Dear Zen Friend

1)     September Sesshin:     09/12,   09/13.   09/14.

        October Sesshin:        10/10,   10/11,   10/12. 

2)      Chanting and Dharma Discussion:   09/20 (Saturday)  1 pm.  

         Chanting and Dharma Discussion:   10/18 (Saturday)   1 pm

3)    When I arrived at Valley Zendo in 1975, mission was to practice and teach zazen.  Other things like organizations, ceremonies, or chanting were not known among us. Also we, and I did not know what America was, where USA would go.  USA was a winner on WWII.  People normally think winner is better,  more advanced and just. A loser thinks something was wrong with its civilization and something was wrong with nation. 

At that time,  there was hippie movement and luckily we met some hippies at a house near zendo. In fact Uchiyama Roshi had strong sympathy with Hippies and even said that Shakyamuni was the first Hippie. Shakyamuni left home to look for the dharma (truthfulness.)  Likewise,  hippies left home to look for something unprecedented. Hippie movement looked new, unique, and spiritually valuable. There was a tofu factory in a city nearby. It meant that young Americans would walk toward Hippie culture, new age. 

There was not a single chair at my home while I was child. Ironically,  the situation was worked very well when I started zazen. Full lotus position was not easy, but sitting was familiar from the beginning. I drank green tea every day at home, it was most common and cheapest drink.  American scientists recommend green tea as best for health. Had my poor parents provided me with the best diet? In case of sitting practice, had I been living in the most advanced culture? 

On August 16th (Saturday) we had Rev. Seiso Paul Cooper and Kagayaki Karen Morris Sensei from Barre, VT.  It was the first time for me to meet them. I asked Seiso san for dharma talk after sutra chanting. It was a wonderful presentation, important activity for a rural temple.  Thank you. 

In the evening we had time to discuss many matters. Rev. Seiso practiced both Rinzai and Soto zen. I doubted about his career because changing teacher is not easy. Practice in a different lineage often brings confusion in identity. I did not change teacher at all, so I was curious to know how  things were dealt. 

Seiso san and Kagayaki san were psychoanalysts, lived in New York area in their young age. And It was a deep surprise to hear about “Waka.”  Both knew each other through Waka!  

Waka is one of the most rhythmical forms of Japanese poem. English is phonogram, Japanese is pictogram. English itself is rhythmical. Japanese was originally not rhythmical. Waka developed as collective literacy advanced. 

I did not expect to hear about Waka from Americans. Amazingly Seiso san and Kagayaki san have kept dear interest in Waka for decades and still been studying it. Study of poem for decades must have made some contribution to English literature. I never imagined Waka would be openly talked about  outside Japanese language.  It was my pleasure to listen to their endless conversations on poem. 

Rev. Seiso played Shakuhachi in the morning of 17th.  It is a traditional and delicate musical instrument. For playing, breath and condition of bamboo must be taken care of. We shared value that studying art is most important practice for humans. 

While I have been looking for direction of US,  Rev. Seiso and Kagayaki Sensei have involved with Japanese culture for half a century.  Ah,  their car is Mazda.  A successful life style as American involved with Japanese culture has already been realized.   

Regards.

Eishin Ikeda

Valley Zendo