tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904219782540965444.post3333850096760176897..comments2024-03-14T04:06:54.124-04:00Comments on GENKAKU-AGAIN (adam fisher): cleaning the zendogenkakuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135705172119950326noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904219782540965444.post-82535801656725553502013-04-17T12:34:23.803-04:002013-04-17T12:34:23.803-04:00Frank -- Thanks for another perspective. Appreciat...Frank -- Thanks for another perspective. Appreciated.genkakuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12135705172119950326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904219782540965444.post-41949480533442426752013-04-17T12:04:27.173-04:002013-04-17T12:04:27.173-04:00Genkaku,
My recollections on Kyudo and cleaning i...Genkaku,<br /><br />My recollections on Kyudo and cleaning is much different and may be worth reporting here for the sake of completeness, and fairness to his sangha. I am sure other people who practiced with Kyudo have other takes on this.<br /><br />Perhaps he had his issues. perhaps it was his style, but in the early years he steadfastly refused to let the sangha do much cleaning and the little he permitted was subject to intensive but non-specific criticism.<br /><br />I heard him say such "nonsense" such as he knew only knew how to clean properly. More than once during his weekly talks he said that he would go into public bathrooms and would clean them, but we should not do this as we did not have the "ability" to do so, and could get sick or get into trouble.<br /><br />I pondered on his rather strange pronouncements and speculated that part of this was a kind of teaching method, an indirect admonition to try harder, and to take it beyond the zendo.<br /><br />Historically, there was a period during which there would be cleaning for about 20 minutes after evening zazen but it was short lived and eventually dropped.<br /> <br />Once, in an informal setting, I specifically addressed the sangha cleaning issue saying in effect that we certainly could and should clean; in reply he said that since we had jobs and families to go home to, this was his job.*<br /><br />So it could be that by the time you trained with him, the sangha had been "trained" into not doing much cleaning except during sesshin**.<br /><br />Finally, he was appreciative to those who came outside of regular practice times to help with major tasks like waxing / re-urethaning the floors.<br /><br />While I think most people would appreciate a clear and straightforward approach to samu / work practice / cleaning, Kyudo's approach certainly drew my attention to this aspect of training.<br /><br /><br /><br />**********************************<br /><br />Notes:<br /><br />*Kyudo didn't seem to have a day job, nor was he involved in writing or other projects, nor did he have monks-in-training. Also, it could very well be that there was more to this cleaning story, perhaps criticism from the folks that provided financial support above and beyond month dues and suggested fees.<br /><br />** During the morning cleaning at some sesshin the particpants were asked to clean up West Broadway between Spring Street and West Houston.<br /> Franknoreply@blogger.com