Chanting & Zazen Circle (Mo thru Sa)

[Anchi]

[Nengyoku]

It was lovely to sit with you all again today.

Gassho,
Nengyoku
Sat

[Jundo]

HAKUIN ZENJI ZAZEN WASAN
(In English first, then in Japanese)
Dedicated to
Mitchell Doshin Cantor Roshi

Please mention Doshin Cantor, if you would, and not too late. That was his chant.

Gassho, Jundo
STLah

[Yuki]

Please mention Doshin Cantor, if you would, and not too late. That was his chant.

Gassho, Jundo
STLah

We will chant HAKUIN ZENJI ZAZEN WASAN for him all this week, honoring his memory.

黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

[Jundo]

We will chant HAKUIN ZENJI ZAZEN WASAN for him all this week, honoring his memory.

黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

Thank you.

[Yuki]

As promised, the gatha for Ejo

To a disciple named Ejo who wanted to go too fast on the learning of the Way, zen master TOSUI gave him this poem (a gatha, poem who condensed the essence of his teaching ) :
______________

Ejo, let your wisdom and meditation shine unobstructed
And here and there, drop things
Give up, even give up the idea of ​​giving up
What will you have left to let go ?
Drink the tea and chew the rice
And don't look elsewhere
Ejo, let your wisdom and meditation shine unobstructed
And the ten thousand things will finally find rest
_______________
For my part, I printed this poem, substituting the name Ejo for the mine, Mokushō. It have a deep meaning…



黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

[Anchi]

Lovely!! Merci Mokushō !

[Anchi]

The Great Bell Chant (The End Of Suffering)

Read by Thich Nath Hanh,


May the sound of this bell
Penetrate deep into the cosmos
Even in the darkest spots
Living beings are able to hear it clearly
So that all suffering in them cease
Understanding come to their hearts
And they transcend the path
Of sorrow and death

The universal dharma door is already open
The sound of the rising tide is heard clearly
The miracle happens
A beautiful child appears in the heart
Of a Lotus flower
One single drop of this compassionate water
Is enough to bring back the refreshing spring
To our mountains and rivers

Listening to the bell
I feel the afflictions in me begin to dissolve
My mind calm, my body relax
A smile is born on my lips
Following the sound of the bell
My breath brings me back
To the safe Island of Mindfulness
In the garden of my heart
The flowers of Peace bloom beautifully

The Great Bell Chant (The End Of Suffering) - YouTube

[Wako]

Dear friends!
I propose to dedicate today's circle to the great teacher and peacemaker Thich Nath Hanh, who left today his physical body, but continues to live in each of us and every part of this world.

Gassho, Aleksey
Sat today

[Yuki]

I agree with you, Aleksey. We will honor Thay in our circle today.


黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

[Yuki]

Thanks for this wonderful text, Anchi !
We will have the occasion to listen it on the Circle.

Merci beaucoup !

黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

[Yuki]

Many thanks to Anchi, Camille, Kyogen, Kumo, Aleksey and Anthony for their participation at the hommage to Thich Nath Hanh this Saturday. It was full of love, compassion and gratitude.



黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

[Anchi]

[Yuki]

Suggestion of text to read this week.

The Five Ranks
By
Tōzan Ryōkai (Dongshan Liangjie (807–869) )
translated by Thomas Cleary

I: The Relative within the Absolute

In the third watch,

beginning of the night, 

before the moon is bright, 

do not wonder 
at meeting without recognition; 

still held hidden in the heart 
is the beauty of former days.

II: The Absolute within the Relative

A woman who's overslept

encounters an ancient mirror; 

clearly she sees her face- 

there is no other reality. 

Nevertheless,
she still mistakes 
her reflection for her head.

III: Coming from within the Absolute

Within nothingness is a road 
out of the dust;

just be able to avoid violating 
the present taboo name 

and you will surpass 
the eloquence of yore 

that silenced every tongue.

