Two Saicho Quotes

"EVEN WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS IT IS DIFFICULT TO MASTER THE WAY UNDER UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONS; LIVING IN A QUIET PLACE IN THE BOSOM OF NATURE IS THE MOST CONDUCIVE FOR PRACTICE. IT IS BETTER TO RELY, AT FIRST, ON THE PLACE RATHER THAN THE MIND."
---from John Stevens' book THE MARATHON MONKS OF MT HIEI, P40
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"IF ONE ABANDONS ALL VAIN DISPUTATION ONE WILL ARRIVE AT THE POSITION THAT DHARMAS ORIGINALLY NEITHER ARISE NOR PERISH."
---from Waka Shirato's article in the Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 1987, p122

HENS AND CHICKENS

The Great Calligrapher Hokai Shibayama

Ven Shibayama and his entourage arrive for the temple dedication














The Bodhisattva Sadaparibhuta, whose story is told in the Lotus Sutra Ch 20. His practice was to never despise anyone, telling all that they will become Buddhas. This is one of the themes of the work of Ven Shibayama.



















Ven Shibayama produces the character "terasu" which means "to illuminate" at his show in Berkeley's Jodo Shinshu Center on April 25








To everyone who asked, he made for them a character of their choice

Marathon Monk in California

The 1000-day kaihogyo incumbant Uehara Gyosho DaiAjari approaches the goma-do to perform the fire ritual and bless the participants.
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The Tendai priest Kayaki Kansho of the Enryakuji dedicates this temple as part of his Shugendo Horyu lineage.

TEN MORE PHOTOS

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Two Tendai leaders: Monshin Paul Naamon of the NY Betsuin and his teacher the bodhisattva Professor Ichishima Shoshin of Senzoji Temple

TWO PHOTOS

FIRST PHOTOS OF TEMPLE CONSECTRATION

These photos are all by Ellis Schoichet, architect of the goma-do

DEMONSTRATION OF CALLIGRAPHY SUNDAY APRIL 25

TEMPLE DEDICATION SATURDAY APRIL 24

More than a dozen Tendai priests from Japan will come to the Monastery to perform the dedication ceremony. It will include a goma and lunch and is expected to start at 11AM. Because of the limited parking, people attending must contact Keisho ahead of time.

TENDAI SYMPOSIUM FRIDAY APRIL 23

Another view of this schedule can be seen on the Dec 14,2009 blog

CALLIGRAPHY EXHIBIT APRIL 1 - JUNE 10

Update on Events at UC Berkeley and Cobb

FOR THE SCHEDULE, SEE THE DECEMBER 14 BLOG, FROM WHICH IT IS UNCHANGED
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THE SYMPOSIUM ON FRIDAY APRIL 23, AND THE EXHIBITION FROM APRIL 1 UNTIL JUNE 1, NOW HAVE TWO DIFFERENT TITLES
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THE CALLIGRAPHY EXHIBIT IS TITLED "TEACHINGS OF TENDAI: CONTEMPORARY BUDDHIST CALLIGRAPHY FROM THE ENRYAKU-JI"
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THE ALL-DAY EVENT ON APRIL 23 IS NOW TITLED "TENDAI BUDDHIST STUDIES AND ARTS SYMPOSIUM"
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AT THE COBB TEMPLE (HOSHU-IN), THE ACTIVITIES WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY APRIL 24 FROM 11AM UNTIL ABOUT 3PM

Subhakarasimha (Zenmui) 637-735AD

Note that he lived 99 years. At the late age of 79, already an esteemed scholar of the Mantrayana at the great Buddhist university of Nalanda, he undertook the difficult overland journey to China in order to transmit the esoteric doctrines and practices. Along with his contemporaries Vajrabodhi and Amoghavajra, Subhakarasimha was responsible for Japan's Mikkyo tradition of the Shingon and Tendai schools. Most famously, he translated the Mahavairocana Sutra into Chinese, wrote a commentary on it, taught the Taizokai Mandala rite, and detailed all the iconography of that mandala. But also, Subhakarasimha was the author of a manual titled "Essentials of Meditation." In it we find his answer to the question:
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"SHOULD ONE ATTEMPT TO REMOVE ALL THOUGHTS DURING MEDITATION?"
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"O beginners, many of you fear that thoughts arising in your mind will tempt you, and so you follow your breath and maintain a state of no-thought, thinking that this is the ultimate. You seek to improve in this way but cannot.
Thought is of two kinds. One is negative and the other positive. Negative, deluded thoughts should be removed completely. Correct thoughts of the good Dharma should not be extinguished.
Do not be afraid of your mind's workings. Consider it a disturbance of your practice only if you slacken in moving forward . . ." (quoted in "Shingon," p102-3)

