Treeleaf Spring Retreat 2020 - Main Page

**Shoka** · 05-01-2020, 04:01 AM

Spring Retreat Pointers and Tips

Hello all,

If you have been around Treeleaf you might have taken part in our annual Rohatsu Retreat which is a traditional formal retreat. This year’s Spring Retreat is going to be treated as an informal retreat. While at any multi-day Sesshin or shorter ‘Zazenkai’ (which mean, respectively, ‘gathering the heart-mind’ and ‘coming together for Zazen’) of even one day, we separate ourselves for a time from our daily affairs, and seek a quiet place… we know that this is a time when separating ourselves might not be possible. But we hope that everyone can still come together and follow the spirit of the gathering together and sitting with this moment and what is right now.

Below are some pointers and tips for the retreat, but please modify as necessary.

1. TRUE QUIET:

For this retreat determine what is a good amount of quietness for you, and what is happening right now. Maybe just giving up social media for the day, and only talk when necessary. Not allowing your mind to wander off and talk away while doing activities, but instead focus on them with wholeheartedness. Or perhaps take up the vow of great silence for the day and try not to talk at all or only in a whisper.

2. SCHEDULE AND SEATING ARRANGEMENTS:

Since this retreat is running continuously please join as you can with the live events in the Schedule Sitting Room (unless another room is noted in the schedule). Sessions will not be recorded, so please join the zoom room live. You are welcome to join with your camera off. Please remember to mute yourself.

Most events start at the beginning of the hour, and all sits start at the top and bottom of every hour. Feel free to join any session for any amount of time, leaving during Kinhin or a break period. The Ceremonies and the only activity that will run through the entire hour.

Please sit near enough to your computer that you can clearly hear and see the netcast. There is no need to have the computer right in front of you, and when sitting Zazen, you should not be looking at the computer screen at all. However, your computer should be placed in such a way that, from your Zafu, you can clearly see the screen by turning your head (because there will be ceremonies, meals and the like where watching the screen from your seat will be necessary)

3. ROOM & CLOTHING:
Arrange a room and space for sitting if that is possible, if it isn’t we don’t mind pets running around, toys scattered on the floor and life occurring as we sit.

Please join with dark and modest clothing as possible.

4. WATCHES & COMPUTER SETTINGS:

Watches should not be worn during zazen, but can be close by (in case the internet drops).

It is very important that you set your computer to no have a Screensaver or “Stand By/Hybernate” function.

5. PROMPTNESS AND ATTENDANCE:

While we would love to see everyone be able to join us for the entire retreat, we know that isn’t possible (not even for all the Unsui and Priests). Please join as you can.

Most sessions can be joined at the top and bottom of the hours. Check the schedule and try to join during Kinhin or a break.

6. MEALS:

Oryoki meals will be done 3 times during this retreat. If you have not done oryoki with us before please join and follow along. The leaders will be giving directions to follow.

Please review this notes HERE on making an oryoki kit if you don’t already have one.

7. KINHIN:

Kinhin will be completed with all sittings. Kinhin can also be used as a time for bathroom breaks or for entering and leaving the retreat.

8. SAMU:

There will be work periods. This ‘Mindful Work’ is to be done as if it is the only action to be done, or which can be done, in the world at that moment. The mind is to drop all resistance, likes or dislikes about the work. It is to be done ‘mindfully’, meaning that we think only about the work we are doing at that moment when doing the work at that moment. Try to drop thought of other matters before or after the work at hand.

All normal life activities can become samu, some example:

Washing dishes, folding clothes or scrubbing the bathroom
Caring for children
Working on project like sewing
Gardening or outside work

The mindset is the important part of Samu, do whatever work you are doing fully engaged and not distracted by trying to hurry and it get done, or pondering other things while mindlessly completing the task.

9. ZAZEN:

Try to be as steady as possible throughout the sitting period. Ignore minor irritations (we learn to take life ‘as it is’ by bearing with some discomfort. In fact, small aches and pains are an important part of the Retreat’s lessons). But if it is necessary to stop or adjust your position because you are in pain, that is fine (our way is one of moderation) and you must be the judge of this. Adjust your position carefully and slowly, keeping your practice going throughout.

10. MEDICAL AND EMERGENCIES:

If you have any problems, such as illness, an emergency or a personal problem, it is best to attend to that and break off the Retreat and your silence. STOP OR PAUSE THE RETREAT IF YOU FEEL THERE IS ANY HARMFUL EFFECT ON PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH.

Please be very careful and aware of your bodies. Don't force yourself to maintain uncomfortable or difficult positions.

