September 2017, Issue 69

Editorial

In this issue of Myoju Ekai Osho talks of the power of legendary story as something essential and wonderful about being human. There are examples of timeless yet particular stories in this issue: from fire lighting practices in Toshoji and the fascination of beginner’s mind to the shifts and changes of aging and the transformations of pilgrimage.

Ekai Osho suggests our task is one of receptiveness, of opening our eyes to have a vision, of opening our ears to open the heart. His home temple vision has made many things possible. They include the purchase of the Densho bell: improbably spotted in a warehouse in Ocean Grove and installed by two Sanghas in memory of a spiritual and personal friendship. A couple of weeks later Seido Suzuki Roshi flew from Toshoji in Japan to Melbourne, carrying a beautiful statue for the new temple and honouring the teacher and founder of Jikishoan Ikko Narasaki Roshi.

Later on Sunday evening, when Seido Roshi spoke at sanzenkai, it began to hail. It spattered startlingly loud on the tin roof. Seido Roshi stopped talking and we listened to the shifting patterns and intensities of the hail until it passed. Then he said, “Ah, better than my talk!” We laughed but like all good stories the comment contained wonder and a shift in how we could see ourselves in relation to a short burst of weather. We opened our ears and our hearts were opened to the universe.

It has been a pleasure to return as interim coordinator for this issue and to work with Dan Carter on Production. Thanks to Nicky Coles for encouraging the move to using sustainable paper. We welcome Jessica Cummins who has been training as the new coordinator and will commence in that role with the Summer issue.

Robin Laurie On behalf of Ekai Korematsu Osho—Editor

Read this Myoju (file on Google Drive)