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

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,

Green Tara,Mother of all the Buddhas

Headed into Retreat

The 21 emanations of Tara

Feb 3rd I will be starting retreat at Root Institute in Bodhgaya. The retreat will be on the deity Tara which is a very beautiful practice. An old friend Jimmy Neil will leading the retreat which will really good as he has lots of experience with Tara practice and I am sure to pick his brain. Root Institute these days is quite the luxury. I stayed at Root Institute back in 1995 when it had a small meditation hall and dorms with concrete mattresses and torn mosquito nets.Today is has beautiful gardens and statues and a really nice and bright mediation hall,which is very inspiring.

The Root Institute is at http://www.rootinstitute.com/

For a you tube link to the Tara mantra  this link  is a nice one  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqcWl6VAB_M

For some info on Tara try this link .http://www.lamamigmar.com/html/practice-green-tara.html

Also in line with the Tara energy of  feminine wisdom and power (which all you guys have too) I would like to share an event that will take place on Feb 14th. One Billion Rising is a global strike and dance to  bring attention, protest  and hopefully encourage an end to the violence toward women. The links below have more info and I hope you can participate in some form, and send you support, best wishes or prayers to all women world wide on this Valentines Day. I will dedicate the retreat to also end violence toward all beings.

Tara statue on the Stupa in Bodhgaya

One billion rising  in at    http://onebillionrising.org/
and also   http://www.facebook.com/vday

Buddha Statue inside temple

Bodhgaya Mahabodhi Temple

The Mahabodhi  temple is one of the best place on earth; well at least for me and a few thousand Buddhist.
Here are some photos taken today that will give a wee taste  of the park in which Buddha gained enlightenment. The temple lay in ruins for many years because Buddhism had  almost died out in India. However when Tibetans came into India in early 60's they revived the notion of pilgrimage to holy sites and started to renovate the park.  I have been told by some older Tibetans that many stupas and statues lay broken in the ground, that the site was used by the locals as a rubbish pit and that cows and pigs wandered around the park. Today it is beautiful and there is a strong positive energy which has to come from decades of strong prayers being said in this space. The statue of Buddha inside the temple is truly gorgeous. I swear I have seen this statue in many different moods, this year he seems very happy in meditation. Ok it is maybe a trick of the light  or a new layer of paint that changes to facial expression or maybe my mind is in some way trying to communicate with a higher self through this Buddha image; or maybe I am just mad!: but it is a beautiful statue.
Nowadays there are constant prayers festival under the Bodhi tree from mid November until mid Feb which is the winter season and best weather for being Bihar. Certain time are busier than others and just now it is relatively quiet but still busy.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabodhi_Temple
For some years now there have been rumours about this site becoming a UNESCO site but this would be horrible because it would then have to be excavated and also we would be charge to practice our religion. Some say it is already a world heritage site but there is alot of confusion as to its status so who knows for sure; http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1056      http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_mahabodhi.asp

Blessing stone under the Bodhi Tree

Small shrine

Lay & ordained people from West Bengal do prayers under tree

Entrance to Mahabodhi temple

Mahabodhi Temple

Thia pilgrims meditate under the Bodhi Tree

Offering prostrations

Mandala and outer offerings under the Bodhi Tree

In meditation

Lay people under Bodhi tree

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Happy Republic Day

January 26^th is India’s birthday and it is celebrated with marching bands, flag raising and waving, speeches, parades and. National pride is big on this day but it is funny how this show of pride is done in an old fashioned British style which to me makes the day even more special.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/republic-day/eventcoverage/11375954.cms

In Bodhgaya there was a small parade lead by local dignitaries and every school had a flag raising and singing of the national anthem. I was in the grounds of the main temple in the morning so got the tail end of the town parade and managed a wee bit of flag waving myself.  I just love my India. So here’s to mother India, may she continue to flourish and be a great democracy fitting with your history and culture. 

The colours of the India flag is symbolic of all religion which thrive in India, The saffron is for Hindu, the White for Jain the green for Islam and the wheel in the centre is the Dharma chakra of Buddhism. The saffron is also for courage, white for purity, green for hope and fertility and the blue of the dharma chakra, vigilance, truth and loyalty.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_India

Most of all though, especially since  I am in the place of the enlightenment of the Buddha, a man who like Mahatma Gandhi wanted peace and harmony for all people, I took this day as a day of prayer especially for a positive relationship between sibling nations of Indian and Pakistan. May they flourish together communicate and grow together, appreciate and respect their shared culture and history and show the  rest of the world that real democracies, that truly care for the welfare of their people, use the peaceful tools of  diplomacy to heal wounds and bridge differences rather than armies, guns, tanks and bombs. My prayer is  for harmony and a positive peace between these nations and for peace to become a reality in Kashmir.  

Inner and Outer Fog

Before I left Varanasi a thick, cold fog descended and it is still with us. Trains have been delayed, traffic is slow and of course there have been many road accidents. This fog is so thick you cannot even see 10ft in front of you at some points. Buddhism likens the state of unawareness or ignorance of the true nature of reality to fog. The Tibetans call this state ‘timug’ and it refers to a dull, sleepy mind that is just lead around by desire or revulsion to sensual objects simply because it has no concept of ultimate reality. In Sanskrit the word ‘maya’ means illusion or enchantment, it is also used to descried the illusory state of the world, our attachment to the world and that we live in ignorance to the true nature of reality. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_(illusion) Shrouded in this ‘fog,’ this mind, which we all have, is very difficult to train toward enlightenment. Anyway with the fog my mind has also become extra foggy and dull.

Fog on the Ganga

On the last day in Varanasi I took a boat trip to see the Brahmins do their prayers and welcome the sun. I had put it off till the last day as I had volunteered early morning. Anyway it was an interesting experience, on the Ganga with the fog swirling over the grey water and rowing boats coming into vision through the veil of mist. Yes, it had a mystic feel to it;  a haunting feeling or melancholy came over me as I sat wrapped in my wool blanket watching the barefooted boatman quietly pull at the oars. After watching all the funeral fires the last few weeks it made me think maybe ghost are hanging around. It is weird but I truly love these grey, misty scenes with stillness, quiet and a bit of water. Maybe it is my Scottish blood that has within it imprints of the highlands and misty lochs, or rugged, treeless misty battlefield where ghosts clansmen, my ancestors roam. Whatever it is maybe the fog or mist just gives me permission to go slow and relax. Maybe seeing only the part of the world in front of your face gives the brain and the senses a break, allowing space for the sense of self to go inward.

Until around noon or 1pm every day this fog is with us, then maybe some sun for a few hours but as it gets cold dung fires to keep warm are lite and the air become thick with smoke as another blanket of fog desends. Two days ago myself and two others  headed to Lumbini in a car. The driver had to navigate this soup like fog dodging pedestrians, cars, truck, rickshaws, buses and bullock toed carts as he went. It is the weirdest thing but Indian's just wander all over the main road as if they are having a stroll in the park. No rules driving applies and the fog seems also very reflective of people's half asleep awareness of safety and rules of the road. It was an exhausting car ride and the roads are "no good."

One of the 4 holy places of the Buddha, Lumbini, is the place where the Buddha was born and is just over the boarded into Nepal. The main reason to take this journey was to get a new stamp on our India visa and seeing a major Buddhist pilgrimage place was an added extra. http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/lumbini.htm

The fog lay thick in Lumbini as well but I still enjoyed sitting quietly by the pond where Buddha’s mother, Maya Devi bathed before she gave birth and where the baby Buddha was first washed.  Maya Devi literally means Illusion Goddess; referring to that even she, a queen was ignorant of the true nature of reality but she  was able to give birth to the Buddha, an enlightened one; i,e, out of ignorance come enlightenment and according to Buddhism we all have the ability to get out of the fog. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_(mother_of_Buddha)   

There was one huge Bodhi tree next to the pond which welcomed me to sit under for a while. As I breathed in the cold fog I made prayers not only for the fog to rise so we could have a safe drive back to Bodhgaya but also for this foggy mind to become enlightened; or at least be able to  taste or catch a glimpse of, even for a split second, the true nature of reality and the clarity of mind which the lamas talk of. Maybe then real true lasting compassion will arise.

Bodhi tree and pond

Pond and Maya Devi Temple

old Tibetan  Sakya Temple

Lumbini is also undergoing major construction just now. It was proclaimed a UNESO site a few years back which means money is charged to see the spot where Buddha is said to have been born. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/666    

The old temple dedicated to Buddha’s mother has been torn down to make way for an archaeological dig. That is a real shame as the small temple was beautiful and built into the tree which she supposedly held on to has she gave birth. Whether this is the spot or not it is just such a shame that a centuries old small temple that pilgrims have been flocking to for centuries has been torn down and the area is now under the control of some global, non-Buddhist organization. It has become a museum now with bus load of tourist filing past the statue and spot, snapping a photo and then moving on to the next thing. Before UNESCO it was a place of worship, you could visit anytime for no charge, make offerings and meditate in peace. Seems like the money god it taking over. Oh yes and China is funding this huge project, a master plan to renovate and make Lumbini a tourist destination. Hmmmmmm? check out this web site    http://www.lumbinitrust.org/                 I do not trust that for a second. The ignorant mind of communism and materialism mixed together is a dangerous foggy mind indeed.

There is also a very old Sakya Tibetan Temple in Lumbini which I was luck to be able to make an offering for Tara prayers to be said. This is a great temple complete with years of butter lamp smoke covering the painted walls and a great feeling of calm and serenity inside. his temple is not in the new shinny tour map as guess what the Chinese do not want you to visit this temple which actually practices Buddhism. The folowing link is to the new Sakya Temple.  http://chogyetrichen.com/English/aboutus/index.html

This Morning I had a Dream

Buddha Statue in Bodhgaya

After months of washing in cold water from a bucket, or boiling water in a kettle  for  take the chill off the cold water I had the experience of being in a beautifully tiled clean, bathroom under a fountain of gushing hot water. My whole body relaxed and as the water flowed over me making every muscle relax. Ahhhhh. The room filled with steam and as I breathed in the hot vapours my lungs felt clean and cleared of the dust that had accumulated over the past month in north India. Ahhhhh. The soap suds smelled like flowers and  the shampoos felt like the expensive stuff from the salon. The hot water from the strong water jets pounded over my head then massaged my shoulders; it felt heavenly. I scrubbed and scrubbed then took breaks to just stand breath and enjoy this never ending stream of hot, hot water. Ahhhh When finished showering, I turned off the water and the room was filled with clouds of steam just like a sauna. I opened the door, stepped into the bedroom, wrapped my self in a fluffy, clean towel and watched the clouds of steam, fill the small room. Outside the window the fog was thick and I could not see the landscape; was I inside or outside? Either way I just felt good and for the first  in months cleaner than clean. I decided to open the window and then reality struck.  Bam! An icy blast of cold air mixed with the smell of wood fires burning, the noise of children, the chatter of parents, the distant honk of an auto rickshaw and the Hindi music coming from the neighbours house. I was in Bodhgaya. Wow ! thank God (or should I say Buddha) I was still in India; for a moment there it felt like I was back in the USA with all the comforts but none of  the amazing experiences that only being in India can offer.

Mohammed's new guest house is fantastic and just the wee bit of luxury that a tired traveller needs. Thanks so much Mohammed for installing such and amazing hot shower.

Now in Bodhgaya  (for the 12th time) the place of Buddha's enlightenment.