SPECIAL SUNDAY Aug 4-5th - Our MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI (No Zazenkai Fri-Sat)

THIS MONTHLY ZAZENKAI is SUNDAY NIGHT in North America (Monday morning Europe and Asia) -- Check times below. There is no Zazenkai on Friday/Saturday this time, and other Sunday Treeleaf activities may be rescheduled.

Today's Talk will be on Koans of the Book of Serenity (See Below in this Thread)

Please 'sit-a-long' with our MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI, netcast LIVE 8am to noon Japan time MONDAY morning (that is New York 7pm to 11pm, Los Angeles 4pm to 8pm (SUNDAY night), London midnight to 4am and Paris 1am to 5am (early MONDAY morning)) ... and visible at the following link during those times ...

... to be visible on the below screen during those times and any time thereafter ...

LIVE ZAZENKAI NETCAST at YOUTUBE HANGOUT IS HERE:
CLICK ON THE TAB ON LOWER RIGHT FOR 'FULL SCREEN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPH-...ature=youtu.be

Dharma Talk Audio / Podcast Episode:
TO BE POSTED IN THE COMING DAYS

FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO JOIN TO SIT LIVE WITH A CAMERA, A LINK TO JOIN WILL BE POSTED BELOW IN THIS THREAD ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE START TIME. JUST CLICK AND JOIN. WE ARE NOW LIMITED TO 10 INDIVIDUALS WITH CAMERAS, BUT ANY NUMBER CAN WATCH LIVE 'ONE WAY' AND SIT-A-LONG VIA THE ABOVE SCREEN. IF JOINING WITH CAMERA, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR MICROPHONE IS MUTED:

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

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


Our Zazenkai consists of our chanting the 'Heart Sutra' in Japanese and the 'Identity of Relative and Absolute (Sandokai)' in English (please download our Chant Book at the link below), some full floor prostrations (please follow along with me ... or a simple Gassho can be substituted if you wish), a little talk by me ... and we close with the 'Metta Chant', followed at the end with the 'Verse of Atonement' and 'The Four Vows'. Oh, and lots and lots of Zazen and walkin' Kinhin in between!

Please download and print out the Chants we will recite at the following link (PDF):

Chant Book (PDF)

or

Chant Book (SHORT VERSION HTML)

Not everyone realizes that they can join in the Chanting of the Heart Sutra, Identity of Relative & Absolute, Metta Verses, Verse of Atonement and Four Vows (although we ask that you keep your microphone down). Please follow along with the Chant Book, and let your voice ring!

I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU POSITION YOUR ZAFU ON THE FLOOR IN A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE NOT STARING DIRECTLY AT THE COMPUTER SCREEN, BUT CAN GLANCE OVER AND SEE THE SCREEN WHEN NECESSARY. YOUR ZAFU SHOULD ALSO BE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE COMPUTER SCREEN WHILE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE ZAFU FOR THE CEREMONIES, AND HAVE ROOM FOR BOWING AND KINHIN.

ALSO, REMEMBER TO SET YOUR COMPUTER (& SCREEN SAVER) SO THAT IT DOES NOT SHUT OFF DURING THE 4 HOURS.

I hope you will join us ... an open Zafu is waiting. When we drop all thought of 'here' 'there' 'now' 'then' ... we are sitting all together!


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

The other video I mention on Zendo decorum is this one, from our "Always Beginners" video Series:

[CENTER]Sit-a-Long with Jundo: Zazen for Beginners (12) - Basic Zendo Decorum At Home

https://imusic.am/al/GrmnUJij

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

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...EAF-ART-CIRCLE

Case 81 - Gensha Comes to the Province

Attention! Master Gensha arrived at Hoden Province and was received with many kinds of entertainment.
The next day he asked Venerable Shoto, "Where did all of yesterday's festivities go?"
Shoto replied by lifting a corner of his robe.
Gensha remarked, "There's no relation between them at all."

