One Hand Gassho?

[Victor]

Hello all!

I have been curious for some time about this. Occasionally I have seen photos or videos of people doing gassho with one hand. Most notably Shaolin monks before they complete a weapons form in their training. In other traditions, I've seen it done occasionally when the other hand is busy.

Jundo and I have discussed this briefly, but I wanted to bring up this conversation here. Are there times when a one handed gassho is either appropriate or inappropriate?

I also wanted to mention something I tried the other day. Whenever I take my dog for a walk, I often carry a walking stick. While I was walking my dog, I decided to make it a faster paced kinhin. Since I couldn't do shashu while holding my walking stick, I opted for a one handed gassho. During this kinhin session, I felt this incredible welling up of love in my heart.

I was wondering whether there is a known practice like this or if anyone has experienced anything like this?

Gassho,
Victor

[Mp]

Hello Victor,

One handed gassho are useful when the other hand is busy - when doing Ino/Doan role during zazenkai, you can see that we have a one handed gassho, as they other hand is drumming the mokugyo or inkin. Shaolin folks perform one handed gassho, but I think this is more of extension of that kata or form they are performing. However, the gassho they use represents the same meaning as the gassho we use, whether one hand or two.

When one have two hands, use two hands. When one has one hand, use one hand. When one has no hands, gassho in the heart. =)

As for a hand handed gassho when walking ... if it calls to your heart, then please do. =) In our tradition we have our hands in shashu when doing kinhin (which of course there are a couple varieties).

This is the way we do it ...

Oa_D_c5_es.jpg

And here is another way ...

kinhin01.jpg

I don't think there is any know practice to walk with a one handed gassho ... it really depends what calls to you. For myself, when I am out and about in the world as an example and I come across a animal that has been hit by or car, if I am driving I will do a one handed gassho, a slight bow, and wish them peace in my heart. So again, non-formally it is up to you and what calls to your heart. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Koki]

Great question, and great response also Shingen.

I understand these things well. Personally, when walking, I extend my palm or palms toward objects. My way if feeling their energy...trees, forest floor, sun, moon, and either bringing it into myself, or extending my energy outward, if I feel they need my energy.
When I pass under low hanging leaves, I always brush my hand against the leaves, pine needles, etc. I often stop and place my hand on a tree to feel it's energy. They talk to me.
These movements are similarly found in qigong.
We share the chi (ki) of the universe.

Gassho
Koki
Satoday

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[Victor]

Shingen, Koki:
Thank you both so much for your responses! This may be a practice that I implement for myself, but I will follow our tradition when sitting zazen and when doing kinhin. All of it has been very good practice for for me.

It may all be good for nothing, but sometimes we need a little more nothing.

[Beakon]

Okay, this is a great opportunity to talk about gassho.

I started a habit where I taught myself to bow before entering the living room. Our Buddha statue "found a spot" to sit for who knows how long, so I like to have fun with the gassho. I try not to walk in front of the Buddha, if I do I will bow.

I am an owner of two rabbits, also two cats. This makes feeding them complicated, so I put in the effort to make the two handed gassho! If I'm in a hurry, I need to get out the door then I do a one-handed gassho.

It's hard to demonstrate the routine with words. I will briefly describe what it is that I do to feed them and gassho when leaving the room. The benefit of doing this exercise I made up, is it takes me back to the present or breaks my hyperfocus. If I'm panicked it will help me connect with my serenity that I know I'm capable of feeling.

If I feed the animals, I need to do it in an order that is efficient. I try to find patterns where the cats can eat while the rabbits are getting fed. Some days I try to feed the rabbits before the cats, but I need to manage their water bowls. That is a lot of bowing!

If I was to "cheat" I'd hold an object and do a one handed gassho. This exercise is about doing things that I don't want to do, especially in a rush. I muster the willpower to do the two-handed gassho, there you go. Water bowls on the floor, gracefully bowed to respectfully.

This has called for innovation, so now I'm vigilantly monitoring them to prevent excess bowing. I know that when I leave the living room, I will make myself bow. I make sure I don't forget anything in the living room.

I hope this was the appropriate response. I am an eccentric person, but I love my life!

Gassho,

Sean

Sitting Soon...


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[Jundo]

I offer Gassho with one hand if my other hand is full or the cat is sitting on it. Of course, it is considered a bit rude if the other hand is empty, and it is not obvious that you have no choice.

Of course, it is just "Namaste," the traditional Asian greeting to others of respect. The two hands come together as one, as in Shashu above or the hands in Zazen. In Southeast Asia, even Ronald Gasshos ...



Also, in Japan, the angle of your elbow goes from 90 degree perpendicular formal with finger tips at nose level (a young monk to a respected senior) ...



... to formal but slightly more relaxed elbows like here (this monk is no longer a freshman) ...



... to casual drooping elbows and maybe the tips of the fingers at chin rather than nose level (the senior returning the bow)




... or just casual between friends like Ronald.

By the way, the top Sashu in Shingen's pictures above, with thumbs on top, is typical in Soto Zen, but the version sideways below that is typical in the Kodo Sawaki lineage and in Rinzai Zen. I am a "thumbs up" guy myself.

Gassho (two hands ... but typing), Jundo

STLah

[Heiso]

I'm fond of the one handed gassho during the zazankai as I'm usually balancing my phone and therefore all of you in the other.

Gassho (two handed)

Neil

ST

[Jundo]

I'm fond of the one handed gassho during the zazankai as I'm usually balancing my phone and therefore all of you in the other.

Gassho (two handed)

Neil

ST

Oh, put your phone down!

Gassho, J

STLah

[threethirty]

Finally something I can speak authoritativly on! There is an old Shaolin story about when Damo (bodhidharma) went to the Shaolin Monastery he found a the temple in disrepair and the sorriest group of monks hed ever seen. The were so weak from laziness that they would fall asleep during their zazen. So he left in disgust and sat in a near by cave facing the back wall for 8 years without food, water, or sleep. (Well he fell asleep once and was so mad he cut his own eye lids off!) He sat so long that his arms and legs fell off. The whole time he was teneded to by one monk (Huike) wanted to be his disciple. When Damo rejected him Huike took a sword and cut off his left arm to show how serious he was. Afterward Damo accepted him as a student. Huike became Damo's successor and the Abbot of the temple. To this day at the temple they bow with the left hand chambered because if Huike didnt have a left arem then neither do they.

Gassho (one handed &#128521

Washu,
Black Sash First Degree, Shaolin Wing Chun.

[Kyonin]

Hi,

As far as I know, we always have to gassho with both hands, unless we have a hand busy. In my case, I usually do one hand gassho when being Ino/Doan at zazenkai. Other than that, I always go with 2 hands

Gassho,

Kyonin
Sat/LAH