Wow, beautiful altars. Thanks for sharing!
Gassho
Byōkan
sat + lah
Gassho
Byōkan
sat + lah
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展道 渺寛 Tendō Byōkan
Please take my words with a big grain of salt. I know nothing. Wisdom is only found in our whole-hearted practice together. -
home altar
The latest addition to my temple at home.
Rice cooker/temple gong!
サイモン Simon
座りました
Ask not what the Sangha can do for you, but what you can do for the Sangha.Ask not what the Sangha can do for you, but what you can do for your Sangha.Comment
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Seems like a more resonant ring than many bell bells I know.
I like this "Zendo on the cheap" idea.
I sometimes tell our priests that a "Mokugyo" ... although a lovely, very traditional instrument meant to keep time in chanting (said to be shaped like a fish, thus the name ... "Mokugyo" = Wooden Fish) ...
... can also be a couple of nice sounding pieces of wood hit with a stick. So long as it sounds good, and resonates. (The following is just one possibility ... not telling what it actually sounds like until the actual strike) ...
Gassho, J
SatTodayLAHALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLEComment
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My home altar.
Includes a hand carved mortar and pestle ove 70 years old from my great grandfather. I do not know the story behind it, but has a solid tone.
Gassho
SatLast edited by Myogan; 09-19-2017, 12:52 AM.Marc Connery
明岩
Myo̅ Gan - Bright Cliff
I put the Monkey in Monkeymind
Comment
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Jundo,Seems like a more resonant ring than many bell bells I know.
I like this "Zendo on the cheap" idea.
I sometimes tell our priests that a "Mokugyo" ... although a lovely, very traditional instrument meant to keep time in chanting (said to be shaped like a fish, thus the name ... "Mokugyo" = Wooden Fish) ...
... can also be a couple of nice sounding pieces of wood hit with a stick. So long as it sounds good, and resonates. (The following is just one possibility ... not telling what it actually sounds like until the actual strike) ...
Gassho, J
SatTodayLAH
Great images here. I had a question about décor if I may ask. I am outfitting my basement zendo room. I am trying to add some authenticity and was going to paint and cover the crummy beat up walls with some shoji screens. I've been looking at images of zendos and all have light oak colored woodwork on the screens. I would assume to match the existing woodwork. Since my room has no real woodwork I was going to use black wood on the shojis to go with the black zafu, alter and a cabinet I have. I guess my question is; Is it "OK" to go with a black trim or is the lighter oak color more authentic? Thank you.
Gassho
Sat Today / LAH
JamesComment
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Hi James,
I often say that I happen to live in a house with Japanese shoji and tatami because I happen to live in a Japanese house ... in Japan.
So, what you are describing is purely decorative, not required for Zen at all, of course. A Zen room is any room.
However, if you are going for Japanese decor, then I have seen both black and brown ... but some shade of light or dark brown is much more common than black black.
However, black black frame is sometimes seen too, although maybe more in the West ...
Gassho, J
SatTodayLAHALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLEComment
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Jundo,Hi James,
I often say that I happen to live in a house with Japanese shoji and tatami because I happen to live in a Japanese house ... in Japan.
So, what you are describing is purely decorative, not required for Zen at all, of course. A Zen room is any room.
However, if you are going for Japanese decor, then I have seen both black and brown ... but some shade of light or dark brown is much more common than black black.
However, black black frame is sometimes seen too, although maybe more in the West ...
Gassho, J
SatTodayLAH
Thanks for the tips. Much appreciated. Maybe I'll send you some swatches and fabrics and you can help me with my living room. (Just kidding).
Gassho
Sat2day / LAH
JamesComment
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The latest addition to the family, found in a wiccan/pagan shop.
最敬礼、
サイモン/Simon.
Ask not what the Sangha can do for you, but what you can do for the Sangha.Ask not what the Sangha can do for you, but what you can do for your Sangha.Comment
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home altar
Another accidental find when I shut a cupboard too hard.
ChishouCode:https://youtu.be/c7dLQ_YI-KM
Sat
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkLast edited by Chishou; 01-30-2018, 07:52 PM.Ask not what the Sangha can do for you, but what you can do for your Sangha.Comment
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Thank you Shinshi, I’ll keep my potty mouth in check.
Just out of curiosity, is there a soto tradition round getting a new buddha statue? I remember watching a video about Thai buddhism and it being a be occasion.
Here are my latest editions to Chishou Zendo LTD PLC.org.uk:
Chishou
Sat-half-asleep
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkAsk not what the Sangha can do for you, but what you can do for your Sangha.Comment
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The wall hangings? They're really nice, where did you find them?Thank you Shinshi, I’ll keep my potty mouth in check.
Just out of curiosity, is there a soto tradition round getting a new buddha statue? I remember watching a video about Thai buddhism and it being a be occasion.
