I moved to Falmouth, Massachusetts, in July 2010. The first meeting of our Sangha was in November. The same month is celebrated as the founder’s month for my order, Mokurai or Silent Thunder Order.
This is our 14th Anniversary and I begin by asking everyone to circle the dates: October 30 through November 2, 2025 which will be the 15th Anniversary Sesshin, of The Falmouth Soto Zen Sangha (FSZS).
Students here in Falmouth have a direct connection from me through my teacher Taiun Elliston Roshi, and his teacher Soyu Matsuoka Roshi to Eihei Dogen back to Shakyamuni Buddha. This lineage of traced ancestry in Soto Zen is important as it shows interconnectedness, impermanence, and continuity of the sharing of the Dharma for 2500 years.
As a student of mine you become a disciple of the Buddha. This intertwining or katto, is Dogen Zenji's description of how curling vines interweave, play, and connect everyone as Buddhadharma. This Buddhadharma being the awakened/enlightened sense of the universe through the teachings of Buddha and buddhas (ancestors).
My backward facing turn finds me eyebrow to eyebrow with my teacher “Hojo” Taiun Roshi https://www.judithragir.org/2012/12/raising-his-eyebrows-and-blinking-his-eyes/
This image is inter-are or heart to heart transmission. This is none other than becoming 1:1 with Matsuoka, Dogen, and Shakyamuni and the One Bright Pearl. What a wonder to celebrate. The dynamic is just so, just this or Inmo. This life of mine is a multifaceted tribute to all. To the extent that when I don’t dwell on such I am one.
Robe Verse
(Takkesa ge 搭袈装偈）
How great, the robe of liberation,
a formless field of merit.
Wrapping ourselves in Buddha's teaching,
freeing all beings.
I now have a new sensation of Buddha, Dogen, Matsuoka, Elliston, Dharma brothers, sisters, and students whose presents I have received, shape my presence. I and they are: no everything, all nothing.
Gratitude is like bowing and as thus, is a unique offering, dana to those before, now, and after, who experience living as Dharma– the gift of finding founders.
Join us Tuesday night, November 19, at 7:00PM/ET, in person or on Zoom as we celebrate our practice, our heritage and 14th anniversary. .https://zoom.us/j/7096899032?status=success#success pass word FSZS
Sensei,
Unshin Sangaku Dan Joslyn-sensei
Founder and Guiding Teacher
Falmouth Soto Zen Sangha
404-702-7646
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