July 2007 Vol. 4 No. 2 that exist in the WPA today – After the service came two all thanks to the vision of featured events. The first was Maezumi Roshi. He wanted a panel on (what else?) “Zen what he called “American in America” led by three WPA Zen” to develop free of the teachers as well as two strictures and hierarchy that Buddhist scholars. Some apply in Japan, while honor- impressions follow: ing the rich tradition of Zen. Zen is changing as it encoun- This American Zen is form- ters America. Some of these ing as we all practice, and we changes are now going back are the ones forming it. The to Japan to re-invigorate Zen diversity and yet the common- where it came from. Zen in Still. ality of the White Plum was America is decisively diverse, News from Still Mind Zendo our overriding impression of ranging from a handful of the weekend. (To learn more monastic settings to urban about this diversity, go to sanghas with many members t h www.whiteplumasanga.org.) to small sanghas in cornfields Z C L A 4 0 and small towns where teach- We gathered again on ers sit and teach in their liv- Saturday, after morning zazen, ing rooms . And it is primari- A n n i v e r s a r y at an altar set up in the gar- ly lay, not monastic as in By Sensei Janet Jiryu Abels den, for a memorial service Japan. However, “Does the and Sensei Gregory Hosho Abels for Maezumi Roshi, led by his diversity cause confusion?” brother Junyu Kuroda Roshi This was a question raised but who had come from Japan for not answered. On May 17, we traveled to were not dozens of teachers the occasion. Also present Los Angeles for the fortieth and thousands of practitioners were Maezumi Roshi’s Some sanghas have money, anniversary celebration of the all over the world but only widow, Ekyo, and his three some do not. “Are we selling formation of the Zen Center of Maezumi Roshi and a handful remarkable children, all now our wares?” was another ques- Los Angeles, the place where of students. When the White in their twenties. “He was so tion raised. What do we do to our lineage of the White Plum Plum Asanga organization was tough outside and so sweetly raise money? Does the Asanga (WPA) began. It was a formed a decade later, only soft inside,” said Kuroda American sangha need to be gathering of forty-four (of the Roshi and two or three others Roshi of his brother. (Continues on Pg.3) current sixty-two) WPA teach- were present. Awareness of ers who had come from all all that has transpired in a over United States, Mexico, mere forty years was palpable Brazil and Europe to honor during the weekend. the memory of Taizan Maezumi Roshi on the twelfth The first evening, the business anniversary of his passing as of the WPA took place at the well as to honor the heritage annual Board meeting. Since that he left behind. the WPA is like a federation of individual sanghas which are The weekend was a breezy, all independent, there is never informal affair with boisterous a great deal of business that moments along with times of happens at these Board meet- solemnity and quiet dignity ings. The real “business” hap- and times of education. All pens in the discussions and took place in the interior informal sharing of the partici- courtyard at the center of the pants and at what is called the ZCLA compound in the “Teachers’ Council”. Wilshire section of L.A. under several tents that had been set This Council took place the up to accommodate meeting next morning. It is, essential- and eating areas. ly, a circle where each teacher speaks about whatever they This was a far cry from 1967 wish for a few moments, and when there was no compound it is a wonderful venue to find but only one building (now out about each other, to wel- the zendo) on Normandie come new teachers and to Detail from a brush painting of plum blossoms. Ave., a very unsafe neighbor- learn about the immensely Artist unknown / Date unknown hood at that time; when there diverse sanghas and centers About Our Te a c h e r s In August, Sensei Janet and Sensei Gregory will be receiving jukai (taking the precepts) First Sesshin from Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara. By David Mintz At the recent meeting of the White Plum Asanga, international organization of the teachers of our lineage, Sensei Janet was elected Vice-President of the Board of Directors. As a beginning Zen student, I approached my first weekend Sesshin in the City with curiosity as well as trepidation, THREE SUMMER HAIKU as one might look forward to by Bruce Kennedy skydiving for the first time. Would my scattered mind cooperate? How taxing would the physical demands be? our guide book What would this