Oryoki documentation update

[Jundo]

Hi folks,

So it has been decided that we will be taking a bit of a different tack for the monthly Oryoki and launch data is now probably pushed back. I am sorry I posted that it would be starting soon and then have to retract. I am sure we will come up with an even better procedure.

Gassho,

Shinshi

We will work it out. There are small questions to decide, such as whether to include a Hattan placemat for the lay folks or not (made of construction paper, folded into 9 squares, not the traditional lacquered ... and EXPENSIVE! ... version in a traditional kit). Here is one for a mere $150.00 U.S. ...

https://www.designshop-jp.com/shopdetail/004008000113/

I was thinking of just kids' construction paper folded like that ... a lot cheaper, and no problem if the soup gets spilled ...

tsuku.jpg

Also, the suiban "water board" could be added, just a small piece of wood would do ...

tsuku.jpg

I was also thinking what could be a good "do it at home" utensil case, as the mailing envelope we use for Rohatsu is not really durable. I would suggest maybe the cover for a folding umbrella, or something like that?

tsuku.jpg

[Shinshi]

Hi folks,

So it has been decided that we will be taking a bit of a different tack for the monthly Oryoki and launch data is now probably pushed back. I am sorry I posted that it would be starting soon and then have to retract. I am sure we will come up with an even better procedure.

Gassho,

Shinshi

[Jundo]

Hi Folks,

Well, it has been a while since my last post - my apologies. Life has taken some interesting turns this last year which took me away from this project. I have been working on it the last few weeks and am back up to speed.

My goal is to have a final version of our new Treeleaf Oryoki procedure by the end of Dec., but I think it will be sooner. If all goes well, I plan to start up monthly Oryoki in Feb. We will see how it goes from there.

If you are in my Oryoki session on Sat during Rohatsu I will be mostly following what I have developed - so it will be a little different than what is in the Rohatsu documentation.

I reread The Dharma for Taking Food (Fushukuhanpo) chapter in Dogen's Pure Standards for the Zen Community today. It is interesting how much of what is written there is still part of the ceremony today.


Gassho,

Shinshi

Just FYI,

The January, February, March Body Work will also be Oryoki Lessons for the Priests, based on this old version (which I need to edit and repost). See posts 4 thru 6 here:

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?19521-SANDBOX-for-REORGANIZING-BODY-LESSONS-%28Please-Disregard%29&p=299691&viewfull=1#post299691

Like I said, I will re-edit those before using them this time.

Let us just make sure that your Lessons and the Priest Training version will be coordinated and on the same page.

Thanks for doing this Shin.

[Shinshi]

Hi Folks,

Well, it has been a while since my last post - my apologies. Life has taken some interesting turns this last year which took me away from this project. I have been working on it the last few weeks and am back up to speed.

My goal is to have a final version of our new Treeleaf Oryoki procedure by the end of Dec., but I think it will be sooner. If all goes well, I plan to start up monthly Oryoki in Feb. We will see how it goes from there.

If you are in my Oryoki session on Sat during Rohatsu I will be mostly following what I have developed - so it will be a little different than what is in the Rohatsu documentation.

I reread The Dharma for Taking Food (Fushukuhanpo) chapter in Dogen's Pure Standards for the Zen Community today. It is interesting how much of what is written there is still part of the ceremony today.


Gassho,

Shinshi

[Jundo]

I found this video of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi doing Oryoki at SFZC. It is in black and white and has no sound.

https://app.sfzc.org/m/I4Y4YHi8/suzuki-roshi-oryoki-meal

One thing I found surprising was that he does the little extra fold of the drying cloth that they still do at SFZC. I had thought that, because he went to the same school as where the Japanese Oryoki video was filmed, and likely did Oryoki there - I thought he would have done the same drying cloth fold that we see in the Japanese video. My idle speculation was that maybe it had gotten inserted along the way for some reason. But you can see him do it in the video.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

A Koan: How does on fold AND not fold a drying cloth at the same time??



Gassho, J

STLah

[Shinshi]

I found this video of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi doing Oryoki at SFZC. It is in black and white and has no sound.

https://app.sfzc.org/m/I4Y4YHi8/suzuki-roshi-oryoki-meal

One thing I found surprising was that he does the little extra fold of the drying cloth that they still do at SFZC. I had thought that, because he went to the same school as where the Japanese Oryoki video was filmed, and likely did Oryoki there - I thought he would have done the same drying cloth fold that we see in the Japanese video. My idle speculation was that maybe it had gotten inserted along the way for some reason. But you can see him do it in the video.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Naiko]

Thank you, Jundo!
Naiko
st

[Jundo]

I wish to become comfortable with oryoki but I confess it makes me very anxious. I understand why the meal is eaten so quickly, but I risk severe medical consequences if I don’t very thoroughly chew my food. So I try to find something very easy to digest and eat a very small amount in order to participate. Even so, I feel like my limitations hinder me from benefiting from the practice.
Gassho,
Naiko
st

Yes, what I would advise is to put a tiny amount of food in the bowl. It is really a practice and ritual, like tea ceremony or Zazenkai, as much as a meal. It is a practice, a dance, to pour oneself into. Wrapping and unwrapping the bowls, chanting, eating a bit, causes us to remember how sacred it is to have a mouth!

So, do the Oryoki with a tiny bit of food, then after the ceremony is done ... afterwards, grab a sandwich!

Gassho, J

STLah

[Naiko]

Naiko
st

[Bion]

I wish to become comfortable with oryoki but I confess it makes me very anxious. I understand why the meal is eaten so quickly, but I risk severe medical consequences if I don’t very thoroughly chew my food. So I try to find something very easy to digest and eat a very small amount in order to participate. Even so, I feel like my limitations hinder me from benefiting from the practice.
Gassho,
Naiko
st

I say, small amount of porridge, or soup.. or just some tea.. go through the ritual wholeheartedly, food in the bowls or no food. [emoji3526]


[emoji1374] SatToday lah

[Naiko]

I wish to become comfortable with oryoki but I confess it makes me very anxious. I understand why the meal is eaten so quickly, but I risk severe medical consequences if I don’t very thoroughly chew my food. So I try to find something very easy to digest and eat a very small amount in order to participate. Even so, I feel like my limitations hinder me from benefiting from the practice.
Gassho,
Naiko
st

[Anchi]

Thank you for clarifying.

Oryoki is such a great practice! l really like it.

Thank you so much


A deep bow of gratitude,

[Jundo]

Hi everybody,

I have a question.

Oryoki is a Zen practice that arose out of how the medieval Japanese military ate their meals.
It is very healthy and has only 3 small and limited portions of food: miso soup, vegetable concoction, and rice.
The manner of eating is highly ritualized.

l don't know why in monasteries we eat fast ?

Perhaps ....i am wrong

Thank you

Sorry for running a bit long......

Gassho

Oh, no, where did you hear this about the Japanese military??? They had no time for ritual and chanting! Where did you hear that??

No, it originated in China over 1000 years ago (see what I posted above to Shinshi).

... Zen Monastic Code back in China, published in 1103, so over 100 years before Dogen would have come to China. It is the Chanyuan qinggui (Rules of Purity for the Chan Monastery), compiled by a monk named Daoan. Daoan himself created many procedures, or there were earlier "Rules of Purity" that he based these on, but they are now lost. ... Chanyuan qinggui describes mealtime protocol in great detail, providing instructions on which door to use to enter the dining hall; when, where, and how to sit; how bowls and utensils must be arranged; what verses to recite; how to eat; how to clean up afterwards; and so on.

We eat fast in monasteries because, first we chant SLOWLY to remember how sacred eating is, then the actual eating is beyond "likes and dislikes." It is just medicine to keep us going! So, we don't eat slow and "enjoy," nor too fast. We just eat!

Gassho, J

STLah

[Anchi]

Hi everybody,

I have a question.

Oryoki is a Zen practice that arose out of how the medieval Japanese military ate their meals.
It is very healthy and has only 3 small and limited portions of food: miso soup, vegetable concoction, and rice.
The manner of eating is highly ritualized.

l don't know why in monasteries we eat fast ?

Perhaps ....i am wrong

Thank you

Sorry for running a bit long......

Gassho

[Jundo]

One more little bit of trivia.

Google translate tells me that this video is from "Komazawa University Taketomo Dormitory". Komazawa is one of Japan's oldest universities and Wikipedia tells us:

"Its history starts in 1592, when a seminary was established to be a center of learning for the young monks of the Sōtō sect, one of the two main Zen Buddhist traditions in Japan."

It is where both Shōhaku Okumura and Yuko Okumura went to university.

And one other notable alum is Shunryu Suzuki - who of course was the one that created the original version of how Oryoki is done at the San Fransisco Zen Center!

And that kind of feels like everything coming full circle for me.

Gassho,

Shinshi


https://youtu.be/wRDFt9FAccs

Another notable bit of trivia ... purely by chance (or Karmic connection), just where I found an apartment when first moving to Tokyo, I lived directly across the street from Komazawa University. I lived there about 10 years. Now, in hindsight, I wish I had made more use of the resources. However, I attended some lectures, used the library, and even sat in the Zendo in the video.

Gassho, J