February 11th-12th Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - Nothing Special Happens

[Jundo]

Please join us for a Zazenkai where nothing special or of note will happen.

Dear All,

Please sit our Treeleaf Zazenkai for 90 minutes with Zazen, Heart Sutra and more:

10am Japan Saturday morning, NY 8pm, LA 5pm Friday night, London 1am and Paris 2am Saturday morning, or any time thereafter here:

https://youtu.be/z3sKDdRKVUw

However, "one way" live sitters are encouraged to come into the Zoom sitting, and just leave the camera and microphone turned off: Join live (with or without a camera & microphone) on Zoom at: TREELEAF Now OR at DIRECT ZOOM LINK, password (if needed): dogen

00:00 – 00:15 CEREMONY (HEART SUTRA in English) and Dedication
00:15 – 00:45 ZAZEN
00:45 – 00:55 KINHIN
00:55 – 01:25 ZAZEN
01:25 – 01:30 VERSE OF ATONEMENT & FOUR VOWS
01:30 - 01:45(?) Informal Tea Time (All Welcome)

ATTENTION: Everyone, when rising for Kinhin or Ceremonies after Zazen, get up slowly, don't rush, hold something stable, you won't be "late," so TAKE YOUR TIME! Make sure you are careful getting up!

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLah



PS - There is no "wrong" or "right" in Zazen ... yet here is a little explanation of the "right" times to Bow (A Koan) ...

https://youtu.be/GR6POpsXh9Q

Chant Book is here for those who wish to join in: CHANT BOOK LINK

The other video I mention on Zendo decorum is this one, from our "Always Beginners" video Series:

Sit-a-Long with Jundo: Zazen for Beginners (12) - Basic Zendo Decorum At Home
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...093#post189093

I also recommend a little Talk on why small rituals and procedures are so cherished in the Zendo:

SIT-A-LONG with Jundo: Small Things in the Zendo
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...s-in-the-Zendo

[Bion]

I feel like this is a challenge. I would like to ask for permission to fall over during or after zazen, just to make things “special” [emoji1]

[emoji1374] Sat Today (but not special, just ordinary zazen)

[Sekishi]

Youtube and Zoom stuffs ready.

I'll see you all after knocking on wood, crossing my fingers, and hanging a horseshoe over the door. Because "nothing special happens" just seems like an invocation of Murphy's Law!

Deep bows and crossed fingers,
Sekishi
#sat #lah

[Nengei]

Youtube and Zoom stuffs ready.

I'll see you all after knocking on wood, crossing my fingers, and hanging a horseshoe over the door. Because "nothing special happens" just seems like an invocation of Murphy's Law!

Deep bows and crossed fingers,
Sekishi
#sat #lah

I will sit with the recording. We will be LAHing, doing food prep for a family quarantined with the 'rona.

Gassho,
Nengei
Sat today. LAH.

[Onkai]

Thank you, everyone. "Nothing Special/Everything is Special" was a grounding teaching for me today (in a good way). So glad to practice with everyone.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/lah

[Nengyoku]

Thank you all friends.

Gassho,
Nengyoku
Sat

[Bion]

The most normal of things now, Saturday early morning spent with all of you, while the world around me sleeps, is truly special! So I thank you and I thank HD Jundo as well! [emoji1] May you have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

[emoji1374] Sat Today

[Koushi]

Once again lovely to see and sit with you fine folks. Looking forward to our normal time and normal place next week

Gassho,
Koushi
STLaH

[Kiri]

Thank you Jundo and everyone for Nothing Special!
Gassho, Kiri
Sat/Lah

[Huichan]

Was just doing a bit of evening reading and came across this. I thought it was quite relevant to this morning's Zazenkai. It might be something you recognise

"the most magical of mystical powers is not to levitate, walk on water, or foresee the future — assuming we could do any of these — but simply to perform countless ordinary and natural actions which, when we reflect on it, are truly amazing. How much of a miracle is it that we are here, able to breathe, laugh, cry, and drink a cup of tea? It has taken all the physics and chemistry, time, and circumstances of the universe to allow us to be here, doing a simple act like drinking a cup of tea. All the heat and light, twists and turns of the universe also work to bring us to the mysterious miracle of death. So, all of life and death are our “mystical powers.” This is especially true when we use these ordinary powers for good, such as to bring a bit more strength, kindness, and compassion into the world."

Gassho
Ross
STLAH

[Tairin]

Thank you everyone. I sat with you this morning.

Powerful message in this week’s talk. Thank you Jundo

P.S. the new camera is great. The picture is much brighter and I like the new viewing angle. Thank you to the techies that helped set it up. Thank you to the Treeleaf donors who’s contributions help keep the lights on at Treeleaf


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Bokugan]

Such a great zazenkai! Very sincere and touching talk -- thank you, Jundo.

The camera and sound are major upgrades! Big thanks to everyone who helped with the set up (Sekishi, Bion, Koushi, and all others).

Gassho,

Bokugan
SatToday LaH

[Seishin]

Deep bows for the new tech ! Nothing special.
Thank you all.

Sat

[Kokuu]

Thank you for this special 'nothing special' sit. It is always lovely to sit with the sangha.

The quote is indeed from Peter Matthiessen but a different book - The Nine-Headed Dragon River, on page 39.

Gassho
Kokuu

[Anchi]