Buddhism in Europe

[Meitou]

This is a trailer of a film coming out next year about Zen in Europe. I thought some of you might like to get a glimpse of some of the Zen Centres here in Europe. I follow a few centres on Instagram and I'm always surprised to see how many people are wearing robes, I don't know if this is also the case in the US and Canada - and whether these practitioners are all unsui/ordained or whether they elect to wear some kind of lay robe while practising. Are lay robes even a thing?

Gassho
Meitou
satwithyoualltodaylah in leggings and a T ( dark colours though )

[Koki]

Interesting..thank you for sharing!


Gassho
Frank
Satoday

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

[Mp]

Yes, I just saw this short film, lovely. Thank you for sharing Meitou. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Ryushi]

I'll definitely take a look, thanks for sharing this.

Related, here's a Puget Sound Zen Center podcast I recently listened to that talks about Zen practice in Norway, specifically the Rinzai Zen Center in Oslo: http://pszc.org/2018/07/zen-in-norway/

Sat today.

Gassho

[Jundo]

This is a trailer of a film coming out next year about Zen in Europe. I thought some of you might like to get a glimpse of some of the Zen Centres here in Europe. I follow a few centres on Instagram and I'm always surprised to see how many people are wearing robes, I don't know if this is also the case in the US and Canada - and whether these practitioners are all unsui/ordained or whether they elect to wear some kind of lay robe while practising. Are lay robes even a thing?

Hi Meitou,

I would say that, in my impression from a distance, many of the groups in Europe encourage a certain formalism and emphasis on Japanese unity and precision, so robes for lay people are very common. In North America, there are some places like that, but most places are rather more casual or in between (both those with robes and those without).

Here, robes or no robes are fine. Some folks find that lay robes, like incense or a picture of Bodhidharma on the wall or a Buddha statue, help them have a special and sacred sense of the moment. So, it is helpful for those people. Others create that sense of the special and sacred with little more than crossing the legs and a Zafu. We do encourage comfortable, lose fitting, conservative, dark colored clothes without wild patterns appropriate to the temperature. Nishijima was fine with t-shirts and shorts when the weather was very hot, which is unusual even for western Zen groups (most request no shorts). Also, most places say no socks in the Zendo, and some do so even in winter ... (we look the other way on socks on cold days).

When visiting a group, sit like the Romans sit.

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

[Meitou]

Hi Meitou,

I would say that, in my impression from a distance, many of the groups in Europe encourage a certain formalism and emphasis on Japanese unity and precision, so robes for lay people are very common. In North America, there are some places like that, but most places are rather more casual or in between (both those with robes and those without).

Here, robes or no robes are fine. Some folks find that lay robes, like incense or a picture of Bodhidharma on the wall or a Buddha statue, help them have a special and sacred sense of the moment. So, it is helpful for those people. Others create that sense of the special and sacred with little more than crossing the legs and a Zafu. We do encourage comfortable, lose fitting, conservative, dark colored clothes without wild patterns appropriate to the temperature. Nishijima was fine with t-shirts and shorts when the weather was very hot, which is unusual even for western Zen groups (most request no shorts). Also, most places say no socks in the Zendo, and some do so even in winter ... (we look the other way on socks on cold days).

When visiting a group, sit like the Romans sit.

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

Thank you Jundo, this is interesting, I'm wondering if a leaning toward formality and precision are related to cultural and societal differences. When I sit, on my own, in a corner of the bedroom where no-one but a cat or two can see me, I still dress quite soberly in dark colours, shoulders and legs always covered. I couldn't imagine myself sitting in shorts or beach type clothes, I wouldn't feel right - in summer it can be a real test of endurance. Even if I'm sitting one way with the zazenkai, I think carefully about what I'm going to wear . Socks in winter though, a must. I'd probably like lay robes, I'm afraid that I love all the bells and whistles even though I know they aren't necessary.
I did think though that the Oryoki in the video looked rather scary, I prefer our way, with Shugen's dogs joining in the fun

Gassho
Meitou
satwithyoualltodaylah

[Meitou]

I'll definitely take a look, thanks for sharing this.

Related, here's a Puget Sound Zen Center podcast I recently listened to that talks about Zen practice in Norway, specifically the Rinzai Zen Center in Oslo: http://pszc.org/2018/07/zen-in-norway/

Sat today.

Gassho

I'm downloading this to listen later, thanks Todd
Gassho
Meitou
satwithyoualltodaylah

[Tairin]

Interesting film.

I wonder why "formal" means Japanese or Japanese inspired. I wonder how long it will be be before Zen in the West takes on a more formal Western style. What will that look like?

I don't particularly concern myself with the colour of my clothes or whether I am wearing shorts. But I do always sit barefoot even in the dead of winter when the house is struggling to stay warm.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Jundo]

I wonder why "formal" means Japanese or Japanese inspired.

There are rituals and formalities all through Buddhism, in Japan and all across the Asian continent. However, there is a certain extra emphasis on set form and propriety in Japanese culture, in my experience living here these past 30 years. To give some examples, this is Kinhin (Rinzai, fast style) in China when I attended a Sesshin at the "6th Ancestors Temple." Look at Kinhin during the first 30 seconds, and how Zazen is sat, and how some meals are takes in the Zendo from the 11:00 mark. Everyone does wear robes however.

(They happened to be making a documentary. You get to play "Where's Jundo?", cause I am in there somewhere. In fact, my big cameos come about the 00:20 and 02:50 marks ... where I can be found cruising in the inside "slow lane" of the Kinhin highway, closest to the Buddha statue)

Japanese Rinzai style Kinhin at a Rinzai group in Canada, from the 2:00 mark and 4:30 mark ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvY8J6YZHvA

There is a funny series of videos from Japan that make fun of this tendency, this one on eating at a sushi restaurant. Half the "rules" here are real, half are made up and funny for that reason, and many are funny because most Japanese folks would just naturally do such things without thinking that it was a "rule."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49ZcGWve0e4

Now, before you misunderstand my point, this emphasis on "Kata" (proper form) is also one of the great STRENGTHS of most traditional Japanese arts, including tea ceremony, martial arts and Japanese Zen. As with Oryoki eating (a wonderful example of "Kata"), there is a beauty in the fixed form that one literally can lose one's' 'self' in (all to find ones True Self). So, "Kata" is also a very very good thing, don't misunderstand me on that point. In the precision, in the ballet, in the "set" way to act ... one can inscribe the same into body memory, then let the body take over and just let go. Oryoki, for example, is only difficult until the forms become second nature ... as with many things in life. An example of just a few of the dozens and dozens of set Oryoki "moves" by two Japanese priests. Lovely when flowing as a dance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQKUru_jC-M

Gassho, J

STLah

[Jakuden]

There are rituals and formalities all through Buddhism, in Japan and all across the Asian continent. However, there is a certain extra emphasis on set form and propriety in Japanese culture, in my experience living here these past 30 years. To give some examples, this is Kinhin (Rinzai, fast style) in China when I attended a Sesshin at the "6th Ancestors Temple." Look at Kinhin during the first 30 seconds, and how Zazen is sat, and how some meals are takes in the Zendo from the 11:00 mark. Everyone does wear robes however.

(They happened to be making a documentary. You get to play "Where's Jundo?", cause I am in there somewhere. In fact, my big cameos come about the 00:20 and 02:50 marks ... where I can be found cruising in the inside "slow lane" of the Kinhin highway, closest to the Buddha statue)

Japanese Rinzai style Kinhin at a Rinzai group in Canada, from the 2:00 mark and 4:30 mark ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvY8J6YZHvA

There is a funny series of videos from Japan that make fun of this tendency, this one on eating at a sushi restaurant. Half the "rules" here are real, half are made up and funny for that reason, and many are funny because most Japanese folks would just naturally do such things without thinking that it was a "rule."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49ZcGWve0e4

Now, before you misunderstand my point, this emphasis on "Kata" (proper form) is also one of the great STRENGTHS of most traditional Japanese arts, including tea ceremony, martial arts and Japanese Zen. As with Oryoki eating (a wonderful example of "Kata"), there is a beauty in the fixed form that one literally can lose one's' 'self' in (all to find ones True Self). So, "Kata" is also a very very good thing, don't misunderstand me on that point. In the precision, in the ballet, in the "set" way to act ... one can inscribe the same into body memory, then let the body take over and just let go. Oryoki, for example, is only difficult until the forms become second nature ... as with many things in life. An example of just a few of the dozens and dozens of set Oryoki "moves" by two Japanese priests. Lovely when flowing as a dance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQKUru_jC-M

Gassho, J

STLah

That restaurant video is so funny!! I will never see a sushi bar quite the same way again.

Thank you Meitou, what interesting and beautiful images of Zen across Europe!
My Ango partner and I tonight were discussing Zen's formality and ritual, while I share the love of it with everyone here, I am also of the opinion that bringing the Dharma to all who could benefit from it may sometimes necessitate leaving certain aspects of it behind. It makes the practice of Zen difficult to access for some.

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

[Emmet]

A lot of folks choose to eschew ritual and ceremony as merely empty religiosity, which I think is unfortunate. While my rational, logical, analytical "left brain" finds the philosophical paradigm and ethos of Buddhism quite compelling; the symbols, sights, smells, sounds, and sensations of ceremony and ritual appeal to my intuitive, imaginative, artistic "right brain", engaging my subconscious as well as conscious mind. I don't know about yours, but my "monkey mind" is wholly impervious to rational dialectics, but the bows, the tactile feel of the robes, the sound of the bell and the scent of the incense communicates something to me both profound and beyond words. In times which I've experienced great desolation, platitudes lost their meaning, but I've found great comfort in the familiar routines of ritual.
Of course I could practice without all the associated folderol, but given the option, why would I want to? Isn't life austere enough already?

Sitting alone, I dropped the practice of wearing robes. Until now, I hadn't noticed how much I missed them. As the mornings are cooler now, perhaps I'll try them on again. Thanks for reminding me.

(In winter, I sit with socks. Big, thick, woolly ones. And a furry blanket.)

Sat today.

[Anka]

Jundo,

I am glad you survived the Kinhin highway. I fear for anyone who trips during it!

James F
Sat



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[Meitou]

The sushi restaurant video is so funny! I did appreciate however the unity of the practitioners in the film on Kinhin, it sounds a little weird but I found a real simple beauty in the way that they lined up their shoes outside with such order and precision - this is possibly why some of the more formal practices in Zen appeal to me, they represent the kind of precision and order that I aspire to, but sadly don't have too much of! I know that when I do have anything in life well organised, my mind is also free from unnecessary noise and movement. I'm beginning to realise that the physicality of this is part of the reason why I practice too, that being drawn towards a simplicity and order in mind, body and life.

I love this from Jundo

Now, before you misunderstand my point, this emphasis on "Kata" (proper form) is also one of the great STRENGTHS of most traditional Japanese arts, including tea ceremony, martial arts and Japanese Zen. As with Oryoki eating (a wonderful example of "Kata"), there is a beauty in the fixed form that one literally can lose one's' 'self' in (all to find ones True Self). So, "Kata" is also a very very good thing, don't misunderstand me on that point. In the precision, in the ballet, in the "set" way to act ... one can inscribe the same into body memory, then let the body take over and just let go. Oryoki, for example, is only difficult until the forms become second nature ... as with many things in life. An example of just a few of the dozens and dozens of set Oryoki "moves" by two Japanese priests. Lovely when flowing as a dance.

And this from Emmet

Of course I could practice without all the associated folderol, but given the option, why would I want to? Isn't life austere enough already?

Life is austere enough yes, we can never have too much simple beauty in our lives wherever we find it.

Gassho
Meitou
satwithyoualltoday/lah

[Tenrai]

How interesting Meitou, I personally always remove shoes and socks, light a candle and incense. It is my own little ritual to kid of get my head tuned in just before I sit. I do like to have incense burning when I sit, acts as a kind of marker to my breath plus there is something about the sense of smell and mind set that feels important to me.
I guess it is a personal thing but particularly interesting in the Treeleaf context with practitioners all over the world linking here

Many thanks
Gassho
Richard

Sat today/LAH

[Souchi]

Thanks for sharing this, Meitou Ryumonji in Weiterswiller is where I go to for Sesshins, so I can confirm that the place looks like depicted in the movie

I can also confirm that at least there it is quite common to wear a black cotton kimono as a kind of lay robe for the ceremonies, Zazen and Oryoki. Oryoki usually takes place immediately after Zazen, so you wouldn't have time to change your clothes anyway. For Samu you wear something appropriate to what you are doing and during free time you can wear what you want. The monks and nuns wear full robes and Kesa/Rakusu or Japanese style Samu-clothing. As far as I can tell you are not obliged to wear a lay robe if you're a lay person unless you are participating in something special like Jukai. I bought my kimono for the regular Sunday sit with my local group and without anybody urging me to do so. Half of the people there wear lay robes. Aside from the fact that I also like the bells and whistles I can say that I like sitting with a kimono because it's very comfortable for me. My legs feel less "squeezed" because there is no additional layer of cloth wrapped around them and since the kimono covers legs and feet you don't get cold feet if you don't wear socks At home I usually don't wear the kimono, though, unless there is some special occasion.

Gassho
Souchi

SatToday/lah