A GREETING FROM AKIBA SOKAN ON HIS RETIREMENT

It was a little after 6:00 in the evening the other day when I was standing on the walkway that connects the Nikko building  with the Hondo at Zenshuji. Unintentionally, I looked up at the twilight in the western sky and was deeply moved when I saw  the bright shape of the crescent moon suspended in the air. Very close to the sharply-etched form of a bow drawn by the  crescent moon was Venus shining brightly. In this time before night descends completely, with only the white light of the  crescent moon and Venus emitting light in the great Los Angeles sky, it was like a story unfolding on the roof of heaven, a  bracing scene that has often transfixed me.

Against the background of the Hondo, there was the statue of Kannon Bosatsu holding a lotus flower in her left hand, the  blue-green color of the statue changing into a silent presence. Further away were the six stone statues of Jizo Bosatsu  wearing their red caps and bibs. It was a peaceful moment in the night at Zenshuji where it seemed as if several quiet  words were said.

On March 31st, I will resign as Sokan, a post I have held for thirteen years since the time I was appointed in May 1997.  From the beginning of April, a new Sokan will be appointed to the Soto Zen Buddhism North America Office.

Since May 1998 when I was appointed as the Kokusai Fukyoshi responsible for Zenshuji, I have been much obliged to the  temple and its supporters for these past twelve years. My home temple, Kojin-an, is located in Oakland and shortly after it  was built it was decided that it would be acceptable for me to appointed as Sokan and hold an additional post. I was told  that it would be sufficient to attend the monthly board meetings and memorial services at Zenshuji as well as the various  annual events and the funerals of the prominent members of the temple. The monthly salary at the time was $500.

However, the former Yamashita Sokan's main funeral, his first memorial service, the 800th anniversary of Dogen Zenji's  birth, the 750th anniversary of his death, the Jukai and 80th anniversary of the founding of Zenshuji, and other special events  were crowded into the interval of a few years and so I began frequently coming to Zenshuji. As I naturally became closer in  my sympathy and feeling for the temple members, I began to think I should put more energy into Zenshuji. Now, many faces  come to mind of the board members of that time, of the members who have given so much to the temple, and of many other  people. During this time, the board chair has changed five times: from Tsutomu-san to Fujii-san to Misawa-san to  Matsushita-san to Carolyn-san. Little by little, the temple has changed, washed by the waves of generational change.

During that time, Kojima-sensei's new work activities have also been added. Terakoya, the shakyo-kai, the tea ceremony  group, the lectures on Buddhism, the computer classes, and so on – there have been the activities of Kuwahara-sensei,  Myoshin -sensei, and Kato-sensei. Zendeko and the zazenkai continue to be active. I only feel gratitude to the Fujin-kai, the  Tuesday volunteers, and others who have heartily donated their time and energy to the temple.

Just around the time I was appointed as Sokan, the Soto Zen community of North America entered a time of change. For  that reason, the Soto Zen Education Center was founded as part of the Soto Zen Buddhism North America Office. As part  of the duty of Sokan, there was an increase in the amount of activity with the thrilling feeling of Zen centers being born, the  administrative handling of priests, the cultivation of new monks' awareness, and forming an awareness of belonging to Soto  Zen. There was also the turning point of changes in the Sotoshu Statues regarding overseas priests. The staff of the Soto  Zen Buddhism North America Office and Soto Zen Buddhism International Center was all extremely busy with these  activities. For this reason, Kojima-sensei was in effect completely in charge of the Dharma events and events connected  with the temple members, a duty that he has carried by himself. I can say that he has really done the best of his ability and  devoted himself to Zenshuji.

On reflection, I now think I should have been more involved with the various temple activities, that I should have established  closer one-to-one relationships with the members, and that it would have been better to be closer to you as the temple  priest.

I think the duty of Sokan and Kokusai Fukyoshi responsible for Zenshuji has entered another change. Now that I think back,  it was enjoyable to have contact with the people of Zenshuji through various activities. I will never forget the memories of  Obon Carnival, Mochitsuki, and so on and so on. And then, I am much obliged to you. I have received the support of many  people. I am full of gratitude that through your help I was able to take on the burden of this position even though I have no learning or ability. I thank you all deeply for allowing me to have this relationship to you.

From now on, I plan to be diligent in fostering my disciples at Kojin'an in Oakland. I hope to visit Zenshuji now and then. Let's meet again.

Thank you, Sokan Gengo Akiba