A Happy New Year! 

Dear zen friend

1)  January Sesshin:     01/17,  01/18,  01/19.  

    February Sesshin:    02/07,  03/08,  02/09. 

2)    The year end sesshin for 5 days was done.  Last 2 days were fine like spring. Participants enjoyed nice feelings. I remembered what Uchiyama Roshi said;  Enlightenment is up to temperature and humidity. 

We used to have 5 day sesshin per month. Then corona pandemic happened, all activities stopped. At the same time around I  began suffering sciatica, my sitting practice became difficult. 

When we started sesshin again, every session was  a challenge. I wondered if I could complete each sesshin. . 

This time amazingly my sciatica did not come back. I enjoyed the best physical condition for 5 days. I forgot depression or aging.  We may try 5 day sitting practice in the near future. The meaning of Shikan Taza finally became clearer in 2024 after 50 years of zazen sitting. 

3)    Tale of Genji trivia  3. 

Sho-shi was the eldest daughter of Michinaga, the most powerful leader in the nation at the time. She became empress when she was 12 years old. Emperor was a few years older than her. 

Sho-shi was just a girl when she became the most important lady. In reality, emperor and empress were too young to govern,  Michinaga governed the nation. Royal members needed education. Michinaga picked up private tutors especially for Sho-shi. Murasaki Shikibu was one of those selected tutors, who happened  to be the best novelist for centuries. 

Nobody knew who Sho-shi was. She was just a shy girl with little knowledge nor experiences.  Sho-shi was humble, tried to learn things through tutors and people around her. When she was in her thirtieth, she had reputation as a wise emperor. She was a person who was ever growing.  Tale of Genji was closely reflected upon a life of empress Sho-shi. 

Sho-shi’s sons, who were emperors died young. Her younger sisters (sons’ empresses) also died young. When Michinaga (her father) died, Sho-shi became the top of the Government. She was knowledgable enough to oversee national events in cooperation with her younger brothers. 

Empress Sho-shi put people in their rightful positions, so there were almost no conflicts nor complaints while Sho-shi was living.  Sho-shi died at the age of 87, being empress for 75 years. She was called the mother of nation. Most amazing thing for me is that there was no record that she became sick. Humans can die without illness. A discovery  in 2024. 

Regards.

Eishin Ikeda

Valley Zendo