experience be brings us just this far: like? the open sea The experience was deeply rewarding. Individual outdoor kin-hin was particularly mem- orable, and I think it had a lasting effect on me. You would expect the city streets to be abuzz with activity on a Saturday afternoon, but this while chugging water was astonishing. The side- walks were full of people, all there is is water each one an individual with a cool, cool water face, clothing, behaviors, details, moving about, talking, doing things. Like the opening scenes of a movie (when your attention is still fresh), but the picture was infinitely more vivid. a rope swing over the stream Reflecting on this a couple of days later, I suddenly under- so many ways to stood something about some- let go one I have known well for over 25 years. Now approach- ing her 80th birthday, my step- mother is a watercolorist and prolific poet. For the first time Photo by Bruce Kennedy I fully appreciated her gift: she knows how to open her eyes and look at what is in New Home For Our Weekend Sesshin front of her. All that poetry comes out -- must come out -- We are now holding our weekend sesshin (retreats) at the as a consequence. I do not Garrison Institute in Garrison, New York. The gracious quite understand why I was atmosphere and lovely grounds, along with excellent moved to tears by this simple vegetarian meals and a welcoming staff make The insight, but I humbly thank my Garrison Institute an ideal location for our retreats. Each nascent Zen practice for sesshin will have a “Zen For Beginners” component (see revealing it. our website for details www.stillmindzendo.org/sesshin). We hope you will be able to join us for these essential weekends of extended practice. David Mintz has been a member of Still Mind Zendo The dates for our upcoming sesshin are: since January 2007. November 16th - 18th, 2007 February 8th - 10th, 2008 The zendo at the Garrison Institute (continued from pg. 1) reaches new continents and A celebration dinner, fol- trained in the way of dana – assimilates new ways, just as lowed by ceremonies honor- the free giving of the begging when it traveled from India to ing several people, as well as bowl? China to Japan and Korea. We a display of ZCLA talent in Still. News from Still Mind Zendo are participating in that flux. music and dance, ended the Sangha and service are of pri- It’s what makes American Zen day, and the weekend con- mary importance. Alleviating July 2007 Vol. 4 No.2 so interesting and alive. cluded on Sunday morning suffering is the teacher’s with an anniversary celebra- Editor service. Using twentieth-cen- The afternoon was devoted to tion open to the larger ZCLA Cynthia Brown tury tools, such as psycholo- eight panels covering various community. A celebration gy and technology, is com- Art Director subjects. We were two of the indeed. Maezumi Roshi mon in the West. Zazen is Mark Rubin facilitators of the panel on Lay would have been very paramount, but practice is Practice, attempting to find moved. Poetry Editors often brought into the work- support for the difficulties of Jean Gallagher place. Phone dokusan the lay practitioner who has to And now we look forward to Gregory Abels (daisan) reaches out to “iso- balance practice and zendo the next forty (going on four lated” practitioners. Enso (sumi circle) attendance with family obliga- hundred) years. artwork by tions, work, irregular schedules Mayumi Ishino Finally, one of the scholars and a host of other issues. We called this time “trans- found encouragement in contin- Sensei Janet Jiryu Abels and Buddhism”: a time of flux uing our creative solutions to Sensei Gregory Hosho Abels Still Mind Zendo is a non-sectar- when the message of Zen these problems on an individual are the two resident teachers ian Zen community in the (meditation) Buddhism at Still Mind Zendo. Soto/Rinzai lineage of the White basis. Plum Asangha. It was founded in 1994 by its now resident teacher Sensei Janet Jiryu Abels. Still Mind Zendo is incorporated WHY WE CHANT as a not-for-profit organization in the State of New York and run by a Council (the Board of Why does a pedestrian break into a run? Directors) made up of SMZ Because walking won’t suffice. members. just as…… Council President: Tom Carney why does the diva launch into an aria? Vice President: Gregory Abels a jazz vocalist break into scat singing? Secretary: Julia McEvoy a dervish abandon to a whirl? Treasurer: Tom Carney the Lakota perform the Sun Dance? Cynthia Brown Marisa Cespedes Chanting is our means of going deeper into the timeless sutras and great gatas because Jean Gallagher they can’t be contained in our mind.