This podcast is offered by the San Francisco Zen Center on the web at www.sfzc.org. Our public programs are made possible by donations from people like you. My name is Greg Fang and I'm the tanto or head of practice here at Tassajara. I'm very happy to be here tonight. This is my last talk of guest season 2013. So, kind of poignant and kind of meaningful to me. I want to begin by thanking and acknowledging my teacher, Sojin Mel Weitzman Roshi, the old Buddha of the East Bay, abbot of Berkeley Zen Center. And to say that My talk is just to encourage you in your practice.

[01:02]

That's my only intent. So is it over? You know? We had our last series of half-day sittings just ended. It was so lovely. I think that's one of the best things about being tanto, is leading those half-day sittings. And we had the last community meeting of the summer, the day before yesterday. Here the director is making announcements about MCs for skit night. Oh my gosh.

[02:08]

Tassahara seasons. Coming and going. Transitioning from guest season into work period. Work period into practice period. Leslie James always says that she really likes the liminal spaces, the in-between spaces as we're transitioning. Anyway, she used to say that. Frankly, I haven't heard her say it lately, but she used to say it a lot. I do, too. I like the changes. change of seasons at Tassajara. I like the beginning of guest season as much as I like the end of guest season. I don't like one more than the other.

[03:09]

So, is it over? No. No, it's not over. because there is only unsurpassable practice, continuous and sustained. That's from this new book from Kaz Tana Ashi. I've been enjoying very much. The Essential Dogen, Writings of the Great Zen Master. This is kind of an interesting book, sort of a Dogen mashup, or Dogen's Greatest Hits. I've been enjoying it as kind of a devotional.

[04:10]

There's very significant quotes taken from all over Dogen's writings, which, of course, he wrote very extensively in his brief life. I've already outlived A. A. Dogan, oh dear. And in this book, they're divided up into sections and subheadings. And there's a subheading in here called Circle of the Way. And that's what I want to talk about tonight, the circle of the way. in the circle of the way at Tassahara and Tassahara seasons. My practice is powered by enthusiasm. Enthusiasm and appreciation.

[05:16]

Enthusiasm, appreciation and trust. or what's powering my practice? What is the source of enthusiasm and appreciation? The word enthusiasm comes from entheos, meaning filled with spirit, theos being the same root of theology or God, theos, God. So filled with the spirit of God, I suppose, etymology of the word enthusiasm. As we know, there is no God and he is always with you. So, what is the source of enthusiasm and appreciation for me? It's The Circle of the Way. The Circle of the Way, Dokkan. Here's another book I brought for show and tell.

[06:21]

So, this is a book. It's in our library. by Taisen Deshimaru Roshi. The title of the book is The Ring of the Way, but the cover, you see, it has these two characters, Do, which is the way, or Dao, Kan, Circle of the Way, Do Kan. Do Kan is a very important teaching in Soto Zen. There's this temptation to say important concept But it's not a concept. The circle of the way is not a concept. It's the life vein of all Buddhism ancestors. So, yeah. For tonight, I'm going to say the source of my enthusiasm and appreciation is the circle of the way.

[07:23]

So the first little quote in this heading, in Kaza's book, is from the very beginning of Shobhagenzo fascicle essay by Ehe Dogen called Gyoji, which means continuous practice. And this is the longest essay in his Treasury of the True Dharma Eye. In fact, it's so long, it's divided into two parts. It would be a very good thing to study for a practice period. There's a lot to it. And in fact, we did study it in a practice period at City Center with Paul Haller. So this is the beginning of Shobha Genzo Gyoji, the first paragraph in a bit. And with your permission, I'm going to read it to you. Or even without your permission, I'm going to read it to you. On the great road of Buddha ancestors,

[08:26]

There is always unsurpassable practice, continuous and sustained. It forms the circle of the way and is never cut off. Between aspiration, practice, enlightenment and nirvana, there is not a moment's gap. Continuous practice is the circle of the way. This being so, continuous practice is undivided, not forced by you or others. The power of this continuous practice confirms you as well as others. It means your practice affects the entire earth and the entire sky in the ten directions. Although not noticed by others or by yourself, it is so. Accordingly, by the continuous practice of all Buddhas and ancestors, your practice is actualized and your great road opens up. By your continuous practice, The continuous practice of all Buddhas is actualized and the great road of all Buddhas opens up.

[09:31]

Your continuous practice creates the circle of the way. The circle of the way means practice goes on forever. There's no beginning or end. Sometimes my teacher, Sojan Roshi, says practice begins with enlightenment. But really, there's no beginning or end. You just might be aware of enlightenment as you enter into the circle of the way. But it's always there. It goes on continuously, and it's never cut off. Tassahara... won't be here forever. There won't always be a Tassajara. I want to say there will be.

[10:36]

That's how it feels to me. People just come and go continuously. Some stay longer, some stay shorter. But there's this continuous flow of people through this valley. And we create practice together. And it kind of looks like this will just go on forever. But it won't. You know, Tassara won't go on forever. It won't be here forever. But I guess I want to say, poetically, the circle of the way goes on forever. continuous practice is undivided, not forced by you or others.

[11:39]

Really? Not forced? Really not forced? Hmm. I have to think about that one. I wonder what it means. By the way, this was translated by... Kastanahashi with Mel Weitzman. They worked on this together, this translation. I think they did a good job. Translation is a tricky business, though. Forced is a loaded word. What do you suppose he meant by that? Not forced by you or others. Frankly, sometimes it feels forced to me. Sometimes it feels like, I got to do this thing. I got to do this thing that I don't really feel like doing right now, but I have this commitment, so I'm going to do it. I'm just going to do it.

[12:43]

I make myself do it. It feels like I'm making myself do it. Right? I think so. It feels forced by me, or forced by others. Like, you know, what will people think of the tantrum? Gee. Yeah. Or maybe you're a student at Tassajara and you think, what will the tanto think of me? Or, you know, people are going to withhold their approval if I don't practice right, follow the rules, follow the schedule. It feels forced, maybe. Yeah. What's up with that? Not forced. not forced by you or others. How can it be not forced? Just a little bit. I did mention this is in the library, right? The Ring of the Way is the title of this book.

[13:46]

Circle of the Way, Ring of the Way. Kaz said Ring of the Way is a good translation too. Okay, so Deshimaru Roshi says here, died in 1982. a great 20th century Zen master, and Dharma heir of Kodo Sawaki, Homeless Kodo, who taught in Japan, is also a famous Zen master. So here's Deshimaru Roshi on Gyoji. Practice every day. Wanting to be different is not the best attitude. Follow the skin, flesh, bones, and marrow of the ancestors. That is the essence of Zen. Gyoji has nothing to do with personal effort. There is no end to Gyoji.

[14:46]

Repetition for no special purpose and without end is the way to follow the cosmic order. Like the sun that gives light to the planet every day without asking anyone to pay. Gyoji means practicing dokam, the ring of the way, over and over, repeating the way day after day. The point is not to look for something, but to practice. That's all. Just practice. Just to come forward, to show up over and over again, to show up over and over again, like The sun just pours its rays on the world without asking anyone for pay. That's the spirit. But yeah, you know, if you ask me, I have to say, sometimes it feels forced and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it's just, okay, let's do this.

[15:53]

It doesn't feel forced at all. It feels just, this is what's happening. And I get to be a part of it. Oh yeah. So there's that side too. My teacher Sojan Roshi says, sometimes you turn the wheel of the Dharma and sometimes the wheel of the Dharma turns you. Sometimes you turn the wheel, sometimes the wheel turns you. You turn the wheel. Enthusiasm. The wheel turns you. Appreciation and trust. Allowing. Allowing the wheel to turn you. And that's what time it is. And this is Azen too, right? This is how we practice upright sitting. There's effort and there's allowing.

[16:55]

You turn the wheel and the wheel turns you. And don't think you'll always know what enthusiasm looks like. We don't always know what enthusiasm looks like. Life can be hard sometimes. Practice can be hard sometimes. Enthusiasm is not always Yay, this is fun. Yeah, come on, let's do this. Come on, come on, let's go. Yeah, all right. Yeah, we're up to this. That's what people think of when they think about enthusiasm. And I think I have some kind of rep for being Mr. Jolly Zen teacher. Which I probably came by honestly. But, you know, it's not always like that.

