April 12th Recommended Threads
I encourage looking at these threads, topics and posts today ...
Never too late to celebrate the Buddha's Birthday ... which is now and now and now and ... Hana Matsuri - Celebrating Buddha's Birthday (April 8th in Japan) ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...th-in-Japan%29
One good way is here ... Our April 9-10th Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - CELEBRATING BUDDHA'S BIRTHDAY! ... and Shokai's Birthday too ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...29-BIRTHDAY%21
As well, don't miss Our APRIL MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI ... with a talk continuing our dance with the Heart Sutra ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...AND-CLOTHES%21
By the way (while it was only an April Fools prank :p) ... well, it is also never too late to join Our April 1st "All Naked" Zazenkai - For the Nudist Buddhist ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...udist-Buddhist
"We" think this is a nice thread for everyone ... even though "We" really disagree with some of it [gassholook] ... Editing Spiritual Teachers for Grammatical Honesty ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...atical-Honesty
"We" split of part of the discussion here ... Split Thread: Is a Buddha Beyond All Breaking Points? No ... but YES! ... e.g., if Dr. No tried to split Buddha with a laser beam like he did James Bond? ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-No-but-YES%21
I (We) really hope that you will read this thread ... Is there hope in Zen? ... FOR SURE! ... But also some special ways of "hoping" ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...re-hope-in-Zen
Let's all be be grateful and Grateful for this thread too ... Paradoxical Gratitude ... even for the stuff we are not usually grateful for ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ical-Gratitude
Tom found a nice essay on ... The Three Minds of Zen ... kinda connects with the above ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...e-Minds-of-Zen
Some good advice from Shingen on Dukkha ... Dealing with Dukkha ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ng-with-Dukkha
A nice quote found by John on Bowing to Buddha ... for those who have trouble processing all the bowing we do ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...wing-to-Buddha
Looking for some practical advice on escaping Facebook Hell ... Stuck in social media samsara ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-media-samsara
Let's say "see ya soon" to our Japanese monk member Kakunen ... off to the silence of the monastery for awhile ... Practice at Tosho-ji monastery ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...o-ji-monastery
Some folks, purely voluntary, are chipping in a bit for his rice and robes ... Dana (Donation) for Kakunen at Toshoji Monastery 2021 ... even as we all seek "Liberation" from paypal service fees in doing so [indifferent] ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...l=1#post284095
A wonderful Soto Zen book ... a bit under the radar ... Book Review: Zen Teachings in Challenging Times (A Book that Deserves Wider Notice!) ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...r-Notice%21%29
An informal reading group is getting started ... Informal Reading Group: REALIZING GENJOKOAN 2021 Edition WEEK 1, 11-17 April ... a Soto Zen modern classic ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-1-11-17-April
And our Chanters keep Chanting ... Chanting & Zazen Circle ... the Wordless in many languages! ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...g-Zazen-Circle
In our Wordless Book Club ... Zen Women ... (but all genders and identities welcome too ) ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...TERS-BOOK-CLUB
Never too late to fix what cannot be broken ... 'The ZEN of EVERYTHING! Podcast' ... Episode 48 ... Fixing ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...sode-48-Fixing
Shokai completed another cycle, yet it goes round and round ... The 108 GATES of DHARMA ILLUMINATION with Shokai
...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...ON-with-Shokai
And DON'T FORGET! ... the experiment continues, and we need you! ... A TREELEAF EXPERIMENT with EVERYONE’S PARTICIPATION REQUESTED: “LAH” (Lend A Hand)
http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...Lend-A-Hand%29
I am so glad if this place and the practice are benefiting you. If so, you might consider a DONATION to Treeleaf at this LINK, although there is absolutely no need or requirement to do so. Thank you.
A Re-MINDer on SIMPLICITY:
In a Zen Monastery, SILENCE or A FEW WISE WORDS are cherished over MANY WORDS. Thus, I advise folks to restrain the need to speak unless the heart truly calls. If you find yourself posting many times each day, maybe consider what truly needs to be said ... and when it is best just to answer with silence and an inner Gassho.
SILENCE OR A FEW HESITANT WORDS OF FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT OFTEN SPEAK MOST PROFOUNDLY. Post when it is truly important to you and needs to be spoken from the warm heart.
(BUT too much silence or shyness can also be excessive ... so take the Middle Way!)
Also, to those who may get lost among the many threads and conversations in our Forum, please think of a monastery made of wood or brick, with 100 monks holding 10,000 conversations in the hallways, kitchen, Abbot's rooms and library (I assume no chatting in the Zendo where people sit Zazen).
Would you need or want to hear or join in all or most conversations? Of course not! You would, at best, pick and choose the conversations relevant and helpful to you.
So here too in our Sangha, NO NEED TO READ EVERY CONVERSATION: Try to note the ones that seem helpful to your Practice or interests, leave the rest. The above threads are a few suggestions.
Oh, and we do ask folks to note that they have SAT ZAZEN DURING THE LAST DAY BEFORE POSTING IN THE FORUM (please read about that here):
http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...ore-Forum-Chat
Gassho, Jundo
SatTodayLAH
