Curious Children.

[Gukan]

Thank you Jundo. He's pretty focussed on his practice, for a penguin. I will do my best, bearing in mind the reduced dimensions...

Jishin - indeed. The most insightful comments always seem to come from the kids in my house.

Clarisse and Joyo - it's a good but challenging practice in itself to view these interruptions and strange requests as no less important than the work on the cushion, isn't it? I will check out Buddhism for Mothers, too. Always open to new ways to flow

Gassho,
Libby
sat today

[Jundo]

But then I read in the book Buddhism for Mothers, that the interruptions should be viewed as part of our meditation, you just simply flow from sitting, to helping your child, to sitting again. That really helped me =)

That is totally the way we sit in this Sangha too. Including for our upcoming Rohatsu Retreat. The guide for that says ...

if your are a parent or otherwise have unavoidable obligations during the days of your Retreat, that is fine. In our ‘life as it is’ practice, there are no disturbances … even the disturbances. We will discuss how to make everything during the day and night part of the Retreat, even the events that seemingly bring you ‘back into the world’).
...

... as mentioned, parents and the like can adapt the Retreat to their special needs, making --every-- activity a part of the Retreat

... For parents, [Samu] is an excellent opportunity for child care. However, more than usual, attempt to maintain silence, inner stillness, equanimity and a sense of nonachievement. As our Retreat will be in whole or part recorded, one may move (or even add) ‘Samu’ periods on the schedule as needed for home duties. Child care is all ‘Zazen’ if approached as such.

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?13963-ATTENTION%21-Our-AT-HOME-2-DAY-ROHATSU-RETREAT-December-4th-to-6th%21-BE-READY%21

file:///C:/Users/J.M.Cohen/Downloads/TreeleafZendoRetreatPointers122014%20(4).pdf

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

[Joyo]

That is totally the way we sit in this Sangha too. Including for our upcoming Rohatsu Retreat. The guide for that says ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?13963-ATTENTION%21-Our-AT-HOME-2-DAY-ROHATSU-RETREAT-December-4th-to-6th%21-BE-READY%21

file:///C:/Users/J.M.Cohen/Downloads/TreeleafZendoRetreatPointers122014%20(4).pdf

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

Wonderful, thank you, Jundo!

Libby, here is the link for the Buddhism for Mothers book...

http://www.amazon.ca/Buddhism-Mothers-Approach-Yourself-Children/dp/1742373771/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1447735214&sr=1-1&keywords=buddhism+for+mothers

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today

[Gukan]

Thank you Joyo!



Libby
sat today

[Kairu]

Hi,

I like to play zen with my kids. On the way to school today I asked my 9 year old what "road" meant. He answered other than "no road" he had "no idea."

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

I asked my youngest yesterday, "what is mu?" and she simply replied, "it's just mu."

You can always find the greatest insight from the youngest minds. It made me question myself a bit. A child's mind wanders but never really gets attached to a concept or question unless it really sticks out to them, or unless it has insight for them to absorb. However, us adults get caught up by nearly anything that touches one of our senses.

Just something I realized about kids being kids.

Gassho,
Kyle.
#kidsneedattention.
#willsitsoon.
#pleshalp!hahaha!

Sent from my LG-D851 using Tapatalk

[Jakuden]

Yes it's amazing isn't it? And they are like that with other things that we add layers of overanalysis to, like death... disability... race.... family structure... etc. Why do we adults have to always be getting in our own way, lol.

I would help you, but I have a velcro teenager that also always needs my attention. If we were closer by she would love to babysit and then both our problems (non problems) would be solved!!

Gassho,
Sierra
SatToday

[Mars]

Oh my goodness how I have enjoyed reading this thread! Thank you all for sharing. It's quite relevant to me in so many ways. My husband is Christian, our 23 year old daughter is agnostic, and I follow Buddhism. We honor and respect each other's belief systems. We all live in the "buckle" of the Bible Belt and agree that our 9 year old daughter will find her own way. No pressure from any of us. Since I am at the beginning of my journey, I recently put an alter in our sun room. It's quite lovely situated on a table in front of an array of plants. I just added a small singing bowl to the delight of our 9 year old. I worked at the computer the other day and heard her and her friend gently ringing the bowl. What a lovely sound. All day long, I'd hear the random and slight tings reminding me to be here - in the moment.

That singing bowl captured her attention and prompted many questions. Over the weekend, we talked in the sun room and I answered her questions for the very first time. I suspect she will ask to sit with me sometime.

I am just delighted to be here with every one of you!

Gassho,

Mars Sat Today

[Gukan]

I believe it would be perfectly fine. I have never known a cloth penguin to break a Precept.

Well now. The penguin got his rakusu, and then in an unexpected development my friend built him a cocktail bar for Christmas. Not sure where this leaves him

10426702_1499900520314628_3734678865866999939_n.jpgIMG_0329.jpg

[Byokan]

Well now. The penguin got his rakusu, and then in an unexpected development my friend built him a cocktail bar for Christmas. Not sure where this leaves him

[ATTACH=CONFIG]3195[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]3196[/ATTACH]

Struggling with the precepts like the rest of us. Haaa! This made me laugh out loud, Libby! Pretty much the coolest thing I've ever seen.

Deep bows to Master Penguin, and cheers!

Gassho
Lisa
sat today

[CK732]

Well now. The penguin got his rakusu, and then in an unexpected development my friend built him a cocktail bar for Christmas. Not sure where this leaves him

[ATTACH=CONFIG]3195[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]3196[/ATTACH]

Love it[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

I hope it's going to be a juice bar haha!

Gassho

Clarisse Sat2Day


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