ATTENTION: Our Zazenkai today replaces our usual wooden Buddha statue on the Altar with Donald Trump Buddha. This is not a political statement (except as some philosophers say that all things are politics). Rather, it is a call to look beyond the politics, me vs. you, us vs. them, likes and dislikes, left vs. right, loves and hates, anger and argument that may be engendered in so many of us by politics today. In our sitting, we sit as the still and whole source of all that, found beyond yet right at the heart of all the division and chaos of the world, known when our heart is still and whole.Hello All,
Of course, when we rise from the Zazen cushion, there is time, and so much need, for politics and social action. This is not a call to be passive, uncaring or to neglect engaged action, not by any means. However, let us keep our political concerns and actions imbued with this same stillness and unity even as we get moving and act. This world of me and you, love and hate, rich and poor, borders and wars needs so much fixing. Part of that fixing requires our getting beyond this culture of me vs. you, us vs. them, anger and argument. This may be difficult for those who today see here only a symbol for values they oppose, and not beyond that, to the peace and union at the heart of all opposites.
In our Ceremony today, we recite a dedication of our hopes and aspirations:
To the healing of hatred in all countries and among all peoples
To the wisdom and compassion of our world leaders To the peace of the world and harmony of all beings.
If you believe in nurturing a heart of peace as we work together for a world of peace, please come sit with us. LET'S MAKE THE UNIVERSE GREAT AGAIN! Actually, it already is.
Please 'sit-a-long' with our weekly FRIDAY/SATURDAY 'LIVE FROM TREELEAF' 90 minute ZAZENKAI, netcast from 10am Japan time Saturday morning (that is New York 9pm, Los Angeles 6pm (Friday night), London 2am and Paris 3am (early Saturday morning)
... and to be visible on the following screen during those times and sit-a-long-able any time thereafter ...
LIVE ZAZENKAI NETCAST IS HERE:
CLICK ON THE TAB ON LOWER RIGHT FOR 'FULL SCREEN
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::
00:00 – 00:15 CEREMONY (HEART SUTRA in English) and Dedication
00:15 – 00:45 ZAZEN
00:45 – 00:55 KINHIN
00:55 – 01:25 ZAZEN
01:25 – 01:30 VERSE OF ATONEMENT & FOUR VOWS
As you can see, our Zazenkai consists of chanting the 'Heart Sutra' in English (the words are at the link below), some full floor prostrations in sets of three (please follow along with me ... or a simple Gassho can be substituted if you wish), followed by our Dedication, Zazen twice for about 30 minutes each, with 10 minutes of Kinhin in between, and we end the sitting with 'The Verse of Atonement' and 'The Four Vows'.
Please join us in the Chanting of the Heart Sutra (although please keep your microphone muted). You can 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, 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!
So, please join us as soon as you can, and we will keep a Zafu open for you.
Remember, 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) ...
The other video I mention on Zendo decorum is this one, from our "Always Beginners" video Series:
Sit-a-Long with Jundo: Zazen for Beginners (12) - Basic Zendo Decorum At Home
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...093#post189093
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Originally Posted by Doshin
