Environmentalism and Bodhichitta

I recently read a booklet that had been handed to our group (consisting of Fiona, baby William, Hun Lye, Ryan Morra, Ryan Boyle, and myself) while we were in Taipei visiting the Foguang Shan Vihara, which is the Taipei center for Taiwan's biggest and probably most influential Buddhist group, which specially brands itself as "humanistic Buddhism." The founder, Ven. Master Hsing Yun, gave a keynote address concerning environmental protection, and the booklet was a translation of that speech, with the title "Environmental and Spiritual Preservation," which caught my attention not only because I had had a long and thoughtful discussion with Ryan Morra about our shifting opinions about the matter since Warren Wilson, which ended, at least for me, rather open-endedly, but also because such concerns for Urban Dharma, in Asheville, will be a key issue that we should address with some sort of thought and "plan of action."

I won't try to summarize the points that Ven. Master Hsing Yun addressed, but I was struck by the simplicity of the Buddhist take on the matter (at least, a Buddhist take). And while we can talk about things that may or may not have any emotional pull or push with people, but which are, technically Buddhist, (such as end of the world scenarios of destruction by fire, flood, and wind, which he does address), one of the most important things I got from his lecture was the emphasis and importance of singular human action, even if it is just recycling your cardboard. I have always, I admit, felt disdainful about such solutions; but Buddhism always takes us back to our immediate reality and actions. Exactly, actually, back to the mind, where a certain amount of cleaning needs to take place first, or simultaneously, so that we might take delight in such simple action, and cherish the benefit to life, however small, that such action and intention gives.

It's hard to feel satisfied with such an answer when such vast structural, economic, and world problems seem to be racing our planet to destruction. And perhaps we shouldn't feel satisfied with just this answer alone. I don't know. However, Buddhism has the ability to calm our minds, give us satisfaction in a tangible and consistent world, where certain actions harbor certain results, and indeed, if we do take care of our actions, there is nothing more we can do.

Interview with Geshe Thupten Jinpa

Really excellent interview with Geshe Thupten Jinpa, the translator for His Holiness the Dali Lama for many years and both a Geshe and a PHD himself. Really nice, he has some excellent insights on the difference between and relationship between science and Buddhism, His Holiness, and being a father.

In the Room with Thupten Jinpa, the Dalai Lama's English Translator from On Being on Vimeo.

Tides of Dharma

It seems to me the qualities of group and individual practice are quite different, and as I've recently been, every month or so, going back and forth between daily practices that are conducted by myself and daily practices with another person, these different qualities have become more apparent, and they seem to complement each other. Group practice emphasizes a certain formality and its merits are a diligence and explicitness regarding the ritual performance, but it necessarily needs the merits of a solitary practice, absorption and concentration, to work as well. Likewise, a solitary practice that is too loose or foggy only benefits from time spent doing practice with others.

It makes me think of something I heard a while back, that some monks would take retreat the second half of the lunar month, when the moon is waning, and engage in the teachings and monastic rituals in the first half while the moon is waxing. To let the Dharma into one's life after all is an unpredictable (and perhaps inconstant?) affair and sometimes, despite everything we do, it isn't there at all. Like a tide receding, or pushing forward, the Dharma seems to come and go in cycles, filling us up with wisdom, insight and morality, and then emptying us later, and leaving us with a practice and shell that seem curious vestiges of some forgotten but quaint meaning.

Likewise, a practice and life develop by alternating time spent with others and time spent alone, going over the basic points of our practice again and again, until we cannot mistake the life-embodied Dharma's absolute certainty.

Smoke Offering for Urban Dharma

Every smoke offering connects me to every place I have ever done a smoke offering, and consequently to every place I have ever practiced the Dharma. And so it's like a community of places, which for their diversity and strength put me in mind of what I strive for being apart of Urban Dharma. I am now reminded of Cabin Hill Dr., in the next second reminded of Ladakh, and then to the woods in PA--all these places and more, whether already saturated with the Dharma or almost completely bare of it, were important places to perform the ritual of smoke offering. It provides a connectivity that I have felt blessed to have.