IV: Arrival at Mutual Integration

When two blades cross, 

no need to flee; 

an expert is like 
a lotus in fire- 

clearly there is a spirit 
spontaneuosly soaring.

V: Unity Attained

If you are not trapped 

in being or nonbeing, 

who can dare to join you?

Everyone wants to leave 
the ordinary current,

but in the final analysis 

you come back 
and sit in the ashes.
__________________

_ 黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today
_____________

Drink Your Tea
~
Drink your tea slowly and reverently,
as if it is the axis
on which the world earth revolves
– slowly, evenly, without
rushing toward the future;
Live the actual moment.
Only this moment is life.

– Thich Nhat Hahn

[Nengyoku]

What a lovely time sitting with you all.
I apologize for my being attacked by my playful dog during the enmei jukku kannon gyo

Gassho,
Nengyoku
Sat

[Yuki]

Here is the text we will read this week.
Miazawa Kenji

neither yielding to rain
nor yielding to wind
yielding neither to
snow nor to summer heat
with a stout body
like that
without greed
never getting angry
always smiling quietly
eating one and a half pieces of brown rice
and bean paste and a bit of
vegetables a day
in everything
not taking oneself
into account
looking listening understanding well
and not forgetting
living in the shadow of pine trees in a field
in a small
hut thatched with miscanthus
if in the east there’s a
sick child
going and nursing
him
if in the west there is a tired mother
going and for her
carrying
bundles of rice
if in the south
there’s someone
dying
going
and saying
you don’t have to be
afraid
if in the north
there’s a quarrel
or a lawsuit
saying it’s not worth it
stop it
in a drought
shedding tears
in a cold summer
pacing back and forth lost
called
a good-for-nothing
by everyone
neither praised
nor thought a pain
someone
like that
is what I want
to be

See you soon,

黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

[Anchi]

[aprapti]

aprapti

sat

[Mrcpt11]

Thank you for welcoming me to this circle over the past couple of days!

Gassho,
William
Sat today

[Yuki]

Thank you for welcoming me to this circle over the past couple of days!

Gassho,
William
Sat today

黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

[Yuki]

Today I propose :

Sanki Raimon, Hakuin Zenji Zazen Wassan in English and Japanese dedicated to Doshin Cantor, Zazen sitting, Enmei Juku Kannon Gyo, dedication, Haïku and The Four Vows.

See you !
黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

[Yuki]

Hi everybody !

Is it necessary to specify that all our sittings and chants this week will be dedicated to the establishment of a lasting and equitable peace for the Ukrainians, Russians and all humanity ?

Hoping to see you soon,

黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

[Jundo]

Hi everybody !

Is it necessary to specify that all our sittings and chants this week will be dedicated to the establishment of a lasting and equitable peace for the Ukrainians, Russians and all humanity ?

Hoping to see you soon,

It would be very nice to make special mention ... assuming that you are not opposed to "a lasting and equitable peace for the Ukrainians, Russians and all humanity?" which, I assume, you are not.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Yuki]

Yes Jundo !
I must be mistrustful from Google traduction !
Merci !

黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

[BenV]

Hi everyone,

I joined the chanting and Zazen circle yesterday for the first time and I was a little confused with the chants (I've only done chants in English before). Can someone please point me to the right chants/chant book?

[Anchi]

Hi BenV ,

It is available in the Treeleaf Retreat Chant book which can be found in the following place on the site (it's formatted better too)

Home > Sutras > Treeleaf Retreat Chant Book > TREELEAFCHANTBOOKFORRETREAT11252011.pdf


Gassho,
Anchi

[Jundo]

Is this group still going? For a bunch of chanters, you'all seem to have been quiet for awhile.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Anchi]

Yes,this group is still going, Jundo.
l have been quiet for a while for my personal reasons with my health issues. ...unfortunately still i need to be quiet.

The Chanting and Zazen group is such a lovely group and people.
l am always there with my spirit.

Thank you for making it possible.

Deep bows
Anchi

[Nengyoku]

Is this group still going? For a bunch of chanters, you'all seem to have been quiet for awhile.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

Today I saw six screens on the zoom meeting, but I'm pretty sure all of Vulture Peak was there.



-------

It was very beautiful sitting with you all again. Somehow it always feels like home.

Does anyone happen to know the book which Kumo reads Haiku out of? I found the first one today to be very powerful something like;

"Withered lotus leaves
Some broken, some not
float on a spring river"

Gassho,
Nengyoku
Sat

[Jundo]

Is the group still happening at Treeleaf, as I don't see many posts about it here?

Or did you all wander off somewhere?

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Geika]

They reached the Pure Land!

Gassho

[Nengyoku]

Is the group still happening at Treeleaf, as I don't see many posts about it here?

Or did you all wander off somewhere?

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

Hi Jundo,

We do still sit here at Treeleaf. Most of the posts here were about what we were chanting that day, and as I understand it the group has more or less settled on a few regular chants as well as having a couple minutes at the beginning to add in anything requested. So not a lot of posting left.

Also, Yuki went on a vacation some time ago, and he did most of the posting in this thread.

But, we are still chanting off of cereal boxes

Gassho,
Nengyoku
Sat

[Jundo]

[Yuki]

I’m always alive, somewhere in Florida. I miss you all !
黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today… in front of the sea sunset !

[HERRIEH]

Hi Jundo Roshi,


Sorry for the late response, i don't spend much time on the thread.

The Chanting&Zazen Circle is verry much alive and kicking. Every day, 6 day's a week for around 1 hour with always 30 minutes of zazen.
With Mokushō travelling we've been chanting mostly the same chant's although yesterday we added Sandōkai.
Mainly all chanting is in Japanese except dedication and the four vows. With which we end the Circle's practice. We do do the four vows in Japanese and all the languages of the participants of that day's practice.

So this is standard:
- Sankiraimon
- kaikyoge
- Maka Hannya Haramitta Shingyo
- Ji Ho San Shi
- 30 minutes Zazen
- Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo
- Dedication
- Haiku, Tanka, Waka, Buddhist/Chinese traditional poetry in (or with) English translation. (Sometimes also Zen inspired poetry of a growing number of participants. Treeleaf should start a special thread on that!:-)))
- Four vows. First Japanese followed by English, French, Croatian, Spanish, Russian, Danish, Icelandic, Swedish, German and Dutch (that's all languages i can recall, from different chanting practices)

We also are using a WhatsApp group for those participants who like to make use of it to share pictures, texts etc.

So, for instance, tomorrow i won't attend because of a family activity and i've asked in the Whatsapp group who can take the lead in coordination of the Chanting&Zazen of that day.
There has always been someone to take the responsibility. Very rarely it has happened there was only one person doing the practice, but most of the time we are between two and six participants. I' ve seen around 30 different participants since i first joined august 2021. A lot of new Treeleaf members find their way to the Chanting&Zazen Circle.

Gassho,

Hongaku Kyogen

STLah

[HERRIEH]

If someone wants to join the Chanting&Zazen Circle WhatsApp group you can text to me: 0031622528666

Gassho
SatLah

[Nengyoku]

Thank you all again for sitting with me today.
I always feel such overflowing compassion with you all, and Kumo's birdsong really accentuated that nicely.
Peace and good health to you all.

Gassho,
Nengyoku
Sat

[Yuki]

Hello everybody !

A little reminder about where to find the
Chants often used in Chanting and Zazen Circle :

Sanki Raimon : English : thread #12. / Japanese : thread #115
Kaikyo Ge : English and Japanese : thread #461
Hannya Shingyo : English and Japanese : page 4-5-6 of Treeleaf Sangha Chant Book.
Enmei Juku Kannon Gyo : page 14 of Treeleaf Sangha Chant Book
Shi Gu Sei Gan Mon ( The Four Vows ) : thread #461

Gassho

黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

[Anchi]

Gassho,

Anchi

[Yuki]

Hi !

