INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

[Jundo]

OUR APRIL ZAZENKAI HAS BEEN DONE SAT ... BUT IS AVAILABLE TO SIT AGAIN FOREVER AND WHENEVER ON THE 'LEAF' BLOG:

http://treeleafzen.blogspot.com/2008/04/retreat.html

Hi All,

I will be speaking about this Saturday's "Buddha's Birthday" Zazenkai a little later on today's "Sit-a-Long with Jundo" ...

http://treeleafzen.blogspot.com/2008/04 ... b-day.html

This Saturday will be THE FIRST OF OUR MONTHLY "HALF-DAY" SITTINGS, which I hope will continue on the first Saturday of each month from this point forward. We will start with 4 hour sittings, although I hope to transition to 8 hour and longer retreats later this year.

This first sitting will run from 9pm until approximately 1am Japan Time, which (by my calculation - PLEASE CONFIRM BY JAPAN TIME) is Saturday, 5am to 9am in Vancouver, 8am to noon in New York, 1pm to 5pm in London, 2pm to 6 pm in Paris. It is my intent to record the Zazenkai on USTREAM for later participation by those who cannot be with us until a later date (I will not be sitting in the "Sitting Room" for this Zazenkai). On the day of the retreat, you will be able to join via links on the Treeleaf "Leaf" blog.

I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU POSITION YOUR ZAFU ON THE FLOOR IN A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE NOT STARING DIRECTLY AT THE COMPUTER SCREEN, BUT CAN GLANCE OVER AND SEE THE SCREEN WHEN NECESSARY. YOUR ZAFU SHOULD ALSO BE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE COMPUTER SCREEN WHILE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE ZAFU FOR THE CEREMONIES.

The schedule for this Saturday will be as follows:

00:00 – 00:50 CEREMONY (HEART SUTRA English & Japanese / SANDOKAI) & ZAZEN
00:50 – 01:00 KINHIN
01:00 – 01:40 ZAZEN
01:40 – 01:50 KINHIN
01:50 – 02:30 ZAZEN & DHARMA TALK
02:30 – 02:40 KINHIN
02:40 – 03:20 ZAZEN
03:20 – 03:30 KINHIN
03:30 – 04:00 FUKANZAZENGI CHANT & ZAZEN
04:00 – 04:10 FOUR VOWS, VERSE OF ATONEMENT & CLOSING COMMENTS

As you can see, there will be 5 periods of Zazen, each 40 minutes long, although several will include time for chanting. In between each period of Zazen, there will be a 10 minute period for Kinhin walking (which will also serve for any needed bathroom breaks).

We will be chanting the Heart Sutra in English & Japanese, plus the Sandokai in English only, at the start, and the Fukanzazengi in Japanese at the end of the day. I will also be asking people to do a series of floor prostrations (in sets of 3) during the opening ceremony and at the closing, although you may substitute deep standing "Gassho" if you wish (please see the talk on the philosophy of prostrations, below).

If you do not have it, please download and print our "Treeleaf Chantbook" and keep it handy near your Zafu during the retreat.

http://jundotreeleaf.googlepages.com/TREELEAFCHANTBOOKFORRETREAT1105.pdf

You may also download and review the explanatory materials for our last retreat, although not all apply in this case (we will not be doing Oryoki eating or Samu work during this Zazenkai, although I hope to add those in the future).

http://jundotreeleaf.googlepages.com/TreeleafZendoRetreatPointers10312007.pdf

I will lead and talk us through it, so please just play "follow the leader" if not sure what to do. You may also wish to review these general instructions for behavior in a Zendo, which I will be attempting to follow as closely as possible. Again, I will try to talk us through it.

http://global.sotozen-net.or.jp/eng/zen ... uette.html

Skye was kind enough to make available a series of talks I gave in preparation for our last retreat. If you have time, please give a listen to those before Saturday. Not all apply in this case, so it is only suggested to listen to the following:

TALK 1: General Introduction
http://www.treeleaf.org/library/zazenka ... php?page=1

TALK 2: Chanting the Heart Sutra 1
http://www.treeleaf.org/library/zazenka ... php?page=2

A little discussion about chanting the Heart Sutra in English. Tomorrow, we will discuss chanting the Heart Sutra in Japanese.

