article: Are you choosing to die already?

Just an article that I read today on buddhistgeeks.com, an interesting website that is trying to bridge modernity and Buddhist values...

Are You Choosing to Die Already?

17. Nov, 2010 by Nathan Thompson

I’m in my mid-thirties—old enough to have some experience under my belt, but still pretty young in the grand scheme. And yet, when I look around at many of my fellow late Gen Xers, I can already see it—the choosing to die syndrome. This is not the living and dying in each moment that we all experience, nor is it about a physical death. No, this is about something else entirely.

The Choosing to Die Syndrome

What is it? It’s the slow accumulation of decisions towards a fixed identity and away from the fresh aliveness of your life. It’s giving in to the prevailing views of what life is about, and the building up of habits and defenses that maintain those views. It’s the murder of curiosity, and the killing off of exploration. It’s the embracing of certain certainties in order to soothe to pain of living in an ever changing world.

Even Buddhists do it – Gasp!

The longer I practice Zen, the more I have developed a faith in its ability—somehow—to be totally transformational. It’s not about becoming a different person, but is about the fact that when you’re completely you, it’s a very different experience from living out of habits, fixed views, and emotional states.

I’ve gotten the sense, though, that a lot of us convert types—and maybe a lot of Buddhists of all stripes—don’t really have much faith in such a transformation. In fact, many maybe aren’t even thinking about it. Buddhism is mostly a way to be calmer, or a little more present, or accepting, or whatever positive quality you want to fill in the blank with. There’s nothing wrong with any of those qualities mind you, but when I chant the Bodhisattva Vows, for example, it doesn’t make any sense to hope for being “a little better”—whatever that is. No, those vows aren’t about improvement at all—they are about transformation.

Are You Transforming or Killing Yourself Slowly?

The word “transform” means to alter or be altered radically in form, function, etc. If you are like me, you often attach the word to major changes in a form, like in a building project or melting down metals and then reshaping them. It’s easy to get fixed on form, just ask any longtime meditation student who can’t sit in full or half lotus anymore. However, in the context of Buddhist practice, transforming doesn’t really look like anything at all. It’s not something you can explain well. You can point to appearances, but what exactly is going on, it’s kind of hard to say.

I have a retired friend who has, in certain ways, transformed over the past few years. After years of defensive efforts to maintain her “self,” she’s dropping that off, and risking being out in the world as she is. While many women her age have decided that their lives are basically over, and are content to sit in a chair and watch TV, my friend joined an online dating service, found a new partner, and spent much of the last six months traveling, trying out new things, and loving life. She has renegotiated relationships with her family by being more open and honest with them. And she left a church community where she liked the people, but didn’t feel connected to in a deeply spiritual way. If you ask her how this all happened, she’d probably point to her meditation and yoga practices immediately. But I think it’s something more than doing the forms. It’s an again and again and again process of choosing not to kill yourself off, which happens within forms, but also fully bleeds into one life.

Killing Yourself Off is Society Approved

My friend’s life is an anomaly amongst her age group. Major changes often do happen for elder folks, but it’s usually not coming from conscious decisions and openness to not knowing. It’s usually about illness, loss of a spouse, or money issues that press the person into a different life.

It’s more likely to find the kind of conscious decisions and openness to not knowing amongst younger people, who haven’t yet killed off most of who they truly are. But you know, I think the pressure and desire to fit in makes a lot of us “decide” to accept certain stories about how to live as the only way, even when human history and current reality suggests otherwise. Take employment. How long have people been working for hourly wages at companies and other organizations? Two, three hundred years maybe. And yet, if you asked a hundred Americans what it meant to work, ninety of them would probably describe some variation of a salaried job. Even people who are entrepreneurial gravitate towards time segments and money payments based on time. Which goes to show you how fixated most of us are on a certain view of time, and how we believe it functions in our lives.

The point here isn’t to denigrate salaries jobs, or the conventional view of time, but to suggest that when a person has attached to these things as “common sense truths,” they have killed off part of life.

Form Can Be Deceptive

I have met people who, on the surface, seem to be living very conventional lives—jobs, houses, children, etc.—but who have a very fluid sense of what life is all about. At the same time, I have met people who are very radical looking on the outside—piercings, tattoos, open sexual relationships with multiple partners, unusual work—but who have very fixed views about their lives and the world around them. I have also met people who sit tons and tons of zazen, and are almost impeccable with Zen rituals, and yet are really miserable when it comes to maintaining the relationship in their lives. So, forms are tricky. It’s easy to think, for example, that doing meditation practice is going to radically change you. But that’s just another story.

If you are a Buddhist practitioner, or interested in Buddhism and reading this article, what’s your deepest intention? Is it really just to feel better, or be a little kinder, or more helpful, or is that just a story you’ve chosen to protect yourself with? Are you inspired by Buddhist practice to transform your life completely, or is it just a better tasting, more holistic add on than going out and buying a new TV?

I have no idea if the kind of transformation you see in the stories of the enlightened masters will occur in my life, but I figure why the hell not aspire to awaken fully anyway. The times I have been most depressed and miserable in my life have been the times I have chosen to either kill my largest dreams, or cling to them fiercely and defiantly.

You can have the most expansive vision possible about everything without making it into something you must defend and force into existence. You can make choices that might lead you to transform, or you can do things that are pretty certain to kill off your life. It’s your call.

“What are you going to do with your one precious life?”

Tsok-day in...PA?

All the trees in PA have no leaves. I like our woods and our property and wonder what spirits are already here. It seems sure, in any case, that they haven't heard or experienced the Dharma in this lifetime. So I like to take the chance to hang prayer flags or do smoke offerings whenever I can. Recently I have been putting some incomplete statuettes of Buddhas in sheltered places in the forest--rocky cliffs and old trees--and hoping they are meeting wide-eyed does, deer, and squirrels, and planting good seeds in their minds for future lifetimes.

I recently was in Davidson and was able to do Tsok with Khenpo Chorpel, Hun, Brian, and Valerie, and felt confident enough to try it on my own. My family was curious--I went shopping for goodies with my mom--but I felt most comfortable just doing it slowly and carefully on my own. It all seemed to work out in the end, and I felt very pleased with my beautiful shrine.

I'm grateful that the ritual has been performed now in this part of the world, and it reminds me of how important the Dharma is to places that before have been without it. I came away with the wish that Buddhism might grow deeper where it has taken root, and that it might arrive swiftly where it has not.

Tsok-day today!

Tsok-day again! Remember to think, speak and act in an "empty-divine" manner. Offer all that you see, hear, smell, touch, taste and think as divine substances "delightful to the senses," to the enlightened-deities. It is also most beneficial to see the root-guru as the embodiment of all deities.

Gone Public

This blog is now "public" - so, no need to log in to read anymore!

Progress....

From the "Timeline" post a month or so ago, this is what I hoped then we will accomplish for October:

OCTOBER
1. Begin scouting out potential spaces & putting the word out there that Urban Dharma is looking for space. This process will take a while since it's not quite like looking for an apartment to rent and move in.
2. Complete promotional website. This means completing a) Mission statement (defines the organization's purpose and primary objectives, defines the key measure or measures of the organization’s success, mostly written for the leadership team and "stockholders"), b) Vision statement (communicates both the purpose and values of the organization, gives direction about how we are expected to behave and inspires us to give our best. Shared with "customers," it shapes their understanding of why Urban Dharma is needed, is where they want to be), c) Profiles of Who's Who (who's involved and why and how perhaps the reader see him or herself as part of Urban Dharma, d) Sample of Weekly Program offered, e) How to Get Involved (articulating what kind of financial, professional, help Urban Dharma needs).

