Wednesday, February 13, 2013

In Between Retreats.
Happy Valentines. May there be peace and love for all beings

First of all Happy Valentines day to all.

Tara retreat went very well. There were 18 of us and the 11 days just flew. I truly enjoyed being in silence and Root is such a nice place I hardy felt I was in India.
The Tara practice was also so enjoyable; it is a real heart opening experience, taking me out of my thinking mode and into feeling; using emotional intelligence.  All very hard to explain right now but this practice showed me just how much I am in my brain and disconnected from my hearts wisdom. I think it is very much cultural as we in the west, especially in USA put so much important on mind intelligence while ignoring and suppressing the hearts intelligence. This retreat was also very good in that I noticed  that I can also perceive in a different way. Instead of having the brain and perceptions on automatic and not truly experiencing the environment, the heart started to feel and the senses take in experiences without the brains automatic interpretation, which is usually our habitual often negative patterns. Anyway I am connecting to this and will no doubt be exploring this more as I enter the next retreat; so I am probably not making much sense just now.
Anyway the next retreat will be on focusing the mind on an object  then using this focus to analyze reality. These meditations are based on Buddhist philosophy and are the methods with which to have insights in to our true nature. Now I am in now way expecting any insights but I think to be able to focus the mind and be able to combine this focus with heart wisdom and true perception. i.e without imputation or projection of old habits, will be a good thing to master for dealing with daily life. So lets see how I do.

This retreat will be very strict. No talking at all, no phones  or computers so I am looking forward that.
There may be around 30 people on this retreat, mostly women but a fair mix of ages and nationalities.
For some more info on this retreat check out.

http://www.rootinstitute.com/meditation-course/InsightRetreat.htm

I just saw this clip on facebook and wanted to share it as it is so appropriate for so many of us on the Dharma trail, especially the 20's generation. People usually come to the Dharma we see that the modern materialistic way of operating  is just getting out of hand and is just not satisfying to the heart or the mind.
See you in 14 days.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=203280383144662&set=vb.100003881045648&type=2&theater

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Why Return to Bodhgaya?

This time in Bodhgaya I found myself asking , "Linda, why to you keep coming back here". Maybe this question is an echo from what mum and dad are probably wondering but it is a good question; so is an attempt to answer it I will continue to scribble.
First of all though Ven. Amy Miller gave a great definition of Buddhism last night; she said that what defines Buddhism from Judeo/ Christian traditions is that Buddhism looks inward for an answer to the human condition of suffering. I think looking for an outward solutions can also take the form of political, social and cultural systems that try to alleviate the suffering within communities, nation, regions and countries. Anyway Amy's definition is exactly why Buddhism appeals to me. It gives me an answer to why there is human suffering and gives me methods to overcome this suffering; and this is why I keep coming back to Buddhism (for all you Dharma wallas you recognise this as the teaching on the 4 Noble Truths)

In Buddhism to get to an answer you first cut away what is not the answer so; why do I keep coming to Bodhgaya?
I do not come here for he beautiful, natural scenery because it is dirty, noisy, flat and the river is dry and dusty most of the year.
I do not come here especially for the people. Although I have made many wonderful friends here over the years from Bihar and within the Tibetan and Western communities these friendship while precious are the icing on the cake of being here and not my main motivation.
I do not come here to visit all the elaborate  temples from all the Buddhist countries which have been built in the last 20 years or so. These temples, many of which are actually fancy guest houses for pilgrims are filled with tourist clicking cameras and few devoted real practitioners.
I do not come here for social work. Even though I did volunteer last year and I always try to give assistance to many of the beggars and locals when I can, but that to is not the attraction to be here.
And unlike so many, I do not come here for buisness.

I come here because it is the place of enlightenment of one man, the Buddha.I come here for inspiration; so I can  keep on this path which works toward becoming a better person and to be effective in doing good in the world. Loft aspiration maybe, but I think many of us do this in our lives in different ways and why not try.

On my first few visit here I  was what many of the local call a " holy tourist". This is different than a real devoted pilgrim because I took lots of pictures, bought lots of Buddhist stuff  and ran around seeing all the holy spots just like a tourist. However because I really wanted to become I good Buddhist (and also wanted to be seen to be good Buddhist) I acted like the "good, devoted pilgrim." Monkey see monkey do I guess but it was so inspired and impresses by the whole scene and was desperate to find meaning  in or to life.
Well anyway this can only last for so long as my actions were empty of any true understanding and devotion but I kept on studying and slowly, slowly  began to gather some sense that Buddhism may just be be right on (for me ). With this change real practice began. I was curious about mediation practice and saw it as an inner experiment. I wanted see what would happen to my mind if I remained open and just did what Buddhism teaches. I had admiration for the Buddha's teachings similar to how we admire any great scholar, politician or social activist, so I had to try, do what he taught and see what happened.
Like Amy also said last night; "This path is a process and it is not for everyone." But being me; stubborn, determined and curious I kept on going with this Buddhist thing and every year I came back to Bodhgaya for a top up of inspiration, from the place and from the people practicing. Down into the rabbit hole I willingly went; one year taking teachings, or doing various meditation and offering practices while all the time trying my best to connect the practice to the philosophy and train my mind toward a more positive way of functioning. When I look back there was positive changes, I was happier, calmer and more patient but then came the return to the West.
The great thing about life is just as you think you have mastered something, you fall flat on your face and I had to admit; I just did not have it together as much as I thought I did. Juggling a formal sitting meditation practice with work and university was near impossible and slowly slowly the old habits of mind crept back but I never did loose the conviction in Buddhist philosophy.
So after university and not being able to get a job, etc etc, I had to laugh and go ahhhh!  as I recalled the first teaching of the Buddha; life is suffering. So back to the teachings of Buddha I went, only this time with a must  more  realistic and more honest approach to where my mind is. So again I am attempting to transform this foggy mind and stabilize it. This is a wee bit harder to do than before because as I must admit I chose to stay in a  nice safe Buddhist bubble somewhat removed from the real India. However this time, being more honest and gentle with my self  is (so far)  much more rewarding because I am not letting the ego fool me and therefore have no facade to keep in tact.
So here I am, again in Bodhgaya for the 12th time, being inspired, enjoying not being in my old Buddhist bubble, being as present as possible in India with all its trials and tribulations and attempting to deepen and stabilize the practice with the motivation (or goal) for better application of the teachings in the world.
Fingers crossed it all works out well; then again they do say 13 is lucky for some,