Feb. 28th/March 1st, 2014 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI!

[Mp]

I just re-sent the invite, maybe that will help.

Gassho
Shingen

[Myozan Kodo]

Hi,
I've been unable to get in. The link brings me to a black screen. Think I'll turn in and try the recorded version tomorrow. Happy Zazenkai all!
Gassho
Myozan

[Dosho]

Well, I can't get back in, but G+ says I'm still there.

Thank you all.

Gassho,
Dosho

[Mp]

Thank you Jundo and everyone, wonderful sit. Great talk as well, always nice to groove to the oldies ie: basics. =)

Gassho
Shingen

[Jundo]

ATTENTION! G+, for some reason, only recorded our first 30 minutes. Oh well. We are all together nontheless. The talk was on seeing through life's disasatisfactions, so the fact that the talk is gone is the perfect Teaching! I SUGGEST FOLKS PICK AN "OLDIE BUT TIMELESS GOLDIE" MONTHLY ZAZENKAI FROM SOMETIME IN THE PASTLESS PAST, JUST SIT WITH THAT!

[Sekishi]

Interesting. I guess around that time (30 minutes in) the hangout must stopped working for me too, but I didn't realize it because everyone was still visible on my screen.

There was Jundo, and Shingen, and Dosho all sitting. You were not moving, but hey, you were sitting Zazen. My legs and back got more and more sore, but such is our practice. At some point it was obvious to my body that this was the longest I had ever sat without doing Kinhin. But there was Jundo, and Shingen, and Dosho, still sitting. And if you all could keep sitting that long, than so could I. This went on for a while longer until I could not take it any more. I pulled up the clock on my computer and it was well over an hour into Zazen. I figured at that point that something must be broken, so I disconnected and reconnected. Sure enough, some folks were gone, but Joyo and Kyonin had joined. And you were all still sitting -- I missed first Kinhin!

Thank you all for your practice, and thank you Google+ for showing me a new side to Zazen!

Gassho,
Sekishi

[Jundo]

Interesting. I guess around that time (30 minutes in) the hangout must stopped working for me too, but I didn't realize it because everyone was still visible on my screen.

There was Jundo, and Shingen, and Dosho all sitting. You were not moving, but hey, you were sitting Zazen. My legs and back got more and more sore, but such is our practice. At some point it was obvious to my body that this was the longest I had ever sat without doing Kinhin. But there was Jundo, and Shingen, and Dosho, still sitting. And if you all could keep sitting that long, than so could I. This went on for a while longer until I could not take it any more. I pulled up the clock on my computer and it was well over an hour into Zazen. I figured at that point that something must be broken, so I disconnected and reconnected. Sure enough, some folks were gone, but Joyo and Kyonin had joined. And you were all still sitting -- I missed first Kinhin!

Thank you all for your practice, and thank you Google+ for showing me a new side to Zazen!

Gassho,
Sekishi

[Mp]

There was Jundo, and Shingen, and Dosho all sitting.

Sshhh, don't tell anyone ... but those were cardboard cutouts - we ducked out for ice cream. =)

Gassho
Shingen

[Jundo]

Sshhh, don't tell anyone ... but those were cardboard cutouts - we ducked out for ice cream. =)

Gassho
Shingen

[Sekishi]

Sshhh, don't tell anyone ... but those were cardboard cutouts - we ducked out for ice cream. =)

Huh. Normally I think I'd be jealous about not being included in this yummy outing, but I'm betting that now that your oryoki stuff is all sticky and yucky with ice cream and chocolate sauce -- it wasn't really worth it.

Gassho and sprinkles,
Sekishi

[Kyonin]

Thank you all who sat and will sit.

It was a lovely zazenkai and the talk was powerful. Thank you, Jundo.

Gassho,

Kyonin

[Sekishi]

It was a lovely zazenkai and the talk was powerful. Thank you, Jundo.

Agreed. All silly aside, it was a wonderful Zazenkai, and the talk was very timely for me. I don't think I expressed myself particularly well with my question tonight, but lately practice has felt more "unified" for me, Zazen, Metta, bowing, the meal chant, oryoki -- the physical acts themselves help us manifest a kind of wisdom in action. They help us enact the Buddha way, and to unify our minds and bodies and all beings. In one sense, perhaps part of the path to realizing emptiness / fullness / Shunyata and practice "thinking non-thinking" is to also to do non-doing (Shikantaza), bow to all sentient beings, and to wash our bowls.

Deep bows to you all.
Sekishi

[Mp]

Agreed. All silly aside, it was a wonderful Zazenkai, and the talk was very timely for me. I don't think I expressed myself particularly well with my question tonight

I agree ... coming back to the basics is always a good thing. =)

And I disagree ... I very much appreciate and understood your question/statement/reflection. =)

Gassho
Shingen

[Taikyo]

Well that was interesting! Saturday is pretty full for me so got up early to sit straight through and there I was sitting away and no bell to end the first sitting!!!! Thinking the fault my end I tried then to find the video on G+ but no avail. I then came here and found Jundo's post, so just carried on sitting. But I guess the zazenkai did continue but wasn't recorded is that right? If so, Jundo, is there anyway of getting hold of your talk on the Book of Serenity as I would be interested in hearing it.

Whatever, I thank you all for your practice it is always inspiring to see you guys sitting for the four hours. Deep Bows to all who sit around the world.

In Gassho
Taiko

[Jundo]

Hi Taikyo,

The talk has faded into the air.

However, no worries. I pretty much always repeat myself sooner rather than later. A broken record.

Gassho, J