Dec.24th-25th Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - Winter Solstice

[Kotei]

Thank you everyone!
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Jundo]

Here was the key phrase from Lao Tzu this week ...

"Attaining oneness, heaven is clear; attaining oneness, earth is at rest.”

Leighton and Okumura Roshis report that this is from Chapter 39 of Lao Tzu's Dao De Jing, the famous Taoist text. It is a text notably difficult to translate as rather fuzzy in meaning, so translations vary quite a bit. The closest that I find are these, which are fairly close. The Chinese for the phrase is 天得一以淸、地得一以寧. So, I think that the Leighton-Okumura version is pretty good, maybe the best. I like it better than the following, in fact:

Those of old that gained the One:
The sky (tian) gained the One and was thus clear;
Earth gained the One and was thus calm;
The spirits gained the One and were thus potent;
The valley gained the One and was this full;
The things of the world gained the One and were thus born;
Kings and lords gained the One and were models to the world –

(Translated by Robert Eno)

These in the past have attained wholeness:
Heaven attains wholeness with its clarity;
The Earth attains wholeness with its firmness;
The Spirit attains wholeness with its transcendence;
The Valley attain wholeness when filled;
The Myriad Things attain wholeness in life;
The Ruler attains wholeness in the correct governance of the people.

(Translated by A. Charles Muller)

D.T. Suzuki gave it a little rhyme, ""Heaven by oneness becometh pure. Earth by oneness can endure."

Gassho, J

STLah

[Hokin]

Jus t finished sitting with you on demand!
'Twas lovely!
Thank you all for your practice!
Merry every moment to y'all!

P.D.: actually, and I am asking for I don't know, is it ever that in the southern emisphere now the days are shortening instead? Is that correct?
Anyways...

Gassho.
Hokin.
SAT with you.

[Jundo]

Jus t finished sitting with you on demand!
'Twas lovely!
Thank you all for your practice!
Merry every moment to y'all!

P.D.: actually, and I am asking for I don't know, is it ever that in the southern emisphere now the days are shortening instead? Is that correct?
Anyways...

Gassho.
Hokin.
SAT with you.

Yes, I am embarrassed to say that, once again, we have discriminated against our ANZAC members.

There, days will now grow shorter. Alas.

https://www.britannica.com/science/summer-solstice-astronomy

Does Santa put wheels and water skis on the sleigh when down up under?

When he gets to Australia, Santa sometimes gives the reindeers a rest and might use kangaroos. He also changes his clothes for less 'hot' ones! Children often leave out carrots for Santa's reindeer and there might be some cake for Santa, with some cold beer but it's often non-alcoholic because Santa has to drive his sleigh.

... As it is the middle of Summer in Australia at Christmas time, the words to the Carols about snow and the cold winter are sometimes changed to special Australian words! There are also some original Australian Carols.

https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/australia.shtml

Gassho, J

STLah

[Naiko]

Found a quiet moment to sit with you. Peace to you all.
Gassho,
Naiko
st lah

[Kiri]

Thank you everyone! Happy Winter Solstice!!
Gassho, Nikolas
Sat/Lah

[Meian]

Sat with you all early this morning. Love Sekishi's twinkling lights and glasses!

Happy Winter Solstice, Treeleaf!

Gassho2, meian stlh

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[Seishin]

Caught up On Demand, thank you everyone.

Sat

[Bokugan]

Sat with you all this morning. I feel so fortunate to be able to practice with you all [emoji120][emoji120][emoji120] Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful end to 2021!

Gassho,

Ryan

SatToday LaH

[Kaisui]

Sat on demand with you all. Happy winter / summer solstice, both winter and summer solstices being one in the same earth / rosary

Gassho,
Charity
sat/lah

[Kokuu]

Lovely! Thank you all!

Gassho
Kokuu

[Tairin]

Thank you everyone. In the hustle and bustle of the week I had missed sitting this Zazenkai earlier.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Ippo]

It's so wonderful to sit this with all of you and drop space and time.

NICHI NICHI KORE KONICHI

Every Day Is A Good Day!

Gassho,

Ippo

SatToday