January 25th Recommended Threads

**Jundo** · 01-25-2020, 07:33 AM

Also ... 'The ZEN of EVERYTHING! Podcast' ... Episode 17: Is Zen Hard or Easy? ...

'The ZEN of EVERYTHING! Podcast' ... Episode 17 .... - Treeleaf Zendo

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?17510-The-ZEN-of-EVERYTHING%21-Podcast-Episode-17

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,

**Onka** · 01-25-2020, 08:51 AM

Thanks for the reminder of Shokai's Dharma Gate thread.
Gassho
Onka
Sat today

**Jundo** · 01-27-2020, 10:30 AM

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! ...

Realizing Genjokoan - Chapter 5 - Last Portion - Treeleaf Zendo

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?17514-Realizing-Genjokoan-Chapter-5-Last-Portion

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

**Tai Shi** · 02-15-2020, 02:01 PM

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

**Kokuu** · 02-15-2020, 02:48 PM

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-

**Jundo** · 02-15-2020, 09:30 PM

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

**Washin** · 02-16-2020, 11:02 AM

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")

**Tai Shi** · 02-16-2020, 11:23 AM

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

January 25th Recommended Threads

January 25th Recommended Threads

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment