For my students

[Mp]

Re: For my students

Thank you Taigu and Jundo for your insightful and supportive guidance.

Gassho,
Michael

[Amelia]

Re: For my students

This is a wonderful post, Taigu. Very good and humbling instructions. I copied them and added them to my Treeleaf book. I still don't really know how to go about a retreat, but I will certainly remember that my teachers (Taigu, I know that I am not a formal student of yours, but I can't help learning from you anyway.)find it to be a vital aspect of practice. Now that my summer schedule is clear, I have planned to sit with a local White Plum group once a week. I am nervous about it, but I think it will be fine.

Sit in all moments
Give all to the okesa
Give the okesa
Walk the sutras
Return over and over
Always with Kannon
"I don't know"
Beyond wanting to be
Learning the teachers' ways
Not following the teachers
This Net of Indra is all Buddha's Body
Connect with those that share it
Keep your mouth shut

[RichardH]

Re: For my students

I intend to participate in the next Jukai ceremony, and by doing so formally accept this line of Buddha Dharma as my practice stream (gotta have a stream). I'm not sure taking Jukai means formally becoming a student... perhaps you are speaking of students who ordain? In any case I am formally choosing to enter and support this Sangha. Where it goes I don't know.. but Soto Zen .. coming to a real meeting with Dogen.. and the way of doing /non-doing, as presented by Taigu and Jundo. It is right in the bones.

...as far as what is expected of students.. This one stands out... not play the teacher There can be a fine line between sharing a view and opinion, and talking about practice... and presuming to teach. It is something to be mindful of.. along with a frank acknowledgement of the maturing there is to do.

Thank you

Gassho, kojip

[Jiken]

Re: For my students

Thank you

Daido

[Taigu]

Re: For my students

Yugen,

The 0kesa is not a priest thing. This idea and practice in America come from people trying to copy the Japanese ways. Seeing and wearing the kesa is for everyone, Sawaki Kodo s students were also lay women and men who led sewing groups and transmitted his teachings about the robe.

In Treeleaf we follow this direction and don t see the Okesa as a kind of uniform but as the true robe of just sitting.

Gassho and thank you for your dedication and...sewing


Taigu

[Jinyo]

Re: For my students

Thank you Taigu and Jundo for your clear response and encouragement.

Also, Yugen, Ekai - and Amelia for the poem - and everyone who cares for this sangha
and takes the time to share.

Gassho

Willow

[Mp]

Re: For my students

Thank you Taigu for clear understanding about Okesa and its meaning.

Gassho,
Michael

[Dosho]

Re: For my students

Hi all,

I think the definition of teacher/student has evolved here at Treeleaf over time and I know I was confused about it for some time because I felt like the definition was always changing. I took right to Jundo's teachings, before I knew there was such a thing as jukai or shukke tokudo. So, I thought of him as my teacher right away and I think many of us did back then. After the first jukai, it became more clear, at least to me, that one would take jukai, in large part to recognize being a buddhist, but also to choose a path to follow in Soto zen with the particular flavor of Jundo's teachings. Soon after the first jukai Taigu joined as a full teacher and that left some confused as to who was our teacher (as opposed to teachers), but I think this is when people began to reach out to Jundo & Taigu to experience the different flavors of their teachings. Jundo speaks to some more than Taigu and vice versa. I found myself gravitating towards Jundo and that is how I headed down the path.

But I still refer to Taigu as my teacher (and Taigu please tell me if you would rather I didn't!) and think of all of you as my teachers. As I said in my comments after the shukke tokudo ceremony, "I want to thank my teachers Jundo and Taigu as well as everyone I meet every day." So, what constitutes a teacher is a matter of perspective I think and that's merely mine. But ultimately if I were to be asked I would say that I am a student of Jundo Cohen. Which do you think of? One? Both? Neither? We all walk the path here, but there are different trails up the mountain and we never truly know where we are going to wind up.

If you have questions, ask them...I could have spent many fewer night feeling unsure about my "status" if I'd just talked to Jundo. But it's all part of the process...having "faith" is a loaded word, so I will use trust instead. Walk the path and your path will find you.

Gassho,
Dosho

[Taigu]

Re: For my students

Wisely spoken Dosho...Jundo, Brad , Chodo , I... different reflections, one bright pearl.

[RichardH]

Re: For my students

If you have questions, ask them...I could have spent many fewer night feeling unsure about my "status" if I'd just talked to Jundo. But it's all part of the process...having "faith" is a loaded word, so I will use trust instead. Walk the path and your path will find you.

No reassurance could ever settle my need for secure status, in anything.. If I start to think that way.. insecurity and the need for reassurance is endless... it just keeps going. Better not to give it much thought. You guys are here.. I'm here..
I'll just keep showing up... and practicing...


Gassho, kojip.

[Jundo]

Re: For my students

I consider myself a student of Taigu ...

... (and of Dosho, WIllow, Kojip, etc. etc. too) ...

[Taigu]

Re: For my students

Of course, it is what Dokan and I shared as we met last time, what I taught in the vid the real teacher : everyone and all are reflections of the bright pearl, sides of the jewel.
At the same time some have an official responsbility that others don t.
It is quite simple really. Our path implies the dance between teacher and student when the guys do take turns.

Gassho


Taigu

[gilles]

Re: For my students

thX taigu

gassho
gilles

[Daijo]

Re: For my students

Thank you Taigu, and Jundo, and everyone/thing else in this beautiful oneness.

[KellyRok]

Re: For my students

_/_

Formally or informally, I'm glad to be here learning from all of you.

Gassho,
Kelly/Jinmei