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Thread: May 6-7th, 2022 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Dharma-Door of Non-duality

  1. #1

    May 6-7th, 2022 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Dharma-Door of Non-duality

    Today we will again walk through the Door of the Vimalakirti Sutra
    (text below in this thread)


    Please sit our Monthly 4-Hour Treeleaf Zazenkai netcast LIVE 8am to noon Japan time Saturday morning (that is New York 7pm to 11pm, Los Angeles 4pm to 8pm (Friday night), London midnight to 4am and Paris 1am to 5am (early Saturday morning)), and also sitable any time thereafter:


    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

    Dharma Talk Audio / Podcast Episode:
    https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...i-Sutra-Series

    The Sitting Schedule is as follows:

    00:00 - 00:50 CEREMONY (HEART SUTRA IN JAPANESE / SANDOKAI IN ENGLISH) & ZAZEN
    00:50 - 01:00 KINHIN
    01:00 - 01:30 ZAZEN
    01:30 - 01:50 KINHIN

    01:50 - 02:30 DHARMA TALK & ZAZEN
    02:30 - 02:40 KINHIN & HOKEY-POKEY RITUAL

    02:40 - 03:15 ZAZEN
    03:15 - 03:30 KINHIN
    03:30 - 04:00 METTA CHANT & ZAZEN, VERSE OF ATONEMENT, FOUR VOWS, & CLOSING
    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

    STLah


    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

    Last edited by Jundo; 06-03-2022 at 06:13 AM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  2. #2
    We continue will the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra, cherished by Zen folks.

    Here, at Gate 9, we again find many very excellent responses by a bunch of very wise Bodhisattvas (after all, they are big time Bodhisattvas, so not amateurs! ) Does the lay person Vimalakirti truly "best" them at the end? Here are some good examples of what the Bodhisattvas said:

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    At that time Vimalakirti said to the various bodhisattvas, "Sirs, how does the bodhisattva go about entering the doorway of nondualism? Let each one explain as he understands it."

    One of the bodhisattvas in the assembly, whose name was Dharma Freedom, spoke these words: "Sirs, birth and extinction form a dualism. But since all dharmas are not born to begin with, they must now be without extinction. By grasping and learning to accept this truth of birthlessness, one may enter the gate of nondualism."

    The bodhisattva Virtue Guardian said, "'I' and 'mine' form a dualism. Because there is an 'I', there is also a 'mine.' But if there is no 'I,' there will be no 'mine.' In this way one enters the gate of nondualism." ...

    The bodhisattva Universal Guardian said, "'I' and 'not-I' form a dualism. But when one cannot grasp even 'I,' how can one grasp 'not-I'? One who has seen into the true nature of 'I' will no longer give rise to these two concepts, and in this way enter the gate of nondualism." ...

    The bodhisattva Virtue Peak said, "Defilement and purity form a dualism. But if one sees into the true nature of defilement, it is without the marks of purity but leads into the extinction of all marks. In this way one enters the gate of nondualism." ...

    The bodhisattva Good Constellation said, "The stirring of the mind and thought-these two form a dualism. But if the mind is not stirred, then there will be. no thought. And if there is no thought, there will be no discrimination. The one who has thoroughly mastered this may in this way enter the gate of nondualism." ...

    The bodhisattva Pushyal said, "Good and not good form a dualism. But if one does not call up either good or not good but enters into the realm of the formless and truly masters it, in this way one may enter the gate of nondualism."

    The bodhisattva Lion said, "Blame and blessing form a dualism. But if one penetrates the true nature of blame, it is no different from blessing. When one can dispose of forms with this diamondlike wisdom, neither bound nor liberated, one may in this way enter the gate of nondualism." ...

    The bodhisattva Lion Will said, "Presence of outflows of passion and absence of such outflows constitute a dualism. But if one can grasp the fact that all dharmas are equal, then one will not give rise to the concept of outflows or no outflows. One will not be attached to form nor dwell in formlessness either. In this way one may enter the gate of nondualism." ...

    The bodhisattva Good Will said, "The realm of birth and death and that of nirvana form a dualism. But if one sees the true nature of birth and death, one sees that there is no birth or death, no binding, no unbinding, no birth, no extinction. One who understands in this way may thereby enter the gate of nondualism." ...

    The bodhisattva Lightning God said, "Enlightenment and ignorance form a dualism. But the true nature of ignorance is none other than enlightenment. And enlightenment cannot be seized, but is apart from all enumerations. One dwells in the center, in the equality without dualism, and in this way enters the gate of nondualism." ...

    The bodhisattva Joyful Seeing said, "Form and the emptiness of form constitute a dualism. But form is none other than emptiness; emptiness does not represent the extinction of form. Form is itself empty by nature. ...

    The bodhisattva Merit Field said, "To speak of meritorious deeds, blameful deeds, and deeds that call forth no retribution is dualistic. The true nature of all three kinds of deeds is empty. And if it is empty, then there are no meritorious deeds, no blameful deeds, and no deeds that call forth no retribution. One who does not rouse any thought of distinctions with regard to these three types of deeds may thereby enter the gate of nondualism." ...

    The bodhisattva Virtue Storehouse said, "To suppose that there is some form or object that one can acquire is dualistic. But if one realizes that there is nothing to be acquired, then there will be no grasping and no rejecting. And when there is no grasping and no rejecting, one may in this way enter the gate of nondualism." ...

    The bodhisattva Treasure Sign said, "To yearn for nirvana and not delight in the world constitutes a dualism. But if one does not yearn for nirvana and does not loathe the world, there will be no dualism. Why? If there is binding, there will be un-binding. But if there is no binding to begin with, who will seek to be unbound? And where there is no binding and unbinding, there will be no yearning and no loathing, and in this way one may enter the gate of nondualism."