Naturegraph and a Pet Deer

In Spring 1970 while driving near The Geysers, I picked up a fawn sitting beside the road with no mother deer around. About two days later he started dying, tongue hanging out, eyes bulging, panting heavily. Needing advice, I called Vinson Brown who ran Naturegraph Press outside of Healdsburg. He told me what vet to go to. Even though it was then illegal for him to treat wild animals, the vet took the fawn in, telling me most likely the mother abandoned him because he had encephalitis, that the fawn probably wouldn't live but he would give him antibiotics. However the fawn returned to full health, and we had him about two months before releasing him.

In gratitude to Vinson Brown for his help, I paid him a visit about 6 months later. Last month (Nov 2009) I found out Naturegraph is still publishing now relocated in Happy Camp CA. Vinson Brown died about 15 years ago, but his wife Barbara is still running the business, and when I ordered a few more books and told Barbara the story above, she related the following story to me:

They had a pet fawn also, and the Browns' daughter was considered by the fawn to be its mother, following her around everywhere. They raised the deer from infancy to grown lady, and years later when the daughter got married, the deer "stood by her side as bridesmaid at the wedding. Few brides have a lovely deer as their bridesmaid, clear down to wanting to have a bite of her boquet."

TENDAI STUDIES AND ARTS SYMPOSIUM

Friday April 23, 2010 at UC Berkeley
2223 Fulton St 6th floor

SYMPOSIUM: 9AM - Noon

___9-9:15AM___ Introduction by Prof. Duncan Williams (UC Berkeley)
___9:15-9:45___ Keynote Lecture by Prof. Shoshin Ichishima (Taisho U)
______________"The Integration of Sutra and Tantra at Mount Hiei"
___9:45-10_____Q&A
___10-10:30____Lecture by Prof. Paul Groner (U Virginia)
______________"The Training and Education of Tendai Monks"
___10:30-10:45_Q&A
___10:45-11:30__Lecture by Prof. Hodo Shioiri (Taisho U)(with interpreter)
______________ "Sanno Ichijutsu Shinto of Tendai Buddhism"
___11:30-11:45__Q&A

LUNCH BREAK: 11:45-1:30PM

TENDAI CALLIGRAPHY PANEL: 1:30-4:30PM

___1:30-1:35__ Introduction by Ven. Monshin Paul Naamon
_____________(Tendai Buddhist Institute)
___1:35-2:15__ Lecture by Prof. John Stevens (Tohoku Fukushi U)
_____________Author of Sacred Calligraphy of the East, Marathon Monks
_____________"An Illustrated History of Tendai Calligraphy"
___2:15-2:30__Q&A
___2:30-3____ Lecture by Prof. Elizabeth ten Grotenhuis (Boston U)
_____________"Entering the Pureland at a Tendai Temple"
_____________"Seigan Toji at Nachi"
___3-3:10_____Q&A
___3:10-3:20__Coffee break
___3:20-3:50_Ven. Senkei Shibayama (Vice-chair of Tendai Calligraphy Assoc.)
_____________Author of Saicho no Sho
_____________"About the Exhibit" (with interpreter)
___3:50-4____Q&A
___4-4:30____Ven. Shibayama assisted by two other calligraphers:
_____________A Demonstration of Tendai Calligraphy

RECEPTION: 4:30-6PM

The Exhibit is from April 1 to June 1

On Saturday April 24, 2010
There will be a ceremony at Hoshu-In
California Tendai Monastery, Cobb, CA

Cut Off in the Prime of Life

THIS PONDEROSA PINE LIVED ABOUT 85 YEARS, WHICH IS "YOUNG ADULTHOOD" SINCE IN THE COBB MTN AREA THEIR GENERAL LIFESPAN IS 250 YEARS. A BABY SUGAR PINE GROWS NEXT TO THE STUMP.

Vajra Samadhi

Gambopa (1079-1153AD) writes the following about vajra samadhi, as translated by Herbert Guenther (and edited here):

"This state of absorption is considered to be like a Vajra, because it is indestructible, strong and stable. . .'Indestructible' means that it cannot be destroyed by impurities; 'strong' means that it cannot be weakened by worldliness; and 'stable' means that it cannot be shaken by discursiveness."

Sunset

A GOOD TIME TO CONTEMPLATE ONE'S INEVITABLE END

TWICE-WEEKLY DHARMA TALKS UNTIL APRIL 2010

CALISTOGA

Every Friday Morning 9:30-11:30AM
(except Dec 18 & 25)
At the Calistoga Community Center
1307 Washington St
No Charge. Tea. Brief Chanting

CLEARLAKE

Every Monday Morning 10:30AM-Noon
At the United Methodist Church
Pearl & Mullen
"Buddhist Philosophy"

MONASTERY SPACE

Hounds Tongue

HUSTON SMITH QUOTE of ALDOUS HUXLEY

Huston Smith, still going strong at 90 years old, recently published his autobiography. He has a knack for meeting and knowing many of the great spiritual lights of the 20th century: the Dalai Lama; Pete Seeger; Thomas Merton; Martin Luther King. Below is Smith's story about Aldous Huxley.Aldous Huxley once told Smith
"IT'S RATHER EMBARRASSING TO HAVE GIVEN ONE'S ENTIRE LIFE TO PONDERING THE HUMAN PREDICAMENT AND TO FIND THAT IN THE END ONE HAS LITTLE MORE TO SAY THAN,
'TRY TO BE A LITTLE KINDER.'"

UC BERKELEY 23 APRIL 2010

"MURYO"

Infinity. Or boundless, measureless, limitless
referring to the Buddha's virtues.

The proposed calligraphy exhibit has now been confirmed. It will run 3 months from April 15 to July 15. The opening and conference will take place all day on Friday April 23, titled "TENDAI STUDIES AND ARTS SYMPOSIUM."
(see Dec 14 post for update)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

In September? Yes, now is the beginning of the spiritual year. Not on a particular date, though today is the new moon, but rather when Summer is over, when the first light rain has fallen, when maples are changing colors and acorns are dropping to the ground, the deer hunters put away their 30-30s for another year (after Sept 20 in Lake County), near the Autumnal Equinox when sunrise and sunset are moving South on the horizon at their fastest rate.

By the end of Summer inspiration and spiritual energy are running on empty, prayer life is getting frayed and frazzled, yet we made it through another year without giving up the great adventure, without turning aside from the bodhisattva path or violating the Buddha's ethics. So there is hope at the dawn of a new year. A renewed effort to shout, "Wake up! Abandon greed-hatred-delusion! Fire up your energy and make the happiness of others your goal!"

Now at the start of Autumn recall and reflect on the previous four seasons. And consider, what can we undertake in the next four? What bad habits can I relinquish? What beneficial activities can I begin?

Prepare the fire. Make it burn brightly. Exude warmth and light.

Schedule for 13-week Class on Shikan

(see previous post for location)

1. March 5. Introduction and overview: shamatha/vipasyana meditation using buddha-anu-smirti as the point of concentration

2. March 12. Calming and discerning (shi-kan) methods of meditation over 2500 years; Shakyamuni Buddha; Tendai Chi-i's Shoshikan; Shantideva and Kamalashila; Zen and Vipassana; contemporary Tendai shikan

3. March 19. Shikan practice based on buddha-anu-smirti; the meaning, rationale, and repetition of mantras; advantages and disadvantages of mantra recitation vs. sitting silently; the four stages of meditation

4. March 26. Doing a practice; the process; grounding in ethics; monks and householders; calming meditation by continued refocusing on the point of concentration; the thought of "I" and other obstacles to concentration

5. April 2. An example of calming meditation practice by together reciting a mantra for 45 minutes or more

6,7. April 9, 16. The remaining classes are on vipasyana, or discerning the Dharma; first is a two-part telling of Shakyamuni's six-year search for enlightenment; his one-pointed focus on realizing Nirvana

8. April 23. Bringing to mind the following Dharmas: accumulation of wisdom and merit; the two obstacles to enlightenment; Buddha-Dharma-Sangha; the three bodies of a buddha; three types of Dharma; the three poisons; three mysteries

9. April 30. Four immeasurables; four conversions; four visualizations; the four foundations of mindfulness; four paths to siddhis; dharmas of the four directions

10. May 7. The five skandhas; the five bodhisattva vows; five buddhas; five faculties and powers; five obstacles to samadhi; the five prerequisites for practice

11. May 14. The six realms of existence and the suffering in each; the six perfections of the bodhisattva

12. May 21. The seven bodhyangas progressively and as antidotes to the meditative extremes of lethargy and restlessness; the eight-fold path to liberation; the eight thoughts of a Dharma practitioner

13. May 28. The nine skillful means; the ten bodhisattva precepts; the ten reliances

Berkeley Class

STARING INTO THE FIRE

I can teach you, you can teach me


I can give knowledge to you and you can give knowledge to me. But we can't give each other wisdom. That comes from within each person. If you heave trivial knowledge overboard and digest beneficial knowledge, if you do this by staring into the sacred fire, then wisdom can begin to illuminate. The fire of wisdom will burn away all obstacles, errors, obscurations, and delusions. And manzanita burns the hottest.

