Dear Everyone,
Treeleaf is an online sangha, designed with the intention of providing a place for people to practice Zen who are not able to physically access a ‘bricks and mortar’ dharma centre. Reasons for not being able to attend a physical centre include reasons of geography, life circumstances (such as working hours, caring for young children or sick relatives) and, also, having physical illness or disability.
As such, we welcome members who have physical challenges in their everyday lives which also apply to some aspects of practicing Zen. This information is intended to answer some of the most frequently asked questions which may cause people with varying physical abilities to think they cannot practice Zen or cannot do so ‘properly’, and also provide some resources on the topic from Zen and Buddhist teachers and organisations. Even if we are currently healthy, illness and aging are a certainty in life so at some point we will have to modify our practice to accommodate physical frailties.
Although some of us in the sangha already practice with disability and/or physical illness, the challenges we face may not be the challenges that you face. While we have attempted to be as inclusive as we can, please let us know if you require information or assistance that is not here, and applies to your particular situation. By doing this, we can increase the scope of support offered.
SITTING POSTURE
Zen can be a very physical practice. To begin with, being able to sustain posture on the cushion can be very demanding for anyone with challenges to their physical health. When we see rows of students sitting in the lotus posture, or half-lotus, Burmese etc, that can seem like the correct way to do things. However, forcing yourself into a posture which is more than a little uncomfortable (postures can initially feel odd as your body adjusts to them) is not conducive to good sitting and this is even more true if trying to do so might cause you long-term damage through pushing your body too hard.
If you can do the traditional postures but need support in the form of additional cushions, a neck brace, back support and such like, it is completely fine to do this.
Alternative postures to the standard zafu sitting include sitting in a chair (often with a cushion or zafu under your feet so if they do not naturally reach the floor), lying on your side (such as the Buddha’s parinirvana posture) and lying on your back (including support under your knees) such as in the yoga śavāsana (corpse) pose.
This article gives some advice on alternative postures.
It is perfectly fine to attend zazenkai and other sits and ceremonies in supported or reclining postures.
BOWING
Bowing, especially full-length prostrations, can be physically demanding. If prostrations are required in the weekly zazenkai or other ceremony, you can instead visualise doing this with your hands held in gassho (if you are able). If the gassho position (palms together and held with the base of the thumbs in the centre of the chest) cannot be achieved or maintained, it is okay just to visualise doing this also. If your physical ability necessitates a one-handed gassho, this is completely acceptable.
KINHIN
Kinhin (mindful walking) occurs between sessions of zazen in the weekly and monthly zazenkai. If you are unable to walk, then this can be replaced with some mindful stretching. Part of the function of kinhin is to stretch the muscles after zazen in addition to being aware of our body as it moves. Stretching also achieves both of these things.
If stretching is not possible then consider watching the movement of the breth.
If you are able to do a brief amount of kinhin then please do this for as long as you are able and then either stretch or watch the breath as above.
SEWING
Jukai (taking the precepts) and Shukke Tokudo (homeleaving ordination) both require sewing as part of the preparation for the ceremony. Before Jukai, participants sew a rakusu. Before Shukke Tokudo a kesa is sewn. These sewing activities are part of a commitment to the practice and the ceremony about to happen but rely on the sangha member being sufficiently able to sew.
If you require assistance or modifications to the normal method to be able to sew (such as using a machine rather than hand stitching) this should almost always be possible. If no sewing, or very limited sewing is possible, then a family member or sangha friend can make part or whole of the rakusu or kesa for you. We do not wish someone who wishes to be part of the sangha and take the precepts to be prevented from doing so because of this.
PAIN
Here at Treeleaf, we sit zazen in the traditional Sōtō style, in full completeness with nothing lacking. However, while it is not the aim of practice, it has been noticed that levels of pain during and after sitting can feel reduced. This may be of benefit to sangha members who experience pain, especially chronic pain.
Jundo talks about sitting with pain and alternative postures here.
TIME AWAY FROM THE SANGHA
Some people with illness and disability find it hard to sustain a consistent interaction with Treeleaf or need periods of time away when their health becomes bad. Firstly, many able-bodied members have life circumstances which mean that they also struggle to keep up with the sangha on a day-to-day basis and many also take time away for personal reasons, so you are not alone in this. Secondly, there is a thread on the forum for letting us know if you are going to be away for a while. Also, please let one of the unsui know or a sangha friend if you would like us to be in contact and support you while you are away. It is often the times that you need to be away from the sangha that you might need us most.
SANGHA CONTACT POINT
It is also important to be very careful if you feel or suspect that you might have a present physical or mental condition that might interfere with Zazen or other activities in our Sangha. If you are not sure, then you should consult with a doctor or mental health professional and only participate with their approval, guidance and oversight. Although Zen Practice should be safe for most people if you do not do more than your body or condition allows you, if there could be any doubt, please check with your physician first before undertaking any activity.
