July 31th-August 1st, 2020 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI

[Jundo]

Today's Talk is on several Koans from the Book Of Serenity

(text below in this thread)

Please sit our Monthly 4-Hour Treeleaf 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 also sitable any time thereafter:


https://youtu.be/4K8YjZvHLB4

Join live (with or without a camera & microphone) on Zoom at: https://www.treeleaf.org/now/go.php?l=ssr
OR at https://zoom.us/j/4834831244, password (if needed): dogen


Dharma Talk Audio / Podcast Episode:
https://treeleaf.podbean.com/e/august-2020-zazenkai-talk-july-31th-august-1st-2020-our-monthly-4-hour-treeleaf-zazenkai/


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 RITUAL

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

Gassho, Jundo

STLah


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

Chant Book is here for those who wish to join in: CHANT BOOK LINK (https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?7032-Chant-Book-For-Weekly-and-Monthly-Zazenkai)

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]

Our Talk today will be on a few Cases of the Book of Serenity that we recently danced in our "No Words" Book Club ...


Koan 86: "Rinzai's Great Enlightenment"

Main Case:
Attention! Rinzai asked Master Obaku, “What is the ultimate meaning of Buddhism?”
In response, Master Obaku hit him.
This happened three times, so he left Master Obaku and went to see Master Daigu.
Master Daigu asked, “Where did you come from?”
Rinzai replied,”I came from Master Obaku.”
Daigu asked, “What did Master Obaku have to say?”
Rinzai replied, “I asked him “What is the ultimate meaning of Buddhism?” three times,
And three times I tasted his stick. I don’t know if I was at fault or not.”
Daigu exclaimed,”Master Obaku is such an old grandmother to be so very kind to you,
But still you come and ask if you are at fault or not.”
At these words, Rinzai attained great enlightenment.


Koan 87: "Sozan's With or Without"

MAIN CASE
Attention! Sozan arrived at Isan's and asked, "I've heard that you say, 'To be with or without words is like a vine dependent on a tree. When suddenly the tree falls, the vine withers.' Where do the words return to?"
Isan laughed aloud, "Ahhaahhaa!"
Sozan said, "I've come a thousand miles selling cushions. Osho, how can you play around with me?"
Isan called his attendant and told him to get some money, and give it to this monk.
Then he prophesized, "Later on, there will be a one-eyed dragon who will enlighten you."
Later Sozan arrived at Myosho's place and told him this story, and Myosho observed, "I would say that Isan was right from head to tail, but he did not meet up with the one who knows."
Sozan again asked, "When a tree falls and a vine withers, where do the words return to?"
Myosho said, "Once again, you make Isan laugh!"
At these words, Sozan had a realization, and exclaimed, "From the first, Isan's laughter had a sword!"


CASE 88: "The Shurangama's Unseen"

PREFACE TO THE ASSEMBLY
To have seeing and unseeing is to light a torch at midday. To have no seeing
and no unseeing, is to pour out black ink at midnight. If you believe that
seeing and hearing are like the phantom's shadow, you will know that sounds
and colors are like flowers in the sky. Tell me: Is there any sutra teaching at
all that we Zen students may talk about?

MAIN CASE
Attention! In the Shurangama Sutra, Buddha says, "When I am unseeing, why
don't I see the unseen place? If you say that you see the unseen, that is not
the unseen feature. If you don't see my unseen ground, then naturally it's not
a thing. Why isn't it that you are not?"


CASE 89: "TOZAN’S NO GRASS”

MAIN CASE
Attention! Master Tozan addressed the assembly, saying, “It’s the beginning of autumn and at summer’s end,
My brothers, some of you will go east, and some west.
But straight away, go to a place where there is no grass for hundreds of miles.”
After a pause he asked, “Where is this grass-less place, and how can you go there?”
Later, Master Sekiso said, “Go out the gate, and there’s grass.”
And Master Taiyo later said, “Don’t go out the gate, and there’s grass everywhere.”


CASE 90: "KYOZAN RESPECTFULLY DECLARES IT"

PREFACE TO THE ASSEMBLY
To say, "I alone am sober," is indeed to be stumbling drunk.
Kyozan speaks of a dream as if he were awake.
Great Zen masters talk thus, and all of you listen thus.
Tell me: Is this waking or is it dreaming?

