Shared by Sondra
In the Fall of 2022, as a newcomer to Zen Buddhism and Zazen, I immediately felt at home during my first zazen-kai in the Rinzai Hakone Zendo.
Through reading the Hakone Zendo website, I discovered that Reverend Enyo Ito founded Rinzai Hakone Zendo in 1998 and offered students an opportunity to attend and practice authentic Rinzai Zen under his guidance.
Unfortunately, I did not have the honor of meeting Reverend Ito before his passing in 2020. Thankfully, volunteers Ann Rice and Kaz Kiara (Kosai) have continued to offer zazen-kai and make it a place to meditate together by following traditions Reverend Ito taught them.
Both students of Revered Ito, Ann was ordained as a Soto priest in June of 2016, and Kaz, who joined the Zendo in 2010 as a student, is an executive and triathlete.
I was immediately intrigued by several rituals performed during zazen-kai, and I wanted to know more about their purpose and origin.
I would like to share what I discovered through reading the Hakone Zendo website and other sites (of which I have included the links.) I have obviously only scratched the surface of the many rituals, but I hope those fellow newcomer students might find it a little interesting.
HISTORY OF RINZAI HAKONE ZENDO
Reverend Ito founded the Rinzai Hakone Zendo in 1998 and gave the students an opportunity to attend and practice authentic Rinzai Zen under his guidance.
In 2016, with increasing age, he reduced the frequency of his participation and teaching and passed away on 3/4/2020.
We no longer have a teacher; however, we continue offering zazenkai, a place to meditate together by following traditions Rev Ito taught us.
THE HAN
In Zen Buddhism, the Han is a wooden striking board hung outside the Zendo. Traditionally, when this is struck, the monks know that the time comes for them to get up or retire to bed.
In February 2019, one year before his passing, Reverend Ito visited Zazen-kai and explained the writing of the Han. His share was recorded and can be listened here
You can also hear a recording of Rev Ito hitting the Han here
In listening to Reverend Ito’s share, I interpreted his message to his students as that time never waits and that everything is impermanent.
Roughly translated, the inscription on the Han is:
“No one knows when death will occur; it may be much sooner than one expects. Therefore we should practice Buddhism without wasting even a moment of time in order that we may discover the true meaning of life.”
There are multiple interpretations of the translation, which can be read here
CHANTING
Before we meditate, we chant ENMEI JUKKU KANNON GYO, which is a devotional chant in Japanese Buddhism.
It is also known as The Ten-Verse Compassion Sutra for Protecting Life. It is an invocation to the Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy and the Lord of Compassion.
“Chanting is another form of mindfulness practice. Unlike other religious traditions, chanting is not prayer in that it is not seeking intervention from a higher power or being. Sutras are sources for teaching but chanting is not the same as studying the sutras. When chanting, our focus should be on wholeheartedly putting our effort into chanting. We are not concerned with the meaning of the words but being fully present in the experience of chanting, letting go of the self and experiencing the intimacy and connectedness of the group.”
https://www.californiastreetzendo.org/practice/meaning-and-symbolism-of-things-in-the-zendo
KEISAKU
Toward the mid-point of the sitting, students are given a welcoming of heart-to-heart with the gentle use of the keisaku (a board used to lightly tap the student’s shoulders). This also communicates the message to “Wake up to this moment”.
It is used to remedy sleepiness or lapses of concentration. Read more here.
MEDITATING WITH EYES HALF OPEN
“Eyes are generally half closed with the focus being on the floor a few feet away.”
I found this to be somewhat challenging, and I found this tip to be very helpful:
“Instead of looking through a narrow tunnel of vision or in a pinpointed way at one object, see the forest as well as one tree. Put your pointer fingers together up above your head in front of you and then part them to either side, drawing a big circle in front of your body. Let your gaze open to include the entire circular area all at once so that you are seeing in a more open way.”
DANA
Dana is a Pali or Sanskrit word signifying generosity or giving, the voluntary giving of material, energy, or wisdom to others. It is regarded as one of the most important Buddhist virtues.
There is no set fee. Our zazen-kai is supported by dana (donations) from our students. Dana covers our expenses such as (the fee for the space, zazen equipment, etc.). A basket for dana (donation) is placed outside of the Zendo.
FRAMED CALLIGRAPHY ON THE ALTAR
After my sharing today, I realized that I never asked about the framed calligraphy on the wall of the altar in the Zendo. Kaz told us that this is calligraphy done by Reverend Ito. A student had shared the meaning of this phrase in June of 2022.
The share can be found here
The summary of a book I just ordered and am looking forward to reading, “Bringing the Sacred to Life” The Daily Practice of Zen Ritual by John Daido Loori, eloquently describes Zen rituals as:
“Zen rituals—such as chanting, bowing, lighting incense before the Buddha statue—are ways of recognizing the sacredness in all of life. A ritual is simply a deliberate and focused moment that symbolizes the care with which we should be approaching all of life, and practicing the Zen liturgy is a way of cultivating this quality of attention in order to bring it to everything we do. “
Hakone Zendo 