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Treeleaf Zen

Thisis an Enso from the great Zen teacher Nantembo who lived a century ago,his temple in Nishinomiya is very close to where I live. Itsays: Everything fundamentally is perfect roundness in this world. Assoon as you are born in this world, your mind is fundamentally perfectroundness. (remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells; a…

This month’s sitting and ceremony is dedicated to a friend whose son is leaving for service in Afghanistan … and to all such families … Please join our NOVEMBER MONTHLY 4-hour ‘Live from Treeleaf’ ZAZENKAI, recorded in “real time” and available at the following links: The recording is divided into 2 parts as follows (click…

( Dogen’s Instructions for the Cook – XXII) Master Dogen continues his story of the Yuwang Monastery cook. (I have added capitalized notes inspired by Uchiyama Roshi’s comments) … I again asked the cook:“You are venerable in years; why don’t you sit in meditation to pursue theway or contemplate the words of the ancients? It…

(there is no video today … ) Well, I just had the pleasure of visiting a Meditation Hall with 1,300 members, from all Buddhist traditions … some of whom are pirates, golden fairies, meditating dogs, flying dragons and …. the imagination is the only limit! It is called “Kannonji”, and is located in that weird…

( Dogen’s Instructions for the Cook – XXI) In the following section, Master Dogen recounts his encounters in China with two old Tenzo  … The stories speak for themselves today … so I’ll let them … (I’ll have a little to say about the last lines tomorrow) _____________________________ When this mountain monk[I, Dôgen] was at…

( Dogen’s Instructions for the Cook – XX) This is a chance to talk about Buddhist practice and personal (or “self”) responsibility. The world and our self are not two, meaning that we can do a lot to repair this world starting by looking and changing within our self. Also, it is important to realize…

simplicity, please … (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 5 minutes or so of Kinhin, closing with the chants of the “Verse of Atonement” and “Four Vows“.Please join…

Construction has begun on converting an old wooden building at Treeleaf in Tsukuba into a hall for sitting Zazen. I cannot post a sitting today, so offer this short tribute to the carpenter (Mr. Aita) and architect (Mr. Ushioda), good friends, who have been working on the place each day. They also need to do…

( Dogen’s Instructions for the Cook – XIX) …. all things intra-penetrating  …  We receive aid and support from others, we give to others, we bow in gratitude. _____________________________ When a patron comesinto the monastery and donates money to hold a feast, the various stewardsshould all be consulted; this is the precedent established in monasteries…
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