Taro the Zen Cat 2nd Edition: Seasons of Change

By Jennifer J Hunter

Jennifer Hunter has written a very beautiful and deeply moving account of Zen life under the guidance of a Zen
Master, a Roshi. This book gives the reader a profound and accurate experience of what it is like to study in a monastic setting. In doing so, she has hit the mark on what I feel is the future of both Zen Buddhism a

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Life Clarity Publishing
• Release date: Feb 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9780578597997

Book preview

New Life Clarity Publishing

205 West 300 South, Brigham City, Utah 84302

Http://newlifeclarity.com/

The Right of Jennifer J. Hunter to be identified as the

Author of the work has been asserted by her in accordance

with the Copyright Act 1988.

New Life Clarity Publishing

name has been established by NLCP.

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior and express written permission of the author or publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN- 978-0-578-59798-0

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019918319

Copyright@2019 Jennifer J. Hunter

Taro

the

Zen Cat

- Seasons of Change

by Jennifer J. Hunter

Dedication

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To Bill Yoshin Gennan Jordan, Roshi. Your graciousness and generosity shine throughout this book and I am forever grateful you said yes to many, many things that so positively and profoundly influenced my life. You are an extraordinary teacher and an even better friend. Thank you for your love, wisdom, and ruthless compassion. All of which are unparalleled.

And to Sumi Goto-Jordan. Thank you for being his wife, partner and the light in his life. He’s lucky to have you. And so are we.

Acknowledgments

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To the Santa Monica Zen Center Gakiji Sangha. Many years ago, we practiced, trained, and played together. Some of the richest experiences I had with you have been written into Taro’s story. I will never forget that time in my life with all of you.

To Nicolee Jikyo McMahon, Roshi. I owe you a debt of gratitude as my tokudo (ordination) preceptor and for training me for so long during high and low times in my life. Your vision to spread the Dharma in new and creative ways has always been your magic.

To Laurie Horowitz. You are an incredible mentor. As my writing coach and editor, you were with me from the conception of Taro the Zen Cat through to the very end, and far beyond. Thank you for all the feedback and editing you did, going over and over these pages with me for so long, teaching me and training me, privately and in groups, with tenacity, patience, and great humor. I have learned so much from you about the technique and art of writing. I am forever grateful I found you.

To Tamara Holub, Chris Richardson, Jan Shure-Hurwitz, Lily Houston, Sheelagh O’Connor, Katie Saunders, Jason Meisler, Shelli Margolin-Meyer, and Jennifer Clay. Your feedback was such a profound contribution over the past year and a half we spent together. You can’t begin to imagine. Every single one of you has influenced my writing and taught me so much. You all live in Taro’s story.

To Sumi Goto-Jordan. You maneuvered me through the beautiful, mysterious waters of Japanese names. There was so much to learn and understand. I am forever grateful for your skill with the Japanese language and sense of humor when English was just too confounding between us.

To Jill Jordan. Your interest in my book was so encouraging. You asked me, When is Taro coming out? over and over, and kept the prospect of finishing the book alive and real for me. Thank you for caring enough to keep asking and for providing early feedback.

To my design geniuses. You set the perfect tone and spirit right from the start, and the mood of Taro’s story is luminously reflected. It is such a gift all of you have created. Everything is beautiful. Thank you beyond words.

To Pattie Godfrey Sadler and New Life Clarity Publishing. You selflessly directed me through the tricky waters of publishing with love and kindness. Thank you for your efficiency in creating this final work. You have been gentle and so respectful of my work. I am eternally grateful for who you are in the world and who you have been to me.

Hugs and a big thank you to Ulrich Floresca of Zer0 Debris for introducing me to Pattie. It was meant to be.

And to my Muses, Oliver and Beck. Oliver who inspired Taro, and Beck who inspired Sachi, even though you’re a male. It’s okay, buddy, it worked perfectly. I would look at you two and always be encouraged to keep going, to write more. You are such sweet cats. I love you both so much.

FOREWORD

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Jennifer Hunter has written a very beautiful and deeply moving account of Zen life under the guidance of a Zen Master, a Roshi. This book gives the reader a profound and accurate experience of what it is like to study in a monastic setting. In doing so, she has hit the mark on what I feel is the future of both Zen Buddhism and spiritual practice in general, the inclusion of all living beings from the greater vantage point of one world, one planet, united in harmony and respect for one another.

She portrays this forest monastic community, including cats, birds, rats, and people, living in harmony amidst their petty jealousies and envies, transcending their differences, coming from a deep realization of our oneness, and deep love and appreciation of our uniqueness.

