I encourage looking at these threads, topics and posts today ...
As Jukai and Ango enter their 4th week ... please sit our weekly Zazenkai, any time and place ... The little talk was continuing practice when practice becomes quite ordinary ...
My Zen as Embodiment series continues with ... (2) - Buddha 'Sitting' Buddha ... our Zazen happens under the Bodhi Tree ...
... and Zen as Embodiment (3) - One for All, All for One ... we you sit, EVERYTHING sits! ...
A potentially pendandic question about "volition" ... but Zen folks tend to not get bogged down in definitions ...
Sharing video about 1st temple Eiheiji ... including discussion of some things not shown in the film ...
A lovely taste of Ryokan from Tom ... Childlike, joy, wonder and simplicity ... wandering carefree through town
Onkai reports from an important seminar ... My Experience at Village Zendo Workshop on Race ...
A vital aspect of our practice ... Equanimity and a Grandmother's Heart ... which, for Dogen, could means sometimes being firm ...
We need that equanimity sometimes with family and friends ... Personal problems ... they worry for our souls ...
A recommendation of one of the best "Zen Books" of all time! (and timeless!) ... How To Cook Your Life : from the Zen kitchen to Enlightenment ...
A film of few words, showing life in a Chinese monastery even today ... chanting, sitting, work ... One Mind ...
Another beautiful little film, if you get a chance ... My Octopus Teacher ...
The origins are lost in the fog of time ... How the Hokey Pokey got started ... come dance with us next monthly Zazenkai ...
Always the right time for Tonglen ... Tonglen today, Tonglen tomorrow ...
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
As Jukai and Ango enter their 4th week ... please sit our weekly Zazenkai, any time and place ... The little talk was continuing practice when practice becomes quite ordinary ...
My Zen as Embodiment series continues with ... (2) - Buddha 'Sitting' Buddha ... our Zazen happens under the Bodhi Tree ...
... and Zen as Embodiment (3) - One for All, All for One ... we you sit, EVERYTHING sits! ...
A potentially pendandic question about "volition" ... but Zen folks tend to not get bogged down in definitions ...
Sharing video about 1st temple Eiheiji ... including discussion of some things not shown in the film ...
A lovely taste of Ryokan from Tom ... Childlike, joy, wonder and simplicity ... wandering carefree through town
Onkai reports from an important seminar ... My Experience at Village Zendo Workshop on Race ...
A vital aspect of our practice ... Equanimity and a Grandmother's Heart ... which, for Dogen, could means sometimes being firm ...
We need that equanimity sometimes with family and friends ... Personal problems ... they worry for our souls ...
A recommendation of one of the best "Zen Books" of all time! (and timeless!) ... How To Cook Your Life : from the Zen kitchen to Enlightenment ...
A film of few words, showing life in a Chinese monastery even today ... chanting, sitting, work ... One Mind ...
Another beautiful little film, if you get a chance ... My Octopus Teacher ...
The origins are lost in the fog of time ... How the Hokey Pokey got started ... come dance with us next monthly Zazenkai ...
Always the right time for Tonglen ... Tonglen today, Tonglen tomorrow ...
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