Zazen for Beginners Series: THREAD for QUESTIONS, COMMENTS

[Zrebna]

Great series so far with lots of good humor, as well

Regarding lesson 3 (sitting postures) :
When sitting in the half lotus, I think that if the left leg rests on the right thigh, the right leg is basically under the left leg (as shown in the pdf-instructions from TreeLeaf) and not in front (like it would be in the burmese style) ?

Other than this,
I agree that not forcing oneself into a certain posture is important. But trying it gradually might be alright, if one really wants to try.
By trying I mean to start regularly stretching, especially the hips so that they open up over time. From my understanding flexible hips are the key for a safe lotus-posture or its variants and only a little flexibility is needed regarding legs and knees.
In fact, when the hips are not very flexible, the knee-joints would "take over" and would force you into the lotus-posture which will cause indeed potential longterm damage to one's knees and joints.
So stretching especially the hips and a bit the legs is a good habit one could regularly develop (just for a few minutes before you practice, for instance) and see how it goes - I find that a bit mindful stretching where you should breath anyways deep into the belly can oftentimes also serve as a good "preparation" for Zazen-Practice in general.

Anyways, great series and excited to continue to watch til the end of it - thanks a lot for this work!

Gassho
Chris
Sat today

[Jundo]

... In the Free Sitting Room it mentions giving gassho when entering, is this an additional gassho, e.g. gassho to the computer, then the normal two gassho followed by a gassho to the computer on exiting the meeting? ...

Hah! The Buddha and Dogen never had to bow to a computer, so this is a very new question.

As Bion says, it is just respectful to give a little Gassho entering the room, then Gassho again at one's sitting place facing the cushion before fluffing and straightening it, then turning clockwise 180 degrees, Gassho again to the room, then sit. The computer is not a consideration, so please forget about the computer. Anyone sitting with you online is there in the room with you when you forget about the computer and distance.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[CarriChapp]

Hi. Yeah.. when connecting, just [emoji1374] towards the zoom screen, as if you were entering a physical room, whether anyone’s in there or not! Same thing before leaving [emoji3526]
After entering and doing that, go about your business.. head to your zafu, do the bowing to it, the fluffing, the sitting etc .. [emoji3526]

Let us know if we can assist in any way and make you feel more comfortable about joining sits or maybe helping you find a scheduled sit that might work for you!

Sorry for running long!

[emoji1374] Sat Today

Thank you for your help.

Gassho Andy

[Bion]

Hello everyone. I have been watching the Sit Along with Jundo series (great by the way) and have a question about gassho. I have downloaded the basic zazen instructions and understand giving gassho to the cushion then to the room. In the Free Sitting Room it mentions giving gassho when entering, is this an additional gassho, e.g. gassho to the computer, then the normal two gassho followed by a gassho to the computer on exiting the meeting? Sorry I am very new to a sanga / zendo setting and have been trying to fly solo for a few months until someone mentioned Treeleaf.

Gassho Andy

Hi. Yeah.. when connecting, just [emoji1374] towards the zoom screen, as if you were entering a physical room, whether anyone’s in there or not! Same thing before leaving [emoji3526]
After entering and doing that, go about your business.. head to your zafu, do the bowing to it, the fluffing, the sitting etc .. [emoji3526]

Let us know if we can assist in any way and make you feel more comfortable about joining sits or maybe helping you find a scheduled sit that might work for you!

Sorry for running long!

[emoji1374] Sat Today

[CarriChapp]

Hello everyone. I have been watching the Sit Along with Jundo series (great by the way) and have a question about gassho. I have downloaded the basic zazen instructions and understand giving gassho to the cushion then to the room. In the Free Sitting Room it mentions giving gassho when entering, is this an additional gassho, e.g. gassho to the computer, then the normal two gassho followed by a gassho to the computer on exiting the meeting? Sorry I am very new to a sanga / zendo setting and have been trying to fly solo for a few months until someone mentioned Treeleaf.

Gassho Andy

[Heiso]

Most morning I prop my phone up on some cushions, then the kids or the cat come running in, knock it over and everyone gets to see my ceiling. I like the idea of an altar in a box, I might have to look into that.

Gassho,

Heiso

StLah

[Kaishin]

Hi, I'd like to ask something about joining in the group Zazen, I hope this is an appropriate thread. How do you all set up your cameras? Do you use a PC or phone? Do you place it on the ground? I have very limited space and am having troubles figuring out where to place the camera, so some advice would help.


Alex
Sat today/LAH

As others have said, whatever works for you! I do not have room for a dedicated space, so simply setup a step stool with laptop next to me in whatever room I'm sitting (varies based on what other family members are up to). I also just have a portable "altar in a box" that I can easily move. Propping up your phone works in a pinch, too.