Three Paths for Tendai Nuns

This is an excellent article in English by the Japanese Tendai Nun Myosei Midoridawa:

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http://www.sakyadhita.org/NewsLetters/Tendai%20Final.pdf

Monday evenings in Clearlake

The Dharma gatherings have now begun at the Fellowship House of

THE CLEARLAKE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

14521 Pearl Ave near Mullen Rd

November 10 & 17

December 1, 8 & 22

7-8:30 PM

2009: Every Monday (unless snowed in) we will meet.
The 5 meetings in 2008 worked out well,with attendance of 2,4,3,9, and 12 people.
The Church was also happy with the arrangement, so we will continue.

"PINK LADY" FLOWERS

The bulb was transplanted from Eileen Downy's
garden in San Francisco to 3600ft elevation on
Cobb Mtn. The plant grows wild in the coastal
region, but here it snows every winter. Now it
has bloomed for the first time, following 5 years
of acclimation.

October Event in Sebastopol

OCTOBER 30th, A THURSDAY EVENING, STARTING AT 7:30PM

AT DHARMAJIM WILSON'S BOOKSTORE CALLED

MANY RIVERS BOOKS AND TEA STORE

130 S. MAIN ST. (707) 829 8871

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"BODHISATTVA MONKS IN JAPANESE TRADITION"

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The hour will include a short participatory liturgy, followed by an explanation of Tendai's all-encompasing vision dating from 800AD. Within this broad umbrella, California Tendai Monastery operates a more specialized temple where bodhisattva monks train on Cobb Mountain (Lake/Sonoma County) in the fire ritual called goma, the mountain-encircling asceticism called kaihogyo, and extensive recitation of sutras and mantras. Questions at the end.

Tiny Thinker's blog is well worth reading!
http://peacefulturmoil.blogspot.com

At Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley

Photos by Al Billings

16th & 23rd Sept Events

In Berkeley on these 2 Tuesday evenings, I will host free events at the new Jodo Shinshu Center on 2140 Durant Ave, one block from the UC campus. The hour and a half from 7PM to 8:30PM will be portioned about 20 min for tea and welcome, 20 min for a Japanese chanting service with voluntary participation, 30 min for a Dharma talk, and 20 min for questions and discussion.

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SEPTEMBER 16
SAICHO AND ENNIN ~ UNIQUE AND ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE TENDAI FOUNDERS
The religious environment they established allowed for spiritual growth in all directions and fostered a wide range of experiences based individual priests' studies and inclinations. Tendai was able to include Vajrayana practices, the teachings of various Mahayana sutras, Zen meditation (shamatha and vipasyana), Chinese traditions, Pureland beliefs, bodhisattva precepts, and a unique mountain-circling ascetic practice called Kaihogyo.

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SEPTEMBER 23

TENDAI TODAI ~ RELEVANT AND USEFUL

During 1200 years of twists and turns of Japanese history, Tendai has carefully preserved its variety of teachings and arts, so that today both laymen and monks find the benefits in this world as well as the other world. In these times of rapid change and an uncertain future, Buddhism including Tendai can provide a solid and reliable guide for those who study and practice the Dharma.

The True Artist of Life

One of the teachings I've received is "Die before you die." In the writings of D. T. Suzuki, there is a good explanation of this message, beginning with a poem of Bunan, a Zen master of the 17th century.

WHILE ALIVE

BE A DEAD MAN,

THOROUGHLY DEAD;

AND ACT AS YOU WILL,

AND ALL IS GOOD.

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TO LOVE GOD IS TO HAVE NO SELF, TO BE OF NO-MIND, TO BECOME "A DEAD MAN," TO BE FREE FROM THE CONSTRICTIVE MOTIVATIONS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. THIS MAN'S "GOOD MORNING" HAS NO HUMAN ELEMENT OF ANY KIND OF VESTED INTEREST. HE IS ADDRESSED AND HE RESPONDS. HE FEELS HUNGRY AND HE EATS. SUPERFICIALLY, HE IS A NATURAL MAN, COMING RIGHT OUT OF NATURE WITH NO COMPLICATED IDEOLOGIES OF MODERN CIVILIZED MAN. BUT HOW RICH HIS INWARD LIFE IS! BECAUSE IT IS IN DIRECT COMMUNION WITH THE GREAT UNCONSCIOUS.

ONE OF THE GREAT MASTERS OF THE T'ANG SAYS: "WITH A MAN WHO IS MASTER OF HIMSELF WHEREVER HE MAY BE FOUND HE BEHAVES TRULY TO HIMSELF." THIS MAN I CALL A TRUE ARTIST OF LIFE.

A Duke Ellington Quote

"THESE UNFINISHED ENDINGS ARE REALITY"

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This is the end of the blog posts for at least two months, as other areas of the Dharma are demanding attention. Gassho!

The Last Chapter of the Lotus Sutra

They say this 22nd chapter was the final chapter of the Lotus Sutra at one time in its development. But at least since 400AD (Kumarajiva's version) there have been 6 chapters beyond this one, including the celebrated and efficacious Avalokiteshvara chapter. Still, Chapter 22 retains the feeling and contents of a final sum-up, and for Lotus Sutra adherents, the attitude expressed in the following excerpt is an extremely important one.

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THE FINAL COMMISSION

THE TATHAGATA IS THE GREAT LORD OF GIVING TO ALL LIVING BEINGS. DO YOU ALSO FOLLOW THE TATHAGATA'S EXAMPLE, NOT BEING MEAN AND STINGY. IF GOOD-SONS AND GOOD-DAUGHTERS IN AGES TO COME BELIEVE IN THE TATHAGATA-WISDOM, DO YOU PROCLAIM THIS LOTUS SUTRA TO THEM. IF THERE BE BEINGS WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN IT, DO YOU SHOW, TEACH, BENEFIT, AND REJOICE THEM WITH THE OTHER TACTFUL PROFOUND LAWS OF THE TATHAGATA.

RAISING A WALL

One person can build and raise a wall by himself, as shown here. First, the framing is done flat on the deck, and plywood sheathing added. Then using an auto bumper jack, the wall is lifted about 2 ft as shown in the top photo, enough to set two wall jacks under the edge. (The wall jacks are the two red colored pieces of hardware, and they ride on 2x4s.) Next, using a piece of pipe for a handle (not shown) you would jack up one side about a foot, then move to the other side and raise that about 2 ft, and continuing to alternate side to side until fully vertical. Voila!

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However, DANGER! In the case in these photos, I was exceeding the design specs for the jacks, both height-wise (the jacks are made for 8-9-10ft walls and this was 12ft high) and weight-wise (the wall was 26ft long and the framing was 2x6 and 4x6, quite a bit heavier than 2x4 framing). All the weight is riding on 18ft long 2x4s! And they were bending like pole vault poles. And when the wall is half way up (45deg.), you are working on ladders directly underneath the wall. If one of the 2x4s has a knot or unseen flaw, and if it suddenly snaps, you would be one flattened body. Thank Heaven, Lucky Stars, God, Coyote, and Buddha that I'm alive (knock on wood). Made me think of other "lucky" occasions, like falling asleep at the wheel going 65MPH into an oak tree, statistically a 90% fatality rate.

Goodbey Goodbey Goodbey!

This is an email to the world from the Sun Yogi Umashankar dated 26 June 2007. My connection is that a follower of his did a retreat here, which led me to this email. However, the reason for posting this is more that I am a fan of the Indian dialect of English. The following is verbatim.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters of Universe

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I am very SORRY Take Off from all of you for TWO YEARS. I will be unable answar all of you. SORRY VERRY SORRY.

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I strong bealive all of your LOVE is with me and protecting me. Please all of you blease me. I would like to offer my last point of blood for Socity. I born from this Socity, Learn from this Socity So I have tyo surve for this Socity as Survents of Socity.

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Wish all of you very good health and all the best by Divine Sunlight and Divine Love.

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SEE YOU AFTER TWO YEARS.

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GOODBEY GOODBEY GOODBEY.

KURI IN SNOW

This is the KURI, or priests' living quarters. As a 650sq ft cabin, it is overly small for a monastery, therefore the photo is meant to serve as a not-so-subtle appeal for non-monetary support (for instance, design and site work) in getting a simple but modern building constructed that can accomodate about five monks.