IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT & DISCUSSION: A New Structure for Treeleaf ...

[Risho]

I don't have much to add -- I'm of course excited for things to come but, I just wanted to express that from my personal experience here, I think that both Jundo and Taigu are marvelous teachers, and I'm just thankful for everything they've shared and taught me along the way so far.

Gassho,

Risho

[Ryumon]

I have great respect for both Taigu and Jundo, but I have long felt that the trappings of religion are not for me.

I look forward to following the path that Jundo will be forging in this new experiment.

Gassho,

Kirk


(Posted from my iPhone; please excuse any typos or brevity.)

[david u]

Gassho
David

[Toun]

This is wonderfull!

The new website looks great.

Thank you Jundo and Taigu.

Deepest bows to all.

Gassho
Mike

[shikantazen]

Very interesting. I look forward to this.

Interesting decision not to go with forums on the new site. If Dokusan is one-to-one, Teisho is one-to-many, Forums is many-to-many. A quicker and more effective way to spread knowledge. The downside though with this way of spreading of knowledge is that some of it can be incorrect (advice given by students to other students sometimes can be inaccurate and misleading) and can affect the student negatively.

Also will we have a link from Treeleaf main page and/or as forums sticky to the new website? I think that will help the new website to gain more popularity over time.

Gassho
Sam

[Joyo]

The new website will focus solely on practice and study. Teachings will be available in French and English. There won't be a forum per see like in Treeleaf but space to positively contribute to teachings. Taikyo is going to start soon a seminar in Buddhist philosophy, Dainin, Myozan and I will teach on forms, and our clear intention is to offer daily sittings soon as well as retreats on line. Sewing will be central and I am planning to make vids on kesa sewing.
Although I will act as a guiding teacher, and effectively teach in Teishos and vids, I will gradually invite teachers to emerge and I will take the back seat.
Here, in the Hermitage, we practice tradition. Not tradition because it is exotic, but because we want to handle what had been given as is without any stain ( modern take, New Age, opinions or like here in Treeleaf, the search for simplicity and truth).
Our way to practice simplicity is to totally surrender to tradition and understand its deep and real meaning.

Gassho

Taigu

This is wonderful, Taigu. I look forward to it!! thank you

Gassho,
Joyo

[Jundo]

Hi Sam,

... Forums is many-to-many. A quicker and more effective way to spread knowledge. The downside though with this way of spreading of knowledge is that some of it can be incorrect (advice given by students to other students sometimes can be inaccurate and misleading) and can affect the student negatively.

I would say, based on my experience of this Forum for so many years, that there is a certain collective Wisdom and Compassion of the group, and an amazing power of this community of individuals to offer their united Hearts, that often far far exceeds what the official "Teachers" or any one person might say. Almost every day, someone here steps in with guidance and good words (filled with ... because this is Zen ... the Wisdom between and free of words ) that far exceed my small talents and experience to do so for a certain suffering being, or provides some truth to the situation that I never would have noticed and was incapable of seeing. There are many "Teachers" here and we are all students of each other too (although some are newer to this Way than others, some members more experienced with varying talents and abilities, etc.). We have many gifted, insightful, caring people in this Sangha who have "been around the block" of life's ups and downs, and know the ropes of Zen Practice too, so are great at helping someone.


That being said, I believe it is my role to keep the Teachings here by the group on course, focused on Buddhist Teachings and Zen Practice, Sitting and Precepts in our Shikantaza way, to make sure we do not run off into all kinds of mental swamps and emotional wanderings from the Path into the mud, strange teachings distracting from Zen and Zazen, misleading tangents lessening Practice, etc., that are not in harmony with the direction of this Place. This is a Zen Sangha, focused on the Teachings of the Buddha and Old Ancestors, Dogen and other Teachers in the Soto Tradition, Shikantaza and the Precepts, the Compassion of Kannon and that Wisdom at the core of Words ... and the conversation must never wander off course from that. For all these years, we have somehow managed to stay focused. I jump in when I see things wandering away, or something seems misguided.


