tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81105142577632059992024-03-05T01:17:12.704-08:00On Sausal CreekFrom Sausal Creek to other universes and back. The story of the meanderings of an Oakland Dharma practitioner, her periodic seclusions in the riparian corridor of this urban creek, and wanderings both mental and actual.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-59801782718276149362015-03-06T22:31:00.001-08:002015-03-06T22:31:35.184-08:00Responsible Citizen of the WorldI continue to ponder the role of the unenlightened non-monastic yogin in the West. Well, there isn't one. So, we make our ways, putting one foot in front of the other.<br />
<br />
One of my best friends lovingly and respectfully called me a fanatic and an eccentric the other day. Can't disagree. She pointed out that the path of a committed practitioner requires fanaticism.<br />
<br />
I have a sense of humor about it, though. I see how ridiculous I look in the eyes of American society. But, a few days ago I was walking down Peidmont avenue and, on a whim, went into one of the Tibetan shops. There are many such shops now, filled with merchandise from Nepal. They are really Nepal shops, but I guess that is not as marketable. You know, lots of clothes and masks, a few books.<br />
<br />
But this time, the gentleman at the counter looked right at me and started talking about impermanence and suffering, and how Shantideva's Way of the Bodhisatttva is the greatest book ever written. I felt like he was giving me a blood transfusion. Or oxygen. In that environment, I was not a fanatic, I was just a responsible citizen of the world. Does that make sense?<br />
<br />
A responsible citizen of the world does not harm sentient beings, tries to help sentient beings (seriously), devotes herself to cultivating compassion, and practices daily as much as she can so that she can become a Buddha. This is normal. The baseline for a healthy and happy life. <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002341001687153219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-57900612681691090032014-11-30T12:38:00.001-08:002014-11-30T12:41:23.884-08:00What the old Vajrayana yogins do with their lives?<style>
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Were you ever curious where to all those people who do
three-year retreat or beyond have disappeared to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was younger I wondered where all the
old yogins, men and women, are in the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What happens to them after they complete three-year retreat, or the
equivalent?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I have said before, I
used to wonder this, and not being able to find a whole lot of them, I decided
to undertake the yogini lifestyle myself—even though I have some pretty serious
competency issues as a meditator.</div>
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<br /></div>
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One of the things one gains after meditating for a number of
years is awareness of one’s shortcomings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This translates into the universal quality of decades long meditators:
humility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, the main thing good
practitioners do is fade into obscurity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess that can be viewed as a sign of
accomplishment!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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They say realization can dawn at any time, inside long-term
retreat or outside of it. I consider the typical three-year group retreat a
great foundation for practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition,
a good facility and lama can provide what Lama Sarah Harding calls, “three
years of training for a job that doesn’t exist,” i.e. ritual and music
training, and familiarity with the main practices of one’s lineage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of my vajra sisters and brothers probably
had some kind of awakening in their first or second three-year retreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the rest of us who did not, we sure know
how to practice properly with the right view, and can continue on from there,
inside or outside of a retreat structure if we care to. </div>
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<br /></div>
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We can’t do every practice we ever learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There isn’t enough time in a day, it isn’t
necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find there are some
practices we excel at more than others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or, in my case, there are practices I am less terrible at.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, I am acquainted with dozens of people who have
completed at least three years in retreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What happened to them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They got a
job and, in many cases, a spouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
have kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They help their Dharma
center, if they can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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A married couple I met long ago continued to do a series of
three year retreats (in another state where it’s cheaper to live.) They are the
exception rather than the rule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
some of my friends will do a lot of practice after they retire, if they live
long enough.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sometimes these people aren’t visible to the larger Dharma
community because they don’t attend a lot of teachings by the lamas that come
through town. They have already received those teachings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ones who like to study dharma may turn up
when in-depth teachings occur, such a well-regarded Khenpo teaching for a month
on the highest level practices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I’m
thinking Khenpo Namdrol here). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, most
can’t take off from work for that length of time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, many yogins aren’t necessarily
interested in the big theories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
want to get to the main point and focus on practice when they have free time.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So, there isn’t any clubhouse where these people meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Consequently, you could be living in the same city as an old
yogin and never meet up with him or her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I make prayers from time to time, that I will meet the real incarnate
Bodhisattvas and “field-born” Dakas and Dakinis who no doubt are in my area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ones without big hats.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was talking with the lama who guides my practice now the
other day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said you can’t tell who
has realization until they die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
great holy lamas, who everyone expects to pass in a sublime way, die without
the slightest signs of accomplishment. Some practitioners who no one had faith
in—who looked like out of control alcoholics or pugnacious ruffians—manifest
profound signs of accomplishment at the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I asked my lama the obvious question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Do they know they have realization?” </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Of course!”</div>
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002341001687153219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-47395172247167170712014-05-29T10:31:00.001-07:002014-05-29T17:42:02.286-07:00Fulfilling the Bodhisattva Vow by Staying Put<style>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kJs6eCzP4fypr1M76_H9x4BO0TVyeQBfCCnpW2xM4JEJdqYcFhLPhXzVt_IrfJj3-2MImC4Wx8TFOmwwTGB3nbOVLwWkSWiF5iGLEOGZBQn08WFJB4c3EY5dRRA517iANOixlE5O9lHZ/s1600/IMG_4823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kJs6eCzP4fypr1M76_H9x4BO0TVyeQBfCCnpW2xM4JEJdqYcFhLPhXzVt_IrfJj3-2MImC4Wx8TFOmwwTGB3nbOVLwWkSWiF5iGLEOGZBQn08WFJB4c3EY5dRRA517iANOixlE5O9lHZ/s1600/IMG_4823.JPG" height="317" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One view from my practice tent in my backyard.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You should take everything I say with a grain of salt,
because I am not a teacher of any kind, and I lack realization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just rambling about what is on my mind.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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In Mahayana Buddhism, including Vajrayana, we take a vow to
attain liberation for the benefit of beings so that we can place all beings in
that state. Technically, Awakened Ones can’t wave their magic wand and grant
everyone enlightenment, like a fairy princess. If they could have, they would
have. They lead and inspire, and are a source of blessings for those who have
faith in them. I have faith in that, because I have been lead and inspired by
awakened beings for many years — actual flesh and blood teachers. I have faith,
too, than there are Sambogakaya emanations also helping me, but I can’t see
them as an ordinary person.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Based on my faith in these things, which cannot be proven, I
want to apply myself to awakening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t know if it will happen in this life or afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am a very inattentive person, with many interests. Left to
my own impulses, I would start several hobbies every month, and travel a lot. So,
I have to be mindful of these tendencies, and remind myself of that my primary
goal is to awaken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember the advice
of my lamas, which has always been to focus on practice, and within that, to
focus on the daily continuity of the core practices they recommended for me. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have built in interruptions in my daily practice few times
a year, because I need to help out our Dharma centers, to the best of my
limited ability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t enjoy group
practices much at this stage in my life, but I’ve been asked to help, so I do
them for the benefit of sentient beings and the Dharma. This takes me away from
my house, usually, and reduces or eliminates my personal practice time. I’m
relieved to get home afterwards, honestly, and resume the continuity. No one is
ever going to affirm that we have continuous practice, unless we are in formal
retreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even lamas need help with their projects. I
have more than enough teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Honestly, I stay away from new teachers, because projects ensue as soon
as you affiliate closely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And rightly
so, there is a lot that needs doing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As much as I would like to do pilgrimage to Asia, I have never
been. I’d also like to go on trips to beautiful, tropical locales. I come close
to signing up, and then I think about my need to practice in solitude each day,
with the right kind of physical set up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How is that going to happen on a group trip? In other words, I remember
my Bodhisattva vow. Someday I’ll probably go, but it will have to be
imperative.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002341001687153219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-64757672369640344182014-05-29T09:56:00.003-07:002014-05-29T17:45:49.320-07:00One Continuous White Water Thrill<style>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfUgeGPUR9SN3VZF69yxD_zZ3J-5PZWlEEcfB7VVdg4Mksp11JmxF3Dre0Jjm-ctrVX-qlYo-L8apPk6BWApnLlinQIsbZjmaUI8LtzBR7aLOs9vKoJ6ck0M6WqmpaNRz8OdWLI1x7q35/s1600/St._Francis_River_C-1_Missouri_Whitewater_Championship_2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfUgeGPUR9SN3VZF69yxD_zZ3J-5PZWlEEcfB7VVdg4Mksp11JmxF3Dre0Jjm-ctrVX-qlYo-L8apPk6BWApnLlinQIsbZjmaUI8LtzBR7aLOs9vKoJ6ck0M6WqmpaNRz8OdWLI1x7q35/s1600/St._Francis_River_C-1_Missouri_Whitewater_Championship_2008.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo of a Missouri Whitewater Competition</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Twenty years ago or so, I saw a wonderful movie by a canoe-ist
from Minnesota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was an older man who
had cleaved the waterways of Northern Minnesota for decades, in a wooden
canoe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For these guys, the peak
experiences are paddling whitewater. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At one point in the movie, he showed himself canoeing
through extreme rapids for a very long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the narration he explained that, in reality, these were many
whitewater experiences spliced together so it looks like a long uninterrupted
