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Treeleaf Zen

. We have a new teacher, filling in for today …(I think he’s better than the regular teacher) Please try to catch the teacher’s special after-Zazen ‘goodbye’in last last 30 seconds of the netcast. YOU MAY WANT TO TURN DOWN THE VOLUME SLIGHTLY …THIS GUY LIKES TO SCREAM INTO THE MICROPHONEPress on arrow for ‘play’…

.A beautiful observation was made in discussion on our Forum today … Renunciation requires a willingness to let go of EVERYTHING…your thoughts, your feelings, your wishes, dreams, hopes. Everything really does mean everything. I think this is true in part, yet not true in part. It is true that, through our Buddhist Practice, we come…

. When life gets a bit complicated, when the wires are tangled … Press on arrow for ‘play’ .

. Beware of any teacher, from whatever tradition, promising ‘ecstacy’, ‘unshakable bliss‘, ‘everlasting joy‘, ‘eternal harmony’, ‘unending peace & happiness’, ‘permanent euphoric states‘ etc. etc. … The vast majority (I dare not speak for all) are con artists … deceiving students with claims that cannot be backed-up, selling ‘enlightenment’ to the gullible. Eastern religions, Buddhism…

. Must we bow, ring bells, chant (in Japanese, no less), wear traditional robes, have Buddha Statues, burn incense? … All that stuff besides Zazen (as, for example, during our recent Retreat). Are they necessary to our Practice? No, not at all! We don’t need anything other than Zazen, any of those trappings. In fact,…

. Do not be attached to symbols of non-attachment. Pieces of broken Buddhas are each a Buddha complete. That which is whole remains so, yet is divided. Thus, no violence is ever done, though terrible violence be done. We are, you and I, each broken Buddhas. Press on arrow for ‘play’ .

. When was the last time you really, truly looked at a stone? Truly listened to a stone? Press on arrow for ‘play’ .

It is traditional to have a Buddha Statue in the Zen Hall … or, rather, a statue of Manjusri Bodhisattva astride a Lion, a symbol of Wisdom … But, really, any Buddha (or Bodhisattva) statue or picture will do. In fact, where in these do you see or not see the ‘True Buddha”? NOTE: SIGNAL…

. A few last thoughts about our ‘Online One Day Retreat‘ tomorrow … RETREAT INFORMATION. Press on arrow for ‘play’ .

.We continue with Oryoki for our ‘Online One Day Retreat’ this Saturday … RETREAT INFORMATION … Traditional Oryoki practice consists of scores of set movements for eating, each of which must be learned and mastered, much like a ballet. Here is a small sample, this merely for wiping and repacking the spoon, chopsticks and settsu…
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