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

Please sit our monthly 4-Hour Zazenkai ... featuring a talk on Koans of the Book of Serenity ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ur-ZAZENKAI%21

We have begun a new book ... What Is Zen? ... in our "Beyond Words & Letters Treeleaf Bookclub ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...EAF-ART-CIRCLE

As part of that discussion, Troy and some of our other folks have offered wonderful impressions of "what is Zen" for them ... lovely ... really nice ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...l=1#post225913

We also had an amazing, beautiful and wise post from Melanie on practicing with illness ... some of the wisest words ever said around this Sangha ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...l=1#post225836

My advice to beginners to "fake it until non-make it" ... Shikantaza as NON-Method NON-Acting
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...hod-NON-Acting

A Shikantaza question from Ben ... how to do it without doing it ... good advice from Shingen too ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ntaza-question

For Uchiyama Roshi fans ... Book Recommendation: Kosho Uchiyama's Deepest Practice, Deepest Wisdom ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...Deepest-Wisdom

Some recommended Podcasts ... rather tilting to Soto Zen, of course ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...16327-Podcasts

Be aware of our Oryoki group, if you are interested in learning the powerful practice of eating ... contact Shugen ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...l=1#post225759



Reminder ... Especially for newer folks ... FEELING LOST AROUND THE COMMUNITY? Contact our "Sangha Buddhies" ... friends to help people find their way around ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...angha-Buddhies




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