SANGHA CONTACT POINT
Here is a special message from Ankai, our long time member and priest who practices with serious health issues (war injuries, Parkinson's, a heart condition, and who has experience in recovery) and is an excellent person to contact on these issues [MESSAGE LINK]
A little about Ankai
: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...l=1#post329009
RESOURCES
Articles
Buddhism and Disability
Handicapped Buddhism by Richard Louis Bruno
Books
Body of Radiant Knots (book chapter) by Joan Iten Sutherland, in Being Bodies (edited by Lenore Friedman and Susan Moon).
Healing, The Universal Medicine (book chapter) by Pat Enkyo O'Hara in her own book, Most Intimate.
How To Be Sick by Toni Bernhard (and please do check out our How to be Sick reading and practice group)
Lotus in the Fire: the healing power of Zen by Jim Bedard
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
The Only Way I Know of to Alleviate Suffering (book chapter) by Darlene Cohen, also in Being Bodies.
This Is Getting Old. Zen Thoughts on Aging with Humor and Dignity by Susan Moon
Turning Suffering Inside Out by Darlene Cohen
Talks
Dongshan is Unwell (Norman Fischer)
Radical Acceptance and Practicing Radical Acceptance (Tara Brach)
Suffering and Gratitude (Norman Fischer)
Transforming Illness Through Love and Letting Go (Susan Bauer-Wu)
Gassho, Jundo
SatTodayLAH
Thank you to Kokuu for drafting the above and shepherding this project.
Treeleaf is an online sangha, designed with the intention of providing a place for people to practice Zen who are not able to physically access a ‘bricks and mortar’ dharma centre. Reasons for not being able to attend a physical centre include reasons of geography, life circumstances (such as working hours, caring for young children or sick relatives) and, also, having physical illness or disability.
As such, we welcome members who have physical challenges in their everyday lives which also apply to some aspects of practicing Zen. This information is intended to answer some of the most frequently asked questions which may cause people with varying physical abilities to think they cannot practice Zen or cannot do so ‘properly’, and also provide some resources on the topic from Zen and Buddhist teachers and organisations. Even if we are currently healthy, illness and aging are a certainty in life so at some point we will have to modify our practice to accommodate physical frailties.
Although some of us in the sangha already practice with disability and/or physical illness, the challenges we face may not be the challenges that you face. While we have attempted to be as inclusive as we can, please let us know if you require information or assistance that is not here, and applies to your particular situation. By doing this, we can increase the scope of support offered.
SITTING POSTURE
Zen can be a very physical practice. To begin with, being able to sustain posture on the cushion can be very demanding for anyone with challenges to their physical health. When we see rows of students sitting in the lotus posture, or half-lotus, Burmese etc, that can seem like the correct way to do things. However, forcing yourself into a posture which is more than a little uncomfortable (postures can initially feel odd as your body adjusts to them) is not conducive to good sitting and this is even more true if trying to do so might cause you long-term damage through pushing your body too hard.
If you can do the traditional postures but need support in the form of additional cushions, a neck brace, back support and such like, it is completely fine to do this.
Alternative postures to the standard zafu sitting include sitting in a chair (often with a cushion or zafu under your feet so if they do not naturally reach the floor), lying on your side (such as the Buddha’s parinirvana posture) and lying on your back (including support under your knees) such as in the yoga śavāsana (corpse) pose.
This article gives some advice on alternative postures.
It is perfectly fine to attend zazenkai and other sits and ceremonies in supported or reclining postures.
BOWING
Bowing, especially full-length prostrations, can be physically demanding. If prostrations are required in the weekly zazenkai or other ceremony, you can instead visualise doing this with your hands held in gassho (if you are able). If the gassho position (palms together and held with the base of the thumbs in the centre of the chest) cannot be achieved or maintained, it is okay just to visualise doing this also. If your physical ability necessitates a one-handed gassho, this is completely acceptable.
KINHIN
Kinhin (mindful walking) occurs between sessions of zazen in the weekly and monthly zazenkai. If you are unable to walk, then this can be replaced with some mindful stretching. Part of the function of kinhin is to stretch the muscles after zazen in addition to being aware of our body as it moves. Stretching also achieves both of these things.
If stretching is not possible then consider watching the movement of the breth.
If you are able to do a brief amount of kinhin then please do this for as long as you are able and then either stretch or watch the breath as above.
SEWING
Jukai (taking the precepts) and Shukke Tokudo (homeleaving ordination) both require sewing as part of the preparation for the ceremony. Before Jukai, participants sew a rakusu. Before Shukke Tokudo a kesa is sewn. These sewing activities are part of a commitment to the practice and the ceremony about to happen but rely on the sangha member being sufficiently able to sew.
If you require assistance or modifications to the normal method to be able to sew (such as using a machine rather than hand stitching) this should almost always be possible. If no sewing, or very limited sewing is possible, then a family member or sangha friend can make part or whole of the rakusu or kesa for you. We do not wish someone who wishes to be part of the sangha and take the precepts to be prevented from doing so because of this.
PAIN
Here at Treeleaf, we sit zazen in the traditional Sōtō style, in full completeness with nothing lacking. However, while it is not the aim of practice, it has been noticed that levels of pain during and after sitting can feel reduced. This may be of benefit to sangha members who experience pain, especially chronic pain.
Jundo talks about sitting with pain and alternative postures here.
TIME AWAY FROM THE SANGHA
Some people with illness and disability find it hard to sustain a consistent interaction with Treeleaf or need periods of time away when their health becomes bad. Firstly, many able-bodied members have life circumstances which mean that they also struggle to keep up with the sangha on a day-to-day basis and many also take time away for personal reasons, so you are not alone in this. Secondly, there is a thread on the forum for letting us know if you are going to be away for a while. Also, please let one of the unsui know or a sangha friend if you would like us to be in contact and support you while you are away. It is often the times that you need to be away from the sangha that you might need us most.
SANGHA CONTACT POINT
It is also important to be very careful if you feel or suspect that you might have a present physical or mental condition that might interfere with Zazen or other activities in our Sangha. If you are not sure, then you should consult with a doctor or mental health professional and only participate with their approval, guidance and oversight. Although Zen Practice should be safe for most people if you do not do more than your body or condition allows you, if there could be any doubt, please check with your physician first before undertaking any activity.
SANGHA CONTACT POINT
Here is a special message from Ankai, our long time member and priest who practices with serious health issues (war injuries, Parkinson's, a heart condition, and who has experience in recovery) and is an excellent person to contact on these issues [MESSAGE LINK]
A little about Ankai
Hi! I'm Ankai, and I'm an "Unsui," a priest-in-training here at Treeleaf. A little about me - I live in the US, in New Jersey, and have a wonderful family. I'm a veteran, and served in Iraq. I survived combat, and a bombing, but it left me with PTSD, and some physical limitations. I also have a serious heart condition that has led to seven heart attacks, and was diagnosed in 2018 with Parkinson's Disease. I'm also in recovery from alcoholism, with years of sobriety, and work at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility.
With all the things I've got going on, I still have my family, my career, my Priesthood, and, I practice every single day! I have had to make some modifications to the way I approach practice, but, it can be done!! I'm not "special" in any particular way. If I can practice, anyone can practice!
SO... come along! If there is any way I can help or offer suggestions for how you can work around whatever your situation may be, please feel free to reach out! And, of course, it may just be that you've figured something out that might be useful to me or someone else who may read it. You can find me here or reach out in a private message absolutely any time. So, let's go! The wonderful adventure of practice and zazen awaits, and we could have some fun and connect with some great folks along the way.
...have a seat.
With all the things I've got going on, I still have my family, my career, my Priesthood, and, I practice every single day! I have had to make some modifications to the way I approach practice, but, it can be done!! I'm not "special" in any particular way. If I can practice, anyone can practice!
SO... come along! If there is any way I can help or offer suggestions for how you can work around whatever your situation may be, please feel free to reach out! And, of course, it may just be that you've figured something out that might be useful to me or someone else who may read it. You can find me here or reach out in a private message absolutely any time. So, let's go! The wonderful adventure of practice and zazen awaits, and we could have some fun and connect with some great folks along the way.
...have a seat.
RESOURCES
Articles
Buddhism and Disability
Handicapped Buddhism by Richard Louis Bruno
Books
Body of Radiant Knots (book chapter) by Joan Iten Sutherland, in Being Bodies (edited by Lenore Friedman and Susan Moon).
Healing, The Universal Medicine (book chapter) by Pat Enkyo O'Hara in her own book, Most Intimate.
How To Be Sick by Toni Bernhard (and please do check out our How to be Sick reading and practice group)
Lotus in the Fire: the healing power of Zen by Jim Bedard
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
The Only Way I Know of to Alleviate Suffering (book chapter) by Darlene Cohen, also in Being Bodies.
This Is Getting Old. Zen Thoughts on Aging with Humor and Dignity by Susan Moon
Turning Suffering Inside Out by Darlene Cohen
Talks
Dongshan is Unwell (Norman Fischer)
Radical Acceptance and Practicing Radical Acceptance (Tara Brach)
Suffering and Gratitude (Norman Fischer)
Transforming Illness Through Love and Letting Go (Susan Bauer-Wu)
Gassho, Jundo
SatTodayLAH
Thank you to Kokuu for drafting the above and shepherding this project.
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