The book brings to life the longing for meaning and purpose we all face at some point in our lives, and how this challenged cat finds his way and truth for himself; how we find our peace and liberation not in separation from our life but in the midst of our pain and suffering and the pain and suffering of others. By not resisting, denying or suppressing our pain, we allow our self to experience it directly without trying or needing to escape from it.

Her main character, a cat by the name of Taro asks, What is Zen?

Zen, Hiroto the blackbird answers, is the realization of your life moment by moment, lived just as it is, without any added thoughts, opinions, or commentary.

"Gennan Roshi calls Zen a direct experience of reality," the female cardinal, Remi, says.

You can think of Zen as more of a way of being, says Hiroto.

Yes! There’s no escaping your physical existence. Roshi talks about Zen as being practical, firmly fixed to the earth, says Remi.

My own first year of Zen was spent as a hermit deep in the mountains, alone, sitting zazen daily, chopping wood and carrying water from the nearby creeks. The book brings back beautiful memories of life lived in nature in harmony with all creatures — rattlesnakes, mountain lions, wild turkeys, cattle, and deer.

True Zen practice is about facing oneself constantly. In monastic life the community of people called Sangha is like stones in a creek rubbing up against one another, polishing each other’s rough edges, becoming round usable stones.

Jennifer’s portrayal of Zen monastic life will be inspiring to those who have not experienced it directly and nostalgic for those of us who have. It re-inspired me with the love of community life based on living in harmony with all beings. After forty years of living in Zen monastic communities, I’ve lived the past nine years more as a layman and outside a community. Jennifer’s book has rekindled the urge to be with others who share this purpose and desire to live together in harmony and practice the Way.

I cried through many parts of the book, reflecting on my experiences at a much earlier time in my life of the strong disciplined, love of community, and the often ruthless compassion of practice with my Zen Master, Maezumi Roshi.

D. Genpo Merzel, Roshi

https://www.BigMind.org/

Author’s Note

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The Gakiji Hungry Ghost Zen Buddhist Temple was real. Gennan Roshi is also a real person. Roshi closed Gakiji , originally known as the Santa Monica Zen Center, about seven years ago but he still teaches on an individual basis. One day, I asked him if he would take on Taro as a student and he agreed. That meant that I embodied Taro in private interviews I had with Roshi in his home. We worked on two k ō ans for the book. His question to me was always, What would a cat do? and my question to him was always, What would a Roshi say? Many of the interactions between Gennan Roshi and Taro were authentic dialogues Roshi and I had together throughout Taro’s journey.

Taro the Zen Cat is a work of fiction based on facts and many of the experiences I had during my decades of Zen training and practice. However, as I continued writing, it occurred to me that over the successive generations, some information had been lost in the transmission of the forms, rituals, and ceremonies belonging to Zen. Many dedications and gathas we chanted in our practice at Gakiji have gone unclaimed by any author. As a result, I am unable to give credit to whomever wrote certain pieces I have quoted in the book. Specifically, these include: the portion of the dedication chanted during Fusatsu, the portion of the Meal Gatha chanted during oryoki, the Evening Gatha chanted at the end of the last period of zazen, and the directives given in tokudo (ordination). And I have no reference for the monkey story. It was passed down to me decades ago.

I clearly took artistic license with this story. I was ordained in the United States as a Zen Buddhist priest, and only knew myself as priest. As far as I know, in the United States, anyone who completed studies that ended in tokudo called him or herself a priest. But I could be mistaken. I can only own my own experience.

However, in Taro’s story, I chose not to use the term priest, but instead opted for the term monk. My understanding of the difference between the two words is that a monk is celibate while a Zen priest is not. None of us were, anyway. But for the sake of the story, I did not think monk vs. priest ultimately made that much difference, so I chose monk because it felt more fitting to the mood and local color of the story. And, most importantly, it’s just a story. A hero’s journey that anyone can take. Zen is the outward form Taro chooses. Maybe yours is different. That’s the beauty of where Taro will lead you. Enjoy yourself and thank you for coming along on the ride.

Jennifer Isshin Hunter, Ph.D.

Los Angeles, CA

November 2019

http://www.TaroTheZenCat.com/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Dedication

Acknowledgments

Foreward

Author’s Note

Winter

The Lie

The Forest

New Year’s Eve

Gakiji Hungry Ghost Zen Buddhist Temple

Taro’s Leap of Faith

The Entering

Gennan Roshi

Ratzitzu

Momo

The Discovery

Sesshin – Touching the Heart-Mind

Hiroto, Remi, and Genji

Original Face

Sachi

Buttons

More Dokusan Meetings with Roshi

Taro Gets Hooked

Nowhere to Go

Recovery

Taro’s Awakening

Taro Honors His Parents

Early Spring

The Blessing of the Animals

Summer Fushinsamu – All Are Invited

Destruction

New Kōan

Fall

Takuhatsu - Giving and Receiving

Taro’s Bowl

One Shiny Black Button

Winter - Rōhatsu Session

Ratzitzu Makes His Move

Gennan Roshi Chooses

Sachi’s Realization

Spring

Taro’s Family Reunion

The Night Before

The Forest Creatures Prepare

Taro’s Ordination

Taro’s Purpose Revealed

About the Author

Chapter 1

Winter

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The shopkeeper ran out the door, red-faced, jowls quivering, and slammed the broom down on the pebble walkway, missing Taro’s tail by a hair. Get out of here! This food isn’t for you. Get out! You’re fat enough already!

Sachi, Taro’s sister, was a blur of grey fur as she sped past him. She grabbed the burlap bag of food out of his mouth and headed for safety under a bush, then turned toward Taro. Anxiously, she scratched the ground, encouraging her brother to run faster.

Taro felt a whoosh of air as the broom came down again hard behind him. He tucked in his tail and bolted to safety.

Taro’s eyes were wide with fear. Oh, Sachi! I almost didn’t make it.

Sachi licked her brother’s ginger face. It’s okay. Catch your breath. You’re safe. Let’s wait here for a while.

Taro panted, I can’t do this. I’m no good.

Taro, stop. You are good. Just not so good at this.

Sachi rubbed her head under her brother’s chin. Just because it’s expected of you to provide like this, it doesn’t mean it always has to be that way. She knew how difficult it was for Taro to talk about their father’s and baby brother’s deaths and how that had suddenly changed his future. The tragedy had been eight months ago. But it was still like yesterday for Taro. Sachi kept purring and rubbing under his chin until she felt Taro’s body begin to uncoil and relax.

The two cats remained under the protection of the bush as Taro’s breathing slowed to normal. They watched the people, dogs, and other cats roaming around the open-air marketplace. Years ago, this addition to their little village had brought the community closer together. There was an open fire pit in the center for cold winter days like today. A food court circled the pit where café owners placed outdoor tables for their customers. For Sachi, this was as good as handing food directly to her. Once she realized the food was brought outside on plates and put on the tables, she became a master of the grab and go. She was an agile jumper and lightning speed runner.

Taro, on the other hand, with his slow and lumbering body, was best suited for staying low and picking up scraps dropped on the ground. The shopkeeper had called him fat. Sachi thought of him as dense. Either way, he was a bottom-dweller and not fit to be the provider his mother expected him to be as her first-born son, now that Papa was gone.

As Taro and Sachi watched the comings and goings in the marketplace, a prolonged, guttural monotone "Hō . . ." caught Taro’s attention. Coming from deep within the belly and extending out for as long as possible on a single length of breath, it was contrasted by the sweet jingle of bells. Taro had never heard anything so beautiful. He turned in the direction of these new sounds and waited. Something was coming.

Taro and Sachi poked their heads out from underneath the bush and saw a procession of five monks pause at a near-by shop. The guttural monotone and the tinkling of bells stopped. Nothing happened. But soon, shopkeepers in nearby stores started filing into the street, putting their offerings of food into the monks’ bowls and money into the satchels that hung around their necks. The monks waited.

On impulse, Taro asked, Sachi, is it okay if I put some food in their bowls?

Sure. I can always get more.

Taro took a tentative step and paused. Then, stepping forward more confidently, he approached the lead monk and placed a sausage and a half-eaten meatball into his bowl. An unlikely offering, but not for a cat. The monk, wearing a wide brimmed straw hat that obscured his vision but for the ground in front of him, bowed to Taro. Altogether, the monks began chanting a verse of Gratitude and Giving, blessing Taro and all those around him. When they finished, the five monks moved on to the next block, announcing themselves on a continuous echo of "Hō . . ." accompanied by the jingling bells.

What was that all about, Taro? What just happened? Sachi asked, glancing between Taro and the backs of the monks who had started to turn the corner.

It was like that monk was waiting for me.

You think so? I don’t understand, Sachi said.

I don’t either, Taro said as the last monk faded from his view. But I felt a connection, almost like a memory I can’t quite place.

But something happened, Sachi said.

Yeah, something just happened.

"Well, watch me! I can