I encourage looking at these threads, topics and posts today ...
You are invited to sit any time of the week or month with our weekly and monthly Treeleaf Zazenkai ... this week we danced a Bossa Nova Heart Sutra! ... life's dance of smiles and tears ...
A comment from a new member with a disability on "proper" posture ... spoiler alert: Posture starts with the body, but is also between the ears ...
After sewing a Rakusu for Jukai, some folks go on to Sewing a Kesa ... some reflections ...
It is not always about speed or effort ... a nice story from Geoff on An Old Man chopped wood ...
Our "no words" Book Club looks at Book of Equinimity CASE 82: UMMON’S SOUNDS AND SHAPES ... get in shape! ...
Our art circle is hopping with The Zen of Creativity introduction and chapter one ...
and
... and also our various poetry/Haiku groups and the like ... 5-7-5 is just a suggestion! ...
Reminder ... Especially for newer folks ... FEELING LOST AROUND THE COMMUNITY? Contact our "Sangha Buddhies" ... friends to help people find their way around ...
And DON'T FORGET! ... the experiment continues, and we need you! ... A TREELEAF EXPERIMENT with EVERYONE’S PARTICIPATION REQUESTED: “LAH” (Lend A Hand)
I am so glad if this place and the practice are benefiting you. If so, you might consider a DONATION to Treeleaf at this LINK, although there is absolutely no need or requirement to do so. Thank you.
A Re-MINDer on SIMPLICITY:
In a Zen Monastery, SILENCE or A FEW WISE WORDS are cherished over MANY WORDS. Thus, I advise folks to restrain the need to speak unless the heart truly calls. If you find yourself posting many times each day, maybe consider what truly needs to be said ... and when it is best just to answer with silence and an inner Gassho.
SILENCE OR A FEW HESITANT WORDS OF FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT OFTEN SPEAK MOST PROFOUNDLY. Post when it is truly important to you and needs to be spoken from the warm heart.
(BUT too much silence or shyness can also be excessive ... so take the Middle Way!)
Also, to those who may get lost among the many threads and conversations in our Forum, please think of a monastery made of wood or brick, with 100 monks holding 10,000 conversations in the hallways, kitchen, Abbot's rooms and library (I assume no chatting in the Zendo where people sit Zazen).
Would you need or want to hear or join in all or most conversations? Of course not! You would, at best, pick and choose the conversations relevant and helpful to you.
So here too in our Sangha, NO NEED TO READ EVERY CONVERSATION: Try to note the ones that seem helpful to your Practice or interests, leave the rest. The above threads are a few suggestions.
Oh, and we do ask folks to note that they have SAT ZAZEN DURING THE LAST DAY BEFORE POSTING IN THE FORUM (please read about that here):
Gassho, Jundo
SatTodayLAH
You are invited to sit any time of the week or month with our weekly and monthly Treeleaf Zazenkai ... this week we danced a Bossa Nova Heart Sutra! ... life's dance of smiles and tears ...
A comment from a new member with a disability on "proper" posture ... spoiler alert: Posture starts with the body, but is also between the ears ...
After sewing a Rakusu for Jukai, some folks go on to Sewing a Kesa ... some reflections ...
It is not always about speed or effort ... a nice story from Geoff on An Old Man chopped wood ...
Our "no words" Book Club looks at Book of Equinimity CASE 82: UMMON’S SOUNDS AND SHAPES ... get in shape! ...
Our art circle is hopping with The Zen of Creativity introduction and chapter one ...
and
... and also our various poetry/Haiku groups and the like ... 5-7-5 is just a suggestion! ...
Reminder ... Especially for newer folks ... FEELING LOST AROUND THE COMMUNITY? Contact our "Sangha Buddhies" ... friends to help people find their way around ...
And DON'T FORGET! ... the experiment continues, and we need you! ... A TREELEAF EXPERIMENT with EVERYONE’S PARTICIPATION REQUESTED: “LAH” (Lend A Hand)
I am so glad if this place and the practice are benefiting you. If so, you might consider a DONATION to Treeleaf at this LINK, although there is absolutely no need or requirement to do so. Thank you.
A Re-MINDer on SIMPLICITY:
In a Zen Monastery, SILENCE or A FEW WISE WORDS are cherished over MANY WORDS. Thus, I advise folks to restrain the need to speak unless the heart truly calls. If you find yourself posting many times each day, maybe consider what truly needs to be said ... and when it is best just to answer with silence and an inner Gassho.
SILENCE OR A FEW HESITANT WORDS OF FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT OFTEN SPEAK MOST PROFOUNDLY. Post when it is truly important to you and needs to be spoken from the warm heart.
(BUT too much silence or shyness can also be excessive ... so take the Middle Way!)
Also, to those who may get lost among the many threads and conversations in our Forum, please think of a monastery made of wood or brick, with 100 monks holding 10,000 conversations in the hallways, kitchen, Abbot's rooms and library (I assume no chatting in the Zendo where people sit Zazen).
Would you need or want to hear or join in all or most conversations? Of course not! You would, at best, pick and choose the conversations relevant and helpful to you.
So here too in our Sangha, NO NEED TO READ EVERY CONVERSATION: Try to note the ones that seem helpful to your Practice or interests, leave the rest. The above threads are a few suggestions.
Oh, and we do ask folks to note that they have SAT ZAZEN DURING THE LAST DAY BEFORE POSTING IN THE FORUM (please read about that here):
Gassho, Jundo
SatTodayLAH