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Treeleaf Zen

.Zazen today in the motel where we are staying … ’cause my family and I are on vacation! I mean Buddhists are allowed to have fun too … and frolic on the beach sometimes. It’s not all about ‘suffering‘ you know (though even a beach can be ‘suffering‘ if one is attached to being there…

NOTE FROM JUNDO – I AM CAMPING IN A STATE PARK WITH MY FAMILY TODAY ON THE ‘BIG ISLAND’ OF HAWAII … I HAVE COME TO LOOK AT LAVA POUR FROM THE EARTH. HOWEVER, THAT MEANS THAT TODAY’s ZAZEN MUST BE RECORDED. AS WELL, OUR FOUR HOUR MONTHLY ZAZENKAI FOR AUGUST HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO…

. Some bouncy turbulence on our Pacific flight, and I sit a littlepacific Zazen. Dogen and many teachers of centuries past crossed toChina in wooden boats, on voyages taking days or weeks, meeting stormsand constant dangers. I can only imagine their state, sitting Zazen ina leaky vessel as waves pounded the timbers. Now anyone can…

..Sitting Zazen during a TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN … Total eclipse envelops Asia in darkness (CNN) Darkness fell across parts of China and India on Wednesday morning as atotal solar eclipse passed across the world’s most populous countries,bringing throngs of people outside to watch the phenomenon. Event is longest of 21st century … Actually,…

. JUST BEING “IN THE MOMENT” …     …  FOR A MOMENT IN THE PARK (remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells; a sitting time of 20 to 35 minutes is recommended) To subscribe to “Treeleaf Zen” click here.  

Please join our weekly “Live from Treeleaf” Zazenkai meditation … We start with 3 floor prostrations (or deep Gassho), then chant the Heart Sutra in ENGLISH (see below), then sit about 40 minutes of Zazen, then 10 minutes of Kinhin, closing with the chants of the “Verse of Atonement” and “Four Vows“.Please join in, one…

… by dropping all need and effort to attain enlightenment … … thus, enlightenment immediately attained! It is often said that our Shikantaza way is about “not seeking“, being “goalless“, abandoning the need and search for “enlightenment” … It is also said that, in “just sitting,” we best drop all desire to be peaceful ……

(BENDOWA XXXIX) This passage may be a bit clearer if we think of the practice of Zazen as  … not really a means to obtain enlightenment … but a “dance of original enlightenment” … … a dance that both celebrates, and brings to life, the fact of enlightenment in our lives. We may be originally…

(BENDOWA XXXVIII) In other words … Someone asks Dogen … “Hey Dogen, if Zazen is a way for unenlightened folks to get enlightened … is there any reason for enlightened folks to continue Zazen after they get enlightened?” Dogen responds, “You still don’t get it, silly boy? Let me say it again … Zazen is…

Oh baby you know what I’m talking aboutRollercoaster of Loveoh yeah it’s Rollercoaster time . (remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells; a sitting time of 20 to 35 minutes is recommended) To subscribe to “Treeleaf Zen” click here.  
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