ATTENTION! Our "AT HOME" 2-DAY ROHATSU RETREAT - December 5th to 7th! BE READY!

[RichardH]

Doing this retreat come hell or high water.


Gassho
Daizan
Sat Today

[Jika]

Please feel free to adapt any of this you wish

I'll keep it to not chatting while sh..., no grafitti, and typical European style toilet.

Will leave the spatula and pebbles for maybe another time.
(Who had to clean the spatulas and the cubicles with the spilled buckets??)

Gassho,
Danny
#sattoday

[Hotetsu]

Hi all,
I'll be there with everyone for the duration. Put in some vacation time at work 😋.

Gassho,
Scott
#SatToday

[jizu]

What a great preparatory explanation and videos!
Question: In the Eiheiji video, what is happening at the beginning?

thanks, Danny, for the Word docs!

Gassho,
Jon
#SatToday

[Ishin]

I will be joining this year! though it will be a combination of live and recorded due to time difference. Glad I could clear up my schedule.
Gassho
C

SatToday!

[Jundo]

What a great preparatory explanation and videos!
Question: In the Eiheiji video, what is happening at the beginning?

thanks, Danny, for the Word docs!

Yes, thank you very much Danny for the helpful document.

That is a ceremony called "Shuso Hossenshiki" in Soto Zen, the "Dharma Combat" ceremony. However, it is more a choreographed and pre-scripted dance these days than some spontaneous "Dharma Combat". Shuso Hossenshiki is a ceremony found traditionally in most Soto Zen lineages, a ceremonial rite-of-passage marking a student’s promotion to the rank of Senior seat (Shuso), meaning something like "Senior Student" or "Head Seat". It takes place at the conclusion of the intensive training period of Ango during which the student serves as a model to the sangha or community. ... At the Shuso hossen ceremony, the shuso gives his or her first dharma talk and takes questions from the community in a very ritualized form of Dharma Combat. However, these days, the Koan "Mondo" (questions and responses) and the "Dharma Combat" are all according to a written script in classical language that few understand, so rather a bit of theater. Few modern people even really understand the old Japanese language they are speaking ... like the difference between modern English and English during the middle ages or Latin. The dialogue is unintelligble to most of the people listening ... and often those participating too! The participants will have practiced for days and weeks to memorize the lines, as in a play, so it is kind of a lovely theatrical or dance performance, not really a "combat".

On the other hand, like theatre or dance ... it is "real", and people find the meaning within it that one finds in their heart! By playing Hamlet on stage, we really "become" Hamlet and all that his words contain. Here is another video with a short taste of this ceremony ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_ZK8I5bpz4

Gassho, J

SatToday!

[jizu]

interesting...thanks, Jundo, for the explanation!

Gassho,
Jon
#SatToday

[Ongen]

Thank you Jundo for that insightful bit of Dogen's writing. I found this next bit particularly funny...

So that your towel does not get separated from your robe or get taken by someone who has not hung up a towel, tie it down by wrapping it around your robe two or three times

gassho

Vincent

Sat Today

[Jika]

Sorry for this... practical... question, but has anybody else only nesting plastic containers, only paper napkins, and really large European pillow cases?!

My question is: I won't put the camera on (I want to do Oryoki slow slow motion and rewind), so only I will see how strange it looks, but CAN I do it with that and the right intention, or would it disgrace the whole ceremony?
We sit with what is, do we eat with it, too?

As the Washington retreat did Oryoki at a table, I suppose I can do without a low table?
Using a chair as a table while sitting on the floor would make the bowls touch my nose.

Thank you.
Gassho,
Danny
#sattoday

[Nindo]

Is anyone planning on starting Saturday 6am Central Time from the top of the schedule? I wouln't mind starting 5am my time (Mountain).

Gassho,
Nindo

PS: Danny, I use the case of my saxophone as a low table, so any box or even a pile of books would do.
Do you have a large cloth napkin or large dish towel? That may work better than a pillow case.

[Jundo]

Hi Danny,

Have a sincere and respectful heart, filled with gratitude for the meal one receives, and the Oryoki will be fine. The container and size is boundless.

Relax. Do not worry how one looks.

Gassho, J

[Jika]

a pile of books would do

The container and size is boundless.

Gassho,
Danny
#sattoday

[Matt]

I am planning on participating fully in the retreat.
Gassho,
Matt
#sattoday

[Shinzan]

I'm in. I've been looking forward to this.
_/\_ Shinzan
sattoday

[Meishin]

Yes I will be here.

Gassho
John
sat today