I encourage looking at these threads, topics and posts today .
What is "Jukai" anyway ... and "Taking Refuge"? ... PRECEPTS I - JUKAI and THE THREE REFUGES ...
Also time to gather one's materials and thread the needle ... 2020 Rakusu Sew-a-Long ...
Purely optional, just if they ring one's bell ... Optional for Ango: The Simple Living Practices ... many only take a moment ...
Some folks are lone wolves (we say single "rhino horns" in Buddhist lingo) ... others would like a buddy ... good either way ... ANGO 2020 Ango Buddies pair-ups ...
And a place to say anything you need to say vis-a-vis Ango ... Experiencing Ango 2020 - DO SHARE YOUR PERSONAL ANGO COMMITMENTS & EXPERIENCES HERE ...
In fact, all of the above action, and to come, is right in our Jukai & Ango area of the forum:
Our 4-Hour Monthly Zazenkai this month kicked of with a talk about the spirit of Jukai and Ango ... you can still sit that any time ... all at once, or in small bites, all fine ...
A Message to Commence Ango 2020: "Tough and Relentless," "Relaxed" and "At Ease" ... a short essay on being "tough" and sticking with Ango by being soft and flexible ...
Uchiyama creatively employs some traditional Buddhist rebirth images to describe why people first come to Zazen ... Zen of the six realms ...
A lot of questions from someone, and my attempts to answer as I can ... Practice ... For Dogen, Practice --is-- perfect! ...
The vegans and carnivores take a bite of each other! ... Zen, Bodhisattva vow and veganism/vegetarianism ... (we will revisit this for our Precept studies in a few weeks too) ...
Sadly, a dear friend who is passing, what rituals might offer ... Gathas for the dead. ... (Let us wish peace to all as well, the sick and all who are their friends) ...
And for another Sangha friend with a very ill loved one, other members reach out ... A request: My mother is dying ... (More peace to all, the sick and all who love them) ...
A book by my Dharma Brother who is also a Lutheran Priest ... Back in Print: My Christian Journey with Zen ...
Don't get too attached to this thread ... What is the difference between desire, attachment and clinging? ...
Politics at the Zendo Door ... why we leave it outside, even if we later pick it up again ...
Tonglen Tonight! ... or any time ...
A new Zen-of-Everything Podcast Episode ... ... Episode 33 ... Competition ... trying to beat all the other podcasts! ...
Note that the "no words" bookclub "Zen Women" discussion is on Hiatus during Ango.
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
Jukai and Ango have Begun! Here are several threads related to that:
What is "Jukai" anyway ... and "Taking Refuge"? ... PRECEPTS I - JUKAI and THE THREE REFUGES ...
Also time to gather one's materials and thread the needle ... 2020 Rakusu Sew-a-Long ...
Purely optional, just if they ring one's bell ... Optional for Ango: The Simple Living Practices ... many only take a moment ...
Some folks are lone wolves (we say single "rhino horns" in Buddhist lingo) ... others would like a buddy ... good either way ... ANGO 2020 Ango Buddies pair-ups ...
And a place to say anything you need to say vis-a-vis Ango ... Experiencing Ango 2020 - DO SHARE YOUR PERSONAL ANGO COMMITMENTS & EXPERIENCES HERE ...
In fact, all of the above action, and to come, is right in our Jukai & Ango area of the forum:
Our 4-Hour Monthly Zazenkai this month kicked of with a talk about the spirit of Jukai and Ango ... you can still sit that any time ... all at once, or in small bites, all fine ...
A Message to Commence Ango 2020: "Tough and Relentless," "Relaxed" and "At Ease" ... a short essay on being "tough" and sticking with Ango by being soft and flexible ...
And on to other threads around the Forum ...
Uchiyama creatively employs some traditional Buddhist rebirth images to describe why people first come to Zazen ... Zen of the six realms ...
A lot of questions from someone, and my attempts to answer as I can ... Practice ... For Dogen, Practice --is-- perfect! ...
The vegans and carnivores take a bite of each other! ... Zen, Bodhisattva vow and veganism/vegetarianism ... (we will revisit this for our Precept studies in a few weeks too) ...
Sadly, a dear friend who is passing, what rituals might offer ... Gathas for the dead. ... (Let us wish peace to all as well, the sick and all who are their friends) ...
And for another Sangha friend with a very ill loved one, other members reach out ... A request: My mother is dying ... (More peace to all, the sick and all who love them) ...
A book by my Dharma Brother who is also a Lutheran Priest ... Back in Print: My Christian Journey with Zen ...
Don't get too attached to this thread ... What is the difference between desire, attachment and clinging? ...
Politics at the Zendo Door ... why we leave it outside, even if we later pick it up again ...
Tonglen Tonight! ... or any time ...
A new Zen-of-Everything Podcast Episode ... ... Episode 33 ... Competition ... trying to beat all the other podcasts! ...
Note that the "no words" bookclub "Zen Women" discussion is on Hiatus during Ango.
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