Wearing of lay practictioner robe

[Chishou]

Here is an English haiku I wrote about robes:

Buddha's robe
around my neck-
Littmann stethoscope


Nine bows,
Chishou
Sat

[Emmet]

Here is an English haiku I wrote about robes:

Buddha's robe
around my neck-
Littmann stethoscope


Nine bows,
Chishou
Sat

As a former Wearer of the Littmann, I like that very much.

[Myogan]

no robe or kilt 4 me

Peace
Gilles

Actually a kilt is quite nice when sitting seiza on the zabuton

Gassh
Sat

[Getchi]

Can a kesa put on with no hands ever be discarded?


Gassho,
Geoff.

SatToday
LaH.

[Jundo]

Actually a kilt is quite nice when sitting seiza on the zabuton

Gassh
Sat

Yes, but just be careful about those Yoga poses in your kilt ...



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Gassho, J

STLah

[Jakuden]

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

[Kevin M]

My eyes! My God, my eyes ...

Though it does raise a question: could one use a clan tartan as material for a Rakusu or would that be inappropriate?

Gassho,
Kevin
Sat

[Jundo]

My eyes! My God, my eyes ...

Though it does raise a question: could one use a clan tartan as material for a Rakusu or would that be inappropriate?

Gassho,
Kevin
Sat

No, no tartan. Not for a first Rakusu anyway.

However, maybe somewhere down the road.

They are not the plain "Nyoho-e" style that we sew, but in Japan, big Roshis can sometimes wear some rather fancy Rakusu (but you have to wait until you are a big fancy Roshi) :-)







(Why does the top one remind me of my late, beloved, grandmother's sofa? Hummm. I recall the plastic slip covers fondly. )

I have seen a few, primarily American, Zen teachers get a little creative with the Rakusu ... like a blue jeans Rakusu and one Snoopy Rakusu I recall. However, please wait for now.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Myogan]

So tempted to make a Kesa with Tartan Panels now!

Gassho
Sat

[Kevin M]

No, no tartan. Not for a first Rakusu anyway.

Of course Jundo. I'm still working my way up to "noob" so I'll definitely stick to the basics. I'm going dark blue for my first Rakusu. I can only imagine the PM conversation with Shingen if I asked to use tartan for the Rakusu ... I think his head might explode lol.

Gassho,
Kevin
Sat

[Yamabushi]

I was previously aware that lay practitioners are to make a rakusu in navy. I would like to ask if there - is there specific color of kesa lay practitioners who have participated in the jukai may wear? Is there a color of kimono other than white that may be worn under the lay practitioners robe?

Thank you for your assistance with my questions.

Gassho,


Yamabushi
(Sat Today)

[Shinshi]

Hi Yamabushi,

Here at Treeleaf we don't ascribe specific colors for folks, either for the Rakusu or the Kesa. We do follow Nyoho-e with regards to color and we will be talking more about that as we start the Rakusu sewing thread. In general they are dark, "muddy" colors.

From a post by Jundo, "The color should not be a pure and bright color, it should be neither white nor a clear primary color, rather a mixed and muddy darkish color: blue, grey, brown, purple, black, dark yellow, dark green..."

Before sewing a Kesa one requests permission from Jundo. At a minimum they must have completed Jukai. Once given the go ahead, the priests here can help you choose a color. Again, there is no lay practitioner color per se, but the color should conform to Nyoho-e.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Jundo]

What Shinshi said. He is one of our "Three Rakusuteers," Kotei, aided and advised by Washin and Shinshi, who will facilitate sewing during our Jukai preparations.

As to the underrobe under the lay practitioner's robe (sometimes called "kimono" or "naga-juban" 長襦袢 long Juban, not to be confused with the top only han-juban or half juban), I cannot speak for other Sangha. As well, here the lay practitioner's robe is purely optional, not required. However, in Japan, priests wear white underrobes for very formal ceremonies, but otherwise white or gray colored usually. The gray are easier to keep clean. So, I would say either white or gray is fine.



Gassho, J

STLah

[Yamabushi]

Thank you all for your helpful insight on this topic.


Gassho,


-Jared

[Jundo]

Nishijima Roshi believed that the only robe with real meaning is the Kesa/Rakusu ... so western street clothes are perfectly sacred and fine too ...

... and the other old robes, well, we may wear for tradition, but he said that it is like dressing up as ancient Chinese people for Halloween!

Gassho, J

STLah