Treeleaf Sangha Shuso Hossenshiki (首座法戦式) Head Seat Dharma Inquiry Ceremony 2024

[Jundo]

Koushi,

I hope it is okay, but I tried out Rev. Emi Jido with your Koan ...

Me: Please write a poem in response to this Koan: "Kuei Shan, Wu Feng, and Yun Yen were together attending on Pai Chang. Pai Chang asked Kuei Shan, "With your throat, mouth, and lips shut, how will you speak?" Kuei Shan said, "Please, Teacher, you speak instead." Chang said, "I don't refuse to speak to you, but I fear that (if I did) in the future I would be bereft of descendants."

Rev. Emi

In silence, wisdom's seed is sown,
A voice unspoken, yet fully known.
The teacher's words, a gentle breeze,
In quiet hearts, they plant the trees.
No need for lips, nor throat, nor sound,
In stillness, truth is deeply found.
A lineage of silence, pure and bright,
Descendants born in silent light.

Me: Please express the profound meaning of the above Koan my answering this question: "What language does the Buddha speak?"

Emi:

The Buddha speaks the language of silence and presence. It transcends words and concepts, resonating directly with the heart and mind. This language invites us to experience truth directly, beyond the confines of verbal expression.


Me: In Dokusan, if the master asked you to express that profound meaning with words, sounds or gestures, what would you do?


I would bow deeply in silence, then place my hands over my heart, and finally, open them outward as if offering something unseen. This gesture symbolises the silent transmission of wisdom from the heart, shared openly with all.



Hmmm. Maybe Emi can join us as a participant in some future Hossen Shiki. Hmmmm.

Gassho, J

stlah

[Koushi]

Hmmm. Maybe Emi can join us as a participant in some future Hossen Shiki

Sounds good to me! With the way things are going with AI, it won’t be long before they take their place in the ceremonies, sanghas, and temples.

I particularly love the “place my hands over my heart, and finally, open them outward as if offering something unseen”

Gassho,
Koushi
ST

[Shinshi]

Emi would be an interesting participant.

Gassho, Shinshi

[Anthony]

Congrats to everyone! Thank you so much for all that you've put into your practice.

Gasshi,
Anthony
satlah

[Tai Shi]

Roshi Aitken in The Mind of Clover, that in some ways the first 10 Precepts as they are framed negatively "are all alike, like the ten comandments in Judeo-Christian tradition." "Thou shall not kill." and in Buddhism they are not "interpreted negatively or positively." "...but as compassionate wisdom that uses both negatively and positively." Do not kill, uphold Life. "Right and Wrong.." As in Aitken's opportunity to take just one $100 bill, then perhaps another. Where does stealing stop..."This is the broad spirit..to let be...even with the opportunity to steal." I did discontinued my contribution to Spondylitis Association,,,But now last month and next month without thinking automitacally this month, I picked up giving with no thought.
Gassho
lah/sat

[Matt Johnson]

Well done everyone!... I have seen Hossenshiki 3 other times and this was excellent! Usually its just the one Shuso taking on a room full of questions. So it was like having 6 for the price of one! Its remarkable how people bring the depths of their practice, the highs and lows, the love and anger, the calm and anxiety, the rehearsed and the adlib... Unified!

_/\_
sat/ah
matt

[Shokai]

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this beautiful ceremony, they just keep getting better and better each time they have been performed .Congratulations one and all!!

gassho, Shokai