RECOMMENDED 'At Home' Liturgy

[Meian]

Namaste, all

I am resurrecting another old thread, yes As I am navigating the forums and locating readings, teachings, resources, etc. ...... This thread is phenomenal, so much info in one place - thank you, Jundo

I just want to add my deepest gratitude to all the hard work and dedication that has gone into this sangha - and continues to. This is such a wonderful community, I love it here. I know I only just started posting and participating (somewhat - I have been reading periodically for months), even though I joined a year ago - life happens, and things come together when the time is right, I believe.

I will be looking for ways to "give back" and assist the sangha in the future, whenever it is appropriate and when I can be useful in some small way. For now I am exploring the teachings and practices that feel very natural to me, and simple in a profound way. I am learning from all of you, and am so thankful for your generosity, wisdom, and shared experiences.

There is much I would like to respond to in the forums, so much vast wisdom and experience - but I am beyond words for it at this time. Reflecting on all of it and feeling my mind expand, and my perspective on life changing already, little drops of water in the soil.

Gassho,
Kim
#sattoday

[jtlewis]

Thank you for resurrecting this post Kim. Just this week I began reading Daido Loori's "Brining the Sacred to Life" to help me make this practice apart of my daily life rather than solely focusing on the time I am sitting shikantaza.

And thanks to all those past and present who have gone before and helped to pave this way for myself and others.

Gassho,

Josh
Sat Today

[Theophan]

Jundo,
Thank you. I have picked up copies of the books you recommended.

Gassho
Theophan
Sat Today

[Chishou]

I like to use this chant as part of my home liturgy. Here's Some background

Sat today
LAH

It appears to not be working, at least for me.

Simon


Ask not what the Sangha can do for you, but what you can do for the Sangha.

[Rakurei]

Just grabbed Bring the Sacred to Life. I really enjoy Loori's writing style, much recommended.

[Ryudo]

Thank you Jundo.

I was searching for a verse or a chant that we can recite when a beloved one died (any sentient being).
As I understand Metta it is more for the ones dealing with the loss and not so much for the one that died.

So is there a verse or chant that we can use for the deceised? (Like to honour them and help them on their next path?)

Thank you again.

Gassho
Marcus
SatToday/LAH

[Jundo]

Thank you Jundo.

I was searching for a verse or a chant that we can recite when a beloved one died (any sentient being).
As I understand Metta it is more for the ones dealing with the loss and not so much for the one that died.

So is there a verse or chant that we can use for the deceised? (Like to honour them and help them on their next path?)

Thank you again.

Gassho
Marcus
SatToday/LAH

Hi Marcus,

The Heart Sutra is All Purpose. That is my universal recommendation.

Another possibility is the Shariraimon, as we recite for our Nehan-e Memorial in February ...

With/ whole/heart/ed/ gra/ti/tude/ we/ bow/
to/ the/ re/lics/ still/ pre/sent of/ the/ True/ Bo/dy/[*] of/ the/ Ta/tha/ga/ta/ Sha/kya/mu/ni,/
who/ is/ ful/ly/ en/dowed/ with/ my/ri/ad/ vir/tues;/
to/ the/ Dhar/ma/ Bo/dy/ which/ is/ Truth/ it/self;/
and/ to/ the/ whole/ u/ni/verse/ which/ is/ his/ Stu/pa./
With/ deep/ res/pect/ we/ ve/ner/ate/ the/ One/
who /lived/ his/ life/ for/ the/ sake/ of/ all/ be/ings./
Though/ the/ sus/ten/ance/ of/ Bud/dha,/ the/ Truth/
en/ters/ us/ and/ we/ en/ter/ Truth./
Let/ us/ strive/ to/ be/ne/fit/ all/ li/ving/ be/ings,/[*] a/rouse/ the/ thought/ of/ A/wa/ken/ing,/
cul/ti/vate/ Bod/hi/sat/tva/ Prac/tice,/
and/ to/ge/ther/ en/ter/ Per/fect/ Peace,/[*] the/ pen/e/tra/tion/ of/ the/ e/qua/li/ty/ of/ all/ things./
Now/ let/ us/ re/ver/ent/ly/ bow.

Details here ... It will be the same this year as well ...

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?15088-Announcement-Parinirvana-Memorial-Zazenkai-2017

Gassho, J

STLAH

[Ryudo]

Thank you Jundo.


Marcus
SatToday/LAH

[Ryudo]

Hi all,

I now have my personal Rakusu that I honour and that I am grateful for. Thank you Jundo, thank you all.

Q: When do we use/put on the Rakusu? Allways when meditating? Only at Zazenkai and ceremony? Any time?
I know it represents the Buddha's robe, so probably there are guidelines concerning the use.

Thank you in advance for any help here.

Gassho
Ryudo
SatToday/LAH

[Zenmei]

Recommended 'at home' liturgy

Hi all,

I now have my personal Rakusu that I honour and that I am grateful for. Thank you Jundo, thank you all.

Q: When do we use/put on the Rakusu? Allways when meditating? Only at Zazenkai and ceremony? Any time?
I know it represents the Buddha's robe, so probably there are guidelines concerning the use.

Thank you in advance for any help here.

Gassho
Ryudo
SatToday/LAH

The only real guideline I’ve heard is don’t wear it into the bathroom. And don’t put it directly on the floor. It’s the Buddha’s teachings, so treat it with respect, but it’s not so precious that you can never touch it. It’s better to wear it and care for it and let it be a part of your life. It’s closer to a work uniform than it is to fancy ceremonial robes.

I usually wear mine for my daily sit, or if I’m sewing. It tends to get in the way if you’re cleaning or doing other work around the house. I don’t wear it out because I think it would come across as showing off or trying to look special. If I had a Soto sitting group, I would wear it there, though.

[emoji120], Zenmei (sat)

[Ryudo]

Thank you Zenmei,
your answer sounds sensible. It is somewhat as I thought.
I will wear it for my daily Zazen and at ceremonies.

Have a great weekend.

Gassho
Ryudo
SatToday/LAH

[Shinshi]

Hi Folks,

Following Jukai I have been trying to formalize my daily sitting a bit. I put together the following for myself and would be interested in any feedback. My room is set up so that my alter is right next to my Zabuton. There are a couple of things that are a bit different than treeleaf. When I first started I learned to bow three times before sitting - so I still do that. Treeleaf just does two.

I tried to write up the Rakusu procedure as shown in the video linked below. I used the Treeleaf chant book for the chants.

I have seen to slight variants on the Robe verse. Some times the last line is
Vowing to save all sentient beings
sometimes
Vowing to free all sentient beings

So I included them both.

I tried to create something that wasn't too long and included the Heart Sutra.

Once a week I also do Metta.

Anyway, let me know if something looks wrong or misplaced or needs to be added.

Once I get some feedback, I'll write this up as Word file and PDF if people are interested.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

------------


Stand in Shashu outside the of the doorway

Step in with left foot, at left side of doorway

Gassho at the doorway toward the Buddha in their room

Walk in Shashu to Alter/Zafu (clockwise – following contour of room)

Arrange cushion

Bow three times
• Towards Alter - Buddha (turn clockwise)
• Towards Room – Sangha (turn clockwise)
• Towards Zafu – Dharma Sit Facing Alter

Put on Rakusu
• Remove Rakusu from its envelope
• Touch Rakusu to forehead, then place on head

Recite Robe Verse (Takkesage)
English (3x)
• Robe of Liberation boundless
• Field beyond both form and formless
• Wearing the Tathagata's Teachings
• Vowing to (free) save all sentient beings
Or Japanese (3x)
• Dai sai geda puku
• Muso fukuden e
• Hi bu nyorai kyo
• Kodo sho shu jo

Rakusu (con’t)
• Bow forward, take Rakusu touch forehead three times
• Unfold,
• Touch Maneki to lips
• Touch Maneki to forehead three times
• Put on Rakusu



Light Incense

Ring Bell three times

Recite Heart Sutra (English)