This week, we chant the Sandôkai. You find it in English in TREELEAF SANGHA CHANT BOOK, page 7-8-9.
Here is the Japanese text:

Sandôkai
*


Chikudo daisen no shin,
tôzai mitsuni aifusu.
Ninkon ni ridon ari,
Dô ni namboku no so nashi.
Reigen myôni kôkettari.
Shiha anni ruchûsu.
Ji wo shusûru mo moto kore mayoi.
Ri ni kanô mo mata satori ni ara zu.
*
Mommon issai no kyô,
ego to fuego to.
Eshite sarani aiwataru.
Shikara zare ba kurai ni yotte jûsu.
Shiki moto shitsuzô wo kotonishi,
shô moto rakku wo kotonisu.
An wa jôchû no koto ni kanai,
mei wa seidaku no ku wo wakatsu.
Shidai no shô onozukara fukusu,
ko no sono haha wo uru ga gotoshi.
Hi wa nesshi kaze wa dôyô,
mizu wa uruoi chi wa kengo.
Manako wa iro, mimi wa onjô,
hana wa ka, shita wa kanso.
Shikamo ichi-ichi no hô ni oite,
ne ni yotte ha bumpusu.
Hommatsu subekaraku shû ni kisu beshi.
Sompi sono go wo mochiu.
Meichû ni atatte an ari,
ansô wo motte ô koto nakare.
*
Anchû ni atatte mei ari,
meisô wo motte miru koto nakare.
Meian ono-ono aitaishi te,
hisuru ni zengo no ayumi no gotoshi.
Bammotsu onozukara kô ari,
masani yô to sho to wo iu beshi.
*
Ji sonsure ba kangai gasshi,
ri ôzure ba sempô sasô.
Koto wo uke te wa subekaraku shû wo
esu beshi.
Mizukara kiku wo rissuru koto nakare.
Sokumoku dô wo ese zumba,
ashi wo hakobu mo izukunzo michi wo shiran.
Ayumi wo susumure ba gonnon ni ara zu,
mayôte senga no ko wo hedatsu.
*
Tsutsushin de sangen no hito ni môsu,
*
kôin munashiku wataru koto nakare.

Gassho !

黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

[Anchi]

Gassho,
Anchi

[Kaye]

Good day,
I am interested in the chant group but feel somewhat intimidated as I have never chanted in Japanese. Is it ok to come online and just listen and participate in the sitting? Can I get the book or are these chants to be printed out?
gassho. kaye

[Nengyoku]

I will say that my first couple times to the chanting circle I just listened along. They are a very welcoming and understanding group.
As for the chants, you can get them however is easiest. Personally I put the ones I don't know up on a computer monitor. I also have a printed copy.

Gassho,
Nengyoku
SatLah

[Jundo]

May I ask a favor? The Chanting and Zazen Circle is one of our groups, so could the folks in the Circle make a point to post your weekly chants and events here? What are you chanting each week? We haven't heard from you guys in awhile, so I thought you might have stopped ... Chanting.

Gassho, Jundo

[Nengyoku]

May I ask a favor? The Chanting and Zazen Circle is one of our groups, so could the folks in the Circle make a point to post your weekly chants and events here? What are you chanting each week? We haven't heard from you guys in awhile, so I thought you might have stopped ... Chanting.

Gassho, Jundo

I would be more than happy to post what we chant whenever I sit with this group.
Unfortunately this group sits while I am at work, so I am only able to join on Saturdays (and even then, only if I am not working on Saturday )
All the same, I would be more than happy to help post what we get up to.

