Treeleaf Zendo

Dear All, 
an auspicious and happy announcement for our Treeleaf Sangha

Master Dogen wrote in Shobogenzo-Menju, Face-To-Face Transmission:

“Then Śākyamuni Buddha, in the order on Vulture Peak in the Western Country, India, among an assembly of millions, picked up an uḍumbara flower and winked. At that time the face of Venerable Mahākāśyapa broke into a smile. Śākyamuni Buddha said, ‘I possess the right Dharma-eye treasury and the fine mind of nirvana. I transmit them to Mahākāśyapa.’”
…
In this way the true ancestral masters of successive generations have each passed on the face-to-face transmission through the disciple regarding the master and the master seeing the disciple. … When master and disciple have definitely seen each other, have been seen by each other, have given the face-to-face transmission, and have succeeded to the Dharma, that is the realization of the truth which resides in the ancestors’ face-to-face transmission. Thus, master and disciple have directly taken on the brightness of the Tathāgata’s face. In sum, even after thousands of years, or myriad years, or hundreds of kalpas, or koṭis of kalpas, this face-to-face transmission is the appearance of the face of, and the realization of the transmission from, Śākyamuni Buddha. … Even before a word is comprehended and even before understanding of half a word is transcended, when the master has seen the back of the disciple’s head, and the disciple has regarded the master through the crown of the head, that is the authentic face-to-face transmission.”

I am so very pleased to announce that I have bestowed Dharma Transmission upon a Priest of this Sangha, Laurie Bidō Onkai Zolas (美道 恩海). She is now recognized as a Fully Ordained Priest and Teacher in the Soto Zen Tradition and this Lineage. I hope that you will rejoice with us and so welcome her. This Soto Zen Tradition continues from generation to generation in this manner.

She joins her Transmitted Dharma Siblings in this lineage, Jindō Shōkai Maxwell, Hondō Kyōnin Barros, Fukudō Kokuu McLellan, Jikidō Sekishi Weik and Ralf Gidō Kotei Prehn.

As such, her work here at Treeleaf is done, and she is free to go where she wishes to establish her own Sangha and her own students. There is no need for her to remain here now, at Treeleaf. That being said, it is my understanding that she wishes to stay, and in that, I rejoice and so welcome her presence. I know that she will remain the same beautiful Onkai as always. Please know that, should anything ever happen to me whereby I am unable to continue my own role at Treeleaf, this place would be in the good hands of Shokai, Kyonin, Kokuu, Sekishi, Kotei and Onkai, in no order of rank, and their successors.

The Ceremony of Dharma Transmission is traditionally conducted privately and face-to-face, only between Teacher and Disciple, as was done in this as well.This Soto Zen Tradition continues from generation to generation in this manner.

Master Dogen wrote:

“In conclusion, the great truth of the Buddhist Ancestors is nothing other than a face giving and a face receiving, and the reception of a face and the giving of a face, beyond which there is nothing surplus and nothing lacking. We should rejoice in, delight in, believe in, and serve whatever has had the opportunity to meet this face-to-face transmission, even if it is our own features.“

Nine Bows, Chigen Jundō (知原 純道)