Sewing Buddha's Robe
and the coming of spring
“The robe has some symbolic nature, but I don’t think of it as symbolic. I think the robe is a material manifestation of our Buddha nature. We take one piece of cloth, cut it into many pieces and then sew it back together again in the image of rice fields. This is the way everything in the world exists. Originally, everything is one piece, one whole cloth, but we only see the little pieces of this and that put together.” —Sojun Mel Weitsman
As many of you know, five members of our sangha have been sewing their rakusu, the small Buddha robe worn in the Japanese Zen tradition, in preparation for the ceremony of jukai, in which they receive the bodhisattva precepts. Also called zaike tokudo, “staying home and attaining the way,” this ceremony for lay students is very close to that for priest ordination (called shukke tokudo, or “leaving home and attaining the way”), and the precepts given are the same.
The ceremony will be offered in our zendo on September 1 at the conclusion of the three-day retreat to be led by our preceptor, Korin Charlie Pokorny, of the Brooklyn Zen Center. Family, friends, and sangha members serve an important role in the ceremony as witnesses to the formal commitment to bodhisattva practice, and all are invited to attend—so please save the date and plan to join us if you can.
On a recent afternoon of sewing, Brent was also measuring the wall to hang the new Buddha print he’s donating to our zendo.
As spring approaches —
Our winter/spring schedule continues, with one more Sunday half-day sitting planned for March 10 before our spring retreat begins on April 10. Please see the sign-up sheets (or respond here if you need the links) and consider participating.
Major dates upcoming:
Spring Retreat and Celebration of Buddha’s Birthday: April 10-14
Spring Interim: April 18 - May 4
Writing As A Wisdom Project: May 11
Precept Retreat with Korin Charlie Pokorny: August 29 - September 1
Jukai (Bodhisattva Precept Ceremony): September 1
End-of-Summer Interim: September 5 - 18
Stillpoint Retreat, Villa Maria Retreat Center: November 7 - 10
And on February 24 two more crocuses appeared — could it be spring already?
I was just wondering what was in store for Neighborhood Zen Sangha! Congratulations and thanks to all who are sewing a rakasu. What a great 'single stitch' practice it is.
Bows~~
J.H.