What's the zendo all about

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What's the zendo all about - 8/23/2007 7:46:14 AM

zenmember

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From: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
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Speaking of revelations;

One such event came to me like a thunderbolt eleven years ago, as I lit a josh stick while entering the zendo of Shokoji temple in Hiroshima, Japan. My senses were suddenly inundated with a totally mind boggling invasive thought. I was immediately amazed by its eloquent simplicity. And by the time I had taken my place in the zendo, seated on my cushion, a three phrase couplet had formulated itself and was indelibly ingrained in my psyche. You can imagine the uprooting suddeness of this moment. The charm and mystery of its poetry was undeniable. The instinctive awareness of its spiritual significance was a life changing experience.
I have since that day, repeated these phrases in the fervent belief that one day, all will see and experience the quantum truth of positive thought. The discovery years later, of the candle lighting area at www.gratefulness.org immediately convinced me that I had found the perfect vehicle to convey the sentiment contained in my revelation. Each day I light three candles in the candle group "zendo"; each with a phrase attached.

May this offering bring peace to all sentient beings,

May our thoughts and meditations contribute to the harmony of the universe;

And, May all hearts and minds be opened to the Present.

Can you picture John Lenon's vision expressed in the lyrics of his song:

"Imagine all the people living life in peace."

_____________________________

"We must be the change we want to see in this world."

Please light a Candle in the "zendo"

Post #: 1

RE: What's the zendo all about - 8/23/2007 11:45:43 PM

Hildegard

Posts: 2720
Joined: 8/30/2006
From: Chicago
Status: online

Thank you, Richard, for sharing this experience with us.
May the three phrases not remain such but become reality!

Edda

_____________________________

Peace and joy!

Post #: 2

RE: What's the zendo all about - 8/24/2007 8:06:48 PM

artemis611

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Joined: 7/20/2007
From: Oklahoma
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Richard: I'm so glad to hear about that experience and the origin of your three phrases. (I've always wondered!) And I appreciate the zendo. I often leave it up on my computer while I meditate, and I feel like I'm meditating with friends!

Lori

_____________________________

To truly listen is to perfect one's own virtue.

Post #: 3

RE: What's the zendo all about - 8/27/2007 8:27:28 AM

zenmember

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From: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
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To both Edda and Lori;

Thank you for the kind words and thoughts; and keep those candles burning.

_____________________________

"We must be the change we want to see in this world."

Please light a Candle in the "zendo"

Post #: 4

RE: What's the zendo all about - 8/30/2007 8:31:12 AM

zenmember

Posts: 381
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
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Today's Daily Om excerpt is:

A meditation teacher pointed out that if you put a cow
in a small pen, she acts up and pushes against the boundaries,
whereas if you provide her with a large, open space, she will
peacefully graze in one spot. In the same way, our thoughts
settle down peacefully if we provide them with enough space,
and our bodies follow suit.

_____________________________

"We must be the change we want to see in this world."

Please light a Candle in the "zendo"

Post #: 5

RE: What's the zendo all about - 9/20/2007 7:49:56 AM

zenmember

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From: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
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Today's Daily Zen offering:

Whenever a thought occurs,
Be aware of it,
As soon as you are aware of it,
It will vanish.
If you remain for a long period
Forgetful of objects,
You will naturally become unified.
This is the essential art of zazen.

- Dogen (1200-1253)

"Imagine all the people living life in Peace."

_____________________________

"We must be the change we want to see in this world."

Please light a Candle in the "zendo"

Post #: 6

RE: What's the zendo all about - 9/20/2007 3:59:23 PM

Hildegard

Posts: 2720
Joined: 8/30/2006
From: Chicago
Status: online

Richard, your previous post reminded me of the time, when we had a whole ward of children with
Rheumatic Fever in the Children's Hospital. They were supposed to be on bedrest, but managed to jump around all over the bed teaching us that rest can't be enforced. If we allowed them to sit around the small tables in the room, they would sit quietly and play, getting more rest by not being confined!

Today's post finds a parallel in our Centering Prayer practice. We become aware of thoughts and let them go, returning to being simply present to God, Ultimate Reality or however you name what is beyond and unites us.

Edda

_____________________________

Peace and joy!

Post #: 7

RE: What's the zendo all about - 9/20/2007 6:50:16 PM

artemis611

Posts: 387
Joined: 7/20/2007
From: Oklahoma
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Welcome back, Richard!!!!!! I missed your postings. Hope you are well.

Your post reminded me of the saying (can't remember who it was, but it was a therapy person), "What you resist persists." I had tried meditation as a much younger adult, and believed the point was to stop the thoughts. Needless to say, I was very frustrated. Because when you try to stop having them, they come back even stronger. Now I know that it's not about stopping them, it's about letting them go, not letting them "take you with them." What a difference.

Lori

_____________________________

To truly listen is to perfect one's own virtue.

Post #: 8

RE: What's the zendo all about - 9/21/2007 3:23:06 PM

buttington

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From: UK
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Dear Lori,
You've probably got your own method, but putting your thoughts, as soon as you become aware of them, into the basket of a hot-air ballon and sending them skyward is good. or saying gently to them that you will come back to them when you've finished your meditation. J

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Love is the only way

Post #: 9

RE: What's the zendo all about - 9/21/2007 7:33:27 PM

artemis611

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Joined: 7/20/2007
From: Oklahoma
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I notice I've done the latter. I had a really funny experience one time with something like the former. I was gently tossing my thoughts into the ocean. For some reason I was really upset that day, and thoughts were coming really fast, and got faster and faster. And my visualization became really fast too, and it became comical . . . . thinking and throwing, thinking and throwing, and after a few minutes I just started laughing out loud. After I stopped, I was able to meditate without much difficulty. I guess I just really needed to get the giggles to release the tension. But it was one of my most fun meditation experiences.

Lori

_____________________________

To truly listen is to perfect one's own virtue.

Post #: 10

RE: What's the zendo all about - 9/21/2007 10:58:17 PM

Hildegard

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From: Chicago
Status: online

Lori, thank you for sharing your experience! It is good to have a sense of humor, when we are bombarded with thoughts of every kind! Someone once said that these are just so many opportunities to affirm our intention to be present!

Edda

_____________________________

Peace and joy!

Post #: 11

RE: What's the zendo all about - 9/24/2007 9:03:38 AM

zenmember

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From: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
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Suddenly, I saw a yellow Angel

For those who have never entered or seen a Zendo, It is that part of a Zen Buddhist temple where zazen is practised. It can be a formal hall with platforms that are used to "just sit" (shikantaza) or informally, the area of the main temple temporarily set aside for this purpose. Either way it is a special place where you can just "drift awake." You enter the hall in a reverent manner, light a josh stick with a silent prayer, take your place and wait for the opening. The opening of a session is signalled by the ringing of a small bell which with time becomes a subconscious trigger. The reverberation of sound in our consciousness acts in the way AUM affects the psyche. And, suddenly, you are alone with your breathing. Later, the bell is rung and all join a procession of walking meditation; one breath equals one step. This is mostly to revitilize the limbs. After a short walk about in a circle, you are invited to "just sit" until the next signalling of a break in the session. At any time, you may be interrupted by the laying of a stick on your shoulder, to remind you of your posture. It is responded to by a reverent joining of your hands in gratitude (gassho) and resumption of a perfect sitting posture. It is important to hold the spine in an straight upright position to enable the correct flow of energy and function of your body. In time, the whole process is internalized and one can enjoy "thusness"; the quality of "Be still and know you are not alone."

Post #: 12

RE: What's the zendo all about - 10/2/2007 7:46:36 AM

zenmember

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In life, most of us want things to go to the places we have envisioned ourselves going. We have plans and visions, some of them divinely inspired, that we want to see through to completion. We want to be happy, successful, and healthy, all of which are perfectly natural and perfectly human. So when life takes us to places we didn’t consciously want to go, we often feel as if something has gone wrong, ..... read more

_____________________________

"We must be the change we want to see in this world."

Please light a Candle in the "zendo"

Post #: 13

RE: What's the zendo all about - 1/11/2008 1:16:54 PM

zenmember

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From: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
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What is this thing called self ?

_____________________________

"We must be the change we want to see in this world."

Please light a Candle in the "zendo"

Post #: 14