    The bodhisattva Jewel Crowned King said, "The correct way and the erroneous way constitute a dualism. But one who dwells in the correct way does not make distinctions, saying 'This is erroneous!' or 'This is correct!' By removing oneself from both, one may thereby enter the gate of nondualism."

    ...

    Then Manjushri said to Vimalakirti, "Each of us has given an explanation. Now, sir, it is your turn to speak. How does the bodhisattva enter the gate of nondualism?"

    At that time Vimalakirti remained silent and did not speak a word.

    Manjushri sighed and said, "Excellent, excellent! Not a word, not a syllable-this truly is to enter the gate of nondualism!"

    When this chapter on Entering the Gate of Nondualism was preached, five thousand bodhisattvas in the assembly were all able to enter the gate of nondualism and to learn to accept the truth of birthlessness.

    http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Vimalak...tson,1997.html
    Last edited by Jundo; 05-06-2022 at 01:53 PM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  3. #3
    Our dance today, in honor of Vimalakirti's Doorway, is by "The Doors" ...

    ... and is their (perhaps deservedly forgotten) song from 1972 (two years AFTER Jim Morrison's passing) ...


    ... Get Up And Dance ...

    ... with (almost) profound and (kinda) Zenlike lyrics such as ...

    ... No need to worry, no need to hide
    Everybody is on the same side
    Oh people, get up and dance ...

    The Bodhisattvas in our reading this week would point out that there is no "other" side, thus no place or need to hide!

    Like walking along an electric beam
    It's the old crystal palace dream
    ...
    The future's ours if we just take a chance
    No need to hurry, but no time to waste

    The Bodhisattvas preach that all is a dream as we walk along life's electric beam ...

    ... for time is a dream, no place to go, so how can we hurry and what waste can be seen?

    (No, Jim Morrison did not write those lyrics, for sure. )

    DID I BLOW YOUR MIND?

    Gassho, J

    STLah
    Last edited by Jundo; 05-06-2022 at 09:06 AM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  4. #4
    See you tonight folks!

    Gassho,
    ./sat --lah
    Neil

  5. #5
    See you all later! Such a joy when this day of the week comes!!!

    Sat Today
    Bion
    -------------------------
    When you put Buddha’s activity into practice, only then are you a buddha. When you act like a fool, then you’re a fool. - Sawaki Roshi

  6. #6
    Thank you, everyone, so lovely to practice together. Bion, the chanting and bells were beautiful. Jundo, the talk opened my mind.

    Gassho,
    Onkai
    Sat/lah
    美道 Bidou Beautiful Way
    恩海 Onkai Merciful/Kind Ocean

    I have a lot to learn; take anything I say that sounds like teaching with a grain of salt.

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Onkai View Post
    Thank you, everyone, so lovely to practice together. Bion, the chanting and bells were beautiful. Jundo, the talk opened my mind.

    Gassho,
    Onkai
    Sat/lah
    You and Nengei made me happy today! More than you all usually do every week! Thanks for the lovely compliment!

    Sat Today
    Bion
    -------------------------
    When you put Buddha’s activity into practice, only then are you a buddha. When you act like a fool, then you’re a fool. - Sawaki Roshi

  8. #8
    Treeleaf Unsui Nengei's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Minnesota's Driftless Area
    Wonderful job, Bion! You're hired!

    Gassho,
    遜道念芸 Nengei
    Sat today. LAH.

  9. #9
    Thanks everyone

    Gassho,
    Neil

  10. #10
    As I mentioned sometimes today, the melody for the Sandokai (Identity of Relative and Absolute) in English which we chant was developed by the great engaged Buddhist Bernie Glassman Roshi of the White Plum, inspired by the first few opening bars of Fiddler on the Roof!


    I understand that he wished to have something more appropriate to the cadence of English than the traditional Japanese style, heard in the first few minutes here, rather tricky to chant or to match with the English wording and syllable breaks:


    Gassho, J

    STLah
    Last edited by Jundo; 05-07-2022 at 07:08 AM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  11. #11
    Sorry for the Hokey Pokey dancing confusion ...

    Apparently, you guys could hear the music at home, but we could not in the Zendo.

    Will figure that mystery out by next month.

    In any case ... it was good!

    Gassho, J

    STLah
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  12. #12
    That was very lovely! Thank you everyone.

    Gassho
    Anchi
    Life itself is the only teacher.
    一 Joko Beck


    STLah
    安知 Anchi

  13. #13
    Thank you everyone for sitting together, lovely as always

    Thank you Bion for your beautiful music

    Gassho,
    Nengyoku
    Sat
    Thank you for being the warmth in my world.

  14. #14
    Sat with you all Sunday and Monday (recording). Thank so much, everyone!

    Gassho,
    Judy
    Sat/lah

  15. #15
    Member Seishin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    La Croix-Avranchin, Basse Normandie, France
    Sat last week on demand but neglected to offer thanks to everyone.

    I don't have a lot to say these days but wanted to say a special thank you to Bion for his Ino services these last two weeks and for his wonderful Hear Sutra. Deep bows.

    Sat for peace.


    Seishin

    Sei - Meticulous
    Shin - Heart

  16. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by Seishin View Post
    Sat last week on demand but neglected to offer thanks to everyone.

    I don't have a lot to say these days but wanted to say a special thank you to Bion for his Ino services these last two weeks and for his wonderful Hear Sutra. Deep bows.

    Sat for peace.
    Thank you so very much! I really appreciate you!

    Sat Today
    Bion
    -------------------------
    When you put Buddha’s activity into practice, only then are you a buddha. When you act like a fool, then you’re a fool. - Sawaki Roshi

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