APPRECIATORY VERSE
Hiding the boat in the darkened valley.
Thrusting the pole into the clear source.
Dragons and fish don't know yet that water makes their lives.

Master Dogen wrote in the Genjo Koan "Firewood becomes ash; it can never go back to being firewood. Nevertheless, we should not take the view that ash is its future and firewood is its past. We should recognize that firewood occupies its place in the Universe as firewood, and it has its past moment and its future moment. ... Ash exists in its place in the Universe as ash, and it has its past moment and its future moment."

and

"When fish swim in water, though they keep swimming, there is no end to the water. When birds fly in the sky, though they keep flying, there is no end to the sky."

CASE 82: UMMON’S SOUNDS AND SHAPES

PREFACE TO THE ASSEMBLY
When sounds and colors are not let go,
This state is known as “being conditioned by the environment.”
If you are seeking by sound and seeing by shape,
You will never experience the Buddha of this very moment.
Aren't you pursuing a way to return home?

MAIN CASE
Attention! Master Ummon addressed the assembly, saying,
"Hearing a sound, realize the Way.
Seeing a shape, enlighten the mind.
The Goddess of Compassionate Wisdom bought a common farm rice-cake.
But, released from her hands, it transforms into a sumptuous bean-jam cake."

Master Dogen wrote in the Genjo Koan "To carry the self forward and illuminate myriad things is delusion. That myriad things come forth and illuminate the self is awakening. "

CASE 83: DOGO'S NURSlNG

Attention! Isan asked Dogo, "Where have you been?"
Dogo said, "I've been nursing."
Isan said, "How many people were sick?"
Dogo replied, "Some are sick, some are not."
Isan pursued, "Isn't it you who's not sick?"
Dogo responded, "Sickness and non-sickness have nothing at all to do with it. Speak quickly! Speak quickly!"
Isan remarked, "Even being able to say it misses entirely."

APPRECIATORY VERSE

... Seeming to exist, he's not anything.
Being utterly empty, he's not something.
Un-extinguished, he's born; un-destroyed, he lives eternally.
He even goes utterly before the ancient Buddhas and walks alone among the empty kalpas.
Being quiet-heaven covers, earth supports.

Master Dogen wrote in Genjo Koan "there is life and death ... there is no life and no death ... there is life and death ... Though all this may be true, flowers fall even if we love them, and weeds grow even if we hate them, and that is all."

CASE 84: GUTEI'S ONE FINGER

Attention! Great Zen Master Gutei, whenever he was questioned, simply raised one finger.

Master Dogen wrote in the Genjo Koan "in the practice-enlightenment of the buddha way, to attain one thing is to penetrate one thing; to meet one practice is to sustain one practice."

CASE 85: THE NATIONAL TEACHER'S SEAMLESS TOMB

Attention! Emperor Shikuso asked National Teacher Chu, "One hundred years after you die, what would you wish?"
The National Teacher said, "Build me a seamless tomb."
The Emperor replied, "I beg you, what style of tomb would that be?"
The National Teacher remained silent for a while, and then asked, "Do you understand?"
The Emperor said, "I don't understand."
The National Teacher said, "I have a Dharma disciple by the name of Tangen, who knows all about it."
Later on, the Emperor requested the meaning of it from Tangen, who replied:
“From the southern border to the northern border,
Yellow gold within fills the whole country.
A ferry boat under the shadowless tree.
In the crystal palace, there is no one who knows.”

APPRECIATORY VERSE
Alone boundlessly, boundlessly.
Whole perfectly, perfectly.
... The Eight Principles correctly positioned,
The five elements' energy harmonized.
The body from the first is within.
Do you see?

Master Dogen wrote in the Genjo Koan "Because the nature of air is to be ever-present, the behavior of Buddhists makes the Earth manifest itself as gold."

I will be there one way for part of the Zazenkai.

As always, much gratitude for providing us a place to be.