MAIN CASE
Attention!
Kyozan had a dream in which he went to Maitreya's place and sat in the second seat.
The Venerable Maitreya said, "Today it is time for the one in the second seat to speak."
At that Kyozan stood up, struck the podium with the gavel, and said,
"The Dharma of the Mahayana is beyond all words. I respectfully declare it."

[Onkai]

Thank you, Jundo. I'm looking forward to joining two-way.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/LAH

[Jakuden]

Will be there with the [emoji348]

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Onka]

I may be forced to sit this one later as my spine is not playing nice. I've taken valium which mak....Zzzzzz
Gassho
Onka
ST

[Jundo]

Computer a little bumpy today, sit Zazen until I get there ...

[Jundo]

For our Australians ...

https://youtu.be/J2vP6t9YgOA

Gassho, J

STLah

[Geika]

Had to work today; just got home. Looks like I'll be catching up later, thank you all.

Gassho
Sat today, lah

[Jakuden]

Thank you Jundo, Sekishi and everyone, sitting with all of you expresses the unexpressable (is that a word?)

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

[Onkai]

Thank you, Jundo, Jakuden, Sekishi, and everyone. No questions, just thanks. Have a great weekend!

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/lah

[Sekishi]

Thank you Jundo, Jakuden, kudzu, cicadas, and all beings. Deep thanks for all all who sat / sit / will sit.

Sekishi
#sat

[Hoshi]

Thank you

In the summer, koans songs
the cicadas are singing
are they singing because they are dreaming?
are they singing because they are awake?

Gassho
SaT

[Bokugan]

My mic issue was user error from fiddling with settings earlier [duh]. My comment was that I thoroughly enjoy koans in this explaining/teaching tool context but do not seek them out much on my own (at least not at this stage of my journey).

Thank you for the excellent talk, Jundo and thank you Jakuden, Sekishi, and everyone [gassholook]

Gassho,

Ryan
Sat Today

[Seikan]

Thank you Jundo, Jakuden, Sekishi, and all for another wonderful Zazenkai. gassho2

FYI... On the subject of rental goats, we actually have a similar service here in my neck of the woods called "Goats to Go": https://www.goatstogo.farm/about/

:)


Gassho,
Rob

-st-

[Ippo]

I'll be joinng one way tomorrow :).

Thanks again I am geeting a new appreciation for the recordings!

Gassho,

Ippo

SaTtoday

[Margherita]

Thanks you for the zazenkai, this recording is very much appreciated.
If I can ask, what is this hokey-pokey ritual?

[Jundo]

Thanks you for the zazenkai, this recording is very much appreciated.
If I can ask, what is this hokey-pokey ritual?

The Hokey Pokey (called Hokey Cokey in some parts of the world) is a silly dance done at wedding receptions and kids birthday parties. We added it to our Zazenkai to follow right after my too serious "Dharma Talks" so we remember not to take ourselves too seriously ... and also to stretch the legs and body after long sitting.

But, this is how "Traditions" are born ... and I predict that, in 1000 years, the Hokey Pokey will be considered an ancient and precious part of Buddhist Practice from Texas to Thailand to Tibet! gassho2

https://youtu.be/g5OB9AMXh9s

:)

Gassho, J

STLah

[Margherita]

😆 Wonderful!
Thank you, Jundo.

ST

[Tairin]

Thank you. I sat with you this morning.

gassho2
Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Matt]

Going to sit this one now. Gassho, Matt

[Kotei]

Thank you everyone.
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Jundo]

Sekishi and I had a long talk about the sound quality of this week's Australian Hokey Pokey. We have no explanation why the sound was as it was. I suggest to just stick out random limbs if not sure what they are saying. :p

Gassho, J

STLah

[Jakuden]

Sekishi and I had a long talk about the sound quality of this week's Australian Hokey Pokey. We have no explanation why the sound was as it was. I suggest to just stick out random limbs if not sure what they are saying. :p

Gassho, J

STLah

Haha that’s exactly what everyone did I think. Also the “turn yourself around” part is pretty recognizable no matter what [emoji1]

Gassho
Jakuden


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Science Abbot]

The Iowa City virtual ango just ended yesterday, so I am sitting with you today. No question, just Genjo koan. Thank you, Treeleaf.

Gassho,
Mui
Sat/LAH

[Kokuu]

Thank you all for sitting with me.

Gassho
Kokuu

[Seishin]

Sat on demand. Thank you.

sat