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Thread: TREELEAF SANGHA online 2-DAY ANGO-JUKAI-ROHATSU RETREAT -- 2019 -- MAIN PAGE

  1. #1

    TREELEAF SANGHA online 2-DAY ANGO-JUKAI-ROHATSU RETREAT -- 2019 -- MAIN PAGE



    WELCOME ...

    ... to our TREELEAF 'ALWAYS AT HOME' Two Day 'ALL ONLINE' ROHATSU (Buddha's Enlightenment Day) RETREAT, being held by LIVE NETCAST on Saturday/Sunday December 7th and 8th, 2019.

    Please 'sit-a-long' with the LIVE NETCAST at the times below ... to be visible "live" on the screens below during those hours.

    HOWEVER, you may still join the Retreat and sit-a-long at ANY AND ALL TIME after, by the real time recorded version at the links below (no different from the original!).

    The full sitting schedule is below, and you may download our CHANT BOOK HERE(LINK to PDF). Our Chant Book now includes recitals, not only of the traditional list of Zen Ancestors, but also of our Female Ancestors and 'Differently Enabled' Ancestors, as well as all the many diverse Ancestors known and unknown.


    Before sitting, please review the various RETREAT POINTERS HERE(LINK to PDF).

    Some PREPARATORY LESSONS on topics such as Oryoki, Bowing and other daily procedures are also posted: LINK TO PREPARATORY LESSONS.


    Recordings of each segment are posted below in time order ... and if we drop from mind all thought of 'now' 'then' 'here' and 'there' ... we will all be sitting together right when and where you are!

    This Retreat celebrates the 'official' closure of our ANGO (90 day Special Practice Season) at Treeleaf, is a part of current preparations for our JUKAI (Undertaking the Precepts) Ceremony in January, and marks ROHATSU ... the traditional holiday in Japan celebrating the time of the Buddha's Enlightenment.

    I, (Jundo) will be guiding the sittings on Saturday and Sunday from Japan, and our Treeleaf Priests including Kyonin (from Mexico), Shingen and Shokai (from Canada), Kokuu (in the UK), Shugen, Sekishi, Byokan, Jakuden, Shoka. Geika and Shinshi (from the USA), and Washin (in Ukraine) with be leading other portions. Because of time zones and other circumstance, one or two portions have been pre-recorded. All other portions will be live.

    In case of technical problems, please just go along as best you can with the schedule ... we sit with "what is".. .

    OF COURSE, EVERYTHING IN MODERATION ... if the sitting ever feels too much, be sure to walk lots and lots of Kinhin (even if during a sitting period). And if the whole retreat becomes too much, or you feel ill, you may slow down ... , spread things out, shorten the sittings ... or STOP! Be sure that you have someone close by whom you can call, or who can check on you from time to time. If there is any question about health, do not take any chances!

    Our thanks to Sangha Member William Anderson for presenting a 15-Minute YOGA LESSON TO HELP US STRETCH DURING ANY BREAK TIME (LINK HERE)

    Please write and let us know how it goes. Gassho, Jundo

    Our Han (Wooden Block), which hangs outside the front door of our Treeleaf Zendo in Tsukuba, Japan:




    It calls all sitters to Zazen. Inscribed is the traditional verse ...

    "Life and death are the great matter.
    To waste time is a pity.
    All is impermanent and passes swiftly away.
    Time waits for no one."


    _____________________________________________

    How to Join Two-Way with Zoom

    Except for the pre-recorded units, you can join two-way in the Scheduled Sitting Room using Zoom any one of the following ways:

    - Use this direct link: https://zoom.us/j/4834831244
    - Open Zoom and join with this meeting id: 483 483 1244
    - Go to Treeleaf NOW and select the Scheduled Sitting Room:
    -- treeleaf.org/ssr
    -- OR https://www.treeleaf.org/now/go.php?l=ssr

    Notes:

    - The full schedule of the retreat is on the Treeleaf NOW calendar (which will automagically adjust timezones): https://www.treeleaf.org/now/#calendar

    - When you first join, you'll need to choose an audio source (usually you can simply select "Join with Computer Audio" on desktop or "Call using Internet Audio" on mobile).

    - You can switch between the "speaker view" (the default view) and "gallery view" (a grid / Hollywood Squares / Brady Bunch style view):
    -- On desktop, click the "gallery view" / "speaker view" toggle button on the top right
    -- On mobile, swipe right for "gallery views" -- only 4 participants are shown at a time on mobile, so keep swiping right to go through different groups, swipe left to go back to the "gallery view"

    - You can mute, unmute, etc. with the control bar on the bottom of the screen
    -- On desktop, hover the mouse over the window and the control bar should pop up
    -- On mobile, tap the screen and the control bar should pop up
    -- On mobile, so that your own picture does not take up one of the four slots you see, you can tap for the control bar, then tap "... menu" and select "Remove myself from gallery view"

    - If you are on a slow Internet connection and are experiencing drop-outs, try turning off video (you can always turn it on for a bit at the beginning and end to say hi and bow to everyone)

    _____________________________________________

    DAY 1 UNIT 1
    (Live Netcast: Start = SATURDAY LA 6am / NY 9am / London 2pm / Japan 11pm)
    (ALL TIMES APPROXIMATE, Calculated from LA TIME)


    DAY 1
    06:00-06:40 AM Entrance by Officiant (Jundo) & Zazen. If you usually wear a Rakusu, DO NOT wear it yet (keep it in its bag) until Takkesage (Kesa Verse) later in morning.
    06:40-06:50 Kinhin *(All Kinhin times can be bathroom break)
    06:50-07:20 Zazen
    07:20-07:30 Kinhin

    07:30-08:05 Zazen + Kesa Verse
    08:05-08:50 "Long" Service.Please follow along in the Sutra Books that will be provided. Floor prostrations when hear ching-ching-ching-ching- ching roll of bell.
    08:50-09:20 REST PERIOD


    RECORDING OF ABOVE IS HERE:
    Unit 1-1

    Ceremony and Sitting begins -5- minutes from start of video.



    _____________________________________________

    DAY 1 UNIT 2
    (Live Netcast: Start = SATURDAY LA 9:20am / NY 12:20pm / London 5:20pm / Japan Sun 2:20am)


    09:20-09:50 Oryoki Bring you bowls and small table before start.
    09:50-10:30 Samu/Rest Period Mindfully wash and repack Oryoki bowls.


    RECORDING OF ABOVE IS HERE:
    Unit 1-2 Oryoki

    Ceremony begins -8- minutes from start of video.





    ___________________________________________

    DAY 1 UNIT 3
    (Live Netcast: Start = SATURDAY LA 10:30am / NY 1:30pm / London 6:30pm / Sun Japan 3:30am)



    10:30-11:10 Zazen
    11:10-11:20 Kinhin
    11:20-12:00 Zazen & Dharma Talk Chant Gatha on Opening Sutra

    12:00-12:10 Kinhin
    12:10-12:45 Zazen
    12:45-13:10 REST PERIOD


    RECORDING OF THE ABOVE IS HERE:
    Unit 1-3

    Sitting begins -7- minutes from start of video.





    _____________________________________________


    DAY 1 UNIT 4
    (Live Netcast: Start = SATURDAY LA 1:10pm / NY 4:10pm / London 9:10pm / Sun Japan 6:10am)


    13:10-13:40 Samu Work Practice Indoor if night time, Outdoor if daytime and possible
    13:40-14:10 REST PERIOD


    RECORDING OF THE ABOVE IS HERE
    Unit 1-4 Samu

    Ceremony begins -3- minute from start of video.





    ____________________________________________

    DAY 1 UNIT 5
    (Live Netcast: Start = SATURDAY LA 2:10pm / NY 5:10pm / London 10:10pm / Sun Japan 7:10am)



    14:10-14:40 Zazen
    14:40-14:50 Kinhin
    14:50-15:30 Zazen & Dharma Talk

    15:30-15:40 Kinhin
    15:40-16:10 Zazen
    16:10-16:40 REST PERIOD


    RECORDING OF THE ABOVE IS HERE:
    Unit 1-5

    Sitting begins -1- minute from start of video.



    ____________________________________________

    DAY 1 UNIT 6
    (Live Netcast: Start = SATURDAY LA 4:40pm / NY 7:40pm / London SUNDAY 12:40am / Sun Japan 9:40am)


    16:40-17:10 Samu Work Practice Indoor if night time, Outdoor if daytime and possible
    17:10-17:40 REST PERIOD


    RECORDING OF THE ABOVE IS HERE:
    Unit 1-6 Samu

    Ceremony begins from start of video.



    ____________________________________________

    DAY 1 UNIT 7 (THIS UNIT MAY BE DONE RECLINING IF SO DESIRED)
    (Live Netcast: Start = SATURDAY LA 5:40pm / NY 8:40pm / SUNDAY London 1:40am / Sun Japan 10:40am)


    17:40-18:20 "Short" Service & Zazen Please follow along in the Sutra Books that will be provided. Floor prostrations when here ching-ching-ching-ching- ching roll of bell.
    18:20-18:30 Kinhin

    18:30-19:00 Zazen & Dharma Talk
    19:00-19:10 Kinhin
    19:10-19:40 Metta Chant & Zazen Close with Verse of Atonement & Four Vows


    RECORDING OF THE ABOVE IS HERE:
    Unit-1-7

    Ceremony and Sitting begins -7- minutes from start of video.




    ______________________________________________


    DAY 1 UNIT 8
    ( No Live Netcast from SATURDAY LA 7:40pm / NY 10:40pm / SUNDAY London 3:40am / Sun Japan 12:40am)
    PLEASE CATCH UP WITH MISSED OVERNIGHT UNITS!


    (Optional: Yaza = Tradition of 'All Night Zazen' ... but we recommend you sleep instead.
    See you in the morning)


    19:40 PM-
    (Day 2)
    05:45 AM
    BATH & SLEEP

    NO RECORDING OF ABOVE

    However, this may be a good time for the 15-Minute YOGA LESSON TO HELP US STRETCH (LINK HERE) presented by our Sangha Member William.


    ____________________________________________

    ____________________________________________


    DAY 2 UNIT 1
    (Live Netcast: Start = SUNDAY LA 6:00am / NY 9:00am / London 2:00pm / Japan 11:00pm)
    (ALL TIMES APPROXIMATE, Calculated from LA TIME)


    06:00-06:30 AM Zazen Begin sitting without instruction. If you usually wear a Rakusu, DO NOT wear it yet (keep it in its bag) until Takkesage (Kesa Verse) later in morning.
    06:30-06:40 Kinhin
    06:40-07:10 Zazen
    07:10-07:20 Kinhin

    07:20-07:55 Zazen + Kesa Verse When instructed, place on Kesa and recite Kesa Verse. All others, hands in Gassho.
    07:55-08:30 "Long" Service Please follow along in the Sutra Books that will be provided. Floor prostrations when hear ching-ching-ching-ching- ching roll of bell.
    08:30-09:00 REST PERIOD


    RECORDING OF THE ABOVE IS HERE:
    Unit 2-1

    Ceremony and Sitting begins 7 minutes from start of video.



    _____________________________________________

    DAY 2 UNIT 2
    (Live Netcast:Start = SUNDAY LA 9:00am / NY NOON / London 5:00pm / Japan Mon 2:00am)


    09:00-09:30 Oryoki Bring you bowls and small table before start.
    09:30-10:10 Samu/Rest Period Mindfully wash and repack Oryoki bowls.


    RECORDING OF THE ABOVE IS HERE:
    Unit 2-2 Oryoki

    Ceremony begins 3 minutes from start of video.



    _____________________________________________

    DAY 2 UNIT 3
    (Live Netcast: Start = SUNDAY LA 10:10am / NY 1:10pm / London 6:10pm / Japan Mon 3:10am)


    10:10-10:40 Zazen & Dharma Talk
    10:40-10:50 Kinhin
    10:50-11:20 Zazen
    11:20-11:50 REST PERIOD


    RECORDING OF THE ABOVE IS HERE:
    Unit 2-3

    Sitting begins -3- minutes from start of video.



    _____________________________________________

    DAY 2 UNIT 4
    (Live Netcast:Start = SUNDAY LA 11:50am / NY 2:50pm / London 7:50pm / Japan Mon 4:50am)


    11:50-12:20 Samu Work Practice Indoor if night time, Outdoor if daytime and possible
    12:20-12:50 REST PERIOD


    RECORDING OF THE ABOVE IS HERE:
    Unit 2-4 Samu

    Ceremony begins -2- minutes from start of video.



    ____________________________________________

    DAY 2 UNIT 5
    (Live Netcast: Start = SUNDAY LA 12:50pm / NY 3:50pm / London 8:50pm / Japan Mon 5:50am)


    12:50-13:20 Zazen
    13:20-13:30 Kinhin
    13:30-14:00 Zazen & Dharma Talk Chant Gatha on Closing Sutra

    14:00-14:10 Kinhin
    14:10-14:40 Zazen
    14:40-15:10 REST PERIOD



    RECORDING OF THE ABOVE IS HERE:
    Unit 2-5

    Sitting begins -5- minutes from start of video.



    _____________________________________________

    DAY 2 UNIT 6 - CLOSING
    (Live Netcast: Start = SUNDAY LA 3:10pm / NY 6:10pm / London 11:10pm / Japan Mon 8:10am)


    15:10-15:50 "Short" Service & Zazen Please follow along in the Sutra Books that will be provided. Floor prostrations when here ching-ching-ching-ching- ching roll of bell.
    15:50-16:00 Kinhin

    16:00-16:25 Fukanzazengi & Zazen
    16:25-16:30 Verse of Atonement & Four Vows ... Closing Words ...

    RECORDING OF THE ABOVE IS HERE:
    Unit 2-6

    Ceremony and Sitting begins -4- minutes from start of video.








    Nine Bows to All Who Sat This Retreat Together ...






    Last edited by Jundo; 09-04-2021 at 03:41 AM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  2. #2
    TALKS during our ROHATSU RETREAT:


    Our Priests will offer Dharma Talks during this Retreat on the SONG OF THE GRASS ROOF HERMITAGE by our Great Ancestor, Shitou Xiqian (700–790) (Sekitō Kisen Zenji).


    1.
    I've built a grass hut where there's nothing of value.
    After eating, I relax and enjoy a nap.
    When it was completed, fresh weeds appeared.
    Now it's been lived in - covered by weeds.

    The person in the hut lives here calmly,
    Not stuck to inside, outside, or in between.
    Places worldly people live, he doesn't live.
    Realms worldly people love, he doesn't love.

    2.
    Though the hut is small, it includes the entire world.
    In ten square feet, an old man illumines forms and their nature.
    A Great Vehicle bodhisattva trusts without doubt.
    The middling or lowly can't help wondering;
    Will this hut perish or not?

    3.
    Perishable or not, the original master is present,
    not dwelling south or north, east or west.
    Firmly based on steadiness, it can't be surpassed.
    A shining window below the green pines --
    Jade palaces or vermilion towers can't compare with it.

    4.
    Just sitting with head covered, all things are at rest.
    Thus, this mountain monk doesn't understand at all.
    Living here he no longer works to get free.
    Who would proudly arrange seats, trying to entice guests?

    Turn around the light to shine within, then just return.
    The vast inconceivable source can't be faced or turned away from.
    Meet the ancestral teachers, be familiar with their instruction,
    Bind grasses to build a hut, and don't give up.

    5.
    Let go of hundreds of years and relax completely.
    Open your hands and walk, innocent.
    Thousands of words, myriad interpretations,
    Are only to free you from obstructions.
    If you want to know the undying person in the hut,
    Don't separate from this skin bag here and now.


    Talks will be offered by Sekishi, Byokan, Jakuden, Kokuu and Shoka.

    Gassho, J
    STLah
    Last edited by Jundo; 11-30-2019 at 09:02 AM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  3. #3
    Dear All,

    Our annual Rohatsu Retreat Hall is now open ...

    Welcome to all.

    Last edited by Jundo; 12-07-2019 at 12:22 AM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  4. #4
    Treeleaf Priest / Engineer Sekishi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Virginia, USA
    w00t! Lets do this!

    Sekishi | 石志 | He/him | Better with a grain of salt, but best ignored entirely.

  5. #5
    See you all there!

    Gassho
    Byokan
    sat + lah
    展道 渺寛 Tendō Byōkan
    Please take my words with a big grain of salt. I know nothing. Wisdom is only found in our whole-hearted practice together.

  6. #6
    Heading out to the hut now with meals and a change of clothes.

    _()_

    gassho
    doyu sat today
    Last edited by Shōnin Risa Bear; 12-07-2019 at 01:39 AM. Reason: gassho doyu DID sit today
    Visiting unsui: use salt

  7. #7


    Doshin
    St

  8. #8
    Treeleaf Priest / Engineer Sekishi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Virginia, USA
    Hi everyone,

    Most of the forum has now been taken offline. E.g. threads outside of the following two subs cannot be viewed, posted to, etc.:

    - WEEKLY FRIDAY/SATURDAY ZAZENKAI NETCASTS (and other Sittings too!)
    - TECHNICAL FAQ

    This will persist until Sunday night.

    Deep bows to all who will sit this Rohatsu.

    Sekishi #sat
    Sekishi | 石志 | He/him | Better with a grain of salt, but best ignored entirely.

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Sekishi View Post
    Hi everyone,

    Most of the forum has now been taken offline. E.g. threads outside of the following two subs cannot be viewed, posted to, etc.:

    - WEEKLY FRIDAY/SATURDAY ZAZENKAI NETCASTS (and other Sittings too!)
    - TECHNICAL FAQ

    This will persist until Sunday night.

    Deep bows to all who will sit this Rohatsu.

    Sekishi #sat
    Hey Sekishi,

    I just want to confirm, Rohatsu starts Japan time tonight @ 11:00 p.m.???

    Thanks in advance,

    Gassho,

    Brad

    SatToday

  10. #10
    Treeleaf Priest / Engineer Sekishi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Virginia, USA
    Quote Originally Posted by BradR89 View Post
    I just want to confirm, Rohatsu starts Japan time tonight @ 11:00 p.m.???
    Hi Brad,

    Yes, the opening will start at 11pm Saturday night Japan time.

    For everyone, we are trying and experiment and put all the sections / units up in the calendar which should allow you to easily view them in your local time: https://www.treeleaf.org/now/#calendar

    But it IS an experiment, so when in doubt, what is posted here in the forum is the main schedule.

    Gassho,
    Sekishi #sat


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    Sekishi | 石志 | He/him | Better with a grain of salt, but best ignored entirely.

  11. #11
    That calendar works great, thanks!

    I will be parenting /householding but will try and join if I can find a quiet period and should be able to make the closing at least.

    Gassho,

    Neil
    StLah

    Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk

  12. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by EnlistedHipster View Post
    That calendar works great, thanks!

    I will be parenting /householding but will try and join if I can find a quiet period and should be able to make the closing at least.

    Gassho,

    Neil
    StLah

    Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk
    I'm with you on this. Will sit when I can, plenty of Samu over the next two days though. Gassho.

    Sat today,
    Adam

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

  13. #13
    Just a reminder: for the last unit tonight, after Geika's Samu, (Day 1 Unit 7) ANYONE WHO WISHES IS WELCOME TO RECLINE.