For today, I will just be practicing the beginning of the English version (Please note that the wording in the Treeleaf Chantbook that we will be using Saturday is slightly different from the following):

INO ONLY =

Maha Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra*
(The Great Sutra of Perfect Understanding)

EVERYONE =

A/vo/lo/ki/tes/va/ra/ Bo/dhi/satt/va/,

Prac/ti/cing/ deep/ Praj/na/ Pa/ra/mi/ta/ *

Per/ceived/ the/ emp/ti/ness/ of /all /five /con/di/tions/,

And/ was/ freed/ of/ suf/fer/ing/.

O/ Sha/ri/pu/tra/, form/ is/ no/ o/ther/ than/ emp/ti/ness/,

Emp/ti/ness/ no/ o/ther/ than/ form/;

Form/ is/ pre/cise/ly/ emp/ti/ness/, emp/ti/ness/ pre/cise/ly/ form/.



... and the end ...


This/ is/ no/ o/ther/ than/ truth/.

There/fore/ set/ forth/ the/ Praj/na/ Pa/ra/mi/ta/ man/tra/.

Set/ forth/ this/ man/tra/ and/ pro/claim/:*

(1x)

Gate! Gate! (Gone, Gone)

Paragate! (Gone Beyond)

Parasamgate! (Fully Beyond)

Bodhi! Svaha! (Awakening, Rejoice)

If you would like to hear an Mp3 of a somewhat different version in English (just to hear the rhythm), link here:

http://home.ripway.com/2005-8/375648/hrt/pph1a.mp3 (MP3)
http://home.ripway.com/2005-8/375648...20324-pph1.ram (Realplayer)

TALK 3: Chanting the Heart Sutra 2
http://www.treeleaf.org/library/zazenka ... php?page=3

... a little discussion about chanting the Heart Sutra in Japanese:

Maka Hannya Haramita Shin Gyo*

Kan Ji Zai Bo Satsu Gyo Jin Han Nya Ha Ra Mi Ta Ji Sho Ken Go* On Kai Ku Do I Sai Ku Yaku Sha Ri Shi Shiki Fu I Ku Ku Fu I Shiki Shiki Soku Ze Ku Ku Soku Ze Shiki Ju So Gyo Shiki Yaku Bu Nyo Ze Sha Ri Shi Ze Sho Ho Ku So Fu Sho Fu Metsu Fu Ku Fu Jo Fu Zo Fu Gen Ze Ko Ku Chu Mu Shiki Mu Ju So Gyo Shiki Mu Gen Ni Bi Ze Shin Ni Mu Shiki Sho Ko Mi Soku Ho Mu Gen Kai Nai Shi Mu I Shiki Kai Mu Mu Myo Yaku Mu Mu Myo Jin Nai Shi Mu Ro Shi Yaku Mu Ro Shi Jin Mu Ku Shu Metsu Do Mu Chi Yaku Mu Toku I Mu Sho Tok ko Bo Dai Sat Ta E Han-Nya Ha Ra Mi Ta Ko* Shin Mu Kei Ge Mu Kei Ge Ko Mu U Ku Fu On Ri Is-Sai Ten Do Mu So Ku Gyo Ne Han San Ze Sho Butsu E Han Nya Ha Ra Mi Ta Ko* Toku A Noku Ta Ra San Myaku San Bo Dai Ko Chi Han-Nya Ha Ra Mi Ta Ze Dai Jin Shu Ze Dai Myo Shu Ze Mu Jo Shu Ze Mu To To Shu No Jo Is sai Ku Shin Jitsu Fu Ko Ko Setsu Han Nya Ha Ra Mi Ta Shu Soku Setsu Shu Watsu Gya* Tei Gya Tei Ha Ra Gya Tei Hara* So Gya Tei Bo Ji Sowa Ka Han Nya Shin Gyo

If you would like to practice with a very nice traditional version ... click here:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=706145759796450352&q=heart+sutra+japanese&total=11&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

And if you would like to watch it in all its formal glory, performed at a Japanese temple (our Retreat's Ceremony will be a somewhat simplified version of the same), this video is CERTAINLY worth watching ...

http://teishoin.sakura.ne.jp/sound/sejiki2001.ram

TALK 4: Chanting the Sandokai
http://www.treeleaf.org/library/zazenka ... php?page=4

TALK 6: Prostrations
http://www.treeleaf.org/library/zazenka ... php?page=6

... there will be times of prostrating (Raihai), done in a series or three (Sanpai) ...

I am often asked to whom or what we are bowing ... Is it to some thing, god, person or effigy?

I answer by saying that there is nothing that's true that is omitted from our bow. We might consider that we're simply bowing to the whole universe, or to ourself and the other people around us … after all, 'All are One'! The hands, palms upwards, are raised in a gesture traditionally symbolic of lifting the Buddha's feet over one's head, but that truly means lifting all things of the universe over one's head. It's appropriate to cultivate an attitude of emptying, letting go, receptivity and gratitude in our bows.

If there is some physical or personal reason not to prostrate, a simple Gassho can be substituted. However, there is greatness in the humility of the prostration.

TALK 9: Final Thoughts
http://www.treeleaf.org/library/zazenka ... php?page=9

As this will be just the first Saturday Zazenkai of many to come (I apologize for the time that has passed since our last retreat), I am sure we will become more skilled with time. Please join me in this great experiment.

Gassho, Jundo

[Skye]

Re: INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

You'll be recording & broadcasting live via UStream at the same time, is that right?

Skye

[Jundo]

Re: INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

You'll be recording & broadcasting live via UStream at the same time, is that right?

Skye

Hi Skye,

Yes, that is correct. We will have a "live" netcast of the Zazenkai, and it will also be recorded for later participation "on demand".

I suppose that folks can also be sitting in the "Sitting Room" at the same time that they watch the USTREAM netcast, but it is best if they "full screen" the USTREAM netcast to see it (I will post a link on the day of the sitting that does that automatically). So, that makes seeing the "Sitting Room" at the same time pretty much not possible.


Gassho, Jundo

[will]

Re: INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

Thank you for all the preparation and materials.

Gassho Will

[will]

Re: INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

I'll wil have my destop set up like this which let's you see 3 extra people in the sitting room.




G,W

[Jundo]

Re: INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

Hi Will,

Yes, that's great. Perhaps people can split the screen like that.

Also, let me mention that I am thinking to post some general instructions for the "Sitting Room" (I will write them soon) encouraging folks not to sit there staring face forward into the camera and computer screen. In fact, it is not necessary even to look very often to see if others are present in the "Sitting Room"or not. I think people should arrange their camera so that they can be sitting on the floor, facing a wall if possible, with the camera merely showing the side or back of their heads from a distance. Otherwise, the computer screen becomes the central focus of attention, and people should not be staring at it. In fact, people should put the camera on then ignore the camera and computer completely.

You have been working with the "Sitting Room" quite a bit. Will. What do you think of such instructions?

Gassho, Jundo

[Bansho]

Re: INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

Hi,

I was thinking that it also might be helpful if people make a text entry in the chat box when they enter and leave, e.g. 'Ken joining - hi' or 'Ken joining - bye', just so people who enter/leave at various times know who they're sitting with. I'm not sure how long the chat protocol is visible, though. Anyway, just an idea.

Gassho
Ken

p.s. My webcam is now being shipped - I'm looking forward to joining in soon.

[will]

Re: INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

Also, let me mention that I am thinking to post some general instructions for the "Sitting Room" (I will write them soon) encouraging folks not to sit there staring face forward into the camera and computer screen. In fact, it is not necessary even to look very often to see if others are present in the "Sitting Room"or not. I think people should arrange their camera so that they can be sitting on the floor, facing a wall if possible, with the camera merely showing the side or back of their heads from a distance. Otherwise, the computer screen becomes the central focus of attention, and people should not be staring at it. In fact, people should put the camera on then ignore the camera and computer completely.

