My Cancer Ango - 9 - "Angos of Hard Knocks"

[Zenmei]

It does promote discussion of what the basic requirements of a priest are and if all those with dharma transmission are expected to fulfill the function of a priest or if some might take on another role. Could Ryokan have run a retreat? I don't know but his ability to write poems and brush calligraphy has left arguably more of a legacy than a couple of sesshins. Not to compare the two but in the west all dharma transmission seems to come with an understanding that one will teach as the head of a centre or monastery and might there be other ways of teaching, including writing, various artistic efforts (for example, if Daizan produced paintings that contained the essence of Zen wouldn't that be a role for a priest?) and other paths in the world?

The more I read and think about this stuff, it seems to me like we’re trying to cram too much into the “priest” label. Obviously, if you’re going to lead a sesshin, it would be helpful to have attended a sesshin or two. But leading a sesshin is not the only way to teach the Dharma. We need more lay teachers who are fully ordained, with dharma transmission. Dharma transmission needs to be decoupled from monasticism. That way we can open up this tradition to accept new ideas, to help new folks who have been left behind in the past, while still having monks maintaining the traditions we’ve been practicing for 1000 years. Or 2500 years, depending on what you’re counting.

Let’s let priests handle the churchy stuff, and teachers focus on teaching.

This seems to be kind of similar to the way Therevadin Buddhism is developing in the West. Most of the American teachers I’m familiar with are not priests or monks, but lay practicitioners who have been empowered to teach. The monks run their temples, the lay folks run their centers, and there seems to be room for everybody.

[emoji120], Zenmei (sat)

[Mp]

The more I read and think about this stuff, it seems to me like we’re trying to cram too much into the “priest” label. Obviously, if you’re going to lead a sesshin, it would be helpful to have attended a sesshin or two. But leading a sesshin is not the only way to teach the Dharma. We need more lay teachers who are fully ordained, with dharma transmission. Dharma transmission needs to be decoupled from monasticism. That way we can open up this tradition to accept new ideas, to help new folks who have been left behind in the past, while still having monks maintaining the traditions we’ve been practicing for 1000 years. Or 2500 years, depending on what you’re counting.

Let’s let priests handle the churchy stuff, and teachers focus on teaching.

This seems to be kind of similar to the way Therevadin Buddhism is developing in the West. Most of the American teachers I’m familiar with are not priests or monks, but lay practicitioners who have been empowered to teach. The monks run their temples, the lay folks run their centers, and there seems to be room for everybody.

[emoji120], Zenmei (sat)

Thank you for that Zenmei. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Ryudo]

Marcus
SatToday

[Jundo]

Several people on the Soto Zen Facebook group made important points about what might be expected of priests including being able to effectively run a sesshin. I would hope to be able to do that in theory at some point, pending the arrival of the energy to back it up.

You can be an expert in leading Sesshin in bed for fellow convalescent folks in bed. That can be your thing if your life is so.

Can the fully ambulatory priests do that as well as you??

Gassho, J

STLAH

[Jishin]

Hi,

One seed is planted, one seed grows into a tree and maybe next cycle there will be more or maybe not. The tree may not survive. Plant many seeds and they multiply into many more. Quickly. Exponentially. At some point the seeds of the seeds and beyond can not be ignored.

Nurturing seeds. Nurture the seeds of this practice in this format. Give the seeds of this lineage basic training and hope for a little luck regarding not training anyone with poor ethics but we all have a slip now and then. We are human.

The great Korean Seungsahn was beloved by his students. Lots of transmissions occurred. 100 plus zen centers teaching his style? Not sure how many.

We just need to mass produce priests here so that we enter main stream. Period. The more the merrier.

My 2 cents

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Jinyo]

There are some great ideas here!

