"All the Peaceful Holidays" Short Zazenkai (welcoming Stewart) - December 25th

[Kyousui]

A fine Christmas was had, joining with my Episcopalian Sangha, singing all the old carols, visiting with my sister, sharing about the sameness of prayer and meditation and the unkowingness of a soul vs allness.

Merry Gassho!
Sat/LAH

[Ryushi]

Thank you, Jundo, for offering this Christmas zazenkai. I was able to trade my parents me attending Christmas Eve church service for them witnessing zazen for the first time. Hopefully, creating some common understanding.

Gassho

Sat today

[Koki]

Todd...thats great to hear!

Gassho
Frank (Kunzang)
Satoday

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[Nanrin]

I'm very glad teo finally participate in a zazenkai two-way. Sorry for bumbling around with my microphone.

I agree with celebrating all peaceful holidays. This year I celebrated Rohatsu with you fine folks, and Christmas and solstice with my family. Missed out on Chanukah this year.

Sit zazen, go to church, fry up latkes, drink some wassail, and bang pots and pans to welcome in the new year! Celebrate them all! Celebrate none of them! Mix and match or make your own! Be joyful and spread peace!

Samantabhadra giving gifts!

Avalokitesvara listening to family members argue!

Manjushri seeing the emptiness of it all!

Gassho,

Maitri

st, about to go lah

[Kotei]

Thank you everyone,
have a nice day!
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Teiro]

Thank you Jundo!
Unfortunately this is not the best of holiday seasons for my family. My brother-in-law was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Sunday and is awaiting surgery tomorrow morning. Then my 93 year old mother stumbled and fell today and broke her tigh bone. She will be in surgery tonight. My 90 year old father is completely devastated. This is especially hard on my sister who now not only has to worry about her husband but also about her mother.
Dear sangha would you please do some metta for my brother-in-law, my mother, my sister and my father?
And if you have any suggestions what I can do to help ease their pain except being there for them, please let me know.
Gassho
Christian
Sat/Lah

[Koki]

Just sat the short zazenkai along with Jundo, and Stewart the Elf.
Sending metta to Severus and all our Sangha.

Wishing all our brothers and sisters a happy and peaceful "now"

Gassho
Frank (Kunzang)
Satoday.....a few times


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[Jundo]

Thank you Jundo!
Unfortunately this is not the best of holiday seasons for my family. My brother-in-law was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Sunday and is awaiting surgery tomorrow morning. Then my 93 year old mother stumbled and fell today and broke her tigh bone. She will be in surgery tonight. My 90 year old father is completely devastated. This is especially hard on my sister who now not only has to worry about her husband but also about her mother.
Dear sangha would you please do some metta for my brother-in-law, my mother, my sister and my father?
And if you have any suggestions what I can do to help ease their pain except being there for them, please let me know.
Gassho
Christian
Sat/Lah

Dear Christian,

All Metta, and dedicating our sittings to your brother-in-law, mother, father and all your family.

It is a terrible and difficult time. There is so much fear and sadness.

And yet ... and yet ... we must somehow sit knowing a Light which shines through sickness and health, birth and death. This moment also shines. There is this Flowing which sweeps away all fear, a Wholeness which holds all times to smile and times for tears. Please sit and live with such in one's heart even as we share the pain of this time. I know you already know how, Christian.

To be with those whom we love when they are sick is the hardest practice, the true monastery.

Peace to you and yours.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Teiro]

Thank you so much Jundo and Frank,
I‘m very glad to be part of this wonderful sangha.

Gassho
Christian

Sat/Lah

[Joyo]

Thank you, Jundo. Thanks to your teachings through the years, as well as others here, I was able to have the first peaceful holiday with my in-laws in 6 years! They are both very conservative, judgemental, fundamental Christians and pastor a church in my home town. I was able to have the confidence to be comfortable with who I am as a person, and laugh and have a wonderful time with them, looking past our differences.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today/lah

[Jundo]

Thank you, Jundo. Thanks to your teachings through the years, as well as others here, I was able to have the first peaceful holiday with my in-laws in 6 years! They are both very conservative, judgemental, fundamental Christians and pastor a church in my home town. I was able to have the confidence to be comfortable with who I am as a person, and laugh and have a wonderful time with them, looking past our differences.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today/lah

[Kyousui]

Severus, I have your family on my Metta list.

Sat/LAH

[Joyo]

Christian, thinking of you and your family.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today/lah

[Jakuden]

Thank you Jundo!
Unfortunately this is not the best of holiday seasons for my family. My brother-in-law was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Sunday and is awaiting surgery tomorrow morning. Then my 93 year old mother stumbled and fell today and broke her tigh bone. She will be in surgery tonight. My 90 year old father is completely devastated. This is especially hard on my sister who now not only has to worry about her husband but also about her mother.
Dear sangha would you please do some metta for my brother-in-law, my mother, my sister and my father?
And if you have any suggestions what I can do to help ease their pain except being there for them, please let me know.
Gassho
Christian
Sat/Lah

Oh my goodness. When it rains it pours. I will sit for your family and send Metta, I'm sure that being there for them to lean on is more important and helpful than you realize.

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

[Mp]

Thank you, Jundo. Thanks to your teachings through the years, as well as others here, I was able to have the first peaceful holiday with my in-laws in 6 years! They are both very conservative, judgemental, fundamental Christians and pastor a church in my home town. I was able to have the confidence to be comfortable with who I am as a person, and laugh and have a wonderful time with them, looking past our differences.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today/lah

Wonderful Joyo, the way it should be. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH