SIT-A-LONG with JUNDO: Who Is a Priest ...

[Ishin]

Thank you for this talk.

The part where you talk about bringing all of life INTO training. So true for all of us, not just priests. All of life is our temple and is our practice.

Also, given the amount of corruption amok in the brick and mortar Zen world, I am not so sure the "traditional" ways are inherently proving themselves to be necessarily better.

Perhaps the heart is where true Zen practice can be found. Our reality may be virtual, but our sincerity is what matters.

Gassho
Sat Today

Ishin

[Hoseki]

Hey folks,

Maybe I misread something but why don't we just use the Japanese words? I recognize that they will be mispronounced terribly (by me and others probably) but with a little bit of use they will likely become part of the Sanga members vocabularies.


Gassho
Adam (El Duderino)
Sattoday

[Jundo]

Hey folks,

Maybe I misread something but why don't we just use the Japanese words? I recognize that they will be mispronounced terribly (by me and others probably) but with a little bit of use they will likely become part of the Sanga members vocabularies.


Gassho
Adam (El Duderino)
Sattoday

Hmmm. Interesting. On the other hand, folks will ask "what does this mysterious 'Soryo' mean" and we still need to explain anyway ... plus it a little bit conveys that Japanese language is "real Zen". Zen is not a matter of language.

For example, we chant the Heart Sutra once a month in Sino-Japanese during our monthly Zazenkai to respect our roots, otherwise we chant in English. I am not a fan of folks confusing Zen with "oriental culture" too much.

However, hmmm, certainly a good suggestion, something to consider. Soryo.

Another couple of terms I came up with to describe our "priests" who combine life as moms and dads, workers and neighbors with their ministry recognizes the transcendence of the traditional categories of "Priest Lay Male Female" that Nishijima Roshi describes in the quote I posted ...

How about "Plays" (Priest-Lay) or, recognizing our role of service to support the entire Sangha, "Liests" ... I like the second one better, as the first might imply we are only "playin' around".

Nishijima advocated a form of ordination that fully steps beyond and drops away divisions of “Priest or Lay, Male or Female”, yet allows us to fully embody and actuate each and all as the situation requires. In our lineage, we are not ashamed of nor try to hide our sexuality and worldly relationships, nor do we feel conflicted that we are “monks” with kids and mortgages. When I am a parent to my children, I am 100% that and fully there for them. When I am a worker at my job, I am that and embody such a role with sincerity and dedication. And when I am asked to step into the role of hosting zazen, offering a dharma talk, practicing and embodying our history and teachings and passing them on to others, I fully carry out and embody 100% the role of “Priest” in that moment. Whatever the moment requires: maintaining a sangha community, bestowing the Precepts, working with others to help sentient beings. The names we call ourselves do not matter. In Nishijima’s way, we do not ask and are unconcerned with whether we are “Priest” or “Lay”, for we are neither that alone, while always thoroughly both; exclusively each in purest and unadulterated form, yet wholly all at once. It is just as, in the West, we have come to step beyond the hard divisions and discriminations between “male” and “female”, recognizing that each of us may embody all manner of qualities to varying degrees as the circumstances present, and that traditional “male” and “female” stereotypes are not so clear-cut as once held. So it is with the divisions of “Priest” and “Lay”.

http://sweepingzen.com/eight-ways-gudo-wafu-nishijima-will-help-change-zen-buddhism/

Gassho, J

[Zenmei]

In a lot of sects, you get the impression that monastics are doing the "real" Buddhism and lay practitioners are just there to support them. I feel like it's really the other way around (it's both ways around). The dharma is meant to be lived, and not just in a safe, quiet, artificial environment, but in the noisy, messy, pain-filled world. The practice of a layman isn't a lesser practice. It's not even a different practice, it just looks different. My inner Jundo says they're not-two.
Priests aren't here to hand down the word of God from on high, but to support and serve the laypeople. Not even just lay Buddhists, but all people. All beings.
I'm not sure if I had a point.

Grasshoppers,
Dudley
(sat today)

[Shugen]

In a lot of sects, you get the impression that monastics are doing the "real" Buddhism and lay practitioners are just there to support them. I feel like it's really the other way around (it's both ways around). The dharma is meant to be lived, and not just in a safe, quiet, artificial environment, but in the noisy, messy, pain-filled world. The practice of a layman isn't a lesser practice. It's not even a different practice, it just looks different. My inner Jundo says they're not-two.
Priests aren't here to hand down the word of God from on high, but to support and serve the laypeople. Not even just lay Buddhists, but all people. All beings.
I'm not sure if I had a point.

Grasshoppers,
Dudley
(sat today)

Well put "Grasshoppers, Dudley". [emoji6]

(My auto correct does the same thing)

Gassho,

Shugen

#sattoday


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[Zenmei]

Well put "Grasshoppers, Dudley". [emoji6]

(My auto correct does the same thing)

Gassho,

Shugen

#sattoday


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mine did once and I liked it so much, I decided to keep it

Gas shi,
Dudley
(sat today)

[Jishin]

Devils advocate:

I want to play in the NBA but I can't dribble, rebound, shoot the 3 and dunk.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Getchi]

Jishin, thank me later

http://www.playr.org/play/nba_jam/360

Gassho,
Geoff.

SatToday

[Jishin]

Jishin, thank me later

http://www.playr.org/play/nba_jam/360

Gassho,
Geoff.

SatToday

Ha! I can play pro ball after all.

Gassho, Jishin, ST

[Jundo]

Being a good Zen priest requires many things. However, it does not require the ability to make a windmill dunk (and this was the ref!) ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7ib9qcgbRw

One can rule the court in many ways.

Gassho, J

SatToday , Slam Dunk

[Sekishi]

Being a good Zen priest requires many things. However, it does not require the ability to make a windmill dunk

Thank goodness!

Gassho,
Sekishi #sat #nodunk

[Sekishi]

Ha! I can play pro ball after all.

jishin-dunk.jpg

Gassho,
Sekishi #sat

[Jishin]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4090[/ATTACH]

Gassho,
Sekishi #sat

Ha! I can jam!



Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Jakuden]

[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji459][emoji106][emoji122]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Getchi]

You can jam with me anytime Jishin friend

And mad skillz Sekishi /wicked.


Gassho,
GEoff.

SAtToday.