If this is your first retreat with us, please reach out to an Unsui if you have any concerns or questions.

Other than that … just relax and have a pleasant Retreat!

Gassho,

Treeleaf Unsui and Priests

**Onka** · 05-01-2020, 05:36 AM

Deep bows to all involved in putting this together.
I will be present with you all and am eternally thankful for what this Sangha brings to my bunch of moments called life

Be well comrades
Gassho
Onka
Sat today.

**Luigi** · 05-01-2020, 11:51 AM

Originally posted by Shoka

1:00 – 1:50: Ceremony (Heart Sutra, Disabled Lineage) and Zazen, Metta Chant, Verse of Atonement and 4 Vows.

Just curious, what does "Disabled Lineage" mean?

Gassho,

Luigi
ST/LAH

**Nanrin** · 05-01-2020, 02:57 PM

Alarm set, old house set up to be the zendo for the day. See you all tomorrow bright and early!

Gassho,

Nanrin

Sat today

**Jakuden** · 05-01-2020, 03:00 PM

Originally posted by Luigi

Just curious, what does "Disabled Lineage" mean?

Gassho,

Luigi
ST/LAH

Treeleaf members, including Zenmei, helped to put together a lineage of differently-abled ancestors, as no doubt there were many who were not included in traditional male and female lineage dedications. Here is the video of Treeleaf Unsui Kokuu reciting it for the first time: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...BLED-ANCESTORS We hope to encourage recognition and practice of Soto Zen amongst those who cannot assume the traditional meditation posture or practice in a traditional Zen center due to physical challenges.

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

**Jakuden** · 05-01-2020, 03:02 PM

Originally posted by Nanrin

Alarm set, old house set up to be the zendo for the day. See you all tomorrow bright and early!

Gassho,

Nanrin

Sat today

Oh my gosh this is absolutely beautiful! I will see you from my corner in the basement, across from the sump pump and the woodstove.

Gassho,,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

**Doshin** · 05-01-2020, 06:08 PM

Thanks all for putting this together. As always I appreciate the work that goes on behind the Treeleaf Curtains. When awake I will be dropping in to share some time with you all. Have not seen many people for awhile! It will be good to see familiar faces.

Doshin
St

**Naiko** · 05-01-2020, 08:41 PM

Thank you all! Have been struggling with pain the past few days, so I will join you as my physical limitations allow.
Gassho,
Krista
st/lah

**Sekishi** · 05-01-2020, 10:10 PM

Hi everyone,

Some folks were having formatting issues when printing the Chant Guide, so I updated Shoka's link in the original post. If it printed for you, no need to reprint, but if you had issues, please try again!

Gassho,
Sekishi
#sat #wrangledpdfs

**Nanrin** · 05-01-2020, 10:33 PM

Originally posted by Sekishi

Hi everyone,

Some folks were having formatting issues when printing the Chant Guide, so I updated Shoka's link in the original post. If it printed for you, no need to reprint, but if you had issues, please try again!

Gassho,
Sekishi
#sat #wrangledpdfs

As a heads up, I tried downloading it but it instantly failed saying the file formatting was incorrect. Might be my device, might be the file.

Nanrin

Sat today

**Sekishi** · 05-01-2020, 10:37 PM

Originally posted by Nanrin

As a heads up, I tried downloading it but it instantly failed saying the file formatting was incorrect. Might be my device, might be the file.

It is on Dropbox, so you'll need to click on it normally (not right-click->save as) and then click the print icon from the Dropbox interface (or download it from there).

Let me know if that works for you.

Gassho,
Sekishi

**Kokuu** · 05-01-2020, 10:49 PM

Hi all

I am just off to bed but hope to see European members up for some sitting, oryoki and samu from 7am - 11am UK time (8am - 12pm in central Europe) with tea and coffee in the meeting room afterwards.

Join when and where you can. It will be lovely to have you along.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-

**Onka** · 05-02-2020, 01:05 AM

It's just gone 11am here and my breathing is really REALLY bad. 84 puffs of Ventolin and 8 puffs of high steroidal inhaler since waking at 4am bad.
Not being a downer but I'm focused on ugly trying to stay alive Shikantaza but I'm with you all.
Gassho
Onka
ST

**Yokai** · 05-02-2020, 03:20 AM

Much Metta to you Onka. Even in suffering you bring your sense of humour! [emoji120][emoji120][emoji120]

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Treeleaf Spring Retreat 2020 - Main Page

Treeleaf Spring Retreat 2020 - Main Page

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