We have done - sort of - both. Most pressing right now is to try to get 2. completed so that on November 7 we can direct people to the website, show people the website. The November 7 event is a very important event - in a way, that is when we have to decide as a group if we are going to be serious about Urban Dharma. 

A Sketch: Joseph Nabholz

I grew up in Pennsylvania with two brothers and a sister, wise parents, and lots of land. In our own order, we were home schooled, fed vegetables, and sent out into the world. I then received an English degree from Warren Wilson College in 2008, and more recently, I taught ESL in Taiwan for two years, where I also studied Mandarin and ate as much food as possible.

I have always been interested in the arts, especially acting and writing, and I look forward to an opportunity to incorporate them with my larger plans. Otherwise, sometimes I ride a bicycle, or sketch a picture, or drink imported teas, or do any other number of things that pass the time pleasurably.

My curiosity in Buddhism really took shape in college and quickly became a strong influence for what I chose to do with my other interests. I journeyed through Tibet, Northern India, Taiwan (where, for a short time, I lived and studied in a monastery), and other parts of Southeast Asia. I experienced, for the first time, culture—not simply influenced—but rather infused with Buddhism, which was manifest in each country in its various forms and colors.

Following this broad—at moments, quite specific—familiarization with Buddhism and Buddhist culture, I’m more inspired than ever to find ways for the Dharma to arise more naturally in America.

Nonprofit Status- What We Need to Get Started

Checklist for establishing a 501(c)(3) in North Carolina


http://www.ncnonprofits.org/faq/HowToStartA501%28c%29%283%29Nonprofit.pdf



1. Establish a Board of Directors
“NC law requires only one board member, but best practices recommend that you have no fewer than five; seven or more are preferable.”
Roles and Responsibilities of board members: “selecting and reviewing the performance of the chief executive; recruiting new board members; ensuring effective organizational planning; evaluating organizational performance; providing financial oversight; and ensuring legal and ethical integrity”, etc.

2. Establish the organizations mission and purpose, short- and long-term goals identifying who the organization will serve, clarifying the driving values behind the organization, and planning for how the organization’s mission may evolve.

3. Create organizational bylaws (“It’s helpful to review those of existing non-profits and to have a lawyer review them before they’re finalized.”) (“In both membership and non-member corporations, a set of rules known as the bylaws governs the internal administration and regulation of the affairs of the corporation. The bylaws may contain any provisions not inconsistent with the law or the Articles of Incorporation. The initial bylaws must be adopted by the incorporators or board of directors. A complete set of the bylaws, however, will not be filed with the N.C. Department of the Secretary of State.”)

4. Incorporate by registering with the NC Department of the Secretary of State
(www.secretary.state.nc.us/corporations)

Articles of Incorporation for NC then require:

-Corporate name: “The exact corporate name, including abbreviations, punctuation, etc. must be used consistently in all documents files”

-A statement to the effect that the organization is a “charitable or religious organization.”

-Registered office and agent: “A nonprofit corporation is required to have a registered office and a registered agent…The duty of the registered agent is to forward to the corporation at its last known address any notice, process, or demand that is served on the corporation.” A registered agent, in most cases, must be an individual who resides in North Carolina and whose business address is identical to the registered office. “The Articles of Incorporation must set forth the street address of the registered office, as well as the county in which the registered office is located, and the name of the initial registered agent. The registered office may, but need not be, the same as any of the corporation’s places of business.

-Incorporator: “the person who signs and files the Articles of Incorporation is known as the incorporator. There must be at least one incorporator. The name and address of each incorporator must be indicated”

-Members: Under NC law, a non-profit may or may not have members. If it is to have members, this must be specified in the Articles of Incorporation. If it is to have no members, this must also be specified.

-Provisions for Distribution of Assets: Must include provisions regarding distribution of corporations assets upon its dissolution and termination. A fair amount of flexibility, but do have to be consistent with NC law (consult N.C. Gen. Stat. 55A-14-03 “Plan of Dissolution”)

-Principal Office: A nonprofit corporation is required to set forth its principal office address in its Articles of Incorporation.

-Optional Provisions: Can include:

A statement of the purpose or purposes for which the corporation is organized;
The names and addresses of the initial directors;
Provisions relating to management and regulation of the corporation’s affairs;
Provisions which define, limit, or regulate the powers of the corporation, its directors, and its members (or any class of members);
Provisions defining the qualifications, rights, and responsibilities of. its members; and
Provisions limiting or eliminating the personal liability of any director for monetary damages for breach of any duty as a director.

That last one about eliminating personal liability is important.



-Statutory Powers (all nonprofits in NC have these, and they don not need to be stated in the Articles of Incorporation)
Among these statutory powers are the following: to sue, and be sued; to complain and defend in the corporate name; to have and affix a corporate seal; to purchase, lease, acquire, hold, use, own, or otherwise deal in and with any real and personal property; to make contracts and incur liabilities; to elect or appoint officers; to make and alter bylaws; to lend money for corporate purposes; and to have and exercise all powers necessary or convenient to effect any or all of the purposes for which the corporation is organized.




Filing the NC Articles of Incorporation – must be submitted by mail or in person to the N.C. Department of the Secretary of State, along with check, money order, or cash for the required $60 filing fee.


Tax-exempt Status

“It is crucial to keep in mind that not all nonprofit corporations are automatically tax-exempt. Before commencing its operations, the corporation must decide whether it can qualify for tax-exempt status. This may be necessary in order for the corporation to avoid paying taxes on its income and in order for donors to claim tax deductions for contributions. Whether a corporation has obtained federal tax-exempt status is a relevant factor in the state’s decision to also grant exempt status. Thus, the federal application should be made first. Often, this will have a substantial bearing on any subsequent grant of exemption by the state.”




So, first: Board of Directors, bylaws, and NC Articles of Incorporation.

Then, we have to begin Federal IRS paperwork.

It is strongly recommended that we have an accountant or CPA familiar with nonprofit tax law review our application before submission- Does anyone know one of these?

And, we will then hear back from the IRS in 3-24 months.

Time to get started now, I think.

A Sketch of Jeff

Jeff Richey

I grew up in a suburb north of Pittsburgh, PA, near where I am currently residing.

My fascination with life's "bigger" questions started at a young age. Before attending Warren Wilson College, I had mostly only guided myself through some contemporary literature on Western Esoteric traditions, and some of the more popular writers on those and related topics (a lot of Robert Anton Wilson, Terence McKenna and the like) but I hadn't the discipline or skillful guidance to apply myself more seriously to a particular path.

For a couple of years after high school I moved from Pittsburgh to southern California where I worked and lived with a couple of friends from school. I returned to Pittsburgh and delivered pizza for about a year before applying to college. I had visited Warren Wilson College once to see a friend and go to a concert in Asheville. I guess it wasn't long after that visit that I decided I had enough of the pizza delivery thing and I should continue my education. The public high school I attended did not do much to appease my drive for higher knowledge, and after looking at WWC's degree programs I thought that Religious Studies and Philosophy seemed to appeal to me most.

Dr. Lye was one of the first faculty members I talked to at WWC. During orientation week he was representing the Religious Studies faculty at an event for students to learn about the different academic programs and to meet faculty. In my first semester I enrolled in two Religious Studies courses, both with Hun, on Buddhism and Hinduism. I found both courses to be very compelling and engaging, and at times I remember feeling like a tug-of-war was occurring in me over which of the paths seemed to be calling to me most, as I was getting many signals from all angles.

In the end, the profound dharma of the Buddha seems to have prevailed, with perhaps some influence coming from the instructor's bias. But bias or not, I can't deny the multitude of ways I have been transformed by the dharma, initially by Dr. Lye's course, and in the many opportunities he and others have extended to me to continue engaging this path. As a freshmen in Dr. Lye's course, I read along and followed lectures that evoked an inner analysis of my own experience and every day I realized how much my own thoughts reflected and resonated with the Buddha's teachings. With Dr. Lye's consistent encouragement and prodding, I became involved in -be-, the Buddhist interest group co-founded by Dr. Lye and his devoted cult of students at Warren Wilson.

