Zazen for Beginners - INTRODUCTION

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_moEp1IAsVK.../beginners.gif -- BEGINNER'S MIND

Hi,

Especially for new folks to Treeleaf, I ask you to sit with our series of talks for "beginners" on the "Sit-a-Long" netcast

They are found in this thread ... and there are 23 talks in the series.

We all should maintain "Beginners Mind", moment to moment. However, these talks are meant for beginners in "Just Sitting" Shikantaza Zazen and newcomers to Treeleaf Sangha. Shikantaza is our central Practice at Treeleaf.

Taigu and I discuss the "ins" and "outs" and "goals" of "Just Sitting", which has to do a lot with dropping thoughts like "in" and "out" and "goals"! I talk about where you can expect to "go" in your Practice, and what you can expect to attain, which is, of course, ABSOLUTELY NO WHERE AND NOTHING! (and that makes all the difference in the world!)

As well, each talks ends with the ringing of the bells to begin Zazen ... and Taigu and I hope that you will "sit-a-long" with us. A sitting time of 20 to 35 minutes is recommended, but if you are new to Zazen, it is alright to begin sitting for a shorter time if that is felt too difficult.

I hope that both new folks and old timers will give a listen, as we talk about many of the nuts and bolts of this wonderful practice. We are all, of course, ever beginning now and now and now ...

Gassho, Jundo

For those who'd like a simple, ordered list with direct links to each of the talks. The list could be useful for you to check each of the talks you've heard.


- Home (you're here)
- Part I - Basics of just sitting.
- Part II - A basic perspective of Buddhism.
- Part III - "How to Sit?"
- Part IV
- Part V
- Part VI - A few more perspectives on the "sitting" of "just sitting."
- Part VII
- Part VIII
- Part IX - Comments on sitting posture for beginners.
- Part X
- Part XI
- Part XII
- Part XIII
- Part XIV
- Part XV
- Part XVI
- Part XVII
- Part XVIII
- Part XIX
- Part XX
- Part XXI
- Part XXII
- Part XXIII
- Part XXIV

Gassho,
Santosh.

Thank you, Santosh! Wonderful.

All the talks are also available at this link, in more or less order. :)

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/forum...-FOR-NEW-FOLKS

Gassho, J

Thank you, Santosh! I've lost my place so many times, I'll have to start again. :)

Gassho,

Lisa

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ZenHarmony

I've lost my place so many times, I'll have to start again.

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I've rarely heard zen described so well and so succinctly.

Gassho,
Dosho

Thank you for the encouragement!

Gassho,
Santosh.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dosho

I've rarely heard zen described so well and so succinctly.

Gassho,
Dosho

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Sums up my experience to date. On the up side, I'm getting good at starting over!

Sometimes it is good to go back to the beginning and listen to the basics so I am replaying this series. Always learning. Thank you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by santosh

For those who'd like a simple, ordered list with direct links to each of the talks. The list could be useful for you to check each of the talks you've heard.


- Home (you're here)
- Part I - Basics of just sitting.
- Part II - A basic perspective of Buddhism.
- Part III - "How to Sit?"
- Part IV
- Part V
- Part VI - A few more perspectives on the "sitting" of "just sitting."
- Part VII
- Part VIII
- Part IX - Comments on sitting posture for beginners.
- Part X
- Part XI
- Part XII
- Part XIII
- Part XIV
- Part XV
- Part XVI
- Part XVII
- Part XVIII
- Part XIX
- Part XX
- Part XXI
- Part XXII
- Part XXIII
- Part XXIV

Gassho,
Santosh.

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Thank you! Spends me a lot of hassle wandering through videos now that I am deeper in the series!

Thanks to Jundo and Taigu too for making this! [happy]

Deep gassho,
Alex

:buddha: