March 2016, Issue 63

Editorial

Studying texts and stiff meditation can make you lose your Original Mind.

A solitary tune by a fisherman, though, can be an invaluable treasure.

Dusk rain on the river, the moon peeking in and out of the clouds;

Elegant beyond words, he chants his songs night after night. IKKYU

Welcome to the Autumn issue of Myoju with the theme Zen and Nature. Centuries of Japanese culture have been fertile soil for this interaction in many cultural and religious

practices and art forms.

In this issue you will find a bountiful harvest of annuals and perennials: Jikishoan’s IBS practice has been putting down big, fat roots. Some things grow as planned, some

are delicate, easily threatened, some tough, even rampant, others bloom in unexpected places and unforeseen ways. There is a photo spread from Jikishoans 50th Retreat, two reports from Sanzen practice at monasteries in Japan and several personal reflections on practice as IBS students. Ekai Osho’s Dharma talk reminds us of the power of the kitchen as a place for practice of the Three Minds: joyful mind, parental mind and magnanimous mind.

This is Vincent Vuu’s last issue doing the production and layout. It has been a great pleasure to work with him on the past four issues. We look forward to the particular qualities the next person doing this role will bring.

Robin Laurie

On behalf of Ekai Korematsu Osho—Editor

and the Jikishoan Publications Committee

Read this Myoju (file on Google Drive)