An Announcement regarding Treeleaf Zendo

[Martin]

Jundo

Thanks for letting us know.

Somehow I tend to find all partings / branchings off a little sad.

But for what little it's worth, I agree with the reasons you give. And I'm honoured to be sailing the ocean in the good ship Treeleaf.

Come, my friends,
'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
(Tennyson).

Gassho

Martin

[Eika]

Biiilllllll? Wherrre's your picturrrre?

You know, you resemble a chess set. Did anyone ever tell you that?

Gassho

Sure, I can post a real photo when I get home . . . I just didn't have one handy that didn't look like a police mug shot. I always feel narcissistic taking a photo of myself.

That being said, where's your avatar photo Jundo? :P

Bill

[Mensch]

Bill, I like your chess set avatar very much. Really.

The nameless cigarette machine

[helena]

I come from a country that could have invented splitting up. Everytime someone in a church disagreed with someone else about something, a new church was founded, it seems. I have mixed feelings about that (I agree with what Martin said). I am more of a unity-in-diversity mindset (sorry for my especially crappy English in this post). But of course, sometimes it is good to see what cannot stay together (even though of course you are still together at another level) and I trust that Jundo and Nishijima Roshi made the right decision in this regard.

In fact, this is one subject that I sometimes have trouble with myself. Is staying together in a particular situation holding on to things, being too attached to things/ideas/people? Or is leaving the easy way out - not accepting the situation as it is, thinking it will all be better when circumstances change.

I can understand the reasons Jundo mentioned, and I personally like his emphasis on the Precepts and his personal accountability.

Helena.

[paige]

I'm a little confused.

What is Dogen Sangha International, really? And how much real authority does its president have over the member groups?

[Dainin]

Since I first met Jundo a few years ago, I have considered him my teacher and friend. I will always be his loving student and friend. I am grateful for him, for Treeleaf Zendo, and for all its members and guests.

I think it is very cool to be part of a brand new Zen Buddhist lineage, especially one that strives for a balance between the Precepts and Just Sitting. I agree that this is the correct course of action. So, let's sail our boat (or drive our bus) together as Jundo steers (I’m sure he won’t mind if we ask him to take a few turns here and there along the way).

Congratulations to us all!

Gassho,
Keith

[Ryumon]

I agree with what Keith says about being part of something new. Because as old as Dogen is, and as "conservative" as Jundo can be at times - in a good way - he is bringing new ideas into it.

Kirk

[Gregor]

I'm very happy about this development, It's a wonderful solution to the issues at hand. I whole heartily agree with the reasons given by Jundo, and applaud Nishijima Roshi's wisdom in suggesting this course of action.

This is a great thing, and I'm very happy to be a part of this Sangha and new lineage.


P.S. I'll repost my ugly mug soon as I get home tonight.

take care,

Greg

[will]

Bill

Sure, I can post a real photo when I get home . . . I just didn't have one handy that didn't look like a police mug shot. I always feel narcissistic taking a photo of myself.

Haha. You have to do it quick. Try to surprise yourself. "Oh what's that? click."

Gassho

[Justin]

I'll be honest here and admit that I had a moment of hesitation when I read this news on Nishijima Roshi's blog.

"But Brad's books brought me back to the Dharma! To a degree I can understand his logic."

Then, like thunder in the mind:

"This is easy. Jundo is my teacher. Brad is not."

Gassho.

[Jundo]

Hi Guys,

I am glad that everyone feels comfortable with the change. It really is not much of a change. Nishijima Roshi is still my "dad".

The change in Treeleaf is really just a matter of words, not substance. Instead of saying that it goes from Nishijima to me under the umbrella of Dogen Sangha International, it just makes it clear that Treeleaf runs from Nishijima to me. What does that mean? Not much, if anything. A little like the government shifting the flow chart in a ministerial bureaucracy. I just wanted to be less bound for the future by decisions made at DSI, for the reasons I described.

Is everybody bored now?

I mean, Nishijima himself is quite different in flavor from our "Grandad", Renpo Niwa Roshi, who was the Abbot of Eiheiji and (from what I know) pretty 'old school'.

http://www.treeleaf.org/niwa.html

Nishijima is Niwa's pretty 'new school' offspring.

Bored now?

Harry, yes, "democracy' was a terrible choice of words. In the law [my previous incarnation], we call it "oversight, compliance and rational internal governance" (in other words, that there are the 'checks and balances' on abuse I described). Are you REALLY bored now?? "Democracy" just had a nicer 'ring' to it.

I hope most of you have been around Treeleaf long enough to see, pretty much, what I mean by "democracy". It is how things have been run around here so far. In the future, I expect there will be times that things will be put to the test (some crisis here and there is bound to happen).

I appreciate all the pledges of 'undying loyalty' to me. :-) I really do. Now, please stop that. Trust needs to be earned day by day, moment by moment. And (as I tried to say in my message to Keishin on another thread), I am really much more at home with the "driver of the bozo bus" image. Please only stay on the bus if the driver seems to know where he is going, and doesn't miss too many stops.

You know, in Japan (not kidding) the traditional idea was that if a "master" told his monk-appentise to commit Hari-Kiri or the like, the monk would jump to it (that old samurai thing). I promise not to do so

Gassho, Jundo

PS - I am not putting my avatar up because you already see too much of my ugly mug around here.

[Jun]

A good thing to be sure, not entirely unexpected. I saw this coming a while back.

[Lynn]

Well hokey smoke, boys and girls!! :P

One day on here and I'm already reading this! I really have no pithy commentary on the thing except to say that, from my experience, a wise decision is made when a disciple (student) A) takes refuge with his teacher prior to making a decision (refuge in the Buddha and Dharma are incomplete without refuge in the sangha), and B) holds the precepts in his blood and bones as being guiding teachings on the conduct of his actions. From what you have expressed, Jundo, you have done both admirably and transparently and, therefore, you and Nishijima Roshi have together launched this boat. (I am thinking of a beautiful painting that I believe Dogen did of Kanzeon floating on a leaf boat on the river of the waters of compassion. I shall try to dig that up and send it to you.)

All that...*and your wife rocks! :lol:

For what it's worth...I seem to have stepped on board and will journey with you if that seems good...

In Gassho..

Lynn

[Jundo]

All that...*and your wife rocks! :lol:

For what it's worth...I seem to have stepped on board and will journey with you if that seems good...

In Gassho..

Lynn

Dear Lynn,

Thank you for the kind words, and I agree that my wife rocks! Here she is ...

http://treeleafzen.blogspot.com/2007/06 ... xliii.html

Still in my pirate state of mind ... "Welcome aboard, matey!"

Gassho and Arrrrrrrgh, Jundo

[Shohei]

i missed this post :B for what it is worth im here to stay and honored to be along for the voyage or bus ride

Gassho
_/_
dirk