Dear All,a re-MINDer that our Treeleaf Annual 'AT HOME' Two Day 'ALL ONLINE' ROHATSU (Buddha's Enlightenment Day) RETREAT is to be LIVE NETCAST on the weekend of Saturday & Sunday, December 7th and 8th, 2013 (though starting Friday night in some time zones). The retreat is designed to be sat in any time zone around the world through a combination of 'live-live' and 'live though recorded' segments, and one may still join the Retreat and sit-a-long at ANY AND ALL TIME after, by the real time recorded version (no different from the original!). Please have a look at the schedule on the "official" page (although the page will remain locked until near the Retreat start time) ...
THIS YEAR'S ROHATSU RETREAT HOMEPAGE LINK
We hope that all of our Ango-ers and others will find a way to sit with us. Through a combination of live and "any time" recorded segments, the retreat is designed to be sat any where, in any time zone, even days or weeks later, when you can arrange your schedule. The method is that you can do some of the portions "live" in your time zone, others in recorded form, and thus it fits everyone's time zone even if slightly out of order (no need to stay up all night to stay on "Japan Time"). In other words, sometimes we do some sections in Japan while you are asleep, but then you can do them later (while we are asleep), and some sections we are all awake to do "live" ... and it all gets done in the end. Everyone has to do their own math to figure out which portions they can do live, which they will do as a recording (and in what order).
The two days will include Zazen sitting, Kinhin, Chanting, Zazen sitting, Oryoki, Zazen sitting, Bowing, Talks, 'Samu' Work Practice, and More Zazen Sitting, as in any Soto Zen Retreat, all in celebration of the Buddha's days of Zazen and Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. Easy to follow preparations and instructions will be provided everyone in the coming weeks for establishing a retreat space in your own home, and in keeping with other responsibilities you may have (such as being a "mom" or "dad").
If you are concerned about the length of sitting, please take to heart that such retreats ... of 2 or 3 days, a week or two weeks ... are basic and highly recommended in the Zen world, undertaken by just about every Zen Sangha I know. It is a practice not to be missed if at all possible for you.
I would like to talk a little about the meaning of Rohatsu Retreat, and arranging a quiet space in your home for sitting. For further information on that, and other topics (such as how parents can make needed childcare a part of this Retreat), I ask all who are participating to DOWNLOAD AND REVIEW THIS GUIDE TO SITTING OUR ONLINE RETREAT LINK HERE(PDF)
The accompanying CHANT BOOK IS HERE(PDF)
As well, the following video will explain a bit about how to make and dance with a simple, home Oryoki kit. All you need is:
1 - Clean Pillow Case
2 - Bowls and 1 Tea Cup (that fit into each other)
1 - Cloth Napkin
1 - Small Wiping Cloth
1 - Table Spoon
1 - Tea Spoon or Chop Sticks
1 - Small Cut Piece of a New Sponge
1 - Letter Envelope
1 - A small dish on the side for the "Hungry Ghosts"
Let's Get Ready to Rohatsu!
Gassho, Jundo
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