Yes. Absolutely.

Don't try to avoid the camera perse or ignore it I think, but just let it be and sit. yep. I just sit sideways when I do zazen and face that board there. I don't really know what your doing for the Zazenkai. I guess we have to see the screen for changes and such?

I sat facing toward the screen last Saturday and let my eyes drop to the keyboard. Put a white sheet of paper on the keyboard so it is not distracting but even then it still is a bit. I don't recommend that as regular thing.

I specifically designed my space so I could sit beside the computer at a good height. I switch between office chair and zafu.





G,W

[will]

Re: INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

btw the split screen is for the forms ie. bowing together and I don't know I guess it's not really needed, just kind of adds a bit of je ne cest quoi. Group effort I guess.

G,W

[Gregor]

Re: INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

I'll be missing the Zazenkai this weekend. I've got to take care of some things that morning. Perhaps next time.

I'll probably do some intensive sitting on my own that day. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with all the technological additions, perhaps I'll take the time to figure things out in the next couple of months.

[Kent]

Re: INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

Gregor , i too am a bit overwhelmed by the technological additions and having some difficulty "wrapping my brain" around most of it............ :?

[will]

Re: INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

Moved

[Jundo]

Re: INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

... I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with all the technological additions, perhaps I'll take the time to figure things out in the next couple of months.

Don't be too distracted by the new bells and whistles. I am going to say that the video "Zen Hall" should, I think, remain something of a little toy. After playing with it a few days, and appreciating the idea that there truly are other people "out there" sitting with us, I think it is best to forget all about it. Turn it on sometimes, other times no need. I think it is nice to see visually that there are other people out there, but after confirming that fact ... forget the camera, forget the screen and face the wall. Maybe have a group sitting there once a week or so, not much more. That is what I am thinking of encouraging.

It has been nice these first few weeks that people could sit while seeing others, and there is no reason that cannot continue. But neither is it necessary I think. Sit there sometimes, other times don't bother. After all, "here" "there" "together" "apart" are all states of mind.

In addition, even when sitting in the video "Zen Hall", I suggest you put the camera on, have a look at the screen ... then immediately never look at it or the screen again. Sit as if it is not there. I am going to post some rules for sitting whereby we no longer face directly the camera, screen or keyboard again ... I do not think that people should be sitting in profile so that their face is staring at the camera.

In fact, I think my own "sit-a-longs" have been misleading, so from tomorrow I will no longer sit facing directly into the camera. I will sit facing a wall, the floor or the like. Once we start sitting, that is all that is important. I started facing forward because, in an actual Soto Zendo, the teacher is the only one to face forward while all face the wall. Now, I am going to stop that most times.

We are experimenting and discovering things about these new methods as we go along.

So, in summary, there is absolutely no reason that someone should feel the need to use the video "Zen Hall" and, even if you do, please act as if you are not.

Gassho, Jundo

[Jundo]

Re: INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

Hi,

... Maybe have a group sitting there once a week or so, not much more. That is what I am thinking of encouraging.

... to which Will wrote me:

So what's the purpose can this sitting room serve? Since we are not really using it?


I found that it helped my practice a lot to make a commitment to sit at those times. It also helped to know that others will be probably be there too waiting to get started, so I can't get out of it kind of and every time that I'm late or look for an excuse to do something else it kind helps with showing that.

What do you think?


Yes, you're right too!

Like I said, we are figuring this out as we go along. You make a good point.

Well, perhaps I can just encourage folks not to be too dependent on the place, or feel that they "have to" sit there. But, it can be left up to what each person likes. If some folks want to sit there every day, or even more, no problem. Other folks might just want to drop in now and then.

How's that sound? Gassho, Jundo

[will]

Re: INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY'S ZAZENKAI

Sounds Good.

Thought I'd add. It's also great being able to actually sort of Gassho and maybe chat.

G,W