BLOG 12-11-2022

Dear friends,

Tokudo (Jap., ‘attainment of going beyond’). The ceremony in Zen Buddhism through which a layperson is initiated into Buddhism, or a monk is ordained. (From the Oxford Concise Encyclopedia of World Religions).

I am not sure about the translation offered above, as there is no attainment here. And really, every moment, for every being, is going beyond going beyond. And being smack dab right here, right now. 

So what is this Tokudo? Well, we do offer fun, free, cheap haircuts (not so cheap, perhaps, as we may lose our identity). There can be robes, and magic wands, and incantations. Although I am sure I will never carry the robes nor the wand like Hermione. And her incantations are beyond me. There is no possibility for me, no need, to measure up to Hermione Bodhisattva. I am Zenho Bodhisattva – and truly happy that there is no need to measure up to Hermione, or Sujata, or Shakyamuni, or… My simple path is mine.

This is really a process, a path. Never-ending. Never-beginning. And yet clearly a path. Very clearly a path. Watch that next step! Better yet, simply take that next step. For all Beings? Of course. Every step, by every being, is always for all Beings. If we do not see the Path, we do not see it even as we walk on it. No use calling it near or far. Going beyond near and far. For myself or for others. Going beyond self and other.

Several members of the Sangha are engaging Tokudo. I am most interested in what the process looks like, feels like, sounds like, tastes like, is, for each of them. Therefore, I’ve asked these members of our Sangha to present what Tokudo is for them now. And they will be asked to present from time to time as the process unfolds. 

We will post the first installment next week. Enjoy!!!

AND HERE ARE NOAH SELTZER’S POEM(S) 

Whipping winter air 

Alley I never noticed 

The candle waxes at night

——–

Noah: rest in grace 

Translating this becoming 

A shaky first step on inevitability

SCHEDULE 12-12-22 thru 12-18-22

MONDAY, 6:30AM, ZAZEN AT TEA HOUSE, DAVID OPENING

MONDAY, 7PM, DREAM KOAN AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81182899201?pwd=UVU4MnJhMG1ZUGJaOHhaSndwQ2dYQT09

WEDNESDAY, 6:30AM: ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89605039197?pwd=VTVubW5pUnBCNFBqQjBieERvNDd5QT09

THURSDAY, 6:30AM: ZAZEN & SERVICE AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87672161959?pwd=NXhhTkhncWdkbnM4VU16YnM1ZDk4UT09

        DOKUSAN WITH ISSAN SENSEI

FRIDAY, 6:30AM: ZAZEN & SERVICE AT THE TEAHOUSE 

DOKUSAN WITH ZENHO SENSEI

8 DEEP BOWS

Zenho