Doshin
St

As most of you know, we perform the "Hokey Pokey" midway during our Zazenkai. "Hokey Pokey" (a Sanskrit term, "Hokey Cokey" in Pali) is an ancient esoteric Buddhist ritual that we undertake during our Zazen sittings to shake the kinks out (and not take things too overly seriousely). This month's is the version chanted by the famous Little Lama Richard, seen here being performed by a Tibetan Shaman in deep trance. I hope that those joining our Zazen sitting will be prepared to "Hokey Pokey" along with us. gassho1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySABZ2cbmjY

Gassho, J

STLah

Hi Jundo,

I'll try to be there 2 ways. Thank you.

Gassho,

Kyonin
Sat/LAH

Thank you Jundo, I will be there live two way. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

Planning to be present. Gratitude. _()_ _()_ _()_

gassho
doyu sat today

Looking forward to sitting and dancing this one way with all of you! [emoji120][emoji120][emoji120]

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I'll be time shifting - see you all soon!

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

Thank you Jundo, I expect to be there two-way if possible

gassho, Shokai
stlah

Thank you Jundo.

I will sit on one way or two way.

In Japan Monday morning,so I start working at 9AM.

Gassho
Sat today LAH
Kakunen

I will also be there one-way. Thank you!


Gassho.
Krissy
sat/lah today


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

gassho2
Kim
St lh

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

ATTENTION: YOUTUBE HANGOUTS IS NO MORE!

However, FEAR NOT ... we have been preparing a new system on ZOOM for our netcasts and will be ready to go!

Information coming! Keep your eyes here! :encouragement:

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

Thank you Jundo,
I'll be there live one-way for most of todays Zazenkai.

_()_
sosen
stlah

UPDATE on our UPDATE ...

I have just heard from our technical team (thank you Shokai, Shinshi, Sekishi and Shingen!) and we are ready to go today ... and can now fit UP TO 100 people in our two-way Zendo AT ONCE! (Plus all the one-way folks too). [scared] WOW!

We tested the system last night ... works and sounds great, I think.

We will have a screen posted above, and links to join posted in this thread, about 20 minutes before start time.

ALL SYSTEMS GO!

Gassho, J

STLah

Thank you, Jundo (and Shokai, Shinshi, Sekishi, and Shingen!)

I was planning to sit one way, but we just discovered that one of our family cars was stolen so I will have to sit with the video later when I can, (although i do need to sit for a little now to calm down)

i wish you all wonderful things!

[gassholook]
Gassho
krissy
st/lah

Hey folks,

Ok, here is the two link for the zazenkai: https://zoom.us/j/8166671365

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

Guests:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...1efcb93815.jpg

Mama, buck, two spotted little ones.

Gassho,
Sekishi
#sat


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sekishi

Guests:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...1efcb93815.jpg

Mama, buck, two spotted little ones.

Gassho,
Sekishi
#sat


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

---

Are they part of the Facebook group?

:)

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

Here live one-way. Looking forward to experiencing the new system.

Gassho,
Wuyi
Sat/LAH

Thank you, Jundo and the technical team. I got the dialogue box, but the program hung in "Launching..." I will try one-way.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Onkai

Thank you, Jundo and the technical team. I got the dialogue box, but the program hung in "Launching..." I will try one-way.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat

---

It might take a minute to download the software once you click on the link- it is a one time download.

The youtube seems to be working fine.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

Here is the youtube link for one way. Same as above.

https://youtu.be/415C1HUaV68

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

I have audio without video on YouTube. Not sure if that's me, maybe.

Edit - it resolved. [emoji106]

I need to do one-way, kids and pets, noisy home as usual.

Gassho

Kim
St lh

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by allwhowander

I have audio without video on YouTube. Not sure if that's me, maybe.

Edit - it resolved. [emoji106]

I need to do one-way, kids and pets, noisy home as usual.

Gassho

Kim
St lh

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

---

Kim,

You're welcome to do two-way, the audience is muted so noisy background doessnt matter.

Gassho,

Shoka
st

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Joined via my phone while traveling. Even figured out zoom after a while. Hope my coming and going as I sorted it out on my phone was not a distraction.

Thank you

Doshin
St

Well folks, that was awesome and a great success. Thank you to my fellow priests and to you all for being here. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

Thank you all who sat or will sit, Jundo for the talk, Sekishi for the stellar 4 hour Ino performance. Have a great week. see you on Zoom!

gassho, Shokai

stlah

Thank you everyone.
It was a nice Zazenkai even if I sat only part of it.
Zoom is awesome!

Gassho,
Washin
sattoday

Deep bows, thank you to everyone who made it all happen! [emoji120][emoji120][emoji120]
That was an awesome Hokey Pokey [emoji1]

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thank you, Jundo and Shinshi, Shingen, Sekishi, Shokai, and everyone who participated. I joined one-way, and the reception was very clear. Have a great week!

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat

Thank you all for coming together to practice.

Deep gratitude to you all.

Gassho,
Sekishi
#sat #zooom!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I find Zoom preferable and it worked well for the nine-year-old laptop camera; thank you everyone and especially for the very heartfelt metta chant. _()_

I found the gallery option useful; It might help Jundo see the rest of us better, though I suppose it would have to be on a separate screen from the one doing Youtube? And: hoping we'll move Treeleaf Now to Zoom? It seems to run fine on older phones and tablets, and for some that would be a feature.

gassho
doyu sat lah today and did the hokey pokey

Thank you to everyone who sat and will sit.

Gassho,

Shoka
Sattoday

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Hi all,

Sat with you one way last night, but only for the second half. Will sit the full zazenkai tomorrow.

Gassho,

Kyonin
Sat/LAH

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shoka

Kim,

You're welcome to do two-way, the audience is muted so noisy background doessnt matter.

Gassho,

Shoka
st

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

---

Thank you, Shoka. Maybe I'll try that next time. Didn't see your response until late, but was too tired to answer then.

Gassho
Kim
St lh

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

Thank you everyone!
The video and sound quality seems to have improved...

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

Agree with Kotei, crystal clear and great audio. Guess this will also impact Now at some stage in the future but we still seem to be ticking along in the FSR for now. Thanks peeps. [monk]

Sat / Lah

Wonderful! Thank you!

And many thanks for the Zoom team for getting it all up and running in time.

Gassho
Kokuu

I was finally able to sit this today. It was challenging for me.

Thank you so much everyone!

Gassho
Krissy
Sat today

Hi All,
Summer hols being now officially over and kids back at school I was finally able to sit with you all today-good times!
Jundo, I hope the roly-poly bug made it. Could you maybe perhaps say what kind of birds were chirping away in the background from time to time? They were joined here on a grey and windy morning by a chorus of crows, pigeons, a robin, a red kite and also some choppers from the base. Yup, we have one of those too...
Thanks to all,
Gassho
mark
I sat today...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pinecone

Hi All,
Summer hols being now officially over and kids back at school I was finally able to sit with you all today-good times!
Jundo, I hope the roly-poly bug made it. Could you maybe perhaps say what kind of birds were chirping away in the background from time to time? They were joined here on a grey and windy morning by a chorus of crows, pigeons, a robin, a red kite and also some choppers from the base. Yup, we have one of those too...
Thanks to all,
Gassho
mark
I sat today...

---

Oh, l should be more of a birder than l am. Your trained ear might spot those bird calls. The following are found in our area, Can you identify any of the call?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIAKQSJPTh4

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0TyFsD3Lqo

Gassho, J

STLah

sparrows in falling snow,
warm yourselves
on my melting heart

Gassho,
m
ST/LAH

Beautiful haiku Mark. Thank you Jundo, it's nice to put "faces" to the sounds outside the Zendo during Zazenkai! I can remember how thrilled I was the first time I joined, hearing the sounds of birdsong on the other side of the world, singing "tomorrow morning."

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH