March 2019, Issue 75

To what shall I liken the world? Moonlight, reflected in dewdrops Shaken from a crane’s bill. - Zen Master Dogen

Welcome to the first edition of Myoju for 2019, an auspicious year for the Jikishoan community as it enters its 20th year, which as Ekai Osho has noted, represents a new phase of maturity, like that of a young adult moving from dependence to independence. In May Ekai Osho will be installed as Abbot of Tokozan, the first Soto Zen temple in Australia and as such, the first roots of the Soto lineage will take to the earth of our ancient land.

The theme for the four issues of the year will be based on that most fundamental of Buddha’s teaching, impermanence. The theme for this issue, `Impermanence as Possibility’, speaks to the potential of the Jikishoan community to continue to evolve and transform as we seek to embed those roots within the ground of the wider community.

In this issue we also have a focus on Zen Master Dogen’s teaching Tenzo Kyokun (Instructions to the Cook). Nothing says impermanence in the vegetable kingdom quite like a mushroom and James Watt, the Tenzo for the Jikishoan community, reveals its wonders in his student talk. In Sangha News, Teishin Shona Innes reflects on the relationship between impermanence and the practice of sangha dana, and long-term member of the community, Ann Alexander, reflects on moving back to her home city of Hobart.

In this issue we welcome back previous Myoju coordinator Robin Laurie, this time to the role of production with training and support from Sangetsu Dan Carter. We wish Robin all the best in her new role, and to the Jikishoan community, a joyful year of practice in our 20th anniversary year.

Jessica Cummins

On behalf of Ekai Korematsu Osho—Editor

Read this Myoju (file on Google Drive)