Dec.24th-25th Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - Winter Solstice

[Jundo]

From Master Dogen's "Dharma Hall Discourse for Winter Solstice on the First Day of the Eleventh Month, 1240" ...

"Attaining oneness, heaven is clear; attaining oneness, earth is at rest.”
Attaining oneness, a person is at peace; attaining oneness, the time
becomes bright. As this oneness grows, within the [days] growing longer,
the buddha ancestors attain longevity.
Everybody, within this growth you arouse awakening mind, practice,
engage the way with effort, and attain realization of a single phrase.
You have already attained the power and vitality that is within this growth.

Therefore, making a rosary with the bodies of buddha ancestors, you
reach three hundred sixty days. Every time this day [of winter solstice]
arrives, [the length of days] proceeds just like this. This is exactly the body
and mind of buddha ancestors, so [this growth] proceeds like this.

After a pause Dogen said: The body and mind of each Buddha now can
grow. The face and eyes of jade rings and round jewels are shaped in a
heavenly palace. Having counted each of them, how long and far do they reach?
On this auspicious occasion, knowing the count is the single brightness.

Dear All,

Please sit our Treeleaf Zazenkai for 90 minutes with Zazen, Heart Sutra and more:

10am Japan Saturday morning, NY 8pm, LA 5pm Friday night, London 1am and Paris 2am Saturday morning, or any time thereafter here:

However, "one way" live sitters are encouraged to come into the Zoom sitting, and just leave the camera and microphone turned off: Join live (with or without a camera & microphone) on Zoom at: TREELEAF Now OR at DIRECT ZOOM LINK, password (if needed): dogen

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
01:30 - 01:45(?) Informal Tea Time (All Welcome)

ATTENTION: Everyone, when rising for Kinhin or Ceremonies after Zazen, get up slowly, don't rush, hold something stable, you won't be "late," so TAKE YOUR TIME! Make sure you are careful getting up!

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) ...

Chant Book is here for those who wish to join in: CHANT BOOK LINK

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

I also recommend a little Talk on why small rituals and procedures are so cherished in the Zendo:

SIT-A-LONG with Jundo: Small Things in the Zendo
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...s-in-the-Zendo

[Bion]

Excited to be there with everyone

Sat Today

[Nengyoku]

[Sekishi]

Youtube and Zoom are ready to go! See you all soon.

Gassho ho ho,
Sekishi
#sat

[Gregor]

Ill be busy playing santa claus when you are live but will catch you guys on youtube around 10p.

Gassho,

Greg
ST

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[Geika]

Sekishi, love the outfit!

Gassho
Sat, lah

[Tai Shi]

All is good. Festive and solemn.
Gassho
sat/ lah


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[Jakuden]

Oh my gosh, best outfit ever Sekishi So wonderful to sit with you all tonight. Peace

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

[Geika]

Thank you all for the lovely zazenkai and Merry Christmas!

Gassho
Sat, lah

[Onkai]

Thank you everyone. Happy winter solstice and merry Christmas.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/lah

[Nengyoku]

My favorite part was Sekishi holding his Christmas mala

Thank you everyone for sitting together.

Gassho,
William
SatLah

[Koushi]

Thank you all for a lovely zazenkai. I also can’t imagine any other group of friends and family I’d rather spend the holidays with. May you all be safe, kind, and peaceful these holidays.

Gassho,
Koushi
STLaH

[Sekishi]

Thank you all for this opportunity to practice together.

May all beings know peace.
And to all a good night.



Deep bows,
Sekishi
#sat


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[Bion]

Thank you friends. It truly felt like time with the family. You are all appreciated!

Sat Today

[Tai Shi]

Much practice ; pull back tomorrow; It’s already tomorrow, pain. Wonderful at 10 a.m. She gets up: Christmas Day. I’m reading a lot about beauty.
Gassho
sat/ lah

[Kotei]

Thank you everyone!
Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Jundo]

Here was the key phrase from Lao Tzu this week ...

