Is There Interest In A Weekend Retreat?

[Shonin Risa Bear]

In case this is useful:
Prior to lockdown, Bird Haven's main activity has been a one-day retreat monthly except August. When we were younger we had full Rohatsu culminating in the December retreat, which has always been second Saturdays. It goes something like this:

8:30 am orientation if newcomers; opening reading, silence begins
robe verse
zazen
kinhin
zazen
"jundo" to the outdoor altars (indoor altars for the alter-abled)
dharma talk: usually Kenshin or Yudo
kinhin
zazen
10 minute bowing practice
12:00 lunch (silent, at the dining table, oryoki principles) and cleanup/rest
zazen
kinhin
zazen
trail kinhin (very slow walk in the woods, single file, in shashu) (on porch for the alter abled)
zazen
open period (not a rest, we scatter out and do walking meditation, garden gazing, etc. I usually stay in the zendo and do a sit and a kinhin)
zazen facing in (Rinzai style -- I find this very powerful after a whole day of wall gazing)
dedications and refuges -- bow out
5 pm "kitchen table dharma" decompress together before going our separate ways, with a muffin and tea

It looks like we will be going to a Zoom version, maybe a shorter day to begin with, next month. No trail kinhin, alas.

kinhin_line.jpg

gassho
shonin sat today/lah

[Jundo]

"jundo" to the outdoor altars (indoor altars for the alter-abled)

Just for those who don't know, that is a different jundō (巡堂), a ritual circuit or circumambulation with the Kyosaku stick usually to open the Zen Hall during the day, while I am "Jundo" 純道 ... although a bit round and rotund in my way too.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Shonin Risa Bear]

_()_

gassho
shonin sat/lah today

[Natahl]

When we have our Treeleaf retreats, child care and family or work responsibilities are all Samu (Work Practice) = Zazen = Retreat = No Problem.

It is not that one begins where the other ends.

When bowing, just bow. When sitting, just sit. When changing a diaper, just change. When cookinig dinner, just cook. When getting er done, just get er done. Like that.

Gassho, J

STLah

Thank you, Jundo. This means I can probably participate.

Gassho,
Natahl
SaTLaH


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tai Shi]

I’m into Samu retreat if possible. Will that mean we are all connected to the Zendo barn and will anyone be sitting there?
Tai Shi
sat
Gassho


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tai Shi]

Thank you, Jundo. This means I can probably participate.

Gassho,
Natahl
SaTLaH


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes I can sit since Samu and sometimes actually sit at my alter. You’ll have to take my word for it as always. This morning actually about 20 min.
sat
Tai
Shi


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tai Shi]

Hi all,

We were wondering whether there would be interest in a weekend mini-sesshin sometime over the next few weeks. We were thinking mostly sitting with a minimum of ceremony, but could include other things (samu, Oryoki etc) if anyone would like. Please comment if you would participate and if so, what elements would be most helpful :-) Thanks!

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

Now I understand. This is possible for me—no children or cleaning or coop or cooking. My life is easy as should be at 68. But give others a chance; I’m sure there are many different ages.
Sat
Tai
Shi
Gassho


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[odiedoodie]

Interested yes.
sat today
GASSHO
Jon T

[Nanrin]

I'm interested. I think adding in oryoki and the chanting like we do in the rohatsu retreat would be helpful.

Gassho

Nanrin

Sat today

[Ippo]

Hi Jakuden,

This sounds wonderful.

I would be interest. It might be ideal to keep it minimal and 'Just Sit' so we can get more members involved?

Would be nice to see you all.

Gassho,

Ippo

SatToday