We do have a Whatsapp group where we share ... anything really that strikes us in the moment. I could share the highlights of that group as they come through, if that is okay.
Kyogen had a trip to a museum with a buddha feature, and sat Zazen there. We sometimes share poetry from different Buddhist authors, or even of our own. Just to name a few examples.

Gassho,
Nengyoku
SatLah

[Jundo]

I would be more than happy to post what we chant whenever I sit with this group.
Unfortunately this group sits while I am at work, so I am only able to join on Saturdays (and even then, only if I am not working on Saturday )
All the same, I would be more than happy to help post what we get up to.

We do have a Whatsapp group where we share ... anything really that strikes us in the moment. I could share the highlights of that group as they come through, if that is okay.
Kyogen had a trip to a museum with a buddha feature, and sat Zazen there. We sometimes share poetry from different Buddhist authors, or even of our own. Just to name a few examples.

Gassho,
Nengyoku
SatLah

If the group is linked to here within Treeleaf, and is on our calendar, it would be nice to be kept abreast of when they are meeting, what they are chanting etc., and what kind of practice they are doing. I would like to know. I thank all the folks keeping the group going.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Yuki]

This week, we are chanting :

Sanki Raimon : English : thread #12. / Japanese : thread #115
Kaikyo Ge : English and Japanese : thread #461
Hannya Shingyo : English and Japanese : page 4-5-6 of Treeleaf Sangha Chant Book.
Enmei Juku Kannon Gyo : page 14 of Treeleaf Sangha Chant Book
Shi Gu Sei Gan Mon ( The Four Vows ) : thread #461

Gassho

黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

[Jundo]

This week, we are chanting :

Sanki Raimon : English : thread #12. / Japanese : thread #115
Kaikyo Ge : English and Japanese : thread #461
Hannya Shingyo : English and Japanese : page 4-5-6 of Treeleaf Sangha Chant Book.
Enmei Juku Kannon Gyo : page 14 of Treeleaf Sangha Chant Book
Shi Gu Sei Gan Mon ( The Four Vows ) : thread #461

Gassho

黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

Thank you, Mokusho. Just to keep contact and communication, I would appreciate you to post notice here of each of your sittings, and what you are chanting. Otherwise, your chanting goes silent for the rest of us.

It is a great group you have, lovely sounds heard all the way here. Thank you for keeping it going.

Gassho, Jundo

ST

[Yuki]

Hello Kaye !

You are more than welcome if you want to joint our chant group ! Don’t worry about chanting or not : you can participate and keep your microphone on mute, if you want it, before being accustomed to the chants. We can do the chanting in English or Japanese ; it depends of what the members want to do and what seems easier for them. As for the chants themselves, you can find them on the posts mentioned up here, or I can send you by PM those you want to have. Do not hesitate to contact me. For the Japanese chants, we always have a translation in English if necessary.

Usually, our session begins by Sanki Raimon ( The three refuges), followed by Kaikyo Ge who introduces Hannya Shingyo ( the Heart Sutra) and Ji Ho San Shi after chanting the Heart Sutra. Then, we sit for 30 minutes before chanting Enmei Juku Kannon Gyo followed by a short dedication. Then we usually read some haïkus before concluding with The four vows. In all, it takes around 50 to 55 minutes. When we have a special chant or reading, we usually post it here.
Some days we are only two or three to chants, and other days we could be six or seven participants… it’s always a surprise !

For example, the last seven days, we were joined by Camille, Caro, Margaret, Aimee, Kyogen, Kumo, Shinryu, Phil, Thomas and Alexis… some of them were present almost every days and others only in one occasion.

I hope those explanations will be useful for you.

Gassho

黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today

[Yuki]

Thanks Jundo. I will try to be more proactive in communication despite my bad English

Usually, we chant the « week program » during the six days of the week. If something special is added ( reading, chant, etc.) we put it here before doing it, of course.

Thanks for your advices !

Gassho

黙唱
Mokushō
Sat today