September 12-13th Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - A Zen Talk about Zen Talks

[Jundo]

One day, the World Honored One ascended the teaching rostrum.
Manjusri struck the gavel and said, "Hear the Dharma-King's dharma. The Dharma-King's
dharma is like this." The World Honored One descended from the rostrum.

Dear All,

Our Treeleaf Zazenkai is for 90 minutes 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 >> ( 10am Japan Saturday morning, NY 9pm, LA 6pm Friday night, London 2am and Paris 3am Saturday morning) or sit this Zazenkai any time thereafter here:
.

However, "one way" live sitters are encouraged to come into the Zoom sitting, and just leave the camera and microphone turned off.

00:00 – 00:15 CEREMONY (HEART SUTRA in English) and Dedication
00:15 – 00:45 ZAZEN
00:45 – 00:55 KINHIN
00:55 – 01:25 ZAZEN
01:25 – 01:30 VERSE OF ATONEMENT & FOUR VOWS
01:30 - 01:45(?) INFORMAL TEA TIME (ALL WELCOME)
.
Chant Book is here for those who wish to join in:
.

CHANT BOOK LINK

For some more information about Zendo etiquette at Treeleaf and to help you be more comfortable with joining the Zoom room, please have a look here:
.

ZENDO ETIQUETTE

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

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
(LINK)

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
(LINK)

[Seikan]

Thank you all for sharing in this practice (today and not-today). Thanks to Jundo for the very timely talk, and thanks to Onkai for the Ino-ing.

Gassho,
Seikan

stlah

[Austin C]

Wonderful practicing with you all.

Gassho,
Austin
satlah

[Jundo]

Our visitor today was an Aodaisho, or Japanese Rat Snake ...

The Japanese rat snake (Elaphe climacophora) is a medium-sized snake found throughout the Japanese archipelago (except the far South West). In Japanese it is known as the aodaishō or "blue general". It is a non-venomous snake, and a member of the colubrid family. It is hunted by eagles and raccoon dogs.

The snakes hibernate for three to four months, mate in spring and lay 7–20 eggs in early summer. Adults reach a length of between one and two meters and a girth of about five centimeters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_rat_snake

.

Elaphe_climacophora_-Kyoto%2C_Japan-8.jpg

They are harmless (to humans, less so to rats and bats.)

Of course, a snake was kind to the Buddha ...

The Buddhist naga has the form of a great cobra, usually depicted with a single head but sometimes with many heads. The naga which is seen sheltering the Buddha while meditating is known as Mucilanda. Mucilanda is believed to have protected the Buddha from the elements like rain and storm after he attained enlightenment. It is said that the four weeks after the Buddha began meditating under the Bodhi tree, the heavens darkened for seven days, a heavy rainfall started. The mighty king of the serpents, Mucilanda then is believed to have emerged from beneath the earth and protected the Buddha with his hood as the Buddha is considered the source of all protection. When the storm stopped, the serpent king Mucilanda assumed his human form, bowed before the Buddha and returned to his palace in joy. The iconographic representation of this Buddhist folklore is known as the Naga Buddha statues. These artistic representations of the Buddha meditating under the protection of Mucalinda are common in many Buddhist countries which are famous for their unique Buddhist arts, namely Burma, Laos, and Thailand.

https://www.burmese-art.com/about-buddha-statues/naga-buddha-statues-with-snake

.

.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Kotei]

Thank you Jundo.
Thank you Onkai for the Ino-ing, Bion of the tech and everyone for sitting together.
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Layzie]

Sat with the recording, always nice to be with everyone though space and time

Always love a good Keanu Reeves cameo

Gassho,
Nick
satlah

[Josh Allen]

Sat along with the recording

Wonderful to practice with you all!

Gassho,
Josh
satlah

[Tairin]

Thank you everyone. I sat with you live for part of this week’s Zazenkai and just caught up the rest now.


Tairin
sat today and lah

[Anthony]

Just sat with you all and it was lovely.

Rats, bats, and snakes, oh my!

Gassho,
Anthony satlah

[Shujin]

Sat together with the recording this morning. We have a black rat snake that lives in our attic, so I was happy to hear about the zendo snake

Gassho,
Shujin

[DonR]

Thank you so much for this honor to sit with you all live in zoom

[Shade]

I just sat with the recording. Thanks to everyone who particpated and made this Zakenkai possible. I don't know if I could sit in equanimity with a snake lingering around!

Gassho,

Chukyo

ST/LAH

[Furyu]

Sat with you today.
Gasshō
sat-lah
Fūryū

[FlowingPastPatrick]

Sat with the recording. (what a lovely visitor! )
Thank you

Gassho
Patrick
sat lah