TREELEAF SANGHA online 2-DAY ANGO-JUKAI-ROHATSU RETREAT -- 2024 -- MAIN PAGE

[Shinshi]

Thank you everyone for making this Rohatsu such a wonderful experience. It was particularly eventful for me for a number of reasons but, most importantly, it was so great to come together as a Sangha,

i would also thank all the friends, family members, and loved ones that helped make this possible. I know I could not have been available if my wonderful wife shouldered my usual responsibilities. Looking after the dogs, looking after the horses, taking care of the property, and making me rice for Oryoki. I am sure there were many behind the scenes that helped make this all possible.

Deep gratitude to them as well.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Antonio]

I would also to say thank you all for share such a special moment. How much I learned in these 2 days! Today, my legs are wasted and I can’t sit but worth every minute.

Gassho,
SatLah

[Onki]

Beautiful Sangha,

Firstly, I wanted to thank everyone, our Teacher, Jundo, our Priests, and to all that helped make this Rohatsu a roaring success. Each one of you had an extremely important role in having our retreat run smoothly. I am deeply grateful, appreciative, and honoured to have been a part of Rohatsu 2024.

Thank you Kokuu, for meticulously going through the Differently Abled Ceremony with me, making sure that I was confident and comfortable in my role as Doshi. Thank you, my Dharma Brother.

Thank you to all of the Tech-Inos for your superb skills in creating a smooth experience. How you do what you do, I’ll never know! Well, maybe one day!

Thank you Shinshi and Kokuu for sharing the art of Oryoki with us. Oryoki is so beautiful, like a dance! With food!

Thank you to all of the Priests that gave Dharma Talks. You all inspire me to be a better Priest each and every day.

Thank you to all the Inos. Each one was truly moving and emotional.

Thank you to our unit hosts and Samu instructors.

Thank you to Emi Jido for their Verse of Atonement and The Four Vows.

Finally, to our much loved Teacher, Jundo. Where do I even begin? Because of you I am now a Junior Priest. Through the constant chaos that is my life, you have been there to offer support, encouragement, and to remind me that I am a good Priest despite what the voices in my head tell me. You yourself said, “Onki, if I have to remind you every single month (during Dokusan) that you are a wonderful Priest and you are beyond “good enough,” I will.” Those words are imprinted to my heart. You gave me a chance when others refused. You saw something inside of me, something that has always been there right in front of me, and yet I have trouble seeing it. But you see it. That in itself gives me hope.

Thank you for believing in me, for pushing me to do uncomfortable things because you knew that I could, and for taking me under your wing. I will always, always be grateful, Jundo.

This year’s Rohatsu was a very important and meaningful one for me as I had to force myself to pace myself. Normally I would push my body much too hard, be in severe pain, and hardly be able to move the following days much less the next day of retreat. I had important tasks including: chanting, doshi work, and giving my first Rohatsu talk. Live. Sure I’ve pre-recorded talks before but nothing like this. My words shook as I spoke them. My body was shaking. Despite this in itself being a barrier (see what I did there?), I was able to persevere in my own way, much like every one of us experiencing our own challenges such as time constraints, pain (emotional and/or physical), responsibilities, etc.

But we did it.

During our time together I could literally feel the warmth, love, and connection shining through my laptop screen. It was joyous.

I love you all.

With deep bows,

On

[Naiko]

Thank you all for practicing together. And heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to all those who poured themselves into organizing and leading us through the retreat.
Many bows,
Naiko
stlah

[TobyThompson]

I echo all of the praise heaped upon those that organised, led, and took part in this past weekend's Rohatsu retreat. This has been my first with Treeleaf, and I hope the first of many. Thanks everyone for allowing me to rest and recharge with them in the Magic City. Onwards with the journey!

Gassho
Toby
Sat/lah today

[Guest]

Thank you all for an incredible experience. Thank you to all those worked so hard to make this possible. Your efforts were immense and apparent.

I also want to express my gratitude for the section that honored disabled ancestors and sangha members. As a disabled person, it was wonderful not to just be included (which is rare enough) but to actually be appreciated for who I am, as I am, (which is actually revolutionary.)

This was my first Rohatsu retreat but will not be my last. I had my camera off a good but of the time as I was dealing with my back injury, having to stand, then sit, then recline, then stand, then sit, etc., and I didn't want to be a distraction. But I was there with you all and grateful you were all there with me. Thank you all very much.

Gassho,
Paco
sat/lah

[Kyonin]

Dear sangha,

On behalf of Ryokan Zen Group in the Spanish speaking world, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. It was an honor to be sitting with you on Saturday and be just one big family sharing Rohatsu.

Thank you, dear Jundo. Your Mexican, Colombian, Uruguayan, Spanish, Argentinian, Peruvian, Native American, Chilean grandsons were happy to sit as one.

Bion is right! We need to do this every year as part of our tradition.

Here are some screenshots!








Happy holidays and gassho,

Kyonin
sat/lah

[Ramine]

Thank you all for these amazing 2 days. It was wonderful to be able to see and practice with so many people from the sangha and also to meet the many treeleaf priests and hear their talks on the lotus sutra. Thank you to all the organizers as well, seen and unseen.

Ramine
Sat and Lah

[Shinshi]

Dear sangha,

On behalf of Ryokan Zen Group in the Spanish speaking world, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. It was an honor to be sitting with you on Saturday and be just one big family sharing Rohatsu.

Thank you, dear Jundo. Your Mexican, Colombian, Uruguayan, Spanish, Argentinian, Peruvian, Native American, Chilean grandsons were happy to sit as one.

Bion is right! We need to do this every year as part of our tradition.

Here are some screenshots!








Happy holidays and gassho,

Kyonin
sat/lah

Thank you so much for bringing your Dharma family to meet us. It was seriously cool getting together with everyone. Great to see you!

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Gooey]

I also want to express my gratitude for the section that honored disabled ancestors and sangha members. As a disabled person, it was wonderful not to just be included (which is rare enough) but to actually be appreciated for who I am, as I am, (which is actually revolutionary.)

I felt this very much too. Something Bion said in the Samu unit before the disabled ancestors unit about finding reclining practice difficult because of not knowing how to arrange hands and body (I'm paraphrasing a bit), has really stuck with me. Even thought I sat much of this Rohatsu reclining, and even though I sit in a chair or reclining regularly, I hadn't considered how much each person practising in this way must find their own form and discipline. There are so many guides on exactly how to sit in a traditional posture, less so if you need to modify it or do something completely different (although Jundo does address this in the beginners' series, which I really appreciate too). It really helped me to see anew the beauty and strength in the paths we are forging as disabled practitioners.

I am very grateful to have been part of this Rohatsu. Thank you so much to everyone who was involved in making it happen.

Gassho
Gooey
(sat/LAH)

[Kaitan]

Thank you, everyone, I feel very grateful that I sat with you during the retreat.

Gasshō

stlah, Kaitan

[Shade]

Many thanks to Jundo, our priests, and the many individuals that made all this possible. It was also lovely to see so many different members participate. How fortunate we are that no matter where we are, we have a place to come together and practice Zen.



Gassho,

Chukyo,

ST/LAH

[Chikyou]

I felt this very much too. Something Bion said in the Samu unit before the disabled ancestors unit about finding reclining practice difficult because of not knowing how to arrange hands and body (I'm paraphrasing a bit), has really stuck with me. Even thought I sat much of this Rohatsu reclining, and even though I sit in a chair or reclining regularly, I hadn't considered how much each person practising in this way must find their own form and discipline. There are so many guides on exactly how to sit in a traditional posture, less so if you need to modify it or do something completely different (although Jundo does address this in the beginners' series, which I really appreciate too). It really helped me to see anew the beauty and strength in the paths we are forging as disabled practitioners.

I am very grateful to have been part of this Rohatsu. Thank you so much to everyone who was involved in making it happen.

Gassho
Gooey
(sat/LAH)

I definitely fell asleep at least once during the reclining zazen. Figuring out what to do with my body is easy, keeping my mind on task is almost impossible.

Gassho,
SatLah
Chikyō

[RobO]

My deep gratitude as well, to everyone who sat, and those who made it possible.

It was a very challenging experience for me, but I absolutely loved it, took a lot (of surprising things) from it, and really felt a great sense of connection to the sangha.

Metta to all

Gassho, Rob
sat/lah

[Washin]

I have just finished catching up with a couple of missed units.

I want to thank all the folks participating in the Rohatsu this year. It was amazing
Thank you Jundo, as always, for making it possible every year
Thank you all priest brothers and sisters for your brilliant teamwork

I look forward to continue practicing together.

Gassho,
Washin
sat/lah