The Sitting Hall

[Guest]

Re: The Sitting Hall

Hi Don
I know what you mean.
I have really missed not being able (or is it willing?) to sit the live zazenkai since the time change (from 2pm to 12am!). I know that it is better for Jundo and his local members time wise, however, I wonder if it is possible to sit with the recorded zazenkai in the zendo (using split screen as in the Jukai ceremony) in local time-zone sitting groups? I know it sounds like a bit of organisation, but it may generate that sense 'unity of practice' that live sitting seems to have (to me anyway). Just a thought.

[Guest]

Re: The Sitting Hall

Hi Don
I know what you mean.
I have really missed not being able (or is it willing?) to sit the live zazenkai since the time change (from 2pm to 12am!). I know that it is better for Jundo and his local members time wise, however, I wonder if it is possible to sit with the recorded zazenkai in the zendo (using split screen as in the Jukai ceremony) in local time-zone sitting groups? I know it sounds like a bit of organisation, but it may generate that sense 'unity of practice' that live sitting seems to have (to me anyway). Just a thought.

That's a very good thought, Nigel.
Anyone interested in sitting Zazenkai in time zones?

Gassho,
Don (Engyo)

[Guest]

Re: The Sitting Hall

Anyone interested in sitting Zazenkai in time zones?

Gassho,
Don (Engyo)

Actually, that's not a bad idea. I finally got my new computer and I'm thinking about trying to catch some live activities here if I can (once I learn how all that works, among all the other new-fangled things I have access to now. :roll

I have even thought at times of making sitting the Zazenkai ... either the recorded-live or live-recorded sitting ... a requirement for participating in this Sangha, which, after all, is about such sitting. Shall we?

Gassho, Jundo

A requirement? I dunno. I thought most of us were doing the weekly Zazenkai anyway . . . hm . . . if we aren't, why aren't we? I'm just really curious about that. Actually having to say, "This is obligatory" doesn't seem right. It shouldn't have to be said . . . right :?: This is really worth discussing though.

[Guest]

Re: The Sitting Hall

I must admit that my current failure to attend weekly Zazenkai is simply from not setting aside the time. The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it sounds, and just plain lazy. I do enjoy the flexibility of the recorded sessions because my days off from work vary, and I would very much like to sit for a more lengthy time then. Now, the live Zendo; should we book times in the sitting schedual? I tend to go there once I put my daughter to bed for the night (any time between 9 and 9:30pm EST), and usually only on nights when my fiance is at work, because she uses the computer for online college courses. Do you think that trying to fit the sitting around my circumstances is more of a hindrance, or should I make more of a "stand' for a schedualed daily sitting time?

Gassho friends

Jonathan

[Guest]

Re: The Sitting Hall

Good thoughts Don, I like that idea of your's Nige, although it would be dependant for me on findind out why I cannot get past 40mins without the vid flicking back to start line. (if you look closely at the Jukai film you can see me sitting like a lemon with my Rakusu on my head waiting for Malcolm to get Jundo re-started ops: ). All good practice and I know the form of Zazenkai well enough to finish on my own, but its not the same. Like you say Don it does make a difference to be with others, even virtually.

Gassho

Joe

[Shugen]

Re: The Sitting Hall

A requirement? I dunno. I thought most of us were doing the weekly Zazenkai anyway . . . hm . . . if we aren't, why aren't we? I'm just really curious about that. Actually having to say, "This is obligatory" doesn't seem right. It shouldn't have to be said . . . right :?: This is really worth discussing though.

"It's hard for me to carve an hour and a half out of my day to do the weekly zazenkai" was going to be my response. The truth is, with the recorded version being available, I don't know why I don't usually do the zazenkai. I have no problem sitting 5 or 6 days a week for 20 or 30 minutes so I shouldn't have any problem one of those nights adding another hour. Hmmm....(Live starts to early on Friday night. My sons are still awake and Friday is "Movie and Beer Night" ) I'm getting complacent. "I sit almost every day, I don't
need to do the Zazenkai!" Wrong View! Thanks Jennifer

Now, the live Zendo; should we book times in the sitting schedual? I tend to go there once I put my daughter to bed for the night (any time between 9 and 9:30pm EST), and usually only on nights when my fiance is at work, because she uses the computer for online college courses. Do you think that trying to fit the sitting around my circumstances is more of a hindrance, or should I make more of a "stand' for a schedualed daily sitting time?

I try and sit the same time everyday. If my wife needs the computer, I sit upstairs. I like to use the scheduler in case anyone is in the mood to join me and it helps prevent me from blowing off sitting. Over time, my wife has gotten used to my schedule. The trick for me (I have 5 year old and 7 year old sons) is being a little flexible. Right now, they control my time. If I can't make it, or I need to be late - so be it.

