triangles were the only repre­ arced row just beneath the crest of the sentations of the Buddha permitted, to the cliff, like small black mouseholes in the last cave, with its exquisite reclining stark sunlight. The whole development is Buddha resting in the paranirvana pose. more or less hidden from the outside. Standing Buddhas, seated Buddhas everywhere --uncountable. The mind boggles at the There are thirty caves, but artificial centuries of prodigious, painstaking labor lighting is used in only the first few, that went into this cliff, labor made pos­ to illuminate the famous wall paintings sible only by a spirit of extraordinary and frescoes. Stepping into the stuffy religious zeal. With great force the in­ heat of Cave No. 1, we leave behind for­ escapable conclusion hits us: What those ever our previous ideas of limitations before us have done, we too can do! to human achievement. The next day we make the trip to the other, The walls, pillars, and even ceilings are later set of caves at Ellora. A quieter covered with paintings in rich color, scene here, the caves roomier but more many of them remarkably well-preserved. neglected than at Ajanta. We spend most of What suberb grace and sensitivity in the our time in Cave No. 12, a three-story buddhas and ! Scenes of the monastery-temple with a whole row of large royal court, of gods and goddesses, of Buddhas sitting in zazen, facing out. Feels wonderful animals--all come to life. like a sesshin--powerful, pure, distinctly Through uncanny use of perspective a bull training vibrations. appears to be charging directly for us, from no matter what point it is viewed; "Caved out," we skip the Hindu and Jain from every angle a certain of caves and decide to take the bus back to breathtaking beauty gazes straight at us, our hotel in Aurangabad, twenty miles away. through us. Wall after wall filled with After waiting 3\ hours in vain we give up paintings, depicting the Buddha's life, and in desperation start off on foot. Be­ his previous lives, a world in flux, cap­ fore long a truck picks us up and we take tured in rythmic, flowing lines--the in­ our place with a dozen locals in the back, tricate detail, the majesty. clinging to the sides. The view is splendid standing in this open truck looking out over Now sculpture--in every cave a colossal the beautiful countryside. As the good­ seated Buddha, flanked by bodhisattvas and natured driver scoops up others stranded on guardian figures, all chiselled out of the road, we crowd together in back, every­ stone. The excavation of each cave alone one happy to share the exhilaration of this is astounding. No bat-filled holes in the wild ride. The natives are friendlier and mountain, these, but formal monasteries: more relaxed here than in northern India; rows of tiny cells, usually with two stone children even talk to us without asking "beds" each, off the perimeter of a spac­ for handouts. We arrive safely in Aurang­ ious main area forested by mammoth ornate abad in record time, and bid farewell to pillars. Everything hewn out of a solid our fellow passengers with waves and granite mountain. laughter.

Steps, doorways, arches, platforms--every­ Our three weeks in India now behind us and thing sculptured, no stone left uncarved. half of the pilgrimage over, we are eager It was all built in two phases, our guide to set foot in Burma, a Buddhist country, explains: the second century B.C. to the and taste Theravada Buddhism in action. ..--~~....-;_~,~ 4

After an overnight stopover in Thailand tected national forest, for the mdst we land in Rangoon, capital of "The Land part--are magnificent and evoke a pro­ of 4 Million ." found sense of the infinite. The air is clear and bracing, the mountain (next issue: Burma) stillness powerful. A healthy growth of pine, spruce, and fir trees covers * * * * much of the property, balanced by open areas. The steep southern slopes COLORADO MOUNTAIN CENTER REPORT drop more than a thousand feet into a valley with meadows that offer appeal­ "What's happening with the Colorado pro­ ing contrast to the rugged mountain ject?" slopes. From beautiful rock outcrop­ pings dozens of vistas may be enjoyed "What's the land like?" in undisturbed solitude."

"What's going to happen there?" Of all the land .investigated since the Center began its search five years ago, "What will become of the Rochester the consensus is that this is the piece Center?" we have been looking for. It is not only beautiful and vibrant, but secluded even Last month a good portion of the 13th as it is close to good-size cities (Col­ Annual Meeting of the was de­ orado Springs as well as Denver). This voted to discussing these and other ques­ location will enable Sangha members who tions raised by Sangha members concerning want to live nearby to find jobs and the land in Colorado. For the benefit of suitable living situations. members who were unable to attend, the following report will cover the informa­ The plan for the land is to build a full­ tion made available at the meeting and scale training center open to members will be the first in a series of "Mount­ everywhere, with all the facilities and ain Center Reports" to appear regularly activities presently available in Roch­ in upcoming newsletters to keep the ester plus many that are not. Among these, Sangha posted on the progress of the pro­ of course, would be sesshins (of a special ject. People with questions about the type with entirely new features), training land and related matters are encouraged programs (including longer and different to contact the Servers directly, so as to ones from those now possible in Rochester), avoid misunderstandings and confusion. workshops, and ceremonies. There are also excellent secluded spots for retreat huts, The property· that i~ the potential home where members could do zazen intensively of the Zen Mountain Center is located on their own for - long or shor·1:· periods of about an hour southwest of Denver. It time while receiving periodic guidance occupies 145 acres of land that ranges in and instruction. The land is large enough elevation from 8200 feet at the building for hiking and picnicking. site area to 7200 feet in the valley be­ low. The following excerpt from a letter Preliminary plans call for a full-time by a member who has visited the site con­ staff of 15-25 residents in addition to veys a feeling for the potential of this participants for training programs, piece of land: sesshin, etc. Daily sittings would be "The property under consideration is open to Sangha members living nearby. In an ideal site for a Zen training cen­ conjunction with this, as the Mountain ter ... It is an area of secluded wild­ Center develops in Colorado the Denver erness yet only one hour from a major Center will most likely need to expand urban center and twenty minutes from its functions and look for larger facil­ a village shopping center. The vast ities to help accommodate Sangha members views out over the Rockies--of pro- who may be living in the area. 5

