I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

[Ekai]

Re: I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

I thinks it's great that you are taking the time and effort to show others how to sit Zazen. Yes, you will probably be nervous but so will the students since this they are new to the practice. You'll learn how to teach sitting Zazen and your friends will learn how to sit. So, all of you will be learning together!

Thanks,
Jodi

[Emmet]

Re: I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

If one person came in to your zendo and asked, you would help them to the best of your ability.
If a 52 passenger bus pulled up and the crowd asked, you would help them to the best of your ability too. The practice is precisely the same.

Be who you are, just as you are. Nothing more, and certainly nothing less. You'll do great.

[Jiki22]

Re: I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

go with the flow,
explain sitting, zazen and in big lines buddhism,
then sit together,
and they will have questions that you had in the beginning too,
answers to these questions you already know,
because of your practice and your experience.

succes

[Shokai]

Re: I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

Hi Choco;
Congratulations on your assignment, I just know you'll do fine! It's not the amount of knowledge on the subject or preparation that's the problem, It's the public speaking thing that's in the way. Have you seen the movie "Maid in Manhattan" They used a gimmick, in their case they held a bent paper clip in their hand. It keeps your body busy and clears your mind. Let go and enjoy, you have a great story to tell

p.s. we'll have to try that google video chat again sometime :lol:

[Kyonin]

Re: I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

Hi Choco;
Congratulations on your assignment, I just know you'll do fine! It's not the amount of knowledge on the subject or preparation that's the problem, It's the public speaking thing that's in the way. Have you seen the movie "Maid in Manhattan" They used a gimmick, in their case they held a bent paper clip in their hand. It keeps your body busy and clears your mind. Let go and enjoy, you have a great story to tell

p.s. we'll have to try that google video chat again sometime :lol:

Thanks, Shokai!

Yes, the clip thing is a very good idea. I will try it out.

And of course we need to video chat sometime!

[Shugen]

Re: I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

How did it go?

Ron

[Kyonin]

Re: I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

I haven't given the talk yet. That will be on Tuesday. I will let you guys know!

[Shugen]

I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

Good Luck tomorrow! (Even though you won't need it) :-)

Ron

[Kyonin]

Re: I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

Hi guys!

First of all, thanks to all for the good wishes and tips.

My minimalism talk and Zazen session were last week but I wasn't able to post because I was traveling and I didn't have Internet connection.

It all went pretty good I think. I talked about how to practice mindfulness and be less carried out by the Christmas tsunami that marketing implants on our culture. It was about how to reduce stress and how to be smart about spending money and time. And of course I talked about dana and generosity.

I think people ended up very happy with my words. In fact they asked me to go again!

The Zazen session was smooth too. I just helped out a couple of friends who didn't have experience, and then it was some 20 minutes of group zazen.

Here is the only picture I have, taken on an iPhone with very poor lightning conditions.



Again, thank you for your support.

[andyZ]

Re: I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

You look very convincing on that photo
Congratulations on your first Dharma talk!

[Dosho]

Re: I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

Thanks for letting us know Morelos...I'm sure you did awesome.

Gassho,
Dosho

[Hoyu]

Re: I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

Thanks for the update Choco. We all knew you would do a great job! Think you might comply with their request to do another one sometime?

Gassho,
John

[Jiki22]

Re: I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

Congratulations!

on the next one,
take a recorder with you

[Kyonin]

Re: I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

Thanks for the update Choco. We all knew you would do a great job! Think you might comply with their request to do another one sometime?

Of course I will! It might be in April. Who knows?

[Shugen]

Re: I will lead a local zazen session. Help!

Thanks for the update!

Ron