May 18th-19th Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai "THIS IS AMERICA"

[Jundo]

Note: Our Heart Sutra this week is THIS IS AMERICA. See below in this thread.

Hello All,

Please 'sit-a-long' with our weekly FRIDAY/SATURDAY 'LIVE FROM TREELEAF' 90 minute ZAZENKAI, netcast from 10am Japan time Saturday morning (that is New York 9pm, Los Angeles 6pm (Friday night), London 2am and Paris 3am (early Saturday morning)

... and to be visible on the following screen during those times and sit-a-long-able any time thereafter ...

LIVE ZAZENKAI NETCAST IS HERE:
CLICK ON THE TAB ON LOWER RIGHT FOR 'FULL SCREEN

FOR THOSE NOT ALREADY MEMBERS OF THE CIRCLE WHO WISH TO JOIN TO SIT LIVE WITH A CAMERA, INSTRUCTIONS ARE POSTED AT THIS LINK. WE ARE NOW LIMITED TO 10 INDIVIDUALS WITH CAMERAS, BUT ANY NUMBER CAN WATCH LIVE 'ONE WAY' AND SIT-A-LONG VIA THE ABOVE SCREEN. IF JOINING WITH CAMERA, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR MICROPHONE IS MUTED:

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

As you can see, our Zazenkai consists of chanting the 'Heart Sutra' in English (the words are at the link below), some full floor prostrations in sets of three (please follow along with me ... or a simple Gassho can be substituted if you wish), followed by our Dedication, Zazen twice for about 30 minutes each, with 10 minutes of Kinhin in between, and we end the sitting with 'The Verse of Atonement' and 'The Four Vows'.

Please join us in the Chanting of the Heart Sutra (although please keep your microphone muted). You can download and print out the Chants we will recite at the following link (PDF):

Chant Book (PDF)

or

Chant Book (SHORT VERSION HTML)

Not everyone realizes that they can join in the Chanting of the Heart Sutra, Verse of Atonement and Four Vows (although we ask that you keep your microphone down). Please follow along with the Chant Book, and let your voice ring!

So, please join us as soon as you can, and we will keep a Zafu open for you.

Remember, when we drop all thought of 'here' 'there' 'now' 'then' ... we are sitting all together!


Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH

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

https://youtu.be/GR6POpsXh9Q

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

[Mp]

Thank you Jundo, I will be there live with instruments ready. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Kyonin]

Hi Jundo!

I will be there live with a fan working at full power to cool down a bit

Gassho,

Kyonin
Sat/LAH

[Doshin]

Planning to attend.

Gassho
Doshin
st

[Onkai]

Thank you, Jundo. I will join two-way, tech allowing.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat

[Jundo]

In light of another school shooting today, we will have a special "Heart Sutra" today ... This Is America. (Warning, for those unfamiliar: Very violent content) ...

This is a statement against racism and violence which uses images of racism and violence to make a point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYOjWnS4cMY

It is not about the USA, but about any place where there is violence and division.

I will compare it during the Talk today to another famous Koan which actually uses an imaginary scene of violence to teach about coming together. (I am sure that nobody was actually killed in the making of either the video or the Koan).

Nanchuan (Nansen) saw the monks of the eastern and western halls fighting over a cat. Seizing the cat, he told the monks: “If any of you can say a word of Zen, you will save the cat.” No one answered. Nanchuan cut the cat in two. That evening Zhaozho (Joshu) returned to the monastery and Nanchuan told him what had happened. Zhaozho removed his sandals, placed them on his head, and walked out. Nanchuan said: “If you had been there, you would have saved the cat.”

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Mp]

Hello folks,

Here is the event link for today's zazenkai: https://hangouts.google.com/hangouts...hl=en_GB&pli=1

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Sekishi]

I'm having communications difficulties. Will sit one-way this week.

Gassho,
Sekishi
#sat

[Onkai]

Thank you, everyone. The talk was wonderful. I'm glad to practice with everyone. Have a great weekend!

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat

[Sekishi]

Thank you all for practicing together.

Jundo, treating the gunshots as the bell for going to the alter was a powerful wake-up call.

This is Samsara.

Gassho,
Sekishi
#sat

[Shokai]

Thank you all who sat and will sit.
Does an uncut cat have Buddha nature or does he catch mice?

gassho, shokai

stlah

[Mp]

Thank you Jundo and everyone is all realms of existence.

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Doshin]

Thank you. Some technical issue prevented me from hearing the ending to the cat story. However, as long as the cat is kept indoors this wildlife conservationist is good with it.

Gassho
Doshin
St

[Meitou]

Inspired and inspirational, thank you Jundo Roshi for this amazing zazenkai and to all who made it possible and to Childish Gambino for the powerful message.
Gassho
Meitou
Satwithyoualltoday /lah

[Mitka]

Great sitting with you all.

Thank you Jundo and Childish Gambin0 for the This Is America Heart Sutra. It has been difficult to sit with what is going on in my country, and this is a good reminder that I need to learn how.

Gassho,
Matthew
SatLAH