    Gassho,
    Jakuden
    SatToday/LAH

  14. #14
    Whoooooooo hoooooo! A totally amazing, completely fulfilling, and wonderful Rohatsu! Thank you, my beloved Treeleafers!!!!!

    Gassho,
    Kate

    SAT!!!!! / lah
    Hensho: Knitting Strands / Stranded on a Reef
    "Knit on with confidence and hope through all crises." -Elizabeth Zimmerman

  15. #15
    Thank you everyone for building this grass hut together... again and again...
    Gassho,
    Kotei sat.

    義道 冴庭 / Gidō Kotei.
    Being a novice priest doesn't mean my writing about the Dharma is more substantial than yours. Actually, it might well be the other way round.

  16. #16
    Thank you to all those who took time and did the work to make this happen for the Sangha.Thanks to all who sat and will sit.

    Doshin
    St

  17. #17
    Deep bows and thanks to everyone for your dedicated practice!

    Gassho
    Byokan
    sat (and sat and sat and sat)
    and lah
    展道 渺寛 Tendō Byōkan
    Please take my words with a big grain of salt. I know nothing. Wisdom is only found in our whole-hearted practice together.

  18. #18
    Much gratitude and a few tears with which to season it.

    Gassho
    Old skin bag sat today
    Visiting unsui: use salt

  19. #19
    Deep bows for your practice, everybody. What an amazing Sangha and an amazing weekend.
    Gassho
    Jakuden
    SatToday beyond all space and time


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

  20. #20
    Deep bows to everyone who sat and will sit. Seeing everyone come together was just wonderful!

    Gassho,

    Shoka
    Sat

    Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

  21. #21
    Treeleaf Priest / Engineer Sekishi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Virginia, USA
    I really have no words. Virtual hugs, high-fives, and gasshos all around.

    Every one of you was in turn: grass, hut, and the person inside!

    Deep bows,
    Sekishi

    P.S. now I’m going to go relax and take a bath. The forum should be back online afterwards (say by 10:30 EST).


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    Sekishi | 石志 | He/him | Better with a grain of salt, but best ignored entirely.

  22. #22
    Deep bows to everyone who sat, is sitting, or will sit. And special thanks to the priests who made this all happen. You all are amazeballs.

    Gassho

    Nenka

    ST

  23. #23
    That was awesome - thank you to everyone who participated and made this possible!




    Gassho,

    Daitetsu
    no thing needs to be added

  24. #24
    I enjoyed the cats, dogs (including mine) and horse that joined us. Not sure they were sitting or for that matter needed to!

    Doshin
    St

  25. #25
    Treeleaf Priest / Engineer Sekishi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Virginia, USA
    Quote Originally Posted by Sekishi View Post
    The forum should be back online afterwards (say by 10:30 EST).
    Hi all,

    The forum should be restored to usual working order.

    There is more to that process than you might think, so if anyone has any trouble posting or viewing ("fresh weeds appear"!), please drop me a PM or respond here.

    Gassho,
    Sekishi #sat
    Sekishi | 石志 | He/him | Better with a grain of salt, but best ignored entirely.

  26. #26
    Deep bows and much gratitude for all who participated and put this together. It was really incredible and won't be forgotten.

    Gassho
    STlah
    James

  27. #27
    Thank you to the Unsui and everyone who made the Rohatsu possible. It was a wonderful experience to practice together.

    Gassho,
    Onkai
    Sat

  28. #28
    Member Onka's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Rural Queensland, so-called Australia
    Thank you everyone everywhere.
    The dedication to differently abled ancestors and the dedication to assigned female and female identifying ancestors almost brought me to tears.
    The Dharma talks on such a beautiful poem over the two days filled out Fukanzazengi as read by Jundo in ways I didn't think were possible.
    Thank you Treeleaf!
    I had to get r e a l l y creative with my Shikantaza practice and how this Rohatsu was able to be completed but hey... I'm still here.
    Below is what a LOT of my 'sitting' looked like when sitting was impossible, kinhin was too slow and painful and reclining positions were exhausted. It's a bit faster than kinhin but not as fast as regular walking.
    Deep bows with the aid of a bamboo pole, thank you again.
    Gassho
    Anna

    Sent from my Lenovo TB-8304F1 using Tapatalk
    穏 On (Calm)
    火 Ka (Fires)
    They/She.

  29. #29
    Had to (literally) run out of the middle of the final zazen period because I heard my grandmother let the dog out of the front door! Sorry about that.

    Thank you all for your practice.

    Gassho
    Sat today, lah

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
    求道芸化 Kyūdō Geika
    I am just a priest-in-training, please do not take anything I say as a teaching.

  30. #30
    Thank you everything! This is the first Zazenkai This very first Zazenkai in my friendship with Treeleaf Zendo in about three or two years? Since Jundo came to Omaha, NE USA when Jundo lead four of us in Zazenkai. I was able to fully make it through the outset! Then I listened to the first presentation from Sekieshi what a great expert for my zen practice. My Shikantaza experience will benefit for months and it's great to be aware of my practice of my Sangha!

    Sent from my SM-T113 using Tapatalk
    Peaceful Poet, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, limited to positive 優婆塞 台 婆

  31. #31
    Tai Shi,
    sat lah
    Gassho

    Sent from my SM-T113 using Tapatalk
    Peaceful Poet, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, limited to positive 優婆塞 台 婆

  32. #32
    Thank you to everyone who made this happen. As is typical I got nowhere near the free time I thought I might get but managed to join live a couple of times - I'm not sure if anyone noticed the small person running in with a nosebleed which brought that session to an abrupt halt. I also managed to join in one way a few times while doing a bit of 'householder samu'.

    Gassho,

    Neil

    StLah

  33. #33
    Thank you, Treeleaf!

    Just finished the complete Rohatsu. This is my first full two-day retreat on-line or off-line. I expect there to be many more such days as time goes on. Since I learned of Shitou, I have identified closely with his writings, and it was a joy to contemplate his "Song of the Grass-Roof Hermitage" as a theme for this Rohatsu. This was a sometimes difficult, sometimes illuminating, and always worthwhile experience. Many sincere thanks to those who spoke, those who labored and all those who participated.

    With deep bows in gassho,
    Mui
    Sat/LAH
    無依 Mui
    "Relies on Nothing"

  34. #34
    Thank you to all for your hard work and dedication. I was able to participate at least once "live" and other parts by YouTube, much of it reclined.

    The timing with family schedules, but also my health (and my brain) would not cooperate.... I am deeply grateful that I can sit recorded units, and sit other units to practice again. I will keep this link saved.

    Very beautiful and comforting, my Treeleaf family.

    Gassho2
    Kim
    Rt

    Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk
    My life is my temple and my practice.

  35. #35
    Thank you ! So grateful for this Sangha. Some great talks, all of them, you spread so much good vibes!
    Gassho
    Moyku
    sat

  36. #36
    Thank you all for organising this. Have had to catch up and dip in when I could. Hiw lovely to be part of this.
    Gassho
    Richard

    SAT/LAH

    Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

  37. #37
    Quote Originally Posted by EnlistedHipster View Post
    Thank you to everyone who made this happen. As is typical I got nowhere near the free time I thought I might get but managed to join live a couple of times - I'm not sure if anyone noticed the small person running in with a nosebleed which brought that session to an abrupt halt. I also managed to join in one way a few times while doing a bit of 'householder samu'.

    Gassho,

    Neil

    StLah
    The nosebleed was the real start of the sesshin!

    Even the Buddha had nose bleeds, for sure.



    Gassho, J

    Stlah
    Last edited by Jundo; 12-10-2019 at 12:18 AM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  38. #38
    I like these views of your practice a LOT, Anna. _()_ _()_ _()_

    gassho
    doyu sat today
    Visiting unsui: use salt

  39. #39
    Quote Originally Posted by Jundo View Post
    The nosebleed was the real start of the session!
    That is so true!

    Gassho,

    Neil

    StLah

  40. #40
    Quote Originally Posted by Anna View Post
    Thank you everyone everywhere.
    The dedication to differently abled ancestors and the dedication to assigned female and female identifying ancestors almost brought me to tears.
    The Dharma talks on such a beautiful poem over the two days filled out Fukanzazengi as read by Jundo in ways I didn't think were possible.
    Thank you Treeleaf!
    I had to get r e a l l y creative with my Shikantaza practice and how this Rohatsu was able to be completed but hey... I'm still here.
    Below is what a LOT of my 'sitting' looked like when sitting was impossible, kinhin was too slow and painful and reclining positions were exhausted. It's a bit faster than kinhin but not as fast as regular walking.
    Deep bows with the aid of a bamboo pole, thank you again.
    Gassho
    Anna

    Sent from my Lenovo TB-8304F1 using Tapatalk
    Thanks for sharing the pictures Anna. As you know I am dealing with a couple of herniated disks in my lower back. One of the things I have found is that regular Soto Kinhin is really painful - I can only last about 3 minutes. But if I speed up - more Rinzai style - it is much more tolerable. Makes me wonder if, back in the day, the Rinzai masters had bad backs.

    Gassho, Shinshi

    SaT-LaH
    空道 心志 Kudo Shinshi
    I am just a priest-in-training, any resemblance between what I post and actual teachings is purely coincidental.
    E84I - JAJ

  41. #41
    Quote Originally Posted by Shinshi View Post
    Thanks for sharing the pictures Anna. As you know I am dealing with a couple of herniated disks in my lower back. One of the things I have found is that regular Soto Kinhin is really painful - I can only last about 3 minutes. But if I speed up - more Rinzai style - it is much more tolerable. Makes me wonder if, back in the day, the Rinzai masters had bad backs.

    Gassho, Shinshi

    SaT-LaH

    hmmmm, wonder if this is what i started doing? i know nothing about Rinzai, but i tend to topple over or sway when i try kinhin. so i don't.

    i was reading something in another forum one day, and the person mentioned something about going out and "just walking." no speed, no purpose, no destination, no timing.

    it sounded like a faster version of kinhin to me, and i was in the right mindset for it at the time, and i thought -- i'm going to try this.

    i don't know if that is Rinzai style or not. haven't timed it, but i walk slowly now. i used to walk a lot faster, can't anymore. i like walking alone, because i go at my slow pace, and i like to stop and look at things, or just stop and breathe -- lately people have fireplaces (or fire-pits) going again, and it smells nice.

    i never know what streets i'll be walking, or how long i'll be. i just go, and my body lets me know when it's time to turn around. it doesn't take long, but i dislike timing it.

    i'm noticing that it hurts, but it's a different kind of hurt, and so far, i'm okay with that. i'm enjoying the solitude and the animals that join me on the way .... even if some of them are hunting other animals as they follow me ...... not so pleasant, but that is life.

    gassho
    kim
    st
    My life is my temple and my practice.

  42. #42
    Anna,

    i love your photos, and what beautiful land (and horses!!) you are surrounded by

    thank you for sharing

    gassho
    kim
    st
    My life is my temple and my practice.

  43. #43
    Hi,
    I sat with you all on Sunday and today. Thank you to all who made this possible. I don’t know if you usually co-teach a poem or sutra (since this was my first retreat), but it was really cool. I enjoyed everyone’s perspectives and how you all wove it together. Beautifully done by all.
    Gassho,
    Krista
    sat and sat and sat today

  44. #44
    This was my first retreat and participating two-way. Beautiful. Thank you all for your hard work and practice.

    Gassho,
    Tyler

    SatToday

  45. #45
    Member Hokin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Location
    Ixtlahuacan De Los Membrillos, Mexico
    Hello everybody.
    Just wanted to thank you a lot for this retreat!
    I couldn't join live as much as i would have liked to, but I enjoyed it all the same...and many points for deepening both in insight and in practice (...same thing, uh?) have popped out...
    I went through lots of practicing samu though....and comings back here and now while parenting and attending customers at work...trying to share nice vibe and words and thoughts and smiles to everybody around...while at the same time trying to be with you all even when Off line...
    I am looking forward for sitting along "on demand" these next days...would like to go through the so many sittings I couldn't join live and the dharma talks and oryokis and bows and chantings I lost....oh geeez! How wonderful....so much good you are sharing with us all...This treeleaf sangha is such a grat wonderful dream....a Buddha dream for sure!
    All of life is our temple!
    And every sentient being we encounter and every situation we are in is a mirror and an opportunity for giving...I am so very lost in ego-driven thoughts so very often...sort of unconsciously keeping myself from givig myself all away to THIS...and still...trying to awaken every moment...calling it all back home...praticing a way to open my heart and flow with the flow and be of help whenever is needed and in any possible way...and Treeleaf is teaching me so much!
    So...with nothing more but greatfulness and appreciation at heart that I feel now for you and this practice we share, I salute you in Gassho.

    Arya.
    ST&LAH.

  46. #46
    From the back cover of Soto Zen Ancestors in China by James Mitchell, said to be the rock where Shitou built his hut:

    shitou.jpg

    Here is a translation that caught my attention, at Terebess:

    A Song About My Grass-Thatch Hut
    Translated by Yasuda Joshu and Anzan Hoshin

    Here, where nothing is worth anything,
    I've set up a grass-thatched hut.

    After eating,
    I just stretch out for a nap.

    As soon as it was built,
    weeds were already growing back.

    Now I've been here awhile
    its covered in vines.

    So the one in this hut just lives on,
    unstuck,
    not inside, out, in between.

    The places where usual folk live,
    I don't.
    What they want,
    I don't.

    This tiny hut holds the total world,
    an old man and
    the radiance of forms and their nature,
    all in ten feet square.

    Bodhisattvas of the Vast Path
    know about this but
    the mediocre and marginal wonder,
    "Isn't such a place too fragile to live in?"

    Fragile or not,
    the true master dwells here
    where there is no
    south or north, east or west.

    Just sitting here,
    it can't be surpassed:

    below the green pines
    a lit window.

    Palaces and towers
    of jade and vermillion
    can't compare.

    Just sitting,
    my head covered,
    all things rest.

    So this mountain monk
    has no understanding at all,
    just lives on
    without struggling to get loose.

    Not going to
    set out seats
    and wait for guests.

    Turning the light
    to shine within,
    turn it around again.

    Vast,
    unthinkable,
    you can't face it
    or turn away from it.

    The root of it.

    Meet the Awakened Ancestors,
    become intimate with the teachings,
    lash grass into thatch for a hut
    and don't tire so easily.

    Let it go,
    release,
    and your life of a hundred years
    vanishes.

    Open your hands.

    Walk around.

    Innocence.

    The swarm of words,
    and little stories
    are just to loosen you
    from where you are stuck.

    If you want to know
    the one in the hermitage
    who never dies,

    you can't avoid this skin-bag
    right here.
    gassho
    old leather balloon sat today
    Last edited by Shōnin Risa Bear; 12-10-2019 at 10:45 PM. Reason: Added image I'd been looking for
    Visiting unsui: use salt

  47. #47
    Hello Doyu, today I met my daughter face to face on face time on mom's apple phone and her apple phone. I looked long and hard at this thirty-year old woman, only to realize how young she is, how she loves to be with friends, that we are not the "friends," we are the parents. She is so young. When I was her age, I was married, had been married more than seven months, and now I know just why my degree of MFA was so difficult. The grades were much higher than other degrees. The other degrees came easily and naturally, but I was not married. I am happy. She is so young. Do monks who live in grass huts live young lives? Are they young and unmarried all their lives? Being a monk is different from being a parent, and I was 37 when our child was born. When arthritis hit four years later, I was sill a young man. I mean, when my daughter was born, I had lived a whole life; I was still so innocent, and now, I wish she loved me more, or less, or it will come if I sit quietly and allow the child to come to me, let the little one decide. Let her understand herself first, for as she gains yet another degree, like her father, she is unmarried and so very young like the monk in the grass, thatched hut.
    Tai Shi
    Gassho
    sat/lah
    Last edited by Tai Shi; 12-24-2019 at 07:03 PM. Reason: punctuation
    Peaceful Poet, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, limited to positive 優婆塞 台 婆

  48. #48
    Quote Originally Posted by Tai Shi View Post
    Hello Doyu, today I met my daughter face to face on face time on mom's apple phone and her apple phone. I looked long and hard at this thirty-year old woman, only to realize how young she is, how she loves to be with friends, that we are not the "friends," we are the parents. She is so young. When I was her age, I was married, had been married more than seven months, and now I know just why my degree of MFA was so difficult. The grades were much higher than other degrees. The other degrees came easily and naturally, but I was not married. I am happy. She is so young. Do monks who live in grass huts live young lives. Are they young and unmarried all their lives. Being a monk is different from being a parent, and I was 37 when our child was born. When arthritis hit four years later, I was sill a young man. I mean, when my daughter was born, I had lived a whole life; I was still so innocent, and now, I wish she loved me more, or less, or it will come if I sit quietly and allow the child to come to me, let the little one decide. Let her understand herself first, for as she gains yet another degree, like her father, she is unmarried and so very young like the monk in the grass, thatched hut.
    Tai Shi
    Gassho
    sat/lah
    Thank you for sharing this, Tai Shi. Marjorie is blessed, to have a Dad like you.

    Young, old, single, coupled, educated, uneducated, parents, children, friends, free of pain, hurting, experienced, innocent. Most of us will embody most of these things at some time or other. May she be well. May we all be at peace, embracing all conditions of life.

    Gassho
    Byōkan
    sat + lah
    展道 渺寛 Tendō Byōkan
    Please take my words with a big grain of salt. I know nothing. Wisdom is only found in our whole-hearted practice together.

  49. #49
    Yes, Taishi, I have a 34 year old who is my youngest and the dynamics are similar.

    As to monk age, Shitou appears to have done this early in his career, which was not unusual for future abbots. An exception was Shiwu (Stonehouse) who returned to his mountain after a five year abbacy and stayed until he died at eighty, right after producing a book of poems about being a mountain monk.

    Gassho
    Doyu sat today
    Visiting unsui: use salt

  50. #50
    Hi Byokan, I always ask what my friends' names mean in Japanese, and I would also like to know what Doyu means. Our Japanese names are beautiful, our Dharma names. One friend is Stone Face, another, Strong Waters; you are Byokan young yet to be a priest-in-training; when I was young, I so wanted to be both poet and teacher, and I am trained to be both; thank you for telling me what I embody. Live, not non-life, life, I chose life. I know that at age 68, I can I am an embodiment of life-- I am not yet non-being or what I will be-- dead in 15 to 20 years if I am lucky according to my doctor, and certainly I am enjoying life-- how about all of you? Are you, anyone in our Sangha, are you enjoying life? For lunch today I had a piece of apple pie, and a hand full of roasted chestnuts. Every disease I have is stable and not threatening. Non-pain, relief of tension, as Jundo says, "When one sits, one sits." I say, "When one is happy, one is happy." I am so grateful for my friends-- all friends-- like just receiving Christmas wishes on my iPhone for good friendship-- I seldom speak of my Christianity in these pages now and because more and more, it is the man Jesus I'm interested in. As Anna pointed out, he was probably a short brown man with little to his name-- only the clothes he wore, like begging Buddhist monks, as the Buddha, and that first Sangha, and like John the Baptist, choosing to be poor. Wandering town to town seeking only to teach.
    Tai Shi
    sat/lah
    Gassho
    Last edited by Tai Shi; 12-24-2019 at 08:41 PM. Reason: words, explanations!
    Peaceful Poet, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, limited to positive 優婆塞 台 婆

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