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

[Jakuden]

I've only practiced at one brick-and-mortar Monastery, but there, it was a pretty essential part of the experience to do one's part, kind of like a bee in a hive. I'm sure no one is forced to participate, (you could hide in the dormitory and refuse?) but I think the benefit to that person overall would be greatly reduced.

Of course, participation is risky because your efforts are right out there. You can try to cut your finger off in the kitchen ([emoji5]) or fail to complete whatever your expected duties are... it creates the same mental resistance as other aspects of practice, including Zazen, and pushes you out of your comfort zone... But it's pretty clear that the whole point is to serve the Sangha, the local community, and the world. Daily assignments are given on all of those levels.

Here at Treeleaf, we can't always see easily how as a group we are benefiting the Sangha, the community, and the world, so if we can generate that same spirit by checking in here (on the honor system, at our convenience) I think it gets us closer to some essential Zen lessons. To me, it's what makes Treeleaf a real Sangha, not just a support group or a discussion forum.
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday


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[Meian]

This morning I realized I am quite grateful for the note included for Internet options. Our wild weather this week has knocked me out, but the Internet is a great resource and tool for advocacy. Thank you, Jundo, for thinking of all members. ♡

Gassho
Kim
St/LAH

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[Meian]

"Participation is purely optional and voluntary, of course, but I sure do think most of us will benefit ... and our towns and the people we help in big and small ways will benefit."

For me, like the request to "sit today" first - it serves as a reminder and declaration in itself on why i am here, and what path i have chosen to walk. Not merely Buddhist "in name only" as the saying goes, but the reminder to put my feet, hands and practice where my mouth is. My way of life usually is about helping others, but I don't think about it, so my challenge is thinking about what i did that was helpful to others. But again, it's putting conscious thought to my practice and making sure that i am living what i profess to follow and believe. This is just how i see it, not a judgment on anyone. I feel it calls me to meet a higher standard, but in a good way. ♡

Gassho
Kim
Sat today/LAH

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[Jundo]

I've only practiced at one brick-and-mortar Monastery, but there, it was a pretty essential part of the experience to do one's part, kind of like a bee in a hive. I'm sure no one is forced to participate, (you could hide in the dormitory and refuse?) but I think the benefit to that person overall would be greatly reduced.

Of course, participation is risky because your efforts are right out there. You can try to cut your finger off in the kitchen ([emoji5]) or fail to complete whatever your expected duties are... it creates the same mental resistance as other aspects of practice, including Zazen, and pushes you out of your comfort zone... But it's pretty clear that the whole point is to serve the Sangha, the local community, and the world. Daily assignments are given on all of those levels.

Here at Treeleaf, we can't always see easily how as a group we are benefiting the Sangha, the community, and the world, so if we can generate that same spirit by checking in here (on the honor system, at our convenience) I think it gets us closer to some essential Zen lessons. To me, it's what makes Treeleaf a real Sangha, not just a support group or a discussion forum.
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday

BOY! You really really hit on something vital!

If one goes to any bricks and mortar Zen place in the West or in Japan (anywhere in Asia for that matter), every body is expected to contribute with Samu (Work Practice) contributions to the place each day ... one person cleans the Altar, one person puts out the Zafus and Sutra books, folks help with cooking and washing up in the kitchen, everyone (especially the teachers) gather in the garden to pull weeds and sweep leaves. People rush to volunteer to be the ones to clean the toilets and the dirty bath!

This is not just necessary work to allow the day, weekend or weeklong Retreat ... it -IS- the Practice of the Retreat, it -IS- moving Zazen as vital as the seated Zazen (and done with the same "non-gaining" idea too, but done).

And in the temple or monastery, for the monks, it is expected ... it is their Training ... from morning to night, the Tenzo who cooks in the kitchen, the washing of the floors ...

... and more toilet and bath cleaning, more weed pulling (the Master takes the lead) in the garden, bells are rung including the lucky fellow who gets up earlier than everyone else to wake the group. Monks spend more time on this than sitting Zazen ... and it all --IS-- Zazen too, neither sitting nor work to be neglected.

