Dear All,
Rev. Washin, our Treeleaf priest and friend in Ukraine, has had his interview published by Lion's Roar. The full interview is here:
Some highlights:
You can find Washin's weekly Zazen for Peace sittings here:
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...hin-in-Ukraine
Gassho, J
stlah
Washin LionsRoar Photo.png
Rev. Washin, our Treeleaf priest and friend in Ukraine, has had his interview published by Lion's Roar. The full interview is here:
Zen During Wartime: Sergey Washin Tsarenko on Practice in Ukraine
Some highlights:
Sergey Washin Tsarenko is a Zen priest — an uncommon vocation, to be sure. But Sergey’s experience is especially notable, and instructive to us, due to the fact that all that he does — live simply, simply live, practice with and teach others the dharma, volunteer in order to be of benefit to others — is being done from war-torn Ukraine. Thanks to the support of Treeleaf Zendo, an online Soto Zen Buddhist community, and the smart deployment of technology, compassion, grit, and wisdom, Sergey is making positive things happen.
...
During the first weeks of war, I could not still believe this all was happening in real life, sometimes thinking this might just be a bad dream. As days went by, I realized that life goes on and whatever form it takes, I should stay on track, continuing my practice and trying to help people where possible. I took up hosting a weekly Meditation for Peace on Zoom and joined other volunteer projects. I understood that whatever is happening, you just have to go on doing “your thing.” Everyone is important and has their place. Whether you go to defend your land on the front lines, bake bread, or supply the food, to clean streets or lead zazen sittings.
...
Today, even though we’ve become “accustomed” to living in a state of war, the feelings are pretty much the same. Some days are quiet and we are happy about that. Others may turn into days full of anxiety and fear. You never know what will happen the next day. And here, the Zen teaching of “don’t-know mind” helps me. I simply try to focus on day-to-day doings and stick to the state of not-knowing. Life may not be the same, but it is always worth living it fully.
...
I have been with [Treeleaf's] Monastery of Open Doors from the very beginning after Jundo Roshi offered me to join the program. I consider the MoD an innovative move, a new approach, and a great experiment where all Priests involved must learn and do things in a little bit new way. The doors of the “Training Dojo” are open to anyone wishing to receive ordination but facing difficulties to get it in “real life” due to various limitations. Whilst doing my own training, I am happy to be able to help and support others who join the monastery. I strongly believe the MoD project has a bright future and will help continue the tradition of Soto Zen Buddhist priest training. There’s room for all ways of training. In the western monasteries, monasteries of Asia, the forest and mountain hermits, and our Monastery of Open Doors. ... I believe there is no big difference between being ordained in a temple, monastery, or via the online facility, provided the ordained undertake the ceremony with sincerity and an open heart and all rituals follow the traditional approach.
The uniqueness of the online sangha lies in the possibility that opens to everyone heartfully willing to practice or be ordained yet who are facing difficulties in reaching a Zen center.
...
I noticed that since the beginning of the war, more and more people have become interested in meditation. Our present life is full of turmoil, negative emotions, sometimes despair. So it is logical for people to seek how to calm down their hearts and balance their lives. Zen practice is relatively new to Ukrainian folk, and our sangha is pretty young, in the process of development. I tend to believe that there is a benefit for all who come to sit with us, however, everyone discovers their own Zen within, by themselves.
...
The “Green Coast” project, which is the group of volunteers I joined about four years ago, has been active since 2016. Up to date, we have planted and cared for over 1,600 trees. I see this activity as an important part of my practice as it is fundamentally connected to my role as a priest-in-training.
In our community we like to say that planting trees is our “response weapon” to all sorts of violence and aggression. And particularly today, when we live in a state of war, we try not to forget about beauty and that our trees are also sentient beings we must care for.
...
As I mentioned above, every Sunday afternoon since the beginning of the invasion, I have been hosting the “Sitting for Peace in Ukraine and around the World.” These events are for the worldwide community, and participants are from different places like the US, Canada, Australia, and European countries as well as some from Asia. Usually, the number of people taking part in the session is 25-30. Traditionally we start with reciting the Heart Sutra. I do it in three languages: English, Ukrainian, and Russian.
...
May the war in Ukraine be the last war on Earth.
...
During the first weeks of war, I could not still believe this all was happening in real life, sometimes thinking this might just be a bad dream. As days went by, I realized that life goes on and whatever form it takes, I should stay on track, continuing my practice and trying to help people where possible. I took up hosting a weekly Meditation for Peace on Zoom and joined other volunteer projects. I understood that whatever is happening, you just have to go on doing “your thing.” Everyone is important and has their place. Whether you go to defend your land on the front lines, bake bread, or supply the food, to clean streets or lead zazen sittings.
...
Today, even though we’ve become “accustomed” to living in a state of war, the feelings are pretty much the same. Some days are quiet and we are happy about that. Others may turn into days full of anxiety and fear. You never know what will happen the next day. And here, the Zen teaching of “don’t-know mind” helps me. I simply try to focus on day-to-day doings and stick to the state of not-knowing. Life may not be the same, but it is always worth living it fully.
...
I have been with [Treeleaf's] Monastery of Open Doors from the very beginning after Jundo Roshi offered me to join the program. I consider the MoD an innovative move, a new approach, and a great experiment where all Priests involved must learn and do things in a little bit new way. The doors of the “Training Dojo” are open to anyone wishing to receive ordination but facing difficulties to get it in “real life” due to various limitations. Whilst doing my own training, I am happy to be able to help and support others who join the monastery. I strongly believe the MoD project has a bright future and will help continue the tradition of Soto Zen Buddhist priest training. There’s room for all ways of training. In the western monasteries, monasteries of Asia, the forest and mountain hermits, and our Monastery of Open Doors. ... I believe there is no big difference between being ordained in a temple, monastery, or via the online facility, provided the ordained undertake the ceremony with sincerity and an open heart and all rituals follow the traditional approach.
The uniqueness of the online sangha lies in the possibility that opens to everyone heartfully willing to practice or be ordained yet who are facing difficulties in reaching a Zen center.
...
I noticed that since the beginning of the war, more and more people have become interested in meditation. Our present life is full of turmoil, negative emotions, sometimes despair. So it is logical for people to seek how to calm down their hearts and balance their lives. Zen practice is relatively new to Ukrainian folk, and our sangha is pretty young, in the process of development. I tend to believe that there is a benefit for all who come to sit with us, however, everyone discovers their own Zen within, by themselves.
...
The “Green Coast” project, which is the group of volunteers I joined about four years ago, has been active since 2016. Up to date, we have planted and cared for over 1,600 trees. I see this activity as an important part of my practice as it is fundamentally connected to my role as a priest-in-training.
In our community we like to say that planting trees is our “response weapon” to all sorts of violence and aggression. And particularly today, when we live in a state of war, we try not to forget about beauty and that our trees are also sentient beings we must care for.
...
As I mentioned above, every Sunday afternoon since the beginning of the invasion, I have been hosting the “Sitting for Peace in Ukraine and around the World.” These events are for the worldwide community, and participants are from different places like the US, Canada, Australia, and European countries as well as some from Asia. Usually, the number of people taking part in the session is 25-30. Traditionally we start with reciting the Heart Sutra. I do it in three languages: English, Ukrainian, and Russian.
...
May the war in Ukraine be the last war on Earth.
You can find Washin's weekly Zazen for Peace sittings here:
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...hin-in-Ukraine
Gassho, J
stlah
Washin LionsRoar Photo.png
Comment