Rakusu Procedure?

[Jikyo]

Hi everyone,

Since Jukai, every time I sit I realize that I don't have a good handle on the use of my Rakusu, especially during Zazenkai. Would someone (Dosho, Shohei, Kelly-Jinmei, Jundo, Taigu) be so kind as to give a quick rundown of the sequence of events? For regular zazen practice, I enter my sitting room, bow to the altar, bow to my seat, turn and bow to the room, sit, face wall, remove Rakusu from its envelope and place on head, recite robe chant (Verse of the Kesa from Jukai ceremony) - is this to be done three times?, put on Rakusu, sit. After sitting, bow in place then... remove Rakusu while still seated? Or after standing and bowing again? This is when I realize I may need a bit more instruction. As for Zazenkai, I don't have a clue when to do what, Rakusu-wise. :roll:

Thank you in advance for leading me by the hand, dear ones.

Gassho, Jikyo

[Taigu]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

Jikyo,

To the look of things, you are a great teacher, you could certainly teach me the rakusu procedure
So, yes you may proceed exactly as you describe, in fact you may put the rakusu on before bowing to the altar. Everytime you put your rakusu on, you can touch your forehead three times with it, for the three treasures, the Buddha's bodies, then open it, touch the pine needle with your lips, forehead and put it on. You can wear the rakusu everywhere, not just for sitting, but when you work, study...One avoids wearing the rakusu in toilets for obvious reasons ( not that it is a place which is not pure, but it could be soiled easily). You don't need to take it off while seated or immediately after sitting, nothing wrong having a cup of tea with your rakusu on your lap.

For zazenkai, we generally don't wear the rakusu or kesa for the first zazen but at the end, as we are still sitting, we put it on our head and sing the sutra of the kesa three times with and hands in gassho.

The rakusu should be always kept on a high spot, you may put it on your altar if you wish.

I hope this helps.


Gassho


Taigu

[Jikyo]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

Dear Taigu - thank you! This helps a great deal. Funny how in the doing of a thing, one can realize just how little one knows about it.

Gassho, Jikyo

[Dosho]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

Hi Jikyo,

And thank you for asking this question as I would have only recalled about half of what you already knew and remember only about quarter when actually sitting! If anything those who have been practicing awhile forget to ask the basic questions which puts us right back at the beginning...where we all should dwell.

Thank you for this teaching; many bows to you and Taigu.

Gassho,
Dosho

[KellyRok]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

Hi Jikyo and all,

I too thank you for asking this question Jean as it is a great place to start and to return to. I have a similar pattern to yours, and I follow Taigu's suggestion of touching it to my forehead three times before putting it on. Then I sit with you and all!

You have a lovely practice and I thank you for this question - as I needed a reminder.

Gassho,
Kelly-Jinmei

[Jikyo]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

Hi again, everyone. Your kind and generous responses are much appreciated.

Of course, I have another question. Do we wear our Rakusu while prostrating? I ask because it would undoubtedly touch the ground each time. I wouldn't mind, as I do such activities on a clean(ish) carpet, but wondered about protocol.

I hope my newbie stumblings continue to be of help.

Gassho, Jikyo

[Shohei]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

Hiyas, First good thread! - Thanks for posting the questions and for all the answers!

I wondered the same and I think the suggestion was to hold the rakusu to you with your arms when bowing or prostrating.
When bowing/prostrating/bending over our hands are usually in shashu or gassho so you could just kind tuck your elbows in to your sides pinning the rakusu for a Gassho or for a full prostration same thing but let your middle grab the material. This may or may not work for you but you could experiment...nothing wrong with a lot of bowing .

Gassho
Shohei

[Taigu]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

Jikyo, Shohei,

during bowing, bowing happens. Nothing else. Kesa, rakusu, washing machine, kettle, cat, door, sky, car, moon...it bows.
No need to think, is it on the floor or not?
When you fully bow, there is no floor.
High and low vanish.
Tears, laughter, sometimes.
Bowing bows.

Love


gassho


Taigu

[Shohei]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

Gassho!

Shohei

[Jundo]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

Jikyo, Shohei,

during bowing, bowing happens. Nothing else. Kesa, rakusu, washing machine, kettle, cat, door, sky, car, moon...it bows.
No need to think, is it on the floor or not?
When you fully bow, there is no floor.
High and low vanish.
Tears, laughter, sometimes.
Bowing bows.

Love


gassho


Taigu

Yes, well, I am going to drop into this "dinner party" with my own story ... 8)

Here's actually a little trick: While heading down to the floor, hold the Rakusu to your chest with the back of your arms while in Gassho. See where the fellow on the left has his arms and elbows are against his chest in this photo. You can hold the Rakusu in place that way as you goes down ...



Then, when you get down, the Rakusu should be sitting on your knees (which are now folded under your chest). In other words, the Rakusu is in the fold between thighs and chest. See how his knees and lap are folded up into his chest while down (thus holding the Rakusu).



And that's my handy dandy Rakusu trick of the day.

Gassho, Jundo

[Taigu]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

Thank you big brother 8)

I carry on with my humble stupid no floor
when I bow, I could not care less about where the rakusu is...Just want to be able to come back up :wink: .
Or let let my heart open and flow .

So allow me not to use your trick.

and thank you for your trick, very useful.


Thanks brother.


gassho

taigu

[Jikyo]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

Thank you! Thank you, Taigu, Jundo, Shohei! Great tips and perspectives and advice.

Taigu, I, too, am grateful when I get back up - and am pleased if I manage to be graceful about it. My experience is that prostrating many times in a row is great for the quadriceps.

Once again, thank you all for your responses; for me, they shine like jewels.

Gassho, Jikyo

[shogyo]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

Thank you Jikyo for reminding me of the importance of relating to the rakusu in this way.

Gassho
Shogyo

[Seishin the Elder]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

Thank you Taigu. It is always good to know the traditional way of doing such things. It adds to the nature of things like the Rakusu and helps to set it apart from things in our day-to-day life. Of course we have always been taught a certain reverence toward our vestments and the habits we wear, and it is good to express the same toward the Rakusu.

Gassho,

Kyrill-Seishin

[Dojin]

Re: Rakusu Procedure?

is it really important to do the kesa verse with the rakusu on your head? because i for one dont do it...

although i liked the idea of touch the forehead with the rakusu 3 times... might adopt it and start doing that instead with the verse...
i guess that having the rakusu on top of my own head isnt my cup of tea. although i dont really mind it if it is important.

Gassho, Dojin.