"Simple Living" - Chapters 41 and 42

[Jundo]

Just jump in if joining, no "catch up" ... just today is today ...

I will include chapter headings, as we discovered some differences between the US and UK editions regarding chapter order.

Chapter 41 - Try Attending A Zazen Sitting - Please sit one of our weekly Treeleaf Zazenkai, sitting with others, if usually sitting alone. They are available any time, to suit any busy schedule and time zone ...

WEEKLY TREELEAF ZAZENKAI NETCASTS

Chapter 42 - Plant A Single Flower - Plant a single flower from a single seed. Observe it for a single moment each day.

Gassho, J

StLah

[Tairin]

#41 will not be a problem as I join the weekly Zazenkai regularly and I sit with my wife daily

#42 plant a flower in mid November in Canada? We have snow on the ground. Inside there is less and less good daylight even by the windows. I’ll try to come up with some creative way to accomplish the spirit of this one.

[Washin]

Thank you Jundo.

#41. Doing...

#42. This is an excellent practice. Lately, being one of this Ango commitment, I've joined a group of activists to
plant trees along the sea coastline. Last Sunday I put into soil of those bare slopes my first three seedlings of different kinds.
It was a wonderful experience. And a joy. I do hope they'll take root..

Gassho
Washin
ST

[Nenka]

#41 - of course!

#42 - well, for those of us stuck in winter, you could plant something like a simple mustard seed in a plastic container on the windowsill and see what happens. I used to do that as a kid and got sprouts! Other seeds from the spice rack might work as well . . .

Gassho

Nenka

ST

[Tairin]

Nenka, I think we are on the same wavelength. After posting earlier about he challenge of planting in winter I thought some more and came up with the idea of growing sprouts to eat. I do this from time to time with mustard, alfalfa, black lentil and broccoli seeds. I just came here to post and I see you had a similar thought.

Sprouts are easy. Put 2 or 3 tablespoons of seeds in a mason jar with a mesh over top and let soak in cool water over night. Drain the next morning and then for the next 6 days rinse and drain the sprouts every morning and evening. You should start seeing the seeds sprout by about the end of the second day.



Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Meitou]

I do the first one of course, but must make more effort to join in with a live group sitting.
I think there are a few ways of approaching the second one - for those of us in the winter season, sprouting seeds is an option, another is buying a seasonal plant, like an amaryllis, or hyacinth bulbs (not strictly seeds) or even saving your avocado stones and potting them up, they could later go outside. Another way would be to contribute to a tree planting programme?
I also thought this could be approached in a non literal way, perhaps along the lines of our nourishing seeds practice. Is there a 'seed' of something I could plant and nurture, perhaps a small commitment to quietly helping others that I hadn't thought of before? Sowing loving kindness practice in areas where it's needed? Lots of possibilities.
Gassho
Meitou
Satwithyoualltoday lah

[Ishin]

hmmmmm will have to find a little plant to pot.

Gassho
Ishin
Sat/lah

[Jundo]

hmmmmm will have to find a little plant to pot.

Gassho
Ishin
Sat/lah

But no pot to plant for this practice please ... even if legal in your state. (You are from Georgia, so especially no)

Gassho, J

[Ishin]

But no pot to plant for this practice please ... even if legal in your state. (You are from Georgia, so especially no)

Gassho, J

That won't be a problem. I'm high on life.

Gassho
Ishin
Sat/lah

[Nanrin]

Saturday I sat last week's zazenkai (I download them as my connection is spotty).

The sunflowers I planted have already started to sprout underneath the soil. Now looking at this thread I realize the exercise was to plant one seed, I accidentally planted a whole pot of them.

Gassho,

Nanrin

Sat today

[Ishin]

Saturday I sat last week's zazenkai (I download them as my connection is spotty).

The sunflowers I planted have already started to sprout underneath the soil. Now looking at this thread I realize the exercise was to plant one seed, I accidentally planted a whole pot of them.

Gassho,

Nanrin

Sat today

Now I finally realize why Buddha only held up ONE flower!

Gassho
Ishin
Sat/lah

[Tai Do]

I planted a sweet potato. Not a seed, but she is growing well.
Gassho,
Mateus
Sat today/LAH