RECOMMENDED 'At Home' Liturgy

[Jundo]

Hi Karl,

They are all translations of Japanese-Chinese-Vietnamese texts, often themselves translations of Sanskrit or other languages, so all just interpretations. Thus, when at Plum Village chant Plum Village, when at Treeleaf chant the Treeleaf way, when home chant the way you like.

Gassho J

SatTodaylah

[Bokugan]

This thread has been immensely helpful for me.

For one, as a new person to zen practice, I feel like many of the book recommendations I was getting (and discovering on my own) were assuming that foundational knowledge was already there (aside from Zen Mind Beginner's Mind). I placed an order for Bringing the Sacred to Life: The Daily Practice of Zen Ritual this morning. Looking forward to reading that one.

Thank you Judo and others for all of the wonderful advice on "Home Liturgy".

I appreciate that the idea is to not get bound up in tradition or right/wrong way of doing things. I'm still establishing my daily practice and am finding a lot of inspiration here!

Gassho,
Ryan

Sat

[Meian]

I'm sitting in the orthodontist office now with Bringing the Sacred to Life - fits easily in my bag and I have sections bookmarked.

As for the liturgy, I've copied and formatted sections of it and printed it for regular use. Basically created my own version based on Treeleaf's resources.

Glad you're finding what works for you. Best wishes to you, Ryan.

Gassho, meian

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[Tai Shi]

RECOMMENDED 'At Home' Liturgy

For some time I tried to use for home liturgy the Verse of Atonement, at the end, Robe Verse at the beginning. I’m pleased that Jundo suggested something more appropriate for me. I’m not saying b everyone should go to Jundo, but I’m trying what is now working specifically for me.
Also I’m allowing myself to use more comfortable sitting postures fo my Time, and returning to true methods of sitting which ease me into focusing more on my breath.
Tai Shi
sat/ lah


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[Bokugan]

I'm sitting in the orthodontist office now with Bringing the Sacred to Life - fits easily in my bag and I have sections bookmarked.

As for the liturgy, I've copied and formatted sections of it and printed it for regular use. Basically created my own version based on Treeleaf's resources.

Hello Meian,

I got my copy and deeply enjoyed it. Wonderful writing style and easy to read. I like that idea of crafting a collection of home liturgy for regular use! I find myself looking some things up repeatedly. This is definitely something I would like to do as I learn.

Gassho,

Ryan
Sat Today

[Meian]

I like that idea of crafting a collection of home liturgy for regular use! I find myself looking some things up repeatedly. This is definitely something I would like to do as I learn.

that's something i started doing a few years ago. started creating folders to bookmark threads. then started saving certain sections as PDFs or Word docs, then collected into folders on my computer. then took an old binder and printed out some files that I found myself opening repeatedly and started creating a reference for myself to use with Treeleaf ceremonies and for my own practice. that evolved to printouts of verses to stick in my bag for when i'm waiting somewhere -- then that project began.

good thing my browsers and computer are better organized than my brain is!

so i have a mini-library that is always expanding and changing of Treeleaf stuff that i just adapt and add to over time. parts of it are always with me -- often in my pocket or my bag, and the big stuff (like chant books) in my binder. i also have a slowly-expanding (and far behind) library of books, verses and writings that members here have authored (and are/will) -- I follow all of these things.

that's just me, though. best wishes on your exploring and your learning!

gassho, meian
st lh

[Tai Shi]

For me coming to Zen has been in bits and pieces until I met Jon Kobot-Zinn, and his Tibetan symbol like bells. I own a pair of such bells inspired by him and the low price on Amazon. Thereafter my daughter began sending me items for an alter, and my wife bought me items for the same purpose. Along the way I purchased a Buddhist chair cushion, which I still use, and I began using an antique coffee table of etched plywood, and oak edging, the coffee table my father hand-built for my mother when they were new in their marriage. Long before my dad and step-mom married, the table came to me, and four years ago, when I began to practice meditation on my own, before instruction in zazen. the table, only slightly damaged, to a beautiful altetr, with chair and cushion, serene statues of both Buddha, and Christ, and electric candles all over the table, beautiful bell my daughter had sent me from Japan, and many trinkets, one from Jundo, a gift with the Heart Sutra in Japanese on it, and almost all gifts from daughter and wife. My alter has for me great meaning, with many pieces from Japan. I sit most days before my alter, left shoulder propped against southeastern wall to support sagging spine and body. There I practice zazen. My question is, what is the place of music, specifically western classical music, in sitting, or is it ever possible?
Taishi
Gassho/lah
sat

[Kokuu]

My question is, what is the place of music, specifically western classical music, in sitting, or is it ever possible?

Hi Tai Shi

Listening to music is a wonderful thing, and can be done in a meditative way, contemplating each note and the entire piece as it unfolds.

However, in Shikantaza, we just sit with what is without adding anything. So, no music.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-

[Tai Shi]

Although Jundo states sitting anywhere happens, and with medical or painful procedures I breath in a meditative way, I don't believe this is zazen. I generally sit in a quiet place in our home. Occasionally I sit zazen in a waiting room, or will attempt so. This is not always successful.
Tai Shi
sat/ lah
Gassho

[Jundo]

Although Jundo states sitting anywhere happens, and with medical or painful procedures I breath in a meditative way, I don't believe this is zazen. I generally sit in a quiet place in our home. Occasionally I sit zazen in a waiting room, or will attempt so. This is not always successful.
Tai Shi
sat/ lah
Gassho

If you do your best to sit in equanimity and non-judgement, focusing on the breath ... even though, at that same moment you might not actually be feeling much equanimity, be feeling lousy and think it is a bad deal too ... then it is pretty much Zazen.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Tai Shi]

Thank you Jundo Roshi
Tai Shi
sat/lah
Gassho


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[Tai Shi]

My home liturgy is very simple. Serenity prayer. Count breath 1 to 10 back to 1 then do this 20 or 30 min. Then say a Christian prayer. That’s it, be grateful. Rise from chair or just Gassho while sitting your done.
Tai Shi
sat/ lah
Gassho


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[Gareth]

The book by John Daido Loori Roshi is very nice, I have enjoyed it so far. I already appreciated the aspects of liturgy that help my consistency through the day, but the section on dharanis has been illuminating. I am still not sure that the universe benefits from hearing me chant...

Gassho,
Gareth

Sat today

[Gregor]

Thank you. I had wanted to ask on what I could do to deepen my practice.

The Ryaku Fusatsu ceromony this week was very touching.

I will be ordering the reccomended books with the intention of bringing sacredness to life in my everyday.

Gassho,

Greg
STLAH

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[michaelw]

Is there a recomended bpm for chanting?
I want to start chanting rather than just reading off the page.
I can use a metronome to count the beats that way I can be up to speed
when I get a chance to sit with others.

gassho
M
sat