August 18th 19th, 2010 SPECIAL TENRYU TAIGU ZAZENKAI!

Taking pity on the jet-lagged condition of our visitors from France ... in this record heat here in Japan ... our original plan for a 4-hour Zazenkai has been made into two 90-minute Zazenkais ...

So ... in celebration of our Shukke Tokudo 'Homeleaving' Ordination Ceremony tonight and to welcome to Treeleaf in Tsukuba my Dharma Brother, Jean Marc Bazy and several members of his Sangha in Lyon, France ... AND TAIGU TOO!! ...

... please 'sit-a-long' with two 90 minute ZAZENKAI ...

Yesterday's 90 minute Zazenkai is here for the "on demand" version .. available for full participation 'on demand', no different from the 'live' sitting :

'REAL TIME' recorded 'ANY TIME' version link is here:

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8996866

(that includes a wonderful Heart Sutra recitation in Japanese by Taigu)

and today's sitting, with a rather out of breath Heart Sutra Gospel (thank you Eika) is here ...

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9015614

OUR 90 MINUTE SITTING SCHEDULE IS AS FOLLOWS:

00:00 – 00:15 CEREMONY (HEART SUTRA and Dedication)
00:15 – 00:45 ZAZEN
00:45 – 00:55 KINHIN
00:55 – 01:25 ZAZEN
01:25 – 01:30 VERSE OF ATONEMENT (Metta Chant second day) & FOUR VOWS

Remember, when we drop all thought of 'here' 'there' 'now' 'then' ... we are sitting all together ... from France to Japan to whereever and everywhere!


Gassho, Jundo

Hi,
Just finished the recorded zazenkai from last night. Very nice to be sharing meditation with a crowd - thank you.
I had some technical probs though. Twice it went back to the start half way through second sitting, and I had to sit through a sickening advert showing two men pummeling each other's faces to mush in the name of sport, not a nice image to carry in your mind, but it all adds to the practise.

Gassho

Joe

I sat the special Zazenkai immediately after the Tokudo this morning (well, I already had my Kesa on, so.....). It was really nice to to Treeleaf Zendo so full, and I am sure it was wonderful to have everyone there with you Jundo. Perhaps someday, if I can save my pennies, I too can make that pilgrimage. Anyway, it was nice to sit with you all today.

Gassho,

Seishin Kyrill

Hiyas
Beautiful sitting and agreed, nice to see so many faces there :) The Heart Sutra gospel was very interesting :D Great job on doing getting it all out and crazy good work Eika!

Gassho
Shohei

I sat through only ten to fifteen minutes of the video from the eighteenth. My dog, Neo, whined at me because he gets uncomfortable when I sit still for so long. :roll:

Edit: I got fifteen minutes into the zazen. I did get past and recite the Heart Sutra with everyone.

I just sat through the first recorded Zazenkai (and plan to sit with the second tomorrow) and I was really glad to see the zendo so crowded with people. For a moment I felt like I was there with you all, walking in the Kinhin line. The amazing insects chorus was also a real bonus to listen to during zazen. All in all, a really nice experience, thanks for sharing.

Gassho
Francesca

Hi everyone!
I just sat the first part of the Zazenkai this morning!
It was very nice to sit for a few hours with you all!
Thank you!

gassho,
Jinyu/Luis

edit: i just began the second part of the zazenkai... The heart gospel sutra his wonderfull!
Thank you all again!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shohei

Hiyas
Beautiful sitting and agreed, nice to see so many faces there :) The Heart Sutra gospel was very interesting :D Great job on doing getting it all out and crazy good work Eika!

Gassho
Shohei

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Thanks! :)

Peace

PS to Jundo:
You know those pop stars who dance and sing have to work out a whole bunch before they can do both at the same time! :D

just sat first part,
thank you and gassho,
Peter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eika

PS to Jundo:
You know those pop stars who dance and sing have to work out a whole bunch before they can do both at the same time! :D

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Yes, well, I will practice my moves for next time (no Michael Jackson moonwalk, I promise), and learn to sing like Mahalia Jackson!

Thank you for all the hard work, and the lovely arrangement, Eika. Nice piano, man. The Heart Sutra Gospel will be a regular feature around here.

Gasshoooooooooooo, Jundo

Miaou :)

Gassho
Peter

First part sat! Gassho

Hi,
Just sat second session, well done Jundo :wink: Don't let them tell you the stage is not in your blood. Thank you once more for the chance to sit with you all.
I find it interesting that Jiyu Kennet Roshi, who was English and trained in church music, set the Heart Sutra (and the rest of the Soto liturgy) to a plainsong, whereas you went for gospel. Whatever way its sung (or chanted) its meaning is just as powerful.

Gassho

Joe

Quote:

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The Heart Sutra Gospel will be a regular feature around here.

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Awesome. Any chance of getting that on an mp3 download? :mrgreen:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jennifer G P

Quote:

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The Heart Sutra Gospel will be a regular feature around here.

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Awesome. Any chance of getting that on an mp3 download? :mrgreen:

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You wish is our command ...

Mp3 (orchestrations by Eika) here:

https://sites.google.com/site/jundotree ... ects=0&d=1

Lyrics (by Emptiness) here:

Quote:

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The Heart of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra*

……

Avolo … kitesvara
Bodhisattva … Awakened One of
Compassion, … In Prajna Paramita,
Praj na par a mi ta …

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The Deep Practice of … Perfect Wisdom*
Perceived the empti … ness of all five conditions,
And was free of … suffering.
Was free of suffering!

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Oh Shariputra … form is no other than
emptiness, and … emptiness just form.
Form is pre-he …cisely emptiness,
emptiness precisely form.

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Sensationsations, percep … tions, formations and
Consciousness are … also like this.
Oh Shariputra, … all things are expressions of
Emp – ti – ness!

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Not born, not destroyed … not stained, not pure;
Neither waxing nor … waning.
Thus emptiness is … not form;
Emptiness is not not form

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Not sensation nor … perception,
not formation nor … consciousness.
Not sensation nor … perception,
not formation nor consciousness!

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No eye, ear, nose, tongue, … body-mind;
No sight, sound, smell, taste-touch, … nor object of mind;
No realm of sight, no … realm of consciousness;
No realm of consciosness!

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No ignorance, no … end to ignorance;
No old age and death, … no cessation of
old age and death; … No suffering
nor cause or end to suffering;

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No path, no wisdom … and no gain.
No gain – thus Boddhi … sattvas live this
Prajna Para … mi - hi - ta*
With no hindrance of mind –

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No hindrance therefore … no fear.
Far beyond all de-lu- … sion, Nirvana’s –already- here.
All past, present and … future Buddhas
Live this Prajna Paramita*

¬-------------------------------------------------------

And realize … supreme and complete
Enlightenment … Therefore know that
Prajna Para … mi – hi - ta
Is the sacred mantra

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the luminous … mantra,
the supreme … mantra,
the incomparable … mantra
by which all suffering is clear.

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This is no other … than Truth.
Therefore set forth the … Prajna Paramita
Mantra, set forth … Set forth this man-an-tra
Set forth this mantra and proclaim:*

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(slow)

OHHHHH …. Ohhhho OOOOOHHHHH …..


Gate! Gate! …. Pa---ra--- ga-te!

Parasamgate! … Bodhi! Svaha! *

Gate! Gate! …. Pa---ra--- ga-te!

Parasamgate! … Bodhi! Svaha! *

Gate! Gate! …. Pa---ra--- ga-te!

Parasamgate! … Bodhi! Svaha! *

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