home altar

[Seido]

Hello Everyone,
It is so nice to see everyone's altars. I love how everyone has their own styles integrated into the altar, all with unique feels, filled with individual meanings. Yet all meaning the same thing, connecting us all in unique similarity.

Here is the altar at home:
20151018_104444.jpg
It consists of the Buddha, attended by Kannon and Jizo.

I also have an altar at work, which is where I spend most of my waking hours. The Buddha is always looking down at me, shielded by Mucalinda. Reminding me to be ever careful with the power of a poisonous mouth. I need that reminder at work sometimes.
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Gassho,
Ken
SatToday

[Jundo]

Jundo,

Does this mean that even my 1970 Incredible Hulk lunchbox passed down from father to son is acceptable?

Well, we usually don't place an object on the Altar ... whether a Buddha statue, stone, flower, open space or lunch box ... as the central figure if because of emotional attachment or because it means something as a keepsake. One should not see it as a "thing" at all. You remind me of two old Koans (slightly updated) ...

Dongshan was asked by a monastic, “What is Buddha?” Dongshan said, “Three pounds of flax [a 1970 Incredible Hulk lunchbox].” The monastic had a realization and bowed.

If you think of it as a "lunchbox from Dad", then it is just a lunchbox from Dad. If one can find how a boundless box holds the whole universe within, beyond you and dad and "the Hulk" and "buddha", "1970" and all time, metal, water, fire and earth ... then maybe such is a Buddha Statue.

Dogen instructed,

Once, while the late Sojo Eisai was at Kenninji, a poor man came and said, “My family is so destitute that we have had nothing to eat for several days. My wife and children are about to die of starvation. Please have compassion on us.”

At the time, there was no clothing, food, or other possessions in the temple. Although Eisai contemplated what to do, he was at a loss. There was a little bit of thin copper allocated for making the halo for the Yakushi-Buddha which was under construction. The abbot took it and broke it apart, rolled it up, and gave it to the poor man, telling him to exchange it for food to relieve his family’s hunger.

The man was very delighted and left.

Eisai’s disciples, however, reproached him [Eisai] saying, “That is nothing other than the halo for the statue of the Buddha. You gave it away to the layman. Is it not a sin to use the Buddha’s property for personal use?”

The Sojo replied, “Yes, it is. Yet think of the Buddha’s will. The Buddha cut off his flesh and limbs and offered them to living beings. Even if we gave the whole body of the Buddha to people who are actually about to die of starvation, such an action would certainly be in accordance with the Buddha’s will.”

He went on, “Even if I fall into hell because of this sin, I have just saved living beings from starvation.”

So, I would not place an item on the Altar thinking of such as property, "mine", "his", something to fear losing

Also, I was wondering if it's appropriate to have pictures of those who are still alive. I'd like to individually frame pictures of the temple's linage (teachers), but don't know if that would be weird or not. Better to say; I don't know how you and Taigu would feel about having your picture on my alter, as well as past (or in this case, passed) teachers.

No, please do not place a picture of a living being. Save that for next to your bed. Sometimes we place a picture of folks who have left this visible world (the Japanese place pictures of their deceased parents and grandparents. On the Altar of the Zendo in Tsukuba, there is a picture of Nishijima Roshi and some Calligraphy by Niwa Roshi hanging).

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Dainin]

I really love seeing everyone's home altars and practice places. They're very diverse and personal. Being a minimalist, and for what it's worth, here are a few pictures of my bedside zendo.



Gassho,
Dainin

SatToday

[Kyotai]

I really love seeing everyone's home altars and practice places. They're very diverse and personal. Being a minimalist, and for what it's worth, here are a few pictures of my bedside zendo.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]3432[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]3433[/ATTACH]

Gassho,
Dainin

SatToday

Very nice. My space is currently a mess from the move. But, it does the job

Gassho, Kyotai
ST

[Mp]

I really love seeing everyone's home altars and practice places. They're very diverse and personal. Being a minimalist, and for what it's worth, here are a few pictures of my bedside zendo.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]3432[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]3433[/ATTACH]

Gassho,
Dainin

SatToday

Lovely Dainin. =)

Gassho
Shingen

s@today

[Dainin]

Thank you, Kyotai and Shingen!

Gassho,
Dainin

SatToday

[Kyotai]

OK, so you inspired me to clean the basement enough to post my zazen spot. Nothing special



Gassho, Kyotai
ST

[Tai Shi]

Very good!

[Kyotai]

And you have to turn your head...

[Mp]

OK, so you inspired me to clean the basement enough to post my zazen spot. Nothing special



Gassho, Kyotai
ST

Love it ... horizontal zazen. =)

Gassho
Shingen

s@today

[Dainin]

Very nice, Kyotai. Nice and simple can't be beat!

Gassho,
Dainin

SatToday

[Joyo]

Kyotai, Dainin, both of you have a very nice and simple alter. I am a minimalist also so I can appreciate the same style =)

gassho
Joyo
sat today

[Kyotai]

Thank you, I would like to get a Buddha at some point...maybe for my own 10th anniversary at Trealeaf

Gassho, Kyotai
ST

[Jundo]

OK, so you inspired me to clean the basement enough to post my zazen spot. Nothing special



Gassho, Kyotai
ST

There is no up down right left inside outside horizontal vertical, rightways or sideways, minimal or excess in Buddha ... and yet there's all of those too.

Thank you for the sideways sitting.

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Kyotai]

Kyotai,

ST