Requesting Jukai Etiquette

[Heitou]

I got it for the most part by reading the other threads I somehow missed , but I would like to learn more about it.

Gassho
John
Sat Today

[Jundo]

What exactly is Jukai?

Gassho
John
Sat Today

Hi John,

Jukai means "Undertaking the Precepts," and is a Ceremony for lay folks very common in the Zen world, in China, Korea, Japan and the west. We hold the Ceremony each January, but begin preparing each Fall by reflecting on each of the Precepts, sewing a "Rakusu" (a form of small Buddhist robe) and other activities. The Precepts guide us toward gentle, healthful, non-violent living as best we can (part of our reflections on the Precepts is how all that fits into our complex lives where it is hard to do much of that sometimes).

You can read more here, from last year ...

ANNOUNCEMENT: It's JUKAI TIME .... 2019!

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?17130-ANNOUNCEMENT-It-s-JUKAI-TIME-2019%21

You can see how we did sewing and discussed the Precepts by looking around here ...

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?57-JUKAI-PRECEPTS-STUDY-SEWING-FORUM-%28Oryoki-Tonglen-Too%21%29

Let me know if anything is unclear. All are invited, but it is purely up to each person. More than any "Ceremony" is living gently, and the Ceremony just celebrates that fact.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Heitou]

Thank You so much, Jundo.

Gassho
John
Sat Today

[Tai Shi]

I will say that when I undertook Jukai in January 2016, I had Joined in October 2014, I was 14 months into membership in Treeleaf Zendo, I may not have been ready. I soon realized in August 2015 after purchasing thread, cloth, and shears that I probably was not going to be able to sew a rakusu. I kept fooling myself, and did sink myself into the reading of The Mind of Clover, and other books on Zen I might find on Amazon. Meanwhile I attended the Tea Parties, and Coffee Shops given by two usuri. I learned so much in these talks, and became friends with the two usuri. I still count myself among one man's friends. We met often, was it once a week via Hangout, and anywhere between one and four Pre Jukai members attended, and sometimes a lay person would come to the Coffee Shop. I asked a lot of questions of the usuri. I learned more about Soto Zen in these informal gatherings than a whole stack of books on our discipline, our practice, our understandings. Well. I'm grateful to the two usuri because for me, they filled in the blanks. I continued with the sound bites of Jon Kabot-Zinn, meditating to relieve stress and pain, and moved through Jundo videos on Soto Zen, Shikantaza practice. About 12-01-2015 I decided to go through with Jukai having confessed to Jundo there was no way I could sew a rakusu. My wife thought she might sew it for me, but she looked at videos and patterns and said there was no way she could sew it in the time needed,and she is an accomplished seamstress. I might add that she sewed my rakusu cover according to pattern in one evening, by hand, from scraps in her sewing basket. Well, Jundo said not to worry. I didn't know what to think as time went by, and one day an unmarked yellow envelope arrived and as I opened it tears formed in my eyes, and there was a beautiful forest green perfectly stitched rakusu, and I would suppose a hand drawn linage chart, but that must have been lost in the package because if there was such, I only learned of it this year at the time of Jukai 2020. I say I was not ready, but I wanted this with all my heart, so I stood with my suit coat, tie, and slacks for January 2016 Jukai. This year, going through Jukai again, I know I have been made more ready each time I sat, each time I tried to sound eloquent (not), each time there was a realization that I'm getting older, this year September 11 I'll be 69, and I don't think a single miss speaking, poem, necessary or unnecessary remark, or mistake has been wrong. I had to be a culprit sometimes, oh two or three times? lol. I am so happy this year I seemed ready, and I'm still part of the Zendo, our Sangha.
Tai Shi
say/lah
Gassho

[Heitou]

Thank You, Tai Shi, I really enjoyed your experience.

Gassho
John
Sat Today

[Tairin]

Tai Shi




Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Tsuru]

I will say that when I undertook Jukai in January 2016, I had Joined in October 2014, I was 14 months into membership in Treeleaf Zendo, I may not have been ready. I soon realized in August 2015 after purchasing thread, cloth, and shears that I probably was not going to be able to sew a rakusu. I kept fooling myself, and did sink myself into the reading of The Mind of Clover, and other books on Zen I might find on Amazon. Meanwhile I attended the Tea Parties, and Coffee Shops given by two usuri. I learned so much in these talks, and became friends with the two usuri. I still count myself among one man's friends. We met often, was it once a week via Hangout, and anywhere between one and four Pre Jukai members attended, and sometimes a lay person would come to the Coffee Shop. I asked a lot of questions of the usuri. I learned more about Soto Zen in these informal gatherings than a whole stack of books on our discipline, our practice, our understandings. Well. I'm grateful to the two usuri because for me, they filled in the blanks. I continued with the sound bites of Jon Kabot-Zinn, meditating to relieve stress and pain, and moved through Jundo videos on Soto Zen, Shikantaza practice. About 12-01-2015 I decided to go through with Jukai having confessed to Jundo there was no way I could sew a rakusu. My wife thought she might sew it for me, but she looked at videos and patterns and said there was no way she could sew it in the time needed,and she is an accomplished seamstress. I might add that she sewed my rakusu cover according to pattern in one evening, by hand, from scraps in her sewing basket. Well, Jundo said not to worry. I didn't know what to think as time went by, and one day an unmarked yellow envelope arrived and as I opened it tears formed in my eyes, and there was a beautiful forest green perfectly stitched rakusu, and I would suppose a hand drawn linage chart, but that must have been lost in the package because if there was such, I only learned of it this year at the time of Jukai 2020. I say I was not ready, but I wanted this with all my heart, so I stood with my suit coat, tie, and slacks for January 2016 Jukai. This year, going through Jukai again, I know I have been made more ready each time I sat, each time I tried to sound eloquent (not), each time there was a realization that I'm getting older, this year September 11 I'll be 69, and I don't think a single miss speaking, poem, necessary or unnecessary remark, or mistake has been wrong. I had to be a culprit sometimes, oh two or three times? lol. I am so happy this year I seemed ready, and I'm still part of the Zendo, our Sangha.
Tai Shi
say/lah
Gassho

Thank you for this Tai Shi, I’m so pleased you had such a positive experience

Gassho
St


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tai Do]

I will say that when I undertook Jukai in January 2016, I had Joined in October 2014, I was 14 months into membership in Treeleaf Zendo, I may not have been ready. I soon realized in August 2015 after purchasing thread, cloth, and shears that I probably was not going to be able to sew a rakusu. I kept fooling myself, and did sink myself into the reading of The Mind of Clover, and other books on Zen I might find on Amazon. Meanwhile I attended the Tea Parties, and Coffee Shops given by two usuri. I learned so much in these talks, and became friends with the two usuri. I still count myself among one man's friends. We met often, was it once a week via Hangout, and anywhere between one and four Pre Jukai members attended, and sometimes a lay person would come to the Coffee Shop. I asked a lot of questions of the usuri. I learned more about Soto Zen in these informal gatherings than a whole stack of books on our discipline, our practice, our understandings. Well. I'm grateful to the two usuri because for me, they filled in the blanks. I continued with the sound bites of Jon Kabot-Zinn, meditating to relieve stress and pain, and moved through Jundo videos on Soto Zen, Shikantaza practice. About 12-01-2015 I decided to go through with Jukai having confessed to Jundo there was no way I could sew a rakusu. My wife thought she might sew it for me, but she looked at videos and patterns and said there was no way she could sew it in the time needed,and she is an accomplished seamstress. I might add that she sewed my rakusu cover according to pattern in one evening, by hand, from scraps in her sewing basket. Well, Jundo said not to worry. I didn't know what to think as time went by, and one day an unmarked yellow envelope arrived and as I opened it tears formed in my eyes, and there was a beautiful forest green perfectly stitched rakusu, and I would suppose a hand drawn linage chart, but that must have been lost in the package because if there was such, I only learned of it this year at the time of Jukai 2020. I say I was not ready, but I wanted this with all my heart, so I stood with my suit coat, tie, and slacks for January 2016 Jukai. This year, going through Jukai again, I know I have been made more ready each time I sat, each time I tried to sound eloquent (not), each time there was a realization that I'm getting older, this year September 11 I'll be 69, and I don't think a single miss speaking, poem, necessary or unnecessary remark, or mistake has been wrong. I had to be a culprit sometimes, oh two or three times? lol. I am so happy this year I seemed ready, and I'm still part of the Zendo, our Sangha.
Tai Shi
say/lah
Gassho

Tahnk you, Tai Shi, for your words.

Mateus
Sat/LAH

[Bokugan]

I will say that when I undertook Jukai in January 2016, I had Joined in October 2014, I was 14 months into membership in Treeleaf Zendo, I may not have been ready. I soon realized in August 2015 after purchasing thread, cloth, and shears that I probably was not going to be able to sew a rakusu. I kept fooling myself, and did sink myself into the reading of The Mind of Clover, and other books on Zen I might find on Amazon. Meanwhile I attended the Tea Parties, and Coffee Shops given by two usuri. I learned so much in these talks, and became friends with the two usuri. I still count myself among one man's friends. We met often, was it once a week via Hangout, and anywhere between one and four Pre Jukai members attended, and sometimes a lay person would come to the Coffee Shop. I asked a lot of questions of the usuri. I learned more about Soto Zen in these informal gatherings than a whole stack of books on our discipline, our practice, our understandings. Well. I'm grateful to the two usuri because for me, they filled in the blanks. I continued with the sound bites of Jon Kabot-Zinn, meditating to relieve stress and pain, and moved through Jundo videos on Soto Zen, Shikantaza practice. About 12-01-2015 I decided to go through with Jukai having confessed to Jundo there was no way I could sew a rakusu. My wife thought she might sew it for me, but she looked at videos and patterns and said there was no way she could sew it in the time needed,and she is an accomplished seamstress. I might add that she sewed my rakusu cover according to pattern in one evening, by hand, from scraps in her sewing basket. Well, Jundo said not to worry. I didn't know what to think as time went by, and one day an unmarked yellow envelope arrived and as I opened it tears formed in my eyes, and there was a beautiful forest green perfectly stitched rakusu, and I would suppose a hand drawn linage chart, but that must have been lost in the package because if there was such, I only learned of it this year at the time of Jukai 2020. I say I was not ready, but I wanted this with all my heart, so I stood with my suit coat, tie, and slacks for January 2016 Jukai. This year, going through Jukai again, I know I have been made more ready each time I sat, each time I tried to sound eloquent (not), each time there was a realization that I'm getting older, this year September 11 I'll be 69, and I don't think a single miss speaking, poem, necessary or unnecessary remark, or mistake has been wrong. I had to be a culprit sometimes, oh two or three times? lol. I am so happy this year I seemed ready, and I'm still part of the Zendo, our Sangha.
Tai Shi
say/lah
Gassho

I am still learning so much by just bouncing around in the forums and reading various discussions. Once in a while I feel compelled to send a simple "thank you" and this is without a doubt such an instance.

Tai Shi -- I always enjoy your comments, thank you for sharing this about your Jukai experience.

Gassho

Ryan S
Sat Today

[Yokai]

Thank you so much Tai Shi. Your reflections on your Jukai journey are real, luminous and moving.

As Ryan says, "thank you Sangha" for your wisdom and example. Each one of you is a unique and shining face of the jewel.

Gassho, Chris satlah

[Tai Shi]

By the way, I still, or is it a realization, feel that I am/ was more ready in Jukai this year, and one week ago yesterday, I finally undertook all of the precepts, and for the first time since May 2012, undertook the 12 steps as they stood written in 1939; though the precepts are ancient, I guess as an Episcopalian minister told me in 1988, so the 12 steps are also ancient, have been undertaken by many, by me in 1987, and not truly undertaken until one week ago, from July 4th, 2020. If I die today, which is unlikely, I would miss out on a brand new powerful computer my wife of 38 years is buying me. Take care. And, who knows. Maybe someday "we shall meet on the happy road to destiny." May your Higher power, which all of us find, take care of you "as you trudge the happy road to destiny."
Tai Shi
calm poetry
sat/ lah
Gassho