Monastery of Open Doors / TreeleafSangha

Monastery of Open Doors / TreeleafSangha A Soto Zen Sangha practicing in the tradition of Eihei Dogen There is no being distant, no near or far and all are welcome.

Treeleaf Zendo 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 Zazen sittings, retreats, discussion, interaction with a teacher, and all other activities of a Zen Buddhist Sangha, all fully online.

30/04/2026

Hello everyone, we are meeting again the coming weekend, coming together out of compassion for those suffering, our hope for peace and our mutual support throughout the year. Led by Washin from Odessa, we'll be sitting for peace in the Ukraine and around the world this coming Sunday. You can check w...

Please join us Sunday, May 17 for a special Treeleaf zazenkai with guest speaker Prof. Steven Heine, noted Zen scholar a...
17/04/2026

Please join us Sunday, May 17 for a special Treeleaf zazenkai with guest speaker Prof. Steven Heine, noted Zen scholar and historian of Dōgen.

This live event (via Zoom) will include zazen, a talk by Professor Heine, and time for Q&A. The entire event is expected to run about 90 minutes.

More details can be found at the link below including the event start time in your local time zone. We hope to see you there!

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

ICYMI—2026 Spring Retreat HighlightsIn case you couldn't join us live, recordings of both the morning services and Dharm...
08/04/2026

ICYMI—2026 Spring Retreat Highlights

In case you couldn't join us live, recordings of both the morning services and Dharma talks are now available on our website (scroll to bottom of page): https://www.treeleaf.org/2026/03/2026-spring-retreat/

Thank you to all who attended the retreat this past weekend. We're so grateful to have you join us for practice. ☺🙏

*** WEEKEND HAPPENINGS (April 4-5)***As a reminder, the following events are all happening THIS weekend! Please keep in ...
03/04/2026

*** WEEKEND HAPPENINGS (April 4-5)***

As a reminder, the following events are all happening THIS weekend! Please keep in mind that the retreat on Saturday replaces our usual Friday zazenkai!.

Saturday, April 4:
- One-Day Spring Retreat (with two different schedules for CET and EST time zones)

Sunday, April 5:
- Sunday Weekly Zazenkai (Euro Morning)
- Sunday Sit for Peace (Zazen practice)
- Ryaku Fusatsu (Full Moon Precept Recommitment Ceremony)
- Floating Tea House (friendly, casual conversation)

As our events are anchored in different time zones, always check our practice calendar to confirm the schedule in your local time:

https://www.treeleaf.org/practice-calendar/

Please join us for any or all of the above. We hope to see you soon! ☺🙏

Wanted VOLUNTEERS: A "Zen" Team for the 2027 "Meditation Olympics" in Brazil Dear All,Zen has no goals, yet we keep on ...
01/04/2026

Wanted VOLUNTEERS: A "Zen" Team for the 2027 "Meditation Olympics" in Brazil

Dear All,

Zen has no goals, yet we keep on striving for excellence! I am happy to report that, according to Tricycle Magazine (see link below), a "Meditation Olympics" will be held in Sao Paolo, Brazil in April, 2027, and five teams will be sent, sponsored by the magazine, with the teams divided by continent. There will be a North American, South American, UK/Europe, Asia, and NZ/Australian team. 10 members will be selected for each for different events, and the magazine will provide airfare and hotels for the week of competition. It should be a wonderful happening, with Zen and other Buddhist folks from around the world!
I would love to see some members here try out for the various events, and maybe we can get one or two folks on the teams!

There are a couple of events in particular where I think I have a chance, with a little practice. How about you?

First, is "Speed Hannya Shingyo," or "Heart Sutra Sprints" ... a popular challenge in Japanese Buddhism, not so well known in the west ...

https://youtu.be/JW2wZVPrHHE?si=Bkmr_be-Fhq1ZSTw
There will also be team "synchronized sand garden sweeping." (photo below) I have been told that the rules are not unlike "curling," so perhaps we have some folks from northern places with experience?
There will also be incense races, where teams will make, roll and burn their own sticks ... seeing who can "stick" it out the longest ...

https://youtu.be/pfD_8AIuB1M?si=7zCI_3w7VxT3vIXD
Of course, the main event will be the meditation marathon ... who can sit and stay awake the longest ... and who can reach enlightenment the fastest!
The "Goal" is always right here ... but let's kick some ass and show what's we've got!

Other events for those with special talent ... 100 Metre Floor Washing ... Team Oryoki ... "Free Style" Juzu Twirling ...
.. and Full Contact "To the Death" Drum Fights (MMA rules, photo below) ..... plus Lotus Posture races (always neck and neck between TM-ers and various Himalayan yogis) ...

https://youtu.be/pJSXKnSq5sQ?si=fyl6ODcwY9rMCKo1.. and high speed prostrations (the Bhutanese are the defending champs, but the Koreans are strong here) ...

https://youtu.be/r0PnHtepXz8?si=jKg4CB0jPGAQeL9I

There is nothing to attain ... but a Medal would look great on your Altar. So, let us all know if you are interested.

Here is a video of last time ...

https://youtu.be/4_6M0iJdDfc?si=-FK-jFxiaUXsBGyX

The next competition will be held ...

APRIL 1st, 2027 ... ONE YEAR FROM TODAY .. and you'd be a FOOL not to try!
DON'T JUST SIT THERE! GET YOUR ASS MOVING, GET THAT GOLDEN BUDDHA HANGING AROUND YOUR NECK!

With another full moon upon us, it's time once again to renew our commitment to the precepts. Please join us for this mo...
01/04/2026

With another full moon upon us, it's time once again to renew our commitment to the precepts. Please join us for this month's Ryaku Fusatsu ceremony on Sunday, April 5th.
https://www.treeleaf.org/2025/03/fusatsu/

As always, please check the Treeleaf Practice Calendar to confirm the exact time of the ceremony in your local time zone:
https://www.treeleaf.org/practice-calendar/

We look forward to having you join us on Sunday! ☺️🙏

Nowhere else to be...Nothing more to do...By our Washin A short essay inspired by reading the Zen Master's Dance...Sprin...
31/03/2026

Nowhere else to be...Nothing more to do...
By our Washin

A short essay inspired by reading the Zen Master's Dance...

Spring and autumn are the seasons when our 'green team' resumes its main job for planting or caring for trees.

In winter, there is a pause, while in summer, we usually limit our activity to merely watering the site.

All is subject to the local situation, as allowed.

Every time we restart our work, I observe all the damage and losses incurred during the year.
People tend to break branches and seedlings or even dig out whole trees to be put in their private yards. Also, many damages have happened on account of objects and pieces falling from the sky, in recent years particularly.

So I watch the scenery, and a little voice inside starts telling me this is all useless. Why plant the new generation of seedlings if all of this is going to happen again? I start feeling anger, being discouraged, and the whole work may become tedious, tasteless and meaningless.

On the other hand, there arises the feeling like "in this very moment: nothing more to do, and nowhere else to be". I must do my thing.
I do healing of the broken branches, and I do planting trees... like Buddha heals the Buddha and Dharma brings the new dharmas into life through me. Then I feel that radical equanimity manifests inside. I often recollect the old parable of a bodhisattva, throwing crabs back to the ocean during the tide. And I smile.
Thus, I always look forward to the new season, when I have a chance to grab my tools and go to the slopes to help make our coast greener.

31/03/2026

A reminder that we have a "Sit for Peace every Sunday, led by our Washin

Welcome to Sunday Zazen for Peace, with Washin in Ukraine - Treeleaf Zendo https://share.google/S87FlI5rSjd35K9pT

住所

Everywhere
Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki

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