In our lineage we eat with forks and plates, spoons and bowls for our formal meals. We use paper napkins. We sit at low tables; we do not sit at our places in the zendo. Nested bowls, chopsticks, lap cloths, utensil pouches, and a setsu are not part of our practice environment at all.
When I heard that a Zen place in town was giving an ōryōki class as prep for one of their all-day sittings, I got the contact information and asked to take part. For me, I thought it was something I needed to learn how to do. I have this notion that I should, as an ordained, be able to move about in the wider Zen world with at least a passing familiarity with and competence at the forms that have come down through the tradition.
So today I had my first lesson. My dharma brother, who had practiced for three months at a center that did ōryōki, texted me beforehand that it would be "soul crushing." I expected to develop a strong headache as the lesson progressed. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed the experience, though part of that, I'm sure, stems from the fun I had getting to know a couple other priests in town as they gave the demonstration.
I can see why some teachers might hold on to it, and I can see why some teachers might opt instead for the forks and plates. It is quite East Asian (I'd say Japanese, but I'm given to understand that there is a form of this in China as well), and I wouldn't say one is losing out on the Dharma for not doing it; it is certainly not going on in the Southern Tradition, for example. In the end, it's one of those things that's just "one of those things," and that's just fine with me.
When I heard that a Zen place in town was giving an ōryōki class as prep for one of their all-day sittings, I got the contact information and asked to take part. For me, I thought it was something I needed to learn how to do. I have this notion that I should, as an ordained, be able to move about in the wider Zen world with at least a passing familiarity with and competence at the forms that have come down through the tradition.
So today I had my first lesson. My dharma brother, who had practiced for three months at a center that did ōryōki, texted me beforehand that it would be "soul crushing." I expected to develop a strong headache as the lesson progressed. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed the experience, though part of that, I'm sure, stems from the fun I had getting to know a couple other priests in town as they gave the demonstration.
I can see why some teachers might hold on to it, and I can see why some teachers might opt instead for the forks and plates. It is quite East Asian (I'd say Japanese, but I'm given to understand that there is a form of this in China as well), and I wouldn't say one is losing out on the Dharma for not doing it; it is certainly not going on in the Southern Tradition, for example. In the end, it's one of those things that's just "one of those things," and that's just fine with me.
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