Sept 9th-10th, 2016 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI - COMMENCING this ANGO & JUKAI !

[Kyosei]

May I ask one more question?

Is everything (even stinky things, lol) the Buddha only when we perceive we are really not separated from it?

I remember something I read - maybe a Koan - when Bodhidharma says "not sacred", I guess it is one of the responses he gives to Emperor Wu:

"(...)Emperor Wu, a little put out: "What then is the most important principle of Buddhism?"

Bodhidharma: "Vast emptiness. Nothing sacred.""

as seenhere.

What does he meant by "Nothing sacred" if everything is Buddha, if Buddha-nature pervades all? Does he said that because the emperor were conceptualizing?

Gassho.

[Jundo]

May I ask a question: when "we" set our objectives for the Ango session, (presuming we are doing it wholeheartedly, not trying to "compete" for "approval of the teacher", for attention, etc. with someone's else's objectives) why do we do that (in Ango)? Is there a historical or traditional background for that?

Hi Marcos,

If I understand your question, Ango was the time in India when the monks would gather to Practice together during the rainy season when travel was impossible. It became, in China and Japan and elsewhere, a time to gather for a bit more intensive group Practice, basically an extended Sesshin.

There is "nothing to attain" in this Practice, but sometimes we need to work a bit more intensively and seriously ... wrestling with our me myself and i ... to attain what this "nothing to attain" is all about.

And: Do these compromises comes from our True Self (as we know they almost represents sacrifices for us)? Is that because we intimately already "know" what we need to improve or "open hand of" to "cut the edges" and "shine our diamonds" (I remembered Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond",lol.) to express our True Selves more vast and openly? Hope you understood what I tried to convey.

Frankly, I understand the lyrics to Pink Floyd's Animals more. I will let you figure all this out or, better, drop it aside and just Ango.

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Sekishi]

Bodhidharma: "Vast emptiness. Nothing sacred.""

as seenhere.

What does he meant by "Nothing sacred" if everything is Buddha, if Buddha-nature pervades all? Does he said that because the emperor were conceptualizing?

I am a junior around here, so take this with a grain of salt, but I have three questions on this for you:

1. If it could have been stated more clearly, Bodhidharma would have done so. Why didn't he use more words?
2. Few teachings are absolutes. Bodhidharma was responding to Emperor Wu. What is "sacred" to someone who built many Buddhist temples (and destroyed many Taoist temples) in a bid for merit?
3. If we sit and connect personally with "vast emptiness", what thing can be grasped that is sacred?

But again, take that with a chunk 'o salt.

Deep bows,
Sekishi

[Kyosei]

I am a junior around here, so take this with a grain of salt, but I have three questions on this for you:

1. If it could have been stated more clearly, Bodhidharma would have done so. Why didn't he use more words?
2. Few teachings are absolutes. Bodhidharma was responding to Emperor Wu. What is "sacred" to someone who built many Buddhist temples (and destroyed many Taoist temples) in a bid for merit?
3. If we sit and connect personally with "vast emptiness", what thing can be grasped that is sacred?

But again, take that with a chunk 'o salt.

Deep bows,
Sekishi

Gassho, Sekishi. A bow. I'll sit with that. Thank you so much.

[Kyosei]

Hi Marcos,

If I understand your question, Ango was the time in India when the monks would gather to Practice together during the rainy season when travel was impossible. It became, in China and Japan and elsewhere, a time to gather for a bit more intensive group Practice, basically an extended Sesshin.

There is "nothing to attain" in this Practice, but sometimes we need to work a bit more intensively and seriously ... wrestling with our me myself and i ... to attain what this "nothing to attain" is all about.



Frankly, I understand the lyrics to Pink Floyd's Animals more. I will let you figure all this out or, better, drop it aside and just Ango.

Gassho, J

SatToday

Gassho Jundo. Thank you.

[Kaishin]

Thank you, everyone. Enjoy your Ango.

-satToday

[Kyonin]

What does he meant by "Nothing sacred" if everything is Buddha, if Buddha-nature pervades all? Does he said that because the emperor were conceptualizing

Hi Marcos,

Nothing sacred for me is that everything is sacred! In fact, everything is so sacred that since all is in the same leven of sacredness, we fail to see it!

But we can realize this with a still mind and with a steady practice.

But I may be wrong

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday

[Shokai]

But we can realize this with a still mind and with a steady practice.

But I may be wrong

actually, i think you were right on



When in doubt, just sit

[Hoko]

It took a few bites but I finished sitting zazenkai with you all.
Thank you, Jundo; I enjoyed your talk and thought you did a very good job bringing the koans to life.
I wish everyone the best in their Ango efforts!
Gassho,
K2
#SatToday

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[Kokuu]

Thank you all! A lovely way to start Ango!

Gassho
Kokuu
#sattoday

[Tai Shi]

I have already spoken about addiction, and now it is time to reflect on the end of summer, my daughter and the neighbor boy so fascinated with the three model rockets we had built in our kitchen never again to rub the stains of glue from mom's counter top. Daughter, young man of 8, and I took the rockets painted all red and blue to the empty school play area, welding rod launcher, and jetex wick in hand to shoot our constructions into the air above the school. I lit the first fuse, and blue rocket climbed about 200 feet above the building to glide into the parking lot with little effort. We experienced the same with the second model rocket, and the kids joyfully jumped into the grassy area behind the school to retrieve the second rocket, and then the third. Liftoff went fine, but the colorful yellow plastic parachute carried our creation into the trees separating school from houses. This finely decorated red projectile lodged up about 25 feet into thin branches. I somewhat haltingly offered the bow a quarter to shimmy up the tree and bring back the rocket from trees. This young man propped his arms and fists on hips, "What will you give me if I go half way up?" Let us not practice Ango and Jukai as I did last year for my first Jukai, and bargain to shimmy half way up the tree. I will never forget my daughter's disappointment as we walked away with only two rockets. Today, I had time, so rather than practice nothing, I practiced something most of the day. I know that not all have the luxury I have of retirement time, and still at age 65, I intend to make hay for the harvest, and find the middle way.

Tai Shi
std
Gassho

[Byokan]

I have already spoken about addiction, and now it is time to reflect on the end of summer, my daughter and the neighbor boy so fascinated with the three model rockets we had built in our kitchen never again to rub the stains of glue from mom's counter top. Daughter, young man of 8, and I took the rockets painted all red and blue to the empty school play area, welding rod launcher, and jetex wick in hand to shoot our constructions into the air above the school. I lit the first fuse, and blue rocket climbed about 200 feet above the building to glide into the parking lot with little effort. We experienced the same with the second model rocket, and the kids joyfully jumped into the grassy area behind the school to retrieve the second rocket, and then the third. Liftoff went fine, but the colorful yellow plastic parachute carried our creation into the trees separating school from houses. This finely decorated red projectile lodged up about 25 feet into thin branches. I somewhat haltingly offered the bow a quarter to shimmy up the tree and bring back the rocket from trees. This young man propped his arms and fists on hips, "What will you give me if I go half way up?" Let us not practice Ango and Jukai as I did last year for my first Jukai, and bargain to shimmy half way up the tree. I will never forget my daughter's disappointment as we walked away with only two rockets. Today, I had time, so rather than practice nothing, I practiced something most of the day. I know that not all have the luxury I have of retirement time, and still at age 65, I intend to make hay for the harvest, and find the middle way.

Tai Shi
std
Gassho

Tai Shi,

a wonderful story, wonderfully told! Thank you for this teaching. I will remember it.

Gassho
Byōkan
sat today

[Matt]

Will be sitting this one tonight.

Gassho,
Matt

[Jakuden]

I have already spoken about addiction, and now it is time to reflect on the end of summer, my daughter and the neighbor boy so fascinated with the three model rockets we had built in our kitchen never again to rub the stains of glue from mom's counter top. Daughter, young man of 8, and I took the rockets painted all red and blue to the empty school play area, welding rod launcher, and jetex wick in hand to shoot our constructions into the air above the school. I lit the first fuse, and blue rocket climbed about 200 feet above the building to glide into the parking lot with little effort. We experienced the same with the second model rocket, and the kids joyfully jumped into the grassy area behind the school to retrieve the second rocket, and then the third. Liftoff went fine, but the colorful yellow plastic parachute carried our creation into the trees separating school from houses. This finely decorated red projectile lodged up about 25 feet into thin branches. I somewhat haltingly offered the bow a quarter to shimmy up the tree and bring back the rocket from trees. This young man propped his arms and fists on hips, "What will you give me if I go half way up?" Let us not practice Ango and Jukai as I did last year for my first Jukai, and bargain to shimmy half way up the tree. I will never forget my daughter's disappointment as we walked away with only two rockets. Today, I had time, so rather than practice nothing, I practiced something most of the day. I know that not all have the luxury I have of retirement time, and still at age 65, I intend to make hay for the harvest, and find the middle way.

Tai Shi
std
Gassho

Aw my brother had those rockets! They were so much fun! I bet your daughter has great memories!
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday


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[Jyukatsu]

10 days late and very jet - lagged but happy I have officially started Ango.
Thank you everyone and thank you Jundo for an inspiring talk.
Gassho,
Marina
Sat Today