In Bill Lumpkins the Center has been for­ Roshi's Sabbatical - The schedule for 1980 tunate to find an architect who is sympa­ also includes a sabbatical for the Roshi. thetic, sensitive, and experienced, as well In academic circles it is common for teach­ as one of the foremost authorities in the ers to take a sabbatical (a year's leave country on solar heating. Recently he of absence) every seven years. By the time visited the Rochester Center to attend a construction begins Roshi will have been workshop and acquire a feeling for Sangha carrying on a full-time demanding schedule activities and our needs in regard to of teaching for at least fifteen years. building design. He is currently at work His "off-periods" have been spent writing, on a site plan and preliminary building traveling to affiliate groups, and con­ design. The solar heated buildings will ducting workshops and sesshins in other be constructed out of wood, glass, and countries. A year's break for him is well­ stone taken primarily from the property. deserved and long overdue, and fits in well with the current plan of development. Although a plan for development has been drawn up, it is subject to approval by the According to current plans, if we get the county authorities before we can actually necessary development and water approvals purchase the land. Also, test wells must for the Colorado land, the Roshi would be drilled to determine whether there is take his sabbatical from the fall of 1980 enough water on the property to meet our until the fall of 1981. This means, of needs, after which permission for its use course, that he would not be conducting must be sanctioned by a water court and sesshin during this time. If, however, then water rights purchased. Since water approvals are held up and the start of in Colorado is such a precious commodity, construction delayed, the sabbatical negotiating for rights to it is often a would be put back accordingly. In any delicate and prolonged process. case, there will be sesshin in Rochester with Toni-sensei and in Colorado (off the The Center is negotiating for a 10-acre land) without Roshi. piece of property that would give the best access route to the land, and also After his sabbatical Roshi will take up looking into the possibility of an option residence in Colorado and begin conducting on additional land adjacent to the present sesshin there. During his "off-periods" 145-acre piece. But since there is no he hopes to be able to visit and work with suitable access route, and because the affiliate groups that demonstrate a gen­ Center is carrying on a number of negoti­ uine need for his presence. If everything ations that involve the neighbors, members proceeds on schedule--and our fund drive are asked not to visit the land until all is successful--sesshins, training programs, negotiations are completed. and workshops will take place on site by 1983. A more detailed timetable covering If all approvals come through by the end the ten years 1979 to 1989 will be given of the year and we are able to find suf­ in a future newsletter. ficient water, site preparation and con­ struction of foundations, roads, permanent Naturally these plans for the Colorado wells, and utilities will be scheduled for land raise questions, questions that boil the summer of 1980. Buildings crucial for down to basically two. The most frequently construction work--shop, kitchen, and din­ heard is: "Will the Colorado project pol­ ing room--will also go up during warm arize us as a Sangha?" Roshi dealt with weather, so that with the shells built this concern the Sunday following the An­ interior work can be done in the winter. nual Meeting, pointing out that Toni-Sensei To arouse and focus energy for the project, will be living in Rochester six months of it is vital that Sangha members begin every year, giving regular dokusan, teisho working on site as soon as circumstances and sesshin on a schedule similar to the permit. present one. It is envisioned that 4-day 6

