December 12-13th Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai: Sitting with Difficult Emotions

[Jundo]

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:
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JOIN ZOOM >>
The password (if needed): << dogen >>

For local times, please check the Practice Calendar here: PRACTICE CALENDAR >> (10 am Japan Saturday morning, NY 8 pm, LA 5 pm Friday, London 1 am, and Paris 2 am Saturday) or sit this Zazenkai any time thereafter here:
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However, "one-way" live sitters are encouraged to join the Zoom meeting and simply 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)
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Chant Book is here for those who wish to join in:
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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:
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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!
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Gassho
sat lah
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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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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
(LINK)

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
(LINK)

[Tensei]

I’m being DD for our department holiday party this evening, so I’m looking forward to catching up with the Zazenkai when get home!

Gassho,
Tegan
satlah

[Jundo]

Tegan, your not being there leaves me feeling difficult emotions!

By the way, everyone, here is the other Forum thread on this topic ...

https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/treeleaf-community-topics-about-zen-practice/560980-what-is-the-zen-approach-to-dealing-with-difficult-emotions#post561177

Gassho, J
stlah

[Kotei]

Thank you Jundo.
Thank you Koriki and Bion for the Ino and tech, and everyone for sitting together.
Bows,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[michaelw]

Re bowing at the end of chants video - no mention of full prostrations. Are they for priests only?

Gassho
MichaelW

satlah

[Bion]

Re bowing at the end of chants video - no mention of full prostrations. Are they for priests only?

Gassho
MichaelW

satlah

The only prostrations happening are after the incense offering and at the end of service, and everyone can engage in those. In the Zendo in Tsukuba there is no space for folks to do full prostrations, but at home, everyone whose body allows it, can engage in full floor prostrations. Throughout the service there are bows done only by the officiant. It is always best to follow the lead of a senior monk present or of a senior practitioner. The ino might also be a good example to follow as they engage in the same bows as the sangha would.
Hope that answers your question!

Gassho
sat lah

[Jundo]

The only prostrations happening are after the incense offering and at the end of service, and everyone can engage in those. In the Zendo in Tsukuba there is no space for folks to do full prostrations, but at home, everyone whose body allows it, can engage in full floor prostrations. Throughout the service there are bows done only by the officiant. It is always best to follow the lead of a senior monk present or of a senior practitioner. The ino might also be a good example to follow as they engage in the same bows as the sangha would.
Hope that answers your question!

Gassho
sat lah

I stopped most full prostrations last year due to a back issue. I undertake deep standing Gassho.

In the Tsukuba Zendo, there is small space, plus cold cement floors. It does not lend itself to Prostations like Tamami would.

I sometimes think that we should handshake, or better, Hi Five the Buddha anyway.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Tensei]

Tegan, your not being there leaves me feeling difficult emotions!


Gassho, J
stlah

My apologies! Funnily enough, I just listened to an excellent bilingual dharma talk on that subject...

Gassho,
Tegan
satlah

[Tairin]

Thank you everyone. I sat with you this morning.

At the beginning of the stream Vic and Seika were talking about rescue cats. We have just recently adopted a sweet, surrendered cat. Fittingly she was with me through this entire sit. She wedged herself just beside me on my zabuton.


Tairin
sat today and lah

[Dogaku]

Thank you for the service and the Dharma talk.

Gassho,
Justin
Sat/Lah