New Year's Greetings from Treeleaf, Japan 2020

[Jundo]

The year has passed here in Tsukuba! gassho1 A New Year's tradition at Buddhist temples across Japan is the ringing of the Joya-no-kane (除夜の鐘) ...


https://image.space.rakuten.co.jp/d/strg/ctrl/9/37b2d91b6eccb8a9138f894ad2670739bfe17556.84.2.9.2. gif

... the temple bell near midnight. The bell is typically rung 108 times (sometimes by the temple priests, sometimes by parishioners, and really nobody keeps count) to cleanse the listener of the 108 mortal afflictions (bonno ... anger, greed, ignorance, envy, hatred, arrogance and the rest) that, in traditional Buddhist thinking, are the causes of suffering. By ringing out the old year and ringing in the new, each earthly desire will be taken away and therefore we can start the New Year with a pure mind.

Past moments ... the up and downs, happiness and sadness ... are now gone, and a new beginning rings out ... ever new and renewing.

Master Dogen wrote, "Zazen ... is like the hammer striking emptiness, the bell's melodious sound continues to resonate as it echoes, endlessly before and after. It is not limited to this moment."


HAPPY NEW EVERY-MOMENT, EVERY-ONE!

Joya-no-kane atmosphere at a neighborhood Soto Zen temple ...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO9Lm0kNvT4

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday


MAY YOU HAVE A NICE YEAR OF THE MICE!

https://i.giphy.com/media/yHjnSHibuEABW/giphy.webp

[Jundo]

Actually, this year, we were invited to a local Shingon Buddhist temple, were an esoteric Goma fire ritual was performed much like this, but just at midnight ...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUfXxdV1tgk

Very powerful, a ritual filled with mystical Dharani chants and mysterious Mudra hand gestures, pungent leaves, spices and wood pieces being burned. It is not commonly found at Zen temples, and is performed mostly within this sect of Buddhism which came to Japan many centuries before Zen. The ritual derives from the influence of Indian Hinduism on Buddhism, and very similar ceremonies are still found in India to this day.

[Geika]

Wow! He is very graceful with his stick tossing! Each one lands perfectly on the fire.

Happy New Year everybody!

Gassho
Sat today, lah

[Rich]

Will try that next time I go camping [emoji16]

That was a big fire for indoors.

They were sweating [emoji29]

Sat/lah


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[Doshin]

Happy New Year

Doshin
St

[Kotei]

Thank you Jundo Roshi.
A Happy New Year to everybody!
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Michael Joseph]

Happy new year.

Gassho

Hobun

STLAH

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[Shokai]

That's one big fire!! I attended a fire festival in Fuji Yoshida and my geta (Wooden Shoes) were charred and still smoking by the time we got home.

Happy New Year 2020 everyone

gassho, Shokai 🙏🙏🙏

[Tenrai]

Happy new year from Eday, Orkney in Scotland
Gassho
🙏🙏🙏
Sat/Lah

[newby_x86]

Happy new year guys! :)

Gassho
Anant
SaT

[Naiko]

Thank you for sharing those traditions—far more interesting than the American tradition of...getting drunk on NYE. Wishing all a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year!
Gassho,
Krista
st

[Kyōsen]

Happy New Year & New Decade, everyone!

I spent some time celebrating with good friends yesterday evening; it was nice to see them all again.

Gassho
Kyōsen
Sat|LAH

[Daitetsu]

Happy New Year everyone!
Hope you had a good start.

Gassho,

Daitetsu

#sat2day

[Meian]

This put our fire pit to shame! They were much warmer than we were. [emoji4] Beautiful ceremony! Lovely way to bring in a new year. [emoji323][emoji322]

Gassho
Kim
St lh

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[Horin]

Happy New year! I wish you all the best for the next decade contentedness, luck, health and/or the ability to accept and master any condition that will come.

I'm looking forward to another new year with you, my Dharma family. You are awesome!

Gassho and deep bows,

Ben

Stlah

Enviado desde mi PLK-L01 mediante Tapatalk

[Jundo]

Some wonky folks asked for the significance of the Shingon Fire Ritual (also common in Japanese Tendai Buddhism, by the way, but not found in Zen Buddhism to my knowledge). The best English description in English that I can find is in this book [pdf]. For those who want to know the meaning of every gesture, it is a detailed study ... but also skimming some of the photos and short descriptions is wonderful ...

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/d56c/d9a0939e088efe6aa63161d0a2147b4cb7ee.pdf

Here is a summary of the meaning of the ritual so you can have a taste ...


HOMA (Goma, jap)
Homa is the “Fire” ritual meditation. Originating in ancient India, it was later appropriated to Buddhist use. Homa means the burning of darkness and the term gives the image of an upsurging flame. By this ritual, we may burn up those Karmic defilements, which still remain within us. It is the “fire of the Wisdom of the Buddha” which destroys all worldly passions. There is the “Outer” Homa, which is the actual fire kindled in the ritual, and the “Inner” Homa, that is the fire of the Wisdom of the Buddha which we have kindled within our minds. There are five different stages in the ritual differing according to the particular Deities involved. It is written in the Yoga ritual book about the Inner Fire as follows: “When the hand creates the Buddha's Mudra, it increases the power of sacred prayer flags and banners. It subdues the anger of Deity Vajrapani, who then will accept our invitation. One should have respect and love for the Lotus Scripture.

In executing this ritual, all five Yoga meditation methods should be used”. The Outer Homa is offered to Buddha and Bodhisattva to enhance the power of the Dharani and to bring about faster results. One must have a heart of perfection as the basic motivating force. The book of rituals on Homa said: “Focus and meditate on the word “A”, imagine yourself being surrounded by fire, which is burning off all the bad karmas, and see the woods – your ignorance - being burned off leaving nothing behind. The clear holy water will flow and refresh all ten directions of the world, and it will help grow the seeds of wisdom, and the 'seedsyllable' will be born. This is the Body of Law, the secret of internal ritual of Homa. “

In fact, the Outer Homa ritual only has the effect of eliminating sins and producing blessings in this samsara (world of life and death) while the Inner Homa has the effect of eliminating worries that cause rebirth. If the Shingon practitioner does not understand this concept and only practices the Outer Homa, he will just be a common fire worshipper. In summary, Secret Buddhism worships The Body of Law above all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The organization of the Secret school has different levels and different names. However, the secret magic arts are always kept behind doors, hidden to the general public.

It is the secret rules transmitted verbally from the master to his disciple. It is the tradition to keep the sacred laws secret. In the past, when a master wanted to pass on the secret doctrine, he must observe among his disciples to choose the one best qualified, one who has more virtue than karma, one who has totally devoted to achieving liberation and detachment from the world. The master would then hand down the precious teaching to help that person achieve his goal.
http://www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/Homa_(ritual)

But of course, as with Zazen and many aspects of Buddhism and all of life, the reality cannot be described in words or photos or by a "user's manual" ... and it is the actual dance of body and mind which must be realized. So, descriptions only get one so far and the doing is what is vital. Many say that Shikantaza also has this aspect of being an "esoteric" ritual where the pouring of oneself (one self) into the action of doing is key, thus Zazen is the true heart of the Goma or any ritual flowing.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Meian]

Jundo, you must have heard the gears spinning in my mind again :D

Thank you for not yanking me back with a cane :clapping:

Love the books and resources, Zen or otherwise :morehappy:

gassho
kim
st lh

[Meitou]

'The great temple bell rings
one hundred eight times -
May there be peace!'
Mitsu Suzuki
A White Tea Bowl.
Happy New /Old beginnings everyone.
Gassho
Meitou
Satwithyoualltoday lah

[Heiso]

Happy new year everyone. Looking forward to another year of learning and practice.


'The great temple bell rings
one hundred eight times -
May there be peace!'
Mitsu Suzuki 'The great temple bell rings
one hundred eight times -
May there be peace!'
Mitsu Suzuki

Meitou - I've been reading this book over the holiday period, it's wonderful!

Gassho,

Neil

StLah

[Meitou]

Happy new year everyone. Looking forward to another year of learning and practice.



Meitou - I've been reading this book over the holiday period, it's wonderful!

Gassho,

Neil

StLah

I love it, I'm looking at it every day.
Gassho
Meitou
Satwithyoualltoday lah

[Jundo]

This is rather amazing (speaking as a supporter of online Buddhist training) ... Social Distancing Dharani ...

Not Zen, but a Japanese esoteric Shingon Buddhist priest who is learning their Goma "Fire Ritual" with bottles and stuff from the kitchen while at home! The Goma ceremony is the same one I posted in the video above.

https://youtu.be/2LQRtPPpkMI


Actually, this year, we were invited to a local Shingon Buddhist temple, were an esoteric Goma fire ritual was performed much like this, but just at midnight ...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUfXxdV1tgk

Very powerful, a ritual filled with mystical Dharani chants and mysterious Mudra hand gestures, pungent leaves, spices and wood pieces being burned. It is not commonly found at Zen temples, and is performed mostly within this sect of Buddhism which came to Japan many centuries before Zen. The ritual derives from the influence of Indian Hinduism on Buddhism, and very similar ceremonies are still found in India to this day.


Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Meian]

This is rather amazing (speaking as a supporter of online Buddhist training) ... Social Distancing Dharani ...

Not Zen, but a Japanese esoteric Shingon Buddhist priest who is learning their Goma "Fire Ritual" with bottles and stuff from the kitchen while at home! The Goma ceremony is the same one I posted in the video above.

https://youtu.be/2LQRtPPpkMI




Gassho, Jundo

STLah
This is inspiring. In my area we'd call this "ghetto-style" (found materials, use what works) and it flows together well.

I am a bit envious of the books, histories, and training area he put together, really lovely.

It's informative and helpful. I've added it to my resources.

Thank you, Jundo. One of my favorite topics.

Gassho2
Meian
St lh

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