So, maybe I am like the Captain with his hand on the wheel and an eye on the map, keeping the keel in a good direction and making sure the deck is shipshape. But it is the whole crew who actually does the job of running the boat, tending the lines and keeping us sailing!


For some reason, it works around here! Unlike many "Buddhist/Zen" fora on the internet I have run across, I believe we do a semi-miraculous job here of both benefiting from collective insights AND staying focused on our Practice and pointed on course.

Also will we have a link from Treeleaf main page and/or as forums sticky to the new website? I think that will help the new website to gain more popularity over time.

Yes. I just happened to be talking with Taigu about that yesterday, and it looks like Treeleaf's homepage will feature a link that will say something like this:

INTRODUCING 'BLUE MOUNTAIN WHITE CLOUDS HERMITAGE'

We are pleased to introduce our Friend and Brother Community, BLUE MOUNTAIN WHITE CLOUDS HERMITAGE, established by Rev. Taigu Turlur, offering Zen Practice with a greater emphasis on Traditional Forms, Soto Ritual and Ceremony, including Nyoho-e Kesa Sewing, Poetry and Art Practice, Koan study, all with (of course) social action and Shikantaza at the core. Participation is generally for more experienced students by invitation. Those interested, and with a resonance to the more Traditional in their Practice, should contact Rev. Turlur (EMAIL). Taigu writes, "Our way to practice simplicity is to totally surrender to tradition and understand its deep and real meaning." (LINK)

Gassho, Jundo

[Byokan]

For some reason, it works around here! Unlike many "Buddhist/Zen" fora on the internet I have run across, I believe we do a semi-miraculous job here of both benefiting from collective insights AND staying focused on our Practice and pointed on course.

Yes.
Deepest bows to our wonderful Teachers and the whole Sangha.
My gratitude for you all is far beyond words.
Or even smileys

Gassho
Lisa

[Kantai]

Change is good, I'm happy to be part of this living sangha(s).

Gassho
Kantai

[kidbuda]

Love the idea!
I think is great to have tow flavors of Zen living and growing together. Feel very luckyto be a part of this Sangha.

Gassho.

kb

[Taigu]

As we sat at the table in Washington, face to face, I told Jundo something like this: "your way is to find the purest ritual in total simplicity, our way is to practice rituals to reach the heart of complete simplicity".

People wanting to practice with us are of course our guests and are more than welcome. Our next retreat in the real-virtual world will be held in Paris end of December for the the denpo ceremonies ( Myozan and Dainin will receive something already given). Soon we will, thanks to the dedication of Baizan Dokan expand the site and offer teachings and daily practice.

I think you can drop and practice with us anytime. Should you decide to sew a kesa, it is yet very important to seek the authorization of Jundo.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Gassho


Taigu

[Koshin]

The Dharma goes in all directions....great...thank you

Deep Gassho

[Daitetsu]

Life is change.
Let's see how things develop.
I am thankful for all the teachings here and wish Taigu all the best with his new endeavour.
There is nothing that could be separated - different, yet the same.

Gassho,

Daitetsu

[Jinyo]

As we sat at the table in Washington, face to face, I told Jundo something like this: "your way is to find the purest ritual in total simplicity, our way is to practice rituals to reach the heart of complete simplicity".

People wanting to practice with us are of course our guests and are more than welcome. Our next retreat in the real-virtual world will be held in Paris end of December for the the denpo ceremonies ( Myozan and Dainin will receive something already given). Soon we will, thanks to the dedication of Baizan Dokan expand the site and offer teachings and daily practice.

I think you can drop and practice with us anytime. Should you decide to sew a kesa, it is yet very important to seek the authorization of Jundo.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Gassho


Taigu

Thank you for this clarification - it all makes sense.

I like the new web site very much - the grounding philosophy is set out clearly and for myself I find this helpful. I had not come across the term 'Teisho' before Washington and it's good to see all the teaching videos within this section.

My very best wishes to Taigu, Myozin, Baizan, Taikyo, Jiken and Dainin, in this new venture,

Gassho,

Willow

[AlanLa]

One single cell divides into two and the community grows