TREELEAF SANGHA online 2-DAY ANGO-JUKAI-ROHATSU RETREAT -- 2016 -- (MAIN PAGE)

**Jundo** · 12-05-2016, 04:11 AM

OUR READING FOR THIS RETREAT:

Dharma Talks during the Retreat by Shingen, Daizan, Kyonin, Shugen and Sekishi will be based on the following text ...

Guidepost of Silent Illumination 《Mozhao Ming 默照铭》
by Zen Master Hongzhi Zhengjue (宏智正覺)
Translated by Taigen Dan Leighton with Yi Wu

Introduction by Taigen Leighton, from his essay, "Hongzhi, Dogen and the Background of Shikantaza":

The specific practice experience of shikan taza was first articulated in the Soto Zen lineage (Caodong in Chinese) by the Chinese master Hongzhi Zhengjue (1091-1157; Wanshi Shogaku in Japanese),and further elaborated by the Japanese Soto founder Eihei Dogen (1200-1253). ... [Although Hongzhi was not a direct Ancestor in the Lineage of Dogen], Tiantong Monastery, where Dogen studied with [his own Teacher] Rujing in 1227, was the same temple where Hongzhi had been abbot for almost thirty years up to his death in 1157. Dogen refers to Hongzhi as an "Ancient Buddha," and frequently quotes him, especially from his poetic writings on meditative experience. Clearly the meditative awareness that Hongzhi writes about was closely related to Dogen's meditation, although Dogen developed its dynamic orientation in his own writings about just sitting.

Hongzhi's meditation teaching is usually referred to as "silent, or serene, illumination," although Hongzhi actually uses this term only a few times in his voluminous writings. In his long poem, "Silent Illumination," Hongzhi emphasizes the necessity for balance between serenity and illumination ... Hongzhi emphasizes the necessity for active insight as well as calm in "Silent Illumination" when he says, "If illumination neglects serenity then aggressiveness appears. . . . If serenity neglects illumination, murkiness leads to wasted dharma." So Hongzhi's meditation values the balancing of both stopping, or settling the mind, and its active illuminating functioning. ... Like the flow of water and clouds, the mind can move smoothly to flow in harmony with its environment. "Accord and respond without laboring and accomplish without hindrance. Everywhere turn around freely, not following conditions, not falling into classifications."

In many places, Hongzhi provides specific instructions about how to manage one's sense perceptions so as to allow the vital presence of just sitting. "Respond unencumbered to each speck of dust without becoming its partner. The subtlety of seeing and hearing transcends mere colors and sounds." ...

Another aspect of Hongzhi's practice is that it is objectless not only in terms of letting go of concentration objects, but also objectless in the sense of avoiding any specific, limited goals or objectives. As Hongzhi says at the end of "Silent Illumination," "Transmit it to all directions without desiring to gain credit." This serene illumination, or just sitting, is not a technique, or a means to some resulting higher state of consciousness, or any particular state of being. Just sitting, one simply meets the immediate present. Desiring some flashy experience, or anything more or other than "this" is mere worldly vanity and craving. Again invoking empty nature, Hongzhi says, "Fully appreciate the emptiness of all dharmas. Then all minds are free and all dusts evaporate in the original brilliance shining everywhere. . . . Clear and desireless, the wind in the pines and the moon in the water are content in their elements."

http://www.ancientdragon.org/dharma/...f_just_sitting

Talk I by Shingen:

Silent and serene, forgetting words, bright clarity appears before you.
When you reflect it you become vast, where you embody it you are spiritually uplifted.
Spiritually solitary and shining, inner illumination restores wonder,
Dew in the moonlight, a river of stars, snow-covered pines, clouds enveloping the peak.
In darkness it is most bright, while hidden all the more manifest.
The crane dreams in the wintery mists. The autumn waters flow far in the distance.
Endless kalpas are totally empty, all things completely the same.

Talk II by Daizan

When wonder exists in serenity, all achievement is forgotten in illumination.
What is this wonder? Alertly seeing through confusion
Is the way of silent illumination and the origin of subtle radiance.
Vision penetrating into subtle radiance is weaving gold on a jade loom.
Upright and inclined yield to each other; light and dark are interdependent.
Not depending on sense faculty and object, at the right time they interact.
Drink the medicine of good views. Beat the poison-smeared drum.
When they interact, killing and giving life are up to you.

