We have created this special section of the forum, hopefully only necessary for awhile until peace and sanity return, so that our Treeleaf members and visiting friends may sit in support of Washin and other Zen practitioners in the Ukraine Sangha each Sunday.
Members of the Ukraine Sangha are now widely dispersed. Some have fled as refugees. Some, terribly, remain in cities such as Kyiv which are under attack. Washin was on a farm with a shelter until a few days ago, outside of Odessa. However, we just learned that he gave up his place in the shelter to a family with small children who needed it, and decided instead to return alone to his own apartment very close to the seaport of Odessa. Fortunately, it appears that Odessa remains relatively quiet for now, although a sea invasion by the Russian navy is anticipated at some point as Odessa is a major port, and shelling of that area is very likely. May all be safe!
He plans to host Zazen live from there or wherever he can, each Sunday at the following times ...
... beginning at 6 am Los Angeles time, 9 am New York time, 2pm in London, 3pm in Paris, 4 pm Kyiv time, 5 pm Moscow time.
The gatherings will likely not be recorded, however.
The short schedule is:
- Heart Sutra, to be Chanted by Washin in Ukranian, Russian or English on alternate weeks.
- Zazen for 40 minutes
- The Verse of Atonement
- The Four Vows
- Zazen for 40 minutes
- The Verse of Atonement
- The Four Vows
We have invited and expect people from the wider Zen Buddhist world to join us and to sit with Washin for peace (including, may I mention, some Zen people in Russia who have indicated that they will do their best to attend in fellowship, if the internet is not blocked.) If possible, members of Washin's Odessa Sangha will also join us for Zazen from their various locations.
Please be aware that the internet, electricity and other conditions are very unstable in Ukraine now. So, if for any reason, Washin cannot connect on certain days, we ask your understanding, and we will sit with him in our hearts. We thank Shugen and Onkai for letting us move their weekly Sunday sitting here for now.
Please note that Washin will chant the Heart Sutra before Zazen each time, but will alternate languages among Ukranian, Russian and English on various days to emphasize the need for peace and understanding among all peoples in this world. Although some who suffer now as victims of violence must rightly defend themselves, and some who do violence must be stopped by resisting the harm they do, we Buddhists do our best to remember that, ultimately, excess desire, hate, anger, violence, objectifying others and divided thinking are the root cause of war. The true message of the Heart Sutra is beyond languages.
Let us all come together in hope of peace.
Here is a recording of Washin's first Zazen gathering, on March 6th:
Tricycle had a little profile of Washin last week:
Gassho, J