Yes, it is the individual monk's practice, but it is also a donation to the group and a manifestation that all in the group are One!

Dogen wrote in the Tenzo Kyokun (Instructions for the Cook) ...

In the past, eminent men in possession of the way practiced in this way [as cooks], working energetically with their own hands. In this latter day, how can we who are so late getting started [in our practice] be negligent about this? The ancients said that cooks regard tying up their sleeves [for manual work] as the way-seeking mind. ...

When I was staying at Tiantong-jingde-si [temple in China], a monk named Lu from Qingyuan fu held the post of tenzo [Cook]. Once ... I came upon him in front of the Buddha Hall drying mushrooms in the sun. He had a bamboo stick in his hand and no hat covering his head. The heat of the sun was blazing on the paving stones. It looked very painful; his back was bent like a bow and his eyebrows were as white as the feathers of a crane. I went up to the tenzo and asked, "How long have you been a monk?"

"Sixty-eight years," he said.

"Why don't you have an assistant do this for you?"

"Other people are not me."

"Venerable sir, I can see how you follow the Way through your work. But still, why do this now when the sun is so hot?"

"If not now, when?"

... In the many monasteries of the mountains of Song China that I have seen, the monks holding the various offices train in these posts for a year at a time, each of them in each moment practicing by three standards. Firstly, to benefit others benefits yourself. Second, make every effort to maintain and renew the monastic environment. Third, follow the standards set forth by the examples of excellent practitioners of past and present and come to stand with them.

And everyone is seen to do this, most is not hidden. Everybody sees the others, the teachers are watching the group. It is like our LAH, in that nobody asks who does more or who does less according to their abilities ... yet ALL do for ALL.

Do you know that even the sick monk in the monastery hospice is not excused? If it is all he can do, his work becomes to stay in bed, take his medicine and to offer a kind word to those who nurse him.

At Treeleaf, we have been able to provide sitting, but for many years we have lacked in our ability to create a way of Service to the Sangha. Well, in this place, "All of Life, and All the World, is our Temple." We have no kitchen and bathrooms here or a garden for weeds.

So, we will feed the world, pull some weeds of ugliness in our town, offer a kind word to those around us. Our Sangha is for busy working parents and folks out in the world, so we do not ask much time. Folks are already taking care of so much ... a moment and a single task each day dedicated to this Community and to others is enough.

But, would someone go to the "bricks and mortar" retreat and say, "I will just sit, and let the others clean the bath or cook?" Of course not! "If not now, when?" One would be sitting Zazen, but not truly sitting Zazen!

I cannot emphasize enough that LAH is bringing a missing aspect of the "Zen Experience" and Practice to Treeleaf!

Thank you for putting this so well, Jakuden. Nine Bows.

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH

PS - I feel a Sit-a-Long Talk on this coming up next week.

[Jakuden]

Do you know that even the sick monk in the monastery hospice is not excused? If it is all he can do, his work becomes to stay in bed, take his medicine and to offer a kind word to those who nurse him.

Yes, after I got the tip of my finger stitched back on, my work assignment the next day was "self care." I went up to their little cemetery, and swept and tidied while I was there.

I will admit that I whined a bit to my Ango partner Zenmei during Ango about trying to find time and motivation to do helping deeds, when I already spent my day serving others. To my knowledge, he has kept his promise not to throw me under the bus about that . When I have had Dokusan/Daisan during Sesshin at ZMM, most of my questions surrounded this topic: help with defining "compassion fatigue," how to know when to do self-care vs. helping others, how does compassion originate and manifest... I felt and still feel the need for a teacher to guide me with this, but I am starting to understand that if "self-care" is what you need to do in order to benefit others, then self-care is your practice... if your day is spent helping others, then do it earnestly and perhaps a little better, more kindly and patiently, with awareness of the "sameness" of yourself and the others you are helping, and that is your practice.

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

[Jundo]

I felt and still feel the need for a teacher to guide me with this, but I am starting to understand that if "self-care" is what you need to do in order to benefit others, then self-care is your practice... if your day is spent helping others, then do it earnestly and perhaps a little better, more kindly and patiently, with awareness of the "sameness" of yourself and the others you are helping, and that is your practice.

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

That is right. We try to stay "other directed" on this as best we can, but sometimes all we can manage is to nurse ourselves.

And because so many folks are already doing so much for others, and have such busy days, all we ask is a second, a minute, a little touch extra, a drop more caring, one act more.

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Enjaku]

Is it me or is there sometimes a confusion between Treeleaf and Treeleaf Monastery? I feel quite happy as a lay Buddhist, accessing Treeleaf as a frequent visitor and practitioner. I try to participate and contribute where I can and I carry the sangha in my heart. I also meditate, clean floors, scrub toilets, cook and wash dishes (just not in a monastery). As Jundo says, ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE. I'm not trying to imitate a monastic experience.

I'll join in the LAH experiment as an act of solidarity (and to avoid being viewed as the person who isn't cleaning the toilets...) but I do feel it's a shame that what could be a "way of being" is reduced to a daily good deed. I guess I need to be a little more humble and open-minded. I'm also aware others are keen to try it so I don't want to disrupt that.

Deep bows,
Enjaku
Sat

[Zenmei]

Is it me or is there sometimes a confusion between Treeleaf and Treeleaf Monastery? I feel quite happy as a lay Buddhist, accessing Treeleaf as a frequent visitor and practitioner. I try to participate and contribute where I can and I carry the sangha in my heart. I also meditate, clean floors, scrub toilets, cook and wash dishes (just not in a monastery). As Jundo says, ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE. I'm not trying to imitate a monastic experience.

I'll join in the LAH experiment as an act of solidarity (and to avoid being viewed as the person who isn't cleaning the toilets...) but I do feel it's a shame that what could be a "way of being" is reduced to a daily good deed. I guess I need to be a little more humble and open-minded. I'm also aware others are keen to try it so I don't want to disrupt that.

Deep bows,
Enjaku
Sat

It's a "daily good deed" in the same sense that zazen is "staring at a wall". Yes, it's true on the surface, but there is a universe of depth behind it. We're not reducing kindness to a check mark on a list, we're saying that kindness to others is such a foundational part of our practice that in the same way we encourage sitting, we should encourage kind action. It's just as important to our practice, and it should be emphasized as our way of being.

That's what it means to me, anyway. I hope we're not setting up a dichotomy of "if you don't do this, you're not pulling your weight", because no one should feel obligated if they choose not to. For me, I need the extra motivation. Some days the only thing that gets me on the cushion is my obligation to Treeleaf, and so far, this lah thing is providing the same push. If it doesn't feel that way to you, don't do it.

Gassho, Zenmei
#sat/lah

[Jakuden]

Is it me or is there sometimes a confusion between Treeleaf and Treeleaf Monastery? I feel quite happy as a lay Buddhist, accessing Treeleaf as a frequent visitor and practitioner. I try to participate and contribute where I can and I carry the sangha in my heart. I also meditate, clean floors, scrub toilets, cook and wash dishes (just not in a monastery). As Jundo says, ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE. I'm not trying to imitate a monastic experience.

I'll join in the LAH experiment as an act of solidarity (and to avoid being viewed as the person who isn't cleaning the toilets...) but I do feel it's a shame that what could be a "way of being" is reduced to a daily good deed. I guess I need to be a little more humble and open-minded. I'm also aware others are keen to try it so I don't want to disrupt that.