Hi Kokuu - I don't disagree with your thoughts on Mindfullness - but what I meant to suggest is that it has a much stronger presence and even though - as you say - it doesn't fully equate with Zen - I think a lot of practitioners feel that it comes close or is at least related in some way. It's worth looking at how it has become widely accepted and what lessons we might take from that. Relatively speaking - we're kind of purists here in certain ways, but I'm sure we'd like the benefits of this practice -in its totality - to reach as many people as possible.

Zenmei - I really like what you wrote.

Gassho

Willow

ST

[Seishin]

All said above, thank you.

STMIZ

[Jishin]

My Cancer Ango - 9 - "Angos of Hard Knocks"

Hi,

Radiologists read film from anywhere in the world and a report is sent back to the ordering physician at the other end of the world. Local physicians consult specialist from very far away daily. All the time. Life and death situations. Psychologists and psychiatrists work remotely just as well as in person. There is such a shortage of psychiatrists in the USA that a lot of people would die without telepsychiatry. People can get bachelors, masters and even PhD degrees with little brick and mortar attendance. All via internet. All from accredited institutions. Law students and medical students can do a significant portion of their educational online. All from accredited institutions.

The crux of the problem is that there are no accreditation bodies regarding our modality of training. There is not going to be an accreditation body nor will we be incorporated into an accreditation body until the way we do business garners more attention. We need more students and we need more priests. The more the merrier. We specially need priests to grow what we do here.

But then again, who needs accreditation? Do we need it? Who needs it? We all can and we all do teach. You can not teach and you can not not learn. There is even some patriarch that could not even read. The accreditation thing is just to have more credibility. More credibility equals greater opportunity to spread the word.

The people I hang out with could care less about pedigree. They just care about vibes. If the vibes are good then we hang. If they are bad then no hanging out. I hang out with some very interesting people. A good pedigree in my circles is actually a hindrance in some cases. Won’t explain why.

I think we get good vibes here. I would not be here or be part of any other group that did not allow me freedom of expression. I am still here after 5 years and I think this is a good sign.

Anyway, just saw the new stars wars movie. Mtfbwu. [emoji4]

Happy holidays.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Kyotai]

Hello,

Perhaps, we also need to continue to grow positive relations with the greater community. Outward criticisms aside (all organizations can improve in areas, us too) to ensure our priests are more likely met positively in the wider zen community.

After cultivating relations and working towards convincing others our little sangha is a wonderful and legitimate place to practice.., that is where we can influence positive change. In the mean time, we lead by example and welcome "the greatly disabled, elderly, poor, mother of a special needs child.." and anyone else with open arms.

I don't think we should discard accreditation or approval outright, despite reasons listed above. I think we should work towards accreditation, while at the same time..doing our thing like we do it, regardless of outcome.

Thats how I see it.

Gassho Kyotai
ST

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

[Jishin]

Hello,

Perhaps, we also need to continue to grow positive relations with the greater community. Outward criticisms aside (all organizations can improve in areas, us too) to ensure our priests are more likely met positively in the wider zen community.

After cultivating relations and working towards convincing others our little sangha is a wonderful and legitimate place to practice.., that is where we can influence positive change. In the mean time, we lead by example and welcome "the greatly disabled, elderly, poor, mother of a special needs child.." and anyone else with open arms.

I don't think we should discard accreditation or approval outright, despite reasons listed above. I think we should work towards accreditation, while at the same time..doing our thing like we do it, regardless of outcome.

Thats how I see it.

Gassho Kyotai
ST

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

I will run a campaign on your behalf. Kyotai for priest! The voice of reason!

[emoji4]

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Shokai]

IMG_0171.JPG

gassho, Shokai

stlah Mybwtf

[Mp]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4875[/ATTACH]

gassho, Shokai

stlah Mybwtf

This is why I love my dog .... such a great teacher. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Jishin]

IMG_0137.JPG

Here is my dog watching Netflix’s on an iPad.

[emoji2]

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Washin]

Washin
sat today

[Mp]

[ATTACH]4877[/ATTACH]

Here is my dog watching Netflix’s on an iPad.

[emoji2]

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

That look indicates it is a commercial. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH