RECOMMENDED 'At Home' Liturgy

[Jundo]

Hi,

'Liturgy' means the many acts and rituals by which we manifest (and are manifested by) the beliefs and teachings at the heart of Buddhist Practice. Some we practice as a group together, some at private times (not two, by the way). These various practices can bring the teachings more visibly to life, and our lives into the Teachings. Of course, in our way, Zazen is the centerpiece, and nothing else is really necessary. However, other practices can be truly powerful and resonate in the hearts of many people, bringing much Wisdom and Compassion into our lives.

What are the some of the practices which we recommend or encourage at home and work ... our practice places in this Sangha in which all of life is the temple?

ZAZEN

Of course, seated Zazen is our one and only practice, for by the very nature of Shikantaza ... when sitting Zazen, there is nothing more to do, nothing more that need be done, no addition needed nor anything to take away. Zazen is complete and whole. No other place to be in all the world, no other place we must (or can) run to. Nothing lacks, all is sacred, and Zazen is the One Liturgy. It is vital to be sat by Zazen with such attitude. Thus, Zazen is sat each day as the One and Whole Practice.

Yet, of course, we do eventually rise up from the Zafu and get on with "the rest of life". Then, ANYTHING and EVERYTHING can be encountered as Sacred, One, Whole ... as 'Zazen' ... from 'changing a baby's diaper' to 'stapling staples' at work to 'pulling weeds' in the garden ... all a SACRED RITUAL when approached as such.

Thus, I wish to HIGHLY RECOMMEND one of the best little books on the subject of 'liturgy' in our so called 'ordinary' life at home and work ... please read it ...

Bringing the Sacred to Life: The Daily Practice of Zen Ritual by John Daido Loori Roshi
http://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Sacre.../dp/1590305337

... one of the best 'Zen Books' I have encountered in years, and very unique in its subject matter. Also, another book very very highly recommended for understanding the significance and origins of some of the traditional chants and practices one will encounter around Treeleaf and most other Soto Zen Sangha is Shohaku Okumura's "Living by Vow: A Practical Introduction to Eight Essential Zen Chants and Texts"

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...en-in-the-West

The sacredness can be brought into everything, even the most ordinary ... even the most ordinary manifests the sacred, is sacred and 'not just ordinary'.

Here are some other rituals that we practice in this Sangha, and that you can adapt for home. REMEMBER: We encourage folks not to be bound by tradition, or overly caught in the 'right, wrong or traditional' way to do things. Instead, please bring traditions to life in ways which express your own heart. There is no need to follow every practice or any practice (besides Zazen, of course! 8) ), and please develop those which complement your life.

On the other hand ... neither reject practices merely because, at first glance, they seem too exotic or hard or you do not understand. I ask everyone to look and listen to this 'sit-a-long' on '(UN)TURNING JAPANESE" ...

So, must we bow, ring bells, chant (in Japanese, no less), wear traditional robes, have Buddha Statues, burn incense? ... All that stuff besides Zazen. Are they necessary to our Practice?

No, not at all!

On the other hand ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/sit-a-long/w...-japanese.html

It is also vitally important that, in undertaking any practice or ritual, we "NON-DO" the practice ... meaning that we pursue it diligently and sincerely, yet with "nothing to obtain" ... much as washing the windows carefully to remove the grime, getting the job done, all while dropping all thought of "clean and dirty" and a job to achieve. That is another subject we talk about here often.

So, what are some other daily rituals and practices which one can NON-DO?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

KINHIN

This is walking Zazen ... step by step, no place to get to, constantly arriving. It can be practiced any time ... between or after seated Zazen or any place ... in the slow postal line or grocery line. Instructions are in our Guide to Basic Sitting (PDF):

https://sites.google.com/site/jundot...edirects=0&d=1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOME ALTAR

Although our Buddhist Practice is not limited to any place or time, and includes the noisy and busy places as well as the quiet ... it is good to set aside a small, still, special place where we can enter the mindset of practice. For some, it need not contain more than a Zafu or chair. Others may wish to make a small altar, featuring incense (if not allergic! ... the incense can be 'lit' invisibly, without a match too!), perhaps flowers ... and a statue of a Buddha or Bodhisattva. There is no required pattern in our Sangha.

Here is a discussion and some simple instructions for making an altar at home.
http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...ll=1#post27423

However, again, one need not be bound by rules. A simple framed picture, even a picture in your wallet which you pull out to look at, can be equal to the greatest Temple. If not a statue, a stone, a flower or simply empty space can suffice. What is more, my personal opinion is that a "Buddha Statue" is both seen and unseen ... and what is NOT a Buddha Statue?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ATTENDING OUR WEEKLY AND MONTHLY ZAZENKAI

We have weekly and monthly Zazenkai netcasts, with lots of Zazen, Kinhin, Zazen, Chanting, Bowing, Zazen and ... Zazen ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/forum...ENKAI-NETCASTS

Although we can all daily sit at home alone (yet still are 'all together') ... and although it may be strange to some to 'sit over the internet' ... I feel it is vitally important that we make the effort to sit together as a group. I wish that EVERYONE WOULD MAKE THE EFFORT TO JOIN IN OUR ZAZENKAI AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE (it is available 'any place any time' ... so time and place are not an excuse!)

