Want to Feel More Connected to the Sangha

[Bion]

[QUOTE=Steve Rossiter;n546510]

Oh boy, is it ever. It does however get comfortable with time, but it requires quite some adjustment to one's habits.

So True. And it took forever to finally get a rhythm for practice, but it happened.

Gassho, SatLAH

That is great! Now the task is to maintain it. Right effort ..

Gassho
sat lah

[Shujin]

Oh, isn's the American tea house in the afternoon? Or are you talking about the one tomorrow ?

Gassho
sat lah

The Teahouse of the Americas, so to speak, is at 7pm Eastern Standard Time, every first and third Sunday. We're always happy to have folks join in.

Gassho,
Shujin
st/lah

[Jundo]

The Teahouse of the Americas

I just emphasize that that is NOT the "official name." All our teahouses are beyond borders, space and time.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Shujin]

I just emphasize that that is NOT the "official name." All our teahouses are beyond borders, space and time.

Gassho, J
stlah

My apologies; it was a bit too tongue in cheek.

[Anthony]

Oh, isn's the American tea house in the afternoon? Or are you talking about the one tomorrow ?

Gassho
sat lah

I was talking about tomorrow’s! I actually didn’t know they were regional!

[Bion]

I was talking about tomorrow’s! I actually didn’t know they were regional!

Not regional, but the time of them was specifically chosen to fit the different time zones. Everyone is welcome everywhere, of course.

Gassho
sat lah

[Anthony]

Not regional, but the time of them was specifically chosen to fit the different time zones. Everyone is welcome everywhere, of course.

Gassho
sat lah

Makes sense. And actually, I probably won’t make it. I am unlikely to wake up so early tomorrow as I am up kind of late now!

Gasshō,
anthony satlah

[Bion]

Makes sense. And actually, I probably won’t make it. I am unlikely to wake up so early tomorrow as I am up kind of late now!

Gasshō,
anthony satlah

Yeah, it's literally 2 hours from now Go rest!

Gassho
sat lah

[Mujin]

Sorry for running long. Just venting a bit here. Lately, I feel that I should become more involved with Treeleaf and the sangha. My posting has not been so common lately, both due to a failing in daily practice, but also because I feel a sense of distance.

I wish I could attend the weekly/monthly zazenkai, but I live on the east coast of the United States, and these tend to fall on Friday evening for me which is usually reserved for spending time with my wife and/or friends. Needless to say, the European and Kiwi timezone ones are at a bit too odd an hour for me. While I know I can always experience the zazenkai "any time, anywhere", I have not been doing a good job of this consistently. This is my own fault, I should try harder and do better.

One option for me may be to join one of the daily sits on the calendar. I think there are certainly times I could manage. But I don't know if this is a good way to connect with the sangha as a whole, and to be honest I am a bit nervous to start!

Just wondering if anyone has any advice on how to maintain connection when timing isn't ideal. I know that part of this is on me to do better and be more consistent. With my practice, I feel like I am constantly falling off the path and having to pick myself up and come back to practice.

Gassho,
Anthony
satlah

I often find myself feeling the same

Gassho

Mujin

SatTodayLAH

[Heitou]

I have the same problems as well, I have slipped considerably lately but I do what I can, as far as I know Friday Zazenkai is open, I know it's a couple of hours long but no one would mind at all if you come in and sat for 30 minutes, also you do have recordings and I understand about wanting to be there in person but its fine if you come sit for a bit before bed or if you can take 30 minutes or so just to drop in your still golden, I love to at least make the Dharma Talk and miss the hokey pokey at times. Sorry so long.

Gassho
HeiTou
Sat/LA

[Myo-jin]

Similar situation here. Partially it's scheduling, I simply don't have the ability to partition off part of my home life as zazen time. Having a toddler in the house means that things can change at any moment, so I usually sit late at night or first thing in the mornings, as time allows, but matching up reliably with an online sit doesn't seem to work.

Additionally, I have done online sits in the past, but to be honest, it feels sort of artificial, being online at a time that to me is about just sitting, rather than having a screen on in a corner and the sound of a laptop running letting me know I'm online yet again, the addiction of our age. So I find it hard to maintain connections with the sangha in general and only even log in to the website a couple of times a week at the moment, and often only briefly, with little interaction.

In the end, although sangha is important, to a greater extent my family is my sangha, and the one or two spiritual friends that I keep in contact with. Keeping in touch with an online forum based sangha takes more commitment than I am currently able to offer. And that's ok, life does what it does, we come for a while, sit, get up, gassho and leave, it's all part of life.

Gassho

Sattlah

M.

[Bob-Midwest]

Anthony,

I am very new to this community having joined just weeks ago.
I have:
1) Joined the 6:30-7 (EST) daily sitting group. I am an hour earlier in Indiana. Join us!
2) Working my way through the beginner videos. Not new to zen, but they are refreshing.
3) Joined one of the monthly community group meetings.

Having been part of several in-person groups, I find this one refreshing in that it’s built for us lay people. Don’t miss the constant pressure to take part in expensive and distant retreats (though I did take part), the pressure to work one’s way up the dharma ladder or other pressures that seemed to me to be more about growing the group than aiding in one’s practice.

I am here if you want to reach out for correspondence and/or online sitting time.

bob

[Anthony]

Anthony,

I am very new to this community having joined just weeks ago.
I have:
1) Joined the 6:30-7 (EST) daily sitting group. I am an hour earlier in Indiana. Join us!
2) Working my way through the beginner videos. Not new to zen, but they are refreshing.
3) Joined one of the monthly community group meetings.

Having been part of several in-person groups, I find this one refreshing in that it’s built for us lay people. Don’t miss the constant pressure to take part in expensive and distant retreats (though I did take part), the pressure to work one’s way up the dharma ladder or other pressures that seemed to me to be more about growing the group than aiding in one’s practice.

I am here if you want to reach out for correspondence and/or online sitting time.

bob

Thanks for the kind words, Bob. I have been out of town, but I get back tomorrow and will join the 6:30 group on Monday.

gassho,
Anthony satlah