Gear for the frugal buddhist

[Jinho]

Re: Gear for the frugal buddhist

Well since there is over 800 years of history, it depends on how you define "traditional". Currently, mostly a shirt-weight cotton or cotton-polyester seems to be most used, significantly of new fabric.

However, in chapter 78 of Dogen's Shobogenzo (Nishiyama's translation of 1983) - "Transmission of the Kesa"

"The material we use to make a kesa must be pure. "Pure" means material donated by pure-minded believers, purchased in a market place, received as a gift from celestials, dragon gods, or even demons. It may be received from kings and ministers, and might even be leather.
The ten kinds of dirty rags that also may be used are:
1. cloth chewed by cows.
2. cloth chewed by rats.
3. cloth that has been burned.
4. cloth that has been used for menstruation.
5. cloth that has been used during childbirth.
6. cloth eaten by birds.
7. cloth used to cover dead bodies.
8. cloth used for religious services.
9. cloth used by kings and ministers.
10. cloth used to transport bodies.

Prior to this in this chapter, there is the mention of "cloth used for wiping excrement" from which, perhaps we get the tradition of brown rakusus and the larger priest's kesa.

I am sure I read in the Shobogenzo that it should be made from rags that can be used for nothing else, which is probably the origin of the rakusu being pieced from such very small pieces. Jundo?

Also in this chapter Dogen refutes the idea that silk is unethical for buddhist monks.

But guessing from Jundo's attitude about gear, I would be surprised if he was stringent about materials?

hope this is useful?
rowan

Thanks Ros and Jen . . . very comforting advice. I'm feeling a bit more encouraged.

I do wonder what sort of fabric we will be using, hopefully something traditional (whatever that is).

[Jundo]

Re: Gear for the frugal buddhist

Hi Guys,

I will be posting later tonight or tomorrow the long promised description of our upcoming Jukai.

As part of that, I have been able to invite as a guest a Zen priest who is noted as a "Kesa/Rakusu" specialist, and has agreed to present a series of video talks and lessons on Rakusu sewing, history and philosophy (and help us along with guidance) ... I have heard his talks before, and they are gems. Those talks would be offered as part of our Rakusu Sewing classes. (Also, Hans did a great job on his Rakusu already, so will be providing input and tips from the perspective of a first timer, and Ros and others with experience will be providing guidance too).

However, I am now in some discussions with our guest teacher on the pattern and materials to be used. There is some variation Lineage to Lineage, and some of it depends on both the philosophy behind it and whether one wants to follow the pattern of our Lineage or another way. In any event, I will have information on the pattern we are going to be using and the materials, shortly. I am fine with blue jeans and such for a Rakusu, but I think the guest teacher and I both agree that we should go with something more standard for this first time.

Gassho, Jundo