Aug 26-27 Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - MORE Zen can solve ALL your problems! (REALLY!!)

[Jundo]

Dear All,

Our little Talk this time will dance a Koan:

Book of Serenity, Case 94 - Tozan's Illness:

Tozan was ill. A monk asked, "Osho, you're sick. Is there someone not sick?”
Tozan answered, ''Yes, there is."
The monk asked, "Does the one who is not sick look after you?"
Tozan replied, "This old monk is able to look after others!"
The monk asked, "Osho, how about when you look after others?"
Tozan said, "Then the having of sickness is not seen."

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

10am Japan Saturday morning, NY 9pm, LA 6pm Friday night, London 2am and Paris 3am Saturday morning, or any time thereafter here:

https://youtu.be/ArxI76Z0Hyw

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]

Ok, I’m ready to bring my problems to have them solved! Make some room in the zazendo, please! [emoji3526]

[emoji1374] Sat Today

[Tokan]

Ok, I’m ready to bring my problems to have them solved! Make some room in the zazendo, please! [emoji3526]

[emoji1374] Sat Today

Me too! Thank goodness we practice in 'boundless space'

Gassho, Tokan (satlah)

[Anchi]

That was very lovely ! Thank you everyone!

Jewels and pearls of wisdom in every talk.
Your words are inspiring and lovely. Thank you Jundo.

Sending all my sincere respect and gratitude for always bringing a smile and peace!


ln Peace with Nine Bows,
Anchi

[Kiri]

Thank you everyone!
Gassho, Kiri
Sat/Lah

[Tairin]

Thank you everyone. I sat with you this morning.

Nice talk Jundo.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Koriki]

Nice sitting with you today. I'm reminded of when I was a little kid and I had a big ball of clay. I'd pinch off a few pieces and make a few little men. Then pinch off another and make a dog, etc. Did the creatures I made also think that they were separate or did they know that they were part of the same ball of clay?

Gassho,
Mark
s@ lah

[Jundo]

Nice sitting with you today. I'm reminded of when I was a little kid and I had a big ball of clay. I'd pinch off a few pieces and make a few little men. Then pinch off another and make a dog, etc. Did the creatures I made also think that they were separate or did they know that they were part of the same ball of clay?

Gassho,
Mark
s@ lah

I am gonna steal that story.

I guess you were their god with clay feet.

Gassho, J

stlah

[Uran]

Wonderful to sit with you all this evening.

And I apologize for bowing in all the wrong ways a couple of weeks ago. From my screen all I could see was the zendo and didn't have anyone to follow. I figured I wouldn't panic and would just do the best I could but I so appreciate the tutorial.

Gassho,
Aimee

sat today

[Koushi]

And I apologize for bowing in all the wrong ways a couple of weeks ago. From my screen all I could see was the zendo and didn't have anyone to follow. I figured I wouldn't panic and would just do the best I could but I so appreciate the tutorial.

No reason to apologize, Aimee! It's all a repetition and learning thing—and to be honest, if I don't hear a bell fully or I notice my knee twinging more than the words chanted, I still bow in the wrong place after these years

Gassho,
koushi
STLaH

[Jundo]

Wonderful to sit with you all this evening.

And I apologize for bowing in all the wrong ways a couple of weeks ago. From my screen all I could see was the zendo and didn't have anyone to follow. I figured I wouldn't panic and would just do the best I could but I so appreciate the tutorial.

Gassho,
Aimee

sat today

We have never kicked anyone out for over or under Bowing.

I flub too. This week, I lit the Incense BEFORE the Ceremony started, when I just was supposed to light the candle alone ... a premature incensing.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[JudyE]

Thank you, everyone! Sat with you all via recording this evening. The talk gave me peace as I remember that the place of refuge is always there.

Gassho,
Judy
sat/lah

[Bokugan]

Just finished sitting with you all [emoji1374]

Wonderful talk, Jundo. You mentioning how our experience of the world is a model we create made me think of Donald Hoffman's discussions on how our perceptions of reality are actually like a computer interface...

"For the perceptions of H. sapiens, space-time is the desktop and physical objects are the icons."

https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13423-015-0890-8

Thank you Nengyoku for your eno services and everyone for your practice

Gassho,

Bokugan
SatToday

Sorry to run a smidge long!

[Chikyou]

We have never kicked anyone out for over or under Bowing.

I flub too. This week, I lit the Incense BEFORE the Ceremony started, when I just was supposed to light the candle alone ... a premature incensing.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

The flubs were my favorite part, they served as a fantastic reminder that we're all perfectly imperfect humans and in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter!

I have a question that I've been meaning to ask: when we recite the four vows, what is the purpose of doing so with differing volume/inflection (first normal, then loud, then whisper?)

Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly

[Jundo]

I have a question that I've been meaning to ask: when we recite the four vows, what is the purpose of doing so with differing volume/inflection (first normal, then loud, then whisper?)

Kelly! You get the prize today for asking a question that, I believe, I have never been asked in 16 years here. I don't know! It is something that I inherited from my mentor, Rev. Doshin Cantor of the White Plum (who passed this year), as it was the way in his Sangha when I was sitting there.

It reminds me of a true story, when I once asked a priest at Eiheiji's branch temple in Tokyo about why they ring the bells with a certain pattern. (It turned out later that it is because it is timekeeping signals, like European churchbells). But he did not know, so called an older priest who ALSO did not know, but said to me: "We ring the bells that way because ... that is how we ring the bells!" Very Zen!

I note that the Upaya Zen Center, also connected to the White Plum, is similar in style, slightly more forceful on the second verse, a bit quieter on the third. I will write to Joan Halifax and see if she has some background:

https://youtu.be/e_4yjyV3vv8

Looking at the Japanese Soto style, it seems to be a fairly consistent monotone:

https://youtu.be/OBoi7IDCeKw

However, there is a Japanese Rinzai way of chanting the Four Vows (the Shigu Seigan Mon / 四弘誓願文) that is so beautiful. You must listen to this, perhaps one of the loveliest chanting styles I know. Perhaps, because the White Plum is a mixed Soto-Rinzai line, it was an attempt to have some feeling of the same musicality.

https://youtu.be/_io4Z8YHhio

In the meantime, I will speak from my own heart what it means:

First, we chant with sincerity and equanimity; Second, we chant we more energy and determination to realize these Vows; Third, we allow the Vows to merge with quiet and stillness.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah