What is the Best Way to Get Involved in the treeleaf zendo Community?

[BrianK]

That is my simple question. I've come and gone once, and I'm looking for guidance as to the best way to get involved in the treeleaf community. I would like to commit and stay and any suggestions for direction would be helpful. The thing I know I am going to do is go to 3 pm Zazen.

Thanks for any ideas.

Brian 🙏🏼

[Nengei]

Hello Brian, welcome.

I suggest spending some time in this section of the forum: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...GINNER-s-PLACE which is filled with brief talks and guidance for folks new to Zen practice and to Treeleaf.

It sounds like you are already aware that there are daily, hosted, scheduled sittings. You will also find information about our weekly, Friday evening services, called Zazenkai, here: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...TTING-NETCASTS

It is nice to post a hello and tell us a little about yourself here: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-%28October%29

The best way to get involved is to spend a little time checking out the forum, reading what seems of interest and letting the rest go. The best way to meet folks is to participate in topics that draw your interest, ask questions as you have here, attend the weekly Zazenkai, and as you are able, sittings scheduled at other times. If you put up a face photo and avatar photo it will help, as well.

Gassho (bow with palms touching),
Nengei
Sat today. LAH. (sat Zazen today and lent a helpful hand to someone)

[Bion]

That is my simple question. I've come and gone once, and I'm looking for guidance as to the best way to get involved in the treeleaf community. I would like to commit and stay and any suggestions for direction would be helpful. The thing I know I am going to do is go to 3 pm Zazen.

Thanks for any ideas.

Brian [emoji1374]

Hi, Brian! Welcome back

Nengei gave you some great resources there and I would say that THIS CALENDAR PAGE:

https://treeleaf.org/now

is our best tool. Treeleaf is above all else a zen sangha and we practice together. If any scheduled sit works for your schedule, joining in is the best way to actively participate. The weekly zazenkai is our main sangha practice opportunity and we have a tea house ( a chit chat time ) right after, so we socialize a bit as well.

Speaking of socializing, every weekend we have a Tea House, which is an informal get together.. as if we decided to go have a coffee as a group after a morning of practice. You will find that on the calendar link above as well.

The forum allows us to also send messages to each other, find answers to questions or ask them directly. It is a nice tool accompanying our Zoom Sitting Rooms. On our YouTube channel here https://youtube.com/@treeleafzendo?si=hriNmTrG3E0vHqJK you can find a huge collection of videos that cover all of our activities, so you can get familiar with the format of things. If you have any doubts, you need assistance or anything else you can always reach out to any of the unsui ( ordained folks - you can tell who they are by the little tag underneath the username ) as well, and there is a list of all our names here :

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?21799-Treeleaf-s-Priests-and-Novice-Priests

We are a community that likes to keep things human, real and personal, so as you can see we all have actual photos of our faces and we use our names, like a big group of friends Maybe, whenever you get a chance you can add a photo as well. That would help us all know each other better. You can find instructions on how to do that at the following link: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...rofile-Picture

I hope this helps!

Gassho
Sat and lah

[Onsho]

Hi Brian!
I would like to suggest/ invite you to zazenkai on Fridays. Get to know the faces, let the faces get to know you over "tea" that follows.

Gassho
Keith
Satlah

[BrianK]

Nengei, Bion and Keith, thanks so much for the info above. Nengei, I began looking (re-looking) at the beginner's section and started the videos today. I also went to the 9 a.m and 3 pm (Eastern Time) Zazen sittings (Bion that was great thank you). And Keith I'm going to try to get to the zazenkai tonight.

Question: Is it required to attend the full for hours of the zazenkai, or is it a "drop in"?

I added a picture to my profile. Is there anywhere else I should add? Thanks again for all the information and help.

Gassho
satlah
Brian

[Kotei]

Hello Brian,
thanks for sitting together just some minutes ago.

Regarding the profile picture, in the menu, where you've added it, there should also be the option for adding an "Avatar", which would be the image, shown with your postings: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ghlight=avatar

It is encouraged, but not strictly required to attend the full four hours of a Zazenkai, if it feels too much or doesn't work for you.
There is a certain sequence of ceremony, chants, sittings, a talk and such.

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Bion]

Nengei, Bion and Keith, thanks so much for the info above. Nengei, I began looking (re-looking) at the beginner's section and started the videos today. I also went to the 9 a.m and 3 pm (Eastern Time) Zazen sittings (Bion that was great thank you). And Keith I'm going to try to get to the zazenkai tonight.

Question: Is it required to attend the full for hours of the zazenkai, or is it a "drop in"?

I added a picture to my profile. Is there anywhere else I should add? Thanks again for all the information and help.

Gassho
satlah
Brian

Brian! That was you sitting with us! Lovely! [emoji3526] Thank you for coming!
If you want to join the zazenkai, come.. sit once, sit twice .. it’s ok, like Kotei said, if you gracefully bow out during one of the walking meditation periods. It is meant to be sort of like a half-day retreat. [emoji3526]
Do not hesitate, you’ll be among friends!

Gassho
Sat and lah

[BrianK]

Thanks Kotei. I enjoyed the sitting. Regarding the avatar, I think I set it but I'm not sure because I don't see it next to my posts. But I think it's there.

Gassho,
sat today/lent a hand.

[BrianK]

Brian! That was you sitting with us! Lovely! [emoji3526] Thank you for coming!
If you want to join the zazenkai, come.. sit once, sit twice .. it’s ok, like Kotei said, if you gracefully bow out during one of the walking meditation periods. It is meant to be sort of like a half-day retreat. [emoji3526]
Do not hesitate, you’ll be among friends!

Gassho
Sat and lah

Bion! Thanks for having me! I enjoyed. I was away for a few days but am going to try and get on a schedule of sitting. Thanks also for the zazenkai info. Best wishes.

Gassho
Sat and lah

[Kotei]

Thanks Kotei. I enjoyed the sitting. Regarding the avatar, I think I set it but I'm not sure because I don't see it next to my posts. But I think it's there.
.

Looking good, Brian, it worked!
If you don't see Avatar pictures with the posts in general, there is an option in the general settings: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/prof...do=editoptions
Under "Thread Display Options" further down the page is a "Show Avatars" option, you might need to turn on.

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[BrianK]

Thanks Kotei.