Our Special "Grass Hut" Zazenkai & Talk with Ben Connelly is Here! Please Sit-A-Long!

[KellyRok]

Thank you Ben for this wonderful experience - for writing the book and coming to share it with us. Thank you Jundo for making this happen. This was a truly powerful Zazenkai. I so appreciate the comments and questions by members here as I can relate to much of what was discussed.

Gassho to all,
Kelly/Jinmei

sattoday

[Tai Shi]

I am into "the grass hut," as it were, and I would like to share with my community, Treeleaf Zendo, the book that consumed my writing for the last three years, MEDITATIONS ON GRATITUDE, for I am an author, a poet as it were. I hold the degree of MFA creative writing from Colorado State University, and the book is available on Amazon, $3.99 Kindle, about $16.00 softcover, and much of the book is the discovery of love itself, as it were the recognition of pain and going beyond. I would be honored to have you read my book, by Charles E Taylor. Deep Bows _/\_ sat today Elgwyn, Gassho.

[Jinyo]

Hello Charles,

I have just downloaded the book to Kindle. I read the first few poems on the sample and really warmed to them.

I think we should have an artist's and writer's corner here at Treeleaf. So many of us write, paint and enjoy photography. It's a shame to lose these references to
our creative endevours because they are scattered through various threads.

Any chance of developing a central reference point?

Gassho

Willow

[Tai Shi]

Willow,
I'm relatively new to Theeleaf, and I already find great emotion at being accepted. In fact, great emotion wells up inside of me--I believe an artistic corner as you call it would greatly enhance our Zendo. I do not know how to do this. If someone could take charge, or at least help with the process, I would contribute my efforts. So please let me know what others think--would others be willing to help?

Gassho--deep bows _/\_sat today. Elgwyn (Charles E Taylor)

[Jundo]

Thank you Charles. I will sit with them and a cup of tea.

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

[Jika]

Hearing the poem chanted by Ben made a difference for me (to reading).
Is it planned, or what do people think about chanting this poem at least once on zazenkai?
Should it be a repeated practice while the book is being discussed (that's why I'm asking now), or maybe the great finale (of the discussion)?
Or left to everybody to her own practice.

Gassho,
Danny
#sattoday

[Tai Shi]

Yes, and thank you Ben, and Jundo for a presentation of a simpler life! Deep bows _/\_sat today, it's early, Gassho. Elgwyn.

[Jundo]

Hearing the poem chanted by Ben made a difference for me (to reading).
Is it planned, or what do people think about chanting this poem at least once on zazenkai?
Should it be a repeated practice while the book is being discussed (that's why I'm asking now), or maybe the great finale (of the discussion)?
Or left to everybody to her own practice.

Gassho,
Danny
#sattoday

Hi Danny,

Hmmm. Well, it actually is not traditional or so common among Zen groups I know apart from Ben's community, and we already recite Sekito/Shitou's "Identity of Relative & Absolute" each month (and personally, I prefer myself to read it as a poem without the chanting) ... so ....

... I would say just let those who wish make such their own Practice, or get together with some other folks to recite it.

Maybe we will try the Chant once more sometime.

Gassho, J

[Jiken]

Thanks to all for this talk. Deep investigation into myself without judgement resonated with me.

Deep bows,

Jiken

[Heisoku]

What a wonderful person Ben is! So natural, open and infused. The boundless nature that Shitou wrote about is no less in Ben's writing and talk. Thank you Jundo for make these teachings happen!
Gassho
Heisoku
Sat today

[Marla567]

Thank you very much. It was very inspiring. I watched it with my whole family.

Gassho
Shinka
Sat today

[Koshin]

Awesome...thank you all

Gassho

Sat2day

[Troy]

Amazing! Thank you Jundo, Ben and Sangha


..sat2day•

[Kotei]

Thank you so much.

Gassho,

Ralf sattoday

[Roland]

Thank you Jundo, Ben, Sangha, Shitou and all those connecting us with the poem and its meanings.,

Gassho,

Roland
#SatToday