I encourage looking at these threads, topics and posts today ...
Please come sit our November MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI! ... chanting the Heart Sutra in Japanese this time ... and a talk on The Verse of Atonement, The Four Vows and other Chants heard around Zen Sangha ...
For our Jukai reflections, a sober discussion of PRECEPTS VII - To Refrain from Intoxication ...
... and also available for Ango reaping ... Ango Practice Partner Exercise #5 on Nurturing Seeds ...
An old reminder to all our Ango and Jukai folks when they face both ups and downs ... SIT-A-LONG with JUNDO: An URGENT ANGO CAUTION! ...
Dropping the armor ... Grass Hut - 35 - "Lay Down My Sword and Shield" ...
A news article on Buddhism having a hard time in Japan ... but (says Jundo) it depends how one reads history ... Zen No More in Japan ...
One of our friends has a near miss in an accident ... a good chance for gratitude in the face of the "near miss and hit" which is our whole life ... Your so blessed? ... I say YES! ...
... And looking at this new NASA film of the wonder of that sun which shines our life, another cosmic "near miss" that it exists at all, might put things in perspective ..
Workplace sitting group... Any folks interested in organizing one? We have some resources to help ...
Christmas marketing right after Halloween ... and how strange Christmas can be here in Japan ...
Podcast recommendations, both Zenny and just all kinds of stuff ... Podcasts (Treeleaf and Otherwise) ...
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.
(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 THE PREVIOUS DAY BEFORE POSTING IN THE FORUM (please read about that here):
Gassho, Jundo
SatToday!
Please come sit our November MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI! ... chanting the Heart Sutra in Japanese this time ... and a talk on The Verse of Atonement, The Four Vows and other Chants heard around Zen Sangha ...
For our Jukai reflections, a sober discussion of PRECEPTS VII - To Refrain from Intoxication ...
... and also available for Ango reaping ... Ango Practice Partner Exercise #5 on Nurturing Seeds ...
An old reminder to all our Ango and Jukai folks when they face both ups and downs ... SIT-A-LONG with JUNDO: An URGENT ANGO CAUTION! ...
Dropping the armor ... Grass Hut - 35 - "Lay Down My Sword and Shield" ...
A news article on Buddhism having a hard time in Japan ... but (says Jundo) it depends how one reads history ... Zen No More in Japan ...
One of our friends has a near miss in an accident ... a good chance for gratitude in the face of the "near miss and hit" which is our whole life ... Your so blessed? ... I say YES! ...
... And looking at this new NASA film of the wonder of that sun which shines our life, another cosmic "near miss" that it exists at all, might put things in perspective ..
Workplace sitting group... Any folks interested in organizing one? We have some resources to help ...
Christmas marketing right after Halloween ... and how strange Christmas can be here in Japan ...
Podcast recommendations, both Zenny and just all kinds of stuff ... Podcasts (Treeleaf and Otherwise) ...
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.
(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 THE PREVIOUS DAY BEFORE POSTING IN THE FORUM (please read about that here):
Gassho, Jundo
SatToday!