January 25th Recommended Threads

[Jundo]

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

Please sit with any of our recent Treeleaf Zazenkai ... always fresh ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...ings-too%21%29

Many folks are walking through this gate ... held open by our Shokai ... What's a Dharma Gate...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-a-Dharma-Gate

What Zazen is ... What Zazen ls Not ... and beyond all thoughts of is or is not ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...t-Zazen-ls-Not

For our working members ... Zen, Zazen and Work/Business. Questions about incorporating practice into our work ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-into-our-work

Zazen on a plane ... bouncing up and down and all around ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...zen-on-a-plane

A group of discussions on "eye" issues in Zazen ... SPLIT THREAD: EYE-to-EYE ... seeing things clearly ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...EAD-EYE-to-EYE

For our Rakusu folks ... What does the tree the image of broken pine needle on the rakusu look like? ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...l=1#post256135

A recently rediscovered old manuscript and some comments about it by me ... The Handbook Of Authentic Buddhism - Nishijima Roshi ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...Roshi-Thoughts

Why so many Z words in Zen ... and why do we put the Rakusu on our heads? ... Now, for the REALLY stupid questions ... no such questions are stupid! ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...upid-questions

In the Treeleaf Art Circle ... Zen of Creativity Chapter 11 ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ity-Chapter-11

... and Lead to Life ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...7-Lead-to-Life

... also, look for a restart of our "No Words Book Club" this week ... Okumura Roshi's Realizing Genjo Koan ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...EAF-ART-CIRCLE

And to top it off ... notice that we have ADDED A LINK to TreeleafNOW in the TOP BAR OF EVERY TREELEAF PAGE ... scroll up for a peak ... ↑



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

[Jundo]

Also ... 'The ZEN of EVERYTHING! Podcast' ... Episode 17: Is Zen Hard or Easy? ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ast-Episode-17

[Onka]

Thanks for the reminder of Shokai's Dharma Gate thread.
Gassho
Onka
Sat today

[Jundo]

Things have settled down around here, so we get back to ... Realizing Genjokoan - Chapter 5 - Last Portion ... in the "No Words" Book Club. This week, about drinking milk and the milk drinking you! ...

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...5-Last-Portion

[Tai Shi]

Shokai, where is your Dharma Gate, for Dharma, I am hungry. Also, I have started at the back of your Title, please, I respect your linage. I ask are Priests the same as Lay People? Sekeishi says Usuri are the same as lay folks, so why are we folk, are Priests and priests in training equal as are priests in training and lay people?
Gassho
calm poetry
sat/lah

[Kokuu]

Sekeishi says Usuri are the same as lay folks

Hi Tai Shi

It depends what we mean as 'the same'.

In terms of practice there is no difference between lay folk and unsui. You sitting Shikantaza is the same as me sitting Shikantaza. You reading Realizing Genjokoan is the same as me reading Realizing Genjokoan. There is no difference.

However, there is clearly a reason for the demarcation in that some people have chosen to dedicate their life to practice and becoming a priest and they, with Jundo's permission and a ceremony, become unsui.

Our role is different from that of lay folk. Our Zen practice is not (other than being of service in the Zendo).

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-

[Jundo]

However, there is clearly a reason for the demarcation in that some people have chosen to dedicate their life to practice and becoming a priest and they, with Jundo's permission and a ceremony, becoming unsui.

Our role is different from that of lay folk. Our Zen practice is not (other than being of service in the Zendo).

Gassho

Yes, to be a priest or priest in training is to move from being a passenger on the ship to a member of the crew of service to the passengers, from diner in the restaurant to waiters, cooks and busboys. People think that it is some kind of "step up," but it is meant as a step down. It is an unpaid role of service and helping. The job of "teacher" and "priest" is to keep the ship moving, the nutrition coming, and to learn our Ways to help Sentient Beings in their Practice, and then to pass these beautiful ways down to some willing fools in the next generation. (By the way, I prefer the old Chinese terms ""shanzhishi" = a "good wise friend (along the path)" (善知識, Sanskrit kalyanamitra) instead of "teacher," and the proper Japanese word "Sangha companion" 僧侶 ("Soryo") instead of "priest")

This came up this week when somebody who visited our Zazenkai in Tsukuba for the weekly Zazenkai, and asked why I stand in front of the Altar during ceremonies while others watch. Good point. For 2500 years, the priest is in the front, while the others watch. When I do so, I am just supposed to be the representative of everyone. However, it also implies some separation and rank. Therefore, time to change that, and we will take the lead. From time to time, I will invite some of our older members to "stand up there" during the ceremonies, lighting incense and representing all of us. It is also unprecedented in Zen and other traditional Buddhism to do that.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Washin]

Yes, to be a priest or priest in training is to move from being a passenger on the ship to a member of the crew of service to the passengers, from diner in the restaurant to waiters, cooks and busboys. People think that it is some kind of "step up," but it is meant as a step down. It is an unpaid role of service and helping. The job of "teacher" and "priest" is to keep the ship moving, the nutrition coming, and to learn our Ways to help Sentient Beings in their Practice, and then to pass these beautiful ways down to some willing fools in the next generation. (By the way, I prefer the old Chinese terms ""shanzhishi" = a "good wise friend (along the path)" (善知識, Sanskrit kalyanamitra) instead of "teacher," and the proper Japanese word "Sangha companion" 僧侶 ("Soryo") instead of "priest")

[Tai Shi]

From stern to sterage to bow, I am servant in my responsibility because I know. Two men depend on me, our daughter depends on us, my friends expect me to be consistent, my wife for her I chose to be responsible day by day, and with all who affirm our history, we are a keystone in the arch that leads to freedom for love and tolerance is our code, as the Buddha found compassion, so we find consistent compassion, as life exists in this or not, in this cell, in this drop of dew, in my awareness so alone for others.
Tai Shi
calm poetry
sat/ lah
Gassho
Deep bows