Here are my latest editions to Chishou Zendo LTD PLC.org.uk:
Chishou
Sat-half-asleep
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
PS I thought that typo was so funny, perhaps it's the irreverence of the British sense of humour
Gassho
Meitou
Satwithyoualltoday lah命 Mei - life
島 Tou - islandComment
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Yes there is, but it usually follows a ceremony to "open the eyes" of a statue and invest it with life. There is a ceremony in Soto Zen, but here is the closest description I can find of a like ceremony of Pure Land Buddhists (page 150 here).
But this is not the flavor of Zen or Buddhism I practice, so I would advise you just to be respectful to the darn thing. Give it a nice new home on a table.
Or don't be respectful to it. The statue doesn't care, and neither would the Buddha. Toss it in the closet or the dustbin without a second thought.
However, I am sure that on other days, Tien-jan was respectful of statues. They are re-MIND-ers and embodiments of many cherished Teachings ... the historical Buddha, and "ALL THIS" which we are. So, at least be respectful, give a bow. Say thank you. Something like that.One of Ma-tsu's famous disciples, T'ien-jan 天然 (died 824) of Tanhsia 丹霞 (Tanka in Japanese), was spending a night at a ruined temple with a few traveling companions. The night was bitterly cold and there was no firewood. He went to the Hall of Worship, took down the wooden image of the Buddha, and made a comfortable fire. When he was reproached by his comrades for this act of sacrilege, he said: "I was only looking for the `sariira (sacred relic) of the Buddha." "How can you expect to find `sariira in a piece of wood?" said his fellow travelers. "Well," said T'ien-jan, "then, I am only burning a piece of wood after all."
Gassho, J
SatTodayLAH
PS - Here is an "Eye Opening" Ceremony at a Korean Zen Temple ...
PPS - We once had a Ceremony here of "Thanks" to all the old computers and software that were retired after keeping our online Sangha going ... Have a look ... I have to admit, it was half in genuine gratitude, half in good spirit ...
MEMORIAL SERVICE & OFFERING TO RETIRE OLD COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
Today we gather to mark and commemorate the service and impermanence of the tools of communication, hardware and software, which are bridges linking our Sangha, the strands of Indra’s Net, passing from this sphere of existence. They have served this community well. Let us consider deeply that Buddhahood exists in everything, and while not Sentient, they are extensions of the hands, eyes, and minds of sentients beings. All beings are Buddha Nature. The mountains and tiles are Buddha Nature, machines and programs are Buddha Nature.
At one with the Buddha.
At one with the Dharma.
At one with the Sangha.
Dear Machines and Programs …
From the beginning, there is neither birth nor death … nor creation, writing, storing, running or deletion. Yet all in life is booted up and shut down, and all constantly is impermanent. Because of our particular Karmic accumulations, like bites and bits in an ongoing living memory, we were able to encounter and employ you for the good of sentient beings, teaching Dharma and nurturing Sangha. Now, let us close your covers and send you for recycling, that nothing may be wasted and all shall be reborn.
PPPS - Isn't that candle a bit close to the scroll of Bodhidharma, Chishou? All things are impermanent, but no need to rush it.Last edited by Jundo; 02-20-2018, 12:08 PM.ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLEComment
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The full procedures of the Soto Zen "Eye-Opening" Ceremony, if anyone is so interested.
Again, not so much our speed around here ... I suppose that, for a "deconsecration," one merely needs to do the following backwards ...
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Procedure for Offerings upon
Eye Opening of Images and Stupas [362]
Ordinarily, whenever buddha images, temple buildings and stupas, spirit
tablets, or stone stupas are newly made and put into service, ritual procedure
of dotting and opening the eyes is performed. What follows is an example
of offerings upon opening eyes of a buddha image.
Preparations [362]
Provide flowers, lamps, and candles before buddha, together with an inkstone,
fresh ink, and a new brush. Separately prepare offerings of tea and decoction.
Install image that is to be consecrated ahead of time.
Entering Hall [363]
Great assembly enters hall. Officiant enters hall to seven rings of bell, intones
dharma phrase, advances to altar and burns incense.
Dotting Eyes [363]
Officiant soaks brush in ink, inscribes a full circle (sign of completeness),
recites ten epithets of Buddha (Thus Come, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly
Awakened, Complete in Wisdom and Deeds, Well Accomplished, World
Knower, Supreme Human, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Devas and Humans,
World Honored Awakened One.) Officiant initiates chanting; monks of
great assembly chant in unison (three times). When finished, all together
make three prostrations.
Offering Tea and Decoction [363]
Officiant advances before offering table, offers decoction, sweets, and tea.
When finished returns to place, makes three prostrations.
Narration Text [363]
Officiant kneels upright on sitting cloth, intones following narration text
(monks of great assembly also kneel and listen):
Respectfully announced to the eternal three treasures throughout
the three times and ten directions.
Now, at this <Mountain Name>, <Monastery Name> in <Name>
District/City/Town/Village, <Name> Prefecture, the donor
<Name>, who is of particular faith, has established a new image
of <Name of figure enshrined >. We shall therefore carry out the
ceremonial procedure of eye-opening offerings and chant some
marvelous texts of the Mahayana.