[17:58]

Sometimes it's like... all right, just, let's do this. Just showing up because that's what's happening. Just showing up because that's what's happening. Because it's the right thing to do. Yeah. When I was... punk rocker. There was a band in the, I don't know, late 70s, early 80s. First generation punk rock. East Bay Band. I can't remember the name of the band. There were so many. But they had this song that went, I love life the harder it gets. I love life the harder it gets. I think that was the whole song.

[19:03]

I think that was actually the whole song. Yeah. I love practice, the harder it gets. I love Zen, the harder it gets. Yeah, you know, it's not all tea and cookies and leading Zen and yoga retreats, Pintasaratanta, let me tell you. Just for the record, okay? just for the record. That's okay. That's okay. This is what's happening. You might feel like something is hindering your practice or someone is hindering your practice or there's some obstacle that is a big problem and you have to get rid of it and whatever the story is. Tazahara won't be here forever.

[20:09]

Going through the Tazahara seasons year after year is not a given. There was one point when it was really not a given in 1983 when it seemed like Zen Center might not go on at all. There was a big sort of disaster in the leadership and crisis in confidence and there was a whole lot of betrayal and doubt. Really, it was very much in question whether Zen Center would go on or not. I talked about that at one point with someone who was there at the time, here at the time, and I said, you know, well, what happened?

[21:13]

And they said, well, the next morning somebody got up on the Ingawa and started hitting the Han. That's all, because that's what happens. practice goes on. The power of this continuous practice confirms you as well as others. Confirms you as well as others. Here's Deshimaru Roshi again. Whoops. Here we go. No we don't. Here we go. When you live with other people, the group becomes a mirror We need to learn about the gyōji of the ancestors of old and imitate their spirit. Life then was not the same as it is now, and every person is different too, but the spirit is always the same.

[22:17]

We must understand and repeat over and over. When you live with other people, the group becomes a mirror. Oh, yeah. You know, I like to say, this is just a... Service we provide for each other. Living in community. We offer each other difficulty. We offer each other difficulty. Can I offer you this difficult practice? Can you receive it as an offering? Oh, no, no. No thanks, I'm full. mirroring each other. Yeah. Blanche Hartman, Roshi, loves to tell the story about in the 60s when she started coming to Berkeley Zen Center that Mel had just started in the old Dwight Way Zendo.

[23:26]

And Blanche was sitting with Mel in the Dwight Way Zendo, and it was her introduction to Zen practice. And after a little while of practicing with Mel, she says, I keep hearing about Tassahara. Tassahara this, Tassahara that. This is Blanche, she's doing this thing with her hand on her head. What's the big deal with Tassahara? What's so special about that place? And Mel says, well, I guess at Tassahara, everyone else can see your stuff. so you might as well see it too. But the beauty of it, the way the circle of the way plays into it is that in community we keep coming back. We keep circling back. We keep checking in.

[24:26]

At the very least, if things are at their worst, people are still going to bow to each other as they pass on the path. And that's already an opening. That's already an opening. But then more and more, it happens. I don't know what to say about it, except it happens. I call it tasahara magic. And sometimes it takes a long time. Sometimes that circle can take a pretty wide orbit. I want to share a little something I received in the mail. I got permission to read some of this to you from the person who wrote it. Unattributed. When I read it to you, you'll see it's not going to be easy for you to attribute it.

[25:27]

Maybe I should just read it. Hi, Greg. How are things at Tazahara? It is funny how the lessons you really need to learn follow you around until you actually decide to learn them. Sometimes you don't have a choice. As you know, I was a complete wreck when I left the monastery. I definitely made some waves and I was full of anger and negative energy. See, that could be a lot of people. Yeah. Then it goes on. Says some nice things. Some nice things. I let the director read this letter. And she said... you should hang on to that. When you're having a really crummy day, you can pull it out and cheer yourself up.

[26:30]

I said, yeah, that's what I'll do. That's what I'm going to do. I've learned many important lessons about living and loving, how to be seen in a healthy way, and how to work through unmet expectations and disappointment. Essentially, everything that I needed to learn at Tassajara. So you never can tell, you know? You never can tell. Sometimes that circling back takes a wide orbit. Accordingly, by the continuous practice of all Buddhas and ancestors, your practice is actualized and your great road opens up. By your continuous practice, the continuous practice of all Buddhas is actualized and the great road of all Buddhas opens up. The circle of the way takes many forms. The circular form is present in our practice in many ways, in our sodas and tradition in many ways.

