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All the Wind Bells  ---  Wind Bell Excerpts

Jean Ross

Jean Ross cuke page

WB 62-04 March

 

Machine generated alternative text: •Sayoaa.r• us Jean Ross be held at ønd KVongas h•iday, March 16th at P.M. On her trip to Japan, sb represent our Zen in a to the Teaple, S. Ided DO?en Zerd±, and rounded by Keizan Zeréi. Eer tentative plan to study the Japanese language and eultur•e• before visitine a mnastery for a period of

 

 

WB 62-06 May

 

Machine generated alternative text: Roes put IPS I've up 3 •etu•11y • halls "Ith bells until 3:30, but to or Vash room etc. We ædåt.ate odd instrumnt.al effects you t.he —cord •re und the Follovi.ne thie there two hour' or ehanUr*, and steps from building to "Jothcr. 7,00 A.H. These priests from the eountry are EN not saint'. exp*'" a deme of Individualism tempered by nueh discipline. have no doubt have or Indulge in the normal appetite and a Fleet be exprienced in order hold up drror so eon gee ourselveø.n

 

 

WB 62-11 October

 

Machine generated alternative text: A IN JAPAN h. l.ft in F*ui is Ot will sesshin I md l.rinø 8.

 

 

WB 62-13 December

 

 

 

WB 63-5 July-August

 

 

 

WB 64-1 February

 

 

 

WB 64-02 March

 

Machine generated alternative text: LETTER FROM JEAN goss The following is aeerpt from a letter from Jan Ross when she was Japan in tkcember • i962. Jean was in Japan for about a year. mrlng most or that time she stayed at monasteries but she also had .ortunities to see of the This letter was written about the Sesshin (an or Strong pracuce m«iitation) she •ttended at Eiheijt. the oldest and urgen Soto Zen Monastery Japan, Eiheiji primarily to training •quite c Old durbw * inter Eiheljl the mountain 'novsvhtch'iurround SESHIN AT I the Nov. . It was cold and clear, and some of the trees still retained their many buildings were braced by timber 6 Inches in diameter. in preparation for heavy conscious of being very fearful - fearful that I wouldn•r be able to survive the intense meditation that lay ahead. mring the five days prior to. also during sesshin. I wore three or lour sweaters. black stocEings that from my waist to my feet with an extra pair of heavy socks. and a sturdy wool skirt. The men Eiheiji. Of the Temple. Wore only their feet were bare in the getas (sardals). In spite Of my shame that so rn1Eh comfort. I asked if I could buy an electrical futon (quilt) warrner. I also Rev. Totsugaml if I could use two pillows during sesshin. hoping the second one would ease the pain of feet and ankle. He drew himself up with a trace of scorn and said. "lie (No-o)ll" This • •lie' • set my pace-a did not use any electrical appliance. nor did t have the additional pillow. However. one thingwas favorable: sesshln meditation would begin at 4:15 a.m. instead ot 2:15 a.m„ would last only 40 minute' with malltation in between. the mor•ning Of Chc. 1st. I that Sodo (malltatlon hall) was heated by two large and that I Was to directly opposite one. When we start«l to melitace. Rev. Totstorni announced in page 2

 

Machine generated alternative text: from a clear strong voice that Sesshln begul. ne first Of zazen lasted one hour and forty minutes Instead Of the forty minutes. This made me so angry that I forgot all my fears. My posture was very bad. I was continually being pok•al in the back--the signal to straighten up. During tea (serv«f twice a day) meals. •e were to maintain Our posture. i sure I would be sick with shLft«1 rationalizing to myself that tea and meals should be Ot relaxation. t felt Very selfish because I had (breaå butter. fruit. and in my room. Did any of the Others have the same? The secotxi day I forgotdecorum. Whenl was Correctai during lunch. I took it as a joke and tried to make Others Afterwards scolded myself because wasnotseriousenough. Did my ego require an amus«d resporue from others? de third day It WAS bit-tee. I myself Of With details. Was a prtmttiVe animal seeking cornfort and the next break one session of meditation because was so disturb«l. tie fourth day. my small was powerless to handle the situation. I began to repeat the names Of all the Zen Priests hoping one of them would help me. There was no reSVk)nSe, Finally I decided to on B.ddha. thinking my Nature would stir a little. For the tune could concentrate. as tat. as wire that is but Of m alitation. the fifth day. someone changed my pillow (trying to be helpful suppose). This Was disturbing because had battered the old one into a firm support. The new one was small With What seern«:' to be foam WAS determ say the w d w Ith myself-noc the pillow. There were When I became For example. during else turn«f ajrowuf facing 01Rward away the I was not aware of their turning. the afternoon the my mind that there •re no answers to the vital questions of When One asks a It means the death or the the to arise in the place. 6th fowid me first to be bone It was a case of a in a shaking body. My small couldn't manage things: calling on or thinking about longer helped: what Surprisngly enQh I began to aware of three Zen Priests rnalltating with me. The to have tremetdots strength on which t could lean. The me ard to be saying. yourselft•• The third I Was completely detached. my awareness the shaking or my body and I Wag I felt mentally clear awake. At One pericxt I became Consci0LZ or of a carpenter hammering, felt dwt Nature WAS thrcngh the bird a thro. the carpenter's ard emerging as the of the hammer. the seventh day We mailtat«l trom 4:15 until I the mornirc Of Dec. 8th. this tinier again there were per-lexis when I Was at ease. scarcely conscious of physical discomfort. I remember thinking about emptiness. In the I Would have an ego (or small sell) that was inactlve. with Nature in a throe me. Neither of them Would be • permanerg stationary at tn On 8th me faint. The floor to rising to meet . Hovever. theZenPrlests. ugreywith fatigue was. had eoo'%h control to acr normally. This gave me strergth. late when I got up. felt that my Small Seu Was so primitive and inadNuate. There ud go«xt momalts during Sesshin. btr had not to them. uøt.ii the 10:30 a.m. service in Hatto that a sage proportion returnixW. There be a

 

 

WB 64-04 May

 

Machine generated alternative text: MORE BY JEAN ROSS ABOUT HER STAY IN JAPAN It has tEen said that mcxlern man tends to regard nature as somethi1V exterior to himself. Sup• posedly he is so intent upon analyzing it scientifically, to prevent disasters ur to modify its forces to meet his own ends. that a sense or separation develops, Perhaps there is some truth in this. However. there are many people today who wish to emphasize not separation but our oneness with mtue, Zen Buddhism is a help in this respect. twcause it has always taught that there is a tusic unity man and all Other forms Of animate inanimate life. Most ot my lite has spent in a city and prior to my trip to Japan I was an apartment dweller in San Francisco. Here the Weather is Of uniform pleasantness One hardly notices a change An sea- sons. while living in the Soto Zen Temples. I rediscovered facts new to me old Sitting and On the floor, separated from the outdoors only by Shoji screens and I not only observed the changes four seasons can tring also felt them Life at ELheiji had a fixed schedule from the time of arisirg at 3:30 a.m. until bed time It Was a well schedule tilt sometimes hard for a westerner. Larvuage difficulty, introspection. and adaptation to a different culture can create great messure. sought to So neat my room kept some serviceable shoes rubt*r During a free would quietly slip down the hall, down the numerous stairs. through Sammon Gate. out toward Ing whole ense e this oen (tnriat ground of the Eiheiji Patriarchs). Was I lonesome, frustrated, or tearful? If so the um sperg by a stream watching the foaming water surge over the rocks cleansed me. Or standing silence of deep snow, my spirit would feel renewed. Jakkoen was always quiet with its crumbling moss covered stones. An aura seem" place. There was a small shrine at the rear and if I sat to one side of it I fellhidden and at peace, Often I would turn my head to see if someone was ner. It was as though the vicinity. During the summer when walked teck to the temple, IY6uld so the adventure of passing through a field that with white butterflies, or I to an ebJny colored scorpion with red legs and red antenna. The Zen Priests apBOVed oi this interest ot mine and they there was a commotion in the hall. I was calk! out of my room to find that some of had caught a hcrned owl that had swooped in through an open wimiow. 1 vas to oft gaze at c lose range irgo his yellow eyes. On another wcasion large f my With delight him as he flew v like a lost in the crevice txtween tatami mats. This to nature often made me uncomfortaNe too. In. the co my hitzchi, I constantly sniffl«i, and 1 was tndly by an earthqua times duri1V one day a night. I had visions ot it starting an avalanche of s until a In the summer it was humid and h«. Even at 4 or S a.m. the EErspiration wou tnck. Since there were no screens or aertirw, the insects could a nuisance. It was cult to maiitate in the evenirg with mosquitos nearby. al*i many a night lay awake irritated their hum and waiting tor a new bite. Oxe durirg July a group of from Nagoya axl myself, plus Several of the Eiheiji Priests. a small temple some distance away. We Wece to Stay a week puposes 01 study and ration. Most Of the daytime was taken up by lectures every night we Zara until 9 p.m. One evening I was quite I was having trouHe with my my chest hurt. The Of hard shelled insects themselves against tie Shoji screens tkgan to unnerve me. Then we got up for Kirüiin. The was somewhat slower than I was used to. insects struck against my face arg' t fourd myself them away from me. and t was close to panic. At last it was over and hurried to the room Which I shared With three Other women. Two priests were Close me, i no Sooner sat down the tatami When with race. He said, have a gift for you". argi he plac«l a Large helmet t*etie at my feet. it •liver ' I at their Encks. All four of us women watch«l the insect with horror. when he to move his legs and the pincer like apperxiages on his head, I trcame strangely quiet inside. He vas just a beetle EE•ing a I took a piece of tiss'æ. him took him matdoors wbae I him on the grourxi. The was gone. Soto Zen Priests react to the changes of ætue Justas they do to the in man. They identify themselves with Ex»th in an even now of As for me I stood on the EiheiJi earth, for the first time felt in earth. I I—an to requize BJ'Eiha nature not only in man in ali forms of life. Such exFAneion the pressure

 

WB 64-06 September October

 

Machine generated alternative text: A MOUNTAIN WALK by Jean Ross In a Zen monastery such as Eiheiji. all of a trainee's tk2havi0r and reactions ace undec close ot»ervation. One acts reacts in an intimate group situation that reveals patterns of Each Zen Eriest seems to hold up a mirror, I found that too was oiberving tx:eause could turn aside from the views or myself reflected there. Silve I could not speak ur ucujerstand Japanese tor the simplest wc-gds seMences. there were emotional flare-ups. Often there was cun- fusion at»ut tik ot services, any auf all directions.

 

Machine generated alternative text: One day in the dtring tieaklast, a ßiest came over to my I was sinc«e in not urxierstandirw what I had done wrorv. showed my confuaion in a way that demand«l explanation, J was amazed that the results Of the explanation were unsatisfactory. At lunch time as we Were waiting to served. an Older stepped the Zer•io. During the entire meal. the monk next to me was subject to blows reprimands. Each blow. each pass«i from him to me utril I silently screamed Let us alone' However. it was a lesson not only on to accept Eiheiji discipline, the monk remained quietly pois«l throughout, hit it had a deeper significance also. In the Life had disciplined me in a manner I could not tEcause my applied teasoning logic had explaine«i some the that I considered uaxieserv«l afflictions. Perhaps. I had dernardc:u too strict an account- of the Karmic law 01 cause effect, I had regarded myself as a separate imlividual. Now as someone else took punishment due me, I Was ashamed. If L Was part Of humanity as a whole. could I ever again draw such clear lines of demarcation about What deservei what I did not deserve? On one occasion, actal as a stimulus. This lurticuiar mcrning, was asked G 1 wished to take a walk in the moumains. i readily agreed. althM1gt1 1 was suqvised that ent1A•asiB was on my trousers. At B a.m. two ul us set out to meet the rest of the troup. The route was unfamiliar aui the narrow ruth treacherous as it along a stream. When We aniv«i at the starting point. was There wete atmut twenty young 'Xiestsalteadythere with kachiels aroutxi their heads, machete—like knives strapped to their waists, •wavy ix»ots their feet. They told me-•fthis is the mountain"--whiie pointing to a sheer perpeuiiculac ascent or tangled dense txush. My first impiuse, from stunned that this was expected me was to refuse a•xi leave. Then I had plac«i in such a Situation. I determined to try. At least they did not ask me to clear the trush as they were going to So Iat»riously started to climb. The only way 1 canld manage was to test tranch ai a time to see if it my weight, and then pull myself up. slowly haml overhami. I coaren- rated solely on this maneuver. to rest occasionally when found g big against. It was quiet with the sky ot»cured by foliage. Swn I had moved oti a from the workers Was them When I arrived at a small clearing, an Old trunk, tusking in sun. in It was warm and peace(ui. of insects the Of birds to cheer me. I could hear the noise occasional voices Ot the others me, but i Let wonder where I am, i told myself. a while they txgan to cull my name. ignored surnrn•ms for a consideraNe time. t finally at*' replied. t Was to join them. reluctantly I left my tree trunk slid down ou my tanny as the only A" it was. slid under a hugh pile or trush they had tren cuttiIV, and it took quite a bit of to extricate me. Rather impatiently they put me on top ot the pile told me to Stay there could an eye me, At we made way down to the washed happily in the The group aprroved of my that day I did too. A flash of anger the energy for me to accept a challenge. Acceptance Ot that challenge. without complaint. gave me a dignity which lasted even as was the txusb. SotoZen at Eiheijiot elsewhere are deeply concerned their students disciples . they Can never relax their Strh discipline operB the minds 01 the strengthens , eventually sets them free.

 

 

WB 64-7 Nov-Dec

 

 

 

WB 64-08 December

 

 

Machine generated alternative text: The is another in a senes ot articles by Jean Ross about her stay at the Soto Zen morustery. Eiheiji. JVKAJ bg Ross Durirv month Ot in the week •IA sevlce ot Jukai is held at Eiheiji SOJOJi During this period. commencing Aßit 23rd through April 29th. lay petgons r»rticipate in the giving and receiving or the Soto Zen Fecepts, It takes a great deal Of REV.

 

Machine generated alternative text: effort axl to the many visitiq Biests tiRy to lay who was at at this time. With the monks I futOn• quilts) pillows to different parts Of the tempte compoutxf. HOW awkward was, trying to matuge two futons over my head shoulders' The young monks could Carry five liter •My run the them, lay people to at steep in where beld , Wh the epr•te quart«s. When was in r there was last unty a tew honored at. The Dogen remains high up on the altar in Joy•xien mau.Oleum) had to be transported to HattO. The afternoon evening ot April 23rd saw y or people upon gjheiji. The We meditated ag usual at a. . aryl joined ere Others in Hatto. There were three teacher. ia c*ztge of Jukal: UF*jjhA , Preceptor: 2) Anusasacariya. insuucu»; 3) Kammacariya. guide foruimen, The c«enwaies Florrn«l nut amt afternoon Were each day. t) Raitntgu Tantx.tsu, which honored ail all the in directions. plus the patriarchs. 2) Kaidantugln, the chanting of ttE • , Ma.nBs'ri. ani -keagu. patriarch 3) the 4) Eitaishldosegaki the Mokaifugirklwhleb memorial . eating. 5) Preaching 0t the Precepta by of in c haw. which ualty the att«mon. 6) Dan)ocai • Otrself Since I had not assigned any spe* early would have meant my BIShing through the lay petbons Who 'Space to stayed through the services. The latter lasted tour or five bouMberote a psirioo ot Sitting on one's ret) roe me, I 0t the the With the Sixteen precems on the side. On the evening ot 27th a most tmpceagive c • sesshin ot (a translate. also It was Ony Ca 'the Of and repentance. Each Of us WC«ea v or we were up in rows Hatto attar. To the ut etunrir«'.Äiif one dowa a dark hallway at the of wtucb sat the We the words a sup Of had given u") M . • Then we the to the did the Gassb0 del" 'ted. We had confes that bad i" a State Ot darkness. that we had committai without number. When at this ritual Were again in Hatto. huge uougbt in. the slips turned , Th« the Blest* the It a 0t that gated atl rhqht. a.' ancient ot g«at Thus w". sins we in our &JddhLst faith. On the next evening. the eve of the anniversary ot death. those ot us preeegs wae ag'nn lined up in Hatto. A tow at a time we stood up circled the altar. chat* ta•MLatoi has this inevitably 01 through the Of u.ddha•s prec.., It has i*en sxoven that he Can his nature within his mini. that he is truly a of poaterity. we receiv«i the Sixteen Precept.. The morning ot the 29th included services honoring Dogen. and his image r«uned to Joycx:en. The many piestu visitrx. soon seem«i quiet or the me My imagination tan riot on an tile ceasonswhy could not With Buddha. t had established deep affection the Ot EiheijL, I held &Jddha from man. Thi" was forgettirw a most important lesson. B"idha himself would never forsake his rote as a human He claimed man Gat. himself hi' foliowes. path to dittic:ult enwgh man feetiÆ he must divine to accomplish There was anoth« after Jukai. TWO priests occasions had remarked: is everything. " This had long me. as I was by many problems. Then t asked questions atM1t it. the answers satisfied. zazen tett an that satisfaction, Zen at some •s fuses the , Of the is

 

Machine generated alternative text: neither maseutine not teminine Siru:e it permutes all animate inanimate. The result of the fusion is man's recognition the True Self. Once this recognition occurs. one is always conscious of &jddha Nature. However, the small self can temporarily dull our conscious- ness. We are that within each seco,m'. each mimate. each bout. there tuuity for Buddha Nature to renew itself in ati Its trightrwsu.

 

 

WB 65-1 Feb

 

 

From secretary's report

 

 

Wb 65-02 March

 

Machine generated alternative text: The serious Student Soto Zen must display considerable ecmmitn•eni his Zen Master. to Zazen to &KMhist mactiees. Tue degvee of commitment may the Can Create evil. 'me '8 sits:ere. ooe has a desire to picose am' an eagerness to gxove devotion. Thin may lead to self-consciousneHS aruj anxiety. A must learn to accept the pc.*ress he makes and satisfied with it. This is passivity. it is results. after c'nuinuously trying one's It is B:rforming small ut devotion atxl pleasei with ooe• tus accomplish'*j. can rememi••• *hen first came to Sokoji. what pleasure it waø to movements Ot Reverend Suzuki Roshi-sama. With what ease he pelioenjed his scuvice 'n Zeodo, With what care made us a or tea. At Japan i the Zen P' iests same quality fluid movement from one tusk to The s•mplest act

 

