The Dalai Lama Talks to the Thais (and Some White Guy Watches it on Youtube)

I perhaps should reiterate my larger goal in posting my personal experience with Dharma in this otherwise public forum, for I do think the benefits of having not one but many of us regularly contributing some tid-bit or essay on our connection with Buddhism would be great. After all, we are bound more strongly by the Dharma than any other attribute or affiliation—and right now we are spread over states and continents. It is a pity not to share what should be shared and what will only make us more coherent and comprehensive as a group. As of now, I’m not sure what anyone knows about anything (I don’t say that as a challenge, but in simple honesty; although I know how heavily most of you are involved with the Dharma, I have only rarely, through some collaborative projects involving Urban Dharma, gotten to hear anyone talk about why Dharma was important to them, and what they wanted others to get from it). So I imagine this blog has the potential to become such a forum to develop not only our sense of a Dharma community but also our own personal ability to express Dharma-related ideas.

If you think this Dharma sharing is a good idea and want to contribute, I would suggest making a schedule (and a promise) for yourself to do so. Contribute once every week, or every other week. To contribute something. I think it is very hard to wait to be inspired to write something. Rather make it a scheduled goal to do so, then, all week, your mind will be anxious to catch upon something to write about. Then you’ll have something to share, and you might also have caught something you would have otherwise missed.

Lastly, I would suggest trying to avoid, if it arises, a false humility that Dharma is something too pure and you shouldn’t mar it by putting it into your own words. I think it’s our responsibility to really counteract this idea. Dharma is not an abstract ocean of truth; it’s our everyday collision with obstacles and our fumbling attempts to solve them. For us, now, Dharma is going to mundane, no matter if it’s how we write about it--it’s already probably how we think about it.

So what I was going to post in the first place:

Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl9ycLV7IKA&feature=youtu.be

I have had time recently to go over my “Buddhist” inbox in g-mail to re-look at some things that flew by me the weeks leading up to Baby William’s birth, a period also including my sister’s visit to Taiwan. (I had originally wanted to post something about that as well, but, you know, obstacles…in any case, while she was here, we sort of did the, what, “initiative rites” of becoming a Buddhist, like buying a mala, smelling incense, and becoming familiar with some deities through a regular practice, things that I definitely remember going through though not at the time realizing they were necessarily going to repeat with my role changed; but most sincerely, I wanted to write how valuable the time with my sister was for my own practice, at that time, to have someone constantly by my side especially for meditation practices; sharing with another person is quite grounding!) One thing that I pulled up in g-mail was the approximately two hour Youtube video of His Holiness the Dalai Lama talking to a room of Thai Buddhists.

It’s a fairly small setting and, though the questions are read off pieces of paper, it seems fairly informal. How often are you invited to a two hour question and answer with the Dali Lama? But the best thing about getting your Dharma from Youtube (besides not having to worry about if you should ask a question or not) is that you can watch sections several times over to gain a deeper appreciation for the movement of the rational or the details of a specific consideration. Besides being a deeply profound, non-mysterious, discussion about Buddhist values and motivation, the video also affords many opportunities to laugh along with His Holiness, which I must confess, I found myself doing so much that Fiona began giving me more and more quizical looks across the room as though disbelieving I was still watching the same Buddhist video. All of that is to say, upfront, that I really hope you check it out when you have the time. If, either up to now or by the end of the post, your urge to view this has been satiated by my words in anyway, then I would regret that I wrote too much. That is to say, what follows are my reflections upon seeing the video; they certainly do not substitute as summation.

What I felt like I could learn from His Holiness the Dalai Lama was both the sincerity and breadth of the fundamental practice of compassion which he advocates and his non-mysterious rational approach, such as, through western scientific methods and experiments proving the human benefit of compassion. Perhaps from anyone else I might not have taken that news as profound or even revolutionary because, of course, the whole premise of Mahayana practice is built upon the transformative aspects of compassion, and in the texts, it doesn’t very often turn up as a surprise that it actually is. Luckily then, there are still some that have taken Buddha up on his requirement to “test his teaching.”

This comes at the same time I am, and many of us are, reading Bodhicharyavatara, where the benefits of cultivating bodhichitta are quite clearly explained. It will, “take our impure flesh and make of it the body of a Buddha,” “consume great sins like a fire,” “protect us like a hero even through we walk through great perils,” “continuously bare fruit,” “even in diversity bring forth positive effects,” and so on (these previous are all paraphrased but can all be found in the first chapter). If these pronouncements are a little too unbelievable to you now in your practice (they seem fantastical to me), perhaps we haven’t done enough of the most basic investigation, like above—what the Dali Lama seems intent to bringing us back to—the clear, tangible benefits that a practice based in compassion (not even necessarily Buddhist) has been scientifically proven to have on the calmness of mind, personal happiness, and even physical health and wellbeing. If we can accept that as our medicine, then the rest, the proud pronouncements made by Shantideva, can be felt with more devotion and certainty. The more we study Buddhism and test it to clear, impartial standards the more clarity and faith we can eventually have and the more powerful our practice will be.

So this I really found helpful, and otherwise I really enjoyed his teaching (not only because I laughed a lot but because it was instructive) and hope that you get to watch this if you get a chance. I would also like to hear—because he covers quite a lot in these two hours—what you got from the teaching as well, perhaps in a comment below.

All Compounded Obstacles are Impermanent

The last couple of days I have been watching a teaching by HH the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa on the Four Seals of Dharma as seen on Youtube, and thought to formalize my hearing, I would do well to post something, if only in the end to get used to some of the ideas myself, and deepen my relationship with them. A lot of what I have been trying to get used to, as a practitioner involved with UD, is to find what ways I can talk about the Dharma that are clear and useful, so this post is also an attempt to continue that enterprise.

One thing that struck me in his discussion of the first seal, i.e. all compounded things are impermanent, is his short discussion of obstacles that get in our way of practicing the Dharma. The usual ones we think about, finances, shelter, health, he acknowledges are only the common obstacles (I paraphrase). They are not necessarily unique to anyone. Rather the most critical obstacles are the shape and attitude of our mind, the various subtle displays of emotion that keep us from practicing regularly or sincerely. In fact, when we feel obstructed by outward physical things like these, we should remind ourselves that they are directly the consequence of a more fundamental obstruction of the mind that has allowed them to thus arise.

Here, I'm beginning less to paraphrase what he said than to discuss what it meant to me. (In any case, rather than read me paraphrase, one ought rather to watch the video oneself!) For the past several weeks, I have been increasingly conscious of the first of the Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind: "For this lifetime I have obtained a body of evident leisure and endowment which has been extremely difficult to find and will easily be lost..." My practice, on the brink of becoming a father, seemed (as all unstable compounded phenomena are) threatened in the face of change. And so I was extra conscious of keeping precious the time I did have for practicing the Dharma even if only for that day. However, if I bring H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa's discussion to bear upon my this, I find that this really isn't the concern. In this life (unstable/changing/impermanent), we will always be faced with the possibility of something taking over or compromising our relationship with the Dharma. Instead, if we take care of our minds, then we will always have "the leisure" for our practice.

I was very inspired by this talk and hope to finish the last nine parts, covering the next three seals. (Three more postings?--maybe!)

For a link to the YouTube video click here.

Urban Dharma NC Inc!

A joyful belated newsflash- Urban Dharma NC, Inc., received its incorporation papers this past February. This means we are registered as a corporation with the state of North Carolina, and is the first step on the path to full status as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. The next steps involve establishing clear organizational structures and then filing paperwork with the IRS on the federal level.

The next steps will begin in a couple of weeks. Right now, I am studying for senior exams and engaged in all the other end-of-college commitments. However, as soon as graduation happens (May 15th!), I am focused on Urban Dharma and coordinating a successful organization that will support the seeds of Dharma in Asheville and in our own lives. So, look forward to updates about the nonprofit path, along with organizational developments as they occur. Very soon, we will be needing all the support, expertise, and time people can give, in order to determine how Urban Dharma will run, and then (the most fun part) to run it.

I am excited to be getting to Asheville soon, to working with all of you, and to being a part of getting this organization, whose mission we believe in, off the ground (and keeping it there!)


In the Dharma,

-Brian

The Dalai Lama speaking to Thai Buddhists

This is a great program where His Holiness speaks to a group of Thai Buddhists who attended several days of special teachings that His Holiness gave in Dharamsala recently. In informality and ease that His Holiness exuded was simply wonderful. As a friend who watched it after I sent the link to him, it's so enjoyable not only because of the content but also because of the way it was delivered.

Pass on this link to others - it's very accessible.

Hello U.D.