[27:38]

One way is the light vein of all Buddhas and ancestors, the Ketchumyaku, the document which you receive on ordination, lay ordination or priest ordination, you receive this document called the Ketchum Yaku, where the red vein runs through all the names of the Buddhas and ancestors and your name. But it's actually a circle because it goes back, it circles back to Shakyamuni Buddha. And the red line is continuous, like a blood vein that circulates the blood. It's continuous. Your practice is continuous and contiguous with the practice of all Buddhas and ancestors. It's alive. This is a living practice. And there's other documents that are more obviously circular. If you look in the library, you can find books that show plates, pictures of various Zen teachings and documents.

[28:45]

Some like a circle, like a flower. petals of the flower or like a child's drawing of the sun with sunbeams. And each beam of the sun is the name of a Buddha ancestor, the name of a teacher. The Enso, the circle, the calligraphy brush. We add our all Zen center meeting with the practice leaders, the senior staff, the directors and officers, tantos, abbots, about 50 people. It happens every January at Fort Mason. I think it's happened four years now? Five years? Four years? No? Only three? Only three. In a large room at Fort Mason where

[29:48]

There's enough room for, okay, help me out here, 50 of us? 60, 50? 50-ish, yeah? To sit in a circle, in a perfect circle. And we were doing that and offering words and sharing, council style. And I said something about this ENSO of eating arts. A living practice. And then we have our community meeting the night before last. It was kind of a lopsided Enzo, but you know, sometimes they get painted lopsided. Sometimes they look like that. Yeah, it was kind of squished. But it was alive, you know. It was living practice. And then every day we have work circle. So you know, you practice this way.

[30:49]

If you're going to find out, The circle of the way does include all Buddhas and ancestors and your practice actualizes them and their practice actualizes you. But it's not only all Buddhas and ancestors, it's all humanity and it's not only all humanity, it's all life. All beings are included in the circle of the way. It's a funny feeling You know, because I actually, I don't know, I couldn't say if I've ever met anyone who loves everybody unconditionally. I'm not sure I've ever met anyone who loves everybody and everything unconditionally, whose love is extended like the rays of the sun to all beings.

[31:51]

But I think that's possible I do believe that's possible and I know that feeling when I'm excluding somebody when I'm thinking maybe not actually verbalizing it but it's just it's there you know it's like I can accept this one this one this one stop Put on the brakes. Wait a minute. Not that one. Not that one. And then they start to scooch into your heart. How did that happen? Wait a minute. That's a funny feeling. Sometimes painful. Sometimes painful. Somebody's scooching into my heart. I'm like, what are you even doing there? I thought I was rejecting you. There they are.

[32:53]

You know? Huh. That's interesting. That's interesting. Yeah. I think you all know that feeling, too. There they are. Just sort of like, no, no, no, no, no. That won't be game said. There. There they are in your heart. Huh. How did that happen? Well, it's kind of a mystery. It means that your practice affects the entire earth and the entire sky in the ten directions. Although not noticed by others or by yourself, it is so. Yeah. Your continuous practice creates the circle of the way. Our continuous practice creates the circle of the way. All of us together. These are my words of appreciation for practice at Tazahara.

[33:56]

The circle of the way at Tazahara is like a tiny dynamo in your heart, in everyone's heart. And it's not only here, it's wherever you go. It's wherever anyone is affected by practice. Although not noticed by others or by yourself, it is so. says A. A. Dogen. And that's the appreciation and the trust, actually. So that's about all I wanted to say about that. And I'm basically out of time, again. But maybe one or two questions. If anyone has a question, I'm happy to answer it. Can I show you the dessert menu?

[35:05]

No thanks, I'm full. Good deal. Thank you for listening to this podcast offered by the San Francisco Zen Center. Our Dharma Talks are offered free of charge and this is made possible by the donations we receive. Your financial support helps us to continue to offer the Dharma. For more information, visit sfcc.org and click Giving.

[35:32]

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