March 3th-4th, 2017 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI! The zen poems of Ryokan Taigu

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  • Kyonin
    Dharma Transmitted Priest
    • Oct 2010
    • 6748

    March 3th-4th, 2017 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI! The zen poems of Ryokan Taigu

    JUNDO NOTE: I HAVE BEEN CALLED AWAY TO A CHARITY EVENT, SO AN OPPORTUNITY THIS MONTH FOR KYONIN & SHINGEN TO SHINE ...

    Please 'sit-a-long' with our MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI, netcast LIVE 8am to noon Japan time Saturday morning (that is New York 6pm to 10pm, Los Angeles 3pm to 7pm (Friday night), London 11pm to 3am and Paris midnight to 4am (early Saturday morning)) ... and visible at the following link during those times ...

    ... to be visible on the below screen during those times and any time thereafter ...

    LIVE ZAZENKAI NETCAST at GOOGLE+ IS HERE:
    CLICK ON THE TAB ON LOWER RIGHT FOR 'FULL SCREEN




    Dharma talk audio / podcast episode:
    Our talk is about the zen poems of the Great Fool: Ryōkan Taigu (1758–1831). This famous hermit monk lived a simple life but rich in practice and reverence for the present moment. After leaving the monastery he spent his life helping people in villages, begging, playing with kids and writing poems. More about Ryōkan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ry%C5%8Dkan Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum:OUR MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI! The zen poems of Ryokan Taigu »


    FOR THOSE NOT ALREADY MEMBERS OF THE CIRCLE WHO WISH TO JOIN TO SIT LIVE WITH A CAMERA, INSTRUCTIONS are posted AT THIS LINK. WE ARE NOW LIMITED TO 10 INDIVIDUALS WITH CAMERAS, BUT ANY NUMBER CAN WATCH LIVE 'ONE WAY' AND SIT-A-LONG VIA THE ABOVE SCREEN. IF JOINING WITH CAMERA, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR MICROPHONE IS MUTED:


    The Sitting Schedule is as follows:

    00:00 - 00:50 CEREMONY (HEART SUTRA IN JAPANESE / SANDOKAI IN ENGLISH) & ZAZEN
    00:50 - 01:00 KINHIN
    01:00 - 01:30 ZAZEN
    01:30 - 01:50 KINHIN

    01:50 - 02:30 DHARMA TALK & ZAZEN
    02:30 - 02:40 KINHIN

    02:40 - 03:15 ZAZEN
    03:15 - 03:30 KINHIN
    03:30 - 04:00 METTA CHANT & ZAZEN, VERSE OF ATONEMENT, FOUR VOWS, & CLOSING



    Our Zazenkai consists of our chanting the 'Heart Sutra' in Japanese and the 'Identity of Relative and Absolute (Sandokai)' in English (please download our Chant Book at the link below), some full floor prostrations (please follow along with me ... or a simple Gassho can be substituted if you wish), a little talk by me ... and we close with the 'Metta Chant', followed at the end with the 'Verse of Atonement' and 'The Four Vows'. Oh, and lots and lots of Zazen and walkin' Kinhin in between!

    Please download and print out the Chants we will recite at the following link (PDF):

    Chant Book (PDF)

    or

    Chant Book (SHORT VERSION HTML)

    I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU POSITION YOUR ZAFU ON THE FLOOR IN A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE NOT STARING DIRECTLY AT THE COMPUTER SCREEN, BUT CAN GLANCE OVER AND SEE THE SCREEN WHEN NECESSARY. YOUR ZAFU SHOULD ALSO BE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE COMPUTER SCREEN WHILE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE ZAFU FOR THE CEREMONIES, AND HAVE ROOM FOR BOWING AND KINHIN.

    ALSO, REMEMBER TO SET YOUR COMPUTER (& SCREEN SAVER) SO THAT IT DOES NOT SHUT OFF DURING THE 4 HOURS.


    I hope you will join us ... an open Zafu is waiting. When we drop all thought of 'here' 'there' 'now' 'then' ... we are sitting all together!


    Gassho, Jundo
    Last edited by Sekishi; 03-05-2017, 05:43 PM. Reason: Added podcast link.
    Hondō Kyōnin
    奔道 協忍
  • Kyonin
    Dharma Transmitted Priest
    • Oct 2010
    • 6748

    #2
    Hello everyone,

    This monthly zazenkai will be hosted by Shingen and me. Our talk will be about the zen poems of the Great Fool: Ryōkan Taigu (1758–1831).

    This famous hermit monk lived a simple life but rich in practice and reverence for the present moment. After leaving the monastery he spent his life helping people in villages, begging, playing with kids and writing poems.

    More about Ryōkan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ry%C5%8Dkan

    Recommended book: Sky Above, Great Wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan



    We want to pay a little homage to his words that after so many centuries are still relevant and beautiful as ever. In times when political turmoil is changing history, and economy is harsh (as usual), Ryokan's poems are a little fresh air that ground us and keep us in the present moment.

    If time permits, we'll read and comment the following poems:


    See and realize that this world is not permanent.
    Neither late nor early flowers will remain

    ---

    In town I finish begging for food.
    Content, I carry the cloth bag,
    wondering which place to call home.
    Could that be my hut near the white cloud?

    ---

    Too lazy to be ambitious,
    I let the world take care of itself.
    Ten days' worth of rice in my bag;
    a bundle of twigs by the fireplace.
    Why chatter about delusion and enlightenment?
    Listening to the night rain on my roof,
    I sit comfortably, with both legs stretched out.