Among the other major influences on my thought and development from Warren Wilson, I have to acknowledge the radical critical philosophies of Prof. Mark Cobb, the enraged populist politics of Dr. Frank Kalinowski, the ludic and illuminating depth of dialog and dialectic as only Sam Scoville could inspire, and countless others who have given me sincere encouragement and inspiration.

But at the heart of it all, I have to say I can only truly take refuge in the Buddhist path. Radical politics and philosophy can be a vital form of expression and communication for realizing social justice and equality in the world, but in order to not lose sight of the boundless wisdom and compassion it will take to realize those goals, only the dharma can provide that.

It has been a joy and a real honor to continually be involved in something I have watched blossom and helped form, from the early days of -be- to what it is becoming now with Urban Dharma. I look forward to getting to know more about all of you and hearing some of your ideas for how we can spread the luminosity of the dharma to change minds and transform cities.

Tsok-day in Davidson

It's tsok-day again. This time, I stayed home in Davidson and Valerie and Brian joined me to offer Gurupūjā and Gaṇacakra.  And Valerie came with great news - she's engaged and the big day is in May! Yay! Congrats Val!

Here are some pictures from tsok-day today.

A Short Visit

Emily and I were in Asheville for a short weekend visit. It was really amazing to be back and I was glad to be able to meet up with some fellow Urban Dharma friends for the first time since UD's conception. I had a great time hanging out with Hun, Josh and Bri, and it was a pleasure to meet Hun's friend Jay for the first time. We looked at a few of the prospective spaces for UD downtown. I'm really excited about all of this beginning to take off.

I'll try to get a profile written up some time this week. And I finished reading Mishra's An End to Suffering. Now I'm going back and reviewing some of the material to gather some reflections to share with you all. Look for that in the next few weeks.

Also, I found a link to what looks like a well done text on Buddhism and Social Action: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/jones/wheel285.html

I haven't looked at it very much yet, but I thought I should share.

Jeff

Possible locations

Here is an update from Judy. Please give your thoughts and ideas!

14 Eagle Street – across from Limones – has been available for a year and is likely to be available in the spring. It is 1304 sq. ft. and leases for $1304/mo. With utilities, that is likely to be about $1500/mo. The space is divided into small offices but could be renovated with walls removed. The landlord would likely paint and replace carpet without charge but demolition of walls would probably be at our expense. There is a bath in the hallway that is shared by the tenants in the building and would probably accommodate our public needs. The space has good visibility from the street. The listing agent is Robin Boylan with Beverly-Hanks.

33 Carolina Lane – this is the alley off Walnut St. This area is a bit dilapidated and is mixed with residential and commercial. This is a total of 2600 Sq. ft. but 1300 is an open basement. The top floor has a large room plus an efficiency apartment including a bath and kitchen. It leases for $1500/mo as is and the lower level could possible be sublet for about $500. Utilities are extra but I couldn’t find out what they run. If it is still available in the spring, the landlord may negotiate the price and amount of space. The bath could be a problem for public use. The Yoga Center is next door. There are several spaces laid out similarly along the alley and any could be available when we are ready. A similar space has just been leased by computer geeks. Look at this website and click on the photo to see what they’ve done – it looks good - http://www.thetinktank.com/. The listing agent is Andy Brockmier. This space appears to be more problematic than Eagle Street but we’d have to look at both.

41 Lexington Avenue – above What was the Old Europe Café but has street access behind on Rankin Ave. A 1-story condo in heart of downtown. 2 entrances, one ground-level on corner of Rankin & Walnut, and another off Lexington w/stairway to 2nd fl. Vanilla shell w/loads of character - high ceilings, exposed beams, wood floors, HUGE windows & great light. Space last used as The Fine Arts League. Could be great live/work, office, studio/gallery, limited retail, or residence. There are 3 baths. Includes parking space on Lexington Ave. Storage in basement. This has 4000 sq. ft. and is $2675/mo. plus utilities so may be out of our price range but looks like a great space. It’s nicely located and looks good inside but would need some renovation. View it at http://www.pattonpropertygroup.com/ and put in the MLS # 463991. It is listed with The Real Estate Center but that’s not a friendly site for getting details.

I’ve not heard anything back about the double – door property (63 N. Lexington) – am not sure it’s still on the market.

Hello everyone!

Kyle Peters here. Just wanted to post a quick note, and say what a great idea the center is! I just got back from taking refuge with H.E. Gaden Tripa Rizong Rinpoche at Drepung Loseling in Atlanta, GA. It was a really nice event, though I feel that I missed out on some of the subtleties of the ceremony because of the language barrier. Having a center nearby that's both accessible and informative would be a great help in understanding some of the more esoteric aspects of Tibetan Buddhism (especially to us small-town novices :] ). I'll be keeping an eye on its progress and jumping in with my two-cents from time to time. Good luck and lets keep the great ideas going!

Cheers,
Kyle

Delightful to the Senses

We celebrated Gurupūjā (Lama Chöpa) and Gaṇacakra (Tsok) this past Sunday - the 25th day of the lunar calendar, a "ḍakinī day." It was also the 49th day of Catherine Quick's (Brianna's mom) passing. So, Brianna and Joel hosted this practice. Ten of us gathered while Brian Leahy celebrated a short Achi Gaṇacakra in Davidson as Brian's work-load prevented him from going up to Asheville. Also, later I learned that Jes Dennison and housemates offered Gaṇacakra with take-out Chinese food in Charlottesville, VA.

Here are some pictures we took in Asheville (well... Swannanoa actually).

Sunday, 10/17 is the next Gaṇacakra day. Perhaps this time some of us can gather in Davidson for it? Anyone?

At this past celebration, I really did feel that we as a group were able to experience the meaning/essence of Gurupūjā and Gaṇacakra-offering. A little of the "divine" quality definitely came through and there was a dignity and presence unlike other times that I've attended this practice. I hope we will continue to explore and to deepen our experience of this practice.

If you were there and have something to offer, to share - please post your comments. This is where "sangha" is slowly but surely happening.

When Urban Dharma has a physical home in downtown Asheville, Gaṇacakra-offering will be one of the main celebrations we will hold. Other aspects of Gaṇacakra-offering will be incorporated as we continue to learn this practice - offerings of "songs of realization" being one of them. Stay tuned!

Josh Nash: My Profile (in the rough)

My name is Joshua Nash, which is no indication of who I really am. Originally from Nashville, I transferred to Buncombe County in 2006 to begin Religious Studies at Warren Wilson College. The Buddha's teachings came into my life by way of my engagement with music as mystical experience (hearing jazz's avantgarde, Bach, Shankar, to name a few big ones), to make a long story short. Those initial teen-aged curiosities have blossomed beyond belief, and only continue to grow in interest of freeing myself and all life. As this leg of the path at WWC winds to an end in December, I am excited in seeing what is over the ridge: Urban Dharma and the challenge/privilege of "changing minds and transforming cities." Viewing my own wavering mind over these 8 years of Buddhist education and practice, through times of greater or lesser regularity, I realize that this is no easy mission-- indeed, seemingly impossible. However, we could not have a nobler task. What could be more important than discovering for ourselves and with others our true nature and living joyfully in our interdependence? With that as motivation, this project in building community is a once-in-this-lifetime opportunity. Ashevillians, visitors, newcomers and seasoned veterans alike will come to Urban Dharma to learn ways to ease suffering, clear the mind, find simple enjoyments (friends & tea), and keep ignorance at bay. My wish is that this center kindles my own aspiration to free minds, and that it instills such ambition and compassion in the hearts of all who come to see, hear, and be themselves.

