Being of value to Sangha

[RichardH]

Until recently I was attending regular sittings at a beautiful little Zendo. It was in a space rented by the Dharma Drum organization, and shared with the Son group I was sitting with. The landlord sold the building this past winter... and the group moved across the city where I simply could no longer get-to for regular Tuesday evening practice. The teachings of this group were the kind I have heard many times over the years, and to be honest... weren't the important thing. The important thing for me was the group practice.... chanting, bowing, sitting.....together. This was where the rubber hit the road, and it is also where I happened to be useful. Every time this mouth opens, a bull charges out and knocks over a china display. But when I just sit, I sit with, as, for, and by, everyone sitting with me. It is not only an amazing support of my own practice, it supports the practice of others. By being a rock of consistency, always being there, and always just doing it, with no melodrama, I contributed something solid and true....and I knew it. ...and it was a joy to be that rock. So.. here at treeleaf, with this forum board, and my own history of blabbing on boards, it is more important than ever, to contribute in the best way I can, and that is to be there/here ,always, for group practice and sit well... no muss, no fuss.

I think we all contribute in different ways, everyone has a strength, and finding what it is makes a difference. Everyone is different.

Just sharing with Sangha.

Gassho/kojip

[Jundo]

Thank you, K. You are now one of the pillars holding up the roof of this place via your words, non-words, non-actions and actions around here. We support each other.

Gassho, J

[Khalil Bodhi]

Thank you for that Kojip!

Gassho,
__/\__
Mike

[Emmet]

I wish I could find the quote again, but a teacher once observed how if you take tongs and set a glowing coal out by itself, it'll soon go out, but if you arrange the coals together, rather than loosing heat their mutual heat combines, and they soon burst into flame. That has certainly been my experience of sangha.

[Myoku]

Thank you Kojip,
I much agree with your post,

I think we all contribute in different ways, everyone has a strength, and finding what it is makes a difference. Everyone is different.

This cannot emphasized enough, in my opinion,
Gassho
Myoku

ps.: About regular sitting, a number of us are pretty active at google+, feel free to mail me if you need some help to get that going; its pretty great to sit with your fellow treeleafers

[Kyonin]

Thank you Kojip.

[Rich]

Thanks Kojip, I enjoy your blabbing, even when I don't understand your view it piques my curiosity. I also sit with another group besides Treeleaf and its all good. I like Piobar's hot coal analogy.

[Koshin]

Thanks for sharing Kojip, and believe me, your posts and the posts of the other members of the Sangha are rock-solid pillars for my own practice. See you in G+

Gassho

[Kaishin]

Thank you, Kojip! I hope to get back on Google+ more soon to sit live with others. I miss doing that.

P.s. Piobar, I believe that was Kodo Sawaki. If I remember correctly, Uchiyama related that analogy of Sawaki's in Opening the Hand of Thought.
Gassho, Kaishin

[RichardH]

Thank you for your encouragement and support, Jundo. .


I also agree with Piobair's coal analogy. Maybe It is more than the sum of parts, maybe it's alchemical.


Hi Myoku. Another regular group sit along with the Fri/Sat Zazenkai would be great. An an evening earlier in the week perhaps. Can you let me know went you folks are doing it?


Gassho, kojip

[Shujin]

Hi Kojip, I've occasionally sat the recorded version of zazenkais during the week from 2100-2230 EST on Google+. If that appeals to you, drop me a line and we'll put something on the calendar. I'm sure we could get a few more evening sitters to join in as well.

Gassho,
Shujin

[Hoyu]

Thank you for your practice Kojip. I enjoy having you around as I always learn from what you share

I wish I could find the quote again, but a teacher once observed how if you take tongs and set a glowing coal out by itself, it'll soon go out, but if you arrange the coals together, rather than loosing heat their mutual heat combines, and they soon burst into flame. That has certainly been my experience of sangha.

Thank you for sharing this(also to Kaishin for the reference to its origin)! This wonderful lesson will forever give more depth to my mind and actions whenever I am laying charcole for Tea!

Gassho,
Hoyu

[disastermouse]

I wish I could find the quote again, but a teacher once observed how if you take tongs and set a glowing coal out by itself, it'll soon go out, but if you arrange the coals together, rather than loosing heat their mutual heat combines, and they soon burst into flame. That has certainly been my experience of sangha.

Without attributing any intent in this way, can I just say that this metaphor makes me very uncomfortable. Not because it doesn't point to a truth, but maybe because it does.

Chet

[Mp]

to contribute in the best way I can, and that is to be there/here

Thanks for sharing Kojip.

[kfrance0]

That's the great thing about Treeleaf...it's always there.