u/JundoCohen

This coming Sunday, May 17th (available recorded after) Buddhism & Zen historian, the noted specialist on the life and writings of Master Dogen, Prof. Steven Heine will be coming to our Treeleaf Sangha to introduce his latest research on our past ...

>Dr. Heine's new book centers on Wansong Xingxiu (1166–1246), a pivotal figure in Caodong Chan/Sōtō Zen development, and a participant in the compilation of two influential Caodong/Sōtō Koan collections: Tongxuan's 100 Chan Questions (the main focus of Dr. Heine's book) which represents a crucial, although lesser-known, phase of Caodong Chan history centered on northern China, and the Shoyoroku (Book of Serenity) which is better known today and widely cherished by Sōtō Zen folks. Although Wansong lived during the time Dogen was in China, they likely never met in person because in very distant parts of China, and Dogen may not have had direct knowledge of either Koan collection during his lifetime. However, in his talk, Professor Heine will examine the historical and spiritual irony connecting these two pivotal figures in the development of Caodong/Sōtō thought and literature, illustrating his points with several key examples from their respective works.

You can join the event on Zoom LIVE with camera and microphone so that we can see and hear you (however, “one way” live sitters who do not wish to be seen or to speak are encouraged to come into the Zoom sitting either way, even if you leave the camera and microphone turned off or not connect them). The event will also be streamed lived on YouTube for anyone that cannot join the Zoom room.

The festivities will begin at 10am in New York, 7am in California, London 3pm and Paris 4pm, all SUNDAY May 17th, and last for an hour to 90 minutes.

We would love to see many Zen friends there.

More details and access here:

https://www.treeleaf.org/2026/04/event-heine-26/

https://preview.redd.it/yifa73ddjm0h1.png?width=237&format=png&auto=webp&s=f433fa9cb9d6d4eb9d843046877d9150108a4b4b

https://preview.redd.it/39cckc0ijm0h1.png?width=532&format=png&auto=webp&s=6ce5d0aa9748a35c2d5709aa7fd792601fc3acbe

This coming Sunday, May 17th (available recorded after) Buddhism & Zen historian, the noted specialist on the life and writings of Master Dogen, Prof. Steven Heine will be coming to our Treeleaf Sangha to introduce his latest research on our past ...

>Dr. Heine's new book centers on Wansong Xingxiu (1166–1246), a pivotal figure in Caodong Chan/Sōtō Zen development, and a participant in the compilation of two influential Caodong/Sōtō Koan collections: Tongxuan's 100 Chan Questions (the main focus of Dr. Heine's book) which represents a crucial, although lesser-known, phase of Caodong Chan history centered on northern China, and the Shoyoroku (Book of Serenity) which is better known today and widely cherished by Sōtō Zen folks. Although Wansong lived during the time Dogen was in China, they likely never met in person because in very distant parts of China, and Dogen may not have had direct knowledge of either Koan collection during his lifetime. However, in his talk, Professor Heine will examine the historical and spiritual irony connecting these two pivotal figures in the development of Caodong/Sōtō thought and literature, illustrating his points with several key examples from their respective works.

You can join the event on Zoom LIVE with camera and microphone so that we can see and hear you (however, “one way” live sitters who do not wish to be seen or to speak are encouraged to come into the Zoom sitting either way, even if you leave the camera and microphone turned off or not connect them). The event will also be streamed lived on YouTube for anyone that cannot join the Zoom room.

The festivities will begin at 10am in New York, 7am in California, London 3pm and Paris 4pm, all SUNDAY May 17th, and last for an hour to 90 minutes.

We would love to see many Zen friends there.

More details and access here:

https://www.treeleaf.org/2026/04/event-heine-26/

https://preview.redd.it/pwir3u9cjm0h1.png?width=237&format=png&auto=webp&s=45ac5880b8789b2dbf695171b6f57ed291265550

https://preview.redd.it/7wrwehsfjm0h1.png?width=532&format=png&auto=webp&s=1a74ab382bf77b34f48062bf2a48e039f28b51b5

It seems that I am blocked from responding now to the "Four Stages of Silent Illumination" post, so I will put my response to a/Not_Bayek here for awhile, and happily remove it later. Sorry for the inconvenience. He asked if I was putting down the wonderful master Sheng Yen. I respond ...

~~~

No, I said it is a powerful and beautiful method, suited to many folks who find it fruitful. Someone (HakuyutheHermit), just below, said "his methodology much more resembled that of Dogen." I wished to point out not. I also linked to the paper by Guo Gu himself (aka Dr. Jimmy Yu) that tells the story of how Master Shengyen developed the method, and changed it several times, without particular basis in historical precedent. Taigen Leighton, the Soto translator, priest and historian, makes the point that Silent Illumination in Dogen's day was perhaps closer to what we now know as Shikantaza.

I am pleased to announce that our Treeleaf Sangha held a Shukke Tokudo 'Homeleaving' Ordination Ceremony for two new priests, Dogaku and Seikan, conducted simultaneously, forgetting all time and distance, in Japan, the United States, Europe, England and elsewhere, all as witnessed by their fellow Priests and our Sangha members in many countries.

This Ordination of these new Unsui Priest-Trainees represents our first training class in Treeleaf's Monastery of Open Doors (https://www.treeleaf.org/open-doors-monastery/), a non-residential path to Soto Zen ordination, the priesthood, and a role of service to others for dedicated, long-time Zen practitioners who live with challenges of health, disability, or equivalent life hardships.

Now, after many years of Soto Zen practice for each, with more than a year of preparation before today's ceremony, and with several years of training to follow from today, the doors of Soto Zen priesthood have been opened to them. Today's Ceremony is not the end of the road of training, not by any meaning. Far from it, it is but the first steps. Please witness our Ceremony here:

https://www.youtube.com/live/1eaTXbo7sY4?si=ZAxgDJNApRhRKHli

From time to time, after undertaking Zen practice for many years, a person may feel in their heart a certain calling. They may wish to train in our traditions and embody our practices in order to keep this way alive into the next generation as clergy. They may feel a calling within themselves to live as a servant and minister to the community, to the Sangha and to all sentient beings.

Traditionally, in India, China, Japan and the other Buddhist countries of Asia, one was expected to leave one’s home and family behind in order to begin the necessary training and practice of an “apprentice.” Today, the term “leaving home” has come to have a wider meaning, of “leaving behind” greed, anger, ignorance, the harmful emotions and attachments that fuel so much of this world, in order to find the “True Home” we all share. We are priests in this world, not removed from it. In such way, we find that Home that can never be left, take to the Way that cannot be taken.

Someone’s undertaking “Shukke Tokudo” is not a “raising up” of their position in the Sangha, it is not an honor or “promotion” into some exalted status, not by any meaning. Far from it, it is a lowering of oneself in offering to the community, much as all of us sometimes deeply bow upon the ground in humility, raising up others and the whole world above our humbled heads.

We hope that you will join us in wishing them well in their start on this long undertaking.

https://preview.redd.it/baofzmcrd9zg1.png?width=1855&format=png&auto=webp&s=67ed0854caf9432f0e00292cb3d86fa824fa55cd

https://preview.redd.it/6je7l8eod9zg1.png?width=590&format=png&auto=webp&s=dd7dc64b73da6fb416c3e4f6416ce4c5cce17b07