Deep bows,
Enjaku
Sat

As I spent time perusing the archives of Treeleaf, its history and mission, it always seemed clear to me that Jundo (and Taigu) were attempting to create an online Zen Monastery... but since that term implies a building, Sangha was more appropriate. Jundo has defended Treeleaf to critics by declaring that an online Sangha could indeed replicate the important aspects of a traditional sangha. I have never heard any indication that it was supposed to be "Zen lite" or "layperson easy Zen," although it is meant to be more easily accessible than a brick and mortar monastery. So if someone is not looking for a monastic experience, there will probably be confusion, because Treeleaf is a monastic experience--complete with teachers giving assignments to students, chanting,sitting, vows, samu, sewing, bell-ringing, and service to the Sangha and to ones own life.
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH



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[Tom]

Jundo,
I took on your advice from ages ago, and have done pro-bono work, very underpaid work (ie only costs covered, I broke even, essentially donation of labor time.) I've just signed up for another four full days over the next six weeks. Does this count as LAH? Or is it the idea of a little mindful gesture each and every day, when the opportunity presents itself?
Tom
Sat Today.
Not sure if I've LAH.

[Jundo]

Jundo,
I took on your advice from ages ago, and have done pro-bono work, very underpaid work (ie only costs covered, I broke even, essentially donation of labor time.) I've just signed up for another four full days over the next six weeks. Does this count as LAH? Or is it the idea of a little mindful gesture each and every day, when the opportunity presents itself?
Tom
Sat Today.
Not sure if I've LAH.

Hi Tom,

Sure it is LAH! But even there, in that pro-bono work, take one moment or do one thing a little extra each day. Then it sure is LAH for sure!

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Jundo]

Is it me or is there sometimes a confusion between Treeleaf and Treeleaf Monastery? I feel quite happy as a lay Buddhist, accessing Treeleaf as a frequent visitor and practitioner. I try to participate and contribute where I can and I carry the sangha in my heart. I also meditate, clean floors, scrub toilets, cook and wash dishes (just not in a monastery). As Jundo says, ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE. I'm not trying to imitate a monastic experience.

I'll join in the LAH experiment as an act of solidarity (and to avoid being viewed as the person who isn't cleaning the toilets...) but I do feel it's a shame that what could be a "way of being" is reduced to a daily good deed. I guess I need to be a little more humble and open-minded. I'm also aware others are keen to try it so I don't want to disrupt that.

Deep bows,
Enjaku
Sat

Hi Enjaku,

I have to disagree with Jakuden a bit. Treeleaf is not a monastery and was never intended as a monastery, as far as a place behind walls where folks do long term, concentrated residential training.

But Treeleaf is a Community, a Sangha, as is any local Zen Center or group. And there, when people show up for a day's Zazen or a longer Retreat, someone makes the tea, someone puts out the cushions, someone scrubs the floors. Now, as in those places, this LAH is purely voluntary, there is no obligation or requirement at all. However, we are very happy to have members all join in together for the community effort of the work to do. This is part of our Training too.

For example, here is a typical Soto Zen Center, not a monastery, and the community work is the center of Practice:

http://www.meditation-zen.org/en/meditation-samu

The request for "one good deed for a moment" is a minimum request (not even a requirement!). Please feel free to do many good deeds each day, there is no maximum either!

To not say "LAH" is, as some have pointed out, a kind of humility, not wishing to show off or take credit. That is excellent. But there is also a kind of selfishness to it too, saying that one is so "humble" that one is not willing to encourage others simply by saying "I'm here too." I understand that people do not wish to brag about their good deeds (that is why we created a system asking for anonymity), but by putting "LAH" one encourages others by saying "we are all in this together, we are all sweeping together, we are all a Community." LAH declaring folks do not say anything about WHAT they did, they merely are communicating "I'm in this too."

Okay, I will go back on what I said at the start, Jakuden was also somewhat right: This place is intended as a new kind of "monastery" in a way, in which our work and family life is our bell ringing and Samu, changing diapers a sacred ceremony, and cooking in the home kitchen is our version of Tenzo. Yes. But we do not have tea to make here, we do not have Treeleaf floors to clean. So, we are asking (no demands, no requirements) our Treeleaf members to do this ...

