Sept 6th-7th, 2019 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - COMMENCING JUKAI & ANGO!

[Jundo]

Our Zazenkai is in Special Celebration and Welcome of the
Commencement of our 2019 ANGO & JUKAI Season

Today's Talk will reflect on "ANGO: NOW & THEN" (text below in this thread)

Please 'sit-a-long' with our MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI, netcast LIVE 8am to noon Japan time Saturday morning (that is New York 7pm to 11pm, Los Angeles 4pm to 8pm (Friday night), London midnight to 4am and Paris 1am to 5am (early Saturday morning)) ... and visible at the following link during those times ...

... and to be visible on the following screen during those times and sit-a-long-able any time thereafter ...

LIVE ZAZENKAI NETCAST IS HERE:

ZAZENKAI BEGINS 6 MINUTES FROM START OF THE VIDEO


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLuFQ54r-X0

Dharma Talk Audio / Podcast Episode:
LINK TO BE POSTED HERE IN THE COMING DAYS


FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO JOIN TO SIT LIVE WITH A CAMERA, A LINK TO JOIN WILL BE POSTED BELOW IN THIS THREAD. JUST CLICK AND JOIN BEFORE START TIME. 'TWO WAY' REQUIRES INDIVIDUALS WITH CAMERAS, BUT ANYONE CAN WATCH LIVE 'ONE WAY' AND SIT-A-LONG VIA THE ABOVE SCREEN. IF JOINING WITH CAMERA, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR MICROPHONE IS MUTED:

The Sitting Schedule is as follows:

00:00 - 00:50 CEREMONY (HEART SUTRA IN JAPANESE / SANDOKAI IN ENGLISH) & ZAZEN
00:50 - 01:00 KINHIN
01:00 - 01:30 ZAZEN
01:30 - 01:50 KINHIN

01:50 - 02:30 DHARMA TALK & ZAZEN
02:30 - 02:40 KINHIN & HOKEY-POKEY

02:40 - 03:15 ZAZEN
03:15 - 03:30 KINHIN
03:30 - 04:00 METTA CHANT & ZAZEN, VERSE OF ATONEMENT, FOUR VOWS, & CLOSING


Our Zazenkai consists of our chanting the 'Heart Sutra' in Japanese and the 'Identity of Relative and Absolute (Sandokai)' in English (please download our Chant Book at the link below), some full floor prostrations (please follow along with me ... or a simple Gassho can be substituted if you wish), a little talk by me ... and we close with the 'Metta Chant', followed at the end with the 'Verse of Atonement' and 'The Four Vows'. Oh, and lots and lots of Zazen and walkin' Kinhin in between!

Please download and print out the Chants we will recite at the following link (PDF):

Chant Book (PDF) (https://sites.google.com/site/jundotreeleaf/Weekly%20%26%20Monthly%20Zazenkai%20-%20Lay%20Version%20-%20Feb2017.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1)

or

Chant Book (SHORT VERSION HTML) (http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?7032-Weekly-Monthly-Zazenkai-Chant-Book-is-Here)

Not everyone realizes that they can join in the Chanting of the Heart Sutra, Identity of Relative & Absolute, Metta Verses, Verse of Atonement and Four Vows (although we ask that you keep your microphone down). Please follow along with the Chant Book, and let your voice ring!

I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU POSITION YOUR ZAFU ON THE FLOOR IN A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE NOT STARING DIRECTLY AT THE COMPUTER SCREEN, BUT CAN GLANCE OVER AND SEE THE SCREEN WHEN NECESSARY. YOUR ZAFU SHOULD ALSO BE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE COMPUTER SCREEN WHILE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE ZAFU FOR THE CEREMONIES, AND HAVE ROOM FOR BOWING AND KINHIN.

ALSO, REMEMBER TO SET YOUR COMPUTER (& SCREEN SAVER) SO THAT IT DOES NOT SHUT OFF DURING THE 4 HOURS.

I hope you will join us ... an open Zafu is waiting. When we drop all thought of 'here' 'there' 'now' 'then' ... we are sitting all together!


Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH

PS - There is no "wrong" or "right" in Zazen ... yet here is a little explanation of the "right" times to Bow (A Koan) ...



https://youtu.be/GR6POpsXh9Q

The other video I mention on Zendo decorum is this one, from our "Always Beginners" video Series:


Sit-a-Long with Jundo: Zazen for Beginners (12) - Basic Zendo Decorum At Home
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?14884-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%2812%29&p=189093#post189093

[Jundo]

Please read the following in preparation for our Zazenkai ... These Passages will be the center of today's talk ...


