Transmission of the Light August 2024 sesshin

photo by Michael Herzog

  Pictured here are most of the group who attended the third week of our summer residency program, which culminated in a seven-day sesshin which our tanto, Dharma Holder Rev. Paul Galvin, named "The Transmission of the Light."  

This is a particularly resonant name for Paul and for me, because on the last night, in a private (secret) ceremony witnessed by David Rynick, Rōshi, Dharma Holder Alan Richardson and Dharma Holder Michael Herzog, I gave Denkai transmission to Rev. Paul.  He is thus a transmitted teacher, and may take on shoken students and transmit the precepts.  Until he receives Denbo transmission and becomes a Sensei, he can't yet transmit the Dharma to anyone else.

The ceremony was guarded from demons wanting to interfere (a fairly ancient tradition) by Rev. Ray Demers, Senior Assistant Teacher Rev. Corwyn Miyagishima, and Senior Assistant Teacher Jenny Smith.  Since the transmission appears to have been successful, their wielding of two wooden swords (kyosakus) and my shakujo (large staff) appears to have been quite effective.  Rev. Paul is pictured above wearing his new gold/ochre rakusu which indicates his new role as Dharma Holder.  

Congratulations to Dharma Holder Rev. Paul!

Just This Is It

 

I recently finished reading (after many years of perusing) the wonderful book by Taigen Dan Leighton pictured here.  Leighton published this in 2015, so I'm only 9 years late to the party.  I was happy to meet the author at a Dharma Teachers conference a number of years ago, and I found him to be warm and friendly, and with a deep Zen practice.  The book, which is about our Zen ancestor Dongshan, is a great way to understand the life and  teachings of this important lineage ancestor.

Leighton explains that Dongshan was always pointing to the suchness of things -- "just this is it."  I highly recommend the book as a way of understanding many of Dongshan's most important writings:  The Five Ranks (or Modes or Degrees), many koans which feature Dongshan, and The Jewel Mirror Samadhi, his beautiful poem about the Great Way.  

One small caveat, which has tripped up not a few people -- Leighton tells us that Dongshan's teacher Yunyan was the biological brother of Daowu, but most scholars understand them to be Dharma brothers -- students of the same teacher.  Beyond that small glitch, Leighton's insight and his own practice are trustworthy guides to these teachings.  Enjoy the book as a companion and inspiration to your own discovery of "just this is it!"