BIG EVENT: Our Shukke Tokudo Homeleaving Ordination of Sekishi & Daizan - SATURDAY!

[Jundo]

This Saturday April 23rd (Saturday 10 AM Eastern Time, 7AM Pacific Time in North America, 3pm London Time and 4pm Paris Time), and marking Treeleaf's 10th Anniversary, our Sangha will welcome two new novice priests through the ritual of 'Shukke Tokudo' Homeleaving Ordination.

As is typical of our Sangha, the ceremony will be conducted simultaneously in various places around the world ... dropping all thought of here and there, now and then ... with the Preceptor (Jundo) in Japan, and our Ordainees, Daizan Richard Herman in Canada, Sekishi Eric Weik in the United States, all as witnessed by our Sangha members in many countries.

If you would like to witness the ceremony, and join in our celebration, the netcast will be seen at this link on Google+ ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNXdwsmeD4U
event page:
https://plus.google.com/events/cg2bl...i1fkkas9hei65o

The Ceremony will be about an hour or so. We may have room for one or two folks who have webcams and know how to join a Google+ Hangout to join as 'witnesses' to the ceremony on behalf of the entire Sangha. If you can commit to being there, and are already familiar with Google+, please e-mail or PM to Jundo. I will try to include as many people as I can. While everyone else will watch "one way" at the link above, our witnesses shall be representing the warm hearts of everyone witnessing the ceremony from home. Although most folks will be watching "one way", please know that the warm hearts of everyone witnessing the ceremony from home are present with us during the Ceremony. You are with us all.

If you cannot join us live, FEAR NOT, as the entire event will be recorded and shared with everyone at the above link for all to witness later.

Thank you to all in our Sangha for joining us in this time of celebration.

If you would like to read a bit more about the meaning of Shukke Tokudo Homeleaving as a Novice-Priest here at Treeleaf, please look below in this thread.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THIS AUSPICIOUS DAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY!

Gassho, Jundo

[Jundo]

Dear All,

I am very content to make this announcement, and ask everyone sitting with our Sangha to join in its celebration. OUR SANGHA WILL WELCOME THROUGH 'Home Leaving' ORDINATION TWO NEW NOVICE-PRIEST TRAINEES, well known faces around here ... Sekishi Eric Weik and Daizan Richard Herman. They will join our present Novice-Priest Trainees, Fugen, Kyonin, Yugen, Shokai, Jiken, Shingen and Shugen. Daizan and Sekishi will be Ordained by Jundo as Novice Priest-Trainees.

From time to time, after undertaking Zen practice for many years, a person may feel in their heart a certain calling. They may wish to train in our traditions and embody them in order to keep this way alive into the next generation as clergy. They may feel a calling within themselves to live as a servant and minister to the community, to the Sangha and to all living beings.

Traditionally, in India, China, Japan and the other Buddhist countries of Asia, one was expected to leave one’s home and family behind in order to begin the necessary training and practice of an “apprentice”. Thus, the ancient ceremony of ordination in Buddhism became known as Shukke Tokudo, “Leaving Home to Take the Way”. Now, in modern Japan and in the West, one of the great changes in the nature of Buddhist clergy has been that most of us function more as “ministers” than “monks”, with family and children, often with outside jobs as “Right Livelihood” supporting us, while ministering to a community of parishioners. This, in keeping with changes in cultures and society, has done much to bring Buddhism out from behind monastery walls. While, now, we may be living in a monastic setting for periods of weeks or months (and thus can be called “monks” during such times), we then return to the world beyond monastery walls, where these teachings have such relevance for helping people in this ordinary life. We are not bound by monastery walls, dropping all barriers separating "inside" from "out". Thus, the term “leaving home” has come to have a wider meaning, of “leaving behind” greed, anger, ignorance, the harmful emotions and attachments that fuel so much of this world, in order to find the “True Home” we all share. In such way, we find that Home that can never be left, take to the Way that cannot be taken.

