New Year's Greetings from Treeleaf, Japan 2019

[Jundo]

The year has passed here in Tsukuba! A New Year's tradition at Buddhist temples across Japan is the ringing of the Joya-no-kane (除夜の鐘) ...

... the temple bell near midnight. The bell is typically rung 108 times (sometimes by the temple priests, sometimes by parishioners, and really nobody keeps count) to cleanse the listener of the 108 mortal afflictions (bonno ... anger, greed, ignorance, envy, hatred, arrogance and the rest) that, in traditional Buddhist thinking, are the causes of suffering. By ringing out the old year and ringing in the new, each earthly desire will be taken away and therefore we can start the New Year with a pure mind.

Past moments ... the up and downs, happiness and sadness ... are now gone, and a new beginning rings out ... ever new and renewing.

Master Dogen wrote, "Zazen ... is like the hammer striking emptiness, the bell's melodious sound continues to resonate as it echoes, endlessly before and after. It is not limited to this moment."

HAPPY NEW EVERY-MOMENT, EVERY-ONE!

Joya-no-kane atmosphere at a neighborhood Soto Zen temple ...

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

THE YEAR OF THE PIG!

[Koki]

Thank you Jundo, and HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

I rang the huge Temple Bell at the Tri State Buddhist Temple in Denver Colorado on New Years many years ago.

It's almost a surreal experience as you feel the vibration of the bell, carry you forward into the New Year.

Many blessings and "positive vibrations" out to all of you, my brothers and sisters.

See you in the Zendo

Gassho - Frank (Kunzang)

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

[Junkyo]

Happy New Year Jundo!

While it is not quite that time here in Canada yet I am looking forward to ringing my bell this evening at home as I cant make it to the temple in Winnipeg for the Joya-e service.

Yesterday at Westman Dharma (the small local sangha I lead in Brandon) we rang the bell 108 times to mark the new year at our weekly service.
It was a the first time for many here to do this as I only began the group 1.5 years ago and we are the first sangha to open in our small city.
2018 was a year of growth for us as we added many new members. We began with 3 people each from a different tradition (Jodo Shinshu, soto zen, and theravada) we now number around 20 people and regularly have 10-15 at each service.
Our liturgy is a blend of the Jodo Shinshu and soto zen liturgies and people have really responded well becoming very active in their participation both in the services as well as with workshops that we held by bringing in teachers from the Jodo shinshu temple in Winnipeg as well as some monks from the Sri Lankan Theravada Monastery in Winnipeg.
We are hoping to host more workshops and maybe even a retreat or 2 in 2019.
It has been a year of growth for me personally both as a Misiterial assistant in the Shin tradition as well as a student of Soto Zen.
The opportunity to share the Dharma with others has deepened my understanding and practice of the Dharma and I am very grateful for the opportunities that I have had in the last year.

Gassho,
Rob
SAT

Sent from my SM-G955W using Tapatalk

[newby_x86]

Wishing everyone a happy new year.

Best wishes,
Anant
SaT

[Gukan]

Happy new year Jundo and Treeleafers! Sending metta to all beings for 2019 and all its present moments :-)

Gassho,
Libby
ST

[Shokai]

Wishing everyone a happy new year.

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Nenka]

Happy New Year everyone!

Gassho

Jen

ST

[Michael Joseph]

Happy New Year!

Gassho,

Michael

STLAH

[Mp]

Have a wonderful New Years everyone. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[MyoHo]

happy new year everyone

Gassho

MyoHo

[Shugen]

Happy New Year![emoji312]

Gassho,

Shugen

Sattoday/LAH


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Teiro]

A very happy New Year to all!

Gassho
Christian

[Kotei]

Happy New Year everyone!
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Meitou]

Happy New Year Jundo!

While it is not quite that time here in Canada yet I am looking forward to ringing my bell this evening at home as I cant make it to the temple in Winnipeg for the Joya-e service.

Yesterday at Westman Dharma (the small local sangha I lead in Brandon) we rang the bell 108 times to mark the new year at our weekly service.
It was a the first time for many here to do this as I only began the group 1.5 years ago and we are the first sangha to open in our small city.
2018 was a year of growth for us as we added many new members. We began with 3 people each from a different tradition (Jodo Shinshu, soto zen, and theravada) we now number around 20 people and regularly have 10-15 at each service.
Our liturgy is a blend of the Jodo Shinshu and soto zen liturgies and people have really responded well becoming very active in their participation both in the services as well as with workshops that we held by bringing in teachers from the Jodo shinshu temple in Winnipeg as well as some monks from the Sri Lankan Theravada Monastery in Winnipeg.
We are hoping to host more workshops and maybe even a retreat or 2 in 2019.
It has been a year of growth for me personally both as a Misiterial assistant in the Shin tradition as well as a student of Soto Zen.
The opportunity to share the Dharma with others has deepened my understanding and practice of the Dharma and I am very grateful for the opportunities that I have had in the last year.

Gassho,
Rob
SAT

Sent from my SM-G955W using Tapatalk

Robert, this is lovely and inspiring, thank you and good wishes to your Sangha.
Thank you Jundo, Happy New Year to you and your family and to our precious Treeleaf Sangha.
Gassho
Meitou
Satwithyoualltoday lah

[Jinyo]

Happy New Year !



Jinyo