Oct 3-4 2025 -OUR MONTHLY 3-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI- Four More of Eight Understandings

**Jundo** · 10-03-2025, 05:06 AM

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We continue our Readings from Master Dogen's 13th Century "Self (Non-Self) Help Book" ... Hachi Dainin Gaku (八大人覺) ...
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'The Eight Understandings of the Great Person'
PART II DOWNLOADABLE PDF : LINK

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... based on the Fo yijiao jing (Sutra of the Bequeathed Teachings of the Buddha), that is said to be the final teaching of the Buddha before his passing from this life, much as this was Dogen's final Teaching before his passing.

5) Not neglecting mindfulness, also called “maintaining right mindfulness.” Maintaining the dharma without losing it 1s called “right mindfulness,” also called “not neglecting mindfulness.”

The Buddha said, "If you bhiksus seek a wise friend, if you seek good protection and support, there is nothing like not neglecting mindfulness. In those who
do not neglect mindfulness, the bandits of the afflictions cannot enter. Therefore, you should always concentrate your thoughts and be mindful. Those who lose mindfulness lose merit. If one’s mindfulness is firm and strong, one will not be harmed even amidst the bandits of the five desires. It is like entering enemy ranks while wearing armor: one feels no fear. This is called “not neglecting mindfulness.”

6) To practice the settled state of Zazen. To abide in dharma without being confused is called “stability in Zazen.”

The Buddha said, “Monks, if you gather your mind, it will abide in stability. Then, you will understand the birth and death, coming and going, of all things in the world. You will continue to endeavor in practicing various aspects of Zen. When you have stability, your mind will not be scattered. It is like a house where water is used sparsely, or an embankment that holds water. You practitioners are like this. Because you have the water of wisdom, you practice stability and the water of wisdom is not wasted. This is called ‘stability in Zazen.’”

7) Cultivating wisdom. The arousing of hearing, considering, practicing, and verifying is wisdom.

The Buddha said, "Bhiksus, if you have wisdom, Monks, if you have wisdom, you are free from greed. You will always reflect on yourself and avoid mistakes.. Thus, you can attain liberation in my dharma. If you don’t have wisdom, you will be neither a are neither a wayfarer nor white-robed,, and there will be no name to describe you.True wisdom is a sturdy boat that ferries one across the sea of old age, sickness, and death; it is a bright lamp in the darkness of ignorance; the good medicine for all who are ill; a sharp axe to cut down the tree of the afflictions. Therefore, you should enhance your benefits through the wisdoms of hearing, considering, and practicing. A person with the illumination of wisdom Is a person that sees clearly, even with the physical eyes.” This is called “wisdom.”

8) Not engaging in frivolous discourse.” Realizing freedom from discriminatory thinking is called “not engaging in frivolous discourse.”

The Buddha said, “Monks, if you get into hollow discussions, your mind will be scattered. Then, you will be unable to attain liberation even if you have left the household. So, you should immediately leave behind a scattered mind and hollow discussions. If you wish to attain the joy of serenity, you need to cure the sickness of hollow discussions. This is called ‘not to be engaged in hollow discussions.’”

Dogen concluded ...

These are the eight awakenings. Each awakening contains all eight, thus there are sixty-four awakenings. When awakenings are practiced thoroughly, their number is countless. ...

These are the last words of the Great Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha, the ultimate admonition of the Mahayana teaching. He said ... “Monks, always endeavor wholeheartedly to search for the way of liberation. All things in the world, whether they are in motion or not, are insecure and bound to decay. Now, all of you be still and do not speak. Time is passing and I am going to cross over. This is my last admonition to you.” Without expounding dharma any
further, the Buddha entered pari-nirvana."

All disciples of the Buddha should study this teaching. Those who don’t learn or know about it are not his disciples. Indeed, this is the Tathagata’s treasury of the true dharma eye, the wondrous heart of nirvana. However, there are many who do not know about this teaching, as there are few who have studied it. Many may have been confused by demons, and those who have few wholesome conditions from the past do not have the opportunity to see or hear this teaching.... you should immediately practice it without negligence.

It is rare to encounter the buddha dharma even in the span of countless eons. A human body is difficult to attain. ... Now you can see, hear, and practice these awakenings because of the merit of your wholesome conditions from the past. By practicing and nurturing these awakenings birth after birth, you can certainly arrive at unsurpassable enlightenment and expound these eight awakenings to all beings, just as Shakyamuni Buddha did.

Written at the Eihei Monastery on the sixth day, the first month, the fifth year of the Kencho Era [1253].
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**Jundo** · 10-03-2025, 11:57 PM

Rev. Seiko is our Ino today, leading our Chants. He is legally blind, and struggles to read anything not held close. He wrote this to all our priests who will serve as Ino, and to all of us who practice with health obstacles ...

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To everyone, especially those with health issues or worries about serving as ino.

I am fairly accepting and pragmatic (is that the right word?) about the poor attempts I make at chanting. Poor eyesight is a big contributing factor. I continue to do the best I can, whilst constantly wishing I could do better. Of course, that's a recipe for creating my own dukkha.

Actually I hope others, who watch and listen to me, understand that no one need be nervous or reticent to take up Ino duties [or any aspect of practice], despite our various health restrictions. If there is a place for me here, there is a place for anyone reading this.

Gasshō Seiko
STlah

**Kotei** · 10-04-2025, 07:14 PM

Thank you, Jundo.
Thank you Seiko and Bion for the Ino-ing and everyone for sitting together.

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

**Shujin** · 10-05-2025, 09:52 PM

Guest and I sat with y'all this afternoon. Thank you for your practice.

Gassho,
Shujin

**JaredY** · 10-06-2025, 12:33 AM

Sat with you all tonight. Thank you.
Gassho,
Jared
SatLah

**Dogaku** · 10-06-2025, 03:55 PM

Thank you for the monthly Zazenkai and for the Dharma talk.

Gassho,
Justin

Sat/Lah

**Tensei** · 10-08-2025, 04:22 AM

Thank you, everyone - I sat with you this evening. I think that a word for the non-linear, interdependent nature of the Eightfold Path wheel would be 'holistic.'

I will keep wary eye out for these bandits.

Gassho,
Tegan
satlah

**Jundo** · 10-08-2025, 04:33 AM

Originally posted by Tegan

I think that a word for the non-linear, interdependent nature of the Eightfold Path wheel would be 'holistic.'

That's it!

**Jinjitsu** · 10-09-2025, 12:04 AM

Sat with the recording a couple of days ago but hadn’t made it here to say thank you

Lovely to practice with you all!

Gassho,
Josh
satlah

**DaveSumner** · 10-09-2025, 10:14 AM

Thank you Jundo for this teaching.

Gassho, David
sat/lah

Oct 3-4 2025 -OUR MONTHLY 3-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI- Four More of Eight Understandings

Oct 3-4 2025 -OUR MONTHLY 3-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI- Four More of Eight Understandings

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