We are aware that in this realm of apparitional transformation there
is no escaping karmically determined changes and that, in the final
analysis, this bubbling froth of five aggregates is impermanent. Thus,
we rely on the true words of the Golden Mouthed One and store up
the fruits of good deeds for the future. As the saying goes, “If one is
not negligent for the hundred years preceding, then one will surely
find ease and joy in the hundred years following.” We heed the words
of the ancestral teacher [Dōgen, in his Instructions for the Head Cook]:
“The effects of cherishing the matter of awakening and delighting
in the way are attested by the example of ‘grasping sand and making
it a treasure.’ When one makes an image and worships it, one often
experiences this kind of response.”
We pray that the donor <Name>, having relaxed in the garden
where all difficulties are eliminated in this world, may in the future
mount the dais where myriad virtues are complete, and that the
dharma realms may be equally and universally benefited.
(In case of temple buildings and stupas, use some passage such as the following:
“The Buddha said, ‘In whatever places these sutra fascicles exist, you
should raise a stupa of seven precious jewels and metals, making it as
high and wide and beautifully adorned as possible.... [You should not
place any relics in it, because] inside it there is already the entire body
of the Tathagata. [With regard to this stupa, use all kinds of flowers,
incense, jewelled necklaces, precious canopies, banners, skillful
music, songs and verses to make offerings, revere, venerate, and praise
it.] If any people are able to see this stupa, to worship it and make
offerings, you should know that all of them shall thereby draw near
to unsurpassed supreme and perfect awakening.’” [Translator’s note:
This is a passage from the Lotus Sutra (T 9.31b27 ff.), quoted by
Dōgen at the opening of the “Entire Body of the Tathagata” chapter
of his Shōbōgenzō. The bracketed portions are missing from the text
of Standard Observances of the Soto Zen School.])
Respectfully Announced
Sutra Chanting and Dedication of Merit [363]
Monks of great assemby stand. Officiant advances to altar and burns incense.
Perform chanting circumambulation of an appropriate sutra, then
dedicate merit. Make three prostrations, disperse from hall.
Eko Text [364]
Buddha’s body entirely pervades the dharma realms, appearing
everywhere before all living beings. According with their karmic
conditions and responding to their appeals, it never fails to reach
them, such that even ordinary places are the seat of awakening.
It is difficult to exhaust the praises of the Buddha’s ocean of merit.
Having meticulously peformed the ceremonial procedure of eyeopening
offerings; respectfully provided incense, flowers, lamps,
and candles, decoction, sweets, tea and rare delicacies; respectfully
gathered the present pure assembly, and chanted sutras and dharanis
in unison; we present the merit accumulated thereby as an offering to
the Buddha <Name> (insert appropriate buddha name).
We humbly pray that the heavenly eye may see at a great distance;
that the golden light may always shine; that the efficacious and
responsive appearance of spritual powers will always be so for time
immemorial; and that prosperity and tranquility will never decline
throughout the ten directions.
We also ask that this monastery (or, this household) be tranquil
and secure both within and without; that concern for the way
shall increase; that all conditions may be auspicious; and that
sentient beings throughout the dharma realm may equally perfect
omniscience.
Appendix: Examples of Eye-Opening Dharma Phrases
1. Image of Shakason [365]
Great compassionate father, uniquely honored in the three realms,
with billions of transformation bodies, who universally delivers us
from delusion and confusion, humans and devas gaze up at you
with respect. Myriad classes of beings have received blessings from
you, whose dharma body has already descended, and good fortune
overflows our house.
Raise brush and say:
The true eye is dotted and opened. The wisdom light of the sun and
moon brightly illuminates heaven and earth for myriad ages.
Make dot.
2. Images of Shakamuni Buddha with Kasho and Anan [365]
Raise brush and say:
He who is uniquely honored in the three realms is complete with
myriad virtues. The Drinker of Light and the Joyful One stand at
either side and attend to his person. The auspicious appearance of
purple and gold manifests itself anew in this hall, forever providing
a great field of merit for humans and devas. Opening for the first
time this treasure hall, we adorn the new seat with a canopy and
pennants, incense and flowers, bells and drums, melodic chanting,
tea, sweets, lamps, and candles, pure offerings of food, and various
other offerings. The fourfold sangha looks up in worship and, with
different voices chanting as one, praises Buddha’s merit. All living
beings universally profit from his gift of benefits.
However, as is said in the teachings: “The body of Buddha pervades
and fills empty space. That being the case, why should I [literally, “this
mountain monk”] waste my breath for the sake of others? If you can
just grasp ‘the one inside the hall,’ then you will see the precious light
that the three dots of the symbol ∴ emit simultaneously.”
Make one dot and say:
One dot with the tip of the brush opens the eye of compassion; its
radiance extends to the three thousands and great thousands of
world systems.ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLEComment
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