January 1st Recommended Threads

[Jundo]

I encourage looking at these threads, topics and posts today ...

To ring in the New Year ... please sit our January 1st-2nd, 2016 - MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI! ... sitable any time thereafter too ...
http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...HE-NEW-YEAR%21

We will begin reading Uchiyama Roshi's "Opening the Hand of Thought" in our book club ... look here for a little more information ...
http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...l=1#post169966

From our Anniversary Committee ... 2016 is Treeleaf’s 10th Anniversary! Let’s start celebrating with favorite teachings. ...
http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...rite-teachings

A good thread on getting pushed around, non-violence and when to speak up ... How to be a Buddhist and not be taken advantage of. ...
http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...n-advantage-of

Note to self ... What does "self" mean in Buddhism ... the borders soften and drop away ...
http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...l=1#post169676

Some feelings from Shoka about ... Sangha - the Buddha and the Dharma come alive right now, right here ...
http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...now-right-here

Yugen offers some ... Thoughts about practice and the teacher/student relationship
http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...t-relationship

Teaching by Kokuu on Practice with illness ... Light and dark ...
http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...Light-and-dark

AND A reMINDer that Jukai Ceremony will be next weekend.



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.

(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 THE PREVIOUS DAY BEFORE POSTING IN THE FORUM (please read about that here):

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...ore-Forum-Chat

Gassho, Jundo

[Tai Shi]

I am ready to begin my new life, Jundo and ALL the priest. I went to the (non profit) hospital that saved my life twice--this touches me to tears. I gave them my contribution, and did you know that I volunteered there about two years after coming close to death. I was there at age 60, and at age 61 that I learned to say "Please" and "Thank you." It was there that I became humble, and it was there that into my old age, without a teaching job, that I began to grow up. I volunteered until the arthritis took it from me. I dedicated my gift to the name of Dr. Donald Baum, a man who treated me as an equal, a man I fully respect. Fugen, Thank You for pointing out that it is in almost dying that I found life, and my commitment to a Buddhist path. I am ready for Jukai.

Elgwyn

sat today, Gassho, deep bows.