Last Monday I returned from Genzo-e at Sanshinji, Shohaku Okumura Roshi’s temple in Bloomington, Indiana. Genzo-e lasted about six days. While Okumura Roshi taught for about three hours each day, the day included roughly seven hours of zazen as well. I was impressed by the international group attending Genzo-e. Students hailed from Japan, Germany, Holland, and even Richmond, Virginia. The topic for his teaching was the 37th Fascicle of Shobogenzo “Shunju” (Spring and Autumn). In the days to come I would like to give my recap, my thoughts, regarding what Okumura covered.
As a disclaimer – any insight into understanding Shobogenzo are Okumura’s. Errors, omissions and misunderstandings are entirely mine!
Context:
Dogen moved his monastery from Kyoto to rural Fukui province (near the Sea of Japan) abruptly in 1243. While conflict with the more established Tendai sect may have been at issue, Okumura Roshi speculated an additional, or perhaps alternate, reason: Dogen may not have received the reception in Kyoto that he sought. Disappointed, he moved his monastery to continue a more dedicated practice less encumbered by the politics of the big city. Okumura also offered the thought that had he wanted to remain in Kyoto Dogen possessed the political, economic, and familial connections that could have marshalled support against his competitors. Okumura Roshi – offered this as a possibility for consideration and not as an assertion of established fact.
The early days of what would become Eiheiji were difficult. Winds blowing off of the Sea of Japan brought tremendous snow and cold to the monastic company living in a broken-down temple with a kitchen located at an inconvenient distance.
Certainly, many of Dogen’s monks would have asked (or at very least thought)…
“When cold (especially cold!) or heat arrive, how should we avoid it?”
In the days to come I would like to continue with:
1) The Koan on cold and heat
2) Two middle ways
3) Dogen and the five ranks
4) Relative and the Absolute
Your thoughts, corrections, comments appreciated
gassho,
sjl
sat.lah
As a disclaimer – any insight into understanding Shobogenzo are Okumura’s. Errors, omissions and misunderstandings are entirely mine!
Context:
Dogen moved his monastery from Kyoto to rural Fukui province (near the Sea of Japan) abruptly in 1243. While conflict with the more established Tendai sect may have been at issue, Okumura Roshi speculated an additional, or perhaps alternate, reason: Dogen may not have received the reception in Kyoto that he sought. Disappointed, he moved his monastery to continue a more dedicated practice less encumbered by the politics of the big city. Okumura also offered the thought that had he wanted to remain in Kyoto Dogen possessed the political, economic, and familial connections that could have marshalled support against his competitors. Okumura Roshi – offered this as a possibility for consideration and not as an assertion of established fact.
The early days of what would become Eiheiji were difficult. Winds blowing off of the Sea of Japan brought tremendous snow and cold to the monastic company living in a broken-down temple with a kitchen located at an inconvenient distance.
Certainly, many of Dogen’s monks would have asked (or at very least thought)…
“When cold (especially cold!) or heat arrive, how should we avoid it?”
In the days to come I would like to continue with:
1) The Koan on cold and heat
2) Two middle ways
3) Dogen and the five ranks
4) Relative and the Absolute
Your thoughts, corrections, comments appreciated
gassho,
sjl
sat.lah
Don't touch the thermostat! 
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