October 23rd-24th Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - A Ukulele Hannya

[Jundo]

Our Heart Sutra today will be for all our many, many Ukulele fans ...

Dear All,

Please sit our Treeleaf Zazenkai for 90 minutes with Zazen, Heart Sutra and more:

10am Japan Saturday morning, NY 9pm, LA 6pm Friday night, London 2am and Paris 3am Saturday morning, or any time thereafter here:



https://youtu.be/tgynCl2rbIs


However, "one way" live sitters are encouraged to come into the Zoom sitting, and just leave the camera and microphone turned off: Join live (with or without a camera & microphone) on Zoom at: TREELEAF Now (https://www.treeleaf.org/now/go.php?l=ssr) OR at DIRECT ZOOM LINK (https://zoom.us/j/4834831244), password (if needed): dogen

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

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 Heart Sutra this time will feature this very mellow Ukulele version from Japan ...


https://youtu.be/J7edMiKWg3g

However, in finding that, I have also discovered that, apparently, "Tap Dancing" the Heart Sutra is a "thing" in Japan! Who knew!?! :)


https://youtu.be/ObtYxDRYU6A

Here's an even bigger tap performance before the VERY BIG 1300 year old "Great Buddha" in Nara ... Wow ...


https://youtu.be/TANMOcFgeYw

I came really, REALLY close to asking all our Zazen participants today to tap dance for our ceremony. But, another time ... [evil2]

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Bokugan]

I will be sitting with the recording this time around. I look forward to joining you all later [emoji120]

(Grad school has piled up on me a bit this week...)

Gassho,

Ryan
Sat Today

[Jakuden]

Will be there with bells [emoji348]

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday


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[Sekishi]

See you all soon.

Gassho,
Sekishi
#sat

[Science Abbot]

Inspiring.

Thank you.

Gassho,
Mui
Sat/LAH

[Sekishi]

Deep bows to the whole band.

Gassho,
Sekishi
#sat

[Yokai]

Thanks all for sharing in the music of Zazenkai & tea.

Gassho, Chris satlah

[Jakuden]

Beautiful music.

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday


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[Bion]

Beautiful music.

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday


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Thanks for chanting us through smiling all the way [emoji3526]

[emoji1374] SatToday

[Bion]

Deep bows to the whole band.

Gassho,
Sekishi
#sat

What would we do without our tech guru?!?! I think I speak for all when I say we’re especially fond of you [emoji3526]

[emoji1374] SatToday

[Onkai]

Wonderful zazenkai and musical tea time.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/lah

[Jundo]

The story of Sona and the Lute ...


[The Buddha said], "Sona, you were a musician and you used to play the lute. Tell me, Sona, did you produce good music when the lute string was well tuned, neither too tight nor too loose?"

"I was able to produce good music, Lord," replied Sona.

"What happened when the strings were too tightly wound up?"

"I could not produce any music, Lord," said Sona.

"What happened when the strings were too slack?"

"I could not produce any music at all, Lord," replied Sona

"Sona ... You have been straining too hard in your meditation. Do it in a relaxed way, but without being slack. Try it again and you will experience the good result."

-- Sona Sutta, Anguttara Nikaya 6.55

And I also recalled the figure of Benzaiten, much beloved in Japanese Buddhism (although actually a Hindu god in origin), a muse and protector of musicians and all that flows ...


Origin = Hindu River Goddess Sarasvatī

Every major city in Japan has a shrine or temple dedicated to Benzaiten. Her places of worship number in the thousands and are often located near water, the sea, a lake, a pond, or a river. She is one of the nation's most widely venerated deities. ... As the personification of this sacred river and of water in general, Sarasvatī came to represent everything that flows (e.g., music, poetry, writing, learning, eloquence, wisdom, performing arts). ... Temples and shrines devoted to her are still found everywhere throughout Japan, where she is worshipped by musicians, painters, sculptors, writers ... But the introduction of Mikkyō 密教 (Esoteric Buddhism) and the mandala art form in the early 9th century stressed instead Benzaiten's role as the goddess of music and portrayed her as a two-armed beauty playing the biwa 琵琶 (four-stringed lute). This iconic two-armed biwa-playing image of Benzaiten was probably derived from earlier depictions in India, where Sarasvatī was portrayed by at least the 6th century CE playing the zither. In Japan, she appears throughout the Heian era in the Taizōkai Mandala 胎蔵界曼荼羅 (Womb World, Matrix Mandala). This portrayal reflects her conflation with Myō-on Bosatsu 妙音菩薩 (Wondrous Sound Bodhisattva). The latter is described in the 24th chapter of the extremely popular Lotus Sutra -- -- wherein we learn that, in a previous life, Myō-on offered homage in the form of hundreds of thousands of kinds of music. Benzaiten, as the Japanese goddess of music, is commonly equated with Myō-on Bosatsu. Why the biwa rather than some other musical instrument? It's hard to say unequivocally, but in Japan, the ritual performance of biwa was used in association with the cult of Myō-on Bosatsu by at least the late 8th century. Also, in Japan, the practice of chanting sutra with biwa music reportedly started around the same time.
https://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/benzaiten.shtml

https://www.travel.smileandhappiness.net/benzaiten-okunoin01.jpghttps://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/gods-goddess/images/0/0a/Ben.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/304?cb=20140308233100

Gassho, J

STLah

[Seikan]

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

Gassho,
Rob

-stlah-

[Darren]

Sat with the recording for my first Zazenkai. It was beautiful thank you all.