... to help Treeleaf, to help their towns, to help people in need, to help themselves.

If someone does not want to help, or helps but does not wish to encourage other members by showing the "LAH," that is fine too. All are welcome to sit and participate here, doing what they can or wish, freely, without demand, following their own heart.

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Enjaku]

So if someone is not looking for a monastic experience, there will probably be confusion, because Treeleaf is a monastic experience--complete with teachers giving assignments to students, chanting,sitting, vows, samu, sewing, bell-ringing, and service to the Sangha and to ones own life.
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

It's true, I view my practice as being very different from living in a Monastery and I wouldn't choose to live in a Monastery. I see Treeleaf as my local Zen Group and I attend ceremonies and I visit and contribute when I can. I have to be honest, it felt pretty hurtful to see this described as "Zen Lite" and "easy Zen". I know you wouldn't have meant it to be hurtful and I appreciate your honesty.

Let me also say that you've been one of the warmest and wisest people I've met on this forum and I'm grateful to have this opportunity to practice with you. If I've failed to be clear or sensitive in this thread or elsewhere, please forgive me.

It's a "daily good deed" in the same sense that zazen is "staring at a wall". Yes, it's true on the surface, but there is a universe of depth behind it. We're not reducing kindness to a check mark on a list, we're saying that kindness to others is such a foundational part of our practice that in the same way we encourage sitting, we should encourage kind action. It's just as important to our practice, and it should be emphasized as our way of being.

This is an interesting point and it helps me see past some of my initial reservations. Thank you for making this clear. I see now that LAH is a small thing but one that also emphasises the equal importance of daily action alongside daily sitting. I couldn't see the wood for the trees.

To say "LAH" is, as some have pointed out, a kind of humility, not wishing to show off or take credit. That is excellent. But there is also a kind of selfishness to it too, saying that one is so "humble" that one is not willing to encourage others simply by saying "I'm here too."

LAH putting folks do not say anything about WHAT they did, they merely are communicating "I'm in this too."

Thank you Jundo. I've taken this on board. As with many things, I see now that I've been a little narrow-minded when I could have been curious and just given this a try.

I'd like to bow out of this thread at this point. I've already said far too much and I fear I've not been as sensitive as I could have been. These discussions are not so easy sometimes but often the most valuable lessons are "between the lines".

Gassho,
Enjaku
Sat

[Jundo]

Thanks Enjaku. Give it a try and, in a couple of months, we will reassess how the experiment has gone.

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Jakuden]

It's true, I view my practice as being very different from living in a Monastery and I wouldn't choose to live in a Monastery. I see Treeleaf as my local Zen Group and I attend ceremonies and I visit and contribute when I can. I have to be honest, it felt pretty hurtful to see this described as "Zen Lite" and "easy Zen". I know you wouldn't have meant it to be hurtful and I appreciate your honesty.

Let me also say that you've been one of the warmest and wisest people I've met on this forum and I'm grateful to have this opportunity to practice with you. If I've failed to be clear or sensitive in this thread or elsewhere, please forgive me.



This is an interesting point and it helps me see past some of my initial reservations. Thank you for making this clear. I see now that LAH is a small thing but one that also emphasises the equal importance of daily action alongside daily sitting. I couldn't see the wood for the trees.



Thank you Jundo. I've taken this on board. As with many things, I see now that I've been a little narrow-minded when I could have been curious and just given this a try.

I'd like to bow out of this thread at this point. I've already said far too much and I fear I've not been as sensitive as I could have been. These discussions are not so easy sometimes but often the most valuable lessons are "between the lines".

Gassho,
Enjaku
Sat

Sincere apologies Enjaku, I can see where my words could be hurtful. It was an unskillful way to try to make a point. As usual, we react to the things we see of ourselves in others, ( which is another Zen experience) so in seeing your reluctance I'm sure I was arguing with my own. Zenmei's reply above was closer to what I should have said.
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday


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