Talk III by Kyonin

Through the gate the self emerges and the branches bear fruit.
Only silence is the supreme speech, only illumination the universal response.
Responding without falling into achievement, speaking without involving listeners,
The ten thousand forms majestically glisten and expound the dharma.
All objects certify it, every one in dialogue.
Dialoguing and certifying, they respond appropriately to each other;
But if illumination neglects serenity then aggressiveness appears.

Talk IV by Shugen

Certifying and dialoguing, they respond to each other appropriately;
But if serenity neglects illumination, murkiness leads to wasted dharma.
When silent illumination is fulfilled, the lotus blossoms, the dreamer awakens,
A hundred streams flow into the ocean, a thousand ranges face the highest peak.
Like geese preferring milk, like bees gathering nectar,
When silent illumination reaches the ultimate, I offer my teaching.
The teaching of silent illumination penetrates from the highest down to the foundation.

Talk V by Sekishi

The body being shunyata, the arms in mudra;
From beginning to end the changing appearances and ten thousand differences share one pattern.
Mr. Ho offered jade [to the Emperor; Minister] Xiangru pointed to its flaws.
Facing changes has its principles, the great function is without striving.
The ruler stays in the kingdom, the general goes beyond the frontiers.
Our school's affair hits the mark straight and true.
Transmit it to all directions without desiring to gain credit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Few Notes on Symbolism and Terminology:

- In traditional Zen writing, phrases such as "host and guest" "vertical and horizontal" "upright and inclined" "dark and light" and others are often used to allude in some way to the interrelationship of "absolute" and "relative." Likewise for images of a white crane standing in the white snow (same but different), clouds and mountains, mountain range and mountain peak, the interweaving of warp and woof on a loom, rivers merging into the sea, waters flowing to the horizon, a river of stars in space, trees covered in a blanket of snow. Likewise, the Ruler/Emperor stays unmoving and still in the palace yet rules the Kingdom, the General commands by moving through the messy world. All are "not one, not two", separate but not in the least, one yet not one, one beyond one or two. Many such images appear in the poem.

- A "Kalpa" is a traditional Buddhist measure of very long time, something like an Eon. "Endless Kalpas" is much like "endless eons."

- The reference to "poison smeared drum" may come from the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra, that which together with the "medicine of right views", to those who are wise, bestows a healing and a life beyond "birth or death".

A man may have invented a new poison and smeared it on a drum, which, when it is beaten in a crowd, lets the sound come by [lets out a great sound]. No one wishes to hear it. But anyone who does hear it dies, except for him who is immune to death.

- "Geese preferring milk, like bees gathering nectar" are just the most natural of actions.

- "Shunyata" is "Emptiness"

- "Mudra" is a ritual gesture or body position, such as how the hands are held in Zazen or the whole posture or sitting of Zazen itself.

- "Mr. Ho offered Jade to the Emperor; Minister Xiangru pointed to its flaws" ... perhaps both stories of the perfection of the flawed, the flaws in the perfection?

In the story of "Mr. Ho's Jade Disk"

A man from Chu named Ho obtained a piece of unpolished jade from the mountains of Chu, and presented it to King Li. King Li made his jade expert examine it. The expert said, “It is merely a stone.” The king thought he was being deceived, and ordered Ho [to be tortured for his deceit. In the end, the stone was shown to be a priceless jade all along, and Mr. Ho to be an honest man]. Therefore, the king ordered his jade export to polish the jade stone and obtained the treasure from it. Then, he named it “Mr. Ho’s Jade Disk”.

The story of Minister Xiangru is from "Returning the Jade to Zhao"

Emissaries from the King of Qin came over to the Zhao court one day, offering to exchange 15 cities for the He Shi Bi, a priceless jade artifact. King Huiwen of Zhao did not trust the King of Qin to keep his side of the bargain. Minister Lin Xiangru volunteered to go to the Qin court with the He Shi Bi, promising to trade the jade for the cities if the King of Qin kept his word, and to return the jade safely if he did not.

