by Nomon Tim Burnett
January 05, 2010
Responding Gate
A (more or less) monthly letter from Spiritual Director Nomon Tim Burnett
January 2010
Past Issues available at http://www.redcedarzen.org/newsletter.html
Dear Sangha,
I had the good fortune to visit with the Seattle Soto Zen group last Sunday. They had been studying Bodhidharma with Jeff Kelley so I dug out Keizan's Denkoroku to read his take on Bodhidharma and his student Huike (pronounced hway-kuh) and spoke a bit about the qualities in those stories. And I was a bit surprised by what I came up with.
Of course I was struck again by the quality of utter (insane?) enthusiasm and devotion for practice symbolized by the stories of Huike standing all night in the snow waiting for Bodhidharma to talk to him and then chopping his arm off when Bodhidharma finally does deign to talk to him only long enough to tell him he doesn't have the requisite commitment and ability to study the way. Funny how a sharp sword is always lying around right when you need it. But of course actually that story and others have inspired monks an nuns to mutilate their bodies as a devotional act - usually cutting off fingers. Religion is a strange business - even one with a basis in the relief of suffering.
But reading the rest of the section on Bodhidharma and Huike I was struck by other qualities besides that hard core dedication that jumps out at you first. Consider these two teachings Bodhidharma is recorded as offering Huike after eight years of intimate study together (and Huike is recorded as having already been practicing full time for at least ten years and having significant enlightenment experiences before he even met Bodhidharma):
Once Huike asked the great teacher, "Can I hear about the seal of truth of the Buddhas?"
Bodhidharma answered, "The seal of truth of the Buddhas is not gotten from another."
This exchange is powerfully humble and grounded isn't it? First to have the courage to ask after eight years of study with a famously great teacher "so, what does this all mean anyway?" is both courageous and humble. I think I'd be too embarrassed to ask such a question! And then Bodhidharma's reply is also humble and deeply supportive of Huike. Rely on your own heart! I'm here to support you but I can't tell you that. It reminds me of Dogen teaching that the family jewels don't enter through the front gate.
These kinds of exchanges can be misread to suggest that the teacher here has nothing to offer. It's all on you. But the implied intimacy and support of having such an exchange in the context of many years of close living and practice together shows us the power of having a good teacher. To just be there for the other. To be steady and present no matter what.
Another time this guidance from Bodhidharma on practice:
Bodhidharma instructed Huike, "Outwardly cease all involvements, inwardly have no coughing or sighing in the mind - with your mind like a wall you can enter the Way."
Cleary's translation here might be a bit loose - Francis Cook has "no grasping by the mind" instead of "no coughing or sighing in the mind" but I really love this teaching. Don't get too sucked into external conditions - don't over do and get too busy, slow down, but whatever your experience actually is stay with it without any resistance or complaint. No coughing or sighing in the mind. Don't turn away.
To me this interaction has such a loving feeling. Very generous and again intimate. I was listening to a talk by my colleague Chris Fortin in the Bay Area and she was saying that the more you read these old Zen stories the more you see that these guys really loved each other. It's expressed through the quirky and sometime combative language of Zen and further filtered through time, culture, and translation but there's a deep intimate and unconditional love there.
One more Bodhidharma - Huike interaction. This one is very helpful for us also:
One time Huike climbed up Few Houses Peak with Bodhidharma. Bodhidharma asked, "Where are we going?"
Huike said, "Please go right ahead - that's it."
Bodhidharma said, "If you go right ahead, you cannot move a step."
Hearing this Huike was greatly enlightened.
Another interaction speaking to us from a thousand years and the other side of the world about intimate practice together. And about seeing the potential for awakening in every moment, every action. Hiking along together and considering the true meaning of taking another step. Being willing to challenge the other's assumptions about the reality of their living. That if you think you are a person who is walking and getting somewhere - a person over here with a goal over there - you're misunderstanding reality and you will not get anywhere. A strong teaching on the great liberation of letting go of identity and goal and progress.
Then the text goes on to say that Huike, instead of establishing a big monastery somewhere, moved to the capital and lived as a homeless person teaching and helping where he could. Teaching at wine shops and butcher stalls (alcohol and meat! shocking.) Even working with the outhouse cleaners who would presumably come along with carts to shovel the shit out of people's outhouses and haul it out to the farms. Someone asked him, "You are a man of the Way - why do you act like this?" Huike replied, "I tune my mind by myself - what business is it of yours?"
Humility, a commitment to ongoing practice, and the Bodhisattva work of helping other beings in any way you can. A great willingness to just help. Maybe this is Huike's expression of Bodhidharma's instruction to cease involvements and have no coughing or sighing in the mind.
And finally these story speaks of radically accepting whatever circumstances arise. At one point Huike was teaching outside the gates of a fancy temple and drawing a good crowd. The priest of the temple was upset and denounced Huike as a heretic. When he was arrested and executed, the story goes, he did not resist.
As our Winter Practice Period arrives next week here in Bellingham I thought it would be worthwhile considering these qualities from the old Zen stories. Strong commitment to practice, sure, but also intimacy, humility, courage, creativity, steadiness and a powerful commitment to accept this life just as it is. To work with everything as practice. So please do add a bit more formal practice and study for these six weeks if you can but more importantly is to bring up the intention to turn towards our life in a fresh way. Everything is already practice. No separation. Our job is to stop believing that there is.
Annual Sangha Voices Meeting (plus baby blessing)
Saturday January 16, 9:00am - Noon
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
[note schedule change: instead of a short Dharma Talk we will come together to bless Andie and Graham's baby Finnegan before the meeting. Practice, cookies, and a baby - who can resist that?]
The Board warmly invites all sangha Members and Friends to join together at the opening of the new year to consider the state of the sangha. We'll work together to revise our volunteering "org chart" and share with each other our current levels of sangha commitment and what we would like to do for 2010. As always we'll be looking for ways to support each other and make sangha life more enjoyable and fruitful.
This meeting is also a chance for new Members to get to know the sangha and the way we're organized.
There were also be brief presentations by Board and workgroup members about finances, membership, and other organizational things. But all in the context of listening and sharing.
Come assess with us how we can have a grounded and smooth 2010 as a sangha. Tim has suggested that 2010 be a year of consolidation and settled practice. Let's make that happen together.
Arrival times are: 6am for early practice, 9am for zazen and Baby Blessing, 10am for just the meeting.
Schedule:
6am - 8:30am Usual 1st and 3rd Saturday early morning practice and potluck breakfast
9:00am zazen
9:30am baby blessing ceremony for Finnegan (Andie and Graham's son)
10:00am break for more arrivals, tea, cookies, welcome & mingling
10:15am start annual meeting
Noon close
Winter Practice Period Starts next week
Come if you can to the opening ceremonies on Thursday evening January 21st. We will officially enter our shuso, Reizan Bob Penny, and each speak a bit about our intentions for practice period. It's also a chance to ask questions and get registered for the three Bellingham events which require registration (Bob's class on Practicing with Grief, one day sesshin Feb 13, three day sesshin March 4-7).
Do note that the registration form for the retreat in Vancouver Jan 22-24 is available to download from Mountain Rain's new website - direct link is
http://www.mountainrainzen.org/?attachment_id=261
Practice Period is a wonderful opportunity to practice more intensively with support of sangha for 6 weeks. And here's a brief summary of the schedule, which is all on the website:
And some additional events to pepper in!
And also remember that the morning sit is ongoing, a neat thing to add to your practice period if you can. Monday-Fridays 6:30am-7:15am. One longer period of sitting, no ceremony with friends in various traditions.
And also remember that the three sesshin and the class all require registration. You can register online or in person with the registrars on opening night next Thurs.
Intro to Zen with Seishu John Wiley
Sunday January 31st, 9am - 1pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Our quarterly 4-hour class on Zen practice. Registration requested.
Two Important Sangha Ceremonies on March 7th
The practice period will close with the Shuso's Dharma Inquiry ceremony with Bob Penny on Sunday March 7th at 11am. Everyone is invited regardless of how much you are able to participate in the practice period. It's an important step into sangha leadership and teaching Zen for the shuso.
And later that same afternoon on Sunday March 7th at 5pm four sangha members will receive the precepts in the jukai ceremony. Join us in celebrating Karen McMains, Kate (Kathy) McKenna, Marti Bartlett, and Terry Thompson as they take this step.
More Neighboring Everyday Zen Sanghas in the Greater NW
In addition to groups on Cortes Island (mahabels@twincomm.ca)and at the southern end of Whidbey Island (http://whidbeyzen.org), I wanted to mention the ongoing group on Saltspring Island led by Peter Levitt (levgram@gmail.com) which has weekly sitting on Wednesday evening and weekend sesshin each year. Do you have to be on an island to practice Zen?
And also in Calgary Tim Samson and other Zen friends have a growing sangha (http://calgarysotozen.org/) - it was a pleasure to see several members at the Loon Lake sesshin.
And of course we have our sister sanghas north and south: Seattle Soto Zen (http://www.seattlesotozen.org) has sittings every Sunday morning and also classes on Thursday evenings. And Mountain Rain Zen Community in Vancouver meets on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings and do check out their new website at http://www.mountainrainzen.org (note .org, not .ca) where I see you can download the registration form for Norman's retreat and the opening sesshin of our winter practice period coming right up weekend after next.
Many opportunities to sit in the Everyday Zen style of Soto Zen up and down the Northwest!
A few Poems by Peter Levitt
Speaking of nearby Zen groups, I enjoyed these poems by Peter Levitt from his (out of print!) book One Hundred Butterflies
Watermelons and Zen Students
Watermelons and Zen students
grow pretty much the same way.
