Sept. 6-7 2024 -OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI- Commencing Jukai/Ango Season!

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  • Jundo
    Treeleaf Founder and Priest
    • Apr 2006
    • 40379

    Sept. 6-7 2024 -OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI- Commencing Jukai/Ango Season!



    We commence our Jukai (Undertaking the Precepts) preparations and Ango (Peaceful Abiding) season ...
    ... with a writing by Master Dogen on doing good, the Precepts and Zazen,
    as our response to so much bad in this world ...


    Shoaku Makusa
    諸惡莫作

    'Not Doing Wrongs'
    (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:
    .
    JOIN ZOOM >>.
    The password (if needed): << dogen >>

    .
    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:
    .
    .
    However, "one way" live sitters are encouraged to come into the Zoom sitting, and just leave the camera and microphone turned off.
    .
    Audio recordings of the Talks in this series are available here:
    .
    Dharma Talk Audio / Podcast Episode:
    https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...408#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/show...s-in-the-Zendo
    Last edited by Bion; 09-05-2024, 05:09 AM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE
  • Jundo
    Treeleaf Founder and Priest
    • Apr 2006
    • 40379

    #2
    We commence our Jukai season with awareness that doing the good that we can, living gently by the precepts, is at the heart of our Buddhist response to all the greed, hate, killing and other terrible violence, cruelty and callousness in this world.

    Even as we do our best to do good, avoiding bad, seeking to end true evil in this world ... our practice also allows us to know something more, truly Good, shining through all human and worldly good and bad.

    We will examine a few sections of Master Dogen's famous essay, Shoaku Makusa (Not Doing Wrongs).
    ~ ~ ~

    The eternal buddha says,
    Not to commit wrongs,
    To practice the many kinds of right,
    Naturally purifies the mind;
    This is the teaching of the buddhas


    ... In regard to the “wrongs” that we are discussing now, among “rightness,” “wrongness,” and “indifference,” there is “wrongness.” Its essence is just nonappearance [unborn]. The essence of rightness, the essence of indifference, and so on are also nonappearance, are [the state] without excess [nondefiled], and are real form. At the same time, at each concrete place these three properties include innumerable kinds of dharmas. In “wrongs,” there are similarities and differences between wrong in this world and wrong in other worlds. There are similarities and differences between former times and latter times. There are similarities and differences between wrong in the heavens above and wrong in the human world. How much greater is the difference between moral wrong, moral right, and moral indifference in Buddhism and in the secular world. Right and wrong are time; time is not right or wrong. Right and wrong are the Dharma; the Dharma is not right or wrong. [When] the Dharma is in balance [all-inclusive], wrong is in balance. [When] the Dharma is in balance, right is in balance. This being so, when we learn [the supreme state of] anuttara samyaksaṃbodhi, when we hear the teachings, do training, and experience the fruit, it is profound, it is distant, and it is fine [deep, vast, and wondrous].

    ...

    When we investigate them like this, wrongs are realized as having become completely the same as “not committing.” Aided by this realization, we can penetrate the “not committing” of wrongs, and we can realize it decisively by sitting. Just at this moment—when reality is realized as the “not committing” of wrongs at the beginning, middle, and end—wrongs do not arise from causes and conditions; they are nothing other than just “not committing.” Wrongs do not vanish due to causes and conditions; they are nothing other than just “not committing.” If wrongs are in balance, all dharmas are in balance. ... It is not that wrongs do not exist; they are nothing other than “not committing.” It is not that wrongs exist; they are nothing other than not committing.​

    ...

    “Practice the many kinds of right.” ... There is none among the many kinds of right that fails to appear at the very moment of doing right. The myriad kinds of right have no set shape but they converge on the place of doing right faster than iron to a magnet, and with a force stronger than the vairambhaka [great hurricane] winds. It is utterly impossible for the earth, mountains and rivers, the world, a nation, or even the force of accumulated karma, to hinder [this] coming together of right. ... What can be recognized [as right] is called right​ ... Or, for example, it is like the keeping of the precepts by a śrāvaka being the violation of the precepts by a bodhisattva.​ ... The many kinds of right are “good doing” but they are neither of the doer nor known by the doer, and they are neither of the other nor known by the other.​ ... At just this moment of “good doing” the realized universe exists ...

    ... The cause-and-effect of this right, similarly, is the universe as the realization of “good doing.” It is not that causes are before and effects are after. Rather, causes perfectly satisfy themselves and effects perfectly satisfy themselves; when causes are in balance the Dharma is in balance and when effects are in balance the Dharma is in balance. Awaited by causes, effects are felt, but it is not a matter of before and after; for the truth is present that the [moment] before and the [moment] after are balanced [as they are].​

    ...

    ... Even if wrong upon wrong pervade the whole universe, and even if wrongs have swallowed the whole Dharma again and again, there is still salvation and liberation in “not committing.”​ ...

    ...
    ... Layman Kyoi asks, “What is the great intention of the Buddha-Dharma?”
    Master Dōrin says, “Not to commit wrongs. To practice the many kinds of right.”
    Kyoi says, “If it is so, even a child of three can express it!”
    Dōrin says, “A child of three can speak the truth, but an old man of eighty cannot practice it.”

    .
    Kyoi thinks that Dōrin is only telling him “Do not commit wrongs! Practice the many kinds of right!” through recognition of the conscious aim. Thus, he neither knows nor hears the truth that the time-honored67 [teaching] of the “not committing” of wrongs, the “good doing” of rights, has been in Buddhism from the eternal past to the eternal present.​ ... [But] Even if wrong upon wrong pervade the whole universe, and even if wrongs have swallowed
    the whole Dharma again and again, there is still salvation and liberation in “not committing.”​ ... He does not hear Dōrin’s voice, which is more vivid than thunder, and so he says, “Even a child of three could express it!” as if to say that [Master Dōrin himself] has not expressed the truth in his words. Thus [Kyoi] does not hear the lion’s roar of an infant, and he passes vainly by the Zen master’s turning of the Dharma wheel.​ ...
    ​​​
    Last edited by Jundo; 09-05-2024, 03:36 AM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

    Comment

    • Jundo
      Treeleaf Founder and Priest
      • Apr 2006
      • 40379

      #3
      James 'Roshi' Brown reminds us ...
      Wow! I feel nice, like sugar and spice
      I feel nice, like sugar and spice
      So nice, so nice, 'cause I got you
      When I hold you in my arms
      I know that I can't do no wrong
      And when I hold you in my arms
      My love won't do you no harm

      .

      Gassho, J
      stlah
      Last edited by Jundo; 09-05-2024, 03:34 AM.
      ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

      Comment

      • Bion
        Treeleaf Unsui
        • Aug 2020
        • 4599

        #4
        Wonderful occasion and I hope I see many, many of you there! Time to begin our Ango!

        Gassho
        sat and lah
        "Stepping back with open hands, is thoroughly comprehending life and death. Immediately you can sparkle and respond to the world." - Hongzhi

        Comment

        • Anthony
          Member
          • Aug 2023
          • 89

          #5
          I won't be able to make it live due to my work schedule, but I wanted to wish metta to all joiners and Ango-participants! I will join you across space and time tomorrow morning.

          Gassho,
          Anthony
          satlah

          Comment

          • PaulH
            Member
            • Apr 2023
            • 74

            #6
            Sat with you today - it was my first 4-hour zazenkai done in one set

            Gassho
            Paul
            Sat today & Lent a hand

            Comment

            • Bion
              Treeleaf Unsui
              • Aug 2020
              • 4599

              #7
              Originally posted by PaulH
              Sat with you today - it was my first 4-hour zazenkai done in one set

              Gassho
              Paul
              Sat today & Lent a hand
              Ah! Thank you for making the effort!

              Gassho
              sat and lah
              "Stepping back with open hands, is thoroughly comprehending life and death. Immediately you can sparkle and respond to the world." - Hongzhi

              Comment

              • Shigeru
                Member
                • Feb 2024
                • 52

                #8
                Sat with you all this morning. Thank you all. And thank you Jundo for the excellent teaching of this text, a great talk to start off Ango. One thing I will especially carry with me after this talk was this great quote:

                ...That's what we do. That is Jukai, that is the meaning of our precepts, this is the answer for us to the violence, to the wrong and the ugliness in this world. It's on you. Leave the world better, that's all, that's Jukai.


                Gassho
                Will
                SatLah
                - Will

                Respecting others is my only duty - Ryokan

                Comment

                • Kotei
                  Treeleaf Priest
                  • Mar 2015
                  • 4172

                  #9
                  Thank you for starting into our Ango/Jukai season together!
                  Gassho,
                  Kotei sat/lah today.
                  義道 冴庭 / Gidō Kotei.

                  Comment

                  • johns
                    Member
                    • Jul 2023
                    • 56

                    #10
                    I sat with my brothers and sisters via recording at a later time. I am grateful to be a part of this.

                    Gassho

                    John

                    SatTodayLAH

                    Comment

                    • Shade
                      Member
                      • Aug 2020
                      • 167

                      #11
                      Thanks to everyone for another great Zazenkai!

                      Gassho,

                      Chukyo

                      ST/LAH

                      Comment

                      • Onsho
                        Member
                        • Aug 2022
                        • 134

                        #12
                        Thank you everyone! Wish i could have sat in person.

                        Gassho
                        Onsho
                        SatLah

                        Comment

                        • Heiso
                          Member
                          • Jan 2019
                          • 834

                          #13
                          Thank you everyone, sat the first part this evening.

                          Gassho,

                          Heiso
                          StLah

                          Comment

                          • Hokin
                            Member
                            • Oct 2019
                            • 191

                            #14
                            Hello everyone! Just finished sitting (and dancing...and oh boy did that really feel good!!) with you just now, on demand! I appreciate your talk Jundo, as always very deep and to the point. I love the 3 years old child-"Just do good"-koan...it is one of my favourite...that along with the master's fan....which I think is also very much related to this zazenkai's topic!
                            thank you everyone, also, for your practice...each one of you out there.
                            Let's ango together.
                            See you soon.

                            Hokin
                            ST/LAH
                            法 金
                            (Dharma)(Metal)
                            Wisdom Is Compassion & Compassion Is Wisdom.

                            Comment

                            • bonsai23
                              Member
                              • Aug 2024
                              • 35

                              #15
                              I needed to leave early last night, and I had missed the dharma talk. I just finished sitting zazenkai on my own (with all of you, in spirit) and it was just lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed Jundo's talk, and I loved dancing afterwards.

                              Thank you all so much for being here with me, in this Ango season!

                              Gassho!
                              Syd
                              sat.lah

                              Comment

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