During Zazenkai we stand in gassho. How high should our elbows be? Is it different between priests and lay folk?
Yall ever think about elbows?
Gassho
Onsho
Sat/Lah
Yall ever think about elbows?
Gassho
Onsho
Sat/Lah
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What should I be doing with my elbows?
Hi, Onsho! The tip of the fingers should be at the level of the nose, roughly, and the hands at a fist or two’s width from the face/body. The forearms parallel to the ground thing is a requirement for monks, and it is in part meant to show who is a novice and who is a seasoned priest. As one grows older in years since ordination, the arms go more and more relaxed. The elbows should not be higher than the hands themselves, by the way.. Folks sometimes overdo it and the gassho starts bending upwards at the elbows, but while the form should be clean, there is a relaxedness to it as well, as to the tension applied in the palms.
Hope that helps
Gassho
Sat and lahLast edited by Bion; 05-09-2024, 04:26 AM."Stepping back with open hands, is thoroughly comprehending life and death. Immediately you can sparkle and respond to the world." - Hongzhi -
I had also this doubt, thanks for the explanation, Bion!Hi, Onsho! The tip of the fingers should be at the level of the nose, roughly, and the hands at a fist or two’s width from the face. The forearms parallel to the ground thing is a requirement for monks, and it is in part meant to show who is a novice and who is a seasoned priest. As one grows older in years since ordination, the arms go more and more relaxed.
Hope that helps
Gassho
Sat and lah
Gasshō
stlah, KaitanKaitan - 界探 - Realm searcher
Formerly known as "Bernal"Comment
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The most proper and formal is elbows at 90 degrees, with middle finger tip about the height of the tip of the nose ... thumbs close to the chin ...
That said, outside of being a junior monk-in-training at the most formal times in a ceremony or meeting a senior priest and needing to be on best, most formal behavior ...
... it is okay to be a little more "caj'" (casual) ... elbows a bit more droopy, fingertips down to chin level, or BOTH ... (a senior priest will intentionally be more "caj" in returning the bow to the junior priest, in a ceremony, etc ...
Okumura Roshi ... fingers high (almost to nose), but elbows down ...
Hands low, elbows high-ish ...
Two priests of generally equally rank greeting each other will be pretty casual ... but if one is aware of being more junior, they will usually be slightly more formal than the senior ...
Fingers too high here ...
As to lay people, they are welcome to be more formal, but if they are more casual, even during a Ceremony, nobody will complain.
Just don't do this ...
Gassho, J
stlahLast edited by Jundo; 05-09-2024, 04:40 AM.ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLEComment
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I’ve sometimes wondered if my gassho was a bit perfunctory, but I suppose as a lay person it isn’t so important. But it is good to get into good zendo habits.The most proper and formal is elbows at 90 degrees, with middle finger tip about the height of the tip of the nose ... thumbs close to the chin ...
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That said, outside of being a junior monk-in-training at the most formal times in a ceremony or meeting a senior priest and needing to be on best, most formal behavior ...
... it is okay to be a little more "caj'" (casual) ... elbows a bit more droopy, fingertips down to chin level, or BOTH ... (a senior priest will intentionally be more "caj" in returning the bow to the junior priest, in a ceremony, etc ...
Okumura Roshi ... fingers high (almost to nose), but elbows down ...
Hands low, elbows high-ish ...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]9429[/ATTACH]
Hands even lower, elbows still pretty high ...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]9430[/ATTACH]
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Both low ...
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Two priests of generally equally rank greeting each other will be pretty casual ... but if one is aware of being more junior, they will usually be slightly more formal than the senior ...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]9434[/ATTACH]
Fingers too high here ...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]9431[/ATTACH]
As to lay people, they are welcome to be more formal, but if they are more casual, even during a Ceremony, nobody will complain.
Just don't do this ...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]9435[/ATTACH]
Gassho, J
stlah
I think that last form is reserved for schoolboys to use in unsuspecting English teachers….not very respectful though I have to say.
Gassho 🙏
Myojin
-satlahComment
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