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

[Hoko]

Totally on board.

Gassho,
Hōkō
#SatToday
LAH

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[Washin]

Wonderful project! I'm joining in...
Thank you, Jundo

Washin
sat today

[Kotei]

There are days with no reminder needed.
And then, there are the other ones.
Together, there is always a helping hand.

Thinking about sharing via Gojo still feels strange.
With being trained to "do good and shut up... the reward is the deed itself", it makes me feel like soiling the whole thing.
As there is some 'soil' in soiling, there might also be a certain lotus, growing out of it, when shared here. ;-)

Gassho,
Kotei sat and lah today.

[Jundo]

There are days with no reminder needed.
And then, there are the other ones.
Together, there is always a helping hand.

Thinking about sharing via Gojo still feels strange.
With being trained to "do good and shut up... the reward is the deed itself", it makes me feel like soiling the whole thing.
As there is some 'soil' in soiling, there might also be a certain lotus, growing out of it, when shared here. ;-)

Gassho,
Kotei sat and lah today.

Hi Kotei

The role of Gojo is simply to inspire others or put a suggested action into mind.

There is no name or credit whatsoever for the person who shares the story. They are just an anonymous vehicle.

I would even say that to share a story is thus itself a further act of giving and not instead withholding.

Gassho J

SatTodayLAH

[Kotei]

Hi Kotei

The role of Gojo is simply to inspire others or put a suggested action into mind.

There is no name or credit whatsoever for the person who shares the story. They are just an anonymous vehicle.

I would even say that to share a story is thus itself a further act of giving and not instead withholding.

Gassho J

SatTodayLAH

Thank you for the new perspective, Jundo.

Maybe feeling uneasy with it comes from having a too close relationship with my inner reward-system.
I just don't trust myself very much, when it is involved.
Posting something, seeing some replies, feeling great, doing again for that feeling, etc. etc.
But yes, this thoughts is only about me and there is a wide span between not posting at all and doing it every day.
Opportunity for practice, eh?

Gassho,
Kotei sat and LAH today.

[Eva]

Thank you Kotei, for voicing something that was also on my mind .
Thank you Jundo for giving it a larger perspective to look at .

Gassho
Eva
sat today

[Jundo]

Maybe feeling uneasy with it comes from having a too close relationship with my inner reward-system.
I just don't trust myself very much, when it is involved.
Posting something, seeing some replies, feeling great, doing again for that feeling, etc. etc.

Hi Kotei,

But I feel that the Dalai Lama does what the Dalai Lama does, Dogen did and even Buddha did what made each feel right and good and pleasant in the respective "inner reward systems" for doing Dalai/Dogen/Buddha things. Who said (in fact, nobody said) that one cannot take a modicum of pleasure and feel right for doing good?

The Dalai/Dogen/Buddha thus each do an action, receive positive inner and outer reinforcement, feel good, repeat. What is wrong with that? Perhaps one should not encourage positive feelings for doing bad, but all felt good about doing good.

And the Buddha got lots of compliments ... the most over the top compliments that end every Sutra ... and I never heard him complain at being the "World Honored One" and the like. From a Sutta chosen almost at random ...

When the Exalted One had spoken thus, Sigala, the young householder, said as follows:

"Excellent, Lord, excellent! It is as if, Lord, a man were to set upright that which was overturned, or were to reveal that which was hidden, or were to point out the way to one who had gone astray, or were to hold a lamp amidst the darkness, so that those who have eyes may see. Even so, has the doctrine been explained in various ways by the Exalted One.

From the "Sigalovada Sutta"

I never once heard the Buddha say at the end, "Oh, please, you are too kind. Turn it down a notch."

As a matter of fact, in the same Sutta, the Buddha advises the layperson Sigalovado to earn enjoyment and reasonable praise ...

Who is hospitable, and friendly,
Liberal and unselfish,
A guide, an instructor, a leader,
Such a one to honor may attain.

Generosity, sweet speech,
Helpfulness to others,
Impartiality to all,
As the case demands.

These four winning ways make the world go round,
As the linchpin in a moving car.
...

Since these four winning ways
The wise appraise in every way,
To eminence they attain,
And praise they rightly gain.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...31.0.nara.html

My point is that even getting some praise from the outside is not a bad thing if (1) reasonably deserved (2) accepted with equanimity and mutual gratitude (3) not clung to and excessively craved. If somebody pays you a compliment because you truly did a good thing, accept the compliment with grace and equal humility.

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Jishin]

I just donated a trillion dollars [emoji385] to the band The Hokey Pokers for their fantastic and uplifting songs so they can continue their world tour in case they run out of funds.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Kokuu]

Hi all

In Britain there is also a culture of not boasting about kind deeds but the Gojo system seems to get around that well, as does the anonymity of what you have done in LAH.

As most of us do, I try to do as many small good deeds as I can but have already noticed that this new proposal has me looking for even more ways of doing so.

Thank you for your inspiring talk on the subject, Jundo.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/LAH-

[Jundo]

As most of us do, I try to do as many small good deeds as I can but have already noticed that this new proposal has me looking for even more ways of doing so.

Ah, you are always bragging about yourself Kokuu!

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Jundo]

I just donated a trillion dollars [emoji385] to the band The Hokey Pokers for their fantastic and uplifting songs so they can continue their world tour in case they run out of funds.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

Thank you. I have their record.

Dogen quotes this Koan on Compassion, a version of the natural Hokey Pokey ..

Ungan asked Dogo, “How does the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion (Kannon) use so many hands and eyes?”
Dogo said, “It’s just like a person in the middle of the night reaching back in search of a pillow.”
Ungan said, “I understand.”
Dogo said, “How do you understand it?”
Ungan said, “All over the body are hands and eyes.”
Dogo said, “What you said is all right, but it’s only eighty percent of it.”
Ungan said, “I’m like this, Senior brother. How do you understand it?”
Dogo said, “Throughout the body are hands and eyes.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_P9PU5FcMQ

The Hokey Pokers

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Joyo]

Wonderful, I am in. =)

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today

[Jundo]

Wonderful, I am in. =)

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today

A lot of folks like Joyo are already so focused on caring ... for family, kids, friends, those who they love and love them. They give all day and sometimes ask little for themselves.

Still, we even ask them to give one inch more each day for this. Just one minute more, one comforting look more, just one nice word more, for this on top of all they do. There is always room for one inch more.

(But don't forget to be kind, and take some time and nurturing for yourself too. Even the Buddha would take a break from Buddhaing each day).

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Kotei]

Thank you Jundo.
Got your points.

Sitting, being mindful, watching myself should be the right antidote to what I wrote.
Nothing was meant as a valid reason for not sharing. No need to look like that ;-).
Just thinking about why it feels like it does to me.

Kokuu's post made me think more about cultural differences.
Different, but related... I once shared some descriptions and pictures of my living-room coral reef in a German and a US reef discussion forum.
The first 3 US replies were something like: What is that coral in the upper left... Wow, how do you maintain such a clean water... I like the wave motion..
The first 3 German replies were like: Were did you get all that money from... What did it cost... I bet you were born rich...

I never once heard the Buddha say at the end, "Oh, please, you are too kind. Turn it down a notch."

Wasn't he born as the son of the ruler of Kapilavastu? Maybe, he was used to be addressed like that. ;-)

Gassho,
Kotei sat/LAH today.

[Shugen]

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

I look forward to exploring new opportunities to be of service - find that extra "inch".

Gassho,

Shugen

Sattoday


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