Today Sensei came home with some unusually appropriate dana - she received a fancy chocolate bar and a can of mixed nuts during her meditation overlooking the ocean. Then she received an email inviting her to plan the program for the western buddhist monastic gathering - and she hadn't even been planning to go!
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
harmony
"Everything is ok just the way it is."
This doesn't mean don't do anything, it means acting from a balanced position.
Balance like that of a Yogi or martial artist comes from preparatory practice. The cultivation of generosity compassion and wisdom is the most significant work we can do, and should resistance to this arise it can be pegged for a form of the three poisons.
When the practice gets too tight or too heavy, laughter is essential to spread the Qi and lift the mind. No lead balloons here, they don't do the work. This is a continuous back and forth effort to maintain forward momentum.
How can we act with equanimity when the problems that face us are so great?
We have to let go, we have to know that everything is ok just as it is, even though it is not. Everyone wins in the end, everything is temporary, everything is constantly changing. How can we cope with the nature of being? I have already said, really investigate and actively cultivate generosity compassion and wisdom.
This doesn't mean don't do anything, it means acting from a balanced position.
Balance like that of a Yogi or martial artist comes from preparatory practice. The cultivation of generosity compassion and wisdom is the most significant work we can do, and should resistance to this arise it can be pegged for a form of the three poisons.
When the practice gets too tight or too heavy, laughter is essential to spread the Qi and lift the mind. No lead balloons here, they don't do the work. This is a continuous back and forth effort to maintain forward momentum.
How can we act with equanimity when the problems that face us are so great?
We have to let go, we have to know that everything is ok just as it is, even though it is not. Everyone wins in the end, everything is temporary, everything is constantly changing. How can we cope with the nature of being? I have already said, really investigate and actively cultivate generosity compassion and wisdom.
bangkok news
here is a link to an article about Thai cultural Buddhism, good education and strong stimulus to promote Great Determination.
The courage of the writer Santisuda Ekachai and of Thailand's first bhikkhuni Dhammananda is inspiring. We stand beside them and must not forget that.
I have preserved the article in case it becomes unavailable via the link. Perhaps this is similar to those who preserved relics or copies of sutta commentaries. Certainly the addition to the Therigatha by bhikkhuni Dhammananda is worth preserving. The historical value of the documentation of Thai cultural interpretation of Buddhism is of interest and a good starting point for practice in many areas: letting go of opinion, letting go of frustration, letting go of sadness, cultivating gratitude, forgiveness, compassion, generosity and wisdom.
If we have learned anything from the 60's and from the feminist revolution that is still fizzling, barely, it is that anger is counterproductive. A chronic problem takes time to correct, efficiency is of utmost importance and that takes elimination of useless complaining. Cut to the chase and practice compassion, generosity and wisdom. It may look illogical but it can be discerned as ultimately unbeatable.
The courage of the writer Santisuda Ekachai and of Thailand's first bhikkhuni Dhammananda is inspiring. We stand beside them and must not forget that.
I have preserved the article in case it becomes unavailable via the link. Perhaps this is similar to those who preserved relics or copies of sutta commentaries. Certainly the addition to the Therigatha by bhikkhuni Dhammananda is worth preserving. The historical value of the documentation of Thai cultural interpretation of Buddhism is of interest and a good starting point for practice in many areas: letting go of opinion, letting go of frustration, letting go of sadness, cultivating gratitude, forgiveness, compassion, generosity and wisdom.
If we have learned anything from the 60's and from the feminist revolution that is still fizzling, barely, it is that anger is counterproductive. A chronic problem takes time to correct, efficiency is of utmost importance and that takes elimination of useless complaining. Cut to the chase and practice compassion, generosity and wisdom. It may look illogical but it can be discerned as ultimately unbeatable.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
explaining TCM
I was just talking to a fellow student about the value of pharmocognosy and he mentioned it was to help in explaining how it works to clients, and I was reminded of how I have heard interns explain TCM to inquirers over the phone. I thought about what a help it would be to have a class to explore this subject but there isn't one, so I should make it for myself, and then share it. New project!
Monday, June 2, 2014
hold peace
this is a creative process, it is not a discipline, a job, a task but instead is like making art. Like other practices it is not just pulled out of the hat but takes preparation. Establishing a non judging mind is essential, this can be done with morning pages (see Julia Cameron's the Artists Way) Qigong, compassion meditation, or many of the exercises in Sensei's workbook The Missing Peace. Then instead of buying into what the media tells us, or experience tells us, or common sense tells us, we can imagine peace, prosperity, magic, well being happening right now for everyone, including those we are afraid for or afraid of. But don't do it with the head, do it with the heart.
This morning a clear window opened for me to see the 200+ girls taken from their school in Nigeria becoming the 200 new world leaders, a guardian congress of innovators and guides to creating a sustainable, co-creating, caring and responsible global culture. Be the change you want to see. We are all our own 3d printers, we build with our imagination, it is something we really do, so make it what you want.
This morning a clear window opened for me to see the 200+ girls taken from their school in Nigeria becoming the 200 new world leaders, a guardian congress of innovators and guides to creating a sustainable, co-creating, caring and responsible global culture. Be the change you want to see. We are all our own 3d printers, we build with our imagination, it is something we really do, so make it what you want.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
earthquake
@19:40 a rumbley in the tumbley, borborygmus of the earth's tummy gave me a start, I didn't even have time to get the leash on the dog before it was over though. This was the first one I felt, the others were just loud and visual. The very first sounded like an explosion and was centered in Marina Del Rey 11 miles away and miles deep in the ground. The second sounded like an explosion too, I was walking the dog by a chain link fence that rattled and shook, I looked around for a fire ball but all I saw was the light posts swaying side to side. This one was actually bumpy and not very noisy. Weird, but I will take it any day over a tornado.
being a nunk
Sometimes Sensei asks me," do I feel like a monk?" I have to say no, I just feel like a weirdo, but I do the work, I stick with it and sometimes some insight or delight hits and then I feel like.. something.
I often think it would be wonderful to live in a monastery, among dozens of others, having a daily routine but then I realize what a fantasy that is, not a bad one, just another fantasy. If I mention it to Sensei she firmly derides it and reminds me that the grass is never really greener on the other side of the fence. She also likes to point out that the work will be the same wherever I go... I hate it when she's right.
But really when we have lived in monastic settings I did enjoy it very much. I like access to practice routines, group meditation, study, I like the sense of community, of contributing and sharing support.
The other day a fellow student at the college asked about my living situation and remarked it must be hard. I know there are others out there in similar situations. It is good to keep in touch with them, that is why I hope to attend the Western Buddhist Monastic Gathering. If I can't go for some reason I can enjoy the contact vicariously by others attending.
Someday when I have graduated and am developing a health provider practice that coincides with this spiritual practice I would like to visit communities and eventually settle into a few. In the Buddha's day monks roamed most of the year but settled together in the rainy season, perhaps we will be able to do such a thing. I have experienced and would like to give to others the benefits of Body Mind Support for the practice of the BuddhaDhamma.
I often think it would be wonderful to live in a monastery, among dozens of others, having a daily routine but then I realize what a fantasy that is, not a bad one, just another fantasy. If I mention it to Sensei she firmly derides it and reminds me that the grass is never really greener on the other side of the fence. She also likes to point out that the work will be the same wherever I go... I hate it when she's right.
But really when we have lived in monastic settings I did enjoy it very much. I like access to practice routines, group meditation, study, I like the sense of community, of contributing and sharing support.
The other day a fellow student at the college asked about my living situation and remarked it must be hard. I know there are others out there in similar situations. It is good to keep in touch with them, that is why I hope to attend the Western Buddhist Monastic Gathering. If I can't go for some reason I can enjoy the contact vicariously by others attending.
Someday when I have graduated and am developing a health provider practice that coincides with this spiritual practice I would like to visit communities and eventually settle into a few. In the Buddha's day monks roamed most of the year but settled together in the rainy season, perhaps we will be able to do such a thing. I have experienced and would like to give to others the benefits of Body Mind Support for the practice of the BuddhaDhamma.
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