Using Google+ These Days for Sittings

[Myozan Kodo]

Hi all,
Since G+ has been redesigned, haveing Hangouts is a nightmare. So many problems. Has anyone figured the best way to use Hangouts now? Is it best to invite the whole Treeleaf sangha? Or just start a "Hangout Party" after inviting everyone and see who joins in?

They really have messed up G+. Our Wednesday Evening Zazen is not working very well, as a result. No one sees the invite in the stream ... that's the main problem.

Enlightenment welcome!

Gassho
Myozan

[Dosho]

Myozan,

I have been noticing some of the issues you mention, but not all. Just yesterday a couple folks told me they were not getting notified on their phones but were by their desktops. Not sure what to do about that. I invite the Treeleaf Zendo community, all the way at the bottom of the menu that drops down when you go to invite folks. That seems to work the best and perhaps that will help. It does get frustrating, but I try to sit with it and do the best I can. I know that's probably not what you wanted to hear and it may not be helpful, but there it is.

Good luck and keep at it.

Gassho,
Dosho

P.S. I just looked at your event page Myozan and noticed that you didn't make it an online event. Fugen and I have had this discussion many times and agree it makes no sense, but you have to add the Hangout to your event. I'll write up some instructions and post again. But, if you don't add the fact that it's an online event, you will experience the problems you have been having.

[Juki]

I had problems for a week or two after the redesign, but they went away. Now I get all the invitations and have no trouble finding and joining the hangouts. And, Myozan, i get a
l of your invitations. i just can never sit with you because it is in the middle of the workday. I hope your technical glitches resolve themselves.

Gassho,
William

[Dosho]

Instructions for an online event:

1. Go to your G+ page and click on "Home" (left side of the screen).

2. Choose "Events" from the drop down menu.

3. Click on the "Create Event" box.

4. In the dialog box that comes up, click "Event Options", then "Advanced".

5. Select "Hangouts"

After that fill in all the details and, if you want to do what I do, in the invite box choose "Treeleaf Zendo" (different from Treeleaf Sangha).

Let me know if that works.

Gassho,
Dosho

[Myozan Kodo]

Thanks Dosho. You're a gem. Will try that.
Gassho
Myozan

[Ishin]

Sooooo are you still going to do this event?

[Myozan Kodo]

Hi Clark.
Yes! Wednesday Evening Zazen will go on, just like it has every Wednesday for the last year and a half! Everyone is welcome...

... Dosho, Yugen and Hans also sit at regular times online, by the way ... And all this to complement the weekly Zazenkai with Jundo, which is the one sitting that should not be missed by us all.

Gassho
Myozan

[Ishin]

Thank you

Gassho

C

[Myozan Kodo]

Hi guys.
Not sure if it was better this week. I do have a technical question, maybe you can help me with.

I followed Dosho's instructions. But where do I go to start the actual Zazen Hangout? Do I start it from inside the 'event' and whoever said they are going will just see the Hangout pop up in their stream?

Sorry for my stupidity!

Gassho
Myozan

[Dosho]

Myozan,

You don't start it per se; it starts by itself (that's why it's worth all the issues!). It should notify people in their streams when it is starting.

I just looked at your event and it was scheduled for September 25th and did not include a Hangout component.

For next week, I would suggest starting from scratch by creating a new event. After you have one that works well, then you can use the "Duplicate Event" function.

I'd also suggest setting up next week's sit as soon as you have an opportunity to do so. That way we can fine tune it beforehand.

So, go ahead and create the event with a name, background picture, date, time, any details you want to include (like the length of each zazen round), and use the instructions I gave you about making it an online event, but DO NOT invite anyone yet. Then, let me know and I'll take a look. Sound ok?

Let me know about any questions. We'll get this sorted out, I promise, and then it should work like a well oiled machine; Well, let's just say it'll run.

Gassho,
Dosho

[Myozan Kodo]

Thanks Dosho. Really appreciate it. Bedtime here. But will give this a shot tomorrow.
Gassho
Myozan

[Nengyo]

Thanks for the instructions Dosho

[Mp]

You are going to be the Google+ guru Dosho ... your feedback has been super helpful.

Gassho
Shingen

[ZenHarmony]

Argh—apparently, I need a lesson in the new format as well. It said I had to install a plugin, so I did, but it just seemed to hang at Verifying and never did give me the Hangout window. Now I'm not even sure what it looks like any more (although I do like the "Theme" that seems to go with the Event.).

I'll check back before I try again tomorrow, see if there's something I missed (haha)

Gassho,

Lisa

[Myozan Kodo]

Hi Dosho,
So, I've set up next Wednesday's Zazen, according to your instructions. Does it look ok to you?

So, do I just wait next Wednesday for the event to appear in the stream in my home page ... and then just join in when it pops up at the right time?

Gassho, with thanks,
Myozan