Zazen Sitting with Shosai (Mo, Tu)

[michaelw]

I am not able to host Mon Tue with Shosai next week 16 and 17 June.
Could the schedule be altered to reflect this please?
I should be back for the following week.

Gassho
Shosai

satlah

[Kotei]

I am not able to host Mon Tue with Shosai next week 16 and 17 June.
Could the schedule be altered to reflect this please?

Done. Thank you for letting us know and for hosting this sit!
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[michaelw]

Not going to be available again this coming week.
Can this be removed from calendar again please?

Gassho
Shosai

satlah

[Kotei]

Not going to be available again this coming week.
Can this be removed from calendar again please?

Done. Thank you for letting us know and for hosting this sit!
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Bion]

Not going to be available again this coming week.
Can this be removed from calendar again please?

Gassho
Shosai

satlah

Shosai, I wonder... are there regulars that join you? Cause if there are, I think it would be totally fine to simply announce here or during the meeting that you won't be there and anyone else can just ring a bell or simply announce the end of the sit. Thanks for caring for this!

Gassho
sat lah

[michaelw]

It's awkward as I am having some dental work done and they keep changing dates and procedures.
Last week was cancelled at last minute and moved to this week.
I have two regulars and a couple of casuals per sit.
I had wondered about getting the rest of the week filled then we might be able to cover for one another like it used to be.
An opportunity for lay hosting perhaps?

Gassho
Shosai

satlah

[Bion]

It's awkward as I am having some dental work done and they keep changing dates and procedures.
Last week was cancelled at last minute and moved to this week.
I have two regulars and a couple of casuals per sit.
I had wondered about getting the rest of the week filled then we might be able to cover for one another like it used to be.
An opportunity for lay hosting perhaps?

Gassho
Shosai

satlah

I don't think we necessarily need to find replacements always if there are regulars for this sit. The thing is to keep the sit going as long as it is on the calendar, so if you're not there, someone else should just feel free to ring the bell and take charge for that occasion. There shouldn't be any reason why we would take away the sit from folks. So, maybe just let your regulars know beforehand that you won't be able to show up on a specific date, so someone else can be prepared to keep the time. Do you think that could work?

Gassho

[michaelw]

Yes maybe.
Am I able to discuss this with regulars directly or should we do it on the forum?
Perhaps on the forum would reach more members so a casual joiner might be aware.

Gassho
Sho Sai
satlah

[Bion]

Yes maybe.
Am I able to discuss this with regulars directly or should we do it on the forum?
Perhaps on the forum would reach more members so a casual joiner might be aware.

Gassho
Sho Sai
satlah

I would mention it before sitting, when y'all say hello to each other, when you exchange a few words. Especially with your regulars, it should be fairly easy to do that. There's not much we can do about causal joiners, and discussing it in a thread will be visible for like 2 days, and then it gets buried under other postings, but a nice face to face chat where you guys clarify that it is ok for someone else to jump in and keep time in case you're not there might be much more effective. Think that can work?

Gassho

[michaelw]

I will put that out at the start of next week. The original instructions were not to chat but I can't see anyway round that.
What I will say is that in future this sit will continue with or without official host and it will be up to those present to figure out timing. Either someone rings a bell or each individually times their own sit as if using Free Sitting Room. It does not have to be a major 'faff' just go with the flow.

Meanwhile could I request a change to Monday and Friday hosting?
Not sure how I ended up with Monday Tuesday.
Might I also suggest trying to fill the other days?

Gassho
Sho Sai

satlah

[Bion]

I will put that out at the start of next week. The original instructions were not to chat but I can't see anyway round that.
What I will say is that in future this sit will continue with or without official host and it will be up to those present to figure out timing. Either someone rings a bell or each individually times their own sit as if using Free Sitting Room. It does not have to be a major 'faff' just go with the flow.

Meanwhile could I request a change to Monday and Friday hosting?
Not sure how I ended up with Monday Tuesday.
Might I also suggest trying to fill the other days?

Gassho
Sho Sai

satlah

Initial instructions not to chat? By whom? That's a bad instruction! Say hello to each other, welcome each other! No need to chit chat, but should there be someone new at the sit, or whatever, we should at least make an effort to make sure everyone is comfortable, they know what to do, we should make sure our microphones are on, that everyone can hear our bells etc.... In an in-person setting, maybe we wouldn't need any of that, but we should most certainly adapt to our circumstances. Kotei should be able to handle your request of day changes! Thank you for your dedication and diligence!

Gassho
sat lah

[Kotei]

Hello,
I have changed the calendar to Monday and Friday and edited my comment in the first post of this thread to reflect it.
There is also already a Saturday sit with Onki at the same time.
I agree, it would be nice to revive the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday slots at the same time and also that it is nice to have a short welcome chat in the beginning.
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[michaelw]

Regarding the instructions I am going back to Meian times when she was IC lay hosts.
Verse of the Robe is included which was dropped soon after.
It was sort of intimated to me at that time that Jundo was in two minds over this continuing with lay hosting which I feel would be a shame
as it allows lay people to play a roll within the Sangha. That I think is where the just say 'hello' and 'thanks for coming' instructions originated lest
a lay host should say something untoward. The late great Tai Shi was inclined to go off on one if he stayed awake.
Will it be in order for me to raise the idea of filling the Tuesday to Thursday slots?
I assume it is still restricted to those who have taken the Precepts and to whom should they apply?

Gassho
Shosai

satlah

[Bion]

Regarding the instructions I am going back to Meian times when she was IC lay hosts.
Verse of the Robe is included which was dropped soon after.
It was sort of intimated to me at that time that Jundo was in two minds over this continuing with lay hosting which I feel would be a shame
as it allows lay people to play a roll within the Sangha. That I think is where the just say 'hello' and 'thanks for coming' instructions originated lest
a lay host should say something untoward. The late great Tai Shi was inclined to go off on one if he stayed awake.
Will it be in order for me to raise the idea of filling the Tuesday to Thursday slots?
I assume it is still restricted to those who have taken the Precepts and to whom should they apply?

Gassho
Shosai

satlah

Ok, so, we dropped verse of the robe some time ago for all meetings not hosted by an unsui, but we do cherish all our lay hosts. You guys keep the sits alive and I for one could not admire that more.
Yes, you can bring up with the group the idea of filling the slots for the other days, and see if you have enough folks willing to help out. You can always come to me, or Kotei if you need assistance with that. I am sure at least some folks might be watching this space, so that's good.
Yes, we do expect our hosts to have taken jukai and be familiar with our formats. Ideally, everyone knows to test the sound, set original sound, checks that everyone can hear bells, and if possible keep the microphone on during the sit, as it helps create the environment of sitting together.
For anything else, we're here

Gassho
sat lah

[Jundo]

Hmmm. Should we revisit about the Robe Verse? Let's talk about among the priests, and see about it. There were reasons at the time, might maybe the situation changed.

Sometimes things change. I believe the Buddha said that. One day, he preaches this, the next day he changes his mind and preaches some other thing.

Gassho, J
stlah