-stlah

[Jakuden]

Yes I also enjoy an environment where the whole question about how to sit (lotus, half-lotus etc.) is not taken too dogmatic. Because my legs are much to stiff for the other options I'm also happy in the seiza position. I did sit in seiza on a bench for years, but two years ago I started to sit in seiza on two zafus and feel very comfortable and stable in this position. Is anybody else doing seiza on a zafu?

Gassho,
Stephan

SatToday

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Hi Stephan,

Yes I have a Mountain seat from ZMM and I have used it to sit seiza for years now. I have short legs and it is tall, so I do not have to turn it on the side. I find it easier to make the slight muscle shifts needed to delay pain and fatigue during Zazen on a zafu.

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday


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[Bion]

Hi, I'd like to ask something about joining in the group Zazen, I hope this is an appropriate thread. How do you all set up your cameras? Do you use a PC or phone? Do you place it on the ground? I have very limited space and am having troubles figuring out where to place the camera, so some advice would help.


Alex
Sat today/LAH

Ir depends on what device you use. If you have a laptop or desktop with a webcam, I suggest you use that since zoom on the phone is clunky and tiny. Just set it up wherever as long as you can sort of see the screen and yourself on the zoom window. Preferably to the side. Just look at some of the zazenkai videos to figure out more or less the camera placement most of us have! But really, don’t worry too much about it! Even not being visible is totally fine! [emoji3526]

[emoji1374] SatToday ( sorry for the length)

[Doshin]

I use a Tablet that I set on my Altar which is also my window seal. I sit on the floor with appropriate pillows. I used to sit on a chair at a desk using my PC. In both cases the camera is about equal with the height of my head. I also learned here years ago to not stare into the camera so I face at an angle away from the camera.

Come join others in Zazen. It is good to sit with others and it is also good encouragement for practice.

Doshin
St

PS I sit cross legged. My legs/knees do not have the needed flexibility for lotus or half Lotus

[Nengyoku]

On my phone I have a wireless charger that stands my phone up, you can get one for about $20, and I have it sat on my altar. I sat outside on Thursday and just sat that charger on the ground.
When I use my PC I have a cheap webcam that I just sit on the edge of my desk pointed downwards.
Some of the guys who have been here a while have rooms dedicated to this where they set up a camera.

Point is, anything that works for you will probably be fine.

Sorry to run long.

Gassho,
William
Sat

[Alex.d]

Hi, I'd like to ask something about joining in the group Zazen, I hope this is an appropriate thread. How do you all set up your cameras? Do you use a PC or phone? Do you place it on the ground? I have very limited space and am having troubles figuring out where to place the camera, so some advice would help.


Alex
Sat today/LAH

[Stephan]

Hi Stephan,
I am sitting Zazen mostly in half-lotus, but I am practicing Shakuhachi playing in seiza on a sideways zafu between the legs.
To me, it feels a bit more comfortable on the lower spine and makes breathing a bit easier. But I guess that depends on the individual body.
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

Moin Kotei,
yes I've read somewhere a description about this way of sitting in seiza on a zafu. But I actually sit on them in the usual way like you probably would in the lotus/half-lotus position, just that I likely sit a bit more central on them. I like that the zafu is more flexible than a bench and that I can adapt my position more easily, so that I always have good position for the zazen posture.

Gassho,
Stephan

Sat

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[Kotei]

Yes I also enjoy an environment where the whole question about how to sit (lotus, half-lotus etc.) is not taken too dogmatic. Because my legs are much to stiff for the other options I'm also happy in the seiza position. I did sit in seiza on a bench for years, but two years ago I started to sit in seiza on two zafus and feel very comfortable and stable in this position. Is anybody doing seiza on a zafu?

Hi Stephan,
I am sitting Zazen mostly in half-lotus, but I am practicing Shakuhachi playing in seiza on a sideways zafu between the legs.
To me, it feels a bit more comfortable on the lower spine and makes breathing a bit easier. But I guess that depends on the individual body.
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Stephan]

Just finished with the 3rd video on Zazen posture, was a great introduction ( reintorduction) to things. In the past I was always very hard on myself for not being able to sit lotus or even half lotus for a very long time ( thick thighs). Now that I have returned to practice I;m using a Seiza bench from ZMM. I love sitting this way as it's stable and lets me focus(not focus) on just sitting and not on posture or pain.

Really appreciate hearing Jundo discuss being agnostic about the posture choices and not dogmatic about lotus position.

I will keep working on it but nothing to attain. . .

ST/LAH

Yes I also enjoy an environment where the whole question about how to sit (lotus, half-lotus etc.) is not taken too dogmatic. Because my legs are much to stiff for the other options I'm also happy in the seiza position. I did sit in seiza on a bench for years, but two years ago I started to sit in seiza on two zafus and feel very comfortable and stable in this position. Is anybody else doing seiza on a zafu?

Gassho,
Stephan

SatToday

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