April 12th-13th Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - Remember Daylight Savings!

[Doshin]

Thanks to all

Doshin
Stlah

[Beakon]

Thank you for sitting with me, sangha. This has been a rough week trying to get approved for social assistance while expecting a visit from my mother.

Jundo, I see what you are saying about Brad teaching a type of skikantaza that connects us boundlessly through space and time, and I approve of this message. I have oexperienced stronger levels of concentration when sitting with a group in our sessions. I will personally see what Brad has said about sitting without the use of an online camera on his platforms. I thank Brad for encouraging me to start my zazen practice, as I've failed to have a "full-time" practice in the past. Having Tree Leaf as an accessible platform for meditation has helped me stay on track, and stick to the practice.

I may have wrong perception about what Brad is talking about with Shikantaza being ruined by the camera, what I imagined when you spoke of how he doesn't like using the camera is how he tries to "drop" his environment. This is entirely from his own empiricial view, I hope he does practice online so I may sit with him as well. I've entertained the thought about what it'd be like having him as a guest for our Zazenkai. I think he is doing zazen in private because he want's to drop the stimulus of the environment he is currently in without the distraction of a camera.

Question of the Week: Does anybody feel that practicing zazen helps us train in skills that grown ups don't do? I've thought about how I used to get "high" on marijuana to release the stress of working in retail, but I feel with zazen I learn how to be self-aware. It does go beyond being self-aware, because I'm learning how to manage the air quality inside this apartment. I wish I could write a blog entry with a real blog titled "What Zazen Taught Me About Managing Air Quality in a Home". Hey, it will happen one day. Am I right? Hey, the laundry doesn't fold itself. I thought I'd mention that, because I started zazenakai late with the cause being a bleeding nose from the dry air. One of the many inversions of meditation I've found, in terms of learning a skill that is. You can't do zazen a wrong or right way.

Gassho,

Sean

Sat Today-ay-ay

[Science Abbot]

It was a very meaningful talk describing one of the important reasons I joined the Treeleaf sangha, that is, there is no Zen sangha where I live. Although this is the case, I was originally led here by Jundo's teaching, encountered coincidently both on this website during Google searches on various Zen topics and in Facebook groups. I am watching the videos here and reading a lot of Soto Zen literature. Sitting for a half hour every day has been a good start for shikantaza practice, and I hope to be a regular at Zazenkai.

My internet crashed just before the Verse of Atonement and Four Vows, but all is well.

Thank you, everyone, for this online community.

Gassho,
Wuyi

SAT/LAH

[Kotei]

Transcending time and space, I just sat with you all.
Thank you so much!
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[newby_x86]

Thank you for this zazenkai

Anant
SaT

[Kakunen]

Thank you very much.

I really sit today.

My teacher(Monk Ogurosawa) recommend to sit here today.

Gassho
Sat today
Kakunen

[Gero]

Thank you Jundo, Kyonin and all the Sangha for this Zazenkai. I am very happy this community gives me the opportunity to sit together with fellow practitioners, allowing for timeshifting.


Gero (sat today with all of you / lah)

[Tairin]

Thank you. I sat with you all this morning.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Tai Shi]

I did want to say, Friday night on Que at 8 p.m. Central Daylight, I practiced one way, the complete Zazenkai live beginning to end without end until end sitting in my office chair, because it has arms and is adjustable to height of my desktop computer, a mini tower which is probably old already, purchased two years ago, and will be done about the time I get it paid off, third generation since joining Treeleaf. I need this chair because of extreme arthritis, word to the young; don't get old. I went beginning to end without stop, sitting, walking, sitting Dharma, sitting with all chants and pauses. Excuse me Jundo, very long winded.

Tai Shi
sat
Gassho

[Jundo]

I did want to say, Friday night on Que at 8 p.m. Central Daylight, I practiced one way, the complete Zazenkai live beginning to end without end until end sitting in my office chair, because it has arms and is adjustable to height of my desktop computer, a mini tower which is probably old already, purchased two years ago, and will be done about the time I get it paid off, third generation since joining Treeleaf. I need this chair because of extreme arthritis, word to the young; don't get old. I went beginning to end without stop, sitting, walking, sitting Dharma, sitting with all chants and pauses. Excuse me Jundo, very long winded.

Tai Shi
sat
Gassho

The chair is fine.

Kokuu posted some nice instructions for chair sitting last week. However, if they don't apply to your particular body or physical needs, then sit the way you need to sit, whatever feels best.

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?16851-instructions-for-ChairZazen

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Natahl]

Thank you everyone, I sat with you after the fact as my little one naps with me during the live sitting.

SAT/Lah
Natahl


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Seishin]

Sat on demand over the weekend. Thank you all.

[Seibu]

Just sat with you all. Thank you.

Deep bows,
Jack
Sattoday

[Tai Do]

As always, sat after de event itself. Thank you all for this Zazenkai and for our practice.
Gassho,
Mateus
Sat/LAT

[Washin]

Just finished sitting this lovely zazenkai.
Thank you everyone. Thank you, Jundo, for encouraging talk.

Gassho
Washin
Sat. In SSR in front of the cam.