shinsanshiki - San Francisco Zen Center

S H I N SA N S H I K I
A B B OT & A B B E S S
I N S T A L L A T I O N C E R E M O NY
Calligraphy by Hoitsu Suzuki Roshi
Watercolor image by Eijun Linda Ruth Cutts
Program design by Chris Shelton
San Francisco Zen Center
March 2, 2014
S H I N SA N S H I K I
Abbot and Abbess Installation Ceremony
San Francisco Zen Center
March 2, 2014
Meditation Hall (Zendo)
The Shinmei offer incense. The Ino bows and leads the Shinmei
in a jundo around the Zendo and invites the Shinmei to the
Abbatial Seat.
Buddha Hall (Butsuden)
The ceremony consists of two major parts: In the first part, the
new Abbot of City Center, Rinso Ed Sattizahn, and the new
Abbess of Green Gulch Farm, Furyu Nancy Schroeder (both are
the Shinmei, “New Life”) enter the temple and are welcomed.
In the second, the Shinmei present their teaching.
PART I
ASCENDING THE MOUNTAIN
(SHIN SAN SHIKI)
Resting Place Near Temple (Angesho)
The ceremony begins at the Conference Center, 308 Page Street.
Here the Shinmei (new Abbot and Abbess) are resting and receive
visiting teachers from other temples.
Procession (Shinmei Shinsan)
The procession begins, led by fourteen officers representing
the administrative and practice aspects of the temple (Ryoban),
followed by the Shinmei, and five attendants (Jishas).
Mountain Gate (Sanmon)
At the front door, the Shinmei offer incense and make statements.
The procession enters the main hall. Board Chair Larry Bye
invites the Shinmei to serve. The Shinmei offer incense, bow, and
make statements to Shakyamuni Buddha, to Daigenshuri Bosatsu
(Great Protector of the Practice Principle), and to Bodhidharma
(the first Zen Ancestor of China, representing all the Ancestors).
Founder’s Hall (Kaisando)
The procession leaves the Buddha Hall and goes upstairs to the
Founder’s Hall, where the Shinmei offer incense, bow, and make
statements to Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, San Francisco Zen Center’s
founder.
Abbot’s or Abbess’s Room (Hojo)
The procession goes to the Hojo. The Shinmei make statements
and exchange bows and formal greetings with the officers of the
temple, sign documents, and inspect the temple seal.
INTERMISSION
While the Shinmei are in the Hojo, the Ino will invite the
assembly to take a brief intermission. A rolldown on the densho
bell will signal the beginning of Part 2.
Announcing the Teaching (Byakutsui-chi)
PART 2
OPENING THE HALL and
PRESENTING THE TEACHING
(SHO KOKU KAI DO)
Hoitsu Suzuki Roshi, Abbot of Rinso-in, enacting the role
of Manjusri Bodhisattva, announces the Shinmei’s teaching:
“Clearly observe! The Dharma of the Dharma Sovereign is Thus.”
Teaching Robe (Den-e)
Question and Answer (Mondo)
The procession re-enters the Buddha Hall. The Shinmei are each
given a new teaching robe by the sangha.
Supporting Statements (Sensho)
Supporting statements are made by:
- Daigaku Rummé, Sokan (General Director) of the International Soto Zen North America Office
- Zesho Susan O’Connell, Zen Center President, representing San Francisco Zen Center Sangha
- Gib Robinson and Rusa Chiu, representing the friends of the new Abbot and Abbess
Ascending the Seat (Todan)
(Todan and following portions of the Ceremony are first done by
the new Abbot, then by the new Abbess.)
The Shinmei each ascend the teaching seat, offer incense, and make
four statements: first, for world peace; second, to all the Ancestors
in this teaching lineage; third, to members, donors, families, and
deceased members of the temple; and fourth, to the root teachers
of each Shinmei.
Invitational Bows (Monjin)
The attendants and the Ryoban bow to the Shinmei, inviting
them to present their teaching. Then the First Attendant offers
incense and leads a bow on behalf of everyone in the assembly.
Each Shinmei will receive questions from invited sangha
members.
Statements from the Shinmei
The Shinmei each make five statements to summarize their
teaching:
- Fundamental backbone statement (Teiko)
- Appreciatory statement to Hoitsu Suzuki Roshi (Jago)
- Personal statement (Jijo)
- Understanding of a koan (Nensoku)
- Concluding statement (Ketsuza)
Gratitude Statement, Concluding Statements
& Congratulations
Both Shinmei come down from the Mountain Seat. They offer
informal thanks, and receive statements of appreciation and
congratulations from designated people.
Reception
All are welcome to join us for refreshments in the Dining Room
following the Ceremony.
PARTICIPANTS
Congratulations
Ryoban/Practice Leaders
Chikudo Lewis Richmond
Dharma Teacher,Vimala Sangha,Tiburon
Tenshin Reb Anderson
Senior Dharma Teacher, San Francisco Zen Center
Hoitsu Suzuki Roshi
Abbot, Rinso-in, Japan
Representating the wider Sangha:
Setsuan Gaelyn Godwin
Abbess, Houston Zen Center
Sister Marion Irvine
Family members:
Thomas Sattizahn
David Weintraub
Maxine Sattizahn
Grace Dammann
Jishas
Meiya Wender
Shosan Victoria Austin
Genmon Marc Lesser
Seishin Arlene Lueck
Do-On Robert Thomas
Anshin Rosalie Curtis, City Center Tanto
Yo-On Jeremy Levie, Green Gulch Farm Tanto
Zenshin Greg Fain, Tassajara Tanto
Leslie James, Tassajara Abiding Teacher
Kyoshin Wendy Lewis, City Center Practice Leader
Shinki Mark Lancaster, City Center Practice Leader
Emila Heller, Green Gulch Farm Practice Leader
Ryoban/Officers & Directors
Zesho Susan O’Connell, President
Jisan Tova Green, Vice-president
Shokan Jordan Thorn, Treasurer
Genjin Connie Cummings, Secretary
Shundo David Haye, City Center Director
Ango Sara Tashker, Green Gulch Farm Director
Shinchi Linda Galijan, Tassajara Director