I encourage looking at these threads, topics and posts today ...
We welcome the New Year with, of course, Zazen ... Dec 30-31st Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - TIMELESS-ALL-TIME-JUST-THIS-TIME-EVER-NEW YEAR ... available for sitting every new moment ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-EVER-NEW-YEAR
... and a little essay on time, right on time ... a TIMELESS-ALL-TIME-JUST-THIS-TIME-EVER-NEW-YEAR ... ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-EVER-NEW-YEAR
Bringing in the New Year with ringing ... the Japanese way ... New Year's Greetings from Treeleaf, Japan 2023 ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...eaf-Japan-2023
Mateus asked "What are the 108 Defilements (Bonno)" which all that ringing is about ... (not the U-2 singer) ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ts-%28Bonno%29
Washin struggles to sit with us from Odesa due to the missile attacks and power cuts ... Zazen Sitting for Peace - Sunday, January 1 - An Hour with Washin, from Ukraine ... amid the Bonno of hate, violence and the rest
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...n-from-Ukraine
The war impacts even our peaceful ritual of Tonglen ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...January-1-2023
Our dear Jinkan continues practicing through surgeries and pain ... his wisdom heals us ... The continuing tales of Gendo JinKan ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...f-Gendo-JinKan
Mad at the Buddha for abandoning his family ... and there are some grounds for criticism ... although times and values were different then ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ing-his-family
Also, a moving insight into this New Year, the flow of time and a sick child's passing ... "Ring out the old, ring in the new" and the relation to death
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ation-to-death
Does Zen Practice naturally make us more Compassionate, and always let us know the Compassionate thing to do (or not)? ... Compassion as a natural response ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...tural-response
In our "No Words" Book Club ... turning to some new pages, and taking on a new Koan ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...TERS-BOOK-CLUB
Also, things are jumping in our Eco-Dharma group ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...Practice-Group
Getting closer to our upcoming Jukai Ceremony ... Sunday January 15th ... as sewing and Precepts study continue ...
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/foru...Y-SEWING-FORUM
And, of course, Shokai's 108 GATES of DHARMA ILLUMINATION roll on each day ...
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
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