Ango: NOW & THEN ...

What is Ango in our day and time, for householders in the modern West? Is it Ango as the Buddha, Dogen and all the Ancestors Practiced?

The meaning of the Japanese word Ango [安居] (Skt : varsha or varshika; Pali: vassa ) is “tranquil dwelling”. The origin is the “rainy-season retreat” , the period when Buddhist monks in India stopped their travels and outdoor activities for the duration of the rainy season and gathered at some sheltered location to devote themselves to Practice, study and discipline. One practical reason was because the heavy rainfall made traveling and outdoor activities impractical. But it was also a time when the individual monks in Buddha’s time, spending most of the year scattered here and there in small groups or individually, could gather and unite as a community and Practice together. During the rainy season in India, monks traditionally dwelt in a cave or a monastery for three months—from the sixteenth day of the fourth month to the fifteenth day of the seventh month. During this period the monks learned the Buddha's teachings, engaged in meditation and other practices, and repented their harmful behavior and weaknesses. The tradition is said to have begun during the time of Shakyamuni, was brought to China, and in Japan the three-month retreat was first observed in 683. Now it comes to us.

In the time of Master Dogen, Ango was a period of intense Practice mostly (but not exclusively) for monks living in a monastery. In his early years, Dogen’s Teachings emphasized that Zazen and Enlightenment are open to all, monks or householders, male or female, everyone. Later in life however, Dogen found himself chased out of the cosmopolitan capital city by other religious groups, turning to live in a remote and isolated monastery in the snowy mountains of Japan. Although in other writings to his lay students, Dogen continued to emphasize how this Way is open to all, his writings like Shobogenzo were meant to be talks heard primarily by his monks, meant to encourage monks in their monastic life and “keep up morale”, and thus, quite naturally, centered on the importance of Practice in a monastic setting.

But does that mean that Ango is not for householders as well? How has the Practice of Ango evolved as Zen has come to the West, to modern times, and again become open to all, monks or householders, male or female, the physically able and the physically challenged, everyone without distinction?

We will look at a few passages from Master Dogen’s “Shobogenzo-Ango”, written in his jazzy wild way:

http://www.bdk.or.jp/pdf/bdk/digitaldl/dBET_T2582_Shobogenzo4_2008.pdf

----------

To meet a summer retreat is to meet the Buddhas and the Ancestors. To meet a summer retreat is to realize Buddha and to realize the state of an Ancestor. .... In this “Ninety days makes a summer,” though the measurement of time is a cerebral measurement, it is beyond only one kalpa or ten kalpas, and beyond only a hundred thousand countless kalpas. ... [The summer retreat] has not come here from another place and another time, and it does not originate from just this place and just this time. When we grasp their origins the ninety days come at once. When we grope for their basis the ninety days come at once. The common and the sacred have seen these [ninety days] as their caves and as their very lives, but [the ninety days] have far transcended the states of the common and the sacred.

** a "kalpa" is a vast eon of time measuring billions of years.
…

The World-honored One addresses Bodhisattva Round Realization, the great assemblies of monks, and all living beings:

If you practice the retreat for three months from the beginning of summer, you will abide in the pure state of a Bodhisattva, your mind will leave the state of a śrāvaka, and you will be beyond dependence on others. When the day of the retreat arrives, say before the Buddha the following words: “In order that I, bhikṣu/bhikṣuṇī/upāsaka/upāsikā So-and-So, who rides upon the Bodhisattva vehicle may perform tranquil practice; that I may harmoniously enter, dwell in, and maintain the pure real form; that I may make the great round realization into my temple; that body and mind may practice the retreat; and that the wisdom whose nature is balance and the peaceful natural state of self may be without hindrances; I now respectfully ask, without relying on the state of a śrāvaka, to practice the three-month retreat together with the Tathāgatas of the ten directions and the great Bodhisattvas. By virtue of enacting the great causes of the supreme and fine truth of the Bodhisattva, I will not be involved with others.” Good sons [and daughters]! This is called a Bodhisattva’s manifestation of the retreat.

** a "śrāvaka" might be called a self-absorbed "armchair Buddhist"

** upāsaka/upāsikā = laymen and laywomen

...

Once when the World-honored One was doing the ninety-day summer retreat somewhere, on the final day, when the ceremony of public repentance was held, Manjushri suddenly appeared in the assembly, whereupon Makakashō asked him, “Where did you do your retreat this summer?” Manjushri replied, “This summer I did the retreat in three other places.” At this, Makakashō assembled the community, intending to have Manjushri expelled by striking the wooden fish. But just as he had raised the hammer to strike the wooden fish, he suddenly saw innumerable Buddhist temples appearing. He could see that there was a Buddha with a Manjushri at each place and a Makakashō at each place, his hand raising a hammer to expel Manjushri, whereupon the World-honored One spoke to Makakashō, saying, “Which Manjushri do you wish to expel now?” Makakashō was immediately dumbfounded.

[Dogen continued:] Meditation Master Engo, in commenting on this account, once said the following:


If a bell is not struck, it does not ring; if a drum is not struck, it
does not resound. Makakashō had already grasped the essential
function of a summer retreat; Manjushri had rid himself of all duality
by means of his doing his meditation throughout the ten quarters. This
very moment in the story is an excellent one, for it expounds the
functioning of the Buddha’s Teaching. How regrettable to have
missed such a move! As our dear Master Shakyamuni was about to
say, ‘Which of the Manjushris do you wish to expel now?’ just
imagine, what if Makakashō, right off, had given the fish a good
whack! What mass annihilation would he have then created?

[Dogen continued:] Meditation Master Engo added a verse to this commentary of his:


A great elephant does not play about in the narrow path that a rabbit makes,
And what could a little bird know of a great wild swan
It was just as if Makakashō had created a new way of
putting the Matter whilst staying within the rules and regulations;
It was just as if Manjushri had grabbed a flying arrow
within his teeth, having already broken the target.
The whole universe is one with Manjushri;
The whole universe is one with Makakashō.
Face-to-face, each is solemn in his authority.
Makakashō raised his hammer, but in which place will he punish Manjushri?
Manjushri did It with one fine prick of his needle;
Makakashō s ascetic practices rid him of all hindrances


[Dogen continued:]So, the World-honored One’s doing the summer retreat in one place is equivalent to Manjushri’s doing it in three places, and neither is not doing the summer retreat. If someone is not doing the retreat, then such a one is not a Buddha or a Bodhisattva. There is no account of any offspring of the Buddhas and Ancestors not doing a summer retreat. You should realize that those who do a summer retreat are offspring of the Buddhas and Ancestors. Doing a summer retreat is the body and mind of the Buddhas and Ancestors. It is the Eye of the Buddhas and Ancestors, the very life of the Buddhas and Ancestors. Those who have not done a summer retreat are not the offspring of the Buddhas and Ancestors: they are neither a Buddha nor an Ancestor. We now have Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, be They as humble as clay and wood, as precious as silk and gold, or as wondrous as the seven precious jewels.* All of Them have performed the retreat of sitting in Zazen through the three months of the summer. This is the ancient custom of abiding within, and maintaining, the Treasures of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. In short, those who reside within the house of the Buddhas and Ancestors must, by all means, do the practice of sitting in retreat for the three months of a summer.




A GOOD ANGO TO ALL!!!!

[Shōnin Risa Bear]

I find myself bowing to a computer monitor a lot these days. _()_

Will attend this zazenkai live (always with the proviso that no emergency intervenes, in which case "as able"). _()_

gassho
doyu sat taday and lah

[krissydear]

I will attend live! I am not sure if my webcam will allow for two-way but I will try.


Gassho
krissy
sat today

[Meitou]

I'm hoping to attend live, although I may not be able to stay for the whole four hours. The deciding factor will be my computer and/or Internet connection, both of which aren't working properly at the moment.
Metta for my PC and modem.
Gassho
Meitou
Satwithyoualltoday

[Gukan]

I will chug some espresso and try to attend live for the first part, but then catch up with the remainder via the recording on Saturday morning. I don't think I'll be able to stay awake for the whole thing live gassho1

Libby
ST

[Jundo]

I will chug some espresso and try to attend live for the first part, but then catch up with the remainder via the recording on Saturday morning. I don't think I'll be able to stay awake for the whole thing live gassho1

Libby
ST

Don't do anything unhealthy. lt is fine to sit with the recording (just the same) if lt means too much lack of sleep. You literally miss nothing.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Mp]

Thank you Jundo, I will be there live, two way. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Nengei]

Looking forward to sitting with the recording tomorrow.

Gassho,
然芸 Nengei
Sat today. LAH.

[Ishin]

Will be sitting partly live, partly recorded.

Gassho
Ishin
Sat Today
Lah

[Ippo]

Thanks Jundo,

I'll be sitting part live, and part recorded! See you all tomorrow.

Gassho,

Brad

SATLAH

[Kyonin]

Thank you Jundo.

