Hi.
Reposting an article made for a magazine.
The Treeleaf teaparty
by Fugen
It was a clear summer day, the heat
still lingering as I sat in front of my computer with my robes on. I
distinctly remember the warmth of the sun and the smell in the air
that time when no one showed up at the Treeleaf teaparty.
The Treeleaf teaparty is one
of many features at the the Treeleaf sangha.
It is on sunday evenings, hosted by one
of the priests of Treeleaf and contains ceremonies, zazen and
discussions amongst the participants. It started out as an meeting
ground for the sangha, but has now grown into being one of its
pillars. It has become an important part of what Treeleaf really is,
a place where people care.
The Treeleaf teaparty is a meeting
place where you can, time and time again, get the opportunity to
listen to people's stories, to be able to be there for them. As I
have said time and again, The Treeleaf teaparty is not about talking,
it's about listening. About being there.
The same goes, in my opinion, for
Buddhism. To be there is essential.
For me, it's not essential that anyone
shows up or not. If someone does come, it's just extra. For me, it's
essential that I do. Even if I can’t make it in the flesh, I can at
least make it in my spirit. We have a saying at Treeleaf, ”we are
always here,” that includes this.
One of my goals for the Treeleaf teaparty is that neither I, nor any of the priests of Treeleaf, is
needed there. It should become an essential part of what Treeleaf,
and life, is all about and live a life of its own. Someone should
turn up, and no matter who it is, do the ceremonies, sit there and
talk, listen, and just be. I got a glimpse of that the first time I
couldn’t attend, and it sort of just followed that people stood up
and took my place. Now, we are not there yet, where I or some other
priest of Treeleaf is not needed at the Treeelaf teaparty, but,
hopefully, we'll get there. Soon.
So what did I do, when no one showed
up? I did the ceremonies, shut off my computer, and went in to sit,
just for a moment, next to my sleeping son.
The most important thing
To get my son to sleep
Soothing him through the struggles
The most important thing
Just this
Thank you for your practice.
May the force be with you,
Fugen
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