I encourage looking at these threads, topics and posts from recent days ...
Our recent Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai featured little talks and reminders ... This World is (Largely) Mind Created (LINK) and Don't Sit to be Happy, Don't Sit for Yourself (LINK)
Our Bion offered a very nice longer talk recently ... on Paying Attention ... so pay attention to that! ... (LINK)
Rev. Seiko writes a winning essay on winning and losing and our reactions to each ... England 1, Argentina 2 ... (LINK)
Some reflections by me on being a "Left Brain" Skeptical Pragma-Mystic ... One Reason Our Sangha Will Always Be Small ... (LINK)
... and a reminder about Shikantaza Zazen so short that I will just say it all here too:
Our Rev. Washin keeps sitting amid the drones and missiles in Odessa, but reminds us that the best response is not to forget beauty and living ordinary life ... Zazen for Peace ... (LINK)
A question about the eyes in Zazen ... and just being normal, yet untangled and uncaught by what is seen ... (LINK)
Our member Ekai asked about the ethics of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Buddhism ... a big concern in this Sangha ... (LINK)
Is Good for nothing zazen truly just good for nothing? ... or everything good? ... (LINK)
Ryaku Fusatsu ... our Precept Recommitment Ceremony with Rev. Shinkon ... is coming up ... July 26th ... (LINK)
We have tea houses too ... friendly places to just hang out, make friends, just chew the fat ... (LINK)
My upcoming book received some nice endorsements recently ... not to let it go to my head!
... (LINK)
Some nice summery veggie recipes from Hoshuku ... (LINK)
Try your hand at some Zen poetry fun, even for non-poets! ... "Less Is More" Dharma & Poetry Discussion ... (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 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
SatTodayLAH
Our recent Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai featured little talks and reminders ... This World is (Largely) Mind Created (LINK) and Don't Sit to be Happy, Don't Sit for Yourself (LINK)
Our Bion offered a very nice longer talk recently ... on Paying Attention ... so pay attention to that! ... (LINK)
Rev. Seiko writes a winning essay on winning and losing and our reactions to each ... England 1, Argentina 2 ... (LINK)
Some reflections by me on being a "Left Brain" Skeptical Pragma-Mystic ... One Reason Our Sangha Will Always Be Small ... (LINK)
... and a reminder about Shikantaza Zazen so short that I will just say it all here too:
Someone posted elsewhere a question along the lines, "What do you wish you had been told about Zazen when you started?"
I responded, "To wish for just this. Cease the wishing for this and that. ...
... To radically cease to think of Zazen as a tool or means, rather than as a completion and arrival."
Disregard advice that makes it like a motor in which one wants better gas mileage and horse power, for that vehicle simply takes one farther away.
.
I responded, "To wish for just this. Cease the wishing for this and that. ...
... To radically cease to think of Zazen as a tool or means, rather than as a completion and arrival."
Disregard advice that makes it like a motor in which one wants better gas mileage and horse power, for that vehicle simply takes one farther away.
.
Fortunately, my early encounter was with a good Soto Zen teacher, and this is precisely what I was told. 
LINK
LINK
A question about the eyes in Zazen ... and just being normal, yet untangled and uncaught by what is seen ... (LINK)
Our member Ekai asked about the ethics of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Buddhism ... a big concern in this Sangha ... (LINK)
Is Good for nothing zazen truly just good for nothing? ... or everything good? ... (LINK)
Ryaku Fusatsu ... our Precept Recommitment Ceremony with Rev. Shinkon ... is coming up ... July 26th ... (LINK)
We have tea houses too ... friendly places to just hang out, make friends, just chew the fat ... (LINK)
My upcoming book received some nice endorsements recently ... not to let it go to my head!
... (LINK)Some nice summery veggie recipes from Hoshuku ... (LINK)
Try your hand at some Zen poetry fun, even for non-poets! ... "Less Is More" Dharma & Poetry Discussion ... (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 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
SatTodayLAH