Someone’s undertaking “Shukke Tokudo” is not a “raising up” of their position in the Sangha, it is not an honor or “promotion” into some exalted status, not by any meaning. Far from it, it is a lowering of oneself in offering to the community, much as all of us sometimes deeply bow upon the ground in humility, raising up others and the whole world above our humbled heads.



It is to volunteer and offer oneself as the lowest ‘sailor on the ship’ at the beck and call of the passengers' well-being and needs, a nurse to help clean soiled linens, a brother or sister to sacrifice oneself for a family, a friend offering to help carry a burden. One must be committed sincerely to serve and benefit others, and one must not undertake such a road for one’s own benefit, praise or reward.

What is more, the undertaking of “Shukke Tokudo” is not the end of the road of training, not by any meaning. Far from it, it is but the first baby steps. Perhaps, years down the road, the person will find that that they still have the inner calling to continue this path … and, perhaps, years down the road, they may have embodied this Tradition sufficiently to continue it and be certified as full “priest” and a teacher … but there is no guaranty of any of that. For this reason, one undertaking “Home Leaving” is not yet recognized in the Zen world as truly a fully ordained “priest” for many years, and is called an “Unsui”, meaning “clouds and water”. The best translation in English is “apprentice priest” or "novice priest" or “priest trainee”. Perhaps, years down the road, some trainees will be felt to have embodied these traditions sufficiently in order to function independently as teachers … but not necessarily. For now, they are just school children expected to learn … with the future not assured, and no promises about future promise. (Of course, we are all beginners, all children … all learning from each other … teachers learning from students too).

We hope that, in the coming years, other people will feel this same calling. It must be by mutual decision. It is not something that should be rushed into, nor rushed through. Although people are all different, maybe a good time to first consider such a thing would be only after practicing for 5 years or longer, and then it should be deeply thought about (and non-thought about) for longer still before first taking on the responsibilities of being an apprentice student-priest.

For now, [u]I am pleased to announce that Daizan and Sekishi will be our next “class” of Novice Priest-Trainees in a great experiment here. The reason is that, given the nature of our Sangha, the coming years of training will have to be done in some traditional ways and some very new, innovative ways. If anyone wishes to download and read a very long and detailed statement of the ‘goalless goals’ of training that these people are expected to follow and come to embody … here it is (33 pages, PDF).

http://sites.google.com/site/jundotreeleaf/TreeleafPriestTrainingProgram-Jan2010.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1

These “Treeleaf Sangha Guidelines for Training Soto Zen Buddhist Clergy” are based, as closely as we can, upon guidelines for priest training established by the Soto Zen Buddhist Association (SZBA) of North America. The process of training, with no guaranty that it can ever come to flower, will take several years. As our Guidelines state:

These Guideline seek to address four main topics for individuals wishing to train as clergy and teachers of Soto Zen Buddhism within the Treeleaf Sangha:

1. Purpose – What are we training priests for? How should a priest trainee gain necessary skills to function when out on their own, and how are they expected to function and conduct themselves both during and after training?

2. Standards – How do we train priests? What do we expect from a priest after ordination? What areas of work are essential?

3. Elements – What are the specific activities, events, and processes that make up priest training?

4. Stages – What do we expect of a person before ordination (shukke tokudo)? What, if any stages should priests pass through after ordination?

However, these Guidelines, and our Sangha’s program of training, are necessarily works in progress, and an ongoing endeavour, and thus subject to great experimentation, constant adjustment, flexibility and change throughout their unfolding.


VISION:

The purpose of priest training is to prepare individuals for a life dedicated to exemplifying the Dharma with integrity via empowering them to extend Buddhist teachings and Soto Zen practice out in the world, all in keeping with the traditional teachings of Soto Zen Buddhism and the philosophy of our Lineage.

Priest training encourages the continuing unfolding of the Bodhisattva ideal characterized by the Six Paramitas of giving, ethical conduct, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom. Yet the heart and flowering of our way is always Shikantaza, sitting and moving in stillness without grasping or rejecting any of the constantly arising and changing phenomena of life as-they-are, the life practice of the Buddhas and Ancestors manifesting and realizing the Genjô-kôan, the fundamental point actualized through this life-practice

Although much of the training and experience-gathering to be acquired, by necessity in our Lineage, must occur at a distance, with some ingenuity and in small steps and pieces, all must be part of an unbroken whole. It is the quality of the results which matter most, and the maintenance of integrity throughout, more than the traditional road followed to arrive at the destination. In this training, both teacher and student must use care, employ great effort and creativity, overcome any hurdles and pay constant attention to detail such that no aspect of training is neglected.

Training, sometimes in a residential setting and sometimes not, sometimes in a group with others and sometimes by the student's own endeavors, will be based on the following perspectives …

The period of formation that follows upon novice ordination (shukke tokudo) may continue for any number of years prior to possible (although never inevitable) Dharma Transmission, but truly continues as a lifelong endeavor that will sustain individuals dedicated to exemplifying the Dharma and the the Bodhisattva ideal. Completing formal priest training will mean that an individual has internalized the tradition, is capable of transmitting it, and vows to devote her or himself to a life of continuous practice and service.The individual’s dedication to the elements of priest training must enable him or her to maintain a regular, disciplined zazen practice, to instruct and guide others in their practice, to present and discuss the history and teachings of Buddhism and Soto Zen, to perform services and ceremonies in the Soto style as appropriate and required in the circumstance, and to actively nurture and serve both Sangha and the larger community and society.

In addition, priest training must make the individual aware of the highest ethical standards which must always be maintained by a member of the clergy, thereby assisting him or her in maintaining such standards in his or her personal life at all times. Training will also enable the individual to demonstrate personal qualities that inspire trust and confidence and encourage others to practice. Finally, training will enable the individual to clearly understand – and communicate to others – the relationship of Zen teaching and practice to everyday life.

We hope that you will join us in wishing Sekishi and Daizan well in their start on this long undertaking. Most of you will know them very well from their almost daily participation here over several years, and the energy, wisdom and compassion they always bring to our community. The ceremony will occur much as our prior Ordination Ceremonies, across oceans using all means of modern media, dropping all thought of place and time.

As in all we undertake in our Sangha, the ceremony will not be limited to a specific location, much as our annual Jukai here at Treeleaf … and we hope that you will all join us for the ceremonies when the time comes.

Gassho, Jundo

[Mp]

Wonderful wonderful, I will be there live supporting an celebrating our new priests! =)

Nine bows
Shingen

s@today

[Kyotai]

I will be travelling, but there in spirit

Gassho, Kyotai
ST

[Amelia]

Looking forward to it, congratulations!

Gassho, sat today

[Sekishi]

Gassho,
Sekishi
#sattoday

[Jika]

I'll be there one-way, happy to celebrate this!

And remember: LOUD!!!

Gassho
Jika
#sattoday

[Jakuden]

Wonderful!! Will be there one-way, barring any last minute emergencies! Thank you Sekishi and Daizan for your practice.

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

[Byokan]

Joy! Thank you Sekishi and Daizan for your dedication. Deep bows to the practice.

Gassho
Byōkan
sat today

[Washin]

Congratulations to Daizan and Sekishi!
I will be present one-way.

Gassho
Washin
sat today

[Rich]

Thank you for your commitment to carry this tradition forward.

Sat today

[Kyonin]

It will be an honor to attend and celebrate with my brothers.

Congratulations and gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday

[Eishuu]

Looking forward to being there one-way. Congratulations Daizan and Sekishi on this wonderful step.

Gassho
Lucy
Sat today

[Dainin]

Wonderful! Congratulations Sekishi and Daizan!

I would very much like to join in the celebration, but need to get up to speed on G+ and the like. Of course, since being back, I've planned on doing so; and if I can by the end of the week, I will be happily present (well, I'll be happily present whether on or offline!).

Gassho,
Dainin

SatToday

[Doshin]

I look forward to sharing this with you one way.

Gassho
Doshin
Sattoday