The Responsibilty of Us Younger (and Older) Practitioners

What is our responsibility as Western Practitioners in bringing Dharma to the West?

Most post earlier as a comment to the Khyentse Rinpoche post was a bit of a ramble, but I want to bring this important point a bit more clearly.

I think Rinpoche eloquently points out the responsibility and failings of Tibetans, and I couldn’t agree any more. What I wonder is what our responsibility is.

Similarly, What is Urban Dharma's role in that?

Briefly, I think the failings of Tibetan and other traditional Buddhist institutions only makes it that much more pertinent that we ourselves really integrate in a full way the Dharma teachings. We really need to contemplate these teachings and spend some time thinking about their meaning and what they mean in cultural context for them to be relevant. Before we go to the cave to realize the full meaning, a lot of contemplation is necessary. I think in order to do that we need good guides (check) and a lot of determination. Also important is a very open, clear and fearless mind.

I don’t fault the Tibetans too much for their failings, although they are real. What I really think is, we need to take the real meaning of these teachings to heart, implement them in our lives, and integrate the meditation practice. I think Urban Dharma’s role is to provide a space for the exploration, competent guidance from our more experienced members, and community for the long term feeling of support and our enjoyment.

Renunciation, in the beginning, is not going to the caves; it is steady study of the teachings, a lot of contemplation and thought, and a bit of steady practice. If we can do that with a really pure heart, I think we are really heading in the right direction.

What do you think?

Dzongsar Khyentse on Dharma in the West

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche - one of the great lamas around these days - speaks of the future of Dharma in the West in this short video-clip of an address he gave at his foundation's board meeting this summer. Do go watch the clip ( <-- click it) - very relevant to our efforts to establish Urban Dharma.

A few especially relevant excerpts from this talk: 

"You know sometimes, there is some very, very important work that we have to do. And there is another very very important thing we have to do  also. And then this becomes an obstacle to this one.... So, we have all the Tibetan stuff, Tibet as a whole country, Bhutan... and then the monasteries, and all of that. And then we have what I just told you - this young, modern, all these people who are coming, who are really interested in Buddhism. And we have this... and I understand... this paranoia... that Tibet, the culture, the monastery, the rinpoches, is so important, and of course it’s important. But this is hijacking, kind of hijacking our attention from this, sort of the modern, the young generation’s, interest in Buddhism." 

"Among the younger lamas, there are some really good ones, but there are lots of not so good ones, really, really dodgy ones, I have to say. Few good ones but unfortunately, they are so tied up, actually myself included, tied up with something back home, in India, you know, they have monasteries to take care. So even when they come to the West, on every level, they are looking for some kind of support, that will go to the east, the monastery, so what these Croatians, Bulgarians, Chinese - what they think - is not the priority so to speak. They are more the sponsor and helper level.... I can understand that... so there is that.... But there is also so much interest in Buddhism (here).... but not enough teachers. So we have to really begin to think, to train the instructors."

Rinpoche went on to briefly mention the problem of teachers in the West who - though many with very good intentions - don't know what they are doing, don't know what they are teaching and so end up creating lots of confusion. In the face of this, he emphasized the importance of seriously starting to train teachers locally. 

Urban Dharma is primarily a place for Dharma to take roots locally. It is not that we are trying to churn out teachers - that would be a mistake, to make that a goal. The focus is on letting the Dharma be firmly established in our backyard so to speak. For this to happen, we need teachers and we need students. We need workers, we need dreamers. But most importantly, we need people who are grounded in and committed to building sangha, building a Dharma-centered community, people who do Dharma not just for our own sakes, not only so that I can feel better supported - as important as that might be. But we need to realize that what we are embarking to do is no less than bringing benefit to all sentient beings. This is not some sort of messiah complex that I am trying to encourage. But this is a reminder that we cannot and in fact, will not be able to actualize Urban Dharma if we only think about: "what am I getting out of this?" or "how can I feel better about myself by signing on to this?" This I gets in the way.  

To build Urban Dharma is to manifest bodhicitta. And to actualize bodhicitta is to be buddhas.

Tsok day, Holy day - Again!

This Sunday is "tsok-day" again - this time the 25th day in the Tibetan calendar. A group of us are gathering to practice the "Very Brief Gurupūjā of the Great Drikungpa"and celebrate "Shower of Blessings Gaṇacakra-offering" in Swannanoa, at Brianna and Joel's home. It's scheduled for 11 am - 1 pm. Join us if you are in the area (call one of us for details) and if you are not around this area, you should celebrate this holy day in your own way. It means making extra effort to experience "all forms as deity, all sounds as mantra and all thoughts/feelings as wisdom." In particular, all enjoyments are to be enjoyed without grasping or heaviness but with delight, spaciousness and equanimity. Call me if you want more tips on celebrating tsok-day.

I'm "re-posting" the initial post on celebrating tsok-day.

Brian and I celebrated "tsok-day" on Friday by practicing the "Very Brief Gurupūjā of the Great Drikungpa" (Lama Chöpa) and "Shower of Blessings Gaṇacakra-offering" (Tsok). Tsok-days occur twice a month, on the tenth and twenty-fifth day of the (Tibetan) lunar calendar. According to the tantras, these are days when actual dakas and ḍakinīs are said to gather at the twenty-four holy sites to celebrate the tantric vision of purity-emptiness of all phenomena by bringing all sensual enjoyments onto the path - they feast, sing and dance. These are also days when the inner dakas and ḍakinīs - i.e. masculine and feminine energies - gather in the twenty-four nodes in our inherent vajra-bodies (crown of the head, point in-between eyebrows, throat, palate, calves, knees etc.). As practitioners of deity-yoga (i.e. vajrayana) and especially those who have received any unexcelled yoga tantra empowerment, it is best if we are able to celebrate these bi-monthly tsok-days. In this way, we become in-synced with the gathering ("tsok" literally means "gathering") of actual dakas and ḍakinīs as well as the inner dakas and ḍakinīs. Celebrating tsok is the most effective way to "accumulate the two heaps (of wisdom and skilful-means/compassion)" and "purify the two obscurations."

Originally Valerie (whom some of you met a couple of times already) was planning to join us but she couldn't in the end. So, Brian and I had to visualize harder the presence of ḍakinīs (I guess the monks in their monasteries also needed to do that whenever they did their tsok celebrations). But we did gather "choicest offerings pleasing to the senses": offerings of "compassion" (solids) - mango-nectarines, bananas, Gruyere on sour-dough grilled cheese sandwich, cashews, dried mangoes, apricots and bing cherries and a lotus-seed mooncake and offerings of "wisdom" (liquids) - organic apple juice. Everything was carefully and beautifully arranged and I've decided that I'll only use my small collection of antique plates, bowls, cups for tsok-offering (well... maybe once in a while for tea purposes... which I will argue *is* part of tantric experience of purity-emptiness!). The actual practice took about an hour and half - I gave a running commentary of the practice as well as showing Brian the proper use of the bell, dorje, damaru and various other tsok-etiquette and shrine protocol.

This practice - "The Very Brief Gurupūjā of the Great Drikungpa" with "Shower of Blessings Gaṇacakra-offering" - will be one of the core practices at Urban Dharma. It'll form the center of our bi-monthly celebration of experiencing and realizing the tantric vision of purity-emptiness. It will be our bi-monthly entry point to "more fully embody(ing) the entire spectrum of (our) lives." We are temporarily prioritizing these special occasions, these holy days, as doorways to revealing the fundamental purity-emptiness of all phenomena.

At the end of practice last night, Brian asked me, "so when's the next tsok-day." So on the spot, we decided that we will keep the upcoming tsok-days regardless of whether it'll be on a Sunday or Tuesday or Wednesday. We figured that in our particular situation, it won't be so much of a challenge to not let "busy-ness" stand in our way of celebrating the tsok. And something that Brian said was helpful: "I felt good the whole day - seeing it as a 'holy day'." And in doing so, got a little bit closer to experiencing the tantric vision.

And in the context of our plans of manifesting Urban Dharma, as I have said before, we need to ground this whole effort in our deepening our commitment to practice. "Engagement bodhicitta" (i.e. building Urban Dharma) cannot be actualized if we do not have "aspiration bodhicitta" (i.e. training the mind). And no matter where we are in our practice right now, I am sure, we can all deepen it. Whether practice at this point consists of reading a couple of pages of Dharma now and then or daily, or even just thinking a little bit about Dharma when in the shower or while driving, or a couple of sessions of sādhana practice daily, or weekly or monthly, as long as we make effort to improve - whether it's improving in quality or even quantity, it's progress. It's one step closer to awakening, one step closer to sanity. If we are not practicing to end confusion, then we are only practicing confusion. And the trouble with practicing confusion is that it can never be perfected! Furthermore, to start something like Urban Dharma requires A LOT of merit and blessings and this cannot be achieved without applying the powerful methods of accumulating merit taught in the tantras. There will also be a LOT of obstacles and so the purification that tsok celebrations deliver is very important. Indispensable if we want to manifest Urban Dharma.

Tsok at Drikung-thil, Tibet

Upcoming tsok-days are: Sunday 10/3, Sunday 10/17, Monday 11/1, Tuesday 11/16 & Tuesday 11/30.

If you want some ideas of how to observe these "holy days," let me know or scribble your thoughts here!

Friends of Urban Dharma: Brian Leahy

I am currently a senior at Davidson College, located north of Charlotte, NC.  An initial interest in and academic attraction to Buddhist Studies eventually led to spending three months in Kathmandu, Nepal, one month in Dharamsala, India, traveling to Central Tibet for a few weeks, and doing academic research on Tibetan Buddhist centers in Malaysia for one month.  I am also a visual artist; I'm majoring in studio art, and my work includes paintings, prints, drawings, and sculpture.  Outside of the classroom, library, and studio, I spent what time I could backpacking and rock climbing, and visiting my hometown of Milwaukee, WI.

When I first considered post-graduation plans, I intended to find a job, any job, and some space to continue my studio art practice.  When the idea of Urban Dharma  started to form, however, I realized that here was an opportunity to do something I consider very meaningful; a chance to develop a community, to deepen my own Buddhist practice, and most importantly, to provide a place in the downtown Asheville that will serve as a spiritual center for other young, intellectually-curious and spiritually-hungry people like myself. It is easy for people my age to become disenchanted with spiritual and religious establishments.  At Urban Dharma, we aim to provide a community center for people like me, with a commitment to genuine relationships and honest intellectual investigation, located in the city, fully engaged in modern life, rather than seeking to retreat to a mountaintop.

Friends of Urban Dharma: Ryan Morra

Ryan may have seemed an unlikely candidate for a study-abroad course in Tibetan Buddhism, as he majored in Biology and went on to teach high school science. Yet, in the summer of 2006 he travelled to Tibet with Dr. Hun Lye and a group of students as the capstone to a semester-long course in Tibetan religion and culture. Through this study and travel, he saw a side of Buddhism that he had never come across in the West, and his eyes were opened to what it means to practice Buddhism. Ryan is a teacher, actor, traveler, mountain biker, road cyclist, hiker, and lover of good food, coffee, and tea. Most important, however, is his love for community and bringing people together; this is why he has jumped on board in helping to develop Urban Dharma. He sees it as a much-needed community space for people to come together in their practice.

Profiles - an update from Laura

Laura sent this out a few days ago to a group of "young'ins" that I am hoping will get involved with Urban Dharma and are willing to have their profiles posted on the promotional website. I'm posting what Laura wrote and using this as another push to get your profiles done and sent to Laura.

Hey guys and gals.  The end of the month is quickly approaching.  I will make some comments on the blog about the one Ryan M. submitted.  This is a pre-blogpost reminder to get to it.  I’ve had to do this kind of thing before and it isn’t easy, but I suggest you just START.  Yes, it’s good to have a catchy start, but don’t let that deter you.  As a suggestion you might begin with answering the question, what does Urban Dharma mean to me?  Then backup into you, why you?  Do you have a specific story about how you got into Buddhism, your practice.  Tell a story.  That’s what is good about Ryan’s.  People like stories about people.  If you are stuck, feel free to email or call me.  This is a work-in-progress which means, we start and then we tweak.  Put that first stroke onto the blank canvas…”Hi.  My name is Laura and I am interested in Buddhism because…and I have a vested interested in this center because…I see the center as…”  Don’t literally do that, but if you need a place to start you can do the narrative approach or the outline approach.

Does that help at all?  You don’t have to tell the whole story about your involvement in Buddhism, but some anecdote or recall of experience can ground it.

Alright.  There’s your push.  Push back.

Laura

Update from Ryan Morra

Oh, by the way, I finally called someone at Two Rings (they never returned my e-mail), and they said they get a lot of questions about using their cityscape photos pro bono, and they don't do that. The cost is $800 to use it on a webpage, banner, or printed material like that.

I am trying to contact someone at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce to see if they have any stock photos new businesses in the area might be able to get access to.

Non Profit Pathways

I noticed this website and if any of you all in Asheville have the time or inclination sitting in on one of the seminars coming up in October might be a good way to be clearer about starting a non-profit as well as beginning to network in the community. If nothing else it could be educational and interesting regarding how local non-profits operate and what their challenges are...

http://www.nonprofitpathways.org/

Proposed Time Line

OCTOBER
1. Begin scouting out potential spaces & putting the word out there that Urban Dharma is looking for space. This process will take a while since it's not quite like looking for an apartment to rent and move in.
2. Complete promotional website. This means completing a) Mission statement (defines the organization's purpose and primary objectives, defines the key measure or measures of the organization’s success, mostly written for the leadership team and "stockholders"), b) Vision statement (communicates both the purpose and values of the organization, gives direction about how we are expected to behave and inspires us to give our best. Shared with "customers," it shapes their understanding of why Urban Dharma is needed, is where they want to be), c) Profiles of Who's Who (who's involved and why and how perhaps the reader see him or herself as part of Urban Dharma, d) Sample of Weekly Program offered, e) How to Get Involved (articulating what kind of financial, professional, help Urban Dharma needs).

NOVEMBER
1. Khenpo Chophel comes to confer Dzambhala Empowerment on Sunday, November 7. Initially I thought Davidson is where he will do this. But I think it is more auspicious if we hold it in Asheville as Urban Dharma is going to be in Asheville. We need a space downtown to do this Empowerment and we need to advertise this program. Dzambhala is the deity of richness and wealth - it's a powerful method to banish the "poverty mind" and uncover the richness of Buddha mind.
2. Khenpo Chophel will give us projects to work on - rolling mantras, making small buddha images - for the future filling of the inside of the main Buddha statue at Urban Dharma. This will take a while to complete but it'll be a good way for community to build over merit-generating tasks.

DECEMBER-JANUARY
Winter is traditionally a "retreat time." So these two months we will focus on deepening Dharma practice. We might hold a couple of semi-public events in Asheville to attract some attention. I have asked someone to research rental spaces downtown (for $25 the first hour, $10 for subsequent, very affordable).

FEBRUARY-MARCH
1. I will be out of the country - in Asia. I will fundraise while there.
2. We host a community event downtown in mid-March announcing in a formal way the arrival of Urban Dharma. This is both a "friends-raising" and "fund-raising" event. We'll have art, music, food.

