July 9th, 2011 Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai

[Jundo]

Hello All,

TWO NOTES: Due to camera issues, today's sitting does not include the Heart Sutra, and begins with the first Zazen sitting. JUST SIT WITH THAT. Also, we have workmen making rather noisy repairs to some additional earthquake damage which happened this week. JUST SIT WITH THAT.

Please 'sit-a-long' with our weekly FRIDAY/SATURDAY 'LIVE FROM TREELEAF' 90 minute ZAZENKAI, netcast LIVE from 9am Japan time Saturday morning (that is New York 8pm, Los Angeles 5pm (Friday night), London 1am and Paris 2am (early Saturday morning))

... and to be visible at the following link during those times ...

LIVE ZAZENKAI NETCAST at JUSTIN.TV:

http://www.justin.tv/treeleafzen

But FEAR NOT if not possible for you to join 'live' in your location at those times, as the entire sitting is recorded in 'REAL TIME' and available for full participation 'on demand' at any time after that, no different from the 'live' sitting :

'REAL TIME' recorded 'ANY TIME' version link is here:

http://www.justin.tv/treeleafzen/b/289780403

OUR 90 MINUTE SITTING SCHEDULE IS AS FOLLOWS:

00:00 – 00:15 CEREMONY (HEART SUTRA in English ONLY) and Dedication
00:15 – 00:45 ZAZEN
00:45 – 00:55 KINHIN
00:55 – 01:25 ZAZEN
01:25 – 01:30 FOUR VOWS, & VERSE OF ATONEMENT

As you can see, our Zazenkai consists of chanting the 'Heart Sutra' in English (the words are at the link below), some full floor prostrations in sets of three (please follow along with me ... or a simple Gassho can be substituted if you wish), followed by our Dedication, Zazen twice for 30 minutes each, with 10 minutes of Kinhin in between, and we end the sitting with 'The Verse of Atonement' and 'The Four Vows'.

Please download and print out the words of the Chants we will recite at the following link:

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2231

So, please join us as soon as you can, and we will keep a Zafu open for you.

Remember, when we drop all thought of 'here' 'there' 'now' 'then' ... we are sitting all together!


Gassho, Jundo

[Jundo]

Re: July 9th, 2011 Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai

TWO NOTES: Due to camera issues, today's sitting does not include the Heart Sutra, and begins with the first Zazen sitting. JUST SIT WITH THAT. Also, we have workmen making rather noisy repairs to some additional earthquake damage which happened this week. JUST SIT WITH THAT.

Gassho, Jundo

[Dosho]

Re: July 9th, 2011 Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai

Hi Jundo,

I sat with that.

Thanks to all who sat, are sitting, or will sit....deep bows.

Gassho,
Dosho

[Kyonin]

Re: July 9th, 2011 Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai

I just sat with that and it was wonderful. Indeed, that's life and we have to practice with what we've got.

Thank you, Jundo Sensei. :P

[Seishin the Elder]

Re: July 9th, 2011 Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai

I sat with that, the first half last evening and the second part today, here at my Abbey where I am for two weeks.

Gassho,

Seishin Kyrill

[Heisoku]

Re: July 9th, 2011 Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai

I just sat with that and I may sit with it tomorrow too! Thanks Jundo.

[Myoku]

Re: July 9th, 2011 Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai

Thank you, you three there in Japan and everybody sitting,
this imperfection is just our practice, is life, thank you all
_()_
Peter

[Saijun]

Re: July 9th, 2011 Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai

Hello friends,

I was unable to find any obligation-free time to sit the four hour Zazenkai last week ops:, and will be sitting this sit tomorrow and last week's on Friday, if any would care to join me.

Metta and Gassho,

Saijun

[Hoyu]

Re: July 9th, 2011 Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai

TWO NOTES: Due to camera issues, today's sitting does not include the Heart Sutra, and begins with the first Zazen sitting. JUST SIT WITH THAT. Also, we have workmen making rather noisy repairs to some additional earthquake damage which happened this week. JUST SIT WITH THAT.

No problem for us because "Sitting With All That Is, Is What We Stand For!" Hmmm, that would make a great title for a book :idea: :lol:

Thank you Jundo Sensei and all fellow sitters! Jundo, your talk about the universe, gods, dancing, and cups of tea brought this poem from Lu Tong to my mind.
Wikipedia: Lu Tong (simplified Chinese: ??; traditional Chinese: ??; pinyin: Lú Tóng; Wade–Giles: Lú Tung, or Lotung, Lo-tung, 790–835) was a Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty known for his lifelong study of the "Tea Culture". He was a peculiar man who never became an official, and is better known for his love of tea than his poetry.

The first cup fully moistens lips and throat.

The second cup banishes isolation.

The third cup makes one sharp and ready to read five thousand scrolls.

The fourth cup brings a light sweat that draws complaints from the pores.

The fifth cup cleanses to the bone.

The sixth cup makes one commune with the immortals.

The seventh cup would be too much.

Refreshing breezes embrace my body.

This translation of Lu Tong's poem(there are many with slight variations) comes from Sen Soshitsu XV, in his book "The Japanese Way of Tea"