Treeleaf Zendo is a Zen Buddhist Sangha in the Sōtō tradition, Treeleaf was designed specifically as an online practice place for Zen practitioners who cannot easily commute to a Zen Center due to health concerns, living in remote areas, or work, childcare and family needs, and seeks to provide Zaze…
This month, we will do the backstroke through Master Dogen's Ocean Mudra Samādhi (Kai'in Zanmai 海印三昧). His wild wordplay is a powerful expression of who we are in the universe, time, being and bringing to life our swimming through life by swimming gracefully. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Treeleaf's June Monthly Zazenkai »
We will do the backstroke through Master Dogen's Ocean Mudra Samādhi (Kai'in Zanmai 海印三昧). His wild wordplay is a powerful expression of who we are in the universe, time, being and bringing to life our swimming through life by swimming gracefully. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: May Monthly Zazenkai»
In today's episode, we look at an earlier and less popular version of master Dogen's Fukanzazengi, which has quite some differences from the popular version we all know. So, what exactly did Dogen Zenji change in the rewrites to his manual for zazen? Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: March Monthly Zazenkai »
Today we dance with an insightful scholar's paper on Dogen Zenji's unique and profound ideas regarding fullness, universal liberation, the sacred as "immanent in space and time", Buddhahood in the "fundamental activity of the world," practice-realization as "liberating activity", Zen practice as the "practice of Buddhahood," and the fullness and sacredness of "ordinary life". Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: READ MORE HERE »
Happy New Year to you all! We continue our study of the koans from the Blue Cliff Record, with a new batch of them today, beginning with case 13. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: JANUARY 2025 MONTHLY ZAZENKAI »
However you feel about the results of the American election, and wherever you live in the world, we do not stop working for good. This is Master Dogen's lesson of "Ongoing Practice Enlightenment". We accept where we are, work for a good direction from right here ... and right here ... and right here. Winter is Winter, Spring is just Spring, Summer is just Summer, Fall is Fall ... but if we do not plant seeds in the Spring, there can be no harvest in Summer and in Fall. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: November 11 Zazenkai »
In this episode, we continue to look at koans from the Blue Cliff Record, specifically cases 7 to 12. We do that through the Soto Zen lens, extracting the practical essence from these famous ancient exchanges. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: November 2024, monthly Zazenkai »
This month, accompanying our sangha's book study, we take a look at the first five koans from the famous Blue Cliff Record. We do that through the Soto Zen lens, extracting the practical essence from these famous ancient exchanges. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: October 2024 Monthly Zazenkai»
This month, as we begin our sangha's Ango, we dive into a few sections of master Dogen's ¨Shoaku Makusa¨ (Not Doing Wrongs) Further reading and discussion are available on the Treeleaf forum: September 2024 Monthly Zazenkai»
We continue our study of master Keizan's Zazen-Yojinki, this time diving into the physicality of zazen and some useful techniques to keep ourselves awake and alert when sitting. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: August 2024, monthly Zazenkai»
We continue with the fifth instalment of this series of talks based on master Keizan's 'Zazen-Yojinki'. In this episode, we are looking at what zazen is by understanding what zazen isn't. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: July Monthly Zazenkai»
This week, Master Keizan tells us what Zazen is, and is not (and also to have clean feet). Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: June 2024, Monthly Zazenkai »
This week, Master Keizan offers practical advice, relevant even today, although some bits maybe more suited to the 13th Century, on one's life surrounding Zazen Practice. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Treeleaf Sangha's May Monthly Zazenkai »
We continue our series on Master Keizan's 'Zazen-Yōjinki'or 'Notes to Keep in Heart for Zazen' Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: HERE»
Master Keizan, considered with Master Dogen one of the two "Founders" of Soto Zen in Japan, lived from 1264 to 1325. His essay “Zazen-Yōjinki” might be considered an expansion and further exploration of Dogen's explanation of Zazen, the 'Fukanzazengi'. The advice is often very practical, covering such topics as how to sit, breathe, what to wear, eat beforehand and what to do on those days when the mind just won't settle down, while other parts of the essay (such as today's portion) are wild, willy and mind wowing as only Zen writings can be! Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: March 2024 Monthly Zazenkai»
Today's Talk will reflect on our "Dedication of Merit", which we recite each time, but maybe without looking closely Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Dedication of Merit»
This is the sixth (and last) in our monthly series based on the modernized translation of the Genjo Koan, from Jundo's book "The Zen Master's Dance" A Guide to Understanding Dōgen and Who You Are in the Universe. Today a message very appropriate for a good life in this New Year and every day ... Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - A Happy New Year Genjo!!
Today, we find enlightenment in EVERY aspect of this world, even the hard parts we do not welcome. And we find enlightenment in how we live in this world, finding our own role Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI»
We continue our series on Genjo Koan, 'Realizing the Truth Right Here,' and the way of Bodhidharma found there. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Remember Bodhidharma Day!
This time, we will be looking at passages of Genjokoan based on the modernized translation from 'THE ZEN MASTER'S DANCE A Guide to Understanding Dōgen and Who You Are in the Universe' in light of our Jukai (Undertaking the Precepts) and Ango (Peaceful Abiding) Season ... Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Commencing JUKAI & ANGO!
Practitioners sometimes think that enlightenment is the endpoint of practice rather than an ongoing series of daily actions that are each an opportunity to manifest either ignorant or enlightened behavior. They think that they must get to a perpetually blissful place called “enlightenment,” removed from the pain and complexity of this world, and all their problems will disappear but their wishes and desires will be fully satisfied. Actually, that has never been the way Zen masters considered enlightenment Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Aug 4-5th 2023 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hr ZAZENKAI - Genjo Koan (II) - The Key to Dogen's Zen
We Start of New Series on Genjo Koan, 'Realizing the Truth Right Here," the Key to Master Dogen's Zen. The text for the talk today, the first in a monthly series, is based on Jundo Cohen´s modernized translation of the Genjo Koan, from his book ¨THE ZEN MASTER'S DANCE¨ A Guide to Understanding Dōgen and Who You Are in the Universe Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: July 7-8th 2023 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hr ZAZENKAI - Genjo Koan (I) - The Key to Dogen's Zen
The following is an audio version of the essay with the same title by Treeleaf Sangha founder and guiding teacher, Roshi Jundo Cohen ¨One must sit Shikantaza with profound trust that sitting is whole, complete, nothing lacking, the sitting of the Buddhas and Ancestors sitting as this sitting right here and now, no other place to be, nothing more in need of doing, nothing more to attain, that Zazen embodies enlightenment itself.¨ The essay can be found HERE
The following is an audio recording of an essay by Treeleaf founder and guiding teacher, Jundo Cohen. Here's the "elephant in the room" of Shikantaza Zazen: What does it mean to "think-non-thinking?" In ordinary life, our daily minds resemble a mad circus, maybe a chaotic jungle. We react to the elephants passing through our awareness, jumping on, leaping from one to the next, pulling their tails, prodding them with a stick, often tangled in their trunks. Sometimes we chase them to catch them, sometimes we run away in fear, sometimes we get trampled underfoot. What is more, all our meddling seemingly summons ever more elephants of thought and emotion into the crowded room. The jumbled circus of "thought jumbos" and "emotion mastodons" never ends, and we taunt them and stir them up more. But in Zazen, the elephants are tamed. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: The Elephant in the Zazen Room
Today we'll scat with Dogen's jazz in Shobogenzo Nyorai Zenshin (The Buddha Whole Body). Some 700 or so years before modern jazz folks, Dōgen had the equivalent jazzy approach, taking “standard” Mahayana Buddhist teachings, fanciful but traditional Buddhist images, and “samples” of quotes from well-known stories related to his intended topics, tearing them apart, and tossing all back together again, remixing them, in order to discover and uncover new feelings, sounds, implications, visions, and Wisdom, all in what was often pretty wild imagery to start with! Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: June 2-3 2023 -OUR MONTHLY 4-hr ZAZENKAI- Nyorai Zenshin -A Mini-Lesson in Dogen Jazz
The following is an audio recording of an article by Treeleaf founder and guiding teacher, Jundo Cohen. "So much of all life is like a neutral canvas to which we add our judgments and reactions, coloring it with our feelings. It is like an empty container or some bland ingredient, like Tofu for example, that can be decorated or flavored as our heart decides. The experience is bad if we make it bad but it is whole, complete, fulfilling and welcoming if our heart makes it so." Further reading and discussion for this are available on the Treeleaf forum: The "Inner Switch" of Zazen
In Today's Talk, will close our dance with the 信心銘, the Xinxinming, or Shinjinmei. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: May 5th-6th, 2023 -OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI
Our Zazenkai today is in celebration of the Buddha´s birthday, traditionally April 8th in Japan! We will look at the Buddha's birthday and the Shinjinmei Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: April 7-8, 2023 -OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI »
Today's Talk will be the third in a series reflecting on: THE SONG OF TRUST MIND (信心銘 Shinjinmei), A Key to Zazen Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: March 3rd-4th, 2023 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Shinjinmei (III) »
In Today's Talk, we continue our dance with the 信心銘, called the Xinxinming in Chinese and the Shinjinmei in Japanese, and by a variety of names in English Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: February 3rd-4th, 2023 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Shinjinmei (II) »
CELEBRATING THIS EVER NEW YEAR! Today's Talk will be the first in a series reflecting on: THE SONG OF TRUST MIND (信心銘 Shinjinmei), A Key to Zazen Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Jan 6-7th, 2022 - OUR (NEW YEAR!) MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Shinjinmei (I) »
Our Dharma Talks this time will feature Rev. Kokuu and Rev. Jinkan, presenting their first Teachings upon and in celebration of their Dharma Transmission in our Lineage. Other Talks will feature our newest ordained priests, Koushi, Onkai and Nengei, as their "debut" offering of a Talk to our Sangha. Readings for Talks are based on passages from Menzan Zuiho Osho's Jijuyu Zanmai (自受用三昧 - "The Self-Receiving-Employing Samadhi") Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: TREELEAF SANGHA online 2-DAY ANGO-JUKAI-ROHATSU RETREAT -- 2022 »
Today's Talk will reflect on Master Keizan's "Middle Way, Beyond Hope to Attain" and "No Entering, No Emerging Samadhi" Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Nov. 4-5th, 2022 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - DAYLIGHT SAVINGS in EUROPE»
Today's Talk will reflect on Mirror Mind by Master Menzan from his Jijuyu-Zanmai Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Oct. 7th-8th, 2022 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Menzan in the Mirror»
Our Zazenkai is in Special Celebration and Welcome of the Commencement of our 2022 ANGO & JUKAI Season! Today's talk will reflect on redemption, Icchantikas and 'Broken Ladles' Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Sept. 2nd-3rd, 2022 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Commencing JUKAI & ANGO! »
Our talk today is on ''Sankon Zazen Setsu: Three Kinds of Zazen Practitioners' by Keizan Zenji. Which is better, Soto or Rinzai, Shikantaza or Koan Instrospection? Both! Neither! In fact, the medicine depends on the needs of the patient. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Aug 5-6, 2022 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf Zazenkai - Keizan's Sankon Zazen Setsu »
Today's talk is on a seemingly arcane bit of Buddhist Teachings, positioned well to aid us in living.Dharma Position is mentioned in the Lotus Sutra, "The Dharmas Dwell in their Dharma Position". It is an important teaching of Japanese Tendai Buddhism, from which Master Dogen first came, and seems to have been cherished by Dogen in his Zen teaching as well. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: July 1-2nd, 2022 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Ho-i - 法位 - Dharma Position »
Today, a final visit with the Vimalakirti Sutra. We end our series of talks on the Vimalakirti Sutra with the following visit to Buddha, from (mostly) Chapter 12 Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: June 3rd-4th, 2022 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Farewell, Vimalakirti »
Today we will again walk through the Door of the Vimalakirti Sutra. Here, at Gate 9, we again find many very excellent responses by a bunch of very wise Bodhisattvas (after all, they are big time Bodhisattvas, so not amateurs! ) Does the lay person Vimalakirti truly "best" them at the end? Here are some good examples of what the Bodhisattvas said... Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: May 6-7th, 2022 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Dharma-Door of Non-duality »
Today's Talk will reflect on a rather strange and bewildering portion of the Vimalakirti Sutra This time, we will look at a very strange, seemingly two-faced passage from Chapter 8 of the Vimalakirti Sutra ... but is that what it really means? Hmmmm ... Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: March 4-5, 2022 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Wisdom Amid Confusion »
Today's Talk will reflect on Living Beings within Chapter 7 of the Vimalakirti Sutra. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: February 4th-5th, 2022 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI»
Today's Talk will reflect on more magical happenings from the Vimalakirti Sutra. Pull up a chair for a little reading of a magical tale, as Vimalakirti arranges the furniture ... Chapter 6: BEYOND COMPREHENSION Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: Our 2021-2022 NEW YEAR's EVE 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI- CELEBRATING A NEW THIS MOMENT! »
Today's Talk will reflect on more Wondrous Passages from the Vimalakirti Sutra. Vimalakirti continues his undefeated record, taking on all contenders ... in Round 4: the Bodhisattvas Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: November 5th-6th, 2021 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Vimalakirti Sutra Series »
Today's Talk will reflect on Further Passages from the Vimalakirti Sutra, chapter III (the Arhats) ... We will see further examples of how this tale seeks to blend an idealized view of the Bodhisattva with life on earth, in this complicated world. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: {Oct. 1st-2nd, 2021 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Dedicated to Reiyu Payen} »
Today's Talk will reflect on passages from the Vimalakirti Sutra. One of the most popular Asian classics for roughly two thousand years, the Vimalakirti Sutra stands out because unlike most sutras, its central figure is not a Buddha but a wealthy townsman, who, in his mastery of doctrine and practice, epitomizes the ideal lay practitioner. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: September 2021 Zazenkai Talk (Commencement of 2021 ANGO & JUKAI Season)»
We will continue our series of reflections on the Heart Sutra (Hannya Shingyo). Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum: March 5th-6th OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI »
Our Talk this week will look at the mysterious 'missing parts' of the Heart Sutra (Hannya Shingyo 般若心経), as the first in a series of monthly reflections on ... the Heart Sutra! The Tibetan version of the Heart Sutra contains the following verses that we do not usually chant. Why? And what do they mean? Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum:February 2021 Zazenkai Talk (The 'Missing' Heart Sutra) »
OUR NEW YEARS TALK will be based on the Poems and Teachings of Daichi Zenji (1290-1366) who became a monk under 寒巌義尹 Kangan Giin (1217-1300) who was himself a disciple of Dogen Zenji. After Kangan's death Daichi visited various teachers and later practiced with Keizan Zenji for seven years. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum:Jan 1st 2021 Our NEW YEAR 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI- COME CELEBRATE A NEW THIS MOMENT! »
We will look today at one passage of Master Dogen's Shobogenzo Uji (Being-Time), rapping and riffing on a famous Koan. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum:Nov 6-7 2020 OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI- Book Tour Kickoff/DAYLIGHT SAVINGS »
The VERSE OF ATONEMENT All harmful acts, words and thoughts, ever committed by me since of old,On account of beginningless greed, anger and ignorance,Born of my body, mouth and mind,Now I atone for them all The FOUR VOWS To save all sentient beings, though beings numberlessTo transform all delusions, though delusions inexhaustibleTo perceive Reality, though Reality is boundlessTo attain the Enlightened Way, a Way non-attainable Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum:Oct 2nd-3rd, 2020 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI »
Our Zazenkai is in Special Celebration and Welcome of the Commencement of our 2020 ANGO & JUKAI Season Today's Talk will reflect on our "Dedication of Merit" Recital. Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum:Sept 4th-5th, 2020 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour Treeleaf ZAZENKAI - Commencing Jukai & Ango! »
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