January 27th-28th Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - Vairocana, the Universal Buddha

[Jundo]

Who is this, mentioned in our Soto Zen Meal Chants?

Homage to the pure Dharmakaya Vairochana Buddha, boundless
To the complete Sambhogakaya Lochana Buddha, symbol of perfection

Dogen also mentions Vairochana dozens of times in his writing, such as this nice passage from Shobogenzo (Yui Butsu Yo Butsu):

The entire earth is the single eye of Vairochana means that buddhas have a single eye.
Do not suppose that a buddha’s eye is like those of human beings.
Human beings have two eyes ...
Those who study the teaching should not understand that “the eye of a buddha,”
“the eye of dharma,” or “the celestial eye” is like the two eyes of human beings.
To believe that it is like human eyes is lamentable.
Understand now that there is only a buddha’s single eye,
which is itself the entire earth.

You may be surprised to find such references in Zen.

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/VFXcEIu1_tY

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

[Jundo]

More about Vairochana (also known as Dainichi Nyorai in Japanese) ...

Dainichi Buddha (Sanskrit = Vairocana or Maha Vairocana) ... generally supplants the Historical Buddha as the object of veneration among Japan's esoteric practitioners. Indeed, in Japan's Esoteric traditions, Dainichi is the most important of all the myriad Buddha. In fact, Dainichi is said to be everywhere and everything, like the air we breathe, with all other Buddha and divine beings considered as emanations of Dainichi. ... Esoteric Buddhism was founded on the principle that the two aspects of Buddha, both the unchanging cosmic principle and the active, physical manifestation of Buddha in the natural world, were one and the same. The truth of the cosmic order, which is contained in the relationships between the Cosmic Buddha and all his manifestations, cannot be known verbally.

Unlike most statues of the various Buddha (Nyorai) in Japan (which are simple and unadorned), images of Dainichi Buddha are typically depicted in the guise of a Bodhisattva -- with elaborately arranged hair topped with a crown, and wearing richly jeweled ornaments or garments. ... Dainichi’s characteristic hand gesture in Japan (although not always) is the Mudra of Six Elements (Jp. = Chiken-in 智拳印) -- also called the Knowledge Fist Mudra. In this mudra, the index finger of the left hand is clasped by the five fingers of the right. This mudra symbolizes the unity of the five worldly elements -- earth, water, fire, air/wind, and space/void -- with spiritual consciousness. ...

https://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/dainichi.shtml

References to Vairochana in our meal chants go back to China, if not earlier. Dogen brought these same chants back to Japan, and wrote of them in his instructions for Oryoki. For example, the first, extant Zen Monastic Code in China, published in 1103, thus over 100 years before Dogen would have come to China, is the Chanyuan qinggui (Rules of Purity for the Chan Monastery). It states the following, about identical to Dogen's wording ...

Regarding mealtime rituals, the Chanyuan qinggui indicates that before taking their meals, monks would chant the ten epithets of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, a custom preserved in Chinese monasteries to the present day. The chant begins as follows:

“The Pure Dharma Body Vairocana Buddha, the Perfect Reward Body Vairocana ...

Japan, mid Edo period (1673-1751)
cast and lacquered bronze; base in wood carved, lacquered and gilded
https://www.museidigenova.it/en/dainichi-nyorai

Gassho, J

stlah

[Tokan]

Hey all

It is my 12th wedding anniversary today so we are having a family day, I will sit with this zazenkai later, enjoy

Gassho, Tokan (satlah)

[Spiritdove]

Happy Anniversary! Click this link for special message Best-wedding-anniversary-wishes-for-couple-1.png


Marj "Spiritdove"
Sat Today

[Tokan]

Happy Anniversary! Click this link for special message [ATTACH=CONFIG]8198[/ATTACH]


Marj "Spiritdove"
Sat Today

Thank you, very kind

Tokan, satlah

[Jacob Janicek]

I had never heard of Vairochana before today, didn't know there was a creator being in Buddhism. I enjoyed this week's talk, I came to zen pretty disillusioned by the abrahamic stuff but I've since made peace with all of it. I can empathize with religious family members more than I used to be able to.

Gassho
Jacob Jay
Sat today

[Jundo]

I had never heard of Vairochana before today, didn't know there was a creator being in Buddhism. I enjoyed this week's talk, I came to zen pretty disillusioned by the abrahamic stuff but I've since made peace with all of it. I can empathize with religious family members more than I used to be able to.

Gassho
Jacob Jay
Sat today

Well, rather than "creator," one might better say something like "True Source" ... that is, "Emptiness," the Ultimate, the Absolute, "Dharmakaya," etc.

Gassho, J

stlah

[Kiri]

Thank you everyone! Nice to see you Vairocana san, and happy anniversary Tokan!
Gassho, Kiri
Sat/Lah

[Kotei]

Thank you everyone.
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today

[Bokugan]

Thank you all so much! Finished sitting this morning (had to bail partway through the second zazen period, unfortunately).

It means a lot to have these opportunities to practice with everyone

Gassho,

Bokugan
SatToday

[Bokugan]

Hey all

It is my 12th wedding anniversary today so we are having a family day, I will sit with this zazenkai later, enjoy

Gassho, Tokan (satlah)

Happy anniversary! That is wonderful.

Gassho,

Bokugan
SatToday

[Tairin]

Thank you everyone. I sat with you this morning.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Meiun]

Thank you to all who sat Zazenkai, I have sat with the recording of you all just now [emoji846]

Gassho [emoji120]

Meiun (Mike)

Sat today

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

[Chikyou]

Wonderful...I too had notheard of Vairochana before today. This talk has really deepened my understanding.

Though it was coincidental, I appreciated the kinhin demonstration. Iwas never quite sure if I was doing it right.

Gassho,
Sat
Kelly

[Shujin]

I enjoyed sitting with y'all this morning.

Gassho,
Shujin

sat today