I'll be there with instruments ready :)

Gassho,

Kyonin

[sreed]

I won't be able to attend live but will be with you in spirit and watch tomorrow morning.
-Sara
ST

[Tai Do]

I am waiting anxiously for the beginning of Ango. I won’t be able to sit the Zazenkai tonight, though. I will have to sit it latter. May we all have a good Ango.
Gassho,
Mateus
Sat today/LAH

[Shoki]

I'll be there one way (or another!). I may have to sit first half tonight and half tomorrow during the day as the 4-hour zazenkai goes way past my bedtime. If that's OK.

Gassho
STLah
James

[Shinshi]

I'll be time shifting to Sunday - see you all then!!

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Cooperix]

Sunday I will join you all tonight. What is time anyway?

Bows
Anne

~lahst~

[Tokan]

I am very fortunate to be so close to the Japanese time zones so I will attend live and two way. When I bow I will bow with those who will attend zazenkai later, and when I sit I will sit with the whole sangha, even if you are asleep somewhere in the world. There is no time other than now, yet neither does now exist in oneness.

Meta to all as we start this Ango, Kia ora (be well) as we say in New Zealand.

Gassho , Tokan

About to sit

[Jakuden]

I was hoping to attend live but unfortunately I will be unable to make it, I will join one-way as much as I can though. The Ango Opening Zazenkai is always a lovely special time for us to all sit together. [grouphug]

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

[sosen]

sitting with you all live one-way - fortunate to have mundi sitting with me here this morning for the beginning of Ango

_()_
sosen & mundi
stlah

[Kendrick]

I won’t be able to make it live. I’m about to cook dinner for my family. I promise it’s healthy. :) I will sit this over the weekend.

Gassho /\
Kendrick
Sat/Lah

[Mp]

Hey folks,

Here is the event information:

Treeleaf Sangha is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Sept 6/7 2019, Monthly Zazenkai - Ango / Jukai Opening
Time: Sep 6, 2019 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/8166671365

One tap mobile
+17207072699,,8166671365# US (Denver)
+16465588656,,8166671365# US (New York)

Dial by your location
+1 720 707 2699 US (Denver)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 816 667 1365
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acKunHUR1K

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Gukan]

Sitting with you all one-way for at least the first part

Gassho
Libby
ST

[Science Abbot]

Sitting here one-way today.

Gassho,
Wuyi
Sat/LAH

[Jundo]

Tsukuba Bon Dance from about 10:17 minute mark ... Dani said she is "front left" ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SDiPJD1eUg

Gassho, J

STLah

[Doshin]

gassho2

Doshin
St

[Mp]

Thank you Jundo, Kyonin, and everyone ... sorry I had to leave early, but great sitting with you. Happy Ango and Jukai everyone. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Jakuden]

Thank you dear Sangha [emoji106] Let’s go Ango!
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Onkai]

Thank you, Jundo, and everyone. It was a great start for Ango.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/LAH

[Sekishi]

Thank you all for sharing in practice today and in the coming Ango. Sometimes each of us will be Mahakashyapa, sometimes Manjushri. [happy]

Deep bows,
Sekishi
#sat

[Washin]

Thank you all. Thank you Jundo for the great talk.
Happy Ango to everyone!

Gassho
Washin
ST

[Shōnin Risa Bear]

Right doing flows as a river from the hands of Manjusri and Mahakasyapa / we dance.

Gassho
doyu sat today and lah

[Bodhitreemonkey]

Tsukuba dance was something special today... gassho2
Day one!

Gassho

ST

-Gil

[Kevin M]

The recording of this month's Zazenkai is missing the first half - it starts in the middle of the Dharma Talk.
I was looking forward to this one because of Ango. But in the spirit of Treeleaf I will adapt and make it work the best I can.
I will still sit this Zazenkai in spirit - rewatching the start of last month's monthly Zazenkai for the ceremonial part. Then I will do Zazen and Kinhin on my own up to the Dharma talk and then continue with the last half of the actual Ango kick off Zazenkai video knowing I sat with you all the full time.

Gassho
Kevin
Sat

[Nengei]

Oops, looks like someone was not aware of the two-hour retained recording limit on Zoom. The recording picks up exactly two hours from the end. Was it by chance recorded in another fashion that could be uploaded? In any case, I am grateful to be here with you all.

Gassho,
Nengei
Sat. LAH.

[Onka]

Thanks for today comrades but apologies for leaving after the Tsukuba Bon Dance, I should've stretched first lol. No, my back told me that I'd had enough and I listened but Dani was a wonderful teacher. What a fantastic way to start my first Ango. Thank you all again.
Gassho
Anna

Sat today/lent a hand

[Jundo]

Oops, looks like someone was not aware of the two-hour retained recording limit on Zoom. The recording picks up exactly two hours from the end. Was it by chance recorded in another fashion that could be uploaded? In any case, I am grateful to be here with you all.

Gassho,
Nengei
Sat. LAH.

No, it is all there now. Sometimes it takes awhile for the video to finish processing, so you and Keving must have caught it before it was done.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Nengei]

Hey Nengei! Try watching it now!

Gassho

Splendid! I just finished the middle and end. Now it is time to sleep. Tomorrow I will sit again with you all for the beginning. :sleeping:

Gassho,
Nengei
Sat. LAH.

[Nanrin]

Watched it live one way, a wonderful start to Ango. Joined in late. For most of it I didn't see anything due to my slow connection, but I heard the talk and people's comments just fine. Skipped the dance (can't follow along without video) and took a break and walked around a bit instead. In one of the transitions I answered some messages on my phone. Stumbled my way through it to the end though! Fell many times, got back up each time until the final gassho. When we got the the metta chant I realized I'd not made it that far in the 4 hour zazenkai since last Ango! [scared]

Some of my commitments from last Ango became habits that are still with me - I hope that this Ango will create some additional habits and they will keep adding together over the years.

Gassho

Nanrin

Sat with you all

[Gukan]

Thank you all. I made a brief appearance two-way but had some volume issues (i.e. for some reason Zoom was really loud despite my frantic prodding of the laptop volume settings, which claimed it was really quiet) and was about to wake the whole house up, so I reverted to live one-way for the first hour and will catch up later today. Will look at my volume settings later as well.

Wishing you all a good start to Ango

Gassho,
Libby

[Horin]

That's great, I will sit tomorrow evening with you via youtube.

Gassho
Ben

Stlah

Gesendet von meinem PLK-L01 mit Tapatalk

[Ishin]

Thank you everyone. I am quite sure that Mahakasyapa would be shocked.... shocked I say to see that we are doing our Ango in a Dance Hall of all places! [monk] Have a good Ango everyone!
Gassho
Ishin
Sat today
Lah

[Jundo]

ln my talk today, l mention that l am still watching the last two episodes of "Game of Thrones." (Please don't tell me how it ends!)

l just want to say that Game of Thrones is Greed, Anger and Divided thinking personified! lt is even about "life vs. DEATH" quite literally!

What would Game of Thrones be if all those folks suddenly became Buddhists!?

Game of Zafus!

Gassho, J

STLah

[Myoku]

Thank you everyone for sitting and for making this possible,
Gassho
Myoku
sat

[Doshin]

What would Game of Thrones be if all those folks suddenly became Buddhists!?

Game of Zafus!

Gassho, J

STLah[/QUOTE]


Don’t think the ratings would be as good.[morehappy]

Doshin
St

[Heisoku]

Thank you and enjoy Ango.
Good to sit this with you.
Gassho Heisoku
ST


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Shoka]

Thank you to Jundo and Kyonin... what a great start to Ango!

Gassho,

Shoka
sat/lah

[Tairin]

Thank you everyone. I sat with you this morning.

gassho2
Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Kotei]

Thank you all for sitting together and thanks to Jundo for the talk.
Have a good Ango everyone!
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Kevin M]

I sat with you all via recording.
Not sure why I was so looking forward to Ango starting, since it means no chocolate for three months.
PS Game of Thrones -> Game of Zafus - ok but "sitting the Iron Zafu" doesn't sound that fun.

Gassho
Kevin
Sat

[sreed]

Really appreciated Kyonin's comments and experiences about mistakes in Ango helping our practice grow.

I have been waiting to take Jukai for a few years now but unable to do so because I was turned away by other zendos because I could not be there in person. I live in a rural area, I have a laypersons life and responsibilities to my family at home. I am so grateful for Jundo and Treeleaf for including me in Jukai and Ango. I love that we are all over the world, together.

Bingo Bango Ango!
-Sara
ST

[Risho]

Thank you all! Happy Ango!

