Editorial
Welcome to the Autumn 2021 edition of Myoju magazine. Jikishoan’s overall practice theme for this year is Listening, and the focus for the Autumn period is Attention.
After one year of online practice, Jikishoan is now able to offer the community both virtual and face-to-face practice activities. With the easing of social distancing requirements, limited numbers of students can now attend Tokozan Temple for classes and zazen. Weekly Sanzen-kai in Brunswick and Braybrook has now resumed, and Retreat #66, a seven-week online practise period, has begun.
There have been many celebrations in the early months of this year. New Year’s Eve was marked at Tokozan Temple with Osoji (thorough cleaning of the Temple) and Kokon-zazen followed by 108 strikes of the Temple bell to welcome in the year. On 14 February the 1000th Sunday Sanzen-kai was celebrated with over 60 students, members and friends—including many founding students—coming together online for the milestone event.
This issue features a special Dharma talk given by Hoitsu Suzuki Roshi, Abbot of Rinso-in Temple, Japan. ‘Sandokai’ was delivered via Zoom in November last year to the Sangha of Green Gulch Farm and of San Francisco Zen Centre. We wish to thank Hoitsu Roshi for allowing us to include his talk in this edition.
Also, thanks to Rev. Kushiki Hozan Alan Senauke, new Abbot of Berkeley Zen Centre, California, for permission to include a photograph of Hakuryu Sojun Weitsman Roshi.
Deep gassho to Ekai Osho and to everyone who has contributed to this edition.
I hope you enjoy reading Myoju.
Gassho,
Margaret Kokyu Lynch — Coordinator
On behalf of Ekai Korematsu Osho — Editor
