Practice in daily life

[Daiyo]

Sorry for jumping in.

I'm not sure if Danny has the same issues I do, his post had much of what I was considering to ask.

One of the things that has been going round my head these days is that as I practice and meet other people, I discover how flawed I am, how many things I have to work out, how short of time I am, maybe also how late I did notice this way existed.
Living with kids, facing everyday challenges at work, at home, etc. leaves me short of time to partcipate as much as I would wish.

Some days it encourages me to double efforts, other days it brings me down.

That's why I was wondering if I was prepared for Ango and Jukai.
Anyway I've decided to take part and if over the days I find out I'm not prepared for Jukai, then at least I will have learnt to sew and more about the precepts and this path I've chosen for my life.
Maybe I'm taking it too seriously out of my ignorance too.

Thanks for your ever kind and patient advice, I really appreciate it.

Gassho,
Walter.

The more we sit, I feel; the more things will come together on their own. Even when things are loud, unsettled, in chaos - you will be able to find some solace in them.

Hello Danny,

From my experience Jinmei has said it so well ... no need to rush, be patient with yourself, and in time you will see the results of what you are doing already. =)

Gassho
Shingen

[KellyRok]

Danny,

The more we sit, I feel; the more things will come together on their own. Even when things are loud, unsettled, in chaos - you will be able to find some solace in them. It seems you are already doing it...

But sewing with my mother shouting at me while she had the radio blasting folk music was a bit more difficult practice (though also nice).

This is our practice, being able to relate to our surroundings, while still being able to keep our focus to do things such as sewing.

When we do our Ango, you will have the opportunity to pair up with someone during the period and share your experiences. I highly recommend it as your partner can serve as a sounding board, a motivator to sit, a cheerleader, a friend. It is a way to mesh the quiet and solitude practice with an active partner who also is making his/her way through life and practice.

I think you are more ready for Ango than you might think. It is living in each moment of our day with a new sense of awareness and acceptance of what is happening right in that moment. Embrace it. The rest will come with more practice, at least that's what I've been told...I still sit, get up from the cushion, make mistakes, break a precept or two, sit some more.

Take care,
Jinmei

[Jika]

Many thanks.

Gassho,
Danny

[Daiyo]

Many thanks for this, Danny.

You have expressed many concerns I share regarding Ango, in a much clearer way that I could possibly have done.

And many thanks Jundo and Myoku, for your words have blown away some of the fear and the lack of self trust I had of participating.

Gassho,
Walter.

[Myoku]

Dear Danny,
first, all I write is only my limited experience and no absolute truth, moreover I'm very good in praticing for years without getting any wiser, so just take this lightly.

Dear all,

I'm posting this as a question maybe to be answered in preparation for upcoming Ango, knowing it is well much too advanced for me.

I said exactly the same when I was here at treeleaf only for a couple of weeks before it started, dont let any thought or judgement about yourself hinder you from taking part in Ango, please.

Some practices seem to emphasize the necessity of seclusion and silence ...

Yes, and some emphasize the necessity of living zen in our daily live, I wouldnt think about what i can not do too much but do what I can do.

On the other hand, if all of life is to be our practice, and I do not live in a monastery where everybody is silent, how do I put things together?

How to put things together ... I think thats a good question, I have no answer but still keep trying day by day.

Sewing my zafu with only the wind howling around the house was nice.
But sewing with my mother shouting at me while she had the radio blasting folk music was a bit more difficult practice (though also nice).

You seem well prepared for Ango.

I do not have the zazen experience to guide me very much.

Ango in itself is an experience that will guide you every day by day. Also, I believe patience is required, sitting not does any wonder within a short time.

I think I feel what I'm aiming for, only it gets disturbed very easily.

Me too, just living in a family where everybody has solid opinions is a challenge for me, I think however, it gets "better" over time.

I'm hoping for explanations how to approach work, talking to people, people wanting to make a chat, without being distanced and secluded, while continuing practice.

The only thing I can imagine by now is to be right there with them, but to refrain from some behaviour.

Yes, I see my very state of mind in what you wrote, I'm afraid there is no general teaching on this topic. I think all we can do is to do our best to be helpful. Ango for everyone seems a bit different challenge, and I believe its more about learning about ourselves than a teaching on how to widen our practice so that it embraces the whole life. As practice proceeds I learn about this body and mind and this creates changes, because I always explore more. Oh, this is a wide topic, I feel. "Just sit" would probably have been better version of what I wrote
Gassho
Myoku

[Jundo]

Hi Danny,

Sometimes we are by ourselves, sometimes we are with others.

Sometimes we sew with the wind howling, sometimes we sew with our mother howling.

Practice is all of this. There is a Stillness and Wholeness that is right at the heart of "alone" or "together". There is a Silence that is the very "silence" or "howling".

We sit as all of this. Life is all of this. We sit on quiet days and with noisy neighbors, in still places and by the side of busy highways. Thus, we sit with and as what is.

By the way, if you think that a Zen Monastery is a place of constant quiet, relaxation and isolation ... well, no, they can be as busy and noisy as a bee hive sometimes.

You will be fine during Ango I believe. Our Treeleaf Ango happens right at the heart of our homes and jobs and worldly duties.

Gassho, Jundo

[Jika]

Dear all,

I'm posting this as a question maybe to be answered in preparation for upcoming Ango, knowing it is well much too advanced for me.

Some practices seem to emphasize the necessity of seclusion and silence (like the retreat or Sekishi's suggestion).

On the other hand, if all of life is to be our practice, and I do not live in a monastery where everybody is silent, how do I put things together?

Sewing my zafu with only the wind howling around the house was nice.
But sewing with my mother shouting at me while she had the radio blasting folk music was a bit more difficult practice (though also nice).

We cannot expect the world to treat us like monks or nuns, can we, the world is fast and loud!

I do not have the zazen experience to guide me very much.

I think I feel what I'm aiming for, only it gets disturbed very easily.

I'm hoping for explanations how to approach work, talking to people, people wanting to make a chat, without being distanced and secluded, while continuing practice.

The only thing I can imagine by now is to be right there with them, but to refrain from some behaviour.

Gassho,
Danny