I'm going to do "last night"s" zazenkai tonight from 9pm EST til 10:30EST If anyone would like to join me.

Ron

[Guest]

Re: The Sitting Hall

Good thoughts Don, I like that idea of your's Nige, although it would be dependant for me on findind out why I cannot get past 40mins without the vid flicking back to start line. (if you look closely at the Jukai film you can see me sitting like a lemon with my Rakusu on my head waiting for Malcolm to get Jundo re-started ops: ). All good practice and I know the form of Zazenkai well enough to finish on my own, but its not the same. Like you say Don it does make a difference to be with others, even virtually.

Gassho

Joe

Hi Joe,
I know about the "flicking back" thing happening on koowy/mebeam. Is it happened on ustream as well?
Gassho,
Don (Engyo)

[Guest]

Re: The Sitting Hall

Hey y'all,
I would be interested in a time zone sitting group. Maybe we could combine EST/AST/CST; that would cover a three hour spread, but would allow for more sitters. Before daylight savings kicked it, the zazenkais were at 8pm for me. This was just after my boys go down for bed. Now it falls at 7pm, which is right at bedtime.

To echo Ron's comments, I think I can find some time in my week for the zazenkai. With two kids (one & three), it doesn't really seem that way right now, but I need to look deeper into my schedule & see what I can come up with. The challenge for me is to find a time that doesn't take away from my time with them.

As far as making it manadatory... I don't really know what to think. Don & Nigel have a good idea to increase attendence; I'd like to follow that & see where it leads. Obviously this is just my opinion, which is worth what you paid for it.

gassho,
Shujin

[Guest]

Re: The Sitting Hall

Hi all,

As one of the four regulars at the live sitting each week, I agree with Don that it is a great experience to be able to sit with Jundo on screen and the others with whom you can have a quick chat (if even just to say hello) before we begin. That said, I'd point out that Don and I have the luxury of doing so which, on my part with two young kids (5 and 18 months), is truly a luxury! I'm sure some would sit if they could and that some put it off and could make the time if they made an effort. As we recently disucssed at the tea party, there are several reasons people are here at Treeleaf and I'm sure the same is true for sitting live. So, I've always been hesitant to say that folks should be required to sit (recorded or live) each week since there are as many reasons for why folks do or do not sit as there are members!

So, as I often do I will only use myself as a an example and say that, had the weekly sitting been made a requirement, I'm not sure I would be here now. Ironically, since it was not a requirement I have made sitting live an every week event. But I'm not sure I need the typical motivation that most people do which for me is to be self motivating. I guess I would say that it should be a requirement to either sit live, sit with the recorded version, or have a serious conversation with yourself or Jundo/Taigu about why you can't commit to that. Still, I'm sure there would be at least a few who are committed to practice but just can't...for those folks, I'd really hate to see them not stick around the forum for doing their very best. But for those who just need a kick in the pants, perhaps chatting with another member about it would give them some needed perspective.

That's my $0.02.

Gassho,
Dosho

[Guest]

Re: The Sitting Hall

Hi Joe,
I know about the "flicking back" thing happening on koowy/mebeam. Is it happened on ustream as well?
Gassho,
Don (Engyo)
Engyo

Hi Don (Engyo),
Yes it is happening on Ustream to me every week now. I checked it out later on my main comp. and found it working to the end. I might experiment with downloaqding it first and playing my recording, but I tried that once before and just got the advert ops: . Not a lot of use. Funnily enough it seems to have got worse since our broadband was upgraded to fibre optic recently I will keep trying though.

Gassho

Joe

[Guest]

Re: The Sitting Hall

Hi all
Just to confer that Ustream seems to time out for me too. The last two zazenkai's I nearly sat for an hour before checking the screen, only to find it at the start again! Anyway I usually sit zazenkai on Saturday morning (London GMT) at some time between 8.00 and 11am if that sets some kind of time frame. Maybe we could ask Fugen, Shohei and Hans to share in this?
By the way, thank you all for your sharing and insights in this years Jukai...the whole experience has meant a lot to me and you are all part of that.
Much metta (to quote Perry)

Gassho

[Guest]

Re: The Sitting Hall

Heading over to the Zen Hall now 'til half past the hour.
Gassho,
Engyo

PS (After the fact)
Good to see you, Shujin and Shugen!

[Shugen]

Re: The Sitting Hall

Good to see you as well .

Ron

[Guest]

Re: The Sitting Hall

Happy to sit with you again, Engyo. Also, hi Ron. :P

gassho,
Shujin

[Guest]

Re: The Sitting Hall

Loving it.

Attached files