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

We have a couple of recent Zazenkai, always available for sitting: Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - Ill-ness Ill-lusion Ill-lumination ...
Dear All, Please sit our Treeleaf Zazenkai for 90 minutes with Zazen, Heart Sutra and more: 10am Japan Saturday morning, NY 9pm, LA 6pm Friday night, London 2am and Paris 3am Saturday morning, or any time thereafter here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytuCql_864A However, "one way" live sitters are


... and ... Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - What the Universe Cannot Do Without You ... ...
Today's little talk is based on my even littler musings: "What the Universe Can't Do Without You ... ... and other sentient beings too. (LINK) (https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?22671-FutureBuddha-%28Hunches-VIII%29-What-the-Universe-Can-t-Do-Without-You) Dear All, Please sit our Treeleaf Zazenkai for


There are a couple of little essays (and audio readings) that accompany those ... What the Universe Can't Do Without You ...
A shortened version of my musings to send to Tricycle ... (Longer Version LINK (https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?22671-FutureBuddha-%28Hunches-VIII%29-What-the-Universe-Can-t-Do-Without-You)) gassho1 1809776418 To fly a kite, one needs kites and wind. Without a kite, there can be no "kite flying."


... and ... Ill-ness Ill-usion Ill-umination ...
AUDIO VERSION OF THIS ESSAY IS AVAILABLE HERE>> (https://soundcloud.com/treeleaf-zendo/ill-ness-ill-usion-ill-umination-jundo-cohen) 1806725112 Illness can be of many kinds. There are the bodily illnesses that effect our physical health, the cancers and bad hearts we sometimes face. There are mental illnesses like


With civilians killed in Odessa again today, including children ... Sunday Zazen for Peace, with Washin ...
Hello everyone, I am thankful for your presence, for practicing together and supporting each other. Led by our Washin from Odessa, this coming Sunday, we will again be sitting for peace in the Ukraine and around the world. Please check with the Treeleaf Practice Calendar for your local time, under the listing Sunday Sit


Some intense thoughts about intense thoughts during Shikantaza ... Sitting through the storm ...
I've noticed if I'm just sitting and not actively trying to focus on the breath or some such object as is practiced in mindfulness exercises and the like, and I just allow whatever thoughts or feelings to be what they are, that they can sometimes be rather intense. Like vivid daydreams or a storm of emotions that create a sort


What's the difference, especially for "monks" who may also be "moms," with jobs to earn money? ... Ordained vs. Lay at TreeLeaf? ...
Hello everyone, Thank you for your patience if this has been answered elsewhere, I have searched quite a bit and haven't found a clear answer - I'm curious as to the difference between the Unsuis'/ordained folks' practice "regimen" vs. the more average TreeLeaf practitioner? Is there a different "minimum"


Thoughts on Disability and Access in Zen Practice ... Rev. Kokuu introduces a recent seminary ...
Dear all I wanted this to have wider visability that just in the HealthDharma forum so am posting it here. It is a write-up of a Soto Zen Buddhist Association (SZBA) workshop that I attended in January on the subject of access and support for disabled Zen students, written by Brendan Crowe, the Online Content Manager at San


... as readings of Darlene Cohen's wonderful book continue in our [HealthDharma] group ...


Is the cure for Dukkha the dropping of all mental contradictions? ... The Contradiction of the 1st and 3rd noble truth ...
Hello everyone, I've been contemplating the First and Third Noble Truths and would like to delve deeper into their meanings. They appear to present a contradiction—at least on the surface. The First Noble Truth acknowledges that suffering is an inherent part of life, while the Third Noble Truth suggests that there is a


Introducing an Article about trans Buddhist experiences ... be who you are, be a good & kind who you are ...


Good to meet people in the flesh, good to communicate by the written word, good to communicate ... Conversation ...


... speaking of which, our friendly Tea Houses are a good place to meet friendly folks ...
Informal, relaxed gatherings to chat, drink some tea and get to know other members.


The Tonglen Train ... next departure, coming up May 5th ...
A group for the practice of Tonglen (Giving and Receiving), guided by Kokuu. An ancient Practice for transformation of Suffering through visualization into love, peace and joy.


Ryaku Fusatsu was a few days ago ... but never too late to join in today ... for it is ALWAYS the Full Moon! ...
Dear all The sangha will meet for the monthly Ryaku Fusatsu ceremony on Sunday, December 15th This is our monthly ceremony of renewing our aspiration to practice with the Precepts. The history of Ryaku Fusatsu is explained HERE (https://tinyurl.com/About-Ryaku-Fusatsu) To find the local time for the event, please check the


There has been some renewed interest in Shakyo ink tracing ... (we have to get the group going again soon) ...
A group to practice Shakyo Sutra tracing and calligraphy, guided by Geika. We also have some folks interested in study of the Japanese language.





And available now, hopefully into the far far future ... my new book ... BUILDING the FUTURE BUDDHA: The Zen of A.I., Genes, Saving the World, and Travel to the Stars ... Please do me a favor and post an Amazon review if your feel like it (it all helps) ...





And DON'T FORGET! ... the experiment continues, and we need you! ... REQUEST - SatToday & Lend-A-Hand: Please LAH and SAT before CHAT!
Dear All, To keep our Sangha focused on Practice and serving other sentient beings, we are making "LAH" the LAW around here, just as we ask "SatToday" of our Forum members. The following is asked of ALL Treeleaf members (except very new members during their first weeks, and others prevented by health and





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!)

As a powerful Zen practice about not falling into words and thoughts, simplifying ideas, not getting tangled, we ask people to keep sentences few in posting. However, it is not some law or hard rule at all. If someone really has something in their heart to say, and it is vital and cannot be said more concisely or silently, then say what one is called to say: In such case, no limit on words needed.

A Request to Sangha Members: "Three Sacred Sentences" Practice
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ences-Practice

* * *


As well, 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.

Gassho, Jundo

(Sorry to run long)

SatTodayLAH