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Jundo
06-04-2018, 01:55 AM
Dear All,

Some of you might not know that each month, about midway during our long Zazenkai when folks need a stretch, we engage in an ancient and esoteric Buddhist Ceremony known in Sanskrit as the "Hokey Pokey" (होकेय् पोकेय्, in Pali language, the "Hokey Cokey"). The meaning of "Hokey Pokey" is now lost in the fog of time, so many treat it as a powerful Dharani, or possibly a Mantra signifying "That's What's It's All About."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RefqQqx-GU

Several scholars, with too much time on their hands, link the movements with various Mudra and Yogic postures, as shown in this "wrathful" Tibetan Hokey Pokey (known there as the ཧོཀེཡ་པོཀེཡ )

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f3/a2/12/f3a212b0e20a3e56dca365564bd727c5.jpg

One always circumambulates to the right as a reminder that we should walk the right path by leading a righteous life.(not the left unless engaged in certain "left handed" Tantra Hokey Pokey rituals, many now banned). The hand gestures may also be connected to Taoist elements, as shown in this rarely seen manuscript of the little known Tang Dynasty "Hokey Pokey Sect" of Chan (后旗裒旗禪宗) ...

http://www.indotalisman.com/mudra48.gif

This month's has a special guest teacher join us to lead. Please dance with us from home in this auspicious ritual guaranteed to bring you good health and good fortune, or at least, a smile.

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH (Hokey Pokey'd today too)

PS - The rest of our Zazenkai is here ...

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?16248-June-1st-2nd-2018-OUR-MONTHLY-4-hour-ZAZENKAI%21

Shinshi
06-04-2018, 04:30 AM
That was beautiful. No other words.

gassho2

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

Ryudo
06-04-2018, 07:24 AM
gassho1
[claps]

Gassho, Ryudo
SatToday

Mp
06-04-2018, 12:39 PM
I do love the Hokey Pokey tradition. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

Eishuu
06-04-2018, 03:33 PM
[claps]gassho2

Gassho
Eishuu
ST/LAH

Tairin
06-04-2018, 05:49 PM
gassho2.

Meitou
06-04-2018, 07:08 PM
Sacred ritual

gassho2

Meitou

Satwithyoualltoday&lah

Rendulic
06-04-2018, 08:52 PM
It is interesting to note that the Hokey Pokey ritual frequently uses the mudra communicating "no harm" as we are to engage in the dance, or "lila," without harm to our fellow beings.

Thank you, and may we now consider this having been given an "empowerment?" (Kidding, of course)

Gassho, Michael
SatToday LAH

Tai Shi
06-08-2018, 05:47 PM
I almost wish there were little emoticons for our comments on our Forum because I would use the heart shape and the ha, ha shape, and the like shape; these deserve all three. Hokey Pokey I remember from grade school, and I am 66. Fot our Zazenkai I would use a solumn emoticon.

Tai Shi
st/lah
Gassho

Seishin
06-09-2018, 07:57 AM
One day I will shake off my self conscious and join in with you folks. As to tradition, it could be derived from a extremely slowed down Whirling Dervish ritual ;)