I encourage looking at these threads, topics and posts today ...
Please sit together OUR MAY MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI! ... including a talk on Zen in Tibet ...
If you have a smartphone (although there are ways to go by computer too), please sit with our Insight Timer Treeleaf Group ...
From Next Week: we will return to the Koans of the Book of Equanimity ... although how does one return to what is never left? (A Koan) ...
Questions on Good and bad Zazen ... which has to do with sitting good beyond "good and bad" in a world of good and bad
...
... and a nice quote there from our Byokan:
Sitting with all the passing thoughts yet not a prisoner of all the passing thoughts ... Clear when things are clear, Clear on cloudy days too ... Anatomy of a Sit ...
Gratitude ... our Zenny way is a Great Gratitude even for all the stuff we ain't grateful for in this life ...
18 Metta Sutta Translations ... and some comments on happiness and contentment ...
Breath in Soto Zen ... let it be ...
Should I stay or should I go ... and the Zen way of just being where one be ... Big decisions ...
... and look for a visit by Bro. Brad Warner to lead a Zazenkai here in June ... details soon!
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
Please sit together OUR MAY MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI! ... including a talk on Zen in Tibet ...
If you have a smartphone (although there are ways to go by computer too), please sit with our Insight Timer Treeleaf Group ...
From Next Week: we will return to the Koans of the Book of Equanimity ... although how does one return to what is never left? (A Koan) ...
Questions on Good and bad Zazen ... which has to do with sitting good beyond "good and bad" in a world of good and bad
... ... and a nice quote there from our Byokan:
And, can you see... the blue sky... it’s not only behind the clouds. It comes forward AS the clouds.
There’s nothing hiding behind something else. It’s all right here. Look, look! And stop looking. Everything you’re looking for is all the stuff that seems to be in the way. Look again!
There’s nothing hiding behind something else. It’s all right here. Look, look! And stop looking. Everything you’re looking for is all the stuff that seems to be in the way. Look again!
Gratitude ... our Zenny way is a Great Gratitude even for all the stuff we ain't grateful for in this life ...
18 Metta Sutta Translations ... and some comments on happiness and contentment ...
Breath in Soto Zen ... let it be ...
Should I stay or should I go ... and the Zen way of just being where one be ... Big decisions ...
... and look for a visit by Bro. Brad Warner to lead a Zazenkai here in June ... details soon!
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