"Attaining oneness, heaven is clear; attaining oneness, earth is at rest.”

Leighton and Okumura Roshis report that this is from Chapter 39 of Lao Tzu's Dao De Jing, the famous Taoist text. It is a text notably difficult to translate as rather fuzzy in meaning, so translations vary quite a bit. The closest that I find are these, which are fairly close. The Chinese for the phrase is 天得一以淸、地得一以寧. So, I think that the Leighton-Okumura version is pretty good, maybe the best. I like it better than the following, in fact:

Those of old that gained the One:
The sky (tian) gained the One and was thus clear;
Earth gained the One and was thus calm;
The spirits gained the One and were thus potent;
The valley gained the One and was this full;
The things of the world gained the One and were thus born;
Kings and lords gained the One and were models to the world –

(Translated by Robert Eno)

These in the past have attained wholeness:
Heaven attains wholeness with its clarity;
The Earth attains wholeness with its firmness;
The Spirit attains wholeness with its transcendence;
The Valley attain wholeness when filled;
The Myriad Things attain wholeness in life;
The Ruler attains wholeness in the correct governance of the people.

(Translated by A. Charles Muller)

D.T. Suzuki gave it a little rhyme, ""Heaven by oneness becometh pure. Earth by oneness can endure."

Gassho, J

STLah

[Hokin]

Jus t finished sitting with you on demand!
'Twas lovely!
Thank you all for your practice!
Merry every moment to y'all!

P.D.: actually, and I am asking for I don't know, is it ever that in the southern emisphere now the days are shortening instead? Is that correct?
Anyways...

Gassho.
Hokin.
SAT with you.

[Jundo]

Jus t finished sitting with you on demand!
'Twas lovely!
Thank you all for your practice!
Merry every moment to y'all!

P.D.: actually, and I am asking for I don't know, is it ever that in the southern emisphere now the days are shortening instead? Is that correct?
Anyways...

Gassho.
Hokin.
SAT with you.

Yes, I am embarrassed to say that, once again, we have discriminated against our ANZAC members.

There, days will now grow shorter. Alas.

https://www.britannica.com/science/s...tice-astronomy

Does Santa put wheels and water skis on the sleigh when down up under?

When he gets to Australia, Santa sometimes gives the reindeers a rest and might use kangaroos. He also changes his clothes for less 'hot' ones! Children often leave out carrots for Santa's reindeer and there might be some cake for Santa, with some cold beer but it's often non-alcoholic because Santa has to drive his sleigh.

... As it is the middle of Summer in Australia at Christmas time, the words to the Carols about snow and the cold winter are sometimes changed to special Australian words! There are also some original Australian Carols.

https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/australia.shtml

Gassho, J

STLah

[Naiko]

Found a quiet moment to sit with you. Peace to you all.
Gassho,
Naiko
st lah

[Kiri]

Thank you everyone! Happy Winter Solstice!!
Gassho, Nikolas
Sat/Lah

[Meian]

Sat with you all early this morning. Love Sekishi's twinkling lights and glasses!

Happy Winter Solstice, Treeleaf!

Gassho2, meian stlh

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[Seishin]

Caught up On Demand, thank you everyone.

Sat

[Bokugan]

Sat with you all this morning. I feel so fortunate to be able to practice with you all Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful end to 2021!

Gassho,

Ryan

SatToday LaH

[Kaisui]

Sat on demand with you all. Happy winter / summer solstice, both winter and summer solstices being one in the same earth / rosary

Gassho,
Charity
sat/lah

[Kokuu]

Lovely! Thank you all!

Gassho
Kokuu

[Tairin]

Thank you everyone. In the hustle and bustle of the week I had missed sitting this Zazenkai earlier.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Ippo]

It's so wonderful to sit this with all of you and drop space and time.

NICHI NICHI KORE KONICHI

Every Day Is A Good Day!

Gassho,

Ippo

SatToday