Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

[Shonin]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

I'm doing that asked by Jundo. Three 30 minute sittings a day (except on Saturdays where my middle sit while be the zazenkai). Trying to cut down on more frivolous spending. Taking on more tasks at work as I'm available( such as helping someone else instead of rushing to get my clean up/restock done). Giving up beer and energy drinks. Starting monday on my day off I'll add excercise( have some nice Qi Gong DVD's around the house). Going veggie. And trying to relax more at work, letting other folks be themselves and not giving my bosses lip when stupid shit comes out of their mouths. Also trying to refrain from negative speech as best I can. which means not using the f-bomb in every other sentence. Not teasing co-workers etc. and pretty much trying to keep in the spirit of Ango and Zen in general.

Today went pretty well. I found myself buying a pack of smokes, had two beers and an energy drink LOL. but wanted to get it out of my system as Ango just started today. Got a lil edgy at work towards the end...found myself ditched again. But was able to shake it off almost as soon as I got out the door.

[Dosho]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hi all,

My Ango commitments:

-Sit zazen for 30 minutes, twice a day
-Wake up and recite our metta verse, with nurturing seeds as necessary
-Participate in the forum as I have done
-Work on my kesa when I have a break from childcare
-Give up mindless watching of tv, excessive browsing of the internet, and sweets
-Try to watch the daily sit a longs on the day they are posted and participate in zazenkai live when possible
-Be generous with time and what little funds I do have
-Pause, breathe, and think before eating, sleeping, reacting, speaking, typing, and just about everything else

Gassho,
Dosho

[Jinyu]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hi All!

My commitments for the Ango are :

* Sit Zazen at least 25min twice a day
* Sit with each Saturday Zazenkai (recorded or live version)
* Chant before eating
* sanpai each day as a kind of refuge
* Be more present on the forum especialy the threads linked to the Ango
* Weekly Dharma study in addition to the one we all got together
* Sit at least once the 2 days recorded retreat
* Work daily sewing a rakusu
* Quit smoking
* Be aware of my anger

It might be just a few things, but I think I can stick to them...

Gassho to everyone!

Luis

[will]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

For me right now, being on time for the Zazenkai and what not is enough.

Already started cutting stuff out of daily necessities, so I'll work on keeping the whole Ango thing steady. Missed Saturday Zazenkai. Good start.

List begin and added if necessary:

1. Some Metta
2. Watch only one movie at a time.
3. Increase better posture when doing stuff.

_/_

[kfrance0]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

I guess I'll join in, too:

* I will add a second 25 minute zazen session each day
* I will use the metta verse before each zazen period
* I will work on my rakusu daily
* I will give up the snacks we often keep in the break room at work
* I will stop using Ebay for the period of the ango
* I will begin setting aside donations of money and items/food/bedding/toys for the no-kill animal shelter in the city where I work (I've been meaning to for some time, this gives me the motivation to get moving on it)

thank you, everyone

Kevin

[agata]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hello dear Treeleafers,

I would like to share my Ango commitments with you:

- Sit zazen for 30 minutes, twice a day if possible
- Add Metta Verse Practice and Nurturing Seeds Practice to my routine each day
- Try Social Media Detox, give up using Facebook daily, meet people face to face instead
- Try to watch the daily sit a longs on the day they are posted and participate in zazenkai live when possible
- Do Samu, daily, mindfully
- Do not rise my voice
- Give up buiyng unnecesarry luxury products, in my case cosmetics
- Give up swearing
- Participate in and study readings and discussions on Treeleaf

Gassho,
Agata

[Bansho]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hi,

I've just finished participating in the first Ango Zazenkai. Wonderful - thank you.

Gassho
Bansho

[JAK]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

My specific commitments for this Ango are:

* Participate in all the Saturday/2 day/Ango sessions (live if possible - recorded if not)
* Sit Zazen at least 15 minutes per day
* Silent chant/gratefulness before eating
* No soda or eating out at work during the Ango (This will be the biggest challenge of the whole period)
* Daily Metta and Nurturing Seeds practice
* Participate in Jukai preparations (Rakusu sewing/precepts study)
* Daily effort towards making all work Samu practice
* Active participation in the forums (no more lurking)
* Keep a daily journal of the experience - noting all feelings/attitudes/level of interest

I am treating this Ango as an opportunity to really get back to basics and be serious about my practice. In our hectic lives it is too easy to become mechanical about sitting/bowing/chanting and for me at least, this is a fantastic opportunity to start fresh and really get back to beginners mind.

My deepest and most sincere Gassho to everyone who is participating and especially Jundo for providing this opportunity in spite of what the critics say :wink:

[CinnamonGal]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Really encouraged and inspired by everyone's commitments. Way to go!

*sit 30 min a day
*Dharma study on a daily basis
*mindful eating (at least once a day using the "How is hungry in there?" exercise from the Trycycle Magazine and available for download as a podcast)
*include metta practice (use the time on a commuter train)
*offer pro-bono (creativity) coaching sessions to the community, with focus on students and artists posting the ads in the places I frequent and want to support
*give up coffee and luxury consumption
*spend more time with the Sangha (this one!)
*take part in Saturday zazenkais,live or through recordings
*chant the Heart Sutra a few times a day (Will, how can I download the song without signing up to soundclick?)
*try to be as honest and true with myself
*be more generous with my time and check in with friends more often (set aside 10-15 min a day for a phone call of an email)
*call my folks every Sunday
*find the edge and work it

Good luck everyone! Practice well!

Gassho,

Irina

[SunnyP]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hello everyone,

I am sharing my Ango commitments with you all:

-Eat mindfully
- Add Metta Verse and Nurturing seeds daily
- Add the meal chant
- Sit for 20 minutes daily
- Stop raising my voice
- Stop cussing
- Cut back on my PC time
- Stop using Amazon for pointless luxury items

Gassho,
Paula

[Shinko]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hi All,

I too am sharing my Ango commitments:

- Eat mindfully & drink more water
- Add Metta verse and Nurturing seeds daily
- Add the meal chant
- Sit for a mid-day session in addition to the 20 minutes AM/PM daily
- Stop raising my voice
- Stop swearing
- Cut back on my PC time
- eliminate frivolous purchases
- Samu at local zen center & food bank
- participate in Jukai preperations & Rakusu sewing
- sit for all Saturday zazenkai live.



Gassho,

Linda W

[Tobiishi]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Gassho...

While reading all these commitments, it occurs to me that most of our days are going to be filled with reminders of our practice- every time we turn down a drink, stop ourselves from shouting, eat a carrot, sit... and I was reminded of the lyrics for the Alan Ginsberg song "Gospel Noble Truths" that was posted on another thread a day or two ago. It might be worth your time to keep these in mind as you go through your (extra mindful) day...

'...work like the sun
breathe when you breathe
walk where you walk
talk when you talk
cry when you cry
look where you look
hear what you hear
taste what you taste
smell what you smell
touch whom you touch
think what you think...'

Do one thing, and do it with all your attention. You're going to get sick of eating vegetables without a side order of ribeye- so when you put the food in your mouth and chew it, just only do that, even if for ten seconds, and everything changes. When you look at your spouse, just look without thinking about anything. See them. Be present in every moment, and every moment becomes unique, and when its gone you've lost it and will never have it again.

gassho
tobiishi

[Pasang]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Thanks for quoting those lyrics which to me sum it all up-peace Joyce

[Shugen]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Very encouraging start!

My commitments for Ango are:

*Sit Zazen 30 minutes per day
*Do at least one 2 hour sit per week
*Practice the meal chant
*Be less sarcastic (especially at work)
*Cut back the caffeine (no more coffee) and alcohol (one beer a week)
*Watch the sit-alongs and participate in the zazenkais
*Smile more often
*Limit internet browsing

Ron

[newcdn]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hello everybody! I hope everyone had a good day. It’s been an interesting couple of days. I did my first Saturday sit along and I am happy about that. Being a new meditator, I have learned that my mind doesn’t like for me to sit for 40 minutes yet Although I have added 5 more minutes to my regular sitting. My mind did everything it could to distract me. Creating itches and pains . I also found my self very anxious and irritated for a while, but I continued any way. I am glad I did. Today, I found the nurturing seeds practice very helpful. I was able to experience this practice many times. I am looking forward to more learning and exploration. Well, I guess that’s about it for now. I hope everyone has a good evening?
Gassho,
Jeff