G'day folks
I'm wondering if there is a Sutra or something else that is recited before undertaking our daily Samu practice?
Thanks in advance.
Gassho
Anna
ST
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G'day folks
I'm wondering if there is a Sutra or something else that is recited before undertaking our daily Samu practice?
Thanks in advance.
Gassho
Anna
ST
Hi Anna
Good question! As far as I know there isn't but Jundo might know better!
You can bow to the task before starting and again at the end if you wish to show respect.
There are some short gathas (mindfulness verses) that may be used during certain daily tasks to be found in our Treeleaf Retreat Chant Book:
Verse On Entering Bath
Bathing the body,
may all living beings
be clean in body and mind,
pure and shining within and without.
Verse For Tooth Brushing
Brushing my teeth and rinsing my mouth,
I vow to speak purely and lovingly.
When my mouth is fragrant with
right speech,
A flower blooms in the garden of the heart.
Verse For Face/Hand Washing
Washing the face/hands,
I vow with all beings
To pierce the pure Dharma gate
Forever undefiled
Verse On Entering Toilet
Defiled or immaculate,
increasing or decreasing--
these concepts exist only in our mind.
The reality of interbeing is unsurpassed.
Verse After Each Of The Foregoing
Using the (bath / tooth brush/ wash basin / toilet)
I vow with all beings
To pierce defilement
clearing greed, anger and ignorance.
Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-
As Kokuu says, a simple Gassho, before and after, is enough.
Yes, you could recite ... or even create a Gatha for any activity (just let it be heartfelt, meaningful, even a little humor is fine). Yes, one can make their own Gatha for ANYTHING ... which is exactly what Treeleafers have done for fun and personal inspiration ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...hp?6917-Gathas
Gassho, J
STLah
Some of the gathas on that thread are just great! Thanks Jundo for linking to this, which I hadn’t seen before. While small in form, a good gatha can really pack a mighty mighty punch.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jundo
Thank you for this question, Anna.
Gassho,
Libby
ST
Edited to add that I just remembered Thich Nhat Hanh has one to say when hugging your kids and the first time I mindfully applied it I almost burst into tears, it was so beautifully overwhelming. I’ll try and dig it out.
I sometimes recite The Heart Sutra before sitting practice Shikantaza vow to just sit.
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Thank you Kokuu and Jundo
Gassho
Anna
ST
The Robe Verse is appropriate, and part of the opening chants of Zazenkai and simple bowing and if able full body to floor. The later is impossible for me so I simple bend from my waist.
Tai Shi
sat/lah
Gassho
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Of course, we do usually take off the Rakusu for Samu involving physical labor where it may become dirty, so would not wear it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tai Shi
A Koan: The Rakusu is beyond "clean" or "dirty," and cannot possibly become sullied ... yet try not to get it dirty! [monk]
Gassho, J
STlah
.. Or one can tie the Rakusu up with Shiken belt. When at sesshin I saw some elder monks doing that though I'd still not recommend it if one is involved in some labor with dirt.Quote:
Of course, we do usually take off the Rakusu for Samu involving physical labor where it may become dirty, so would not wear it.
Attachment 5979
Gassho,
Washin
sat/lah
Oh interesting! That’s pretty wild how he has it tied.Quote:
Originally Posted by Washin
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday
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As I understand it that is the Rinzai style.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jakuden
Gassho, Shinshi
SaT-LaH
Muho of Antaiji wore things that way sometimes too, and he is quite Soto ...Quote:
Originally Posted by Shinshi
http://www.diesabischensymbole.com/u...206_orig.jpg?0
I am not sure about the tradition in Soto Zen, so I will ask at the SZBA and report back. It is not so common.
Gassho, J
STLah
Upaya has a samu gatha
http://https://www.upaya.org/teachin...gy/samu-gatha/
Gassho
Doyu sat and lah today
Addendum: corrected URL per Kokuu, below: https://www.upaya.org/teachings/liturgy/samu-gatha/
Thanks, Doyū!
I think you missed a colon in the URL: https://www.upaya.org/teachings/liturgy/samu-gatha/
Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-
Oh, it shortened it! That's what I get for using the iPad indiscriminately. Don't see well enough to be doing that and got hasty. _()_
gassho
doyu sat/lah
Thank you for the Samu Gatha, Doyū.
gassho1
Mateus
Sat today/LAH
This is the one I'll go with I reckon. Thank you Doyu.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doyū
Thanks to other contributors too.
Gassho
Anna
ST
I must admit I find the Upaya gatha a little on the wordy side...
How about:
Approaching this task with a sense of joy
Mind and body drop away.
Each moment is an offering to all sentient beings.
A day without work is a day without food.*
*This line is attributed to Master Baizhang (720–814) who was the teacher of Linji/Rinzai. It is said that when Baizhang was getting older, his students hid his tools and refused to let him work. In response he stopped eating, reciting this phrase.
Just an idea.
Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-
I really like that Kokuu. I understand why you wrote it the way you did and it is really good. I think that for me, I'll make this this one word change.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kokuu
Approaching this task with a sense of joy
Mind and body drop away.
Each moment is an offering to all sentient beings.
A day without work is a day without sustenance.
Then it references Master Baizhang, but it can also refer to work sustaining the soul. Not better, just an alternative.
Gassho, Shinshi
SaT-LaH
Kokuu, Shinshi, this is getting good. I'm glad you asked, Anna.
_()_
gassho
doyu sat/lah today
I think I will use both. Doyū’ suggestion for workplace, Kokuu’s for home samu.
Gassho,
Mateus
Sat today/LAH
Really good one. Thank you for sharing, Kokuu gassho2Quote:
Originally Posted by Kokuu
Gassho,
Washin
sat/lah
Shinshi, l wrote to Muho of Antaiji, the fellow in the photo l posted yesterday, and he did say that he was dressed Rinzai style regarding both the Shukin and blue Koromo. l am not sure why Muho was dressed so, but l get the feeling that he just likes the style.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shinshi
Gassho, J
STLah
Kokuu and Shinshi, I like these variations very much and have added them to a post-it note on my laptop. I often approach my work with less of a feeling of joy and more one of mild dread, so this is a nice reminder, although I reserve the right to approach long translations of reports into out-of-specification test results with both mild dread *and* deep ennui :)
Gassho,
Libby
ST
That version is fine with me!Quote:
Approaching this task with a sense of joy
Mind and body drop away.
Each moment is an offering to all sentient beings.
A day without work is a day without sustenance.
I am sure we can come up with a gatha for that! [morehappy]Quote:
Kokuu and Shinshi, I like these variations very much and have added them to a post-it note on my laptop. I often approach my work with less of a feeling of joy and more one of mild dread, so this is a nice reminder, although I reserve the right to approach long translations of reports into out-of-specification test results with both mild dread *and* deep ennui
Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-
gassho1
Tokan (sat)
Hi Jundo,Quote:
Originally Posted by Jundo
Before Muho became the abott Antaiji he also practiced in a Rinzai monastery for a winter or so (in Saifukuji). Maybe this influenced him?
Gassho,
Daitetsu
#sat2day
This is how religions get started. 3000 years from now Zen folks will be lecturing that you must say the samu gatha exactly this way as taught by the monks of Treeleaf Zendo. And the emphasis is on the second syllable.
Gassho,
然芸 Nengei
Sat today. LAH.
You deserve to be happy.
You deserve to be loved.
ONLY 3000 years from now? I was hoping for longer. :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Nengei
Gassho, J
STLah