◎
A/vo/lo/ki/tes/va/ra/ Bo/dhi/satt/va/, A/wa/kened/ One/ of/ Com/pas/sion/,
In/ Praj/na/ Pa/ra/mi/ta/, the/Deep/ Prac/tice/ of/ Per/fect/ Wis/dom/ ◎
Per/ceived/ the/ emp/ti/ness/ of /all /ለve /con/di/tions/,
And/ was/ free/ of/ suf/fer/ing/.
O/ Sha/ri/pu/tra/, form/ is/ no/ o/ther/ than/ emp/ti/ness/,
Emp/ti/ness/ no/ o/ther/ than/ form/;
Form/ is/ pre/cise/ly/ emp/ti/ness/, emp/ti/ness/ pre/cise/ly/ form/.
Sen/sa/tions/, per/cep/tions/, for/ma/tions/ and/ con/scious/ness/ are/ al/so/ like/ this/.
O/ Sha/ri/pu/tra/, all/ things/ are/ ex/pres/sions/ of/ emp/ti/ness/,
Not/ born/, not/ des/troyed/, not/ stained/, not/ pure/;
Nei/ther/ wax/ing/ nor/ wan/ing/.
Thus/ emp/ti/ness/ is/ not/ form/; not/ sen/sa/tion/ nor/ per/cep/tion/,
Not/ for/ma/tion/ nor/ con/scious/ness/.
No/ eye/, ear/, nose/, tongue/, bo/dy/, mind/;
No/ sight/, sound/, smell/, taste/, touch/, nor/ ob/ject/ of/ mind/;
No/ realm/ of/ sight/, no/ realm/ of/ con/scious/ness/;
No/ ig/no/rance/, no/ end/ to/ ig/no/rance/;
No/ old/ age/ and/ death/,
No/ ces/sa/tion/ of/ old/ age/ and/ death/;
No/ suf/fer/ing/, nor/ cause/ or/ end/ to/ suf/fer/ing/;
No/ path/, no/ wis/dom/ and/ no/ gain/.
No/ gain/ – thus/ Bod/dhi/satt/vas/ live/ this/ Praj/na/ Pa/ra/mi/ta/ ◎
With/ no/ hin/drance/ of/ mind/ –
No/ hin/drance/ there/fore/ no/ fear/.
Far/ be/yond/ all/ de/lu/sion/, Nir/va/na/ is/ al/rea/dy/ here/.
All/ past/, pre/sent/ and/ fu/ture/ Budd/has/
Live/ this/ Praj/na/ Pa/ra/mi/ta/ ◎
And/ re/al/ize/ su/preme/ and/ com/plete/ en/light/en/ment/.
There/fore/ know/ that/ Praj/na/ Pa/ra/mi/ta/
Is/ the/ sac/red/ man/tra/, the/ lu/min/ous/ man/tra/,
the/ sup/reme/ man/tra/, the/ in/com/pa/ra/ble/ man/tra/
by/ which/ all/ suf/fe/ring/ is/ clear/.
This/ is/ no/ o/ther/ than/ Truth/.
There/fore/ set/ forth/ the/ Praj/na/ Pa/ra/mi/ta/ man/tra/.
Set/ forth/ this/ man/tra/ and/ pro/claim/: ◎

(1x)
Gate! Gate! (Already Gone, Gone)
Paragate! (Already Gone Beyond)
Parasamgate! (Already Fully Beyond)
Bodhi! Svaha (So-wah-kah)! ◎ (Awakening, Rejoice)

3 prostrations

Turn to sit facing wall

Zazen


Recite: Verse of Atonement:
• All harmful acts, words and thoughts, ever committed by me since of old,
• On account of beginningless greed, anger and ignorance,
• Born of my body, mouth and mind,
• Now I atone for them all

Recite: Four Vows (to be recited 3x, vibrant on the second, soft on the third time):
• To save all sentient beings, though beings numberless
• To transform all delusions, though delusions inexhaustible
• To perceive Reality, though Reality is boundless
• To attain the Enlightened Way, a Way non-attainable

Remove Rakusu
• Touch Rakusu/Maneki to forehead three times
• Touch once to lips
• Fold
• Place in Envelope

Stand up

Bow three times
• Towards Alter - Buddha
• Towards Room - Sangha
• Towards Zafu - Dharma

Walk out of room, in Shashu, walking clockwise

Gassho at doorway

Step out of room with left foot, standing to the left of the doorway

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?14884-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%2812%29&p=189093#post189093

[Jundo]

Hi Shinshi,

It seems lovely and respectful of Traditions, and also (most importantly) seems to resonate in your heart as the way of Shinshiji (Shinshi Temple). Lovely.

I am sure that you are also adding the procedures for the straightening the Zafu with three fingers, Gassho, turn clockwise and Gassho, yes?

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?14884-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%2812%29&p=189093#post189093

Also, saving is rescuing is freeing. You can just pick one word that resonates with you, and use that, rather than two words.

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH

[Ryudo]

The Whole Folder
Folder Access: https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...mM?usp=sharing

Hi Shinshi,

Unfortunately acces to this folder is denied..

Thank you for your kind efforts.

Gassho, Ryudo
SatToday/LAH

[Jundo]

Hi Shinshi,

You are more organized than me about daily sitting! I am rather casual when on my own. Each person must find their own style. When on my own, I am more a Rakusu on (with Verse), fluff the Cushion, Bow-turn-Bow, and Sit kinda fella. Other folks like to maintain the formality of sitting in a Zendo during Zazenkai, which is good too.

We are about to cut a film on procedures for the Zendo during a formal Zazenkai. This will be helpful if I forget something.

Thank you, lovely.

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH