On Board? Maybe I'm a little dinghy!
Hellos to all:
I guess I'm not a treeleafer, nor am I a treeleafer leaver--just what am I?
I've never considered Jundo to be my teacher (just as Gudo Nishijima Roshi is not my teacher), but I certainly regard them both as venerable teachers, and I learn from them, and a multitude of others who teach me, whether they are 'teachers' or not. I am lucky to be able to attend a weekly sitting group with a teacher.
So what am I doing here, at Treeleaf Zendo? Well, because it's here. Because I can. When I want some conversation 'now and zen.' Because this site is carefully monitored to keep out riffraff, one is able to hold a decent conversation, and one is able to pick up old conversations and continue them--I enjoy and appreciate that.
The insights and information and experiences shared here are of top caliber and reflect the sincere efforts of those who participate in forum discussions. Isn't that the point of a sangha-- to encourage each other's practice? If I had to explain what I am here, I guess I'd say I consider myself more a 'guest' of this sangha than a sangha member. But this is not a unique experience for me--I've sat sesshins and parts of sesshins as a 'guest' of other zendo's led by teachers who weren't 'my' teacher.
I have found it good to be exposed to different styles/approaches, at least, that has been my experience--even when sitting for a while (2 years) with a teacher I did not fundamentally agree with--I could still sit zazen with him--and I learned profoundly from the experience of staying and being of service to him and to the sangha I was a part of.
I'd like to think that sharing my odd assortment of various experiences is helpful in some way to others here. If not, I would best serve all by keeping still.
So I guess my question is: Is there a place at the Treeleaf Zendo for persons, such as myself, who have a teacher and sit elsewhere, to come for conversation and the sharing of experiences? It does not appear that my approach to practice runs counter to Jundo's (I'd best let Jundo address that himself!)
I would like to sew a rakusu with all of you, but I will not be taking Jukai with Jundo.
Would I be allowed to participate in precepts discussions?
When I first stumbled upon the Treeleaf website I was amazed and delighted.
It is intriguing to me--the concept of a cyber zendo--I am deeply grateful to Jundo for the huge and constant amount of time and effort in creating, managing and maintaining this growing community. It is fitting in these new uncharted waters that Jundo be recognized as founding a lineage of his own.
So, cap'n Jundo--permission to come aboard on occasion?
gassho
keishin (a deck hand of sorts)
Re: On Board? Maybe I'm a little dinghy!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keishin
Hellos to all:
I guess I'm not a treeleafer, nor am I a treeleafer leaver--just what am I?
I've never considered Jundo to be my teacher (just as Gudo Nishijima Roshi is not my teacher), but I certainly regard them both as venerable teachers, and I learn from them, and a multitude of others who teach me, whether they are 'teachers' or not. I am lucky to be able to attend a weekly sitting group with a teacher.
So what am I doing here, at Treeleaf Zendo? Well, because it's here. Because I can. When I want some conversation 'now and zen.' Because this site is carefully monitored to keep out riffraff, one is able to hold a decent conversation, and one is able to pick up old conversations and continue them--I enjoy and appreciate that.
The insights and information and experiences shared here are of top caliber and reflect the sincere efforts of those who participate in forum discussions. Isn't that the point of a sangha-- to encourage each other's practice? If I had to explain what I am here, I guess I'd say I consider myself more a 'guest' of this sangha than a sangha member.
...
So I guess my question is: Is there a place at the Treeleaf Zendo for persons, such as myself, who have a teacher and sit elsewhere, to come for conversation and the sharing of experiences? It does not appear that my approach to practice runs counter to Jundo's (I'd best let Jundo address that himself!)
I would like to sew a rakusu with all of you, but I will not be taking Jukai with Jundo.
Would I be allowed to participate in precepts discussions?
...
So, cap'n Jundo--permission to come aboard on occasion?
Hi Keishin,
I have been flooded with mail today, and many things to do, but I wanted to stop to answer you first.
The following is chock full of cliches, but that is just because they are true ...
Don't be anything but Keishin. Don't have any teacher but Keishin. Learn from everybody and everything. You always have a Zafu and a cup of tea waiting for you here. We are all "guests" in this world, but it is our home and we are the "host" too. You already know all that.
I am not so big for this "whose a 'student' or 'not a 'student''' perspective anyway. Maybe I should hand out "I'm an Official Student of the Treeleaf Zendo. Ask me more." badges? Everybody around here should be like Keishin in attitude anyway. (In fact, everybody seems pretty much of that attitude, given all the different sources that people draw on for insight just in today's talking ... from Tennyson to the Mahàtanhàsankhayasuttaü)
You can join the discussions or anything else for the Jukai, as you wish. Frankly, the Jukai means nothing and everything too: If you are living as to not do harm now, you are already "Jukai". Ceremony is just a celebration to commemorate that fact. I think.
Of course, I need to teach what I teach around here. I'm a fish store, and I sell fish, not books. So, when we are here, that is the focus (fish?). We don't sell other things so much, but all are welcome here.
Welcome aboard. Come sail whenever you like.
Gee, sorry for all the cliches (part of it is that I just woke up :-) ), but ... feel at home here, come and go as you please, you have the keys ... I could go on like this.
Gassho, Jundo
PS - This place would not be the same without Keishin's wise words, so I hope you hang with us a lot
