Dear Sangha and Maha-Sangha,

We are delighted to share an auspicious and joyful announcement. Master Dogen wrote in the Shobogenzo, in the chapter “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, Kandō Bion Boncutiu (緩道 美音). He is now recognized as a fully ordained priest and teacher in the Soto Zen tradition and in this lineage. I hope you will rejoice with us and warmly welcome him. In this way, the Soto Zen tradition is carried forward from generation to generation.

He joins his transmitted Dharma siblings in this lineage: Jindō Shōkai Maxwell, Hondō Kyōnin Barros, Fukudō Kokuu McLellan, Jikidō Sekishi Weik, Ralf Gidō Kotei Prehn, and Bidō Onkai Zolas.

As such, his work at Treeleaf Sangha is complete, and he is free to go where he wishes to establish his own Sangha and have his own students. There is no obligation for him to remain at Treeleaf. That being said, it is my understanding that he wishes to stay, and in that I rejoice, warmly welcoming his presence. I know that he will remain the same beautiful Bion as always. Please know that, should anything ever happen to me such that I am unable to continue my own role at Treeleaf, this place would be in the good hands of Shokai, Kyonin, Kokuu, Sekishi, Kotei, Onkai, and Bion, in no particular order of rank, and their successors.

The ceremony of Dharma Transmission is traditionally conducted privately and face-to-face, solely between Teacher and Disciple, as was done in this case 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)