Edit: I love this practice. At the same time I kept thinking, is this ZAZENKAI over already. hahahahah Then I'd laugh at myself and continue. I'm the King Bodhisattva of Complaining lol

Jundo - I always love when you talk about Dogen's chapter on Ango, and when you shared your discovery of Manjushri's practicing in the three places relating to practicing with greed, anger and ignorance. It was an "ahhhh" moment for sure. :)

Gassho

Risho
-st

[Tenrai]

Happy Ango to all,
Gassho
Richard

Sat/lah


Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

[Nenka]

For the young folks . . . reference @ 2:13:59


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrI-UBIB8Jk

(Yeah . . . I may be a super fan of a little radio show called Crap from the Past (https://crapfromthepast.com/archives/index.htm))

Happy first day of Ango to everyone! Feels like it's gonna be a good one.

Gassho

Jen

P.S. The floats near the end of that Bon Festival video!!! [mindblowing]

[Kevin M]

Oh that song Jundo was referring to Ooga Chaka or whatever it just occurred to me how perfect the lyric is for Ango and Zen and suffering: “I .... I ... I ... I’m hooked on a feeling”

Gassho
Kevin
Sat


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Geika]

I am a little frustrated due to now being scheduled to do all of our dog grooming van laundry on Zazenkai evenings... I am going to try and shift it to another day of the week, but as of right now, it will be difficult to move... juggling two jobs if hard!!! But many have it much worse...

I will be catching up with this Zazenkai over the weekend.

Thank you all, and I apologize for not being on the "Hollywood Squares" live :D

Gassho
Sat today, lah

[Bodhitreemonkey]

Oh that song Jundo was referring to Ooga Chaka or whatever it just occurred to me how perfect the lyric is for Ango and Zen and suffering: “I .... I ... I ... I’m hooked on a feeling”

Gassho
Kevin
Sat


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


For us youngins, Blue Swede's Hooked on a Feeling is immediately recognizable from its feature in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, which is where I remember it from. [morehappy]

Gassho
-Gil
ST

[Cooperix]

_/\_

AC

~lahst~

[Jundo]

I am a little frustrated due to now being scheduled to do all of our dog grooming van laundry on Zazenkai evenings... I am going to try and shift it to another day of the week, but as of right now, it will be difficult to move... juggling two jobs if hard!!! But many have it much worse...


Dog grooming is grooming Buddha, is Ango. So, not being frustrated is Ango, the laundry of the mind (they even had monks who had to wash the sheets at Eiheiji). Please sit Zazenkai somewhere in the open, clear blue sky between the two jobs.

Please be inspired by Buddha-poodle ...

https://cdn.thingiverse.com/renders/81/7e/07/98/38/e632bd697a0e05455d532280a7d1a5df_preview_featured. jpg
5977

Gassho, J

STLah

[Jundo]

Jundo - I always love when you talk about Dogen's chapter on Ango ..t

Yes. you have been around here so long, you have probably heard this talk 2 or 3 times .... gassho1

Gassho, J

STLah

[Kyōsen]

I just finished this zazenkai thanks to the livestream being uploaded to YouTube, thank you to everyone who made this possible!

I enjoyed the talk about "all the time and all the places are here". I found this especially interesting because just yesterday my husband and I were watching a science documentary and in it, the presenter was talking about an idea in physics about non-linear temporal causality (the future influencing the past just as the past influences the future). The implication being that time and distance, one some level of reality, doesn't really matter to the smallest particles; and that we are, ourselves, made of those particles which are built up by orders of magnitude to manifest as each of us. We're vibrating atemporal bits of energy and a lot of empty space. It is literally true that "all the time and all the places are here".

I'm looking forward to the next zazenkai!

Gassho
Sen
SatToday(a lot)

[Shokai]

Wonderful, I finally got to sit this evening. Yesterday included some very physical activity and I fell asleep directly after supper. As always, I enjoyed the talk. Thank you for that Jundo. I love the story of Manjushi's Ango practice in the three places and Mahakashyapa's lesson of tolerance and forgiving. But, the highlight of the evening was the Japanese Line Dancing in a Circle. I remember going to those summer evenings events in Higashi Kawaguchi and then again in Fuchu-cho. The community interaction is so graceful and sincere. Thanks to everyone who joined in or will in future.
Have yourselves a truly great Ango and Precept study.

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[krissydear]

Thank you for this.

I finished a few hours ago, and it was wonderful. I managed to hurt my hamstring during the second kinhin though, so I did slow sitting stretches for the others. Despite that little snag, I was able to complete this session, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

I hope that I can join in two-way live next time.

Gassho
krissy
ST

[brucef]

Thank you Jundo, for an inspiring talk.

And so it begins.....:)

Gassho

brucef

st/lah

[Kyonin]

Hi all.

Welcome to Ango 2019 (although is timeless).

