"Simple Living" - Chapters 89 and 90

[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 89 - There Is Not Just One Way, Either - Sit once with a Koan, Rinzai style, for one Zazen period. For example, "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" or "What was my original face before my mother and father were born?" Don't reason about it, just hold it in mind and stay with it for the entire period. How is that?

Chapter 90 - Don't Be A Show-Off - In a social situation in which you are rather powerful, confident or influential, at home or work, as a customer in a store, be extremely humble, soft-spoken and self-effacing one time, yielding to others. (If you are naturally always soft-spoken and self-effacing, try a bit more confidence in the situation even if as if acting a confident role.) How does it change the experience and how others related to you?

Gassho, J

STLah

[krissydear]

Thank you. I will try these. I am normally shy and reserved, so maybe I will try to be more confident with my words or speaking when I have something to say, instead of holding it in.

I was able to get a small, used book of Koans at a nearby bookstore last year, so I will find one to think about for my next sit.


satlah

[Jundo]

I will find one to think about for my next sit.

Not "think about." More like holding a precious baby in one's arms with just presence and love, not anything to think.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Ryudo]

Thank you Jundo,

I never tried koans before. Will try in my morning sit tomorrow...
Not having koans at hand I will use the "What was my original face before my mother and father were born?" you suggested.

Gassho/SatToday

[Jundo]

Thank you Jundo,

I never tried koans before. Will try in my morning sit tomorrow...
Not having koans at hand I will use the "What was my original face before my mother and father were born?" you suggested.

Gassho/SatToday

Yes, we are not doing Koans as a really serious practice or attempt. It is just a little fun. Like someone picking up a tennis racket with no teacher or lessons, just to see what happens and knock the ball around.

Tennis Koan: What is the net without two sides? What happens when the court is inside the ball?

Gassho, J

STLah

[Geika]

MU!

Gassho
Sat today, lah

[Tairin]

MU!

Gassho
Sat today, lah

May as well go with a classic. I’ll sit with Mu at least once this week.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Kyotaku]

Sorry. I am new here. Will write some introduction later. But what book is this about ?
[emoji120]
Kyotaku [emoji854]

[Kotei]

Sorry. I am new here. Will write some introduction later. But what book is this about ?
[emoji120]
Kyotaku [emoji854]

Welcome Kyotaku!

In the first posting of this series, you can find a bit more about the book: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...apters-1-and-2
"The Art of Simple Living: 100 Daily Practices from a Japanese Zen Monk for a Lifetime of Calm and Joy" by Rev. Shunmyo Masuno

I have a book about the garden designs of Shunmyo Masuno and fell in love with quite some of them.

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Kyotaku]

Thanks a lot. Will look at it.
[emoji120]

[Washin]

Thank you Jundo.

I remember I had sat doing Hua-tou (head word) practice years ago for certain period
then shifted to Shikantaza. "Who am I?" seemed to work well for me.

Now a time to try sit one session of Zazen with a Koan as you suggest

In my daily activities I sometimes pick this: This way doesn't help; that way doesn't help,
either way doesn't help; now what?

Usually I am humble and polite while in social situations. So I'll try to bring even more confidence
to this.

Gassho
Washin
st-lah

[Kyotaku]

What is the abbreviation LAH

[Jundo]

What is the abbreviation LAH

Hi Kyotaku,

Welcome again.

We encourage (purely optional) our members to do a good deed a day for others, and to put LAH by their signature to mean so. They are encouraged not to disclose what the deed was, big or small. Or they can post about it anonymously.

You can read more here:

A TREELEAF EXPERIMENT with EVERYONE’S PARTICIPATION REQUESTED: “LAH” (Lend A Hand)

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?15314-A-TREELEAF-EXPERIMENT-with-EVERYONE%C2%92S-PARTICIPATION-REQUESTED-%C2%93LAH%C2%94-%28Lend-A-Hand%29

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLentAHand

[Kyotaku]

Thanks again. I like the intention.
Will try too.
[emoji120]

[Jundo]

Thanks again. I like the intention.
Will try too.
[emoji120]

Actually, Hans, I would say not to do this exercise, since it is not our normal practice and you are new here.

Please first review the "We're All Beginners" videos, and see about how we sit Shikantaza here. Do that first.

A SERIES OF TALKS FOR NEW FOLKS

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?121-A-SERIES-OF-TALKS-FOR-NEW-FOLKS

Gassho, Jundo

STLah