A question for our priests during Ango

[Onsho]

I would love to know the Ango commitments of Treeleafs priests (or folks that have a long Ango-ing practice) when its time to discuss them.

I'm curious what the goals of a mature practice looks like. I'm hoping to get a sense of the flavour of Angos intended use, besides keeping out of the rain I suppose.

Gassho
Onsho
satlah

[Jundo]

Oh, we have such a list. Many of our priests are there,

SHARE ANGO COMMITMENTS

I stopped announcing mine about a dozen years back, although I have my own personal commitments each Ango season. Why? They are usually more than some people, less than other people, and I don't want to influence others on this, whether they should do more or are doing too much. I will just say that they are usually something I love, and many also have health benefits as well as being a bit tough on my sweet tooth or a bad habit or the like. Some I have kept quitted after Ango is over. Others return (fortunately, nothing too bad ... mostly that sweet tooth) so I can vow again for next Ango.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Bion]

Great question, and great motive for the question. Love it! My commitments were posted in the thread, but I know it is hard to go dig through the pages to find specific people, so I'll repost here just for you. Keep in mind, my commitments are accompanied by my regular practice schedule. As you pointed out, the sangha would gather (they still do) during the rains season and learn and practice together, seniors training juniors, but everyone already was fully dedicated to practice, or at least that's the assumption... That's why, for example, for an uposatha day, lay practitioners would take on the 5 or 8 precepts as a dedicated practice, but for monks, that would be regular life so all they have to do it recite the training rules and atone. Anyway, reposting here for you:

" My commitments are a work in progress.. However, the things that are absolutely clear are : adding another sit to my day, as I will be hosting my annual Ango evening sit, giving up snacks and sweets , which I tend to have in the mornings, before my day's meal... I will be keeping my TV mostly off (not that it's been on too much lately) and I will try my best to avoid lots of the idle chatter with acquaintances and folks I stay in touch with occasionally over social media. My sewing project will be to finish the 9-jo Okesa I am in the middle of making. I am also terribly excited about spending a month with you all as Precept Shuso in December and meeting for our Precept Study Zoom meeting. There's probably more stuff, but this should be enough for now..."

Gassho
sat lah

[Onsho]

I didn't see that the commitment page was up yet!
That is probably a better place to get what i'm after.

Gassho,
Onsho
satlah

[Kokuu]

Hi Onsho

As time has gone on, so the difference between my Ango and non-Ango time diminished. I have learned from previous Angos what worked for me in practice and generally incorporated that into my life.

That said, Ango is still a time for three things for me:

1. Refraining from audio-visual media to leave room for more silence and non-doing.

2. Dedicated dharma study. I usually have two or three longer texts to read during Ango and this year it is re-reading Shobogenzo and Donald Lopez Jr's book on the history of Buddhism, just titled Buddhism.

3. Joining in with the precept study with all of you.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-