thrill ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each rapid shoot was
actually a brief experience, and most of his canoe trips were uneventful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pointed out that seeing wildlife by the streams
and rivers was actually quite rare, as well — but, of course, he featured the
wildlife he was able to film in the movie.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s the way in-depth meditation is for me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My last blissful experience was a positive
dream I have a few years ago. I notice that the spiritual autobiographies of
the great meditators of the Nyingma tradition, the peak experiences are
reported, but there are gaps of years that are simply omitted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, there are exceptions, most notably,
Dudjom Lingpa or Mingyer Dorje, who were constantly awash with visionary
experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hunch, though, is that
the majority of practitioners who devote themselves primarily to meditation have
a work-a-day practice, like I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put in
the hours as best we can, like others go to a job.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I think about dating non-practitioners, this issue
comes up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Honey, what did you do today?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, I noticed the long tendrils of the vines near my
retreat tent and thought I should cut them back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, I thought, ‘nah,’ and went back to
meditating.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or, on another day, “I contemplated the real meaning of the
Tibetan term ‘drakpo’ and wondered whether all drakpo activity is liberation, or
whether other forceful or subjugating enlightened activity is drakpo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When people call lamas ‘wrathful’, is that
doctrinally accurate? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, I went and
got a peach from the kitchen, and ate it over the sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noted that it has rose flavored overtones.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“How was your day, honey?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh my goodness, how could I put anyone through that level of
non-activity and obscure contemplation on traditional Tibetan literature?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002341001687153219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-88817847569685246072014-05-25T14:00:00.001-07:002014-05-25T14:00:47.871-07:00The Teacher, the Text and the Inner Teacher<br />
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A great old Tibetan lama used to repeat an old Tibetan saying, that went something like, “first you rely on the lama, then you rely on the texts, and you rely on your inner lama.” This is one of the many things he would say that would baffle me. <br /><br />Now, on the face of it, that does not seem like a weird thing to say. Why did it baffled me? Because this lama was the epitome of someone who relied on his teacher throughout his entire life. Devotion to his teachers was his middle name. At the same time, he was also the epitome of someone who relied on texts. He read Dzogchen texts continuously. He relied on the Lonchenpa’s Cho Ying Dzod (Precious Treasury of the Basic Space of Phenomena) so heavily, that I believe one could “read” him, and it wasn’t any different than reading that book. I’m sure he would have said the same about his teachers. I certainly would.<br /><br />Scenes from the movie Fahrenheit 451 pop in to my mind’s eye when I write that. People strolling slowly about, alone, talking out loud—continually refreshing their remembrance of banned books they have memorized. It wasn’t like that! <br /><br />On the other hand, in some way, perhaps it was. The guys from his home center in southern Tibet, who trained directly under tutelage of one of the greatest lamas of the 20th century, are gone now. It is as though the scent of that rich tradition permeated him, and was still exuding from him when he came here to the U.S., and was commanded to teach.<br /><br />So, we could read him as a “book” of the tradition, embodying it’s powerful methods for training students in various ways according to their individual capacity, and the essential meaning of Dzogchen.<br /><br />So, there you have it, the third element. He came to rely on his “inner lama,” that wisdom that embued him, and was so palpable. <br /><br />He moved from directly serving his lama for decades, to living at some distance, to then being asked to teach himself and moving to another country. When he visit his lama he would bring focused questions, clarifying difficulty points in a text, or key points of his to train others.<br /><br />So, it seems to be a matter of subtle shifting degrees of reliance, from teacher, to texts, to inner wisdom. <br /><br />Here’s a recommendation. I highly recommend the movie Amongst White Clouds. It’s from a Chinese tradition of Buddhist hermits, but it reflects my experience as an in-depth (ha!) practitioner better than any movie about Tibetan Buddhism. In it, you can see practitioners at these various stages—a group retreat in which students received close guidance from an old teacher, a few hermits who relied on the great texts of Chan, and a great old practitioner who had internalized all that.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002341001687153219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-84893509466714640382014-05-24T18:14:00.000-07:002014-05-24T19:49:38.243-07:00Where’s my Radish Soup?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueQHDoXJHBQG1smkWIwtpSwSYMI41ayV1NDS5FqzJy4dCg8ZrSHwMSqUhR11QFxmcRuZKaCNQNVyDAhMA-hUwBE4v3OVt-XTfVzArTA9nNUp5QgkOOpY-lz6JEJIpOvBgf-eHCJ3RwnaH/s1600/IMG_4762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueQHDoXJHBQG1smkWIwtpSwSYMI41ayV1NDS5FqzJy4dCg8ZrSHwMSqUhR11QFxmcRuZKaCNQNVyDAhMA-hUwBE4v3OVt-XTfVzArTA9nNUp5QgkOOpY-lz6JEJIpOvBgf-eHCJ3RwnaH/s1600/IMG_4762.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lama Tharchin Rinpoche jokingly referred to my house as Yudron Ling</td></tr>
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<br />
Today, I brought my period of being a hermit to a close, rather unexpectedly. “My” Dharma center, Pema Osel Ling, contacted me, and needs my help with the annual summer retreat. It’s not that I have any great skill set, far from it. But, I can color dry white rice yellow, red and black with the best of them, and this is the kind of thing I'll be used for. So, in keeping with Lama Tharchin Rinpoche’s wishes that we all look after the center after he is gone, I did the procedure to dissolve the intense protective energy around my urban enclave. Then I had a party, all by my lonesome.<br />
<br />
In the process, many vivid memories popped up of advice I’ve been given by my fellow practitioners and lamas. I felt sad, and didn’t know if I could bring myself to end my peaceful existence here (way earlier than I had planned). I recalled advice my friend Rinchen gave me when I went in to three year retreat. He recommended I say out loud to myself when times were rough: “Yudron, you can do this.” And so I did. It’s an amazingly powerful statement.<br />
<br />
Lama Tharchin Rinpoche used to counsel me like that when I was having a hard time, and my mind turned negative. “Say to yourself, ‘Yudron…” What followed was a list of all the aspects of the good fortune I had. Have you ever read <i>The Power of Positive Thinking</i>, by Norman Vincent Peale? It was an early progenitor of the self-help book genre. I read some of it in a doctor’s waiting room long ago. Rinpoche was kinda like that. Of course, Buddhists are constantly aware of the reality of sickness, old age and death, so it has a slightly different flavor. For me, one of the main trainings in long group retreat was vey basic—how to work with your mind without going negative, when all sorts of difficult things are going on around you. Going negative usually entails coming down on someone. That person is bad, bad, bad.<br />
<br />
Today, I was aware that my mind could go negative. Since there is only one person here, I didn’t have anyone to project my disappointment on to and make into an enemy. Instead, thoughts of my own past fuck ups came up. Specifically, the many times I blew it in my relationship with Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, who I honestly loved more than anyone in the world. My friend Gail Sher wrote a book called <i>One Continuous Mistake</i>. The more I strove to be a good student, the more continuous my mistakes were. There is an old adage—did it come from Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche?—that the lama mirrors your neuroses. Well, ain’t that the damn truth! <br />
<br />
When I started to sink, I brought to mind what Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche said to me in a kata line once. He told me that when I dwell on my obscurations or defilements, I should think about Vajrasattva and Guru Rinpoche inseparable, instead. [For those who aren’t in our tradition, these are the symbolic representations of complete purity, and the guiding principle, as deities.] So, I did think about them for a moment, and felt better. <br />
<br />
Today, I also remembered many instructions on the technicalities of ritual from my two retreat masters. There were some things I couldn’t remember, as well, but I did my best. By the time I finished, I felt my reservations about ending my solitude were resolved, and blessings were present—as they are for anyone who practices with good heart.<br />
<br />
The lessons go on, in the absence of the physical presence of wisdom lamas, or the physical presence of my fellow practitioners.<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
I don’t post on my blog while I am in retreat. So, there are gaps. Nowadays, I have hesitations about blogging at all. One is, frankly, more of our lineage lamas are using the internet these days, and they may stumble on this obscure blog. I love them, and don’t want to displease their wisdom minds. <br />
<br />
In Tibetan culture, half-baked people like me did not traditionally write anything about Dharma—even as tangentially as I am doing now. For starters, there was no public school system, so most people were illiterate. But, also, in a Buddhist society the written word of the Dharma is holy. People respect the depth of knowledge and realization that is necessary to write about it in a way that is both accurate and helpful. From that perspective, folks like me, who are not teachers, do not have realization, and are generally ignorant, should remain silent. <br />
<br />
On the other hand, my life is dedicated to the Buddhadharma, and I am a writer by nature. So blogging is natural to me. My sojourn as a practitioner—and soon-to-be inspirational writer for teens—has it’s interesting dimensions, thrills and spills. So, I’ll press forward, and try to write responsibly. <br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
The wife of the mahasiddha Saraha, one of the greats from ancient India, cooked some radish stew. She did not have time to serve it to Saraha before he went into a meditative state from which he didn’t emerge for twelve years.<br />
<br />
When he regained normal consciousness: <br />
“…he asked his wife for the plate of stew… She was upset by the request and questioned him, asking why after twelve years of meditation was he still full of desire for the stew. He was embarrassed and said they should move to the mountains so as to be even more isolated in his meditation and she retorted that it was not necessary for them to move. She explained to him that the greatest solitude comes when one is free from conceptual thought as well as the preconceptions and prejudices of an inflexible and narrow mind. Saraha was inspired by his wife's words and continued his meditation with the sole intention of freeing his mind from conceptual thinking. He began to experience all things as space, seeing the world in its natural state.” <br />
[The quote comes from the Himalayan Art website, but sounds like the translator Keith Dowman.]<br />
<br />
This is a famous story. When I first heard it twenty years ago, I had no clue about what it meant. Now, I know that practitioners of Mahamudra don’t strive for semi-comatose meditative states. I’m not saying I am a practitioner of Mahamudra, or anything so exalted. I’m not. But, I do take his consort’s advice seriously and aspire to do as she advised. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-82760770309266020382013-08-29T22:05:00.001-07:002013-08-30T22:38:02.363-07:00Nothing Better than Long Term Retreat<style>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Today I would like to start talking about the benefits of a retreat centered lifestyle for serious Buddhist practitioners. First, I will address the ways that people have attained realization in recent history.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Among the favorite reading materials of yogis and yoginis of
the Nyingma tradition are the biographies of the great, realized, lamas of
Tibet. We read them in order to model ourselves
after them. I have a particular
interest in the 20<sup>th</sup> century adepts, because they are closer in time
to my life, and a few are still alive. Many
of their students are alive.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">There is one catch.
