In Memory of My Teacher, Gudo Wafu Nishijima Roshi ( & re-issue of his book )

[Risho]

This is awesome! Going to pick this up.

Gassho,

Risho
-sattoday

[Jundo]

Thank you, again, Alan for all your careful and diligent work, and for stepping in quickly as we worked to get it ready by the anniversary of his passing. It is worth quoting what I said in the Introduction about my stubborn failure to always follow your wise guidance ...

Finally, I would like to thank Alan Rossi and Kirk McElhearn for their work in helping to edit this text. All remaining errors are due to my sometime failure to follow their good advice. Readers may detect a certain formal, even antiquated manner of expression in my English translation of Nishijima’s words. This is the result of my attempt to track closely the writing style and manner of expression of his original Japanese book, and to capture somewhat the elegant way in which Nishijima spoke as a man of his generation and level of reserve and politeness in the Japanese language. I also thank the many other people who have contributed to this publication in countless ways, and to all of Nishijima Roshi’s Dharma Heirs around the world.

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

[Myosha]

Hello,

Ordered.

Thanks to all.


Gassho,
Myosha sat today

[Shugen]

How wonderful. Thank you to all involved.

Gassho,

Shugen

#sattoday


Shugen

[Shinzan]

Jundo, I hear the catch in your voice as you spoke here about Nishijima, even after this year's passing. The power of his words touched you, and thru you touches me. Thank you.

_/\_ Shinzan
sattoday

[Meikyo]

A deepfelt thank you to all involved!
Will read it diligently and with joy.

Deep bows to my Teacher, my Teachers Teacher and all the other ancestors.

Gassho
Meikyo
SAT TODAY!

[Jakugan]

What a wonderful way to honour your teacher. I have downloaded it on my kindle.

Gassho,

Simon.

Sat today.

[Matt]

Congrats Jundo, and to Alan and Kirk as well.

I bought a used copy of the original this past spring and have learned much from the teachings. What Jundo has posted above from the new introduction helps me to better understand Nishijima Roshi's teachings, particularly the importance of a Zen practice free from superstition and one which finds common ground with science.

I believe that any religion which seeks to reach people in our present day will have to engage with the reality of science and reason. I value being part of a lineage shaped by Nishijima Roshi in these ways, and am glad that more people will now be able to read these teachings.

Deep bows,
Matt
#SatToday

[Meredith]

What a beautiful way to honor your teacher. I look forward to reading it.

Gassho,
Meredith

SatToday

[Jundo]

Bro. Brad once uploaded a wonderful documentary about Nishijima Roshi. It was made several years ago (I believe in 2002-03). Brad and I have each tried to contact the filmmaker, a young fellow from Portugal who since has vanished from the earth and film world! However, it is available for immediate viewing on Amazon for $2 to rent. Please rent it. I post the below merely for those who may have trouble doing so (Nishijima Roshi gave Brad and me permission years ago).

http://www.amazon.com/Buddhist-Life-Luis-Carapeto/dp/B0058DCL3I/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1422497810&sr=1-1&keywords=%22buddhist+life%22

Hey, I have a cameo or two in the movie. I am the bearded fellow (considerably more hair and less grey) seen about 7:30 of 'Part II' carrying a blackboard saying "REALITY/REALISM" with my other Dharma Brother Peter Rocca. That was during a retreat at our root temple in Japan, the Tokei-in (more on the Tokei-in here ... lovely photos) ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/about-tokei-in/tokei-in-1.html

Brad wrote about it ...

The synopsis on that Dutch film festival's website says:

"I live my Buddhist life from day to day, from moment to moment sometimes in my office, sometimes in my home, sometimes in a temple. In every situation there was just my Buddhist life." Gudo Wafu Nishijima was born in Yokohama, Japan. With a new and fresh approach to the Buddhist view of reality and the sense of balance to the philosophical and scientific investigations from last decades, Master Nishijima gives us the coordinates to start to understand Buddhism with our own method of thinking. He wants to pass the teachings of Buddhism to people all over the world who are searching for "Truth". "We have to say that we live in a succession of moments rather like the frames of a film." In these frames, from the present moment, the documentary is about Master Nishijima´s daily life that is all ready a Buddhist life.

... Watching it again I'd forgotten how good it was. It gives you a very honest look at who Nishijima Roshi was when the film was made. It shows him leading one of his annual retreats in Shizuoka for foreigners. It shows him in Europe giving talks and running a sesshin. It shows him talking to students of his from Israel and Ireland. There's also a wonderful scene of him dragging his suitcase through Tokyo Station. He always insisted on carrying his own stuff when he went on retreats. If you wanted to help him out with his bags you'd have to kind of trick him by grabbing them before he noticed. But he was always very quick.

... The opening scenes were shot one morning at Nishijima's dojo in Chiba prefecture. ...

PART I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G0Pdq1ESf0

PART II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_W-dmbE3po

PART III

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy9ll4d_JLo

Gassho, J

[Kaishin]

Ordered!

[Rich]

Look forward to reading this. to meet the real dragon is one of my favorite Zen books


SAT today

[Troy]

This is wonderful Jundo. I am touch by your love for your teacher. I will take a look at the book soon


..sat2day•

[Dosho]

Deep bows to all sentient beings that made this book possible, most especially my teacher Jundo.

Gassho,
Dosho

[Joyo]

Three bows to Alan and Kirk for helping Jundo make this reprint possible.

Three bows to Nishijima Roshi for bringing the Dharma to all of us.

Three bows to Jundo for your efforts to get this back in print (it is in my Amazon cart now).

Three bows to all who have lost a dear friend or loved one. "I miss him" went right through me.

- Sekishi
#sattoday

I cannot say it any better than this. Your thoughts went right to my heart.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today