Hi all,

I would like to clarify an important point about the kesa. Wearing a kesa is in Dogen's view what sentient beings should do when they practice shikantaza, so lay folk as well as anything else can wear a kesa. It is not connected to a special rank, doesn't give anybody the right to boss, teach or be above other people. Quite the opposite, wearing a kesa, means serving the kesa, looking after it, mending it, washing it and also serving what it stands for, what it represents: this boundless universe. It does not make us king or queen, but mere servants. Of course, these days, in Japan, the kesa represents the rank of a monk, the lighter the shade the higher in the hierarchy...This does not apply to the Nyoho e tradition that we are following. So wearing a kesa doesn't mean we become priests, in order to do so, we have to be trained and receive the precepts during a specific ceremony(shukke Tokudo, the one that Dirk, Fugen and Hans will soon experience).

One more thing, once the vids done and the written instructions polished, unlike the rakusu course, everything will be made available but not to everybody.A pass worded youtube channel will be given to those willing to study and sew. It is important to make it available to people outside Treeleaf but the same rules will apply: show credentials, bring evidence of teacher's agreement and explain why one is willing to undertsake this journey. The vids will be free of charge, but I put a lot of work in them and my responsibility is that it doesn't fall into the wrongs hands.

That's all for now.

Please, if you are willing to sew...get in touch with Jundo or taigu.

gassho


Taigu

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