I encourage looking at these threads, topics and posts from recent days ...
We have our always available weekly 90 minute (LINK and LINK) and monthly 4-hour (LINK) Treeleaf Zazenkais ... please come sit ...
There are other sittings during the week (LINK) including the European Zazenkai (LINK) and Washin's Sunday Sit for Peace from Ukraine (LINK)
Renew the Precepts ... Ryaku Fusatsu ceremony on Sunday, June 15th ... (LINK)
Learning to read, and write like, Dogen ... not too late to jump in ... The Zen Master's Dance (LINK) and (LINK)
Why our novice priests "sprinkle salt" on their comments ... but you need not ... Novice Priests & the Grain of Salt ... (LINK)
Soto Teacher Issho Fujita offer wise words on sitting Shikantaza Zazen .... No returning, no samadhi, only sit ... (LINK)
Did Shakyamuni Really Practice [Shikantaza] Zazen? ... Hard to say for sure, but maybe yes he did ... (LINK)
When you need to speak up, no need to be passive ... but neither get angry ... Zen and Passivity ... (LINK)
Can Zen folks feel Passion/Enthusiasm ?? ... YES! But there are good and bad ways ... (LINK)
Likewise ... not dread, but a little fear is natural and can be healthy ... The Zen Buddhist perspective on dread ...(LINK)
For the monks bowls presented during Ordination ... Thank You to Tōsei 東西 Shoemaker: ... Of Priests and Potters ... (LINK)
Happy Pride Month to our LGBTQ2+ members ... (LINK)
Our Friendly Tea Houses ... meeting from time to time, just to hang out ... (LINK)
Keeping us safe from invaders ... Our Ferocious Warrior: Kotei-mahakala ... (LINK)
We celebrated Our 2025 TREELEAF Home-Leaving ORDINATION of Kojitsu, Shinkon & Koriki ... (LINK)
And DON'T FORGET! ... the experiment continues, and we need you! ...
REQUEST - SatToday & Lend-A-Hand: Please LAH and SAT before CHAT! (LINK)
.
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 (LINK)
* * *
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
We have our always available weekly 90 minute (LINK and LINK) and monthly 4-hour (LINK) Treeleaf Zazenkais ... please come sit ...
There are other sittings during the week (LINK) including the European Zazenkai (LINK) and Washin's Sunday Sit for Peace from Ukraine (LINK)
Renew the Precepts ... Ryaku Fusatsu ceremony on Sunday, June 15th ... (LINK)
Learning to read, and write like, Dogen ... not too late to jump in ... The Zen Master's Dance (LINK) and (LINK)
Why our novice priests "sprinkle salt" on their comments ... but you need not ... Novice Priests & the Grain of Salt ... (LINK)
Soto Teacher Issho Fujita offer wise words on sitting Shikantaza Zazen .... No returning, no samadhi, only sit ... (LINK)
Did Shakyamuni Really Practice [Shikantaza] Zazen? ... Hard to say for sure, but maybe yes he did ... (LINK)
When you need to speak up, no need to be passive ... but neither get angry ... Zen and Passivity ... (LINK)
Can Zen folks feel Passion/Enthusiasm ?? ... YES! But there are good and bad ways ... (LINK)
Likewise ... not dread, but a little fear is natural and can be healthy ... The Zen Buddhist perspective on dread ...(LINK)
For the monks bowls presented during Ordination ... Thank You to Tōsei 東西 Shoemaker: ... Of Priests and Potters ... (LINK)
Happy Pride Month to our LGBTQ2+ members ... (LINK)
Our Friendly Tea Houses ... meeting from time to time, just to hang out ... (LINK)
Keeping us safe from invaders ... Our Ferocious Warrior: Kotei-mahakala ... (LINK)
We celebrated Our 2025 TREELEAF Home-Leaving ORDINATION of Kojitsu, Shinkon & Koriki ... (LINK)
And DON'T FORGET! ... the experiment continues, and we need you! ...
REQUEST - SatToday & Lend-A-Hand: Please LAH and SAT before CHAT! (LINK)
.
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 (LINK)
* * *
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