cambridge zencenter the Eastern Gate

Member Newsletter Fall 2017 The Cambridge Zen Center is part of the Kwan Um School of Zen

Nourishing the Whole World Exerpt from a Dharma talk by Barry Briggs JDPSN on March 16, 2017

Question: What is the relationship between Having choices doesn’t necessarily help us the harvest and then someone else milled the food and cooking when cooking for others or become clear. wheat berries, and then another person deliv- for yourself? ered the wheat to the pizzeria, driving a truck The Buddhist way is simply to eat what is running on gasoline derived from the Barry Briggs JDPSN: In the early days, given with gratitude. remains of countless beings. As the wheat Buddhism did not offer specific teachings Many beings have gone into your food. So was growing, earthworms did their work in about diet. The historical Buddha lived as a it’s important to see that you are intimately the soil underneath, without ever questioning monk, and as such depended solely on the connected with all the beings that have pro- or checking. And in every square centimeter support of other people. During the Buddha’s duced every mouthful of food. of the soil under the wheat, countless organ- lifetime, each member of the sangha (the isms made nutrients available to help community of monks and nuns) had the wheat grow. The soil itself was pro- only a single possession, a food bowl. duced by a volcanic eruption millennia As the sangha traveled around north- ago; and the volcano erupted because ern India, they would go every morn- tectonic plates of the Earth moved ing into the nearest village, where together. Tectonic plates move across local people would put food in their the surface of the earth because of the bowls. Then the monks would eat forces that created the planet about 4.5 everything that was offered—meat, billion years ago. And sometime earlier, vegetables, fish, birds, rice. They about 13 billion years ago, there was a didn’t check; they didn’t cling to their [makes popping sound] small event preferences. They ate in gratitude for that produced everything. the food and the generosity of the local people. All of this goes into the smell of pizza—and a whole lot more. Why, I One of the interesting aspects of modern life, Does anyone like pizza? Let’s say you are haven’t even talked about the tomatoes and especially in American and European cul- walking down Mass. Ave. in Cambridge, and the cheese! tures, is that many of us are confronted daily you walk by a pizzeria and the smell of pizza with a huge array of food choices. As a result appears in your consciousness. The smell of Actually, if we could perceive things in their of this, many of us—myself included—some- pizza doesn’t appear by accident. The smell of entirety, we would see that the whole world, times can get totally absorbed with the types pizza arises only because the owner of the the entire universe, is profoundly interpene- of foods we eat. Is it organic or not organic? business opened that day, the cook showed trated with the smell of pizza. So the next Is it vegetarian or is it vegan? Is it raw? Does up for work, the gas company provided gas, time you have a piece of pizza, you are eating it have spirulina in it? On and on and on we and somewhere a farmer grew wheat. The the entire world. go. Over time it can get just a little obsessive. farmer planted seeds many months before Continued on page 4 sanghadharma

A Dharma Talk by Craig Richards, Senior Dharma Teacher, Plymouth Zen Center, July 7, 2017

During the Ch’ing Dynasty in China, in Yang became very good friends. Wang said to his invite my feelings in and give them my atten- Chou, there was a person named Ch’eng Pai host, “The Ch’ing army is approaching. They tion, I can make friends with them. I have the Lin. One day he had a dream in which are not reasonable, so the best course would choice to make friends with my feelings instead Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva told him, be for you and your family to go to Su Chou. of fighting them. But this isn’t always easy to “Tomorrow the Ch’ing army will arrive. Out of It’s safe there.” So that is what Ch’eng Pai Lin do—the story indicates that this will only work the seventeen people in your household, sixteen did. This is a case of turning grievance into if I allow them to kill me! How many of us are will survive. But you cannot escape your fate. friendship and reversing the retribution that is willing to let ourselves die in order to make Tomorrow Wang Ma Tze will kill you, because due one. friends with our feelings? What if, instead of in a past life you stabbed him twenty-six times our physical death, we only have to let go of This story works on a lot of levels. On a basic and killed him.” Then Avalokiteshvara the idea of who we are? How much pain and level, the idea that acts of violence create a cycle Bodhisattva added, “There is still an expedient suffering are we willing to put up with in order of violence (note that acts of love and compas- method that may work. Prepare a fine feast to hold on to our identity, the stories we tell sion create their own cycle as well), and that tomorrow, and when he comes, ourselves about who we are? invite him to eat with you. Ken McLeod is a Buddhist teacher Afterward, allow him to kill you. who teaches that an enemy is some- Perhaps that will change things.” one (or something) that causes us to The dream was vivid, and when have a state of mind that we are Ch’eng Pai Lin awoke the follow- unwilling or unable to experience. ing morning, he went out and Think about the different enemies bought wine and vegetables, you’ve had in your life. Can you find brought them back, and had a any truth in this teaching? Is it possi- feast prepared. Then noontime ble that, instead of opening up to all came, someone knocked at the of your experience, you create an door. He opened the door and enemy? What states of mind have said, “Are you Wang Ma Tze?” you banished from your conscious- “How strange,” said the man at the ness, and what enemies have been New altar built by Eric Espinosa May 2017. door, “I’m from the north, how did created by doing so? If you are able there’s a way out of this cycle, is a wonderful you know my name?” His host invited him in to make this connection between enemies and way to look at this story. However, all great sto- and said, “You are welcome in my house. I’ve your states of mind that you are unable to ries can work on multiple levels, so I’d like to prepared a feast for you. Please join me.” Then experience, then you will be able to take look at this story from a different angle, from he related the dream he’d had the night before. responsibility for the enemies in your life. an inner perspective. “Last life I killed you with twenty-six stabs of a Instead of blaming others for bad things hap- knife, and so this life you have come to kill me. I often have states of mind such as frustration, pening, you are able to open up to all of your After we’ve finished this meal, you can do it.” anger, or sadness that I don’t want to experi- experiences, without needing to label them Wang Ma Tze pondered over this and said, ence, and I can make these into enemies in my good and bad. You are also able to respond to “But if you killed me last life, and I kill you own mind. I can stab them in many ways, such situations without the need to push away your this life, won’t you kill me again next life? It as distraction, blame, or ignorance, to avoid own reactions, which gives you a wider range of will just go on and on. No, I won’t kill you.” paying attention to, or feeling, my feelings. Yet possibilities, and allows you to stay open Then he took his knife and scratched twenty- they never completely go away, and sometimes instead of closed. If our inability to open to all six marks on his host’s back to represent that they show up with a knock at my front door, of our experiences is what creates enemies, then the debt had been repaid. Not only did Wang perhaps with a whole army behind them. The not only are we responsible for creating our

Ma Tze not kill his host, but afterward they story of Ch’eng Pai Lin shows if I am able to Continued on page 4

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Abbot Tom Johnson's Farewell Note It has been my honor and privilege to serve The Cambridge Zen Center provides medita- yourself or your thinking about yourself. as abbot of the Cambridge Zen Center for tion instruction to the public free of charge. This is very important. I want everyone to more than seven years. Those seven years We offer a quiet place for people to practice know the promise of Zen practice is available have been rich and full. There have been meditation in a safe environment. We never to you and completely attainable. It is for many changes to the physical plant such as a ask “What is your belief?” You will often be everyday people like you and I. new heating system, new air conditioner for asked “What is your experience?” We bring When I first became abbot people were call- the dharma room; many bathrooms were people to the place where they are encour- ing me “The Bathroom Abbot” because I remodeled, as were apartments. CZC has aged to look inside and experience their began by renovating the bathrooms. Then I many new windows and floors. We have a being before thinking arises. The teaching became “Dear Abbot” because of the advice beautiful new ADA compliant bathroom CZC provides is clear and simple and follows column I wrote for our website. I preferred next to the dharma room. We have a new a lineage back to the Buddha. As abbot I the handle Abbot Tom because I thought it website and have generated more than 200 have tried to keep us on this clear and simple sounded less formal. It really doesn’t matter video clips of our teaching which are hosted track. There are many people and many what I’m called. What matters is that I tried on our YouTube Channel. organizations that provide a wonderful ser- to keep a clear direction and that really is all vice to the community. Many organizations Many people have come and many people one can do no matter what role you happen provide food, clothing, and shelter. Some have gone, taking a little piece of CZC with to be playing at the moment. I will try to provide counseling services. Some provide them, hopefully to spread around the globe. keep that same clear direction in my new education. The service that CZC provides is The Cambridge Zen Center is a wonderful role as “retired guy.” My hope is that the no less important. If there is one thing this place to live the dharma. Residents in our Cambridge Zen Center is better off now, as I suffering world needs at this time it is more training program truly bump up against each leave, then when it was entrusted to my care. meditative people. other like potatoes in a barrel, and in so Thank you to the board of directors for the doing learn to put down their opinions—and The more I do Zen practice the more I real- opportunity. I wish all the best to our new we all have them. I can tell you that living in ize how important it is. This looks like a abbot, whoever that may be. The Great Way a community is a truly amazing experience. casual thing that we do here. It looks like we is right in front of you! If any of you get a chance to live in commu- are all chilling out and being quite peaceful. nity, even for a while, you owe it to yourself The truth is this work that we do is the great to try it. The community, the sangha, is one work of life and death. It is serious business. of the three jewels of Buddhism, along with It is not unattainable. You can do it. You can Buddha and dharma. attain your true self—and not your idea of

Cambridge Zen Center garden in August. September canoe trip down the Ipswich River.

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Nourishing the Whole World cleaning a big pot in which rice had been waste food, an ache appears in my heart. It Continued from page 1 cooked, traditional white sticky rice. If you’ve doesn’t feel right. It feels out of harmony, out Having told this nice story, I want to point ever cooked sticky rice, you know that a lot of alignment with the universe. out that there are serious ethical and social of rice gets stuck on the inside of the pot. So through our practice effort and clear concerns associated with food, and how it is This monk had a pair of chopsticks and was direction, we can foster this kind of relation- grown, processed, cooked, consumed, and picking out every grain of rice and putting ship with cooking and eating food. Actually, disposed. Like everything else in the universe, each grain into a container. we can develop this kind of meticulous, lov- food has significance and impact. ing relationship with everything in our lives. I will never forget his action—my mind’s jaw I began practicing in the Kwan Um School dropped. I had never seen food treated with And that’s what changes the world. tradition in 1990. In January 1991, I went to this care. My family certainly didn’t treat The good news about human life is that each Providence Zen Center to sit several weeks of food in this way—anything left over just life matters; each life makes a difference. retreat. I arrived late on a Friday and went went into the garbage disposal! At that How each of us engages with food, its downstairs to the big industrial kitchen; the moment, as I watched this monk meticulous- cooking and consumption, makes a only person in the kitchen was a Korean ly preserve every grain of rice, my life difference. Our love and attention nourishes monk who lived there at the time. He was changed. Today, if I have no choice but to the whole world.

A Dharma Talk by Craig Richards abilities to pay attention. In the same way that more open to the mysterious unfolding of life Continued from page 2 lifting weights builds my strength, or practicing as it takes place. I encourage everyone to own enemies, but we also have the power to an activity such as a sport has increased my engage in some sort of daily practice to discover stop creating them. abilities in that area, Zen practice has increased these abilities for yourselves. Take advantage of my ability to stay present through all mental places like the Cambridge Zen Center, where How do we do this? How can we increase our states. One of the wonderful aspects of this is we can find encouragement to practice, instruc- ability to stay present during unpleasant states that it’s not necessary to understand how it all tion for when we get stuck, and a sangha to of mind? In my own life, Zen practice has works, just that it does work. In some ways, it’s help us realize that we’re all in this together. helped me cultivate this ability. Meditation and like magic, in that practice improves my ability other practices have strengthened my inner to stop negative cycles in my mind, so I can be

By becoming a member of the Cambridge Zen Center, you help support its ongoing practice and programs. You’ll also automatically become a member of the international Kwan Um School of Zen and part of its effort to bring this teaching to new students and to other parts of the world. If you are participating in kong-an interviews and other Zen Center programs, we encourage you to become a member. As a member you will receive reduced fees for retreats and programs at your Zen Center and at other Zen Centers of the Kwan Um School of Zen. You’ll also receive the School’s journal, Primary Point, and its newsletter.

Membership rates: • Individual Membership – $300/year • Family Membership – $420/year • Student/Senior Membership – $180/year For your convenience, dues and donations can be paid by check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or PayPal. Membership fees and contributions are tax-deductible. Please go to this link for application: http://www.kwanumzen.org/members/become-a-member Or you can find envelopes in the Zen Center’s reception room that can be mailed to the KUSZ. Payments can be made quarterly.

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Colors appearing on tree leaves stacks of wood that have been waiting around Cambridge and a sudden for a special project. Birdseye maple and crisp quality in the air are signaling some lovely curly sycamore fit our needs the end of the summer season and the perfectly, and my boss kindly donated it. start of a new autumn cycle. We So it was a pleasure to design and build appreciate our practice and our center the altar knowing that there was a good more than usual in these turbulent use for this beautiful wood.” Its glowing times. Noticeable changes are visible light-filled color uplifts the room, around CZC, starting with the physi- changing the energy dramatically. The cal plant. Under our abbot’s direction traditional Korean altar painting a basement apartment has been reno- behind it was restretched, and the vated: we’ve removed the kitchen, overall effect with our still new Kwan installed a new hardwood floor, and Seum Bosal statue and altar imple- given it a fresh coat of paint, making Zen Master Wu Kwang leads the May YMJJ. ments is truly a healing sight for sore it a choice spot for a resident to live. eyes! Recently Eric completed a lovely An apartment in the River Street matching bookcase that now holds our building received a much-needed chanting books. new kitchen, cabinets, and bathroom. Our residential population of over 30 Many projects such as painting and continues to grow with many new washing the mat covers were accom- practitioners coming and some going, plished at a work retreat in late and some returning again! Peter September, organized by our house- Thornton, Austin Ritter, Katherine master, Paul Laurey. One of our Foo, Sam Judelson, and Shea Reister guiding teachers, Barry Briggs, gener- have returned to try residency for a ously did interviews during it. We second time. Ian Maher arrives in enjoyed the koi fish swimming in the October after a 14-year hiatus. We Su Bong Memorial Pond in our gar- Zen Master Bon Shim leads the February YMJJ. welome Neil Connors, Linh Nguyen , den this summer. Soon the fish will Erin Kennedy, Susie Yeo, Jordan return to their permanent home at Colman, Eric Hertz, and Jina Kim. Open Meadow Zen in Lexington. The summer saw extended visits from Our large garden rewarded us with its Heather Gray, Michael Moseman, thriving beauty after it received much Jonathan Griffiths, and Thomas love and attention from residents, Ponniah. Thomas was recently mar- particularly our housemaster, Paul. ried in Toronto. We wish Thomas and In May our gorgeous new altar was his new wife, Afsoon, great happiness unveiled with a short Eye Opening in their marriage. Andrew Wood left Ceremony prepared by Barry PSN. to live in Vermont with his partner, Eric Espinosa, our resident wood Liz, after a 12-year residency. During craftsman, was thanked for building a his time here he was always ready to true work of art. Here are Eric’s own lend a helping hand to anyone who words about the project: “To build the needed it, and he made Buddhism fun new altar we wanted to use a light col- for hundreds of children. He also ored wood, something that would encouraged us all to appreciate nature brighten up the dharma room. At the in all its glory through enthusiastically Martin Klesak receiving sixteen Jody Blackwell taking sixteen shop where I work there are different precepts. precepts. Continued on page 6

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Continued from page 5 as an offshoot of the college retreat organizing and leading hikes, camp- program as a way for young beginners ing, canoeing, and garden work, and to continue to develop a Zen practice. he helped us be more attentive to More individual attention and sup- energy conservation. Myungjin Chung port can be given than in our open- returned to her New York sangha, and to-the-public morning and night daily we miss her help with our health and sessions can provide. Zen Master Bon wish her very well there. Yeon, Tyler Morrill, and Billy Bialecki débuted it, and Andrew Wood has The 2017 year witnessed Jody joined the team. The format includes Blackwell and Martin Klasek check-in, conversation, teaching, and becoming senior dharma teachers in Zen practice for the 8 to 15 people April, and Sergey Kostenko took five who attend. Within a three-week peri- precepts in August. Thank you for Boston University dharma talk with Zen Master Bon Yeon in od, 100 people joined our Millennial helping to strengthen and care for Marsh Chapel. Meet-Up group online! our sangha! Of all the changes at CZC, perhaps Our Community Cooks volunteer the most impactful is that both our service continues to provide a deli- co-guiding teacher, Barry Briggs, and cious meal for a woman’s day center our abbot, Tom Johnson, will be leav- once a month under the direction of ing us in December. We are grateful Jennie Ullrich. We appreciate the for the countless actions performed beautiful floral arrangements that for our benefit and the benefit of the Janice Stenger has given us, as well as successful continuation of CZC for the very creative birthday cards for posterity. During Barry’s two years each resident. with us we were fortunate to have In August a group of 49 students many kong-an interviews, inspiring from Tufts University attended a day dharma talks, well-attended informa- of service and receive an introduction tive workshops on the Heart Sutra, to Zen, led by Barry PSN, Woody Zen iconography, the oxherding pic- Wood, and Paul Laurey. A high- tures, happiness, ethics, practice Andy and Liz's moving day. school summer group from Harvard forms, and Zen’s Chinese ancestors, in was introduced to Zen by Francisco addition to monthly newcomers’ teas.

Irby. Our regular Brookline adult ed Barry gave us much encouragement to class was taught by Tad Bailey and practice, especially by his example of Billy Bialecki. being a steady presence at morning Woody hosted a potluck outdoor and evening practice daily. We wish Labor Day dinner for us to enjoy the him well in his future endeavors and end of the summer together. Much in his new home in Arizona. effort went into creating a pleasant During Tom’s seven years as abbot, space to relax and enjoy the 206 CZC has thrived and is more attrac- Auburn side garden. tive and sturdier than ever. Some A new program attracting newcomers highlights were the new gas-burning called Millennial Zen meets for an heating system, innumerable new hour each week on Sunday. It began Community Cooks Jennifer Ullrich and Kimball Amram delivering a meal. Continued on page 7

6 “Must Do”

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Continued from page 6 When Buddha was soon to entering parin- extended sangha volunteer to host the wood floors and windows, and four new irvana (that is, close to dying), it is said many programs we offer. Dharma teachers bathrooms, including our new handi- that his students lamented and asked, and dharma-teachers-in-training lead the capped-accessible bathroom. In a building “Who will be our teacher?” Buddha weekly intro classes. The staff does a phe- 150 years old many aspects needed atten- responded, “The schedule is your teacher.” nomenal job overseeing the smooth func- tion, and they received it. Tom also began While CZC has many special events, the tioning of our many programs, including recording and editing video of our dharma glue that holds us together is the steady the guest program. The generosity of the talks, and now our YouTube channel hosts daily practice morning and night, weekly sangha in practicing together and in work- 250 excerpts. dharma talks, biweekly interviews, month- ing together is a great gift. We will celebrate both Tom and Barry in a ly retreats, and together-action group Thanksgiving dinner on November 16. breakfasts and dinners. Residents and

Harvard Summer Institute High School group visit. In July. Walking meditation in the garden. Kitchen group.

YMJJ led by Steve Cohen PSN in August. Kitchen group with Barry Briggs PSN and Mark Uehling. Dinner on the stove.

fall 2017 SCHEDULE

Oct. 5 Dharma talk by Myong An Sunim, JDPS Nov. 16 Thanksgiving Celebration with dharma talks by Oct. 12 Dharma talk by Martin Klesak, SDT Barry Briggs, JDPSN and Tom Johnson, SDT Oct. 19 Dharma talk by Myong Hae Sunim, JDPSN Nov. 23 No Talk – Thanksgiving Holiday Oct. 21–22 Two-day YMJJ led by Myong Hae Sunim, JDPS Nov. 30 Dharma talk by Zen Master Bon Yeon Oct. 26 Dharma talk by Zen Master Bon Shim Dec. 7 Dharma talk by Barry Briggs, JDPSN Nov. 2 Dharma talk by Sung Lim Shin, SDT Dec. 9 One-day retreat led by Barry Briggs, JDPSN Nov. 4 College retreat led by Zen Master Bon Yeon Dec. 14 Dharma talk by Zen Master Bon Yeon Nov. 9 Dharma talk by Zen Master Bon Shim Dec. 21 Dharma talk by Francisco Irby, SDT Nov. 11–12 Two-day YMJJ led by Zen Master Bon Shim Dec. 28 Dharma talk by Barbara Feldman, SDT

7 cambridge zencenter

WEEKLYSCHEDULE DAILYSCHEDULE Introduction to Formal Practice Mornings: Evenings: Thursday Evenings 7:00pm (Except Tuesdays) (Except Thursdays) 108 Bows 5:45am Special Chanting 6:30pm Long Sitting & Kong-an Practice Chanting 6:10am Chanting 7:00pm Tuesday Evenings 6:30–9:30pm Sitting 6:30am Sitting 7:25pm Sunday Mornings 9:00–11:30pm

Midday Sitting Tuesdays & Thursdays 12:30–1:00pm

Public Dharma Talk with Q & A Thursday Evenings 7:30–8:30pm

Great Way Wellness Center Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine

Cathy Thomason, MAOM, Lic. Ac., Dipl. Ac., Dipl. C.H.

278 Elm St., Ste. 227

Labor Day dinner party. Somerville, MA 0214 4 617-852-0690