Gassho
Darren
Sat Today

[Bion]

Sat with the recording for my first Zazenkai. It was beautiful thank you all.

Gassho
Darren
Sat Today

Oh, great! Thanks for sitting with us, then!! [emoji3526]

[emoji1374] SatToday

[Tairin]

Thank you everyone. I sat with you this morning.

Wonderful talk today Jundo. As a musician and guitarist I endorse your message :encouragement:

gassho2
Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Shoki]

Thank you everyone. As a ukelele player this was just great.

Gassho
STlah
Shoki

[Naiko]

The story of Sona and the Lute ...



And I also recalled the figure of Benzaiten, much beloved in Japanese Buddhism (although actually a Hindu god in origin), a muse and protector of musicians and all that flows ...



https://www.travel.smileandhappiness.net/benzaiten-okunoin01.jpghttps://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/gods-goddess/images/0/0a/Ben.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/304?cb=20140308233100

Gassho, J

STLah

Thank you, Jundo. I really appreciated your talk. The ukulele Heart Sutra was beautiful; I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a ukulele so much. Thank you all for your practice!
Gassho,
Krista
st

[Sekiyuu]

Sat with the recording. Thank you everyone for sitting.

The ukelele talk reminded me of the art of Iwasaki Tsuneo recently posted on the forums, particularly this piece where the sutra is painted as a reverberation from a bell.
https://parabolaorg-4jzhg7c.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Ringing-Bell.jpg

Gassho,
Kenny
Sat Today

[Jakuden]

Thanks for chanting us through smiling all the way [emoji3526]

[emoji1374] SatToday

[morehappy]

[Kiri]

Thank you beautiful ukuleles for another inspiring Zazenkai!
Nikolas, gassho1
Sat/Lah

[Seishin]

Thank you everyone _/\_

Lovely talk Jundo as being an Advanced Beginner Guitarist it resonated with me considerably. If you are truly interested in learning the guitar, I can strongly recommend Justin Sandercoe's online courses, which are free unlike many others out there.

https://www.justinguitar.com/

He has years of experience and teaches everything to take you from absolute beginner up to the like of Eddie Van Halen, as you mentioned, if you have the desire to reach those heights. Feel free to drop me a PM if you would like further info he really is very good. Anyone else for that matter I'd be happy to help if you are interested in playing.

Sat

[Jundo]

Thank you everyone _/\_

Lovely talk Jundo as being an Advanced Beginner Guitarist it resonated with me considerably. If you are truly interested in learning the guitar, I can strongly recommend Justin Sandercoe's online courses, which are free unlike many others out there.

https://www.justinguitar.com/

He has years of experience and teaches everything to take you from absolute beginner up to the like of Eddie Van Halen, as you mentioned, if you have the desire to reach those heights. Feel free to drop me a PM if you would like further info he really is very good. Anyone else for that matter I'd be happy to help if you are interested in playing.

Sat

Seishin,

Justinguitar looks great. Thank you. Now, all I need to do is buy a couple of guitars for Leon and me. :)

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Bokucho]

Sat with the recording. Thank you everyone for sitting.

The ukelele talk reminded me of the art of Iwasaki Tsuneo recently posted on the forums, particularly this piece where the sutra is painted as a reverberation from a bell.
https://parabolaorg-4jzhg7c.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Ringing-Bell.jpg

Gassho,
Kenny
Sat TodayThis is absolutely beautiful, thank you for sharing Kenny! I too just sat with the recording and it was beautiful, thank you all for your participation.

Gassho,

Josh
SatToday

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[Matt]

Sitting this now. Gassho, Matt

[Tosei]

Sat with you all this morning. Many thanks to all.

Tap dancing away to samu...

Gassho,

Peter
+LAH

[Tosei]

Great to hear, Darren.

Gassho,

Peter
sat+lah

[Margherita]

Thank you very much everybody for your effort. Thank you Jund for your teaching, it... touched a string with me.

Gassho,
Mags
ST

[Tai Shi]

Hi Jundo, Hi All, this week was particular difficult, and I missed both Zazenkai and Sunday sit because I will undergo Radio Frequency Ablation, needles inserted. In my procedure today, Monday after our sit and rituals; for about 30 minutes Dr Scott Lockwood will use hollow needles into facett joints of my neck spine, cervacle vertabrea, C2, C3, and C4. I must be partially conscious during this procedure, but I'm given strong pain medication abnd sedative. I will experience level 10 pain several times although in each joint briefly. This is the highest pain people experience. The point of this is to deaden my spinal nerves for up to 9 months to avoid more pain. The procedure is repeated every 9 months as long as I am able, hopefully the rest of my luife, the point being that there is perhaps pain 6 or leverl below. My pain has been too high for zazen. Think of me and those of you might sit metta for me is you are able. Thank you.
Gassho
sat
Tai Shi

[Seikan]

Hi Jundo, Hi All, this week was particular difficult, and I missed both Zazenkai and Sunday sit because I will undergo Radio Frequency Ablation, needles inserted. In my procedure today, Monday after our sit and rituals; for about 30 minutes Dr Scott Lockwood will use hollow needles into facett joints of my neck spine, cervacle vertabrea, C2, C3, and C4. I must be partially conscious during this procedure, but I'm given strong pain medication abnd sedative. I will experience level 10 pain several times although in each joint briefly. This is the highest pain people experience. The point of this is to deaden my spinal nerves for up to 9 months to avoid more pain. The procedure is repeated every 9 months as long as I am able, hopefully the rest of my luife, the point being that there is perhaps pain 6 or leverl below. My pain has been too high for zazen. Think of me and those of you might sit metta for me is you are able. Thank you.
Gassho
sat
Tai Shi

Tai Shi,

Much Metta to you friend. Good luck with your procedure. I strongly hope it gives you the relief you need.

gassho2

Gassho,
Rob

-stlah-


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[Kokuu]

Wonderful! Thank you all for sitting with me.

Sending you much metta, Tai Shi. I know this is an unpleasant procedure but glad you experience the benefits of reduced pain for ome time afterward.

Gassho
Kokuu

[Koushi]

Think of me and those of you might sit metta for me is you are able. Thank you.


Much metta Tai Shi. I hope you find relief after the procedure and that the procedure itself goes well.

Gassho,
Jesse
ST

[Jundo]

Hi Jundo, Hi All, this week was particular difficult, and I missed both Zazenkai and Sunday sit because I will undergo Radio Frequency Ablation, needles inserted. In my procedure today, Monday after our sit and rituals; for about 30 minutes Dr Scott Lockwood will use hollow needles into facett joints of my neck spine, cervacle vertabrea, C2, C3, and C4. I must be partially conscious during this procedure, but I'm given strong pain medication abnd sedative. I will experience level 10 pain several times although in each joint briefly. This is the highest pain people experience. The point of this is to deaden my spinal nerves for up to 9 months to avoid more pain. The procedure is repeated every 9 months as long as I am able, hopefully the rest of my luife, the point being that there is perhaps pain 6 or leverl below. My pain has been too high for zazen. Think of me and those of you might sit metta for me is you are able. Thank you.
Gassho
sat
Tai Shi

Sitting and thinking of you, all Metta, TS. I know that you have had this procedure before, so know where to place the mind during the procedure. May you feel so much better on the other side.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Shokai]

Tai shi; sending much Metta your way, get well soon [monk]

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Ryusoku]

Sat with Uke-Shu this morning - 'strumming zen' - marvellous! Maybe he should be called Melodious Monk!

Metta to Tai Shi - wishing you a well spring of wellbeing.

Inspired by the music, I have dusted the cobwebs from my Uke. 'Many a moon has passed since I played you last, forgive me dear old friend!' NOW... to learn to tap dance - this may take a while!


Gassho,
Brett.

sattoday lah

[Bokugan]

Hi Jundo, Hi All, this week was particular difficult, and I missed both Zazenkai and Sunday sit because I will undergo Radio Frequency Ablation, needles inserted. In my procedure today, Monday after our sit and rituals; for about 30 minutes Dr Scott Lockwood will use hollow needles into facett joints of my neck spine, cervacle vertabrea, C2, C3, and C4. I must be partially conscious during this procedure, but I'm given strong pain medication abnd sedative. I will experience level 10 pain several times although in each joint briefly. This is the highest pain people experience. The point of this is to deaden my spinal nerves for up to 9 months to avoid more pain. The procedure is repeated every 9 months as long as I am able, hopefully the rest of my luife, the point being that there is perhaps pain 6 or leverl below. My pain has been too high for zazen. Think of me and those of you might sit metta for me is you are able. Thank you.
Gassho
sat
Tai Shi

Finished sitting with you all this evening. Lovely song -- thank you each and everyone for your individual songs [gassholook]

Metta to you Tai Shi, I will keep you in my thoughts gassho2

Gassho,

Ryan S
Sat Today

[Tai Shi]

