Confirmation Name

**Jundo** · 08-24-2015, 02:22 PM

Hi Stephan,

Welcome again.

First off, a name is a name is a name ... a rose by any other name is as sweet ... what is your real name before your mother and father were born?

But why not keep the name German? How is "Japanese" more "real Zen"? I did not know that Zen was a matter of German or Japanese. Nonetheless, you can also change it to Japanese if you wish. No reason not to do so either. German, Japanese or Swahili is all good.

In fact, out of respect for tradition, I do hand out Chinese-Japanese names to folks each year as part of our Jukai. Kinda silly not to keep them in English or some other language (a few Sangha do so), but it just respects our Sino-Japanese roots. It may be a bit early for you to even to consider that, but you can read about it all here ...

Treeleaf Zendo

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?13691-ANNOUNCMENT-It-s-JUKAI-TIME-2015%21

If you would like my help to translate your name to Japanese, I will.　Can you show me the picture? It would help.

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

**stratoflash** · 08-24-2015, 05:50 PM

Thanks Jundo,

i will consider the Junkai-Offer.

Considering your last sentence: Do you mean a picture of this certificate from Thich Nhat Hanh? I can make scan and send it to you?
The reason why its in german is that i got this name from a german nun on that reatreat, since we were divided into several small groups, lead by expirenced nuns and monks.

Gassho, Stephan

SatToday (straight like a queen and humble like a monk)

**Jundo** · 08-25-2015, 12:07 AM

Hi Stratoflash,

No, I fully trust. It is just that I am not sure of the exact phrase, as there are a few possibilities. If it is not already written in Chinese characters, I can make something up for you.

One thing, though, would you mind signing your posts with that name or Stephan, and posting a human face photo for all to see? As I wrote yesterday on another thread ...

Though ... sorry to be pesky ... but avatars should be a human face (if not you actually ... we have some law enforcement folks who did not feel able to do that because of their work ... then someone in that general direction).

Why? Although a picture of stones or the ocean is you, actually, in a very Buddhist way ...

... and none and all of that is your True Face Before Your Mother and Father Were Born (a famous Koan) ...

... also, we are human beings, and it is helpful for people to look into the eyes and see the smile of another human being. It is one of the little things we can do around here to make this place a bit more personal.

So, sorry to ask, but please post an avatar of a human face. Thank you.

Gassho, Jundo

PS - Everyone should check out our confidentiality tips here, if you have not before ... it lets us open up to each other around here, but be smart about it too.

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...Sangha-Members

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

**stratoflash** · 08-25-2015, 07:57 AM

Hi Jundo,

well, i ve uploaded a picture. Up to now, i cant see it set to my posts, but i see it as avatar in my profile.

Gassho, Stephan

**Jika** · 08-25-2015, 08:54 AM

Hallo Stephan,
I think this can be helped: go to "settings" (upper right), then look for "general settings" in the left column. Scroll down and select "show avatars". I can see your picture right now. You only need to change your own profile to view it yourself.
PM me in German if I can be of help.

If I may ask, what is the "Zen picture" your name is referring to?
Is it an actual picture, like drawing or writing?
And if your German dharma name means much to you, why not use it?
I understand that Jundo would not mind.

Viele Grüße,
Gassho,
Danny
#sattoday

Mp · 08-25-2015, 02:23 PM

Originally posted by stratoflash

Hi Jundo,

well, i ve uploaded a picture. Up to now, i cant see it set to my posts, but i see it as avatar in my profile.

Gassho, Stephan

Hello Stephan ... looks like you have everything setup just right with your Profile/Avatar photo, as I see you both on the forum threads and your profile. =)

Gassho
Shingen

#sattoday

**stratoflash** · 08-25-2015, 05:15 PM

Hi Danny, i guess this is a missunderstanding :-).

I ve meant that this name, in german "Immerwährender Neubeginn des Herzens", (everlasting renewal of the heart), is to me a reference to one of the pictures / analogies that are used in the book "Zen Mind, Beginners Mind" for practitioners should keep a fresh mind toward things. Maybe this is not the same, but for me it is. I also found signs (vietnamese or japanese) near the german name. I guess i should scan it. Maybe someone of you could read it.

Can i upload a file to post?

Edit: I ll uploaded a scan on my public dropbox: see the signs by the german name https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...tratoflash.pdf

Gassho,
Stephan

**Jika** · 08-25-2015, 07:00 PM

Ah, so the full phrase is the name that was given to you, I see.
Maybe even a translation of the Vietnamese or Japanese writing?

If you scan it or take a picture, you can upload it if you use the "Go Advanced" answering option.
Maybe adjust file size. http://picresize.com can help you doing that.

Gassho,
Danny

**Jundo** · 08-26-2015, 12:43 AM

Ah, the Kanji written there are ...

心常

Shinjo = Heartmind/Always-lasting (actually, the "jo" is somewhat stretched in pronunciation, and is "jou" or "joo", but is okay to spell as "jo" in English. "Shin" sounds like the shin of your leg, and "jo" sounds like the man's name "Joe")

新始

Shinshi New/Beginning (this "shin" sounds also like the shin of your leg, and "shi" sounds like the "she" of "he and she").

Thus: .... "everlasting renewal of the heart" or ""heart everlasting renewal"

I believe that, in Buddhist terms, "Shinshi" is the daily use name (Shinjo the more formal full name we don't use, and which is not typical to give to people receiving Jukai). So, in Japanese you would be ...

Shinshi

However, I would so much like if you called yourself "Immerwährender Neubeginn des Herzens", and used that as your name. Really, long German names are SO COOL!

Anyway ... a name is just a name is just a name ...

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

You can sign your posts either Stephan or Shinshi or "Immerwährender Neubeginn des Herzens", as you wish.

**stratoflash** · 08-26-2015, 09:48 AM

Hi Jundo,

thank you very much.

I didnt know, that there were japanese Kanji written to it. But now i remember why: As i was given this certificat with the german name on it, i was a bit puzzled, for i would have expected to have a vietnamese name (Thich Nhat Hanh and his root temple are vietnamese CHAN buddhists ). On that retreat i made friends with a japanese nun. I asked her, what the vietnamese name would be, since she said that she could translate the german name to vietnamese. So her first translation step was to put the name to japanese (thats were the Kanjis are from) and then put the japanese to vietnamese, as you see also on the certificate above the Kanjis.

Think, i would use "Shinshi", since "Immerwährender Neubeginn des Herzens" is quite long.

Again, thank you very much.

Gassho,

Shinshi

**Jundo** · 08-26-2015, 11:12 AM

Originally posted by stratoflash

Think, i would use "Shinshi", since "Immerwährender Neubeginn des Herzens" is quite long.

Is the Buddha's True Name long or short, German or Japanese?

Gassho, J

SatToday

**stratoflash** · 08-26-2015, 09:20 PM

:-)

Gassho, Shinshi

SatToday

**Luciana** · 08-26-2015, 09:57 PM

Welcome, Immerwährender Neubeginn des Herzens (love that name).

_/\_

L.

sat2day

**Nengyo** · 08-26-2015, 10:10 PM

Originally posted by Luciana

Welcome, Immerwährender Neubeginn des Herzens (love that name).

_/\_

L.

sat2day

Me too. I want to be a Immerwährender Neubeginn des Herzens!

_/\_

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