I was staring at the wall the other day and the word Ango came to my mind. And then the monkey mind thought: Ango sounds a lot like Mambo. Both are happy, both are dances, both require a beginners mind to be understood and both require to let go of ego to be enjoyed and to follow the rhythm.

So... Uno! Dos! Tres! Cuatro! Cinco! Seis! Siete! Ocho! Aaaaaaaaango! Ooh!!

https://youtu.be/T-Qnsk56_g4

(On this video we can see Perez Prado, the orchestra director. He invented Mambo. The male dancer is Resortes or Springs, a great comedian and dancer of the 50's. The female dancer is Ninon Sevilla, a singer-dancer-actress loved by everyone at the time).

Thank you for your practice.

Gassho,

Kyonin
Sat/LAH

[Kevin M]

Welcome to Ango 2019 (although is timeless).

Thank you for your practice.

Thank you for your performance of the chants Kyonin, and for your observations during the ceremony. I hope come end of Ango I can stay off the sweets but it'll be Christmastime so ... good luck with that (for me) haha.

Gassho
Kevin
Sat

[Jundo]

Hi all.

Welcome to Ango 2019 (although is timeless).

I was staring at the wall the other day and the word Ango came to my mind. And then the monkey mind thought: Ango sounds a lot like Mambo. Both are happy, both are dances, both require a beginners mind to be understood and both require to let go of ego to be enjoyed and to follow the rhythm.

So... Uno! Dos! Tres! Cuatro! Cinco! Seis! Siete! Ocho! Aaaaaaaaango! Ooh!!

https://youtu.be/T-Qnsk56_g4

(On this video we can see Perez Prado, the orchestra director. He invented Mambo. The male dancer is Resortes or Springs, a great comedian and dancer of the 50's. The female dancer is Ninon Sevilla, a singer-dancer-actress loved by everyone at the time).

Thank you for your practice.

Gassho,

Kyonin
Sat/LAH

Oh, our next dance for next month's Zazenkai will be this, and you will lead us ... :encouragement:

Gassho, J

STLah

[Naiko]

Hi all,
I sat with the recording as I couldn’t make the live event. This was the longest I have sat as I am pretty new to this. Not going to lie-I found it challenging, but that’s ok. I very much enjoyed Jundo’s talk about the history and meaning of Ango. And the dance! That was a blast and a surprise. Thank you to Dani for that. Thanks to all who make this possible.
Gassho,
Krista
st/lah

[Risho]

Hi all,
This was the longest I have sat as I am pretty new to this. Not going to lie-I found it challenging, but that’s ok.

I know this may sound like capt. obvious, but this right here is the most important time to sit - in my personal opinion - or do anything really - when you don't want to do it; then you truly drop the dislikes and likes and just do it. After a while it won't matter

Gassho

Rish
-st

[Meian]

Sitting in parts.

[Gassho2]
Kim
St lh

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

[Teiro]

Thank you, Jundo
and thank you all.

Gassho

Teiro
Satlah

[Geika]

Dog grooming is grooming Buddha, is Ango. So, not being frustrated is Ango, the laundry of the mind (they even had monks who had to wash the sheets at Eiheiji). Please sit Zazenkai somewhere in the open, clear blue sky between the two jobs.

Please be inspired by Buddha-poodle ...

https://cdn.thingiverse.com/renders/81/7e/07/98/38/e632bd697a0e05455d532280a7d1a5df_preview_featured. jpg

Gassho, J

STLah

Thank you, Jundo. I am often tempted to join in on Zoom without a face during times I can sit quietly at the laundromat, but I don't know if it would be considered rude to drop in and out when it is not during kinhin.

Gassho

Sat today, lah

[Horin]

i just sat the zazenkai, wonderful...thank you for that, jundo! and also, great teaching.. i really enjoyed it...a great reminder that if our intention, our heart is open, theres no place where no ango is..
and also thanks kyonin for your comments... its really taking the pressure out of it, and a nice image you have drawn with that comment of changing habits and at least karma from ango to ango

bows

Ben

stlah

[Shokai]

Great, Ango Mambo, the only Sangha with Zazenkais and Dance lessons to boot, I'll be there (or here, don't know)
gassho, Shokai :D
stelah

[Kokuu]

Game of Zafus!

I would totally watch that! The original has too much violence for me.

Beautiful start to Ango. Thank you, everyone! Lovely dance instruction, Danni!

There seemed to be too many people to put in the metta verses at the moment. So much suffering.

Wishing you all a wonderful Ango!

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-

[Tai Do]

Thank you, Jundo and Kyonin and everyone for this great beginning of Ango zazenkai.
Thank you, Dani, for the lovely Tsukuba Dance.
Let’s go Ango.
Gassho,
Mateus
Sat today/LAH

[Seibu]

Thank you all gassho2. Sat with you all today

Gassho,
Jack
Sattoday/lah

[Tokan]

I'm grateful to have been able to sit this zazenkai with you all

gassho1

Tokan, sattdy

[Daitetsu]

Finally sat this zazenkai with the recording.

Thanks all for your practice!

Gassho,

Daitetsu

#sat2day

[Heiso]

Finally finished this zazenkai. Thank you all for your teaching, comments and dancing.

My daughter was giving me some fairly strange looks as I danced for her.

Gassho,

Neil

StLah.

[Meitou]

Finished this lovely zazenkai today, just in time for tonight's [claps]
Kyonin, I cannot wait to see you do the Ango Mambo , bring it on [morehappy]
Gassho
Meitou
Satwithyoualltoday

[Seishin]

Completed a few days back but didn't post. Thanks to all and happy Ango.

Sat

[Tai Shi]

Today I visited an American gym, and I worked out moderately- difficult for me. I experienced my usual pain, and this bed fellow only leaves me when I lie down to sleep, then I kick him out and go right to sleep. I say that I have no time for Facebook, and note, worldwide "Facebook" has become a proper noun and largely because it has captured nearly all the world. Not me. I have learned to ignore its thoughts; are ever present in apps, passwords, popups, and demanding advertising throughout this world. Billions of key strokes are pounded out each hour for this lavish dangling ideology which threatens to swallow us up, and more to be learned by leaving it alone. Even as I leave it alone, I'm forced to buy produce, software, oatmeal, bran, beer, bubbles, and baby toys, all stamped throughout and within with the stamp of F, F, Facebook, F, F, so today, not tomorrow, not yesterday, but today I will not visit Facebook's addiction, this addiction which threatens our Zendo, our Sangha, our world, our lives. Today will be tomorrow, will always be today, and as with any good addiction, "One Day At A Time." And as I go along, leaving Facebook becomes easier, easier, and easier...
Tai Shi
sat/lah

[Tai Shi]

Someday I'd like to visit Japan, and truly sit with Jundo. I had the privilege of sitting Zazenkai with three wonderful people was it two or three years ago when Jundo and son came to USA? I had my rakusu already so it must have been two years ago, Jundo. Kyousui, and Matt, and this an experience I will remember until I die. To tell the truth, though I'm in Ango, I have only read a portion of The Mind of Clove, and still waiting to read more of A Brief History of Buddhism. Though it's Buddhism, still have yet to look into The Iron Flute, a birthday gift from my daughter. I would like to go to Japan and travel. However, some things are better wished for. I sat for almost 5 minutes today, then for an additional 15 minutes. In my mind, I think that if I look at a clock, my sitting time is over. Is that right? At some point in my exercise training, I'd like to try Zazenkai, my knees are so much better than 20 months ago when I could barely make it through the Sunday Sit, now I'm working on upper body. When I feel secure with upper body muscles, I will approach Jundo see what he thinks about sitting Zazenkai. I feel like walking meditation is just fine. Zazenkai is important; usually I skip through the recording doing what I am able. If you read above, that's enough out of me for a while.
Tai Shi
sat/lah
Gassho

[Shōnin Risa Bear]

There are good teachings here, Tai Shi. Thank you. Three bows.

Gassho
Doyu sat today. LAH

[Washin]

:encouragement:[gassholook]
Thank you for your practice, Tai Shi.

Gassho
Washin
sattoday

[Tai Shi]

At some point I told the story of my daughters trip to Japan which lasted 4 yrs. She had experienced depression the first year at a private school in Chiba; then she moved to Date, Hokkaido, and her depression lifted. She had arrived just after the Great Earthquake/Tsunami and as she taught the depression lifted. She interacted as dad began to move toward his vows for the precepts. She explained on Skype how to pronounce Shikantaza as dad began his chair sitting. Three times I participated in Zazenkai, and I picked out material unsuited for sewing. Mom helped dad understand there was no way. Then a package arrived at Tai Shi's house with a beautiful Rakusu, and Jukai, with all its study and commitment came in Jan. 2016, not that long ago for me. I am truly young in my practice of just sitting and remain indebted to Jundo and all, my daughter too, for my commitment to Treeleaf Zendo, my Sangha. By the way, I hav't drank alcohol for 32 yrs, and only now are the precepts and so much more making sense.
Tai Shi
sat/lah
Gassho