These are often reincarnate masters who have a lot of past life
accomplishment to draw on. It is
sometimes hard for me to know, as an ordinary person, how to model myself after someone who had
tremendous accomplishment in childhood, or even infancy. I believe the stories, because I have
personally met lamas like that. I don’t
understand Buddhists who are super skeptical, but that is a whole ‘nother
topic.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">As I was starting to write this, I looked back through a
bunch short bios on these 20<sup>th</sup> century people </span><span style="font-size: small;">in the same tradition as me </span><span style="font-size: small;">who had the experience
of realization .
There were a few things I noticed.
Some reincarnate lamas gained realization while merely receiving
teachings on the great Dzogchen texts, such as the Yeshe Lama, or during a one-on-one
experience with their lama of being introduced to the nature of their mind via
a variety of formal and informal means. As
an example of informal means, one 20<sup>th</sup> century lama gained realization exactly how
Naropa did; he was beat up by his lama with a shoe! This was one of the early Pema Norbus, the
one who lived from 1887 to 1932.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I also noticed that most of these great lamas spent seven or
more years studying, and also serving, their lamas. Some gained realization in that kind of intensive
work-study-practice environment.
Something must have rubbed off! This is one way to gain realization.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I also noticed that those 20th century teachers who did not 'wake up' in this kind
of lifestyle (and some who did) went on to do intensive retreat practice. The biographies were sometimes short on
specifics about how long and under what conditions they undertook retreat, but generally they spent between 3 and 22 years in secluded retreat.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">These great figures did a lot of deity approach and
accomplishment practices (nyen drups) “of the three roots.” In our Nyingma tradition, that means they did
practices of the Lama category (Guru Rinpoche, Vajrasattva, or Longchenpa
usually), the yidam category (such as
Vajrakilaya, Manjushri, or Yamantaka), and the dakini category (Yeshe Tsogyal,
Tara, etc.) Some lamas really did a lot
of these retreats, which take a specific period of time (such as one, three, or
six months) or the repetition of a certain number of mantras. Lamas like Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Jamyang
Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, and my own less-famous lama, Tharchin Rinpoche, did
complete nyendrups on dozens of deities. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">For practitioners of that caliber, there are many wonderful
things that happen in those retreats, such as phurbas levitating, beams of
light emanating from ritual objects, or a tea offering catching fire. For people of my caliber, we are lucky to have
a good dream. Sometimes nothing positive seems to happen.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Quite a few of these lamas also did retreat on the core
practices of the Great Perfection itself for several years. Not too many of these Nyingma biographies
mention a lot of tsalung practice, but there were certainly famous lamas,
such as Shakya Shri, who were greatly accomplished in that arena.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It is assumed that every serious practitioner, had miserable experiences in retreat as
well. Jamgon Kongtrul, for example, very franly discusses his illnesses and difficult experiences in retreat in his autobiography. The point of having supervision by
an experienced lama when one is doing long term retreat is to avoid getting
carried away by positive experiences, or freaked out by negative experiences. Also, one needs instruction about how to
potentially turn experiences into realization.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">For me, while I am not a very good meditator (or perhaps
because of it) there is delight at the thought of undertaking a new practice,
or a new approach to practice in the next retreat. Some people want to travel to new places, and
they have their adventure that way. I
have always been enchanted by the cave dwelling yogini really applying herself
sincerely to the practices, and just seeing what happens. I have endless curiosity about that. Where will this take me? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It may sound cheesy, but I do take the Bodhisattva intention
very seriously. There is belief there
inside me in the power of enlightened yogis and yoginis to benefit the
world. Something opens, and one’s wisdom
and compassion completely blossom, and one becomes a beacon for the world, and
one’s prayers have real power. I’ve seen
that this has happened others, and I am committed (as many, many, other simple people who have
taken the Bodhisattva vow are) to follow my practice through to that
point. It may not happen for me in this
life, but there is always an opportunity in the bardo, or beyond.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Shortly after Lama Tharchin Rinpoche’s passing, Dzongsar
Khyentse Rinpoche spoke to us twice. He
talked about the unlikelihood of having the opportunity to do long term retreat
in the present era, and suggested we just simply generate aspirational
Bodhichitta as our main practice.
Khyentse Rinpoche is so brilliant.
There, at Pema Osel Ling, in a sangha where 40 people have completed
three year retreat over the years, a handful have finished two or more retreats
(not me!), and others are in still retreat, he gives a long talk about how it
is probably impossible to do so.
Interesting.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Then, he uttered just a few words, a sentence fragment; “If
you can, of course, there is nothing better.” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, there is the upshot. If you can, of course, there is nothing
better. Honestly, a lot of us really
can. We have the mental stability, the
faith, a trusting relationship with our lamas, a stable practice, and
what? A divorce? There are certainly plenty of those. Retirement?
Plenty of those. There is even a
charity or two that does fund people in a well run, traditional, three-year
retreat.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">If you can, there is nothing better.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">edited for grammar and typos 8-10-13 10:30 PDT</span> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-4695073483455241312013-08-20T10:43:00.000-07:002013-08-20T10:43:24.997-07:00The Old British Colonialist Within
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At the 2013 Buddhist Geeks conference in Boulder, Colorado,
Zen teacher David Loy said, and I hope I have the quote exactly right, “we must
tear down the myth of traditional Buddhist cosmology.” </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My initial response was a defensive one, my mind responding
to this—and other similar statements—with an immediate “Who you calling ‘we,’
white boy?”<span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I applied the key points of my practice to my subsequent
emotional upheaval, which was admittedly already brewing from two speakers who
had already that day mis-characterized the core practice of my own tradition.<span> </span>Up front, I have to admit that my attempt to
transform my own reactions to this kind of approach to the Buddhadharma into
non-dual open awareness were completely unsuccessful. <span> </span><span> </span>I made
several tweets during the talk that were snarky, albeit nowhere near as snarky
as I felt at the time… and I am going to continue on in that vein. </span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have three objections to Mr. Loy’s statement: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>We</b></span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The first is the “we.”<span>
</span>The Buddhist Geeks conference is noted for being frequented by
practitioners in their 20’s and 30’s. <span> </span>This
is one of the most cool things about it.<span>
</span>I am a white woman in my 50’s who wants to see younger people benefit
from genuine Dharma.<span> </span>The conference
attendees are largely white, and the speakers intentionally included some
people of color and women (bravo!), but no Asians, as far as I could tell.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The conference speakers who made the most claims about being
wise and knowledgeable enough to determine what was valuable and what was not valuable
in all forms of traditional Buddhadharma the world over, and – overtly or
implicitly – what should be discarded, were mostly white male baby
boomers.<span> </span><span> </span>I feel this mindset has unconscious white
colonialist underpinnings. <span></span>Quoting
Osterhammel on Colonialism, via Wiki, “<span>the colonizers are
convinced of their own superiority and their ordained mandate to rule.”</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Must Tear Down</b></span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A call to arms for Westerners to tear down traditional
Buddhist beliefs has in it the implicit assumptions that we Westerners have a
mandate to rule Buddhism.<span> </span>The overt rationale
is that science trumps tradition.<span> </span>In
this vein, Loy labeled the parts of the Dharma that he did not believe in as
myths, such as “the myth of the Bodhisattva.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Buddhist Cosmology</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Western science’s study of the nature of reality and the
nature of consciousness is in its infancy.<span>
</span>The idea that anything in Buddhist cosmology can be ruled out based on
science is absurd.<span> </span>These kinds of
thoughts, that the Dharma consists of only what can be measured, come out of
our own discomfort with the inherently illusory nature of the phenomena that
appear in our sense fields.<span> </span>It is
soothing to our western habit to materialize the Dharma and reject
the idea that there is anything beyond what we can measure and see.<span> </span>The idea that “others,” i.e. Asian yogis and
scholars, have a greater realization or understanding of reality is
unacceptable.<span> </span>We must eliminate any such
thought immediately!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-29967283348533253372013-08-14T11:15:00.002-07:002013-08-20T11:22:53.317-07:00Retreats Aren't for Everyone<style>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The approach to long-term retreat in the last century or so,
has emphasized a three year, three month supervised group retreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a format that the highly respected 19<sup>th</sup>
century teacher Jamgon Kongtrul promoted, because it fits with ancient tantric
teachings about time, human physiology, and the effect of practice on our
energy and nervous system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retreats
can, however, be of any length.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The danger of isolated long term personal retreats, are that
one can make mistakes in practice that lead to mental and emotional health
issues, or one can become puffed up by personal pride. The group three year treat format protects
one against this because one is supervised, hopefully, by an experienced yogi,
and also one’s interactions with one’s peers in retreat may undermine the
development of arrogance and wear off one’s rough edges.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I recently heard about someone who had done many years in
retreat. A friend met this person, and
found this practitioner had developed an attitude of superiority towards other
practitioners who were engaged in another path.
