June 3rd-4th, 2022 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Farewell, Vimalakirti

[Jundo]

Not that simple. I am occupied with death and life. I AM SO AFRAID OF DEATH. What is there in sensation of pain, sickness, surgery like and death? What part of me was cut out of my brain? Was I made more handicapped? I am so handicapped already. I am 70 and this is twice the age I was when I turned away from alcoholic drinks and illegal drugs. That is why I am so handicapped? Or how do I not understand?
Gassho
sat/lah

A Koan. Who is measuring, who is feeling the fear, who is asking the questions?

Gassho, J

STLah

[Tai Shi]

Not that simple. I am occupied with death and life. I AM SO AFRAID OF DEATH. What is there in sensation of pain, sickness, surgery like and death? What part of me was cut out of my brain? Was I made more handicapped? I am so handicapped already. I am 70 and this is twice the age I was when I turned away from alcoholic drinks and illegal drugs. That is why I am so handicapped? Or how do I not understand?
Gassho
sat/lah

[Kotei]

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

[Kiri]

Well, I would say that the Vimalakirti Sutra also does not comment on the big questions ... such as whether the universe is finite or infinite, cause or uncaused, one thing or many, created or uncreated, eternal in time or not eternal, etc. etc. ... but rather leaps through all such questions to something more, transcendent. In fact, it answers all such questions by leaping past the questions and all such opposites. I would say that it is the same leap that the historical Buddha made in leaping through Samsara, and all its broken pieces and measures. The leap is not an ignoring or ducking of the questions, but their ultimate resolution by declaring the questions are wrong, narrow, artificial dichotomies of the human brain ... and there is this more.

Someone like Dogen and the Huayan Buddhists of the Mahayana then emphasized that this leaping past, and ultimate resolutions, is ALSO precisely this world of finite things and measures, such that each grain of sand and moment fully embodies this which leaps through all individual pieces and measures.



YES! All of the above. Technically, in the story, the Buddha is a particular emanation or aspect of the Wholeness, but the man Shakyamuni in India was also an emanation of the Wholeness. Since Buddha just means "Awakened One," what was awakened too was this Wholeness and all emanations of this Wholeness are One ... all Buddha. In fact, this includes you and me too who are also Buddha, right now, but just may not realize so in our divided thinking. In fact, such is every grain of sand, planet and rusty tin can on the street.

And this fact, we believe, is precisely what the Buddha in India discovered, then kept his mouth closed about because the usual questions and descriptions do not apply. Like your questions above.

Gassho, J

STLah

Thanks again Jundo!
Gassho, Kiri
Sat/Lah

[Jundo]

Thank you Jundo for the talk!
If I am not mistaken Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, refused to talk about the origins of the cosmos, saying it is not important for libaration. So how did we get from this to the God like understanding of a Buddha as explained by Vimalakirti?

Well, I would say that the Vimalakirti Sutra also does not comment on the big questions ... such as whether the universe is finite or infinite, cause or uncaused, one thing or many, created or uncreated, eternal in time or not eternal, etc. etc. ... but rather leaps through all such questions to something more, transcendent. In fact, it answers all such questions by leaping past the questions and all such opposites. I would say that it is the same leap that the historical Buddha made in leaping through Samsara, and all its broken pieces and measures. The leap is not an ignoring or ducking of the questions, but their ultimate resolution by declaring the questions are wrong, narrow, artificial dichotomies of the human brain ... and there is this more.

Someone like Dogen and the Huayan Buddhists of the Mahayana then emphasized that this leaping past, and ultimate resolutions, is ALSO precisely this world of finite things and measures, such that each grain of sand and moment fully embodies this which leaps through all individual pieces and measures.

Also, is the Buddha Vimalakirti is talking to Shakyamuni, or some other super-Buddha?

YES! All of the above. Technically, in the story, the Buddha is a particular emanation or aspect of the Wholeness, but the man Shakyamuni in India was also an emanation of the Wholeness. Since Buddha just means "Awakened One," what was awakened too was this Wholeness and all emanations of this Wholeness are One ... all Buddha. In fact, this includes you and me too who are also Buddha, right now, but just may not realize so in our divided thinking. In fact, such is every grain of sand, planet and rusty tin can on the street.

And this fact, we believe, is precisely what the Buddha in India discovered, then kept his mouth closed about because the usual questions and descriptions do not apply. Like your questions above.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Kiri]

Thank you Jundo for the talk!
If I am not mistaken Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, refused to talk about the origins of the cosmos, saying it is not important for libaration. So how did we get from this to the God like understanding of a Buddha as explained by Vimalakirti? Also, is the Buddha Vimalakirti is talking to Shakyamuni, or some other super-Buddha?
Gassho, Kiri
Sat/Lah

[Doshin]

Doshin
St

[Naiko]

Sorry for popping in and out. I was not feeling well, but I did not want to miss the Vimalakirti finale. Thank you, Jundo, for this teaching.
Gassho,
Naiko
st lah

[Jundo]

For more than (probably) anyone wants or needs to know about the sacred number "seven" and "seven circumambulations" in Buddhism and a variety of other religions ...

In the present paper the authors endeavors to shed light on the high signification of
number seven in the religious, cultural, social and mystical background of human
history. Having analyzed Quranic and biblical contexts, the author presents the
reader with numerous examples to demonstrate the holiness often attributed to
number seven. Delving into mythology and sociology he has also provided the reader
with enough evidence in order to indicate how number seven is reckoned in different
civilizations. There is an emphasis to trace the historical status of the number in
Persian context.

...

http://www.ajssh.leena-luna.co.jp/AJSSHPDFs/Vol.2(4)/AJSSH2013(2.4-30).pdf

More here ...

Seven Reasons We Are Captivated by the Number Seven
Why a simple number has such psychological and visceral appeal.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201506/seven-reasons-we-are-captivated-the-number-seven

Gassho, J

STLah

[houst0n]

Finished sitting with you this morning. Thanks everyone!
Gassho,
Neil

[Anchi]

That was very lovely ! Thank you everyone!
Thank you Jundo for your excellent knowledge, clear and concise teachings.
Much gratitude!

Deep bows
Anchi

[Showan]

Thank you all very much for your patience and indulgence as I learnt the ropes tonight. I really appreciate it and I enjoyed seeing you all and sitting with you all.

Gassho,
Showan
Sat today

[Onkai]

It was nice sitting together. I'm sorry I had to bow out. I will do the complete zazenkai later this week.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/lah

[Tokan]

Sorry sangha - had to bail earlier than planned, the sun is shining and the kids need to get out of the house (good job my mic was on mute!)

I will finish the zazenkai later. As always, I'm grateful for the time that I can sit with you all, please excuse my departure today

Gassho, Tokan

(sat (with you) and lah (next))

[Tokan]

Hi all

I'll join live today but will have to take my leave at the kinhin before hokey-pokey for childcare reasons. See you soon!

Gassho - Tokan

(satlah - last 24 hours though as only just got up!)