APRIL
1. Securing space and starting to work on renovating space.
2. Buddha statue arrives. Filling the main Buddha statue.

JUNE
1. Urban Dharma opens its doors!

-be- at WWC

I arrived a bit late tonight for the weekly Buddhist meditation/discussion group -be-, which meets in the basement of Schafer A (?) in the Empower center. Despite the noisy location, the meditation and following conversation were quite engaging. Jon Speer, who is with us in our Urban Dharma endeavor, currently operates as conductor of the group here on campus. I must say that he impressed me tonight. After meditation, we read the Heart Sutra, and chatted about the underpinnings and terminology of the text. Jon delivered an eloquent illustration of the development of Hinayana and Mahayana emphases, e.g. individual enlightenment vs. bodhisattva vows and inseparability of wisdom and compassion. He also made mathematical analogies at times, which get people interested and can help explain Dharma for audiences of a certain ear. I think he will burgeon into a wonderful teacher/leader being involved with Urban Dharma. Come see some Tuesday night.

31 Lexington Avenue

Brianna, Brian and I walked around downtown this past Friday evening looking at spaces - window shopping. We saw a bunch of "For Lease," "For Rent" and "For Sale" signs at various locations, some more attractive than others. One of the places that we drooled over was the space right next to Tops on Lexington. Brianna believes that 31 Lexington used to be one of the storage areas for Tops. For some reason, that is no longer used for that. There is no signs that says the space is available for rent or lease. Brianna have been "deputized" to investigate this space. And this morning, she read about how the space next to it - 37 Lexington - will probably be used by the Lexington Avenue Brewery in the near future. Here's the article on Mountain Xpress.

Supporting the Center until it has an address

Hun has mentioned the importance of promoting involvement through profiles of let's say, "under-middle aged" folks that have interest in the creation of this center. I think this is a good idea. If we had a booth at Greenlife (now Whole Foods), think about who we'd want to get interested--young people have energy and a healthy attachment to the Asheville community. Asheville is known for its entrepreneurship. Whether it's the character of the people who are attracted to it or the lack of readymade jobs, Asheville supports the new, the up-and-coming. Us in the over 50-crowd can contribute and be supportive as well, but I encourage those of the younger crowd to make your interest known. You know who you are. I look forward to follower's comments about the promotional process.

In one way or another, I have been involved in growing businesses since I graduated from college. My Dad was a firm believer in on-the-job training but not so much in grad school, so I took what I could get. Whether it was retail, profit or non-profit, it takes energy and a kind of outreach. Yes, even nonprofits need to promote and "make money" so to say. We have so many electronic resources available to us now to draw people in, but we also have the old-fashioned word-of-mouth system. I see Asheville as a group of regional and cultural "pockets." I am sure many of us are part of a particular pocket or two. Let's brainstorm on how we can articulate to others what we are envisioning. I've had the advantage of being to most of the local Bhuddhist centers, Cloud Cottage, Windhorse, Great Tree, Mountain Mindfullness, Shambala, Annatasatti, Cheri Huber-style Zen, Southern Dharma (more of a non-religious/spiritual retreat center bent on Buddhism somewhat). Let's think about what we can offer that's different from these centers...well, urban pretty much says it. But much, much more than that because it is a different tradition of Buddhism than has been prevalent here. let's keep the envisioning and conversation going.

Not-for-profit light reading

Just got back from a really good weekend in Asheville, meeting, practicing and spending time with some of the folks around those parts. I will post something about that soon, and some clearer breakdowns of the not-for-profit process after I get reading on this document, but I figured I would post it up here in case anyone has some spare time and wants to help out in steering UrbanDharma along the not-for-profit path.

http://www.ncnonprofits.org/faq/HowToStartA501%28c%29%283%29Nonprofit.pdf

Until soon.

Once Again, Community Supported Dharma

One of the most important things for any place that will serve as a "community center" (although I realize we ought not to use that term given the recent attention a certain New York City community center has received), is to have buy-in from the community. I think that people making regular contributions is one way this can happen. Another way is to start spreading the word that this place will be opening soon, and that people are welcome to sign up to help in any way possible.

How many times have you seen underneath a big "COMING SOON" banner, a place where you can actively sign up to help? Not often! We could have an active sign up list right at the site, once it is chosen, or - more likely - direct people to a place on the web where they can sign up to be on a volunteer list to help prepare the site (and, of course, to make in-kind or monetary donations). We all know people are excited by new things, and if we hook the right then and there when they can see that something is coming, we should be able to find people who are willing and able to help that we never could have reached out to if we tried.

So, once we find the space, we make a sign, and we make a place on the web for people to stay in touch and receive e-mails about ways to help.

My food for thought of the day.

Words from Lama Zopa

I just got back from sneaking in (well, sort of sneaking in) to listen to a lecture by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. He is in Black Mountain for the 2nd of 5 yearly installments of a Light of the Path retreat. My mom, dad, and I were lucky enough to meet him last year through Geshe Gelek when my mom was going through treatment for cancer. I wanted to share something from the night...

Rinpoche's lecture further made me believe that what we are doing with Urban Dharma is something that people really need. He spoke in depth about bringing meditation into everyday life... to meditate on emptiness or on bodhicitta as we walk, drive the car, or are even at work! All day long we can be partially in meditation; you can talk in a meeting but also be meditating on emptiness, seeing everything as a hallucination or illusion. When we walk, we can imagine we are circumambulating holy objects and texts and stupas. Then, when good and bad things happen, it doesn't affect your mind, and things don't bring you up and down. There it is again - this intertwining of everyday life with the dharma... He also said how beneficial it is to make holy objects, and this made me think of the center - he said that when you make holy objects or stupas, you are directing your life toward enlightenment. Once a holy object (or, let's say, an urban practice center?) is built, no matter where you are - and you could be anywhere - you are liberating sentient beings. How amazing is that?

Anyway, the teaching made me even more excited about getting this off the ground. It feels more and more like the fruit is ripe for the picking.

Student Loan Debt Forgiveness

My friend, Konchog Dorje, a monk, came across this and thought it might be helpful for some Americans with student loans who are working for Buddhist centers or plan to work for Buddhist centers, doing Dharma work. The article is written for Christian ministers, but is equally applicable to us.

http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/

Signs

In case you didn't see this posted by Brianna under "Comments," it's pretty inspiring:

"I also wanted to share that my sister-in-law (in Virginia Beach/Norfolk area) had an interesting dream recently... She told me this weekend she dreamed she was with a lama, and they went out in search of the ruins of a 500 year old temple out in the mountains of North Carolina. Pretty wild!"

This is very auspicious tendrel ("interdependence"). We should be inspired by this and let this open us to seeing more of these signs. If we are open with devotion, with possibility, and with richness we will begin to see what the dakas and dakinis are showing us.

This weekend in Asheville

I will be coming to the area probably by Friday evening and hope to meet with different people this weekend - sowing seeds, talking to folks and walking around downtown Asheviile to scout out locations. Brian Leahy (who is a senior here at Davidson) will be coming as well and he will be taking photos which we can use for our promotional materials. So, if any of you in Asheville want to join us as we run around town this coming weekend, let me know. Community is cultivated over time and NOW is the time to start.

We'll meet Saturday 10-12:30 for Lama Chopa teachings and Sunday, we'll meet 1-3 - both at Judy's.

Also, perhaps Sunday, for those who can, we should meet for brunch before practice to discuss Urban Dharma (we need to set concrete target dates!!) Who's coming?

With a little bit of help from Tiger Woods?

An article from Slate on how Buddhism might be "shaking off its counterculture image." Maybe to the dismay of some of us but a good reading. Check it out here.

Post your thoughts here.

Buddhism and Social Justice

For the last few days I've been pondering what my introductory post to this freshly blossoming blog should be like. Then I decided that given the auspicious circumstances of having no formal higher education to pursue at the moment, and with only part time work hours taking up my schedule, I can grant myself the great leisure of instituting my own academic syllabus for this Fall semester. Having graduated college over a year ago, and understandably needing some retreat from that intellectually intensive approach to growth and education, I feel I have been long enough away from the relative rigors of academia and the time is ripe to assign myself my own independent (though much less rigorous!) curriculum.

I recently revisited a book I began reading over the summer called An End to Suffering: the Buddha in the World, by Pankaj Mishra. Dr Lye had recommended it, and after reading the description I could see why. The back-cover blurb describes the book as, "A search to understand the Buddha's relevance in today's world, where religious violence, poverty, and terrorism prevail. [...] Pankaj Mishra explores the myths and places of the Buddha's life, examines the West's 'discovery' of Buddhism, and considers the impact of Buddhist ideas on modern politics."

By that description, I knew Mishra's book was just the kind of summer reading I was looking for - something that could address the seeming contradiction between a "spiritual" path such as Buddhism and the current "material" approach to political economy, and the materialistic interests of consumerism. This is perhaps a concern that might be one of several major focuses at the heart of an Urban Dharma group. Just what is the relationship between the teachings of the dharma and the practice of bodhicitta in action? Is it possible to transform society to better reflect Buddhist tenets of compassion, tolerance, loving kindness, selflessness and humility?

In my independent studies for this Fall, I plan to read and review a handful of books that I might discover myself or have recommended to me. The books and/or articles should reflect on the above questions and offer a way to better understand how Buddhism, which is all too often seen as being a deliberately removed "retreat" from a society that seems to represent so vividly the undesirable and afflicted nature of samsaric existence, can instead be seen as something that always has been socially engaged and even has important roots in early urbanization, by its role of aiding in the transition of society into early urban centers of commerce that provided the conditions for the rise of the concepts of the individual and the democratic society.

These concerns are the focus of Mishra's book, and they reflect the general course of reading I will compel myself to take up this semester. I encourage recommendations from any of you, and feel free to recommend any relevant writings even if their main focus is different or broader than what I have described here.

While reading each text, I may post reflections that hopefully will spark dialog here. After finishing each, I will offer an overall review of the work to help contribute to the formation of our group's vision and voice for Urban Dharma.

Here is a link where you can peruse Mishra's book through Google Books:

An End to Suffering: the Buddha in the World

Another link to a book of interest that will probably be next on my syllabus:

Rethinking Karma: the Dharma of Social Justice

Thanks for inviting me to this exciting new group.

Jeff

Update on Nonprofit Path

Hun and I had a phone conversation yesterday with my dad, who has some experience in the non-profit sector. He gave us some tips and laid out the general path to non-profit-ship. While it requires some paperwork, record keeping, and transparency, the benefits are substantial. Here is a brief overview of the process online.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/article-29948.html

It seems as if the important steps we need to take before actually filing paperwork are coming together. We will need a specific mission statement, a business plan, a board of directors (mandated by non-profit law). We would have to make sure we adhere to certain provisions for non profits when we create these documents, but so far the direction we are heading in seems to fit in this category.

We would eventually then have to incorporate as a non-profit in North Carolina, and then move on to the federal recognition process. The federal process can take some time, but the benefits, such as tax-exempt donations from supporters, are retroactive to the time of incorporation once the non-profit is recognized.

All in all, a process that requires paperwork and diligence, but a useful way of encouraging mindfulness and commitment when it comes to the center, helping ensure that we stick to our intentions. We still need to get a number of these things more firmly in to place before any sort of paperwork would begin, but to me, it seems like a useful path that could help us achieve the center's goals.

Website Stuff

Hey All ,

I am playing around with the wix.com website, and have been making tons of different types of "looks" for the site. Everything from the traditional maroon-and-yellow, to the more modern.

Here's a look if you want to give some feedback.

www.wix.com/Banzai682/Urban-Dharma

Cheers,

Ryan

Community Supported Dharma

I was chatting with Ryan M. last night, updating him on Urban Dharma (and he'll be joining us on this blog - soon, I hope!). So at some point the question was raised - how will we finance Urban Dharma? I repeated what some of us have talked about on this and in particular how in the first year or two we will be relying on monthly commitments from a core group of supporters - 30 of such individuals, $50 a pop. And Ryan said, "I like... community supported dharma., a CSD." Indeed! This is what we are doing, growing sangha with Dharma to harvest buddhas for the benefit of all. We'll be subscribers and stakeholders of this CSD, growers and harvesters. We'll all need to find other people who will become fellow members of this CSD. So start going down your list of contacts and friends and families. And before long we will be offering "a box of Dharma" weekly!

One articulation of "Urban Buddhist"

Here's an excerpt from an interview done with Rodney Smith, a senior teacher in the insight meditation movement and founder and guide of Seattle Insight Meditation Society. The full interview is posted on the Insight Meditation Society, Barre, MA website.

Smith has some compelling ideas and expressions for us to digest and nourish on.


Rodney, how would you define ‘Urban Buddhism’?
‘Urban Buddhism’ is the practice of taking all environments as opportunities for spiritual awakening. Work, family, relationship and other avenues of life are all acknowledged as vital areas for investigation. Those who fully embody the entire spectrum of their lives, without spiritually prioritizing any one aspect or activity, are what I term Urban Buddhists.

From this perspective, all moments are equally precious. Whether we are practicing formal meditation on retreat or showing up for ordinary moments of our daily lives, the same unobstructed inner freedom is always available.

Any facet of life can be used to resolve the suffering of disconnection. The Urban Buddhist harbors no defense, seeks no shelter and avoids no conflict for the resolution of her/his wholeness. Nothing is avoided or passed by as mundane. Wherever there is discord and struggle, there is insight into contraction and resistance to life. This is true on emotional, psychological and spiritual levels.


What brought you to this understanding?
When I was new to meditation retreats, the final instruction given was to bring the mindfulness we had been cultivating during the course into our daily lives. I was never very good, however, at being mindful out of retreat – the harder I tried, the less successful I became. In fact, I found it almost a burden – something I had to add to my already full life. I began to feel like a spiritual failure.

So I started to look at the Buddha’s teachings, at what might speak to me in every moment and across all settings. I found the answer within the Noble Eightfold Path. This is the path the Buddha taught to those seeking liberation from suffering, and its eight elements are wise view, wise intention, wise speech, wise action, wise livelihood, wise effort, wise mindfulness and wise concentration.


How does the Noble Eightfold Path help us awaken?
The entire Noble Eightfold Path serves as a system for dismantling the sense of self. It is our clinging to a solid sense of self that causes our suffering. Unless we see that our identity is constructed from a set of beliefs, it’s easy to get sidetracked into further supporting the illusion of the sense of self. We then add to the problem rather than end the suffering.

Wise view, the first step of the Noble Eightfold Path, can help us get back on track. It says that our lives are interconnected beyond what is immediately visible. When we don’t understand this interconnection, we erroneously assume we are separate. In this state of separation, we think we have to get over ourselves, get over our mind states. We try ever harder to find freedom in some other timeframe outside of the here and now.

But we can’t ‘effort’ ourselves to freedom. Instead, if we simply open to our suffering, rather than resist it, we come back into a state of connectedness. Whether we connect with our knee pain while sitting on the cushion or with a deep wound in our psyche, we have automatically entered wise view.

Wise view helps us frame all of the other steps on the Noble Eightfold Path. It allows us to move away from individuation and towards wholeness.


How does the Urban Buddhist work with wise intention?
Wise intention - the second aspect of the Noble Eightfold Path - is the heart’s deepest longing. This longing is always available to us but gets sidetracked by secondary intentions such acquisition, fame or power. The spiritual practitioner must first discover that these secondary gains are ultimately unsatisfactory. Then, energy aligns towards the wise intention to awaken.

Much of spiritual practice is about redirecting the pursuit of those secondary intentions into awakening. For the Urban Buddhist, inquiry and investigation are essential tools in this transformation and fully complement retreat practice. Inquiry allows our ordinary lives to unfold with the same depth available to us on intensive retreat.

Asking simply, “Who am I?” “What is this?” or “Where is contentment in this moment?” adds a seamless continuity to daily life practice. This kind of inquiry contributes to the natural unfolding of the Noble Eightfold Path, from one aspect to the next. Ultimately, we move away from differentiation and the separation that causes suffering. We then find ourselves at the door to the infinite.

Notes from the visioning process

(Taken from a conversation between Hun, Joel, and myself. It's choppy... Fine editing to come.)

1st step is to put this into writing, as far as who/what this is for. Visioning. Then we determine how: with the business plan.

What it is:
A Buddhist center grounded in the Tibetan tradition.
Questions to ask ourselves: What is it selling? What happens there? Who is the clientele?
We are providing Buddhism for the Asheville community in a way that hasn't been done before. In the area we have WindHorse, Great Tree/Asheville Zen Center, Shambhala, Nancy S, and a loose Thich Nat Hahn group. None have done what this would do. Think of Jubilee as a model... a public gathering place. A public temple, in town.
J: It seems sometimes like there is a dearth of teachers in this town.
H: There's no visibility... We need continuity, regularity. In 2003 there was a group centrally located downtown, upstairs on Walnut Street. A Kadampa group. They had a monk in residence but he moved to Charlotte. The location was OK... but they weren't locally embedded. There's the issue of personality when you have a teacher... the robes... and this group's tradition has a reputation for insisting you only do as Geshe insists.
A strength that we have is how Hun draws views from a wide range of traditions, but in a way that is fed through Drikung Kagyu. We should encourage intellectual curiosity and see how all traditions fit into a larger practice of being liberated from confusion - all while offering a solid practice tradition.
Why are we grounded in a lineage? It's a common reference point to talk about other ideas.
Consistency is missing here (in Asheville). Lots of flakiness. We need staying power.

What happens in this space?
-Sadhana practice (Manjushri, Chenrezig, Tara) - weekly, 2 open practice sessions. But this is a temple... So beyond this other things should be going on.
-Program that is "Buddhist Lite" - meditation as a secular practice, emphasis on stress reduction, calm abiding practice. Instruction 1x/week but open sitting time often - like during lunch hour. Then people who work downtown can drop in.
-Special programs. Visiting teachers. (1-2x/month)
-Friday and Saturday nights - social night. Dinner. Parties. Movies.... Social hang out nights. Music groups. Serve everything but alcohol. FUN stuff. This is an important part of building community. Dharma centers don't have enough fun. There's this guilt: "I should be practicing..."
J: There was a nun at the monastery in Nova Scotia that asked, how often do you practice, and she said just do it 15 minutes a day!
-later on... Tea.

Ideal time to open the center would be May; it's the end of the school year, and we could have a flurry of activity to get things off the ground during the summer. Hun won't be teaching, students will be out for the break. We can recruit some folks at BE, and train them and others to run sessions. Young people are important. Lots of energy and excitement. Important to channel that youth excitement so they don't run out of steam...

The center itself: one large space. Shrine on one end, that can be covered by Japanese screens. A corner for the reading room, a space for tea... To start, just the temple; then add the store later.

Complementary to other stores in Asheville, but less busy. More books, zafus, meditation/ritual supplies. Accurate iconography. No statues for the sake of statues. It should be aesthetically pleasing and the people who work at the shop should be dharma practitioners.

No monastic teacher in residence. There's a problem in the potential for this 'holy man,' fetishizing mentality. Monastics will always be pulling the student in another direction (away from society; cloistered; separate from everyday world)
If the lama knows everything, then the student will never take full responsibility. If the dharma is to take root here it must be started with Americans.

If we start in the summer Hun will be here. But we must have other people step up, and develop confidence in their practice. Confidence and humility.
"Guides" - have received some degree of training, then you can lead. And they can tell someone that they don't know the answer. We want people to have a real understanding of 'teacher' ... how human we all really are. Sure, there might be other stuff going on in our lives... but you are clear on the dharma.
When retreats and empowerments and things like that are needed, we have those people. We know where to send the students need that. We have those connections when they are needed.

Tuesday Night at NKT Asheville

Every Tuesday this month (though their calendar says Wednesdays), the community space above the French Broad Co-Op is used to teach beginners meditation. I attended the introductory meeting last nite, "How to Get Started." These classes are hosted by Hannah Kim (Korean-American?), a woman of about thirty who has studied dharma for 10 years, with 8 years of consistent, daily meditation. A lay practitioner herself, her classes are geared towards demonstrating the immediate benefits of making a bit of time in our busy lives for meditation practice. With this aim, she simplifies the Buddha's basic teachings so that people of most ages and backgrounds can understand them.

The class, with about seven in attendance including myself, began with a guided meditation, focusing on breath. During these fifteen minutes, she had us "take our breath" through various parts of the body, starting with the top of the head and moving through to the feet. I think this practice might be a Theravada technique, not sure though. For about the last 5 or 10 minutes, she had the group visualize the mind as an empty, blue sky. Any thought that arose was visualized as an empty cloud, which we were instructed to watch as it passed. For the final 2 minutes or so, she had us try to maintain the empty sky in our minds (though I found myself visualizing the idea of an empty sky as a cloud itself, passing as well). While I am not one who enjoys guided meditation (as my own mind distracts itself enough without someone else feeding it!), her approach and light voice made for a calming session. If you like to sit on the floor, however, bring a cushion; everyone sat in chairs but me, much the chagrin of my buttocks. Overall, a very informal sitting session: no taking refuge or merit dedications...

After sitting, she gave a dharma-talk, loosely based on a book called "Modern Buddhism" Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Again, her manner of delivery was very elementary, but without failing to impart the proper message. She began with talking briefly about her own ups and downs regarding practice and time management (she is also a new mother), and then moved on to cosmology and the six realms. Her main point was to illustrate the incredible privilege we have in this incarnation to encounter and use Dharma ourselves and to share it with all beings. Kim recounted the Buddha's metaphor of existence/samsara as being a vast ocean in the depths of which an ancient, blind turtles lives, rising to the surface for air only once every 100,000 years. Atop this ocean rests a golden yoke, representing birth in the human realm. The likelihood of the turtle rising up within the yoke for air is analogous to the probability of being reincarnated in the human realm. While Kim repeatedly stressed the preciousness of all human life, she also presented the Dharma as being applicable in three ways: lowly, middling, and great (a trio I've come across in Dogen's "Eihei Koroku"). Lowly practitioners benefit from Sakyamuni Buddha's teachings in their immediate, personal lives. Here, Dharma is used for stress reduction, calming the mind, coping with loss, etc; and certainly this path has its true merits. Next, the middlings apply Dharma not only to their own problems, but also to close loved ones, friends, and needy folks one encounters. She described the "great" way as synonymous with the Bodhisattva ideal. These great Dharma practitioners do everything the lower ranks do, but also defer their own bodhi until all beings are liberated from the throes of samsara.

I actually had to leave about about 10 minutes before the talk was over. These meetings close with another guided meditation. Although I thought some of what she shared with us was backtracking and thus occasionally uninteresting, it was a good refresher about the fundamentals of the various sadhana we do. For me, regular reinforcement of Buddhism's skeletal structure is necessary for grounding those other practices that more involved, even if it's "just sitting."