sesshin will take place the remainder of feet long, was passed through the hall the time in Rochester. He further said and held by everyone while "The Buddha's that the two main centers, Rochester and Golden Chain of Love" was read. The par­ Colorado, will have separate but compli­ ade and other festivities followed. Many mentary functions with a strengthened people commented (as they do every year) Sangha as a result. Especially for people that it was the best ever. The not living near Rochester or Colorado, a who once said, "Every day is large mountain center in Colorado will a good day" might well agree, if he were mean greater opportunities for training. a regular Vesak participant, that "every With the rapid spread of Buddhism in Vesak is the best Vesak." this country and throughout the West, ex­ panded and varied facilities are needed Another highlight of Vesak weekend was the to accommodate the growing number of peo­ formal unveiling of the large new Buddha ple seriously practicing Zen. Indeed, from south of the border. Discovered sit- rather than polarize us as a Sangha, the --ting patiently in a h~tel lobby, where it cooperative effort and energy necessary had been demoted to a mere good luck talis­ to undertake and complete a project such man, this powerful Buddha is seated on a as this can only serve to draw us closer magnificent lion throne supported by a together and strengthen our common pract­ lotus base and surrounded by leaping flames ice. and hovering devas carved in the nimbus. To those who made offerings and devotions The other basic concern voiced by some to him at Temple Night it was clear that members is: "Where will the money come this new Buddha Land is where he belongs. from?" In answer to this, Roshi said that while the purchase of the land itself can New Reps - The new members of the Sangha be made with funds the Center presently Board of Representatives, elected at the has on hand, a fund drive will be neces­ May 22 Annual Meeting for a one-year term, sary to raise the money for construction. are: Dan Cherry, Casey Frank, Sunny Kjol­ Needless to say, the help of the entire hede, Pat Simons, and Marcia Smith. Sangha will be needed in this effort. Plans for fund raising are now being Flux in Canada - The Toronto Zen Centre made, and more detailed information has moved into its new house (121 Lyn­ will be given in a future newsletter. As hurst St.), with John Botsford Zendo Lead­ we take the first few steps in this pro­ er since June 1. The Montreal Group is ject, the Zen Bow Newsletter will help now under the leadership of Albert Low keep us all in touch with what's going who, with his wife Jean, recent]y took up on--so watch for future "Mountain Center residence the.re. The Group's first item Reports"! of business is a major one: find a new and larger house that can be owned rather than rented. With a good prospect now in NEWS the works, the Montreal Zendo, too, may have a new home before long. Vesak 1979 - Vesak has come and gone with its yearly accompaniment of flowers, Zen: Dawn in Eastern Europe - This sum­ balloons, animals, sunshine, and of course, mer Roshi will hit the road again to con­ children. This year our Vesak celebration duct sesshin, workshops, and ceremonies included a new ceremony especially for in Poland, accompanied by Zenson, Wally children, "Entering the Buddha's Family." Muszynski, and Ruth Sandberg. They will This took place Saturday morning in the leave Rochester in early August and return Buddha Hall, after the installation of in mid-September. The Polish Sangha, the Baby Buddha, when children and adults which now numbers over a hundred in two joined together in taking the Three city affiliates, has been eagerly awaiting Refuges. Then a golden ribbon chain, 260 a visit by the Roshi since his last trip 7

there in 1974. Roshi and Zenson will also ent from that in Canada. Of course Can­ be going to Romania to give lectures, and adians may still take a ten per cent dis­ possibly hold a workshop, at the invitation count on dues and other Center contributions of the Romanian government, arranged by because of the differential. Montreal members from Romania. From this country Roshi will stop in Majorca (off Missing Mailings - A number of people have the coast of Spain) at the home of two recently reported not receiving their mail­ Center members to meet informally with ings from the Center. The address file is persons interested in Zen from the island being thoroughly checked, but if you still and from mainland Spain. With good karma miss any mailings, please let the Center he may get some rest and sunshine before know. returning to Rochester for the fall train­ ing period. Zen Bow Newsletter - The newsletter will be coming out every three months, accom­ Thanksgiving Great Jukai - A Great Jukai panied by the quarterly calendar. It is (Taking of the Precepts) has been schedul­ free to anyone, so if you have friends ed for Thanksgiving 1979. This ceremony, or relatives interested in receiving it, held only once every three years, provides send in their addresses and they will be a special way of renewing our commitment to added to the mailing list. the Buddha's Way. Buddhist names will be given out at the time for members of at least three years standing who request it. July Sesshin Changed - The July 24-28 Mark this on your calendar and look for 4-day sesshin has been cancelled. Instea

Sensei's Summer Dokusan and Teisha - Sensei NOTES will conduct dokusan on July 9, July 23, July 30, August 6, August 27, and Sept­ Phoning the Center - Because of ongoing con­ ember 10. She will give teisho on July 10, fusion with regard to phone calls taken July 31, August 7, and August 28. outside of office hours, the Center will revert to using a tape machine to answer F~_}:l S_esshin, Workshops, and Training the phone at certain times. Beginning Programs - The dates of Roshi's 7-day August 1 all calls coming in on 473-9180 ·sesshin during the fall training period after 4:30 PM will be answered by a tape are: October 6-13, November 3-10, and recording. The 473-9193 line will remain December 8-15. Workshops are scheduled open at all hours for emergency calls. for September 29, October 20 (in Toronto), Please try to make all business calls be­ October 27, and December 1. Training tween 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM on weekdays and programs are scheduled for October 16 to between 8:30 AM and 12:30 PM on Saturdays. November 2, and November 13 to December 7. Be aware when phoning from out of town that calls received by a tape machine are charged the regular long-distance fee.

Contributions to the Center - When sending in a check or money order to the Center please be sure your name is on it, as well as an indication of what it is for; this would be very helpful to the financial office. Canadian members, please make checks payable in U.S. Funds; sending extra Canadian money causes problems since the exchange rate at Rochester banks is differ- NON-PROFIT ORG. The Zen Center U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROCHESTER, N.Y. PERMIT NO. 1925

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7 ArnoldPar1c, Rochester, New 'b1i: l4607

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