October 23rd-24th Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - A Ukulele Hannya

[Seikan]

Hi Jundo, Hi All, this week was particular difficult, and I missed both Zazenkai and Sunday sit because I will undergo Radio Frequency Ablation, needles inserted. In my procedure today, Monday after our sit and rituals; for about 30 minutes Dr Scott Lockwood will use hollow needles into facett joints of my neck spine, cervacle vertabrea, C2, C3, and C4. I must be partially conscious during this procedure, but I'm given strong pain medication abnd sedative. I will experience level 10 pain several times although in each joint briefly. This is the highest pain people experience. The point of this is to deaden my spinal nerves for up to 9 months to avoid more pain. The procedure is repeated every 9 months as long as I am able, hopefully the rest of my luife, the point being that there is perhaps pain 6 or leverl below. My pain has been too high for zazen. Think of me and those of you might sit metta for me is you are able. Thank you.
Gassho
sat
Tai Shi

Tai Shi,

Much Metta to you friend. Good luck with your procedure. I strongly hope it gives you the relief you need.



Gassho,
Rob

-stlah-


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[Kokuu]

Wonderful! Thank you all for sitting with me.

Sending you much metta, Tai Shi. I know this is an unpleasant procedure but glad you experience the benefits of reduced pain for ome time afterward.

Gassho
Kokuu

[Koushi]

Think of me and those of you might sit metta for me is you are able. Thank you.

Much metta Tai Shi. I hope you find relief after the procedure and that the procedure itself goes well.

Gassho,
Jesse
ST

[Jundo]

Hi Jundo, Hi All, this week was particular difficult, and I missed both Zazenkai and Sunday sit because I will undergo Radio Frequency Ablation, needles inserted. In my procedure today, Monday after our sit and rituals; for about 30 minutes Dr Scott Lockwood will use hollow needles into facett joints of my neck spine, cervacle vertabrea, C2, C3, and C4. I must be partially conscious during this procedure, but I'm given strong pain medication abnd sedative. I will experience level 10 pain several times although in each joint briefly. This is the highest pain people experience. The point of this is to deaden my spinal nerves for up to 9 months to avoid more pain. The procedure is repeated every 9 months as long as I am able, hopefully the rest of my luife, the point being that there is perhaps pain 6 or leverl below. My pain has been too high for zazen. Think of me and those of you might sit metta for me is you are able. Thank you.
Gassho
sat
Tai Shi

Sitting and thinking of you, all Metta, TS. I know that you have had this procedure before, so know where to place the mind during the procedure. May you feel so much better on the other side.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Shokai]

Tai shi; sending much Metta your way, get well soon

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Ryusoku]

Sat with Uke-Shu this morning - 'strumming zen' - marvellous! Maybe he should be called Melodious Monk!

Metta to Tai Shi - wishing you a well spring of wellbeing.

Inspired by the music, I have dusted the cobwebs from my Uke. 'Many a moon has passed since I played you last, forgive me dear old friend!' NOW... to learn to tap dance - this may take a while!


Gassho,
Brett.

sattoday lah

[Bokugan]

Hi Jundo, Hi All, this week was particular difficult, and I missed both Zazenkai and Sunday sit because I will undergo Radio Frequency Ablation, needles inserted. In my procedure today, Monday after our sit and rituals; for about 30 minutes Dr Scott Lockwood will use hollow needles into facett joints of my neck spine, cervacle vertabrea, C2, C3, and C4. I must be partially conscious during this procedure, but I'm given strong pain medication abnd sedative. I will experience level 10 pain several times although in each joint briefly. This is the highest pain people experience. The point of this is to deaden my spinal nerves for up to 9 months to avoid more pain. The procedure is repeated every 9 months as long as I am able, hopefully the rest of my luife, the point being that there is perhaps pain 6 or leverl below. My pain has been too high for zazen. Think of me and those of you might sit metta for me is you are able. Thank you.
Gassho
sat
Tai Shi

Finished sitting with you all this evening. Lovely song -- thank you each and everyone for your individual songs

Metta to you Tai Shi, I will keep you in my thoughts

Gassho,

Ryan S
Sat Today

[Tai Shi]

October 23rd-24th Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - A Ukulele Hannya

What I need now is an old time mover and shacker faith healer who will permanently restore my spine just the way Jesus restored vision to the blind man, but I have not that kind of faith. Oh would I like the one of ten gentile stop to thank the Master, And Jesus said truly you have been saved of more than lepracy. Come to think of it I have been saved of more than spondylitis this because the folk gentle folk have saved me from myself for 6 years since 10-2014 and I never thought the tireless hours at 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 just waiting for another few minutes to clear their thinking and the hours spent in sitting just sit.
Gassho
st
Taishi


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[Tai Shi]

Thank you and I mean that thank you very much
Gassho
st
Taishi


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[Heiso]

Thank you everyone for making this happen and for sitting with me. I finished the sitting with the recording yesterday.

The talk about emptiness within the ukukele and between the notes made me think of this quote from the Tao Te Ching:

"Thirty spokes share the hub of a wheel;
yet it is its center that makes it useful.
You can mould clay into a vessel;
yet, it is its emptiness that makes it useful.
Cut doors and windows from the walls of a house;
but the ultimate use of the house
will depend on that part where nothing exists..."

Gassho,

Heiso

StLah

[Kotei]

Thank you everyone,
I resonate very much with the idea of finding practice in playing an instrument.
Practicing traditional pieces on a Shakuhachi is imho quite close to it.
Instead of an explicit melody or rhythm (which are constructions of time, relying on past and future),
there are mainly phrases, fitting in one unobstructed breath (no breath modifying techniques like vibrato or airway closing),
accenting the experience of this moment, Now.

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Tai Shi]

The Buddha's use of science worked. What is called Radio Frequency Ablation of misnamed Rhizotomy (in my case) shows signs of working, and I may remain with much less pain, and even less, for up to nine months and then this procedure will be repeated. Though the procedure costs Medicare about $15,000 the HOSPITAL believes this is the is better, long run, as successful, it is less expensive than surgery which my doctors have already advised against. and it results in a less drastic procedures such as a pain pump with narcotics constantly pumped into my system, or Oxcodone of which I have already walked away. I will continue with Tizanidine ,the MS drug which helps, though potenlly habit forming at 12 mg/day, I'm allowed maximum 6 mg/day. and at dose it works. My best friends, I am reacting emotionally (you know me) and I believe the Buddha would be happy and compassionate for/to me. And, my God is, and even with tears there is no pain. The procedure is working even at 3 days out. If it works at 5 pm, I will know and will know. I will be, if at all possible, with Zazenkai this coming Friday. As we say in my other most important program, sometimes one moment at a time. I am now able to sit longer hours (I believe) than before, Thank you all. Jundo, please in this case excuse the longer entry.
Gassho
st
Tai Shi

[Nenka]

Nenka

ST

[Onkai]

Metta to you, Taishi. I hope the pain continues to subside.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/lah

[Shoki]

Tai Shi,
Nice to hear some encouraging words. Keep on keeping on.

Gassho
STlah
Shoki