This is an example of pride and dualistic thinking not being eliminated
by practice, but increased instead. What
a waste! Or maybe that is just my pride
talking, saying “what a waste!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Personal retreat, for some, tends to cultivate more in-depth
meditation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Retreat is suitable for some people, and not for
others. Super extroverts may not be
comfortable with the lack of social interaction. People with schizophrenia are, unfortunately,
not suitable for long term retreat, and folks with some other mental health
issues may not be. Really, the advice of
a senior wisdom teacher should be sought before doing a three-month or longer
retreat… and I have seen some people not do well even in one month of solitude.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, it is not a panacea.
Obviously, there are economic issues for folks as well. There is sponsorship available for participants
in respected three-year retreat facilities in the west <a href="http://www.tsadra.org/">www.tsadra.org</a>, but getting one is not
guaranteed. One may need to do personal
fundraising. There are visa, language,
and health issues involved in doing retreat in Asia where it is cheaper.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, I have expressed a lot of downsides in this post. If you are thinking about retreat, I am not
trying to discourage you. Next, I’ll
write about some upsides.</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-56279485694212601352013-08-08T17:01:00.001-07:002013-08-08T17:01:36.279-07:00Picnic on a Hill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-H5l-AUSNKgYYyra8_QEJlrnkDxcnJX8HgcMy8iFSfqZXHesRJ9_JrN9fmULXxtuCqQ3B-jZ2WMyyDfKwLIV9J8dTjQoTSYJwGUhtb6WMqw7m2ozIEKDq8QDyRIOfUUH7YzB6wHanl_t/s1600/photo(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-H5l-AUSNKgYYyra8_QEJlrnkDxcnJX8HgcMy8iFSfqZXHesRJ9_JrN9fmULXxtuCqQ3B-jZ2WMyyDfKwLIV9J8dTjQoTSYJwGUhtb6WMqw7m2ozIEKDq8QDyRIOfUUH7YzB6wHanl_t/s320/photo(8).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This is a small replica of a large oil painting that I grew up with in our family home. Art really does have an impact on one. This evocative painting raises a number of questions for a child observing it. Why is this woman up on a hill alone? Is that a picnic basket? Is she sad?<br />
<br />
Then, the questions turn on oneself. Could I enjoy a picnic alone in nature? What would I do there with no books, phone, TV or internet? Suppose all my basic needs were taken care of, and I had a little cabin, heat and plenty of food. What then?<br />
<br />
Just the word "hermit" does sound sad to me, as does "solitude." Flipping those feelings upside down, the Tibetan Buddhist tradition (among others) has the idea that living and meditating in solitude for long periods of time can be a break-through experience. <br />
<br />
I think lots of people, who are--like me--introverts by nature, pass a mesa in Arizona or a mountain in the Sierras, and picture themselves there in a cabin. In our mind's eye we open into the vast sky, uniting with the spacious loving heart of the universe.<br />
<br />
I've done enough retreat at this point to know that we carry our own baggage, the need to create problems, to invent unmet needs, and so on, to the mountaintop. Unfolding is a process of applying the teachings of our powerful lineage of realized adepts to ourselves. Starting at the beginning, the hallmark of Buddhism, the penetrating acceptance of impermanence itself. Then, slowly coming to a conclusion about each critical point.<br />
<br />
One petal at a time, the flower opens. That hill is a good place to practice. Why? Well, for one, the ability to blame others for our problems is undermined. They aren't even there. I am forced to take responsibility for my own mind. Then, I am forced to love and accept the thinker of those ridiculous thoughts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-22162394880342256812013-08-01T14:43:00.000-07:002014-05-24T17:57:46.033-07:00The Most Radical Humans<style>
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Even before I became a Buddhist, I was intrigued by the
stories of cave-dwelling hermits in the Tibetan tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>High mountain caves were used in Tibet for
their isolation because they were relatively cheap, insulated, and easy to
remodel into a long-term meditation place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also, I think the vastness of the sky had its appeal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saying someone was doing “mountain retreat”
was synonymous with saying one was doing long-term serious retreat.
</div>
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In long-term solo retreat, the distinguishing features of a
monk or nun and a non-monastic yogi or yogini become largely irrelevant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the case of a non-monastic woman, the
things she may do to make herself beautiful in ordinary life are set aside and
she is just natural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Internally, the
thoughts of finding a sexual partner become just thoughts like any other, of no
special importance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A nun, on the other
hand, stops shaving her head and lets her hair grows out long in retreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The relationships and hierarchy at her
nunnery are set aside, and she, too, is just nakedly there. </div>
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Like the title of the famous book by Aya Khema (in the
Theravadin tradition), one becomes “nobody, going nowhere.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is true for any retreatant, but
especially in Western culture where long-term retreat is not valued, one gives
up all ambition and looses whether status one had from one’s career or family
role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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While aiming for realization, there is no guarantee that
such a thing will happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing
guaranteed to happen is that one’s body will continue to age.</div>
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Why on earth would one do such a thing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer is renunciation… a not very sexy
word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the Buddhist path, the speedy
loud ways of humans running around seeking this and that on the worldly level
eventually becomes completely unsatisfying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even while seeking pleasure, one can see the inevitable end of that
pleasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even while avoiding pain, one
sees the end of that relief from pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Instead, one yearns to connect with enlightenment, to dive
in to realization, or simply to place oneself in a state of open heartedness,
loving all living beings equally, limitlessly.</div>
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Eventually one may find the blue sky outside and inside, the
completely awakened state.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-12844409171595969992013-02-24T18:02:00.002-08:002013-02-24T18:04:32.552-08:00The Emergence of Wisdom 2.0<style>
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</style> <span style="font-size: small;">I just returned from spending 3 ½ days at the Wisdom 2.0
conference. In case you haven’t heard
about this astounding successful conference series, it is a get together to
discuss wisdom and compassion in the Digital age. Who would know how this idea would catch
on? This year’s attendance was about
1700 people, which I believe more that doubled from the previous year. </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">The event took place in San Francisco’s large barn-like
Concourse Exhibition Hall, appropriately located in the south of Market area,
next door to the imposing Zynga building.
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">I have been absorbed in my own world of dedicated
traditional practice in my specific Buddhist tradition for years. I have certainly been aware that mindfulness
meditation practices, in various forms, and--of course--yoga, have become
increasingly popular. I was surprised to see, however, how many
business leaders, such as Bill Ford from Ford Motors, and many (apparently
famous) tech entrepreneurs such as Bill Evans—formerly of Twitter—and top
executives from Facebook, Google, and Linked-in are willing to be “out” not
only about their meditation practices, but the role that compassion and wisdom
play in their world view. This was
complemented by many researchers and grass-roots activists who are working to
bring these practices and compassionate values to their communities and the
world. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Two members of Congress spoke about the intersection between
their political work and their personal practice… Tulsi Gabbard and Tim Ryan,
and I was impressed with their humility and good heart.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Marianne Williamson, a prolific and popular writer and
lecturer on spiritual topics, was perhaps the biggest surprise. She speaks in a style that obviously draws
from Christian preachers, even through she is not that, and initially I had the
impulse to leave the room, because the studied style of professional speaker on
the circuit usually sends a signal to me that I am about to be hustled. But, what a pleasant surprise when the
message she sent was to throw down the gauntlet to the all of there, especially
the business leaders, to use all that brain and financial power to do real good
in the world… and specifically to get together and do what needs to be done to
eliminate extreme poverty in the world.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">But more important than the big talks were discussions I had
with individuals about their current work and projects that I am working
in. I have a project I am in the
formative stages of, and it was very good for me to see the big picture of what
will certainly be an eventual revolution in the U.S. – balancing inner life and
outer work and new values that inevitably come out of that. As San Francisco goes, so goes the
nation. Eventually.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">These people were mostly coming from the doing side and
trying to bring in the contemplative side, and I come from the contemplative
side and am moving into doing. I just
listened and watched, like a beginner all over again, asking myself again and
again “what can I take from this into my work?”
“What do I bring to the table as a strength.” </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Inside I watched my various reactions to the environment,
from my snarky anti-authoritarian side, to my pride rearing its head, and also
(not unrelated) what would push my buttons.
I found that my own capacity to actively engage with others – almost
everyone there was a total stranger – needed to be balanced with unengaged
times, some lunches alone, and a few chair naps. There were a lot of sub-spaces, including a
meditation room and a yoga room, which I admired from afar.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">I recommend this gathering—if you or your organization can
afford it—to folks who are engaged in wisdom and compassion work, in any
setting, as a way to expand and connect in the larger world of people who will
get the significance of what you are doing.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-730776515652976442013-01-24T11:52:00.000-08:002013-01-24T11:52:11.334-08:00Focus on Teens and the Dharma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7SisND-gSi1HEFq_l8dAXTbMRSbzQAdYYdGxIS6hpiXN00dfR0gaXicouaOPIIj2ryN4klrEM2ugI2tQRZb2KhOjr2YpoKO3LF_C5oyXRIZhOTjiUy0BVA71LrflLpawoALTmqDP4Jy8/s1600/Damaru-2491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7SisND-gSi1HEFq_l8dAXTbMRSbzQAdYYdGxIS6hpiXN00dfR0gaXicouaOPIIj2ryN4klrEM2ugI2tQRZb2KhOjr2YpoKO3LF_C5oyXRIZhOTjiUy0BVA71LrflLpawoALTmqDP4Jy8/s1600/Damaru-2491.jpg" /></a></div>
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This blog is quiet because I’m putting my time into
meditation and writing a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book
is a novel for young adults, intended to share my joy and endless curiosity
about the lived through experience of a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism in
modern American life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m about a third
of the way through my rough draft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
is really near the beginning because there are many rewrites necessary in
writing a good book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or so they say… I
wouldn’t really know because this is my first work of fiction.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My personality is such that I approach everything from the
big picture first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps this is from
the combination of being an Aquarian and the daughter of a lawyer—who wrote
legislation for the U.S. congress no less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, I usually approach things – even human interaction – based on
principle first, then narrow it down to the personal… much to the bafflement of
the people in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I have a pretty complete outline of the book and the
cast of characters, and I’m writing the book based on that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not a fantasy work, it is a girl’s
experience of meeting with the Dharma for the first time—enlivened by all the
kind of natural magic and synchronicity that regularly enlivens the lives of
Vajrayana practitioners.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday, I went to Facebook headquarters—the real place in
Menlo Park, California where Facebook is based.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was Compassion Research Day that they kindly hosted, presenting what
they are learning about how to gently foster better communication between
Facebook users based on their research with their billion user strong
database.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are specifically focusing
on 13-14 year olds right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
causes them to report what they feel is an inappropriate post or picture to
Facebook?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most common thing that is
reported by this age group is girl reporting being tagged by a friend in a
photo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because they are embarrassed that they look
bad in the picture!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hundreds of
thousands of instances like this are reported to Facebook by teens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they have a crew of psychologists working
on refining how to redirect the kid back to communicating with their friend
about it, rather than having Facebook intervene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have developed little template messages
that kids can send to their friends that are customized to communicate what
they are feeling about the post, and how strongly they feel about it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, there are instances of real bullying and other
issues that come up between people on Facebook, and these vary a lot from
country to country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In India, one of the
worse things you can do is to deface images of someone’s favorite sports figure
or celebrity and post it on a friend’s wall!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was fascinating, and I learned a lot from the adult presenters and a
panel of teens they had come in at the end of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next week I am going to a training for
writing tutors at my neighborhood (tough!) high school, something I hope to do,
partially because I always have wanted to volunteer in the schools, and
partially to improve my skills in working with youth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When my book is done, hopefully by the summer/fall, and on
the way to be published somehow, I am going to be starting a youth group here
in the Bay Area based on the Dudjom Chö tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m hoping the book will spark kids’
interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are very rich with
wonderful lamas in the Bay Area, and I’m lucky enough to have been acquainted
with a bunch of them for a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m starting to go around and invite the lama’s to come do short pithy
teachings for the kids once we get going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I will be the organizer and head coach, and will be assisted by other
yogis and yoginis of our tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More
later, of course.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-81647059410359579052012-10-03T14:33:00.000-07:002012-10-03T14:33:03.984-07:00Flower OfferingI potted up 16 pots of sun-friendly perennials for the front of the house today.<br />
<br />
Quick, I said to myself, take a picture before any of them die!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhll4qJ-1QJNWFpXSE81_ExKPulZR5qTrnXG-ibTbaGOAO6WTJbTUNSOqhtkM4Xl-TucQn-iZHZ1ROAtK1FLyJP35_AaiKpD3PFupIDTjMRRhSfhfOzbRR3WcIBsdwxnmCU6sWwd-T1G_kJ/s1600/Potted+Plants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhll4qJ-1QJNWFpXSE81_ExKPulZR5qTrnXG-ibTbaGOAO6WTJbTUNSOqhtkM4Xl-TucQn-iZHZ1ROAtK1FLyJP35_AaiKpD3PFupIDTjMRRhSfhfOzbRR3WcIBsdwxnmCU6sWwd-T1G_kJ/s320/Potted+Plants.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-83026361074672581112012-10-03T14:29:00.000-07:002012-10-03T14:29:51.754-07:00Pot-ential
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m beginning to perk up physically after my surgery seven
weeks, and now I can see how much remains to be done around my house to
re-establish my home after three years in retreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should</i>
do is assemble furniture, unpack boxes and put away things, and dreary things
like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, instead I am starting
with flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found dozens of my own
dead or half dead potted plants everywhere in plastic pots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus empty plastic pots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plastic pots were faded and trashy
looking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Funny, how when you pose a question in your mind the answers
just appear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to Berkeley
Horticultural Nursery—an urban paradise—just for the pleasure of looking
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I drove around back I saw
that a place had been established to drop off unwanted pots for recycling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Woo hoo!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t have to put the old black nursery pots in the landfill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, yesterday I loaded up the back of the car with the ones
I would never use again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, what to do with the trashy faded adobe colored plastic
pots?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just can’t lift full pottery pots
anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These plastic ones are theoretically
useful—but what an eyesore!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then I stumbled upon some edition of “Ask This Old House” on
PBS in the last week and—sure enough—they addressed this issue!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They painted them with spray paints.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, yesterday I:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emptied all the
usable pottery soil from the bottom of the old pots in a pile on a tarp, and
mixed it with fresh pottery soil from a bag.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put the old dead
or unwanted plants in the compost.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Filled a big
bucket of water up, and added a little earth friendly dishwashing liquid. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using a car-washing
mitt to wash all the pots.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCZqxxUibldNb3OA60iF5h2MPV0-7tW0SwQoeAw-zeNu__zYds86QzU_xCKmRpSxTHIiHL78qoi5uE75_lSHquMpebshF5JVgZANBlcBWwxIYWqRcc07sIrhB8PnY8MS9dUNHZGHdb1En/s1600/Clean+pots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCZqxxUibldNb3OA60iF5h2MPV0-7tW0SwQoeAw-zeNu__zYds86QzU_xCKmRpSxTHIiHL78qoi5uE75_lSHquMpebshF5JVgZANBlcBWwxIYWqRcc07sIrhB8PnY8MS9dUNHZGHdb1En/s320/Clean+pots.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did my best to
deal with the thousand of ants that quickly swarmed me, my pots, and my hose,
with minimal casualties.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let them dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The show recommended wiping the surfaces down
with denatured alcohol to get any grease off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I read the label of Klean-strip Green Denatured Alcohol and decided it
looks pretty harmless unless I drink it – which would kill me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wiped the pots down with it and it helped
take off the remaining price tags and adhesive.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the
background for these pots will eventually be my pastel colored house, I thought
Easter egg colors would be cool and unusual, so I bought the spray paints ahead
of time and had them at-the-ready. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While everything
was drying I went back to the nursery, dropped off the pots, and bought some
plants I thought might be appropriate for a hot October, and might possibly
over winter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Came back and
spray-painted those pots until my finger went numb! (Not recommended, I read now
that it may be some weeks before sensation comes back.]</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Boy they look just too cute, don’t you think?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiWs1t0eEAzGo6J4zaTlr01MoXajjB_OPf_hQBR3GVSDwUflf_T4bCmdf-NedC803NvR9QvPJ6nFj3jfLFrQv6TL8xDv_414gWgslOHaG9IaHzBGobLayEBnElHxLpYl7Nck6_R6nfR_S/s1600/Painted+Pots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiWs1t0eEAzGo6J4zaTlr01MoXajjB_OPf_hQBR3GVSDwUflf_T4bCmdf-NedC803NvR9QvPJ6nFj3jfLFrQv6TL8xDv_414gWgslOHaG9IaHzBGobLayEBnElHxLpYl7Nck6_R6nfR_S/s320/Painted+Pots.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-55721310023400826822012-08-27T12:41:00.003-07:002012-08-27T12:41:32.620-07:00Surgery in a Buddhist Context
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I woke up from surgery surrounded by love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was August 15, 2012 and my Tibetan lama --
an elder in his late 70’s -- had gone way out his way to be there throughout my
surgery and when I awoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other friends
surrounded my bed, some like hallucinations, because I had no idea they would
be present that day.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What a different experience it would have been if I were a
private person in a long-term relationship with one person, quietly coming to
in my hospital bed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No hurried last
minute “likes” on Facebook to the many supportive messages the night before
surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No Tibetan holy men rolling
their malas (rosaries) with mantras and prayers on my behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this specific juncture of my life, I’m accustomed to
being married to a community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the
past three and a half years, ending about June, I was in a cloistered group
meditation retreat with a group of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We came to know all each other’s strengths and weaknesses, our sensitive
areas and hidden heroic qualities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, it was not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">so</i>
strange to be waking, drowsy from Morphine, in a group… my snoring (and who
knows what all) exposed to the community that held and supported me.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Since then, three people from my retreat have lived with me
(at various times) in my half-unpacked house while I recuperate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They move this heavy MacBook Pro from my bed
to the couch and back again at my whim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
feed the feral cat, wash y dishes, and take out the trash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday, two of A.dz.om Rinpoche’s students
came by in the morning and walked with me a few blocks, and listened to me
rattle on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, later, two of Lama
Tharchin Rinpoche’s students came by and did tsog – in important group practice
for us – while I mumbled along the best I could in between some pangs of pain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Normally, I like a lot of alone time to practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in this time of recovery I don’t have the
attention span for formal practice, and I appreciate the opposite—distraction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the middle of the night, my “attendant”
friend asleep, it’s just me and my snarling abdomen in boring dialogue.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-79532039809795718722012-07-28T07:47:00.002-07:002012-07-28T07:47:32.314-07:00Contemplating Rudders and Spiritual Life<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyRk-YUxR7Cqf-g960WjDg2OsJpNIXfrMmX2XVvYWaxfl3ZMcyHKlJLdn8GKXbZ-vaPTomAz-oDjv9e-C8HVX2javkMOfj2MNwNSj9fQ9zpIZtCSgqQGEQXlCRkX1fG2FF8vLQfwtLQfk/s1600/rudder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyRk-YUxR7Cqf-g960WjDg2OsJpNIXfrMmX2XVvYWaxfl3ZMcyHKlJLdn8GKXbZ-vaPTomAz-oDjv9e-C8HVX2javkMOfj2MNwNSj9fQ9zpIZtCSgqQGEQXlCRkX1fG2FF8vLQfwtLQfk/s320/rudder.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rudder of a sailboat is the part of the craft is a
movable part that descends from the rear… the way the captain steers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been contemplating how important my own personal
“rudder” is in directing my life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Several conversations with Buddhist lamas come to mind:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the early 2000s I made a temporary Tibetan shrine room in
the (leaky, as it turns out) garage below my rental apartment in Oakland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started inviting lamas there and also
leading practice groups for the foundational practices at the instruction of
one of my lamas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While discussing a
future teaching there with Lama Yeshe Wango, she encouraged me to wrote a
mission statement for the little space—something that non-profit organizations
do—which had never occurred to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the process of doing that I greatly clarified my own purpose, focused it and
refined it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This prevented me from going
of in many directions at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole
experience of “Dakini Cave” was a very positive one, and I felt completely
satisfied when I closed up the space at the end of 2006.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At other times, my three main Tibetan lamas have gently
encouraged me to focus on the main point of our lineage teachings, and – in so
many words – there is no need to keep researching every practice and every
lama. They know I tend to be interested in everything, and also have endless
projects put into my mind.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do have a background in nursing, where we need to be able
to clearly articulate our nursing diagnosis, our specific goal, and plan to get
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also have been through
“strategic planning” meetings with non-profit organizations where they do
similarly frame things in terms of an over-all mission statement and a few
clear specific objectives about how accomplish them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That all sounds kind of dorky and dry, but I have an
opinion:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it is really useful to sit down
and make a mission statement for our life for a specified period of time, such
as three or five years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, it is
probably good to communicate this to the people in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel this is especially true for us people
who are spiritually focused – if not, all the forces of this materialistic
society will push us in the direction of trying to create a comfortable and
pleasant situation in this life (a never-ending struggle) instead of our own
transcendent purposes that go beyond this life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Take, for example, John: he is a relatively new, but
serious, student of Tibetan Buddhism who has a good connection to a wisdom lama
of the Great Perfection Teachings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
might have the mission statement </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The Mission of John Smith is to attain enlightenment in
this life, in the bardo, or in the next life. ” So, John might make the
following specific objectives:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I will follow the practice instructions of my
Vajrayana teacher to the best of my ability.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I will finish my foundational practices in four
years by practicing a minimum of 1.25 hours at least five days a week.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Within five years I will start a six month to
three year retreat under the direct guidance of a qualified teacher.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I will get myself out of debt so I can increase
my freedom to practice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I will learn the Tibetan alphabet and some basic
Dharma vocabulary.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Contrast this with Emily, who at 23 has taken refuge as a
Buddhist, and attends group practices at her local meditation center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is married to a Buddhist, loves children
and delights in thinking of raising kids with Buddhist values.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She might write:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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“The mission of Emily Fairchild is to create a family with
her husband Bob and strongly incorporate Buddhist values such as love,
compassion, joy and equanimity into our children’s rearing.”</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I will connect with other Buddhist parents who
want make a support group for Buddhist Childrearing.</div>
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</span></span></span>I will put energy into sustaining a positive
relationship with Bob, and co-envision how we can incorporate the Dharma in the
first few years of life.</div>
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</span></span></span>I will gradually start talking with my parents
and sister about what my values are.</div>
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</span></span></span>I will continue to attend my one-hour group
practice at the center, at least once a week.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will
work extra shifts now to support my family, because I know it will not be
possible later.</div>
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So, we can see that John and Emily’s goals – while outside
of the mainstream -- are very different, and will result in vastly different
behaviors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John, for example, cannot
realistically initiate a long-term committed relationship during this five-year
period, and also cannot take on responsibility for long-lived animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He needs to choose a career, such as
tradesman or nurse, which will not be harmed by taking time off to do retreat
in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emily needs close ties to
the community of like-minded parents, and to spend her free time either with
her husband, to build the young relationship and nest environment, or at work,
to save money.</div>
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This is the kind of rudder I am talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without it, all kinds of obstacles to our own
goals will sneak in, and before we know it we find ourselves in old age having
done little of lasting value.</div>
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Do you think this is true?</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-499703399092637502012-07-23T22:01:00.000-07:002012-07-28T07:51:06.956-07:00Meandering My Way Back to Sausal Creek<style>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Oakland International
Airport 7-23-12</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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My hair extends to my mid-back. It’s frizzy on top, and two-toned. The top third is white and gray and the
bottom two thirds is brown. </div>
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I… Don’t… Care.</div>
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It’s been more than three years since I posted to my blog,
and – miraculously – it is still here waiting for me. As I sit here in the Southwest terminal I
reflect – should I still keep a blog?
What purpose does it serve? Is
anything I say just bound to be boring?</div>
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The story is this: I
finished a group three year three month retreat in a Tibetan Buddhist tradition
about a month ago. Since then, I have
transitioned slowly from spending most of my time helping my teacher with
rituals, while packing up my cabin inside the retreat facility, then gradually
moving out into the world at large. Now, I have brought my stuff up to my home
in Oakland. I’ve spent time with many
friends, in many noisy restaurants. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">On Flight 127 to
Dullas International Airport</b></div>
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The long hair is traditional for retreat. One classically leaves it uncut for the three
years. I think this odd looking mop is
supposed to hold blessings from all the meditation and prayer I’ve done over
these years. In my case, there is no way
to know… perhaps it is simply the repository of split ends. On further thought, a common meditation is to
visualize oneself as a luminous wisdom divinity emanating countless offering
goddesses, who themselves emanate goddesses, etc. and finally make offerings to
all the Buddhas and Bodhisattva in infinite world systems. That seems like split ends to me, does it to
you? Do the ends of split ends
themselves split? Quick, get me a
magnifying glass!</div>
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<br /></div>
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The last time I had hair this long was in high school in the
7O’s. At that time, everyone had long
uncut hair, both boys and girls. Now, in
this era where it is a bit unfashionable, especially for middle aged women, most
of my co-retreatants – perhaps everyone but me – have already cut it off and
made themselves more, well, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">becoming</i>. Perhaps they want a lover or a job, or
both. But, that is not my agenda right
now. My fantasies revolve around reviving
my house, and having some privacy, autonomy, comfort, and quiet.</div>
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Hence, I return to Sausal Creek, the urban oasis. I have a fantasy of having a backyard island
of native perennials on my little part of the “creek,” which in my neighborhood
runs through a open culvert. Before I
left, I worked long and hard landscaping some of the backyard by hand, removing
almost all of the Algerian Ivy (formerly known as English Ivy), and planting
(expensive) native plants. When I came
back and looked, albeit not close up, not much remains of my work.</div>
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The marauding Algerian Ivy has gown back worse than
before, in three years even growing 15 feet up my native oaks. Few of my native perennials are obvious. This is a gentle way of saying they are
probably dead. I think they needed to be watered even in the second growing
season, just a little. Humans have unknowingly
trampled through my feeble attempt at landscaping. The native <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">bush anemome</span> that I had hoped would be five feet
tall by now, boasting it’s white flowers, is no where to be found. Metaphorically,
my sand mandala has been wiped clean. As
some famous dry wit once said:
“Perennials are plants that, if they had lived, would have gone on to
bloom year after year.” </div>
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<br /></div>
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Perhaps the next sand mandala I create now in companionship with
nature will last a little longer. Perhaps
not. In any event, for now the ground
and sky is still mine to enjoy. Me in my
long hair, the hair that appears to the world as that of an alcoholic who is so
immersed in drink she no longer thinks or cares about anything else. But I know a different story.</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-42272132357377047802009-03-01T08:40:00.000-08:002009-03-01T08:59:50.240-08:00The Path Ahead<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcu5augjoHCQ97MVkTd9Sq5iAsVDvuD4tpdYaUW1fVNY7UKZUZxRHF4VRpVyqPYYfohwadGxNTfERdgA098Ktkq0GkzsrSaZV3d4XW5KTzoyPgOv7HOYNLbv1eAD0g02ZMEniFXtJvQJNk/s1600-h/IMG_0496.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcu5augjoHCQ97MVkTd9Sq5iAsVDvuD4tpdYaUW1fVNY7UKZUZxRHF4VRpVyqPYYfohwadGxNTfERdgA098Ktkq0GkzsrSaZV3d4XW5KTzoyPgOv7HOYNLbv1eAD0g02ZMEniFXtJvQJNk/s320/IMG_0496.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308260926713214242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSb2BAcx02U5dAKjuitvPYP2yqWsA28M1NcJQaCDi6aqo2sRCnvTkZ0li27HX8ce6_0gJhO4PbZYwk-ux16dQcr33X7UH6Fch6BCVN_AMh-oy_RsuarkTgiueMz3vQ95Wh-iA_jp3rz7B/s1600-h/IMG_0493.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSb2BAcx02U5dAKjuitvPYP2yqWsA28M1NcJQaCDi6aqo2sRCnvTkZ0li27HX8ce6_0gJhO4PbZYwk-ux16dQcr33X7UH6Fch6BCVN_AMh-oy_RsuarkTgiueMz3vQ95Wh-iA_jp3rz7B/s320/IMG_0493.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308260921771981314" /></a>These are photos of the winding hillside path that my room mate Orgyen and I built on my backyard hillside. It leads down to a flat patch of sand I call "Dzogchen Beach" for its seclusion and nice view of the sky. At various point along the path I have planted a Bay Area native shrub. I hope they live through the drought!<div><br /></div><div>Perhaps this is a kind of symbol of my own journey, gradually descending to the depths of my natural condition through the path of meditation and cultivation of "the view," the perspective of the timeless purity of our natural state.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I put the last few shovels of DG granite--the clay-like path surfacing material on the path the day before yesterday, a little dog mysteriously arrived, trailing Lama Pema Dorje and Kunsang who arrived on foot from the store. The young dog wanted to pay and pounced on the earth and dug beside me as I worked, and one point wrestling a bag of landscaping bark out of my hand as I tried to pour it around some plants. Later that day I looked up my Tibetan astrology sign, just to make sure. Ah, the Earth Dog!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, this old earth dog is going to do to the mountains and turn off the internet for a good long time, to settle into my practice and attend to the here and now. My dear readers, please be well and happy, and perhaps I will "see" you again when I emerge.<br /><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-63536693320489856052008-12-29T21:58:00.000-08:002008-12-29T22:03:24.537-08:00From Kathy's Balcony Tonight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoibNyXu-SAlzmSFLlLz9D9otKKo4kAnNkkvKNohs1BUv3izV_AlqQ38U1um3YBrLacFgFgu_p8slQfqcenn50dMIM4TFussHDTpKfRc1TMWbvzlqNkah7bThKBGJekvJEn69cUVl64zAJ/s1600-h/IMG_0444.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoibNyXu-SAlzmSFLlLz9D9otKKo4kAnNkkvKNohs1BUv3izV_AlqQ38U1um3YBrLacFgFgu_p8slQfqcenn50dMIM4TFussHDTpKfRc1TMWbvzlqNkah7bThKBGJekvJEn69cUVl64zAJ/s400/IMG_0444.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285459032203238034" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVJEylMYlTtTXBi2k0lmbPxWrcSf2vx5pOaDO82pDwhomauHD1voim1XJ_KOjd5oIGKz8YpJEzF7b7nsd_-JEwmTtGDytXlAco2FVAM9G3GPnuPKf_qGeq_VSqN6XwnJOhIOZO7gGGSEh/s1600-h/IMG_0449_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVJEylMYlTtTXBi2k0lmbPxWrcSf2vx5pOaDO82pDwhomauHD1voim1XJ_KOjd5oIGKz8YpJEzF7b7nsd_-JEwmTtGDytXlAco2FVAM9G3GPnuPKf_qGeq_VSqN6XwnJOhIOZO7gGGSEh/s400/IMG_0449_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285459026877116786" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Please click on each photo to get the full effect.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-72461228493157528272008-11-24T15:16:00.000-08:002008-11-24T15:20:01.827-08:00Over the Cascades<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSU8qBZqLW1qNtZHmODWnIJx_LbAVYpwYu0XRmGioCM4fRMdvsBr7v_AD5NMYZBNJFx7ftJAfiqzhjtogLKOQPidTJh66zoqUNY31a6wFndd3cI1eCU_x0ACtPQsTn214dwUdEA6QsB92/s1600-h/IMG_0298.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSU8qBZqLW1qNtZHmODWnIJx_LbAVYpwYu0XRmGioCM4fRMdvsBr7v_AD5NMYZBNJFx7ftJAfiqzhjtogLKOQPidTJh66zoqUNY31a6wFndd3cI1eCU_x0ACtPQsTn214dwUdEA6QsB92/s400/IMG_0298.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272367435182869362" border="0" /></a>I took these on a recent flight from Oakland to Seattle.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy9xr4FTXi8HWnEOLKajs320KXYUD-Z6znbICezWJMvC7HwYNPBVWucGifIncdThi-c3nLwoPVLUjqrCtEPo6JVixh0OYhyphenhyphen7GzAUYJPOSCX-6I2PyON2W0QFhu7krAYYWkNsb4Cmi2b8E/s1600-h/IMG_0300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy9xr4FTXi8HWnEOLKajs320KXYUD-Z6znbICezWJMvC7HwYNPBVWucGifIncdThi-c3nLwoPVLUjqrCtEPo6JVixh0OYhyphenhyphen7GzAUYJPOSCX-6I2PyON2W0QFhu7krAYYWkNsb4Cmi2b8E/s400/IMG_0300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272367435551670162" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-73393782676468505222008-11-03T07:39:00.000-08:002008-11-06T08:13:20.296-08:00Gomde and Drive Through Tree<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaZ7ykoJB_kBxNATDNpDKx47bBuXtC_YQx7C-Wq1dWHqdGE7pezHjiNaMH-cCwVtgxw_Go45PBQVQbAUSKVMMWwUh3ZdGdCv4OBEzHHqB3SMFq4J7AjObpE64KDgQJfmyesQRTZ949pul/s320/Leggett+1968.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265574482918636130" /><div style="text-align: center;">My Aunt Volinda at the Drive Through Tree, Leggett, CA August, 1968. She died of hereditary breast cancer soon thereafter in her 50's. I have the same gene and and will be 50 in January.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImSIsu2tDO6iCCSvk8ukISx_u6I6CPPR_1o-AriULAhyN5p34mhq18TDcoVbVJkdORjTajwg6VYhN6MA_3X2czw4dLiEiXG1O-_F1uxIpMukglRUftOt4oPP-e5CV09nIXkbHv9BbDZYs/s320/Leggett+1968+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265574481008613730" /><div style="text-align: center;">Me, August, 1968. I think was in the same little private park, different tree.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7UQbqgFtooshXW5g824-n7PdecNCpT67RzEIJikV6ngvHn5kXDvnFOO_qvyrcu4XqZWkFP8_lE72waBsNNP-vTAK4L8Vtf0fhVqfBDb31P0MXStFzMAjLmraeAmmDb1cuJq6g0dEJtYg/s320/Leggett+2008.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265574484716295906" /><div style="text-align: center;">Me, forty years later.<br /></div><br />I swang by Eureka, California to visit my cousin Lewis on Halloween eve, who (in keeping with my theme) is a key member of the Arcata-Eureka Nyingma group associated with Rigdzin Ling. They have a weekly Red Tara practice group that has been going at least 7 years. I inquired about what has made that successful. 1) Concise practice with no tsok 3) Goes from 6 pm to 8:15 (which works in a small city, but would be impossible in the Bay Area because of commutes). 4) Happens same time every week, so the core group just knows where they are going to be every Wednesday night. 5) The home owner of the shrine room they use sets up the water bowls and lights, so all they have to do is light a stick of incense and they are off and running.<div><br /></div><div>The next day I took off for Rangjung Yeshe Gomde in Leggett, in the pouring rain. This center belongs to Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, a Kagyu-Nyingma lama, and was established 10 years ago. It's a big beautiful piece of land, that--amazingly--has a pretty big river running through it, with a swimming hole. Rinpoche's senior students from Nepal, such as Marcia and Graham, along with Bay Area students must have worked their butts off getting things to this point, where there a many functional buildings, and two shrine rooms. Their lama, as per usual, has giant plans for a Shedra, etc. Good thing they got the land while they could.</div><div><br /></div><div>I rented River House, a manufactured home with a view of the River and hunkered down in the rain for a couple of days, making my little attempts at practice, and visiting a bit with my friend Lauren, who is the new manager there.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I left we went to the Drive Through Tree, which is very close to them. When I was 9 my Mom and I came out to California to visit my Aunt and Uncle, I think because my Aunt knew she she had metastatic cancer. We drove up to Arcata to see the new rock band, Clover (which became a Bay Area fixture), play. My cousin Alex Call was in that band for decades. On the way, we visited the Drive Through Tree, which I thought was really cool. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now, it turns out that Tibetan lamas think it is really cool, too. They always go to visit it when at Gomde. A key reason is that this huge tree was alive when the Buddha was alive. So, for the faithful and romantic, one could think one is receiving the blessings of all these lamas, e.g. Trulshik Rinpoche, when driving through the tree. And yes, it is still alive, the hole did not kill it!</div><div><br /></div><div>From there, I headed off home to Oakland in the rain.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-65373387473557609992008-10-31T18:10:00.000-07:002008-11-04T18:38:04.447-08:00The Place of the Awareness-holders<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz57dtqUGL2DXS2Cep9xQiNwlR6k3pXVgP9S3Eat6aKd80BbkFnQt0-J-zTOeNZ_SXECtFcWn_ThUJlB4cshDnwxgBnta3l3zQoKp11MI6rVE0ulrqXF4g40J-cEqq0TzCZWmE1Tv8gseL/s1600-h/IMG_0253.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz57dtqUGL2DXS2Cep9xQiNwlR6k3pXVgP9S3Eat6aKd80BbkFnQt0-J-zTOeNZ_SXECtFcWn_ThUJlB4cshDnwxgBnta3l3zQoKp11MI6rVE0ulrqXF4g40J-cEqq0TzCZWmE1Tv8gseL/s320/IMG_0253.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264991418085071218" border="0" /></a>The main building at Rigdzin Ling, Junction City, Ca--Tara House<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I arrived at Rigdzin Ling on the 30th, checked into my room and rested, then circumambulated the stupas for a while. I made positive wishes, and reflected on the amazing work that has been done here.<br /><br />This place was an open mine, and Chagdud Tulku saw the potential in it some 30 years ago. From a moonscape, they made a flat area. They have dorms, a store, offices, houses and a multi-use building called Tara house that includes the shrine room, the kitchen, the dining hall and more.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizNILWcLpDlsgwmB5ayiT05y0gJXoq709Jcfao3av9_ITGmpv7k7Wjx0rN5ifzqeakYsWCb46qpIw5AMSRKpHGwF5LroRIQ3nOde5SyxJ4c8MnNJcVMAdqqN_eqv_35wC13SEqvFTvLAk/s1600-h/IMG_0250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizNILWcLpDlsgwmB5ayiT05y0gJXoq709Jcfao3av9_ITGmpv7k7Wjx0rN5ifzqeakYsWCb46qpIw5AMSRKpHGwF5LroRIQ3nOde5SyxJ4c8MnNJcVMAdqqN_eqv_35wC13SEqvFTvLAk/s320/IMG_0250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264991409280623586" border="0" /></a>A Stupa<br /><br />I think the roww of stupas on the edges of the flattened area of the center is the most striking thing on the land. You really get a walk in when you migrate clockwise in the traditional way, reciting mantras, generating the intent that everyone will be free of suffering, and happy.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdclnj7JOELpGIuYDsd9UOPRKm3FavA0zQNHiTNQLnz_aXhHC1xBa_ZtMWBLWxzlbMagFzw_O2bZR1BTJBT0qGYUJt-D6Eu5dfQn5UnuofysulW4UMBqo_GSIfcD9VD9z9T-AWuzeRD3s/s1600-h/IMG_0249.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdclnj7JOELpGIuYDsd9UOPRKm3FavA0zQNHiTNQLnz_aXhHC1xBa_ZtMWBLWxzlbMagFzw_O2bZR1BTJBT0qGYUJt-D6Eu5dfQn5UnuofysulW4UMBqo_GSIfcD9VD9z9T-AWuzeRD3s/s320/IMG_0249.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264991402906060866" border="0" /></a>Many stupas, and a distant Guru Rinpoche statue<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV5xv4lsTeHv21UQLoH3AqVQ1d-73LGmAT2_aVXpBrGyLvuk1Au1Y-sfY-ZFOuLCaVjbIOSXfnZkQJLdGyNdF007Bg5ajT8MgSBbzzMEsHOi0OZicXKKXj-8Ik7m3cj8nZ4KETYXwwBwo/s1600-h/IMG_0248.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV5xv4lsTeHv21UQLoH3AqVQ1d-73LGmAT2_aVXpBrGyLvuk1Au1Y-sfY-ZFOuLCaVjbIOSXfnZkQJLdGyNdF007Bg5ajT8MgSBbzzMEsHOi0OZicXKKXj-8Ik7m3cj8nZ4KETYXwwBwo/s320/IMG_0248.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264991398289586626" border="0" /></a>Electric prayer wheels<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I hadn't noticed the electric prayer wheels the last time I was here. I am sure those cannisters contain billions of mantras, that are believed to radiate blessings to the area as they turn. Being a venter organizer myself, I tend to think about the work that goes in to making even one of those. Wow, these people are really meritorious.<br /></div></div><br />Later in the evening I went to help the staff and neigbours paint and butter tormas for a retreat that was starting soon for them. A torma is a ritual offering cone shaped food offering, made of dough. The dough is skillfully sculpted into various symbolic representations and placed on the shrine during a group practice. When the system is working well, as it was this evening at Rigdzin Ling, making elaborate tormas can bring the artists closer together--in my observation--fostering harmony in sangha. The Rigdzin Ling people really go all out--making the flower ornaments out of butter in a traditional fashion, using their iced fingertips. There were about 7 people working on this continuously, and they were very warm to me, and kind to each other.<br /><br />It rained all night, and let up only briefly as I departed on Halloween morning.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-45135040294922892512008-10-30T17:53:00.000-07:002008-11-04T18:06:23.926-08:00Dakinis and Goodbye<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2dnt3tlo1d5fKW0gs3N3MyIxpf34q3RS1IIRuxnhOgsenfIOBmZZ8CNq5QAU12hLcN5YvZrIOvtGoIdv-AuI_8_lOgABqK5jZd_RrjKIGccVyeRZfKBSbSre62CMqDgPTFCTMb7NNN5o/s1600-h/IMG_0246.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2dnt3tlo1d5fKW0gs3N3MyIxpf34q3RS1IIRuxnhOgsenfIOBmZZ8CNq5QAU12hLcN5YvZrIOvtGoIdv-AuI_8_lOgABqK5jZd_RrjKIGccVyeRZfKBSbSre62CMqDgPTFCTMb7NNN5o/s320/IMG_0246.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264985888032738930" border="0" /></a>Tiny Tiny little Oak<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As I packed to leave I received an unexpected visit from my sangha sister, who fortuitously was between sections of her retreat and could hang out for while. This is a real yogini, who completed three year retreat more than a decade ago, and really lives as a planless mendicant.<br />We walked the land again, and she showed me the place HH Penor Rinpoche gave an extensive series of empowerments long ago. The cement throne remains, and you can imagine that this might have happened yesterday.<br /><br />Then she gave me advice, both practical and sublime for retreat, should such an opportunity arise. We arrived at her recently built womb-like strawbale house, and I sat with her drinking African tea and the lifestyle of the modern yogini, the in-depth practitioner of the mantrayana and Great Perfection.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRC7mdtxZHJYxUphPvJTCfJZH5t3OOJPNHl0qSzpNn4kWISiZBWF_Z7Se9e42pIcxL-Du1K8ivFJLLpZd2WPfgPv3q_-sG5qmjb_F2vYdXTdcX6UWKAB2qlcw5_J6TMRo_h1Yc18rTCWb/s1600-h/IMG_0245.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRC7mdtxZHJYxUphPvJTCfJZH5t3OOJPNHl0qSzpNn4kWISiZBWF_Z7Se9e42pIcxL-Du1K8ivFJLLpZd2WPfgPv3q_-sG5qmjb_F2vYdXTdcX6UWKAB2qlcw5_J6TMRo_h1Yc18rTCWb/s320/IMG_0245.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264985884131033186" border="0" /></a>Now, is it just me, or does this peak to the east of Tashi Choling look like a... bhaga?<br /><br />Wondering that, I departed for Rigdzin Ling.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8110514257763205999.post-43831998979032167782008-10-29T17:38:00.000-07:002008-11-04T17:49:04.394-08:00Serene Tashi Choling<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYijAuKnuYUYfvSHrcRgZv4MXyFd3ynL5OvwT_43Z-7JFbnDdUgmYnvmp4xoFziy-xXpyzSutndkNksJJTXEX5BqpuiJHObCXOPAiizoHQYgFqJHNDjHo0pzdmVpvmzbWeA3OutLqlgXX/s1600-h/IMG_0244.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYijAuKnuYUYfvSHrcRgZv4MXyFd3ynL5OvwT_43Z-7JFbnDdUgmYnvmp4xoFziy-xXpyzSutndkNksJJTXEX5BqpuiJHObCXOPAiizoHQYgFqJHNDjHo0pzdmVpvmzbWeA3OutLqlgXX/s320/IMG_0244.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264982102716467522" border="0" /></a>The stupa, on a hilltop nearby<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnC_0kUQ6AZ_SKrwxf543UfZLkCfzJvLk25kiq1CR-zNYDXM_vwByKM29b0_DlQAeVKcH2L5pbWqZBDzmmuxtmJcqhLMLrSLdZERqtL-vXy70Im_6-hLALyaPnoNZU1tNxg8kuvVGMBklk/s1600-h/IMG_0238.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnC_0kUQ6AZ_SKrwxf543UfZLkCfzJvLk25kiq1CR-zNYDXM_vwByKM29b0_DlQAeVKcH2L5pbWqZBDzmmuxtmJcqhLMLrSLdZERqtL-vXy70Im_6-hLALyaPnoNZU1tNxg8kuvVGMBklk/s320/IMG_0238.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264982099129756098" border="0" /></a>The temple from above, click to enlarge<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvgbwuoH7lu8lRPxgrvWL4LPTckjnTHklUh82uG8MQp3dR0OIi1PLDRmJP4_z38WzFwOxCnWyTCduFU73AQy2fTqqwd35XZJg4HG9HdN_UhYk15AtZzvqHtIp5cWDOMJGJZsQ8rYNr5TK/s1600-h/IMG_0227.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvgbwuoH7lu8lRPxgrvWL4LPTckjnTHklUh82uG8MQp3dR0OIi1PLDRmJP4_z38WzFwOxCnWyTCduFU73AQy2fTqqwd35XZJg4HG9HdN_UhYk15AtZzvqHtIp5cWDOMJGJZsQ8rYNr5TK/s320/IMG_0227.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264982094940767106" border="0" /></a>Near Vajrasattva, Prayer Wheels, the old fashioned kind.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I spent the day walking all over the land, seeing what 30 years of hard work and hard fund-raising can create. Alot. Most meaningful to me was knowing that HH Dudjom Rinpoche had been here at the beginning. He was delivered by helicopter to a high point on the land, and planted a cedar tree up there. He made positive predictions about the benefits of practicing here. And, boy, I can see why!<br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0