We also have sitting with others at various times in our TreeleafNow Zazen groups. Check the calendar:
https://www.treeleaf.org/now/#calendar

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHANTING

At the Zazenkai, we always recite various traditional Chants ... and any of these can be undertaken at home. The Verse of Atonement and The Four Vows are especially encouraged to chant each day ... perhaps at the end of your day before bed ...

The Heart Sutra can also be recited any time and place ... perhaps before the home altar or on the Zafu prior to Zazen.

In reciting, we tend to just merge into the sound ... not giving it a thought. However, it is also good at other times to make study of what the chants MEAN (most of them are statements of Zen Buddhist teachings).

Here is our Chant Book ...

Chant Book PDF

or

Chant Book (SHORT VERSION HTML)

If you would like to try chanting the Heart Sutra in Japanese, but don't speak Japanese, here is a slightly irreverent guide to pronouncing the Sutra in Japanese:

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-irreverent%29

Daido's book, above, suggests some other possible chantings too. There is also the traditional Evening Gatha ... time swiftly passes by ...

Let me respectfully remind you,
life and death are of supreme importance.
Time swiftly passes by,
and opportunity is lost.
Let us awaken,
awaken.
Take heed,
do not squander your life.

Side Note: I love that Gatha ... so long as we each awaken to the fact that there is no "life and death" ... no me or you for the reminding ... even as time passes by, no time either ... and nothing about life that can be squandered, wasted or lost (SO DON'T KILL TIME, AND DON'T WASTE IT! )

The Verse of the Kesa, of course, is a daily practice for those who have undertaken Jukai and received a Rakusu (Kesa). Do not place one on oneself without reciting! Here are some instructions on handling a Rakusu and chanting the Verse:



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SEWING A RAKUSU (or Full Kesa) as we do for our Jukai preparations as a group, is also a great Liturgy ...

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...usu-Sew-a-Long

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GATHA

'Gatha' are short, meaningful little recitation which can be recited before (and/or after) many 'ordinary' daily activities to remind us how sacred they are, and how all support our life and practice ... from eating to work to going to the toilet to washing the face ... Here are some and a discussion ...

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...l=1#post213658

Each can be recited out loud or silently within.

A very special 'Meal Gatha' might be recited by oneself or with one's family (much like 'Saying Grace') .. or during lunch breaks at work, etc (in voice or silently). Here is the one we recite during our annual 'Ango' period, but it is excellent as a daily practice and reminder ...

(Hands in Gassho) This food comes from the efforts
of all sentient beings past and present,
and is medicine for nourishment of our Practice-Life.
We offer this meal of many virtues and tastes
to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha,
and to all life in every realm of existence.
May all sentient beings in the universe
be sufficiently nourished.

Daido Roshi's lovely book suggested some other Meal Gatha.

In fact ... one can make their own Gatha for ANYTHING ... which is exactly what Treeleafers have done for fun and personal inspiration ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...hp?6917-Gathas

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AFFIRMATIONS

Similar to "Gatha," one can recite some wise affirmations each day, as simple reminders of Wisdom and Compassion (Thank you to our Treeleaf member Stobird Tom for suggesting most of these), and you might make some of your own:

May I deeply and honestly practice the four Bodhisattva Vows with magnanimity, love, and joy

May I do my best to make the world a better, more beautiful place to live in for all

May I be humble and kind today

May I lend a hand to others today

May I water the good seeds of mind today, letting the three poisons (of excess desire, anger and ignorance) dry up

May I know deeply that Shikantaza is the best teacher

May I know deeply that all of life, no matter how exciting or menial, is practice-enlightenment

May I know deeply my own and others interrelated wholeness

May I know deeply that there is nothing in me to run from and nothing in me to gain, I am responsible for myself, my acts, words and thoughts because I am whole

May I know deeply that any act, word or thought can be a source of suffering or contentment, and what makes them a source of suffering or contentment is between my ears

May I deeply know that the universe does not exist for the purpose of satisfying my puny selfish thoughts, feelings, and desires

May I know deeply that I and others are trying their best

May I listen more than I speak

May I know deeply that my reality is born and then dies with me, therefore I am responsible for it

May I know deeply that my actions are the universes’ actions, and no matter how small or insignificant, are sacred rituals

May I be responsible enough to care for all objects and sentient beings with wise attention and compassion every minute of the day

May I behave like an honest, upright, helpful being in all situations that call for it, behaving with equipoise and grace like a dancer that may sometimes made a mistake but continues to dance, rising up with self-respect when tripped or knocked down, forgiving over and over.

May I avoid to be self pitying or overly-critical of others

May I do the more difficult thing when the difficult thing is the right thing to do

Although there will be ripples, and sometimes torrents in personal and professional life, may I do my best to flow harmoniously together with all people and circumstances day by day

May I live with joy, loving-kindness, and gratitude for all, and respect for the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE TREELEAF APP

Our Treeleaf "DAILY WISDOM/Dharma Leafs" phone app is available again, now ready for android! (For iPhone, there is a more limited way: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...l=1#post304229!)

The app is very simple: With a click, a few words of Zen wisdom pop up, to be repeated, followed by a certain number of breaths. It is good practice during one's busy day, especially at those moments when life gets a little trying.


To access:

Android, Google Play Store: Search for "Dharma Leafs". If searching, include the quotes when searching, this will make finding it much easier.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...reeleaf.dharma

Many of the sayings were suggested by Treeleaf members at the time of the app's original development.

I would like to thank our Treeleaf member, Drew, for all his hard work these past many weeks to update the coding, and also get it ready and uploaded. I would also like to thank again Ongen, the original developer of the app.

There is no charge for the app, of course, and it is meant to be both free and freeing. As far as I know, as a good Buddhist app, it is free of "malware" and the like too. Only "goodware."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RYAKU FUSATSU

In many Buddhist traditions there is a monthly practice of Uposatha on days of the full moon to recite and renew the Precepts. In Japanese Zen this tradition takes form as Ryaku Fusatsu. It is a lovely chance to wipe the slate clean, atone and make amends, vow to begin again. We have a group that gathers with the full moon (in various time zones) for this renewal. Details here:

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...tment-Ceremony

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOWING

Bowing can be a wonderful daily practice of humility and gratitude ... not to a statue or necessarily anyone in particular, but to ALL OF REALITY AND EVERYONE, all supporting our life and practice.

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...l=1#post213659

Some Korean Zen (Son) groups engage in the practice of 108 Full Prostrations Daily (also ... good for those Bodhisattva 6-pack Abs 8) )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ORYOKI

A lovely tradition of formal meal ritual ... We also hold an online class and practice group on that from time to time (PM Shugen for details).

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...ractice-Circle

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

METTA RECITAL

A daily practice we strongly encourage in this Sangha is the recital of "Metta" ... Loving Kindness expressed to all living beings ... not leaving out even the one we find hard to love ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...Metta-PRACTICE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TONGLEN

Another lovely practice, originally from the Tibetans, of symbolically taking in the suffering of others, and returning peace, soothing our own heart along the way ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...ractice-Circle

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DANA

Making all our work (in the factory, office, garden, kitchen and nursery) into a daily sacred act ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/sit-a-long/w...enerosity.html

... as well as work and giving to help others in need ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/forum...ROJECTS-CENTER

...is a vital practice in this Sangha, not to be neglected.

Our requested daily "Lend A Hand" practice is one facet of this too:

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...Lend-A-Hand%29

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SAMU

Of course, all our great and little tasks at home or work can be felt as a "sacred ritual" and practice ... from changing a baby diaper to washing dishes to stapling paper to meetings ...

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...l=1#post213657

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SHAKYO SUTRA TRACING

The practice of Shakyo (写経, which literally means "Copying Sutras") is a simple yet focused, relaxing yet powerful meditative practice that anyone can do, offered at many temples in Japan. Millions of people in Japan have practiced Shakyo, either just occasionally when visiting a famous temple as a tourist, or regularly and more seriously as part of a particular temple's Shakyo club. And we have a group here at Treeleaf too, first timers welcome any time!

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...guage-Study%29

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A TIME FOR TEXT STUDY

Our way is said to be 'Beyond Words and Letters" ... but that does not mean that we should not also have time to crack the books!

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-Viewing-Right

__________________________________________________ ____________________

__________________________________________________ ____________________

SO, AM I LEAVING ANYTHING OUT?

Probably, but that should keep any Bodhisattva busy for awhile!

Anyway, WHAT IS -NOT- A SACRED LITURGY!?!

I would like to close with some very wise words from an old member:

There may be a saying and I don't know who said this but the candle that burns brightest has the shortest life. What I mean is that how I practice now is to make it part of my daily life... nothing special. If I make it special it's separate from me, and I don't think that's what this is. If I stay consistent and don't overdo it, then I'll maintain my practice. If I push too hard, I'll burn out and this will just be another phase of my life; something I tried.

But that is not the Way at least from what I've learned. We share in a practice that's come down from generations, and so to honor it I stay consistent.

Gassho Jundo

SatTodayLAH