Long periods of sitting
till they ripen and grow
all juicy inside, but
when you knock them on the head
to see if they're ready --
sounds like nothing's going on.
Walk Without Arriving
Every morning I walk up
the long road into the mountain,
every evening I walk back down.
One day a friend comes to see me.
"If you keep this up," he says,
"you'll never get anywhere."
You know, I think he's right!
Yoga at the Dharma Hall
Mind-Body-Spirit yoga with Margie Goetz returns on Sundays 9:00-10:30am on these dates: January 17 & 24, February 14, 21, & 28, March 21 & 28. 676-0119 or margiegoetz@comcast.net to pre-register. One and a half hour class, Iyengar style, appropriate for beginners with emphasis on mindfulness and breath.
Mindful Eating Workshop with Fran Hecht
On January 23rd at 1420 Blaine Ave in Blaine from 1pm-4pm, Fran Hecht is offering a workshop on Mindful Eating based on Jan Chozen Bay's book
Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food. Call Fran at 360-920-5233 for information.
upcoming events
Red Cedar Dharma Hall invites you to participate in any of the following upcoming events. For more information about these events, including online registration, visit our web site at www.redcedarzen.org.
January 2010
Annual Sangha Voices Meeting
Saturday January 16, 9:00am - Noon
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Annual all-sangha meeting to assess the current organization, membership, and fiscal health of the organization hosted by the Board of Directors.
Winter 2010 Practice Period
Thursday January 21, 7pm - Sunday March 07, 3pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall & Vancouver
Our annual winter practice period, details coming soon.
Practice Period Opening Ceremony
Thursday January 21, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Open our winter practice period together with zazen and ceremony.
Weekend Retreat with Zoketsu Norman Fischer
Friday January 22, 7:00pm - Sunday January 24, 4:00pm
Vancouver, B.C.
A weekend retreat hosted by Mountain Rain Zen Community in Vancouver.
Mindful Eating Workshop
Saturday January 23, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Blaine
Workshop on mindful eating with Fran Hecht
Introduction to Zen with Seishu John Wiley
Sunday January 31, 9:00am - 1:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
An introduction to Zen practice at Red Cedar Dharma Hall.
Saturday mornings in Practice Period
Saturday mornings during Practice Period Jan 30 - Feb 27
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Saturday morning zazen during practice period is every Saturday.
Shuso' Class: On Grief with Reizan Bob Penny
Two sessions: Thursdays 7pm, Saturdays 9am
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Shuso Reizan Bob Penny offers a class on practicing with grief in Zen practice and life.
Tea with the Shuso
Schedule with the shuso
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Have tea with Shuso Reizan Bob Penny
Mid-Practice Period Meeting
Wednesday February 10, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Zazen and check-in about practice period
Full Day Sesshin with Reizan Bob Penny
Saturday February 13, 6:00am - 9:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
A full day sesshin in the middle of the practice period. All welcome regardless of attendance at other practice period events.
Buddha's Parinirvana Ceremony
Wednesday February 17, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Celebrate the passing of Buddha in this moving ceremony.
3-Day Sesshin with Zoketsu Norman Fischer
Thursday March 04, 7:00pm - Sunday March 07, 3:00pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
A three day formal Zen retreat with Zoketsu Norman Fischer and shuso Reizan Bob Penny closes the Practice Period. Oryoki meals. Thursday 7pm - Sunday 3pm.
Shuso's Dharma Inquiry Ceremony
Sunday March 07, 11:00am - 12:00am
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Join us in celebrating Dharma with the shuso and closing the practice period. The whole sangha and all practice period students warmly invited.
Jukai Ceremony
Sunday March 07, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Red Cedar Dharma Hall
Jukai - "receiving the precepts" ceremony for Karen McMains, Terry Thompson, Kathy McKenna, and Marti Bartlett.
Samish Sesshin 2010
Friday June 18, 4:00pm - Saturday June 26, Noon
Samish Island
2010 Sesshin at Samish Island
Samish Sesshin 2011
Friday June 17, 4:00pm - Saturday June 25, Noon
Samish Island
Samish Sesshin 2011
Pasted from <http://www.redcedarzen.org/eventprint.html>
Resident Priest Nomon Tim Burnett has been a student of Zoketsu Norman Fischer since 1987 when he was a resident at San Francisco Zen Center's Green Gulch Farm. After sitting practice periods at Green Gulch and Tassajara Zen Monastery, Tim helped found the Bellingham Zen Practice Group in 1991. Tim was ordained as a Zen Priest by Norman in June, 2000. Like his teacher, Tim is interested in the possibility of deep and complete practice by lay people.
A person of wide-ranging professional interests, Tim has been a botanist, elementary schoolteacher, writer, and computer programmer. In addition to his work at the Resident Priest of Red Cedar Zen Community, Tim works as a software developer.