Even buddhas practice buddha, and they do so as and amid everyday activities. Those events of daily life are the place of practice, and are just one’s life. In everyday activities, the Teachings can be both learned and put into practice. Allowing life to be fully life.

Such will be the theme of this Ango … practice in the homes, offices, factories, with the people and situations with whom we find our self in our everyday activities.

In keeping with the philosophy and path of practice here at Treeleaf
(“life is our temple”), we will seek to obtain many of the same …
(and, I believe, quite a few additional and very special)
… fruits and lessons of a traditional Ango while sitting within the
“monastery” of our day-to-day lives, jobs, problems, unending
distractions and family responsibilities.

In doing so, I believe, we will have the opportunity to taste the sweetness (and sometime bitterness … no one without the other) of concentrated Zen practice …

The most important point to keep in mind is that those work duties at the office, daily problems and family responsibilities ARE THE PRACTICE PLACE as much as the Zafu (sitting cushion). The home kitchen is the temple kitchen, the office, store or factory is the garden when we practice Samu (work practice), etc.  Each presents countless opportunities for practice, and for manifesting Wisdom and Compassion.

The purpose is not to overwhelm; it is to mutually
work together through a period of dedicated practice. We will do our
best each and every day, and let Zazen soak into our life. But key to that is consistency, not giving up, finding the time and not quitting.

I propose that Ango participants
should commit (as best they can, given the circumstance of their lives) to as many of the following as possible. In all cases, the
emphasis will be on increasing … not raw quantity … but the sincerity, commitment, vigor and seriousness of what we undertake:

•  Add a minimum of 5 minutes per sitting to however long one’s current sitting time, and commit to sit that time – at least daily – without missing a single day. As well, for those who can and whose schedule will realistically allow …
  consider adding an additional full sitting period per day to however
  many times per day one is now sitting Zazen. Whatever your commitment,
  be realistic about what you can maintain … and then (absent sheer
  impossibility) stick with it, without missing a single day

• Join in each and every 1-hour Saturday Treeleaf Zazenkai, and 4-hour monthly Treeleaf Zazenkai

netcast without fail. However, as always, each will be available in
recorded form (so may be joined at a time to fit your schedule).

• Add, if you can, Metta Verse Practice and Nurturing Seeds Practice  to your routine each day.

•  Listen, as possible, to each short (usually 5 minutes or so) ‘Sit-a-Long’ Talk
  (to be presented by Jundo and Taigu on this Treeleaf “Beliefnet” Blog)
  during the practice period, also all available in recorded form to meet
  your schedule. A special series of talks will be presented during the
  Ango period (we shall use Dogen’s “Instructions for the Cook” Tenzokyokun, as well as other subjects. Necessary materials will be provided).

• Join frequently in online discussions in our Forum (LINK) of the content and Ango experiences, sharing the ups and downs and middles.

•  If technically possible, commit to meet with Jundo or Taigu by Skype video at least once per month during the Ango.

•  If simultaneously studying for Jukai, complete and participate in each of the readings and discussions each week regarding the individual Precepts, as well as complete Rakusu sewing.

•  Make formal study on the meaning and philosophy of Samu (work practice, the central theme of Dogen’s “Instructions for the Cook”), and apply such perspectives and attitudes in your family and work duties each day.

•  Commit to give up one or two items or passions one truly loves during the Practice period, for example, sweets after meals, luxurious meals, cigarettes, television, consumer purchases of luxury items.

•  Commit to mindful eating, and silently or orally recite one short meal chant (to be provided) before all meals.

• Commit a portion of your weekly income during the period to extra charitable donations (assuming you have the financial ability). I
  do not accept any “Dana” financial contributions for Treeleaf, as we
  now have sufficient resources for what we are doing. However, I do
  encourage people to make financial donations to charities that help
  folks, e.g., feeding the poor, finding a cure for a disease. Both
  donations and Samu work should be a bit beyond the point where it
  starts to hurt. If you have the time, consider extra volunteer activities in your community as well.

•  Commit to sit our SPECIAL 2-DAY ROHATSU RETREAT
  (to be held online, currently scheduled for netcast the weekend of
  December 5 & 6) at the culmination of the Ango. Again, it would be
  good to participate “live”, but all will be available in recorded form
  to fit schedules. The retreat will likely be similar to last year’s
  schedule and content (LINK HERE):