What I need now is an old time mover and shacker faith healer who will permanently restore my spine just the way Jesus restored vision to the blind man, but I have not that kind of faith. Oh would I like the one of ten gentile stop to thank the Master, And Jesus said truly you have been saved of more than lepracy. Come to think of it I have been saved of more than spondylitis this because the folk gentle folk have saved me from myself for 6 years since 10-2014 and I never thought the tireless hours at 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 just waiting for another few minutes to clear their thinking and the hours spent in sitting just sit.
Gassho
st
Taishi


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[Tai Shi]

Thank you and I mean that thank you very much
Gassho
st
Taishi


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[Heiso]

Thank you everyone for making this happen and for sitting with me. I finished the sitting with the recording yesterday.

The talk about emptiness within the ukukele and between the notes made me think of this quote from the Tao Te Ching:


"Thirty spokes share the hub of a wheel;
yet it is its center that makes it useful.
You can mould clay into a vessel;
yet, it is its emptiness that makes it useful.
Cut doors and windows from the walls of a house;
but the ultimate use of the house
will depend on that part where nothing exists..."

Gassho,

Heiso

StLah

[Kotei]

Thank you everyone,
I resonate very much with the idea of finding practice in playing an instrument.
Practicing traditional pieces on a Shakuhachi is imho quite close to it.
Instead of an explicit melody or rhythm (which are constructions of time, relying on past and future),
there are mainly phrases, fitting in one unobstructed breath (no breath modifying techniques like vibrato or airway closing),
accenting the experience of this moment, Now.

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Tai Shi]

The Buddha's use of science worked. What is called Radio Frequency Ablation of misnamed Rhizotomy (in my case) shows signs of working, and I may remain with much less pain, and even less, for up to nine months and then this procedure will be repeated. Though the procedure costs Medicare about $15,000 the HOSPITAL believes this is the is better, long run, as successful, it is less expensive than surgery which my doctors have already advised against. and it results in a less drastic procedures such as a pain pump with narcotics constantly pumped into my system, or Oxcodone of which I have already walked away. I will continue with Tizanidine ,the MS drug which helps, though potenlly habit forming at 12 mg/day, I'm allowed maximum 6 mg/day. and at dose it works. My best friends, I am reacting emotionally (you know me) and I believe the Buddha would be happy and compassionate for/to me. And, my God is, and even with tears there is no pain. The procedure is working even at 3 days out. If it works at 5 pm, I will know and will know. I will be, if at all possible, with Zazenkai this coming Friday. As we say in my other most important program, sometimes one moment at a time. I am now able to sit longer hours (I believe) than before, Thank you all. Jundo, please in this case excuse the longer entry.
Gassho
st
Tai Shi

[Nenka]

gassho2

Nenka

ST

[Onkai]

Metta to you, Taishi. I hope the pain continues to subside.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/lah

[Shoki]

Tai Shi,
Nice to hear some encouraging words. Keep on keeping on.

Gassho
STlah
Shoki

[Gokai]

Hello everyone

I was absent for personal reasons, but I am grateful to be back in this wonderful community. A year after my Jukai in January 2017, at Treeleaf I stopped being present. But I am happy to be back, I feel a great respect for Treeleaf and I hope to be able to completely return to a path that I know is correct.
Today I was with everyone at this moment of practice. I already missed hearing Jundo's teachings. Even his voice and the special way of communicating I was missing.
I wish you all a great week.
Sat today
Gassho 🙏

[Onkai]

Welcome back Gokai! Thank you for your practice.

Gassho,
Onkai
sat/lah

[Tai Shi]

Jundo, I felt the least amount of pain I’ve ever felt during procedure so I also believe this will be the most successful of any RFA I’ve ever had.
Gassho
st/ lah
Tai Shi


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[Tai Shi]

Thanks for the reminder I can watch/ participate with recordings! Zazenkai: I will sit this week Monday or Tuesday.
Gassho
st/ lah
Tai Shi


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[Bion]

Jundo, I felt the least amount of pain I’ve ever felt during procedure so I also believe this will be the most successful of any RFA I’ve ever had.
Gassho
st/ lah
Tai Shi


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Tai Shi! Great to hear that!!

[emoji1374] SatToday lah

[Gokai]

Thank you very much, Onkai.
Gassho 🙏
Sat today.

[Tai Shi]

I love my third family on Treeleaf Zendo, family second being my 12 step family, first Marjorie and Laurel, saved my life in that order, 1,2,3.
Gasho
Deep bows
sat
Tai Shi


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[Tai Shi]

Onkai, you are compassion and wise beyond your years. You lead, I shall follow. Thank you young one, thank you all for loving kindness which works in everyday practice. Jack KORNFIELD and insight meditation teaches us much.
Gassho
st / lah
Taishi


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