Why Found a Zen Center?

Why Found a Zen Center?

By Rev. Jihyang Padma

Each thing has it, each thing is already complete. As Dogen said, no creature ever falls short of its own completeness. Whether its shadow is large or small, it never fails to cover the ground. So, perhaps building a temple is a big mistake.

But, even the Tathagata made this big mistake.

In. the Book of Serenity, a koan states, the Tathagata was walking with his disciples and the god Indra when he paused. He pointed to the ground and said, “this is a suitable site to build a temple.” The god Indra then plucked a blade of grass, placed it in the ground, and declared “The temple is built!” And the Buddha smiled.

Within each blade of grass, is the temple.

No temple. Countless temples. Which one is true?

Katz!

At 466 E Street, the candles are lit, the Buddha gleams, your bright faces are reflected in the Zoom window.

So, in this story of the Buddha, the temple happens, like enlightenment, suddenly arising, But there is so much step-by-step work. A long journey. Many leaps of faith. Many crises of faith. I have witnessed Shinzan's great perseverance through many locations, and then through the pandemic. What has made this possible is that all along Shinzan kept the temple in his heart. Bodhisattva Direction and Clear Mind. Through Zazen, as Hakuin has said, the gate is opened and the path is cleared.

It reminds me of the poem by Juan Ramon Jimenez

I have a feeling that my boat

has struck, down there in the depths,

against a great thing.

And nothing

happens! Nothing...Silence...Waves...

--Nothing happens? Or has everything happened,

and are we standing now, quietly, in the new life?

Nothing happens…AND everything has happened.

Thank you to Shinzan and our sangha for your Bodhisattva direction and step-by-step practice, which then opens the gate for all beings.

Congratulations to our Sangha!