Machine generated alternative text: in the spirit 0t This word e•qvesses the tenderness, It love goes it trcauy•,' It Dogen. •he founder of the Soto sect 01 Zen, said it wao une of the "e learned during study in have Mitten talked the many difficulties a Zen &xldhism in The discipline seem. 0t it causes emotioaut physical apsecs. M"'tets I He. T hey the in types ot situations. until he learns to resolve problems. The laws du not change to the Zen Mastec, However, he does display anu he dues show imBKtance Of each task as a Of For sevetal months at I was tu study Sumi Rostii-sama. who was considered a very great Zen painter, Watching make felt that his was but an extension of hand and His "(t reel is from some ot the modem instead it welled up. Ot creative depths in his This 'he result 01 years to the 0/ art. but Zen wen. Although I tud a I special attention. Reverend Akotx•ri would demonstrate each ot approval a Only twice did Such a mark, when j did ail other students rejoiced with me. One day Reverend Tatsugami, at Eiheiii, invited eight us digging party. His temple in the midst grove. gluw• Is a small gavden. When saw or was pineapples. t.•cause they look like pineapple tops puking out •be ground. The abilivy to successfully lay in scooping a pit around the sprout and then lifting i! o." unbroken one blow the spade. We wo.ked most of the sunny afternoon digging ea«yjng "'gouts truck Which had trought os to the temple. Along O. m _ we rectangular to rurtake 0' a most delicious meal Sume Of the fresh The Eno•Roshi is a must stern now a congenial He an ernt»diment the Sayings u - When one one ritual, When one works, one when one eats, unc every he performed a complete tuaman tkting. of 1962 me to Visit sama, temple Osaka Kyoto. a mght•s "de i the Inoue. a follower Revetend Fujimoto, met my lie was a serious pleasant young to Whom responded immediately. We went to Fujimotu•s temple. Reveretul Fujimoto turned out to stein-laced man exßexsiua, So thought, with a child-like simplicity. I talked freely sev«ai that first afternoon. next day the ttu•n• ut into the mountains to Reverend Inoue's temple. It was oestlvd in the and was by a lovely White wall. had my own overlooking time and I awoke each morning to a • We ten days the was uu the ume I realize With Revere•rxl I At times could determine whether it was he whu was breathing me. was With him. peri•Å.tS followed (he Zazen, iuvind myself it a point Where I couldn't converse normally even ask Reverend did comment 00 his he did nut anything strange at»ut it. me greatly. days that should write a Cuper on the state my Zazen that should have it Reverend Fujimoto's (he following Although I by task, After the two Priests read it we lung talk. said j must an Self. My num' heiRvturth anything AWve an I that the the at any given moment. is everywhere. visited Fujimoto on two Other last to me showing me your Nature." Even after two yea'S •depute reply to this Sutu Zen gre%test Zen so let each or us slowly. satisfied with each It Win a dubious compliment it someone iouks at une "s says he is the true compliment wili nut have be .pokc•n, in the presence us feels an emanation nyutunHiiin realizes he has made Contact an through Which enlightenment can now.

 

Machine generated alternative text: Above. lett to rigM: Reverend Fujimoto. Reveremi Tats.mi. R evetetn.l Iouue. Eih Momstzy. Revet&j Suzuki. MODEL SUBJECT NO.B+

 

 

WB 65-5 Aug

 

 

 

WB 66-2 April

 

 

 

WB 67-1 Jan-Feb

 

 

 

WB 67-2 Fall

 

Jean Ross listed as contributor toward the purchase of Tassajara in the $50 to 500 range.

 

 

 

WB 68-3-4 Fall

 

 

 

WB 69-1-2 Fall

 

 

 

WB 70-71 Fall Winter

 

 

 

 WB 72

 

 

 

WB 86-2 Fall

 

 

 

 

From Della Goertz memories of Suzuki Roshi

 

Jean has a number of entries In the Early History of Zen Center article

 

 

WB 92-2 Fall

 

 

From Della Goertz - Learning and Staying Young by Barbara Lubanski Wenger

 

 

 WB 97-2 Summer

 

  - PDF (thanks for scanning this Clare Hollander - it was missing from the PDF of this issue so she scanned it and emailed the scan)

 

. Here is an unedited and reccomended version of this piece on Jean. - dc