Social distancing and online sanghas.

[TyZa]

I'm very interesting in how many Zendos will retain an online practice component after this. Like Onka said above, the 24/7 support you get here is so much more comforting for me personally. Thank you for being a pioneer Jundo! Deep bows.

Gassho,
Tyler

SatToday

[Jundo]

I'm very interesting in how many Zendos will retain an online practice component after this. Like Onka said above, the 24/7 support you get here is so much more comforting for me personally. Thank you for being a pioneer Jundo! Deep bows.

Gassho,
Tyler

SatToday

I want to say that many of these communities will need to do more than just sitting online. Yes, "just sitting" is the heart of a Soto Zen Sangha, whether a western group or a monastery in Japan ... but there is much more that needs to be done to maintain community, namely, the social aspects as well as the other little studies, events and happenings of Buddhist community life. That is why we have this forum for sharing and communication, plus our study activities and complementary practice groups (e.g., art circle, Tonglen group, sewing circles etc.) Unless they do more than just Zoom sitting, they will struggle to maintain community after awhile. I have tried to get that message across to other Sangha which have asked my opinion.

By the way (unfortunately it was lost when we had a little human error with recording Doyu Shonin's Ordination into the Suzuki Lineage this week), but the great Hozan Alan Senauke, a legend who is one of the original San Francisco/Berkeley Zen Center crowd from the 60's, witnessed the online Ordination ceremony and made some really beautiful and rather surprising comments at the end, noting how moved he was at the realness of the moment, and crediting us as the pioneers who opened the path when others doubted. He did not have to say so, and I was very moved to hear him take time to recognize Treeleaf like that.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Onka]

I want to say that many of these communities will need to do more than just sitting online. Yes, "just sitting" is the heart of a Soto Zen Sangha, whether a western group or a monastery in Japan ... but there is much more that needs to be done to maintain community, namely, the social aspects as well as the other little studies, events and happenings of Buddhist community life. That is why we have this forum for sharing and communication, plus our study activities and complementary practice groups (e.g., art circle, Tonglen group, sewing circles etc.) Unless they do more than just Zoom sitting, they will struggle to maintain community after awhile. I have tried to get that message across to other Sangha which have asked my opinion.

By the way (unfortunately it was lost when we had a little human error with recording Doyu Shonin's Ordination into the Suzuki Lineage this week), but the great Hozan Alan Senauke, a legend who is one of the original San Francisco/Berkeley Zen Center crowd from the 60's, witnessed the online Ordination ceremony and made some really beautiful and rather surprising comments at the end, noting how moved he was at the realness of the moment, and crediting us as the pioneers who opened the path when others doubted. He did not have to say so, and I was very moved to hear him take time to recognize Treeleaf like that.

Gassho, J

STLah

I've said for some time that I challenge anyone anywhere to question the connection and realness of our Practice here.
It is terrible and fantastic that it has taken a truly global pandemic to bring us together. Not only that, it has taken a pandemic for some folk to remove their blinkers and see that there are always alternatives for how things can be done. Furthermore, these alternatives don't have to erode the fabric of their source.
Gosh darn it I love people who have the courage to try something different.
Gassho
Onka
st

[Geika]

I'm very interesting in how many Zendos will retain an online practice component after this.

Me too. It really gets more people involved in the Dharma who simply didn't know where to go, or perhaps were nervous or a bit lazy about finding a group.

I want to say that many of these communities will need to do more than just sitting online.

I agree! I feel that perhaps they may find it beneficial to try and keep some other resources and events online, and keep up the momentum of reaching and helping the sangha.

By the way (unfortunately it was lost when we had a little human error with recording Doyu Shonin's Ordination into the Suzuki Lineage this week), but the great Hozan Alan Senauke, a legend who is one of the original San Francisco/Berkeley Zen Center crowd from the 60's, witnessed the online Ordination ceremony and made some really beautiful and rather surprising comments at the end, noting how moved he was at the realness of the moment, and crediting us as the pioneers who opened the path when others doubted. He did not have to say so, and I was very moved to hear him take time to recognize Treeleaf like that.

That is so touching. It's really nice to have someone say it, especially when they don't have to. In a way, it's kind of a Zenny joke that we had a techno hiccup, when we are usually so organized about these things, right when the spotlight was on us. At the end of the day, it does not matter, and we still got a thumbs up. and most important, Shonin was ordained.

It is terrible and fantastic that it has taken a truly global pandemic to bring us together. Not only that, it has taken a pandemic for some folk to remove their blinkers and see that there are always alternatives for how things can be done.

I have a lofty hope that a lot of things will change. We are all reflected in Indra's Net. Too bad it took a crisis, but I guess it takes what it takes. Everything is as is.

Gassho
Sat today, lah