Reminder: Tonight's Zazenkai/Special Zazenkai

Hi,

Just a reminder that tonight is our monthly Zazenkai, from 9pm to 1am Tokyo time. Please check your local time ...

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=248

... or you may join us for the recorded version.

As well, I am now announcing a special Zazenkai this week, on the evening of Wednesday, July 9th (times to be determined) ... to celebrate our first official visitor to Tsukuba Treeleaf: HANS IS COMING FROM GERMANY!

So, I hope you will sit with Hans and me later this week.

Gassho, Jundo

Thank you Jundo
I will be there tonight (or this afternoon for me), via Ustream
Kind regards
Jools

ps now just need to get all the housework done :D

Sorry, I have to work so I can't make it. Hope the earthquake in Japan didn't disrupt things too much.

Gassho,

Linda

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lindabeekeeper

Sorry, I have to work so I can't make it. Hope the earthquake in Japan didn't disrupt things too much.

Gassho,

Linda

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Hi Linda,

Well, you can sit with the recorded version. No escaping around here! :wink:

http://treeleafzen.blogspot.com/2008/07 ... enkai.html

Felt the earthquake. Not so big. Gassho, Jundo

Jundo,
I will not be able to sit with all of you today due to home schedule - I am going to try to get Tam outside today and help her with her physical therapy for the knee... also driving three boys around! I will sit later today - I have found a spot in the forest nearby on a ridge above a stream. Cool shade on a hot summer day..

I am glad Hans is visiting, and hope to follow in the not-too-distant future!

In fellowship and Gassho,
Alex

Hi, Jundo.

Quick question:
What do these mean?



Just curious,

Bill

Attached files http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/image...12723=8-B1.jpg http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/image...12723=9-B2.jpg

Sorry I always miss these because I have an all-day mindfulness group sitting on the first Sat every month,

Gassho,
John

Hi Jundo

thanks as always to pulling the Zazenkai together. I was the blue box for 3 or the 4 hours. I started late as I couldn't get the Ustream live stream to work & subsequently nor my linux webcam (in too much of a rush). Strangely, in the other 2 or 3 I have done of these my back aches dreadfully, but this time it was my right knee (I have no idea why) - so by three hours I bailed out (sorry).

I thought that the Jundo & son dharma talk was lovely & I could see it was so hot there you had the window open and the banner was moving. Here, we have had a storm all day - so I sat with the rain and wind whistling around the house.

Thanks again

Jools

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Quote:

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Jools
this time it was my right knee (I have no idea why) - so by three hours I bailed out (sorry).

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Hi Jools. I don't know if this will help, but my left knee always really starts to hurt into the third round. I just gassho and lift my left knee up (so the leg is bent upright foot close to the other leg) and put my hands on top of my knee. I Pay attention to posture because it's easy to slouch in that position. It's ok after resting like that for a bit. Might help.

Gassho Will

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DontKnow

Hi, Jundo.

Quick question:
What do these mean?



Just curious,

Bill

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Hi Bill,

An "official" translation I received from Nishijima Roshi:

Quote:

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The upper one can be read [ZA KAN KUMO OKORU], and it means "Reflecting in the sit, many kinds of clouds manifest themselves vigorously."

The latter one can be read [KAN], which means reflection.

With best wishes Gudo Wafu Nishijima

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Thanks, Jundo.



Bill

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jundo

The upper one can be read [ZA KAN KUMO OKORU], and it means "Reflecting in the sit, many kinds of clouds manifest themselves vigorously."

The latter one can be read [KAN], which means reflection.

With best wishes Gudo Wafu Nishijima

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Bill,

By the way, both calligraphy are by my "Dharma Grandpa" (Nishijima Roshi's teacher), Renpo Niwa Roshi, who was the Abbot of Eiheiji and head of Soto shu for many years.

http://www.treeleaf.org/niwa.html

Your question inspired me to dig up the original poem that the calligraphy comes from. It is nice. A little detective work led me to the 8th Century Ch'an inspired Chinese poet, Wang Wei ...

Quote:

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Wang Wei (??; simplified Chinese: ??; pinyin: Wáng Wéi, 701–761), sometimes titled the Poet Buddha, was a Tang Dynasty Chinese poet, musician, painter and statesman.... He spent ten years studying with Chán master Daoguang.

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The poem is:

??????
??????
??????
??????
??????
??????
??????
??????

and in English ... it is very nice, about someone who found Buddhism in his middle age ...

Quote:

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My Retreat at Mount Zhongnan

My heart in middle age found the Way.
And I came to dwell at the foot of this mountain.
When the spirit moves, I wander alone
Amid beauty that is all for me....
I will walk till the water checks my path,
Then sit and watch the rising clouds --
And some day meet an old wood-cutter
And talk and laugh and never return.

Wang Wei
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/my-retre ... -zhongnan/

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Gassho, Jundo

Thank you for the tip Will. I did try all sorts of stretching etc on the day, but to no avail - perhaps it was brought on by a long drive I had done the day before. I did find it quite a difficult sit, I had been busy all morning & my mind resented this dull, painful afternoon. Hey ho...

Best wishes

Jools

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