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[Mujyo]

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[Mujyo]

A Further thought for reflection for the New Year.

Jizo-an has never been in such good shape perhaps as we enter Shugyo
again for 2008. There is every reasonable expectation of the Zendo
continuing, in fact that seems at least financially assured. There are
a number of people who have been practicing both at Jizo-an and the
Hyogo cultural centre Zazenkai for at least 3 - 5 years now. The
gardens are taking shape. The North garden and adjoining Dry-Wet-Stone
(Sansui) garden are mature and established enough just in time to
survive expected hot summers for the next couple of years. They have
taken some years in themselves to construct.

They were begun by removing, removing is understated perhaps battling
with axe and shovel on a rainy series of days the old garden (lawn and
some deeply entrenched Geralton Wax bushes, who fought back like
Japanese marines on Guam!) a process of stripping everything out over
two weeks and leveling the then descending land. Much of the dirt dug
out became the mound that ends the Sansui garden and begins the small
tea style garden. At that time I leant that U.S Foot Marines have
considerable experience in this because Seabees (Marine Engineers)
just direct and wait by their heavy equipment while Foot marines do
the real digging by hand. So the big Marine in the dojo was fully
experienced!

The Toko renovations are nearly complete, the room is fully functional
now the only remainder a planned replacement of the existing large
wind with a full sliding glass door set. However that is probably a
2009-10 project.

Tatami will I hope go back into the Zendo, 12 will be acquired in the
following months. And this will complete the Zendo until construction
of a second building can take place. When that happens the wall
dividing the Zendo from the dinning will be removed. Again a post
2009-10 project.

When these renovations and constructions take place it will then be
feasible to conduct sesshin and allow people to stay at Jizoan at
anytime to take part in full time schedule as lay people and perhaps
even train Unsui as well.
There are about 45 members perhaps another dozen or so people over
that who are not formal members in anyway or who were but just keep
contact. Though attendances to the two Zazenkai go up and down, and
the Shakyo has been even poorer still. I haven't taken a Kobudo
student for about 2 years either.

This year when I return to Japan I will make further future
arrangements for training since training at Tofukuji is suspended at
this time.

So all in all the Temple is in good shape in terms of a foundation,
I've no doubt that in years to come when the property is handed over
from private ownership the tradition is off to a good beginning in
this regard.

However even though the organization is firmly set on it's way
materially it's still nothing, all the efforts of individuals in
making the temple available to you are nothing if you take for granted
that someone else has ownership, that all you need to do is practice
for yourself on your Zafuton. If that's the case then when the temple
does hand over it will decay and worse still be a place for no one.
You must drive yourselves in your practice rest not a moment on what
you think is at ease. No one else will do the practice for you, though
you may believe in the doctrine of Eko that the efforts of others will
save you, in fact if you make no effort yourself will be like sitting
in the end of a row boat while others pull at the oars and water rises
at your ankles.

Mujyo 無常