Zazen for Beginners Series: THREAD for QUESTIONS, COMMENTS

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  • newby_x86
    Member
    • Dec 2017
    • 114

    #61
    Thank you Jishin and Jundo for your thoughts.

    Anant
    SatToday

    Comment

    • Geika
      Treeleaf Unsui
      • Jan 2010
      • 4984

      #62
      I am rarely able to find a space to sit in my home that is just "wall." Usually, there is laundry nearby.

      Gassho, sat today, lah.
      求道芸化 Kyūdō Geika
      I am just a priest-in-training, please do not take anything I say as a teaching.

      Comment

      • aprapti
        Member
        • Jun 2017
        • 889

        #63
        sat to day i understand and since i sit every day, its not a point at all. but i am looking for the explanation of LAH...


        coos
        std

        hobo kore dojo / 歩歩是道場 / step, step, there is my place of practice

        Aprāpti (अप्राप्ति) non-attainment

        Comment

        • Shinshi
          Treeleaf Unsui
          • Jul 2010
          • 3656

          #64
          Originally posted by aprapti
          sat to day i understand and since i sit every day, its not a point at all. but i am looking for the explanation of LAH...


          coos
          std
          Hi aprapti,

          Here you go

          Dear All, As you know, we've asked folks to write “SAT TODAY” next to their signature before posting in this Forum. "SAT TODAY" means that someone has sat Zazen sometime during the past day, and that they will have “sat before chatting” in the Forum. Signing "SatToday" - Please


          In that thread Jundo asked of the Sangha:

          "I am asking that all Treeleaf members, in some way, perform an extra “good deed” each day (something that they do not otherwise daily do) dedicated in their heart to Treeleaf Sangha. When they do so, they should put “LAH” or “Lent A Hand” next to their signature too, as a way to show their participation by having done a special deed during the previous day. For example:

          “SatTodayLAH” or “ST/Lent A Hand” etc."


          Gassho, Shinshi

          SaT-LaH
          空道 心志 Kudo Shinshi
          There are those who, attracted by grass, flowers, mountains, and waters, flow into the Buddha way.
          -Dogen
          E84I - JAJ

          Comment

          • aprapti
            Member
            • Jun 2017
            • 889

            #65
            thanks Shinshi, that is faster dan light...

            that's what i thought it was, except for the dedication-part.


            Coos
            std

            hobo kore dojo / 歩歩是道場 / step, step, there is my place of practice

            Aprāpti (अप्राप्ति) non-attainment

            Comment

            • Shinshi
              Treeleaf Unsui
              • Jul 2010
              • 3656

              #66
              Originally posted by aprapti
              thanks Shinshi, that is faster dan light...

              that's what i thought it was, except for the dedication-part.


              Coos
              std
              Glad to help!

              Gassho, Shinshi

              SaT-LaH
              空道 心志 Kudo Shinshi
              There are those who, attracted by grass, flowers, mountains, and waters, flow into the Buddha way.
              -Dogen
              E84I - JAJ

              Comment

              • Cheyenne
                Member
                • Jan 2018
                • 9

                #67
                Ending of beginners lessons.

                Jundo, thank you so much for the beginner series. I have just completed number 22. I am sitting for 20 min a day. Working up to thirty next week. I would like to have a joki with you. When may I do that? Where should be my next lesson?

                Comment

                • Geika
                  Treeleaf Unsui
                  • Jan 2010
                  • 4984

                  #68
                  Jukai study takes place beginning around August and September, and the ceremony is in January. Feel free to study the precepts if you like until then! Keep up the sitting.

                  Gassho, sat today, lah
                  求道芸化 Kyūdō Geika
                  I am just a priest-in-training, please do not take anything I say as a teaching.

                  Comment

                  • Cheyenne
                    Member
                    • Jan 2018
                    • 9

                    #69
                    thank you. could you give me how to study the precepts. Is there a certain way? is there a good book on this?

                    Comment

                    • Shinshi
                      Treeleaf Unsui
                      • Jul 2010
                      • 3656

                      #70
                      There is a lot of great information about studying the precepts in the thread announcing the last Jukai.



                      Treeleaf uses the book "The Mind of Clover" by Robert Aitken.

                      In the forum JUKAI, PRECEPTS STUDY & SEWING FORUM (Oryoki & Tonglen Too!)



                      You can find threads that touch on each precept. Those threads contain links to additional readings.

                      Gassho, Shinshi

                      SaT-LaH
                      空道 心志 Kudo Shinshi
                      There are those who, attracted by grass, flowers, mountains, and waters, flow into the Buddha way.
                      -Dogen
                      E84I - JAJ

                      Comment

                      • Ramsey
                        Member
                        • Feb 2018
                        • 4

                        #71
                        I have a question about the mudra. I'm new to shikantaza practice (though not new to a regular meditation practice) and the mudra is new to me - and uncomfortable. Maybe I have oddly shaped thumb-tips? Even with very short nails, the fleshy part of my thumb tips do not touch each other and one nail edge slides under the other nail edge. It's distracting and uncomfortable. I have to tent my thumbs to get flesh-on-flesh. I have been sitting with this and observing it (I'm only on day 4 of the series). But I wondered if others have experienced this? Or am I holding my hands wrong?

                        Comment

                        • Jakuden
                          Member
                          • Jun 2015
                          • 6141

                          #72
                          Originally posted by Ramsey
                          I have a question about the mudra. I'm new to shikantaza practice (though not new to a regular meditation practice) and the mudra is new to me - and uncomfortable. Maybe I have oddly shaped thumb-tips? Even with very short nails, the fleshy part of my thumb tips do not touch each other and one nail edge slides under the other nail edge. It's distracting and uncomfortable. I have to tent my thumbs to get flesh-on-flesh. I have been sitting with this and observing it (I'm only on day 4 of the series). But I wondered if others have experienced this? Or am I holding my hands wrong?
                          Hi Ramsey!

                          I knew there was a good mudra thread around somewhere, so I searched around and found it. There was also one just last week from someone else having trouble with it!

                          http://https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?13894-Is-the-cosmic-mudra-important

                          Hope this helps!

                          You are a very cute Schnauzer, btw.

                          Gassho,
                          Jakuden
                          SatToday/LAH

                          Comment

                          • Jundo
                            Treeleaf Founder and Priest
                            • Apr 2006
                            • 40325

                            #73
                            Originally posted by Ramsey
                            I have a question about the mudra. I'm new to shikantaza practice (though not new to a regular meditation practice) and the mudra is new to me - and uncomfortable. Maybe I have oddly shaped thumb-tips? Even with very short nails, the fleshy part of my thumb tips do not touch each other and one nail edge slides under the other nail edge. It's distracting and uncomfortable. I have to tent my thumbs to get flesh-on-flesh. I have been sitting with this and observing it (I'm only on day 4 of the series). But I wondered if others have experienced this? Or am I holding my hands wrong?
                            Hi Ramsey,

                            Yes, so interesting to have two Mudra questions back to back! Folks rarely have problems.

                            The nails should not slide into each other. Yes, "tent" the fingers, but very slightly, lightly and comfortable. No forcing, not too much pressure. It should be a "do it, and then forget about it" pose, very easy.



                            Gassho, J

                            SatTodayLAH
                            ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

                            Comment

                            • Ryudo
                              Member
                              • Nov 2015
                              • 424

                              #74
                              Originally posted by Ramsey
                              I have a question about the mudra. I'm new to shikantaza practice (though not new to a regular meditation practice) and the mudra is new to me - and uncomfortable. Maybe I have oddly shaped thumb-tips? Even with very short nails, the fleshy part of my thumb tips do not touch each other and one nail edge slides under the other nail edge. It's distracting and uncomfortable. I have to tent my thumbs to get flesh-on-flesh. I have been sitting with this and observing it (I'm only on day 4 of the series). But I wondered if others have experienced this? Or am I holding my hands wrong?
                              Hi Ramsey,
                              Try relaxing the hand/wrist more, so that the knuckles of your fingers are realy facing down (see picture that Jundo posted) and not forward (as this might be the problem).

                              Gassho
                              Ryundo
                              SatToday/LAH
                              流道
                              Ryū Dou

                              Comment

                              • Ramsey
                                Member
                                • Feb 2018
                                • 4

                                #75
                                Originally posted by Jakuden
                                I knew there was a good mudra thread around somewhere, so I searched around and found it. There was also one just last week from someone else having trouble with it!

                                http://https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?13894-Is-the-cosmic-mudra-important

                                Hope this helps!

                                You are a very cute Schnauzer, btw.
                                Thank you, Jakuden, and woof!
                                Gave me some ideas to work with. I will try placing a support under my hands because I wonder if supporting them will change the angle/amount of thumb extension required. I also have some injuries in wrists & elbows and perhaps that is contributing to the discomfort of keeping thumbs in position.

                                And thank you as well, Jundo and Ryudo! I just saw your thoughtful replies.
                                Last edited by Ramsey; 02-26-2018, 02:03 PM.

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