Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

[Bansho]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hi,

I participated in this "Walk for Life" charity race to support AIDS patients on Sunday as part of my dana practice for Ango. 'Nuff said.

Gassho
Bansho

[CinnamonGal]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Bringing awareness to my consumption habits also brought up realisation that with every little thing in my hands - wether created by nature or by men - the whole planet passes through my hands and my body. I clearly saw that I often take for granted all the wonderful things that surroud me and in which both the planet and sentient beings have invested a lot of energy. Sometimes even lives. This really was a wake up call. I have been recycling of course and do not eat meat or fish but this has really broguht my attention to all the other levels of consumption I was not even thinking of as consumption.

To contribute to the commubity so far I:

- volunteered as a host for an international filmmaker for the week of the upcming Uppsala International Short film Festival;'
- joined the group of enthusiastic and creative people who would like to organise a few cultural events in my town next year;

On the less bright side (it might seem):

- broke up with my boy friend in England on the second day of Ando period (that's the spirit and that was not even on my list of commitments :roll: )
- in the end of last week I got a really "bad" talk with my boss at my dayjob and it came down to her saying she is on her way of getting rid of me => I might lose my job any day now;

In other words, things are moving pretty fast here for a quiet autumn. 8)

Have a steady week of practice everyone!

Gassho,

Irina

[Rich]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Was away for the weekend and stayed in a hotel. The bathroom served as quite a nice zendo. It even had a coffee maker.
So many times what I think will happen, never happens. I am taking concrete action to deal with some issues that will improve my life.

[monkton]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hi folks,

Well, my small efforts are going OK so far. Sitting everyday, metta practice everyday, meal chant about 95% of the time. (I think my problem with this is that I'm always cooking for myself so I'm tasting as I go, so with a mouthful of flavours, eating seems to be a continuation of the cooking and I will have to make a break between cooking/chanting/eating). I'm Reading every other day. Have 'finished' (I think I'll be dipping back into it on a regular basis though) 'Opening the Hand of Thought' , so I'll look at some of the other sections around 'Instructions for the Cook'.

I've had a couple of metta practice queries which I'd be interested in getting advice on: 1. sometimes I run out of people that I'm having trouble with, so I've been substituting people that I don't actualy know but who I hear about on the news. 2. sometimes people that I love dearly are also folks that really drive me mad, so I've occasionally used the same person twice in one practice - just thinking about the aspects of them that I love first time round, and the aspects of them that I have trouble with second time round.

I enjoy the opportunity of just selecting some random punter that I say 'hi' to in the street or who serves me in shop to be my 'neutral' person for metta practice.

Gassho,
Michael

[will]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

(I think my problem with this is that I'm always cooking for myself so I'm tasting as I go, so with a mouthful of flavours, eating seems to be a continuation of the cooking and I will have to make a break between cooking/chanting/eating

Or you could try it by smell.

Gassho

[Shonin]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Michael, I'm no authority mind you but i'll answer as best I can.

I know Jundo substituted someone from the news the other day. My understanding is to find someone who is difficult to be compassionate towards. When I remember to do it I've found i have to use the same person several times( just not in the same recitation of the verse). I don't have that kind of animosity towards many. So I understand the struggle. Or like you said with someone you normally get along with that pissed you off.

I wonder myself if groups count.

As for the meal chant, maybe do it before you begin cooking and when you start your actual meal? *shrug* Be in the moment when you cook and be grateful for having the food and for being able to cook for yourself and/or for others. Appreciate the hard work it took someone else to get it to the store for you to acquire. Appreciate the ingredients. Love it all. At that point, i think the chant just becomes a chant. It's purpose fulfilled. But that's just me.

Dave _/_

[Jundo]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hmmm. I see no reason not to think of the same persons many times in Metta ... although we should also try to spread the love around too.

I think that there are some folks who can use multiple doses of love and compassion.

[Jikyo]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hi all,

Some highlights of my Ango experience thus far:

I’ve kept all of my commitments without too much struggle. Surprisingly haven’t missed chocolate and peanut butter

The second sit I’ve been doing right before bed, but until I’m more disciplined about getting to bed earlier, I may move it to after dinner. I get very sleepy, and I just sit with that.

I’ve enjoyed sitting the Zazenkai’s live (when available) and aspire to continue even after the time changes; then the 4 hour one might be a bit challenging as it will require me to get up at 0430. I’ve participated in the recorded ones before, but there is something about doing it live that felt special, but it’s all special and not special, too.

I’m new to a regular metta practice and have been doing it first thing when I wake up and right when I get into bed in the evening. In addition to consciously generating feelings of loving-kindness, I notice the practice start to dissolve any sense of “other,” especially when it’s my “difficult” person. Nice!

I’m not contributing to the forums much, but that will change when we start sewing our rakusus and reading “Mind of Clover.”

Have been enjoying the Tenzo kyokun sit-a-longs and have re-watched the documentary, “How to Cook Your Life,” about Ed Brown, cook and Zen priest ordained by Suzuki Roshi. The people who cook for one of the Zen centers in the movie chant the entire Tenzo kyokun before they start cooking! They also show dana/samu in action when the cooks from San Francisco Zen Center prepare and deliver meals to some of the City’s underserved folks. Nice Dogen teachings throughout. For those interested, it’s available on Netflix http://www.netflix.com/Movie/How_to_...6596a423_0_srl.

