-- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

[Rimon]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

... plus Taigu and the three Treeleaf priests. Still not enough to make a soccer team to take on the local Therevaden side. However, with two more, we could manage to turn out a baseball team

Hhhhmmm... You'll have to teach me how to play baseball first

Gassho

Rimon

[Jinyu]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

Hi everyone

As the weather is changing, at least here were it is rainy and quite cold, we can say that a new season is coming ===> our retreat is approching.
So,I need to share some more practical informations for people attending to our retreat.


Where
Our retreat will be held at the Kortenberg abbey.

Here is the address
Abdijdreef 22
3070 Kortenberg

I put all names in both languages (French and Dutch)
The best and simplest way to get there is to take the train. From the airport, you first need to take a train to "Brussel Noord-Bruxelles Nord", it takes about 20minutes and is about 4 euros or less. From the this "Brussel Noord-Bruxelles Nord" station, you need to take the train to "Leuven-Louvain" and stop at Kortenberg. There are two trains per hour untill 8pm and one train per hour until 11PM. It takes about 20 minutes and is also about 3euros or less.
There are different possibilities to get to the monastery but really this one is the easiest one.
One you are at the station, you take the central street (quite small actually) called "stationstraat" and walk about 5 minutes (the same street turns into "karterstraat"), on your left a bit after a small supermarket is the "Abdijdreef".


When

The retreat will be 27-28-29-30 December 2011. (Thank you Peter :wink: )
It will begin the 26 at 5pm and end about 3pm the last day with a moment to share and party after Soen's ordination that will be about 1PM.
Not strict schedule is done yet. Of course, there is a schedule but not hour per hour... I'll do one for the middle of next week, so everyone will know precisly the number of zazens and meals,...


Who
If someone hasn't yet said he want to participate... it is now! Because from now it will probably more and more difficult to have the type of accomodation you want.!

Anyway, here is the list I have today, of course it will change, I'll add the Changes in the list.

Taigu
Shohei
Fugen + (??? people)
Mongen
Soen
Peter (Germany)
Rimon
Shards
Ola???
Janne???
Jinyu

No one paid yet, and everyone asked for a bed except me and Peter... again, if your name doesn't appear, or if I made a mistake in the attribution of beds==> pm or mail me please to correct it as soon as possible!
Concerning the prices, well except Taigu, everyone pay in function of the accommodation he choose, as we said in our flyer that as been share earlier on our
forum, thank you Fugen and Shohei!, the prices are from 45 to 35 euros. So, guys sleeping in beds (in common bedrooms) pay 45euros.
To be honest, it will be preferable to pay by bank to my bank account (I'll share it to people coming in the coming days). People who, for any reason, need to pay with cash it is Ok, just mail me to say it please.

How-What to have- and Sleeping
For now, there are no women listed at the retreat, but it will surely change so, a small common bed room will be only for women. They are showers and toilets IN the building, at the same level with the rooms.

There are 4 showers and about the same number of toilets (one more at another level if I'm right, need to check when back home). It is not a lot but it is quite normal for small retreats. So we need to be organize and to let ladies have a special access to the showers during some periods of the day.

Beds are very simple and some have sheets. But honestly, I won't count on them if I was you. The best is to have a sleeping bag! If people really can't have one I will have some bedsheets available. Another thing, there cushions available... but without sheets!
There is a heating system in the building and also hot water... but it will be continental Europe in the Winter... so don't expect to have the same weather than Florida (unfortunately). Also, it is an old building, so heating system or not... please take warm clothes.
You also will need to take your own towel. It is not an hotel, just a small and simple place in a nice parc.
Bring your personal hygiene stuff too, tooth brush, shampoo,...
No need to say that everyone will need underwear and that kind of things :lol: but a word about clothing. As I said to someone by mail, it is not a "fancy Buddhist dress" contest. So, if you have a simple and dark kimono for practice it is ok, if you have a dark samue it is ok... but "normal" clothing if it is dark and sufficiently comfortable for you to practice with will be great!

Eating
Our Tenzo will be Rimon. I
The menus are not available yet, it is all my fault. Rimon and me will share our ideas by mail, and will try to have a final menu by the end of the week.
Anyway, it will be simple seasonal food. All vegetarian!
IF PEOPLE COMING SUFFER FROM ANY KIND OF ILNESS OR ALLERGY, PLEASE SHARE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

Zazenning
There is no zabutons and zafus available... I still hope that a Sangha will share theirs with us, but most of them use their stuff on that period because they also have retreats. Anyway, please bring whatever you find useful for you to have a nice posture (zafu, blankets,...).
The floor is a ceramic floor, so quite bad for our knees. I'm buying old carpets as much as I can, but for now, I don't have enough of them for everyone! So, i'm in a process of getting more to be sure that everyone as at least a carpet under his knees.

Now, Some asked who is going to be do what? the ino? who will assist the Tenzo? who will this and that? ===> I don't know!

For now a small list of duties and people coming is shared at a gmail address created (one hour ago) especially for the retreat. As soon as decision are being made, we will add informations to the list and then share it here!

Our retreat is also about sewing and sharing about our way to live, to actualize kannon in our life and practice. More practical informations will be add.
For now, people can bring the rakusu or kesa they are working on, maybe the thread of the right color. Don't take needles in an airplane, we will have needles, and irons (at least two) available.

Also, there is mobile coverage if you need to call your family or take an important call.

You will have more practical informations in the coming days.

Again, if someone has a question PLEASE, share it HERE, unless it is very personal, in order for everyone to have answers, your question can help someone else...
NEVER hesitate to ask for anything... I'm available, sometimes I bit long to answer but always available!

I understand that people coming are a bit concerned by the fact that I didn't gave much informations the last two months.
And I apologize sincerely for it.

I'll try, with the help of people coming who wants to participate in the organization (just say if you are interested), to give you folks a detail schedule, menu,"who is sleeping in which room" and these practical informations as soon as possible.

Again, I'm sorry it took so long!
I'm sure this post will live more and more from now!

have a very nice day everyone!
Deep gassho,

Jinyu

[Myoku]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

Gassho Jinyu,
thanks for all your efforts! So the shift to 27th..30th did not work out ?
_()_
Peter

[Jinyu]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

thanks for all your efforts! So the shift to 27th..30th did not work out ?

Yes yes it did... Sorry just a copy_paste mistake!
Of course it did! ops:

Have a nice day everyone!
gassho,
Jinyu

[Myozan Kodo]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

Jinyu,
Your work is much appreciated. Thank you very much.
Gassho
Soen

[Jinyu]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

Thank you Soen... but don't be shy... you (and others) in a way or another are making A LOT for this retreat!

gassho,
Jinyu

[Dokan]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

Bonjour, Hallo & Gutentag!

Jinyu! Do you have any recommendations on hotels in Brussels? I am coming in the day before the retreat and will stay for a couple days after so making the last minute additions.

Merci, Danke & Dankje!

G,

s

[Nindo]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

Just wondering whether you guys will be online in some way? Will the rest of us be able to sit with you (virtually)?

[Ray]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

I was also wondering if this was going to be online?

Gassho

Ray

[Shohei]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

Hi, Alas it seems there will only be recorded live as there is no network there also HURRAY it some things will be posted up (TBD for sure) as soon as possible afterwards.

Gassho
Shohei

[Myozan Kodo]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

Hi all,
anyone picked a hotel to stay in yet for the night the retreat ends?
Gassho
Soen

[Tb]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

Hi.

Me and a fellow sanghamember from the sangha i sit with here,not a Treeleafer, will fly in on the 26th and probably home on the 30th.
I would be great if we could coordinate things so that we all who need an room before and after, stay at the same place before and after, don't you think?
So when someone gets round to it, and start to order, check if there is beds for more ppl, post where you are staying and a link/mail and then we'll all sort of try and convene there..

I also know that Jinyu is checking for hotels and is supposed to get back to me around the 22/26 of october.
When anyone gets anything related to hotels/hostels, plz post it here.

Mtfbwy
Fugen

[Jinyu]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

I also know that Jinyu is checking for hotels and is supposed to get back to me around the 22/26 of October.

Thank you Fugen! :wink:

Yes, I'll be able to look around for prices and accommodations this week-end and I'll be also checking places and rooms until the 26, maybe the 27, but I can begin to share what I've got sooner.

Now, If you folks want to share when you think you will arrive in Brussels it could be easier for me... In fact it is not about being more easy but about being more precise.

I was going to post the "results" (prices,...) on everyones message box... but now that you guys talk about it, I realize that I could share it to all of you, right here!

About the retreat being online:
Unfortunately... I don't think it will be possible to make a "live video" like we use to do. In fact, there is no Internet in the abbey and we are a bit isolated in the park. I've tried with an usb wifi modem around the building but the connection is really really poor.... I'm still searching maybe we'll find another solution.
But we can at least record it and then put it online!

Have a very nice day,
gassho,
Jinyu

[Jinyu]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

Hi fellow,

Just an update on hotels in Brussels...
I'll give you guys three kind of propositions (prices and accomodations, I don't mean 3 places but three kind of places or three "levels"..; depending on budgets!) this sunday 30.
Sorry for the delay!

have a very nice day everyone!

deep gassho,
Jinyu

[Myozan Kodo]

Re: -- Announcement -- Treeleaf Sangha Winter Retreat 2011

Hi,
Has anyone decided yet where they are going to stay the night the retreat ends? Be nice to stay in the same place.
Gassho