January 25th Recommended Threads

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  • Jundo
    Treeleaf Founder and Priest
    • Apr 2006
    • 40307

    January 25th Recommended Threads

    I encourage looking at these threads, topics and posts today ...

    Please sit with any of our recent Treeleaf Zazenkai ... always fresh ...


    Many folks are walking through this gate ... held open by our Shokai ... What's a Dharma Gate...
    For anyone interested in learning more about Dharma Gates and specifically the Ippyakuhachi-hōmyōmon / One Hundred and Eight Gates of Dharma Illumination.; go to this link (https://www.bdkamerica.org/system/files/pdf/dBET_T2582_Shobogenzo4_2008_0.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=490) Vol. 4 of the Cross-Nishijima


    What Zazen is ... What Zazen ls Not ... and beyond all thoughts of is or is not ...
    Zazen, Shikantaza, is --not-- about learning to relax or feel happy. Sorry, but folks who are looking for such things from Zazen are sadly mistaken. Zazen will not make life in this ordinary world always a fun vacation, a never ending high, a paradise without sometime tears. Zazen is about the Great Matter of Life and Death,


    For our working members ... Zen, Zazen and Work/Business. Questions about incorporating practice into our work ...
    Hello all, 2020 is still fresh and it would be nice to instill some better habits, especially around Zen practice [morehappy]! During Ango, a big part of my 'challenge' was work. As Jundo mentioned, this was my Ango! I am hoping, that with some wisdom and more practice I can fully engage with my tasks and duties and learn to


    Zazen on a plane ... bouncing up and down and all around ...
    I had a 5-hour plane flight today. I thought it would be a good time to get in some zazen. I tried three different times and kept falling asleep. I don't fall asleep at home even when late and tired. Maybe it was the vibrations. Gassho, Drew Sat


    A group of discussions on "eye" issues in Zazen ... SPLIT THREAD: EYE-to-EYE ... seeing things clearly ...
    JUNDO NOTE: A split thread of various questions about the eyes in Zazen, originally from our "We're All Beginners" Series mailbox: Hi Jundo, I sometimes find myself drifting off when keeping my gaze on just one point on the wall ahead of me. Is it advisable to look around a little when attention becomes weak from


    For our Rakusu folks ... What does the tree the image of broken pine needle on the rakusu look like? ...
    Hi folks, I was just wondering what the tree inspired the broken pine needle on the back of our rakusu's looks like? Does anyone know what they are call? Thanks! Gassho Sattoday Hoseki


    A recently rediscovered old manuscript and some comments about it by me ... The Handbook Of Authentic Buddhism - Nishijima Roshi ...
    Hello all, I by happen chance stumbled across a video of Brad Warner talking about a book written/translated by one of Nishijima Roshi's dharma heir's Mike Luetchford. You can find a link to the book here: http://www.shobogenzo.net/index.php/text/handbook-of-authentic-buddhism/ Jundo, I think members of our Sangha will find


    Why so many Z words in Zen ... and why do we put the Rakusu on our heads? ... Now, for the REALLY stupid questions ... no such questions are stupid! ...
    Now that I've been through Jukai, I feel I can ask the REALLY stupid questions. For starters: 1. Why do so many words in zen begin with z? Zen, zazen, zafu, zabuton, zenji, etc. 2. Why do we put the rakusu on our heads? Sitting with the rakusu on my head for so long this morning, I couldn't help but wonder.


    In the Treeleaf Art Circle ... Zen of Creativity Chapter 11 ...
    Adult life is dealing with an enormous amount of questions that don't have answers. So I let the mystery settle into my music. I don't deny anything, I don't advocate anything, I just live with it. -Bruce Springsteen- Greetings all creatives! We are back. We took a brief hiatus to get us through ANGO, the holidays and Jukai.


    ... and Lead to Life ...
    Hello everyone, I am posting this in the Art Circle, as the trans-formative action of art can help with healing a community. Guns forged into shovels. A very moving piece. https://vimeo.com/278336825 Gassho Anne ~lahst~


    ... also, look for a restart of our "No Words Book Club" this week ... Okumura Roshi's Realizing Genjo Koan ...


    And to top it off ... notice that we have ADDED A LINK to TreeleafNOW in the TOP BAR OF EVERY TREELEAF PAGE ... scroll up for a peak ...



    Reminder ... Especially for newer folks ... FEELING LOST AROUND THE COMMUNITY? Contact our "Sangha Buddhies" ... friends to help people find their way around ...
    Dear All, and especially New Members, Are you feeling a little lost wandering the halls of our Forum? Hard to find things? Wondering about some of our activities and how to participate? Please feel free to contact one or more of the "Sangha Buddhies" volunteers below and they can help. They are older members who are





    And DON'T FORGET! ... the experiment continues, and we need you! ... A TREELEAF EXPERIMENT with EVERYONE’S PARTICIPATION REQUESTED: “LAH” (Lend A Hand)
    Dear All, As you know, we've asked folks to write “SAT TODAY” next to their signature before posting in this Forum. "SAT TODAY" means that someone has sat Zazen sometime during the past day, and that they will have “sat before chatting” in the Forum. Signing "SatToday" - Please





    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):

    Dear All, Treeleaf Sangha is a Practice Place centered on the daily Sitting of Shikantaza Zazen. We ask all our members to have sat Zazen sometime in the preceding day (today or yesterday) before posting in this Forum and joining in discussion. Please have "Sat" before any "Chat". gassho1 Also, both as


    Gassho, Jundo


    SatTodayLAH
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE
  • Jundo
    Treeleaf Founder and Priest
    • Apr 2006
    • 40307

    #2
    Also ... 'The ZEN of EVERYTHING! Podcast' ... Episode 17: Is Zen Hard or Easy? ...
    Episode 17: Is Zen Hard or Easy? THE LINK: https://www.zen-of-everything.com/17 For more about the podcast, where to send your serious or silly questions ... https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?17016-The-ZEN-of-EVERYTHING%21-Podcast-with-Jundo-Kirk-is-ON-THE-AIR%21 You can also sign up by RSS,
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

    Comment

    • Onka
      Member
      • May 2019
      • 1575

      #3
      Thanks for the reminder of Shokai's Dharma Gate thread.
      Gassho
      Onka
      Sat today
      穏 On (Calm)
      火 Ka (Fires)
      They/She.

      Comment

      • Jundo
        Treeleaf Founder and Priest
        • Apr 2006
        • 40307

        #4
        Things have settled down around here, so we get back to ... Realizing Genjokoan - Chapter 5 - Last Portion ... in the "No Words" Book Club. This week, about drinking milk and the milk drinking you! ...

        Dear Genjoers, Well, as Ango and Jukai season has come to rest this year, a good time to return to Rev. Okumura's Realizing Genjo Koan. We pick up with the final pages of Chapter 5, bottom of page 66 to the end. It is a good place to resume. I feel that, in these pages, Rev. Okumura is pointing to our transcendence of the
        ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

        Comment

        • Tai Shi
          Member
          • Oct 2014
          • 3414

          #5
          Shokai, where is your Dharma Gate, for Dharma, I am hungry. Also, I have started at the back of your Title, please, I respect your linage. I ask are Priests the same as Lay People? Sekeishi says Usuri are the same as lay folks, so why are we folk, are Priests and priests in training equal as are priests in training and lay people?
          Gassho
          calm poetry
          sat/lah
          Peaceful, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, for positive poetry 優婆塞 台 婆

          Comment

          • Kokuu
            Treeleaf Priest
            • Nov 2012
            • 6841

            #6
            Sekeishi says Usuri are the same as lay folks
            Hi Tai Shi

            It depends what we mean as 'the same'.

            In terms of practice there is no difference between lay folk and unsui. You sitting Shikantaza is the same as me sitting Shikantaza. You reading Realizing Genjokoan is the same as me reading Realizing Genjokoan. There is no difference.

            However, there is clearly a reason for the demarcation in that some people have chosen to dedicate their life to practice and becoming a priest and they, with Jundo's permission and a ceremony, become unsui.

            Our role is different from that of lay folk. Our Zen practice is not (other than being of service in the Zendo).

            Gassho
            Kokuu
            -sattoday/lah-
            Last edited by Kokuu; 02-15-2020, 10:11 PM.

            Comment

            • Jundo
              Treeleaf Founder and Priest
              • Apr 2006
              • 40307

              #7
              Originally posted by Kokuu
              However, there is clearly a reason for the demarcation in that some people have chosen to dedicate their life to practice and becoming a priest and they, with Jundo's permission and a ceremony, becoming unsui.

              Our role is different from that of lay folk. Our Zen practice is not (other than being of service in the Zendo).

              Gassho
              Yes, to be a priest or priest in training is to move from being a passenger on the ship to a member of the crew of service to the passengers, from diner in the restaurant to waiters, cooks and busboys. People think that it is some kind of "step up," but it is meant as a step down. It is an unpaid role of service and helping. The job of "teacher" and "priest" is to keep the ship moving, the nutrition coming, and to learn our Ways to help Sentient Beings in their Practice, and then to pass these beautiful ways down to some willing fools in the next generation. (By the way, I prefer the old Chinese terms ""shanzhishi" = a "good wise friend (along the path)" (善知識, Sanskrit kalyanamitra) instead of "teacher," and the proper Japanese word "Sangha companion" 僧侶 ("Soryo") instead of "priest")

              This came up this week when somebody who visited our Zazenkai in Tsukuba for the weekly Zazenkai, and asked why I stand in front of the Altar during ceremonies while others watch. Good point. For 2500 years, the priest is in the front, while the others watch. When I do so, I am just supposed to be the representative of everyone. However, it also implies some separation and rank. Therefore, time to change that, and we will take the lead. From time to time, I will invite some of our older members to "stand up there" during the ceremonies, lighting incense and representing all of us. It is also unprecedented in Zen and other traditional Buddhism to do that.

              Gassho, J

              STLah
              ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

              Comment

              • Washin
                Treeleaf Unsui
                • Dec 2014
                • 3794

                #8
                Yes, to be a priest or priest in training is to move from being a passenger on the ship to a member of the crew of service to the passengers, from diner in the restaurant to waiters, cooks and busboys. People think that it is some kind of "step up," but it is meant as a step down. It is an unpaid role of service and helping. The job of "teacher" and "priest" is to keep the ship moving, the nutrition coming, and to learn our Ways to help Sentient Beings in their Practice, and then to pass these beautiful ways down to some willing fools in the next generation. (By the way, I prefer the old Chinese terms ""shanzhishi" = a "good wise friend (along the path)" (善知識, Sanskrit kalyanamitra) instead of "teacher," and the proper Japanese word "Sangha companion" 僧侶 ("Soryo") instead of "priest")
                Kaidō (皆道) Every Way
                Washin (和信) Harmony Trust
                ----
                I am a novice priest-in-training. Anything that I say must not be considered as teaching
                and should be taken with a 'grain of salt'.

                Comment

                • Tai Shi
                  Member
                  • Oct 2014
                  • 3414

                  #9
                  From stern to sterage to bow, I am servant in my responsibility because I know. Two men depend on me, our daughter depends on us, my friends expect me to be consistent, my wife for her I chose to be responsible day by day, and with all who affirm our history, we are a keystone in the arch that leads to freedom for love and tolerance is our code, as the Buddha found compassion, so we find consistent compassion, as life exists in this or not, in this cell, in this drop of dew, in my awareness so alone for others.
                  Tai Shi
                  calm poetry
                  sat/ lah
                  Gassho
                  Deep bows
                  Peaceful, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, for positive poetry 優婆塞 台 婆

                  Comment

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