At the Qin court, the King of Qin passed the He Shi Bi among his ministers and concubines, making no mention of the promised 15 cities. Lin concluded that the King of Qin was not intending to keep his word. He stated that there was a tiny flaw in the jade, and when the King of Qin returned the jade to him so that he could point out the flaw, Lin threatened to break both the jade if the King of Qin tried to take it back by force. ... The Qin king, unwilling to see such a thing ruined [took no action]. That night, still not trusting the King of Qin, Lin ordered his henchman to take the jade and return to Zhao in secret. Three days later, the King of Qin was furious that the jade had been returned to Zhao. However, unwilling to execute a Zhao diplomat, he could do nothing but let Lin go.

**Jundo** · 12-10-2016, 02:32 AM

Dear All,

I have now officially opened this thread for our Rohatsu Retreat. WELCOME!

Schedules and accompanying "Dharma Windows" (aka, the video screens) are above.

Note that I have also posted immediately above the reading for talks by our Priests this time ... the Guidepost of Silent Illumination by Zen Master Hongzhi Zhengjue. Please copy and print out, so you can follow along if you wish.

WELCOME!

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

**Sekishi** · 12-10-2016, 03:03 AM

Here is a printer-friendly version of the retreat homepage (e.g. the first two posts on this thread) with unit times, readings, etc. but with images resized, videos removed, forum elements removed, etc.:

Dropbox

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nre2w38m7hm4hy9/forum-print-stylesheet-2016-04.pdf?dl=0

The PDF is set in landscape format (wider rather than taller), so you may need to adjust your printer settings accordingly before printing.

Gassho,
Sekishi

#sattoday

**Jyukatsu** · 12-10-2016, 03:13 AM

Thank you, Sekishi, very helpful !
Gassho,
Marina
sat today

**Eishuu** · 12-10-2016, 09:51 AM

Looking forward to sitting Rohatsu with you all as my health allows.

Gassho
Lucy
Sat today

**Washin** · 12-10-2016, 11:50 AM

Thank you Sekishi. The PDF is helpful indeed.

Gassho
Washin
st

**Kyonin** · 12-10-2016, 01:55 PM

Hello,

This is the Hangout Live link for Day 1 Unit 1

Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

https://hangouts.google.com/hangouts/_/ypz473u65naljelx4fkhfgtyiie

Gassho,

Kyonin

Mp · 12-10-2016, 06:25 PM

Hello everyone,

Here is the event link for Day 1 Unit 3 - https://hangouts.google.com/call/lya...cgvvhueu64u3ee

Gassho
Shingen

s@today

**Sekishi** · 12-10-2016, 09:07 PM

Hello everyone,

Here is the event link for Day 1 Unit 4 (samu) - https://hangouts.google.com/hangouts..._US&authuser=0

Gassho,
Sekishi

#sattoday

**Jakuden** · 12-10-2016, 10:13 PM

Anyone have the link for unit 5?
Gassho
Jakuden

**Sekishi** · 12-10-2016, 10:14 PM

Originally posted by Jakuden

Anyone have the link for unit 5?
Gassho
Jakuden

Not sure why there isn't one - we are looking into it now. "Sit" tight. [emoji23]

Gassho,
Sekishi

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

**Kyonin** · 12-10-2016, 10:17 PM

Link for Day 1 Unit 5 https://hangouts.google.com/hangouts..._US&authuser=0

**Jakuden** · 12-10-2016, 10:22 PM

Link not working for me--I will sit one-way.

Gassho

Mp · 12-11-2016, 01:41 AM

Hey folks,

Here is the event link for Day 1 Unit 7: https://hangouts.google.com/call/ov6...cpq36os5yegaue

Gassho
Shingen

s@today

TREELEAF SANGHA online 2-DAY ANGO-JUKAI-ROHATSU RETREAT -- 2016 -- (MAIN PAGE)

TREELEAF SANGHA online 2-DAY ANGO-JUKAI-ROHATSU RETREAT -- 2016 -- (MAIN PAGE)

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