March 1-2nd, 2024 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Keizan's Zazen-Yojinki

[Jundo]

We begin a new series on

Master Keizan's 'Zazen-Yōjinki'

坐禅用心記

'Notes to Keep in Heart for Zazen'
(text below)

Dear All,

Please sit our Monthly 4-Hour Treeleaf Zazenkai netcast LIVE 8am to noon Japan time Saturday morning (that is New York 6pm to 10pm, Los Angeles 3pm to 7pm (Friday night), London 11pm to 3am and Paris midnight to 4am (early Saturday morning)), and also sitable any time thereafter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7EwYgulhxM

However, "one way" live sitters are encouraged to come into the Zoom sitting, and just leave the camera and microphone turned off: Join live (with or without a camera & microphone) on Zoom at: TREELEAF Now OR at DIRECT ZOOM LINK, password (if needed): dogen

Dharma Talk Audio / Podcast Episode:

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?22487-TREELEAF-PODCAST-ZAZEN-YOJINKI-SERIES&p=339408#post339408

The Sitting Schedule is as follows:

00:00 - 00:50 CEREMONY (HEART SUTRA IN JAPANESE / SANDOKAI IN ENGLISH) & ZAZEN
00:50 - 01:00 KINHIN
01:00 - 01:30 ZAZEN
01:30 - 01:50 KINHIN

01:50 - 02:30 DHARMA TALK & ZAZEN
02:30 - 02:40 KINHIN & HOKEY-POKEY RITUAL

02:40 - 03:15 ZAZEN
03:15 - 03:30 KINHIN
03:30 - 04:00 METTA CHANT & ZAZEN, VERSE OF ATONEMENT, FOUR VOWS, & CLOSING

ATTENTION: Everyone, when rising for Kinhin or Ceremonies after Zazen, get up slowly, don't rush, hold something stable, you won't be "late," so TAKE YOUR TIME! Make sure you are careful getting up!

Gassho, Jundo

STLah


PS - There is no "wrong" or "right" in Zazen ... yet here is a little explanation of the "right" times to Bow (A Koan) ...

Chant Book is here for those who wish to join in: CHANT BOOK LINK

The other video I mention on Zendo decorum is this one, from our "Always Beginners" video Series:

Sit-a-Long with Jundo: Zazen for Beginners (12) - Basic Zendo Decorum At Home
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...093#post189093

I also recommend a little Talk on why small rituals and procedures are so cherished in the Zendo:

SIT-A-LONG with Jundo: Small Things in the Zendo

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?18494-SIT-A-LONG-with-Jundo-Small-Things-in-the-Zendo

[Jundo]

We begin this month a new series of Talks on Keizan Jokin Zenji's 13th Century ...

w1032096356.2.jpg

... 'Zazen-Yōjinki'

(坐禅用心記; 'Notes to Keep in Heart for Zazen')

Master Keizan, considered with Master Dogen one of the two "Founders" of Soto Zen in Japan, lived from 1264 to 1325. His essay “Zazen-Yōjinki” might be considered an expansion and further exploration of Dogen's explanation of Zazen, the 'Fukanzazengi.' The advice is often very practical, covering such topics as how to sit, breathe, what to wear, eat beforehand and what to do on those days when the mind just won't settle down, while other parts of the essay (such as today's portion) are wild, willy and mind wowing as only Zen writings can be!

I will be drawing from a few different translations, including by Anzan Hoshin-Yasuda and by Okumura Roshi, as modified at Antaiji. Also, translations by Masunaga and Cleary.

It begins ...

~ ~ ~

Zazen means to clarify the mind-ground and dwell comfortably in your actual nature. This is called "the display of the Original Face" and "manifesting the original-ground."

In zazen both body and mind drop off, and you will be far beyond such forms as sitting or lying down. Free from considerations of good and bad, zazen transcends distinctions between ordinary people and sages, it goes far beyond judgements of deluded or enlightened. Zazen includes no boundary between sentient beings and buddha. Therefore put aside all affairs, and let go of all associations [attachments]. Do nothing at all. The six senses produce nothing [Don't fabricate any things with the six senses.].

What is this? Its name is unknown. It cannot be called “body”, it cannot be called “mind”. Trying to think of it, the thought vanishes. Trying to speak of it, words die. It is like a fool, an idiot [but also like the sage]. It is as high as a mountain, deep as the ocean. Without peak or depths, its brilliance is unthinkable, it shows itself silently. Between sky and earth, only this whole body is seen.

This one is without comparison – he has completely died. Eyes clear, he stands nowhere. Where is there any dust? What can obstruct such a one?

Clear water has no back or front, space has no inside or outside. Completely clear, its own luminosity shines before form and emptiness were fabricated. Objects of mind and mind itself have no place to exist.

This has always already been so but it is still without a name. The third patriarch Sengcan, great teacher, temporarily called it “mind”, and the venerable Nagarjuna once called it “body.” Enlightened essence and form, giving rise to the bodies of all the Buddhas, it has no “more” or “less” about it [has neither lack nor excess].

This is symbolized by the full moon but it is this mind which is enlightenment itself. The luminosity of this mind shines throughout the past and brightens as the present. Nagarjuna used this subtle symbol for the samadhi of all the Buddhas but this mind is signless, non-dual, and differences between forms are only apparent.

Just mind, just body. Difference and sameness miss the point. Body arises in mind and, when the body arises, they appear to be distinguished. [Only mind, only body - their difference and sameness are not the issue; mind changes into body, and when the body
appears they are distinguished.] When one wave arises, a thousand waves follow; the moment a single mental fabrication arises, numberless things appear. So the four elements and five aggregates mesh, four limbs and five senses appear and on and on until the thirty-six body parts and the twelve-fold chain of interdependant emergence. Once fabrication arises, it develops continuity but it still only exists through the piling up of myriad dharmas.

The mind is like the ocean waters, the body like the waves. There are no waves without water and no water without waves; water and waves are not separate, motion and stillness are not different. So it is said, "A person comes and goes, lives and dies, as the imperishable body of the four elements and five aggregates."

Zazen is going right into the Ocean of Awareness, manifesting the body of all Buddhas. The natural luminosity of mind suddenly reveals itself and the original light is everywhere. There is no increase or decrease in the ocean and the waves never turn back.

[Jundo]

The Yōjin (用心) of Yōjinki' means "keep in mind," but also "CAUTION!" ...

... so we will dance the Yojin Odori, in this case the "Caution for Fire Safety Dance!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwW2u0i11MM

It says, "Fire is wonderful, but don't get burned!"

After all, most old temples, like Keizan's, were wooden building, so always important!

By the way, every evening in Fall and Winter, in my neighborhood in Japan and many places, the local older fellows with the volunteer fire brigade walk around beating the wooden sticks, or drive around the old fire truck with lights flashing, reminding everyone to be careful with flames and heaters this time of year! It is very nice. They pass my house almost every evening just at 9pm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FVUZoXjTuA

Gassho, J

Stlah

[Bion]

Oh! Fantastic! Been studying this now for some months. This’ll be great to revisit!

Gassho
Sat and lah

[Myosho]

Myosho
Sat

[Kotei]

Thank you everyone!

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Jundo]

As promised, the Elvis Roshi blue moon teachings ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUDghR7Hr98

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJq3AZ4uXqE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj-xEaVj7fw

Gassho, J

stlah

[Shade]

Thanks to everyone who made this possible!

Gassho,

Chukyo

ST/LAH

[Guest]

I caught your talk this morning, it makes me want to dig into Kaizan more.

I have a brother who is interested in meditation but allergic to 'zen', and yesterday we were talking about it. Explaining according to my understanding, the point of shikan-taza without resorting to anything too abstract is quite a challenge, so these kinds of talks are really useful.

Love Onsho's dancing dog....

Gassho

Sattlah

Myojin

[Bion]

I caught your talk this morning, it makes me want to dig into Kaizan more.

I have a brother who is interested in meditation but allergic to 'zen', and yesterday we were talking about it. Explaining according to my understanding, the point of shikan-taza without resorting to anything too abstract is quite a challenge, so these kinds of talks are really useful.

Love Onsho's dancing dog....

Gassho

Sattlah

Myojin

Thank you for joining us! I am happy our timelines collided.
I do hope you danced!

Gassho
Sat and lah

[Guest]

Thank you for joining us! I am happy our timelines collided.
I do hope you danced!

Gassho
Sat and lah

I was only able to catch the talk on YouTube unfortunately. Having 4 hours to myself is an unheard of luxury, having a nearly 1-year old in the house, I do however get a lot of milk bottle zazen!

Gassho
Myojin

[Bion]

I was only able to catch the talk on YouTube unfortunately. Having 4 hours to myself is an unheard of luxury, having a nearly 1-year old in the house, I do however get a lot of milk bottle zazen!

Gassho
Myojin

Ah, yeah.. The Hunger Games! Well, just as a side note, remember you don’t have to sit with it all at once. The recordings are time stamped so it’s easy to break it into sections. The talks all become podcast episodes so there’s that option too

Gassho
Sat and lah

[Guest]

Ah, yeah.. The Hunger Games! Well, just as a side note, remember you don’t have to sit with it all at once. The recordings are time stamped so it’s easy to break it into sections. The talks all become podcast episodes so there’s that option too

Gassho
Sat and lah

Well, I didn’t know about the podcast, I’ll look into that. I quite often like to listen to talks in the mornings with coffee after sitting, it sets the time for the day.

Gassho
Myojin

[Bion]

Well, I didn’t know about the podcast, I’ll look into that. I quite often like to listen to talks in the mornings with coffee after sitting, it sets the time for the day.

Gassho
Myojin

Here you go:

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?140-ZEN-of-EVERYTHING-TREELEAF-Podcasts

It’s the Treeleaf Podcast. I hope today to post the new one, and begin the Yojinki series.

Gassho
Sat and lah

[Houzan]

Sat this one with you just now.
Thank you all[emoji120]

Gassho, Michael
Satlah