<![CDATA[Treeleaf Zendo - Engaged, Groups & Gatherings]]> https://forum.treeleaf.org/ en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:56:46 GMT vBulletin 60 https://forum.treeleaf.org/images/og/treeleaf-circle-og-logo.png <![CDATA[Treeleaf Zendo - Engaged, Groups & Gatherings]]> https://forum.treeleaf.org/ <![CDATA[[ENGAGED] Non-political, political kindness]]> https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/engaged-charitable-projects-center/568539-engaged-non-political-political-kindness Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:53:22 GMT With the world going increasingly crazy, there are still some things we can do for people who are being marginalized in one way or another by all the... With the world going increasingly crazy, there are still some things we can do for people who are being marginalized in one way or another by all the things happening politically.

We can let the LGBTQ community know that they're safe with us. We do not have to comment in any way shape or form on what any of us happens to think of other people's sexual identity. All we have to do is let them know that they can talk to us and we have no interest in looking at them as anything other than people.

The immigrant Community is frightened. We don't need to go into personal or individual thoughts about immigration in and of itself. What we should be doing is looking at these folks as people. They may be afraid to go out of their homes. They may be afraid to do simple things. We can do things like go to the grocery store for them, so that their kids don't go hungry. We can pick up their medication for them and drop it off. We can let them know, quietly, that if their kids are on their way home from school and something is happening they can come to our homes and be safe until it ends.

There are probably a lot of other things we could do, but these are things we could do just for other human beings without even really giving any thought to the political issue involved.

The price of gas at the pump is going through the roof. People who have the means might want to think about offering to pay for the person behind them at the gas pump. Certainly not everyone can do that, but for those who can, imagine how great it would feel to pull up to the pump and find out it's already taken care of.

With the cost of everything from gas to groceries to electricity going through the roof, it is very likely that the cashier at the grocery store or Walmart has been taking some serious abuse. They're understaffed, underpaid, and the price of everything they sell is going crazy. A simple pause to look one of these people in the eye and say something like, "thanks, you're doing a great job" could be huge.

I'm not saying anything new, and this isn't a particularly comprehensive list. Just suggesting putting our aspirational Bodhisattva-hood at the forefront.
Basically, we can embrace the principle that basic kindness isn't political.

...but- maybe, just maybe, it can be contagious

ST
LAH
]]> Engaged, EcoDharma and Charitable Projects Center Ankai https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/engaged-charitable-projects-center/568539-engaged-non-political-political-kindness <![CDATA[[ARTS] Some Lyrical Dōgen Poetry Translations]]> https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/treeleaf-arts-music-sports-circle/poetry/568388-arts-some-lyrical-dōgen-poetry-translations Sun, 05 Apr 2026 16:36:29 GMT

Some disclaimers, since these are sensitive things to handle. I've been a translator for some 20 years, working with Pāli-to-Turkish translations on Sutta Central for the last three years, and Chinese to English these last two years with the guidance of Charles Patton, on Dharma Pearls/SuttaCentral again.

It's an interest of mine to make religious poetry translations as elegant as possible, rhyming and metric. Some might consider it frivolous, but I think it's an important point to have more lyrical translations side-by-side with more scholarly translations. To show that ethical discourses can be uplifting in form, beautiful on their own right, inspirational...

That brings us to my work with Master Dōgen's poetry, as a Dharma practice.

I work mainly with Dr. Steven Heine's most brilliant "Wisdom Within Words" as a basis of my translations. I then take a note of the idioms and expressions through various tools, like Charles Muller's DDB, Soothill-Hodous, Hirakawa (along with some contemporary Chinese / Japanese dictionaries), depending on the difficulty of the passage. I also run it through AI to help identify idioms that might be lost, and if AI brings up an interesting point, I heed it only if I can verify that somewhere else, in Taisho or some such, to not get lost in hallucinations...

Then of course, to meet a meter and rhyme, I have to get creative with some expressions sometimes... To what extent I'm able to meet the spirit of Master Dōgen, is the entirety of this negotiation.

All in all, it usually takes me at least a week (often more) to wrap up a poem, and often I revisit to just nudge a sentence a bit again. Again, as a Dharma practice in patience and diligence, this slow pace works well for me.

I will also post Dr. Heine's translations next to mine, as to offer you a comparison. Usually I just shift the words and exposition a little to fit meter / rhyme. In certain cases, he seems to explain the Chinese / Chan idioms in plain words rather than keeping them intact. In these cases, I often prefer keeping the imagery intact. Finally, when I do have a slightly different reading at times. I'll note why I prefer my reading in these cases.

It should be noted that I am still very much the amateur, and Dr. Heine is, well, the expert here. So, my divergences should be treated as humble questions, rather than firm declarations...

Also, I'll provide a bare-bones, very rough character-by-character glossary, for the curious... Although, some compound words can stretch the meaning of the singular characters, I still hope they'll provide some insight into the 'shape' of the poems in their Sinitic forms...

I hope these translations will prove inspirational for your practice, and know that I'll be very happy to hear your critiques in any case...

With love, in gassho, sat/lah
Simsapa]]> Simsapa https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/treeleaf-arts-music-sports-circle/poetry/568388-arts-some-lyrical-dōgen-poetry-translations <![CDATA[[HEALTH] Mind is forerunner of all actions]]> https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/the-zen-of-health-ailments-in-body-and-mind-practice-group/mental-health-issues-practice-group/568214-health-mind-is-forerunner-of-all-actions Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:51:34 GMT The Dhammapada mentions that the mind is the foundation of all actions. This means that when our minds are calm and at peace, we can be patient,...
As Seiko said, I practice with the body and mind I have at my disposal. I hope one day I can develop the resilience and mindset to alleviate my pain. Take care of yourselves!

Gassho
Hoshin
Satlah]]> Mental Health Issues Practice Group Hōshin https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/the-zen-of-health-ailments-in-body-and-mind-practice-group/mental-health-issues-practice-group/568214-health-mind-is-forerunner-of-all-actions <![CDATA[[Engaged] Heart Sutra for Trump Buddha, Netanyahu Buddha ...]]> https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/engaged-charitable-projects-center/567988-engaged-heart-sutra-for-trump-buddha-netanyahu-buddha Sun, 29 Mar 2026 02:13:40 GMT ... and Ayatollah Khamenei Buddha ... ... each placed upon our Buddhist Altar, offered incense and bows, with sincere hope for Wisdom and...
... each placed upon our Buddhist Altar, offered incense and bows, with sincere hope for Wisdom and Compassion, with remembrance that Buddha Nature is everywhere, and in EVERYONE, even when hidden and hard to see in greed, anger and violence, and the ignorance of divided thinking, me vs. you, friend and enemy. May Peace and Light prevail.

Also, our "Heart Sutra" recitation today is the anti-war song "Zombie" by the Cranberries, remembering that the core message of the Sutra, Emptiness, encompasses both peace and war, the suffering children and other innocents who we do not ignore.

Our Sangha members attending included people from Serbia, Vietnam, Germany and the UK, Japan and the US, and our Ino Washin in Ukraine, all places that know war.
.





Our Three Buddhas on our Altar today ...
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adv2.jpg


For those not familiar with the song ...

"Zombie" by The Cranberries is a 1994 protest song in response to an IRA bombing in Warrington, England, which killed two children. It condemns the violence ... specifically calling out the "mindless" actions of those who continue fighting with hate, extreme views and partisanship only "in your head." It decries the ongoing nature of a conflict that keeps producing "the same old theme" of violence, even in modern times. The "Zombies" are those who are seemingly consumed to march like machines by their ideology, unaffected by the destruction they cause to innocent lives, specifically children, as well as those who stand frozen and silent in the face of such violence. It also speaks of those who see others without care or as an enemy because not their own children and family.
May Wisdom shine through ignorance, may Peace prevail. Please join us in this wish.

Gassho, J
stlah]]> Engaged, EcoDharma and Charitable Projects Center Jundo https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/engaged-charitable-projects-center/567988-engaged-heart-sutra-for-trump-buddha-netanyahu-buddha <![CDATA[[ENGAGED] About the Protests...]]> https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/engaged-charitable-projects-center/567955-engaged-about-the-protests Sat, 28 Mar 2026 05:04:51 GMT There are protests and demonstrations taking place all over the United states, and indeed around the world on Saturday. Not all of them have anything... It's not important to get into the specifics or the numerous issues. Let's talk about the demonstrations.
As Buddhists, and as people who take the Bodhisattva vows seriously, we may wish to be present and be part of these demonstrations, because some of the issues involved are near and dear to our hearts. But how do we approach that, having taken a vow to act on behalf of ALL sentient beings.
(Let's pause here and take a collective deep breath, and resist the temptation to question the sentience of those whose views we oppose...)
I've given this a lot of thought. My own health precludes a lot of direct involvement, but I have worked quite a bit behind the scenes with regard to organizing and coordinating different protest activities. And I have, I think, thought of some ways we can be involved, without engaging in dualistic thought or behavior, or supporting one side of an issue at the expense or to the detriment of those supporting the other side.
Be there to observe. Bear witness, as some put it.
Pay close attention, if you go to the demonstrations, to the people on both sides.
You don't necessarily have to agree with someone's views, but pay attention to the message. Just observe. Witness it. One of the things you may notice is that whichever side of the line they happen to be standing on, they are equally passionate, equally emotionally engaged, and equally convinced of the right of their side. The ideas in question may divide us. Our commitment to them is something we have in common. That's very important to keep in mind. I can tell you from experience that nobody has ever screamed, shouted, or insulted someone into changing their opinion or view.
To be more directly involved then merely observing the goings on, think about things you can do for the people who are there.
Bring bottled water. Bring snacks in sealed packages. Bring some dog treats.
A bit more hands-on... You could go with the first aid kit. Even if you're not particularly trained or qualified, bringing a home first aid kit could prove extremely useful. Band-aids, bandages, and ice pack... These could all prove not only important, but invaluable. They're also an opportunity to exercise compassion.
And that's really the point. Whatever you do, whether you're just going to Bear witness or you go in there with a first aid kit and experience that you can share, here's the thing:
Peaceful. Compassionate. Gentle.
Be there for everyone.
Everyone.
Not just the side you agree with.
Not just the people whose chance you might want to join in. Everyone.
See someone from the other side and trouble?
Help.
See a person who was abusing others who's now being abused?
Help.
See someone who you feel was acting to harm or oppress who is now in need?
Help.
We can have strong beliefs. We can have great compassion, and it is much easier to have compassion for the people that we feel we are supporting or in agreement with. But, Bodhisattvas don't just act for the people they like. It's ALL sentient beings.
It's possible. It's doable. And frankly, it's what's expected.
Whatever happens, if you do decide to be out there in any capacity during the demonstrations and protests tomorrow, please be safe. Be safe for yourself, be safe for the people around you, be safe for everyone, regardless of which side of the argument they happen to be on. And spare a moment for compassion. There is no "me" and no "them." There's only a WE.
Us.
All of our teachings are very clear on that point.
In the words of a great, old TV show "let's be careful out there."

-ANKAI
SatLAH

]]> Engaged, EcoDharma and Charitable Projects Center Ankai https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/engaged-charitable-projects-center/567955-engaged-about-the-protests