I have had no problem remembering the meal chant because I have been using Thich Nhat Hanh’s Five Contemplations before meals for years http://www.plumvillage.org/practice.html?start=6. Now I use Jundo’s meal chant for meals eaten within range of the card I wrote the chant on.

I’ve purchased fabric for the rakusu and have watched half of Taigu’s videos, so I’m getting ready to dive in with my needle and thread.

Thanks for sharing your experiences so freely.

Gassho, Jean

[Jundo]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Let me encourage those who are having trouble to remember to recite the Meal Gattha before eating ... please keep trying, make it a habit. Even if you recite it silently within, and even if the particular wording we use does not "ring your bell". Try to keep with that wording (or maybe the words recommended by another Buddhist teacher), and not write your own too much.

And if you truly cannot in a given situation, or forget the words ... a moment of silence can be fine too as a temporary measure.

Gassho, Jundo

PS - If we were in a monastery, or even a neighborhood retreat center in the West, you would be expected to chant when everyone chants. In Asian countries, more than the West, everyone does what the group does. Maybe the teacher will even throw the soup over someone's head who doesn't chant what they are supposed to chant.

But here at Treeleaf, we work on the "honor system". It is a good practice, bringing awareness into each meal ... therefore, I strongly encourage that.

[Jundo]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Let me encourage those who are having trouble to remember to recite the Meal Gattha before eating ... please keep trying, make it a habit.

By the way, one portion of the Meal Gatha ...

We offer this meal of many virtues and tastes ...

is the subject of the sit-a-long talk yesterday:

Overturing the Rice Bucket
( Dogen's Instructions for the Cook - IV )


In this passage, the "six flavors" are bitter, sour, sweet, salty, mild and hot.

The "three virtues" are to be light & gentle, pure & healthy, and prepared correctly.

http://blog.beliefnet.com/treeleafzen/2 ... ucket.html

[KellyRok]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hello Jundo and all,

Jundo, thank you for the reminder on reciting the meal chant...I really needed it. I seem to forget too often, but have now written the meal chant on an index card and placed it on the table. I will try to do better with this.

I have been sitting everyday and have managed to maintain my "no peanut butter" rule - it's especially hard to resist while packing my sons' lunches for school. However, my boys know that I have given up peanut butter and watch me like a hawk to make sure I don't cheat. :lol: But I've maintained.

I am reading the Shobogenzo, although I don't always post. I also follow the daily sittings on Beliefnet before I sit each day. I'm not very active on the forum, but I do check in daily. This goes along with trying to stay off my computer and be more engaged in the world around me. I've completed a few of the weekend zazenkai - the recorded versions though...and usually a few days later. I would like to commit to them all, but my children are in sports activities on the weekends and I'm job hunting...excuses, I know but this is the best I can do at this time.

I'm trying to open my heart more to strangers and acquaintenances (who I have a difficult time with)- and I practice Metta daily. I'm looking forward to beginning the precepts study period again with all of you.

Keep sitting, keep smiling, keep practicing...
Gassho,
Kelly (Jinmei)

[Shugen]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Okay, I'll work on the Meal Gatha as it is. I need to do a little work on Metta practice as well - I do it most days, but doing it for other people still feels a little odd.

I sit every day - a couple of days, less than the 30 minutes but still every day.

I know when I did Tricycle's "Big Sit" in the spring (90 days of daily sitting), I had a little trouble about 1/2 way through. Jundo gave me a pep talk and I've only missed one day of sitting since then. (Thanks again Jundo) I don't think it will be an issue this time.

I'm having some trouble finding the time to do everything I'd like to do, but that is part of life.

I'll just keep sitting for another 9 years or so and see what happens.

Ron

[Shonin]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Actually as much as not remembering the metta chants and the meal chants has come up since Ango started, I find it is all helping me to remember. Seems like my idea to keep the chant in my wallet is a win. Sometimes I take a few bites, laugh at myself and then recite the chant. So, still a work in progress, but slowly it is becoming more and more familiar.

Dave _/_

[Jundo]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Have been enjoying the Tenzo kyokun sit-a-longs and have re-watched the documentary, “How to Cook Your Life,” about Ed Brown, cook and Zen priest ordained by Suzuki Roshi. The people who cook for one of the Zen centers in the movie chant the entire Tenzo kyokun before they start cooking! They also show dana/samu in action when the cooks from San Francisco Zen Center prepare and deliver meals to some of the City’s underserved folks. Nice Dogen teachings throughout. For those interested, it’s available on Netflix http://www.netflix.com/Movie/How_to_...6596a423_0_srl.

Jean,

Thank you for mentioning this film. I just watched it again on your reminder. I sure wish that folks could get a copy as part of our talks on the "Instructions for the Cook", but all I can find online is a preview ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJwTG2cEMBQ[/video]]

Wonderful profile of a real Zen character, wise teacher, living Tenzo, and great cook.

Gassho, J

[Shonin]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

If it's that cool, I can make time to watch it at somepoint for Ango. Netflix not only carries it, but they have it available for instant watch, So noone has to bump "Wolverine" down a spot. *chuckles as he is probably one of the few interested in that movie*

Dave _/_