[Challenging Times] -(15)- Love and Fear - Joan Hogetsu Hoeberichts

[Jundo]

Dear All,

In this chapter, Joan Hogetsu Hoeberichts visits the many changes and trials of this life: birth, sickness, fear, old age, death and loss, love. She recounts the place of Zazen and Retreat amid it all. It is an excellent essay, as we at Treeleaf enter our annual Jukai and Ango season. We jumped back a chapter, so it starts on page 158 in the book.

I am please to say that Joan will be coming to visit Treeleaf on Sunday, September 10th as a Guest Teacher. We are still setting the exact start time, but I believe that it will be about 8am, California time, so that folks in America, UK/Europe, parts of Asia and elsewhere might join. I hope many of you will be able to attend.

For those who do not yet have a copy, I have made a PDF version available here for those waiting for their ordered book, or those unable to afford or obtain the book (second half of the book):https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yQV...usp=share_link

Feel free to jump into the readings and discussion even if you have not read other chapters.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Tokan]

Hi everyone

This is another lovely chapter. Her description of becoming a parent, developing and embodying 'parental mind', resonated deeply with me. When my first child was born both mother and son were in severe distress. Long story short, when we got home as a family my wife continued to be sick and low in energy for weeks after her ordeal at the hospital. This necessitated me to be mum for the first month or so of my son's life. Though that time of my life is a haze, I finally understood the passages of the Buddha and Dogen that speak of love for all beings needing to be like that of a parent for their child. It was wonderful to have the universe open up for me like that, and it took having a child to make me truly realise unconditional love in my life. Zip forward again, just like Joan Hogetsu Hoeberichts does, and we begin to contemplate the ending of life. Impermanence is always there, any one of my family could be dead before I get home tonight, maybe even me! Having a lung disease which predisposes me to pneumonia, I am acutely aware that respiratory infections place me at higher risk of death than the average customer. But this is all the scenery of my life, I taste the sweetness of life all the more because of this knowledge. Anyhow, running long, so will end by saying that this is a beautiful teaching from Joan, just the humble truths of life, but discussed in such a compassionate way.

Although I have mentioned 'Buddha' and Dogen' in the same sentence, please take what I say with a grain of salt, I am a humble novice-priest whose words are like arrows fired by a blindfolded archer at night!

Gassho, Tokan

satlah

[Tairin]

I found this essay to be very relatable in the way she talks about various stages of her life. In particular the first part about parenting. I am male so I did not give birth but I was there and I have tried to be an involved father ever since. Parenting was (and still is) profoundly transformative. Even more than getting married, I found being a parent to really break down the ego barrier. At the same time I had to learn not to try to hold on to any particular moment but instead enjoy the ride.

I look forward to Joan Hogetsu Hoeberichts visit here at TreeLeaf.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Kokuu]

Hi all

I know Joan Hoeberichts a little from having attended an Ethics course in which she was one of the presiding teachers, and I really enjoyed how she shared those deeper parts of life including birth, sickness, old age and death, and did not shy away from including the physical nature of our existence which can sometimes get airbrushed over in spiritual writing. We are embodied beings and practice with that embodiment and the joys and struggles it brings, sometimes, as with childbirth, at the same time.

The last but one sentence beautifully summarises practice:

"Nothing to do but return to my cushion, my breath and this moment, full of love, joy, fear and death."

On the cushion, and in our lives, there is room for all of those things, with nothing left out.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

[Jundo]

I have posted that Rev. Hogetsu is coming Sunday!

Special Treeleaf Event - Joan Hogetsu Hoeberichts - Love and Fear - Sunday Sept. 10th
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...nday-Sept-10th

Everyone, please try to make it, for it will be a great event.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Kokuu]

I am looking forward to it!

[PaulH]

Hi everyone,
The essay is great indeed. The "getting older" bit resonates with me. I used to be (and still am, to be honest) freaked out by the prospect of aging but the practice helps me to learn (albeit slowly) to accept inevitability of aging. After all, we age only once, why not to try and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience?


Paul
Sat today

[Alina]

"Nothing to do but return to my cushion, my breath and this moment, full of joy, fear, life and death. This is my life."

The way Joan Hogetsu Hoeberichts deals with the inevitable realities of life, accepts and embraces them as they are, including "joy, fear, life and death" all at once is what resonates with me the most. It's never just one thing, all of "joy, fear, life and death" arise in each moment as in a bundle, and our practice helps us to navigate through it all, and to find peace in the mist of it all. After reading this chapter, I am left with a feeling of calmness, she gave me a glimpse into what full acceptance and patience feels like.

Gassho
Alina
ST

[Risho]

I know I haven't been commenting, but I've been reading along with all of you.

Alina, I agree - I love that line. I really love this chapter. There is something really mystical (and I don't want to sound woo, woo) that brings us to this practice. That we think about the dharma. There is something very special about this simple act of sitting. There is something very alive in dropping things that we attach to and practicing Ango together.

Not everyone feels this way or thinks about this stuff or practices this practice. I am lucky to be here, and I don't know why I happen to like it. Good karma I suppose.

I came to practice like I think most of us looking for something. But after getting to have a son and losing my parents, it's more about realizing what I already have.

This isn't a path about fixing anything. I really think the author nails it - doesn't sugar coat it, but shows how this practice allows us to accept this as a gift. All of this is a gift - it's truly awe-inspiring and wondrous.

Gassho

Risho
-stlah