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

Several recent Weekly Zazenkai still open to sit, any time ... such as this, on Bringing the Monastery Home ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...Monastery-Home

Our next Precept, good to recall in this Season of Peace ... PRECEPTS XI - To Refrain from Being Angry ... stay cool ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...om-Being-Angry

For our sewers ... Rakusu Backs are in the mail! ... Mailings Arriving Soon: What's In The Rakusu Envelope? ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...akusu-Envelope

Some members discuss ... How to bring monastic best practices into lay life ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-into-lay-life

... which led to a little essay about that ... Building A Monastery At Home ... don't confuse the jelly jar with the jelly ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...astery-At-Home

Another little essay by me ... connected, identical yet individual ... INDIVIDUAL.INTERCONNECTED.INTRAFLOWING.INESCAPABLE .INTRAIDENTICAL.INEXPRESSIBLE.INMO ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...612#post315612

A beautiful and wise teaching from our Kokuu ... To Save All Sentient Beings... ... what does it mean, as it seems impossible ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...entient-Beings

New AI tech offers some surprisingly wise and original Zen teachings and more ... GPT and Zen ... wow ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...60-GPT-and-Zen

It's that time of year again ... here are some Zen-Buddhist-Christmas mash-ups ... A Zen Buddhist Christmas ... ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...hist-Christmas

An important lesson on not assuming what's going on, when its going on ... Remember to Smile ... it is not always about you ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ember-to-Smile

A member goes overboard ... I've been an idiot ... well, we all are sometimes ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-been-an-idiot

New Books coming up ... in our "No Words Book Club" ... featuring Koans, a bit of my book ("Zen Master's Dance") and the excellent "Zen Teachings for Challenging Times" ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ORDS-BOOK-CLUB

... and also in our EcoDharma group ... with Joanna Macy ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...OK-FOR-2023%21

On the Zen-of-Everything Podcast ... Buddha Basics 12: Equanimiousness ... why a Zen vacuum cleaner comes with no attachments ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...quanimiousness

Washin continues on, sitting in the dark when no power in Odesa ... our Sunday Sittings for Peace ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...hin-in-Ukraine

Likewise, with Tonglen practice ... we make our own power ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...RACTICE-CIRCLE

... and not to be missed ...

Shokai dives back into his annual cycle of wisdom and compassion ... The 108 GATES of DHARMA ILLUMINATION ... a gate a day keeps the doctor away ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...ON-with-Shokai




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!)

As a powerful Zen practice about not falling into words and thoughts, simplifying ideas, not getting tangled, we ask people to keep sentences few in posting. However, it is not some law or hard rule at all. If someone really has something in their heart to say, and it is vital and cannot be said more concisely or silently, then say what one is called to say: In such case, no limit on words needed.

A Request to Sangha Members: "Three Sacred Sentences" Practice
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ences-Practice

* * *


As well, 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):


Gassho, Jundo

(Sorry to run long)

SatTodayLAH