Rakusu Network and Fukudenkai

[Shoka]

As we welcome a new group of dharma sisters and brothers, we would like to invite them to join us in continuing sewing practice.

On occasion we have members who would like to take Jukai but are unable to sew a rakusu, in these cases one is sewn for them by another member. If you have already sewn a rakusu please consider joining the Rakusu Network. This is a group of people who if the need arises would volunteer to sew a rakusu for someone else.

How it works:

A few weeks after Jukai is announced, Jundo will let Ongen and myself know if there is any need for a rakusu to be sewn. We will send out an announcement to volunteers who are closest geographically to see if anyone is available to sew at that time. The volunteer will be responsible for sewing along in the rakusu sew-a-long forum and completing the rakusu with all approvals. At the end Jundo will send the panel and bloodline documents to you. Then after attaching panel, you will forward the rakusu to the participant.

In the spirit of faceless giving and receiving you will not know who you are sewing for until the end of the project. Our hope is that we will have people all over the world ready to sew, so that the rakusu won't have to travel as far and won't have expensive postage and long shipping times.

If you would like to join please comment here or PM Ongen or myself.

Additionally in an effort to continue the sewing practice beyond just Ango, we will be continuing regularly scheduled Fukudenkais. Currently there is a session on Tuesdays at 8:30 PM GMT+1 and we will be adding another on Wednesdays, at 6:30 PM PST GMT -8.

Sewing is part of the practice here at Treeleaf, so we hope you will continue.

Don't know what else to sew? What about a case for the rakusu (Here) or a set of Oryoki clothes (Here). Zafu or zabuton, blankets for the homeless shelters. Google and see what useful items you could make with your new skills.

Gassho,

Shoka
sattoday

[Geika]

I really need to sew! The kesa has been a lesson in speedbumps. Sewing with the group sounds lovely. My work schedule seems to be changing every week, but hopefully I can start to overcome my shyness and join some live events around here.

Thank you for the update, Shoka, gassho.

Sat today

[Mp]

This is wonderful Shoka and will participate when I can. =)

Gassho
Shingen

#sattoday

[Jakuden]

Ah, my first instinct is to jump right in and volunteer, but when I look at my Rakusu, I see all the errors and imperfections and think, who would want a Rakusu with all those crooked stitches and messy chalk lines.... ??

Gassho,
Sierra
SatToday

[Mp]

Ah, my first instinct is to jump right in and volunteer, but when I look at my Rakusu, I see all the errors and imperfections and think, who would want a Rakusu with all those crooked stitches and messy chalk lines.... ??

Gassho,
Sierra
SatToday

Perfectly imperfect, sounds perfect to me. =)

Gassho
Shingen

#sattoday

[Sekishi]

You walked right into that one Sierra! ^_^

Gassho,
Sekishi

[Mp]

You walked right into that one Sierra! ^_^

Gassho,
Sekishi

=) *hehehe*

Gassho
Shingen

#sattoday

[Shoka]

Ah, my first instinct is to jump right in and volunteer, but when I look at my Rakusu, I see all the errors and imperfections and think, who would want a Rakusu with all those crooked stitches and messy chalk lines.... ??

Gassho,
Sierra
SatToday

Sierra,

I did a rakusu with white thread and continually thought, "OMG! I have to tear those out." I probably redid enough stitches on that one to make another rakusu. But the process taught me an important lesson.

I had a running coach who always said, "don't sign-up or rule out doing a marathon right after you have finished one." He said it took time after finishing something like that before deciding to do another.

See how you feel in a couples weeks. We'll still be here sewing.

Gassho,
Shoka

sattoday

[Nindo]

I would like to be a volunteer on stand by. My fingers were itching during this ango.

Gassho
Nindo
sattoday

[Jakuden]

You walked right into that one Sierra! ^_^

Gassho,
Sekishi

Ya I sure did! lol

Sierra,

I did a rakusu with white thread and continually thought, "OMG! I have to tear those out." I probably redid enough stitches on that one to make another rakusu. But the process taught me an important lesson.

I had a running coach who always said, "don't sign-up or rule out doing a marathon right after you have finished one." He said it took time after finishing something like that before deciding to do another.

See how you feel in a couples weeks. We'll still be here sewing.

Gassho,
Shoka

sattoday

Good advice. In the meantime, Dosho lives just down the road from me, relatively speaking, so he would be a much better choice anyway

Gassho,
Sierra
SatToday

[Byokan]

Awesome, Shoka!

Please add my name for volunteer rakusu sewing. I'd be really happy to sew for someone.

Gassho
Lisa
sat today

[Washin]

Great idea, Shoka.

I'd like to be a Rakusu sewing volunteer in the area of need.
Never knew I might turn out to be an able sewer and could even like the whole thing.
I'll be happy to sew for other members.

Gassho
Sergey
sat-today

[Washin]

In the meantime I'm near to finish with my Oryoki clothes

[Ongen]

Great to see enthousiastic reactions
Thank you all!

Ongen

Sat Today

[Jika]

but when I look at my Rakusu, I see all the errors and imperfections and think, who would want a Rakusu with all those crooked stitches and messy chalk lines.... ??

I can relate - I used to work on a second rakusu during Tuesday Fukudenkai, a twin to the first one, and I am full of self-criticism.

The Jukai rakusu I received from Jundo has imperfections, but I love it as it is.

But sewing for another person feels more difficult. Good practice

Please add me for my area or wherever needed.

Gassho,
Jika / Danny