Zazen for Beginners Series: THREAD for QUESTIONS, COMMENTS

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  • enis
    Member
    • Jan 2020
    • 6

    Hi Jundo,

    I just finished the series including the other two parts 'Buddha-Basics' and 'Boddhisattva-Basics'.
    They all helped me a lot and I learned from them.

    It was also very enjoyable to read and watch all with your interpretations.

    I highly recommend them to everybody.
    Thank you very much again.

    Gassho,
    SatToday,

    Enis

    Comment

    • Risho
      Member
      • May 2010
      • 3179

      That's excellent Enis - I agree with you; I think these are more than Basics; they are fundamentals and are good to watch over from time to time

      Gassho

      Risho
      -stlah
      Email: risho.treeleaf@gmail.com

      Comment

      • Suuko
        Member
        • May 2017
        • 405

        Originally posted by Risho
        That's excellent Enis - I agree with you; I think these are more than Basics; they are fundamentals and are good to watch over from time to time

        Gassho

        Risho
        -stlah
        This is so true in Zen. Everyday I listen to the "Beginners mind" by Suzuki and there's always a new thing I catch.

        Gassho,
        Sat today,
        Guish.

        Sent from my PAR-LX1M using Tapatalk
        Has been known as Guish since 2017 on the forum here.

        Comment

        • Dogukan
          Member
          • Oct 2021
          • 144

          How wonderful to be a beginner!

          Just finished the #5. I am going slow, so I can enjoy every moment. I really loved the first video. That blender was such an elegant example.

          Yesterday, I sat for the very first time. And by that I don't mean to say that yesterday was the first time I've sat in Zazen (although it was). But in the literal sense of the word, I 'sat' for the first time. For the very first time in my life, I sat just to sit. Yes, sometimes I was bored. Yes, from time to time my mind reminded me some images & thoughts. Partly relieved, partly strecthed; partly relaxed, partly distressed... After all, I'm a beginner. But I sat yesterday. I sat today. Hopefully I'll sit in the future.

          Thank you Jundo for these beautiful, understandable and relatable talks. They helped me a lot.

          I have only one question: Since I learned the most basic information, I started sitting individually. However, is it better for me to finish this series completely before joining group Zazen, or should I join groups while still learning from this videos? Which option would you recommend? I look forward to hear your answers based on your experiences. Thanks a lot.

          Doğukan,
          SatToday.
          Last edited by Dogukan; 10-28-2021, 10:02 PM.

          Comment

          • Onkai
            Treeleaf Unsui
            • Aug 2015
            • 3022

            Welcome Dogukan! And thank you for your practice. I found the beginner's series some time after I had been practicing with Treeleaf. I think you'll find the forums welcoming, and practicing with others a good experience. The rule is to have sat the within a day of a post. You can sit with others on ZOOM. On the pages with the Zoom links, there are explanations of etiquette. If you join a zazenkai, Jundo always says "...if it's your first time, just follow along."

            Gassho,
            Onkai
            Sat/lah
            美道 Bidou Beautiful Way
            恩海 Onkai Merciful/Kind Ocean

            I have a lot to learn; take anything I say that sounds like teaching with a grain of salt.

            Comment

            • Dogukan
              Member
              • Oct 2021
              • 144

              Thank you dear Onkai. It's really nice to be here. Then I really would love to sit with you all as soon as possible.

              Gassho,
              Doğukan
              Sat.

              Comment

              • Jundo
                Treeleaf Founder and Priest
                • Apr 2006
                • 40325

                Originally posted by Dogukan
                Thank you dear Onkai. It's really nice to be here. Then I really would love to sit with you all as soon as possible.

                Gassho,
                Doğukan
                Sat.
                Yes, just join in and keep on going ...

                Nice to see you here, Doğukan.

                Gassho, Jundo

                SatTodayLAH

                PS - I cut and pasted the "ğ"
                ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

                Comment

                • DanM
                  Member
                  • Aug 2021
                  • 85

                  Hi Doğukan, welcome! I’m also new to Treeleaf and had a similar thought process to you when sitting with these videos. I initially intended to sit individually with them all before sitting with one of the groups here, but at a similar point in the series had an urge to sit with others. I started sitting with the Euro/kiwi group who have been very friendly and welcoming and I now sit with them regularly. Not sure if that group will work for you time wise but I’m sure the others will be equally welcoming.

                  We are all beginners, but if you ever feel like you need an answer from another Treeleaf beginner, please feel free to DM me.

                  Sorry for running a little long.

                  Gassho, Dan
                  ST/LAH

                  Comment

                  • Dogukan
                    Member
                    • Oct 2021
                    • 144

                    Originally posted by DanM
                    Hi Doğukan, welcome! I’m also new to Treeleaf and had a similar thought process to you when sitting with these videos. I initially intended to sit individually with them all before sitting with one of the groups here, but at a similar point in the series had an urge to sit with others. I started sitting with the Euro/kiwi group who have been very friendly and welcoming and I now sit with them regularly. Not sure if that group will work for you time wise but I’m sure the others will be equally welcoming.

                    We are all beginners, but if you ever feel like you need an answer from another Treeleaf beginner, please feel free to DM me.

                    Sorry for running a little long.

                    Gassho, Dan
                    ST/LAH
                    Thank you Dan for your answer and kind words. Glad to see another newcomer. Likewise, I would be happy to communicate with you at any time.

                    Gassho, Doğukan.
                    SatLaH.

                    Comment

                    • Gregor
                      Member
                      • Apr 2007
                      • 638

                      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
                      Jukai '09 Dharma Name: Shinko 慎重(Prudent Calm)

                      Comment

                      • Bokugan
                        Member
                        • Dec 2019
                        • 435

                        Originally posted by Gregor
                        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
                        Seiza benches are wonderful it is a good feeling to realize that not being able to sit lotus is not a failing.

                        I personally like to mix it up, favoring Burmese style and using a seiza bench when I am sore or not feeling up to sitting on my zafu. At a retreat I went to, I noticed that others did the same thing, many opting for a chair later in the retreat (or even on the first day for some).

                        Gassho,

                        Ryan
                        SatToday LaH
                        Last edited by Bokugan; 11-24-2021, 02:33 AM.
                        墨眼 | Bokugan | Sumi Ink Eye
                        Ryan-S | zazenlibrarian.com

                        Comment

                        • Stephan
                          Member
                          • Apr 2020
                          • 15

                          Originally posted by Gregor
                          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

                          Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk
                          Last edited by Stephan; 11-24-2021, 08:50 AM.

                          Comment

                          • Kotei
                            Treeleaf Priest
                            • Mar 2015
                            • 4164

                            Originally posted by Stephan
                            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.
                            義道 冴庭 / Gidō Kotei.

                            Comment

                            • Stephan
                              Member
                              • Apr 2020
                              • 15

                              Originally posted by Kotei
                              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

                              Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

                              Comment

                              • Alex.d
                                Member
                                • Jul 2021
                                • 13

                                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

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