    ---

    I watch people in the world
    Throw away their lives lusting after things,
    Never able to satisfy their desires,
    Falling into deeper despair
    And torturing themselves.
    Even if they get what they want
    How long will they be able to enjoy it?

    ---

    My house is buried in the deepest recess of the forest
    Every year, ivy vines grow longer than the year before.
    Undisturbed by the affairs of the world I live at ease,
    Woodmen’s singing rarely reaching me through the trees.
    While the sun stays in the sky, I mend my torn clothes
    And facing the moon, I read holy texts aloud to myself.
    Let me drop a word of advice for believers of my faith.
    To enjoy life’s immensity, you do not need many things.

    ---

    Past has passed away.
    Future has not arrived.
    Present does not remain.
    Nothing is reliable; everything must change.
    You hold on to letters and names in vain,
    forcing yourself to believe in them.
    Stop chasing new knowledge.
    Leave old views behind.
    Study the essential
    and then see through it.
    When there is nothing left to see through,
    then you will know your mistaken views.

    ---

    I lodge in an abandoned temple,
    my only company a single lamp.
    Who will dry these travelling clothes?
    Singing soothes me,
    rainfall rings in my ears
    I stay awake with my pillow high until dawn.

    I'll do my best to read and comment, but I want to apologize in advance for my bad English and terrible accent

    Gassho,

    Kyonin
    Last edited by Kyonin; 03-02-2017, 06:10 PM.
    Hondō Kyōnin
    奔道 協忍

    Comment

    • Mp

      #3
      Thank you Kyonin, I look forward to sitting and practicing with you all ... I am also looking forward to your talk Kyonin, I too like that great fool Ryokan. =)

      Gassho
      Shingen

      s@today

      Comment

      • Onkai
        Senior Priest-in-Training
        • Aug 2015
        • 3097

        #4
        Thank you, Kyonin and Shingen. I will be there, tech allowing. I like those poems and am looking forward to the talk.

        Gassho,
        Onkai
        SatToday
        美道 Bidou Beautiful Way
        恩海 Onkai Merciful/Kind Ocean

        I have a lot to learn; take anything I say that sounds like teaching with a grain of salt.

        Comment

        • Jakuden
          Member
          • Jun 2015
          • 6141

          #5
          Beautiful! I have a work meeting tonight but am looking forward to sitting this over the weekend.

          Gassho,
          Jakuden
          SatToday

          Comment

          • Sekishi
            Dharma Transmitted Priest
            • Apr 2013
            • 5673

            #6
            I will be there if the interwebz allows it (our connection has not been good this week).

            Gassho,
            Sekishi #sat
            Sekishi | 石志 | He/him | Better with a grain of salt, but best ignored entirely.

            Comment

            • Byokan
              Senior Priest-in-Training
              • Apr 2014
              • 4284

              #7
              Thank you Shingen and Kyonin, am really looking forward to this, but will be on the road so will sit this on the weekend.

              Silly Kyonin, your english is fine!

              Gassho
              Byōkan (with a B)
              sat today
              展道 渺寛 Tendō Byōkan
              Please take my words with a big grain of salt. I know nothing. Wisdom is only found in our whole-hearted practice together.

              Comment

              • Kyonin
                Dharma Transmitted Priest
                • Oct 2010
                • 6748

                #8
                Hi everyone! Here's the link



                Gassho,

                Kyonin
                Hondō Kyōnin
                奔道 協忍

                Comment

                • Banto
                  Member
                  • Jan 2015
                  • 209

                  #9
                  Link giving me 404 error
                  "We're sorry, but you do not have access to this page. That’s all we know."

                  S2d
                  -r
                  Last edited by Banto; 03-04-2017, 01:20 AM.

                  Banto (aka Rodney)
                  万磴 (Myriad StoneSteps)

                  Comment

                  • Mp

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Banto
                    Link giving me 404 error
                    "We're sorry, but you do not have access to this page. That’s all we know."

                    S2d
                    -r
                    What about this one Banto?



                    Gassho
                    Shingen

                    s@today

                    Comment

                    • Banto
                      Member
                      • Jan 2015
                      • 209

                      #11
                      Perfection, bows!

                      Gassho
                      SatToday

                      Banto (aka Rodney)
                      万磴 (Myriad StoneSteps)

                      Comment

                      • Mp

                        #12
                        That was wonderful Kyonin, thank you. And thank you for to everyone who sat or will sit. =)

                        Also, sorry for my raspy narly voice, I have a bad cold, but just was present to whatever is.

                        Gassho
                        Shingen

                        s@today

                        Comment

                        • Onkai
                          Senior Priest-in-Training
                          • Aug 2015
                          • 3097

                          #13
                          Thank you, Kyonin, Shingen, and everybody. It was a lovely zazenkai. I enjoyed the talk and poetry. Have a great weekend!

                          Gassho
                          Onkai
                          SatToday
                          美道 Bidou Beautiful Way
                          恩海 Onkai Merciful/Kind Ocean

                          I have a lot to learn; take anything I say that sounds like teaching with a grain of salt.

                          Comment

                          • dod
                            Member
                            • Oct 2016
                            • 11

                            #14
                            Thank you for the beautiful practice.

                            Gassho,

                            Jessie
                            ~st~

                            Comment

                            • Sekishi
                              Dharma Transmitted Priest
                              • Apr 2013
                              • 5673

                              #15
                              Thank you all for practicing together. Thank you for the talk Kyonin, it really did resonate with me today.

                              Gassho,
                              Sekishi #sat
                              Sekishi | 石志 | He/him | Better with a grain of salt, but best ignored entirely.

                              Comment

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