Now after a late night, thinking about the newest e-mails from Urban Dharma and unable to sleep, I stood on my balcony (more like a ledge) in the already brilliant morning sun to do this offering, in this little part of Taiwan. Burning stuff for invisible beings is certainly not a foreign concept here; you will see most businesses on auspicious days burning paper spirit money in buckets, so that the entire atmosphere is filled with the smell of burning. But my little smoke offering feels quite different--perhaps for the reason I mentioned. I'm all in Asheville, Ladakh, Felton, Chiayi at the same time--how could it be comparable?

But last night I lay in doubt: was October too soon for me to help? How will I get my family to Asheville--and continue to support them? What if I can't do what is being called upon me to do? And so on. ("Veiling forces like mists that envelope mountain peaks and woodbine that overcomes treetops..." I kept hearing from different places and times.) How was I shocked that Urban Dharma was finally happening? Or had I become so comfortable with the idea of it all, being so far away?

In the end, it helped me to think about, again, how Urban Dharma was not something "out there." And it wouldn't be anything more or less than all of our individual parts put together. We have dreamed the final product so many times that it might be hard or confusing to imagine the first steps or to realize that there isn't some plan that someone has mapped out for us to follow. Only that we are being given an opportunity under this name that we all feel apart of, but don't know yet what it can really be. Well we are what it is, and if we do nothing then it will be nothing. I feel slightly embarrassed that I have to reveal my thought process in working out something so obvious.

But evolving from that thought process was something else I wanted to share--an idea, I guess. In this stage where everyone will be doing different parts to get Urban Dharma on its feet, its probably more important than ever to make a concerted effort to support the work that others are doing and to share the work that you are doing yourself--especially if you are needing help. It might feel like, as we're working on different parts, that we are singly responsible for Urban Dharma's success. But the more support we share to others, the more strength I think we'll have ourselves.

So in this attitude, I am tremendously proud and happy to hear of both Hun's good news from Malaysia with Shifu and Brian's work that has already begun--moving to Asheville, visiting TMC for teachings, and all the coordinating he will be doing as Urban Dharma's first full-time staff. From all my work with him, he is the one to do it. For me, today, I can only say I performed a smoke offering, but specifically for Urban Dharma's (that means OUR) coming together and seeing what we can make happen with this amazing opportunity.

Urban Sangha

I have not posted to this in a very long time because I have been traveling intensely over the last six months. However, I have been developing a lot of thoughts on Urban Dharma and the Dharma in general. Recently, I found myself in a place where I could actually begin - in ever so small a way - my own little practice each morning and evening. While working on a remote farm in Tuscany, surrounded by beauty and provided with ample time to sit with some of the Drikung Dharmakirti texts. Since leaving this bucolic setting, it has, not surprisingly, become infinitely harder. I am back to traveling in funky, vibrant hostels through big cities like Rome, and to super touristy beach locations. No, I don't say any of this to spark jealousy, but to emphasize the point that a center for people to come together and focus on the Dharma is exceedingly critical to maintaing a practice. I agreed with so much of Brian's recent post, and was I begin my own kind of practice, the necessity of a sangha has become ever clearer. It is nearly impossible to begin your day reminding yourself of the Four Thoughts At Turn the Mind after going out to a late night club with a bunch of new friends.
But - this is going to happen! It might happen a lot, especially in a place like Asheville, where there are so many fun things to do, amazing people to meet, and phenomenal food to consume. Knowing the kind of sentiment many people have in Asheville for "alternative" religions (read: alternative to Christianity most likely), people could easily walk into the doors of UD and expect to be enlightened then and there. But we all know that the process of changing your mind is laborious. Literally. It is work. And that is why having a community - a sangha - to reinforce, rejuvenate, and reMIND us about the Dharma is the focus.
So, as we move forward, it will be a great task to think about what exactly the sangha should look like - ought there be secular "courses" in Buddhism or the history of the Buddha. Can there be talking/reading groups in additional to the sittings. I think having tea and conversation evenings is another wonderful way to infuse the Dharma into everyday urban life. Again, as Brian mentioned, many people may think that the center will serve as some magical bubble of enlightenment. But the real work is the creation of an urban sangha where people can exchange ideas and encourage Dharma practices outside of the center. I know I could benefit from a sangha right now, but just as this virtual community provides at least some outlet, so too will UD be creating a larger sangha throughout the city.