Dear All,
A few years ago, many Zen Sangha added words to recognize female Ancestors in their Chant Books, and a list of female Ancestors, to complement the traditional list of Zen Ancestors which was exclusively a men's line for historical reasons. Effort was also made to recognize the names of women whose names have been lost to history (e.g., our Chant Book dedicates our Zazen and Chanting to " ... all other Honored Ones throughout history, Male and Female Honored Ones, whose names have been forgotten or left unsaid.") In the traditional societies of the past, women did often struggle to find the place and opportunities for Buddhist practice, and many excellent teachers were denied recognition in our stories.
As well, last year, we added a short recitation of "Differently Abled Ancestors" to recognize ancient Buddhists with physical and mental conditions which made their life in the Buddhist Sangha a struggle. Many folks today still practice with various health conditions, and the ceremony is meant to support their efforts too. The names of the Women Ancestors and Different Abled Ancestors will be recited next week during our Rohatsu Retreat, as well as the list of the traditional male Ancestors, and our Jukai Recipients in January will receive Lineage papers including all those individuals.
However, it has recently become a particular topic in society that there are also individuals today, and certainly throughout history, who may have identities that transcend the usual lines of male and female. It was suggested by a few people that "he" and "she" may not include everyone now. For that reason, we are going to experiment in our new Chant Book for our upcoming Rohatsu Retreat with some more inclusive words here and there. We would like your impressions and suggestions, as well as any ideas for better wording too. We will either keep the changes or adjust them more.
Changes include the following:
-Metta Chant- In our Chant to offer Metta to loved ones, friends, strangers and difficult people, there will be an option for "they" (both for groups of people, and for single individuals who leap through "he" or "she"), e.g.: "May he(she/they) be healthy and at ease in all (his/her/their) ills."
-Fukanzazengi- In our recitation of Master Dogen's Fukanzazengi during Rohatsu Retreat, one reference to "him" for the Buddha is changed to recognize the Buddha as a transcendent figure who includes all categories and identities:
-Our Dedications- The Dedication of our Chanting and Zazen will now read (instead of "male and female Honored Ones"): " to all other Honored Ones throughout history, same yet diverse Honored Ones, whose names have been forgotten or left unsaid ... "Consider the Buddha: although he was wise at birth, the traces of his six years of upright sitting can yet be seen.
to
Consider the Buddha: although wise at birth, the traces of the six years of upright sitting can yet be seen.
Let me also announce one other change to our Chant Book for both our Rohatsu Retreat and all future Zazen Activities during the week here at Treeleaf. This is unrelated to the above. Our "Verse of Atonement" spoke of our harmful "words, thoughts and acts." This will now be as follows, so please pencil the change in if you have a Chant Book which you printed out to use at home:
All harmful acts, words and thoughts, ever committed by me since of old,
On account of beginningless greed, anger and ignorance,
Born of my body, mouth and mind,
Now I atone for them all
The reason was simply to harmonize with the reference to "body, mouth and mind."
Please let us know any comments or suggestions.
Gassho, J
STLah
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Originally Posted by Tairin
