July 5-6th 2024 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Zazen-Yojinki V

[Jundo]

YOJINKI SERIES.jpg

We continue our 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 LIVE with Zazen, Heart Sutra and more. We meet virtually in our Zoom Scheduled Sitting Room here:
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JOIN ZOOM >>.
The password (if needed): << dogen >>

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For local times, please check the Practice Calendar here: TREELEAF NOW >> (8am to noon Japan time Saturday morning, New York 7pm to 11pm, Los Angeles 4pm to 8pm, Friday night, London midnight to 4am and Paris 1am to 5am on early Saturday morning) and also sittable any time thereafter:
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However, "one way" live sitters are encouraged to come into the Zoom sitting, and just leave the camera and microphone turned off.
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Audio recordings of the Talks in this series are available here:
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Dharma Talk Audio / Podcast Episode:
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...408#post339408

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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

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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) ...
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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:
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Sit-a-Long with Jundo: Zazen for Beginners (12) - Basic Zendo Decorum At Home

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?14884-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%2812%29&p=189093#post189093

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

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This is Part V of our series on Keizan Jokin Zenji's 13th Century ...
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... 'Zazen-Yōjinki'

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

This week, Master Keizan again tells us what Zazen is, all by highlighting what Zazen is not ...

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Zazen is also not based upon discipline, practice, or wisdom. These three are all contained within it.

Discipline is usually understood as ceasing wrong action and eliminating evil. In zazen the whole thing is known to be non-dual. Cast off the numberless concerns and rest free from entangling yourself in the “Buddhist way” or the “worldly way.” Leave behind feelings about the path as well as your usual sentiments. When you leave behind all opposites, what can obstruct you? This is the formless discipline of the ground of mind. [ALTERNATE: In zazen we see the whole substance as non dual, cast aside myriad concerns and lay to rest all entanglements. Not concerned with the buddhist way or the worldly way, forgetting feelings about the path as well as mundane feelings, no affirmation or denial, no good or bad - what is there to prevent or stop? This is the formless discipline of the mind ground."]

Practice usually means unbroken concentration. Zazen is dropping the bodymind, leaving behind confusion and understanding. Unshakeable, without activity, it is not deluded but still like an idiot, a fool. Like a mountain, like the ocean. Without any trace of motion or stillness. This practice is no-practice because it has no object to practice and so is called great practice.

Wisdom is usually understood to be clear discernment. In zazen, all knowledge vanishes of itself. Mind and discrimination are forgotten forever. The wisdom-eye of this body has no discrimination but is clear seeing of the essence of awakening. From the beginning it is free of confusion, cuts off concept, and open and clear luminosity pervades everywhere. This wisdom is no-wisdom; because it is traceless wisdom, it is called great wisdom.

The teaching that the buddhas have presented all throughout their lifetimes are just this discipline, practice, and wisdom. In zazen there is no discipline that is not maintained, no practice that is uncultivated, no wisdom that is unrealized. Conquering the demons of confusion, attaining the way, turning the wheel of the Dharma and returning to tracelessness all arise from the power of this. Supernormal powers and inconceivable activities, emanating light and expounding the teaching- all of these are present in this zazen. Penetrating Zen is zazen.
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[Jundo]

In this time's ancient Hokey-Pokey Ritual, dancing on the ground, we are reminded that the 'mind ground' manifests as all the changing emotions ...

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[Guest]

I am not able to be live at zazenkai tonight. Family here for 4th of July and will not be available. I am sorry to miss. I will sit with you on demand.

Gassho
Daiman
St/LAH

[Kotei]

Thank you everyone!

Gassho,
Kotei sat/danced/lah today.

[Bion]

Thank you all for another great Zazenkai. Thank you Shinshi for chanting us through!

Gassho
sat and lah

[PaulH]

Thank you, I sat with you although I chose to split it into two parts for two days. 4 hours at once still sounds to me like walking to the moon
Question - during the Dharma talk and meta verses, is one expected to sit in the lotus/half-lotus/burmese position or it should be a more relaxed one whatever it is?

Gassho
Paul
Sat today & Lent a hand

[Jundo]

Thank you, I sat with you although I chose to split it into two parts for two days. 4 hours at once still sounds to me like walking to the moon
Question - during the Dharma talk and meta verses, is one expected to sit in the lotus/half-lotus/burmese position or it should be a more relaxed one whatever it is?

Gassho
Paul
Sat today & Lent a hand

One can sit in Zazen, listening while sitting Zazen, or one can relax and drink tea in some relaxed way ... but just try not to be checking facebook or falling asleep!

Gassho, Jundo

[Tairin]

Thank you everyone. I sat with you this morning.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Stacy]

Sat with you today, for what I was able. Thank you.

Gassho,
Stacy

ST/LAH

[Bion]

Sat with you today, for what I was able. Thank you.

Gassho,
Stacy

ST/LAH

Stacy, thank you so much for making the time to sit with us!

Gassho
sat and lah

[Jundo]

For translation nerds like me ...

I mentioned during the talk my wondering why, last month, Master Keizan said, "Zazen is not based upon teaching, practice or realization," but this month, " Zazen is also not based upon discipline, practice, or wisdom." Why mention "practice" twice?

Well, he really did not: Looking at the Kanji, the first "practice" really is "practice" (行), but this month's practice is actually not a good translation, not really practice, but is "定" which is better as "Samadhi" or "concentration." That fits in better too with the theme of the paragraph, "unbroken concentration" that really is not.

Gassho, J

stlah

[Houzan]

Sat with you all just now.
Thank you, Treeleaf

Gassho, Hōzan
Satlah

[Jundo]

My compliments to Bion who, somehow (it must be one of the "supernormal powers" Keizan was discussing) spliced and threaded all the broken discussion from the Dharma Talk, where we kept loosing and getting back the Zoom connection, into a totally smooth and coherent whole, especially in the audio version for the Podcast. Wow. You worked hard, Bion. The video version here is pretty good too.

https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/practices/zen-of-everything-treeleaf-podcasts/16551-treeleaf-podcast-zazen-yojinki-series?p=525444#post525444

Gassho, J

stlah

[Kaitan]

Thank you, everyone! Lovely talk, Jundo
I didn't know zazen could grant wishes

Gassho

stlah, Kaitan