Hello all. I am very excited to be part of this wonderful venture. I know most of you, and you know me, but for those of you whom I do not know, I am Ani Konchog Dadron and was ordained by Khenchen Gyaltshen Rinpoche at TMC in Frederick, MD in May 2009. That makes me a baby nun, albeit a 60 year old baby!

In my opinion, Urban Dharma is an idea whose time has truly come. To be able to serve a community of people on various levels, in diverse ways is true wisdom in action. I am really looking forward to moving to Asheville and contributing to this venture.

I once asked a friend of mine why she thought that more people weren't attracted to the teachings, or just came for a little while and then drifted away. She said that we needed to become the embodiment of the teachings and then people would listen to what we had to say. This made so much sense to me!

In fact, the very thing that attracted me to the Dharma was that it is chock full of practices that I could implement on a daily basis to make internal changes. Other modalities told me to love my neighbor and honor my father and mother, but they didn't tell me how to accomplish this! Dharma does tell us how and gives us the tools to accomplish the change. This was what was missing for me and why I am so grateful for the teachings.

I look forward to getting to know all of you better and working with you in Urban Dharma. I will be looking for a place to live and hope to move to Asheville this summer. Meanwhile, I can best be reached at Anidadron@aol.com. Feel free to contact me any time. What an exciting adventure we are in for!

Ani Dadron

Our most current "Business Plan"

Here's the most current "Business Plan" for UD. This document was prepared for Ven. Wei Wu - the abbot in Malaysia who has agreed to support UD.

Brianna, Jes, Joe, Joel and Chris worked on this business plan with very time but came up with an impressive business plan - enough to "sell" the concept/idea to Ven. Wei Wu (And Laura also got a pamphlet done on very short notice). Kudos to all!

I urge everyone to please read through this article and give more thought to it was this document continues to grow and develop. In particular, we need to integrate Ven. Wei Wu's interests/commitments into UD so that it would make sense for him to collaborate with us.

Ven. Wei Wu runs one of the biggest and most successful Buddhist organizations in Malaysia - he has two temples, a chain of community centers, kindergartens, senior homes, free medical clinics (both Western and TCM), volunteer counseling hotlines, Buddhist Sunday schools, and runs a Buddhist university in Thailand (with two campuses). So, do take a look at Ven. Wei Wu's organization - Than Hsiang (<- click that). 

Ven. Wei Wu

 URBAN DHARMA

of North Carolina, Inc.

I. Executive Summary

Vision

Grounded in a Buddhist lineage (Drikung Kagyu), Urban Dharma is a new Buddhist center, a community-in-progress. We are committed to the growing of Dharma locally, for the Dharma to take roots in our lives in this corner of the world, in this part of North Carolina, on the soil of these Appalachian mountains. Our motto “Changing Minds, Transforming Cities” expresses the vision of living the transformative teachings of the Buddha in a contemporary, urban context where we ground our lives in Dharma. Urban Dharma emphasizes integrating rather than compartmentalizing, engaging rather than retreating, communing rather than isolating.

Mission

Urban Dharma’s mission is to foster deeper understanding of the teachings of the Buddha, build meaningful community, and integrate contemplative teachings into everyday life by providing a welcoming and educational space in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. At a conveniently located space Urban Dharma exists for both educated practitioners and the broader Asheville community: a meditation space to practice, a consecrated temple to experience the sacred and be blessed, a place to hang out - sip some tea, read a book - and a social space for community art, music, and culinary events.

Establishing Roots in Downtown Asheville

Asheville, North Carolina is rich with the culture of both the Appalachian mountains and progressive thinkers. Many who come to this vibrant city are open-minded spiritual seekers, content to live among like-minded people, pursue their livelihoods, and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. For many, however, there is no model to suit their spiritual aspirations. 

Warren Wilson College, for example, is a progressive liberal arts school near Asheville that yearly attracts many young, spiritually-oriented people who are interested in adopting an alternative religious tradition. Yet while there is much talk about these traditions, there is no comprehensive support or guidance for these people to adopt them. Also accompanying their search for an ideal religion is an acute suffering of still having none. This suffering is compounded by living in an area that suggests all the progressive influence that is receptive to these traditions, but has no centrally located temple dedicated to embodying and promoting them. 

We are interested in making the Dharma accessible to this particular community, and we think that we can. Our shrine room will be available during the day to a large percentage of the population who may hold no specific religious affiliation, but engage in some kind of meditation practice or are spiritually curious. Simultaneously, during the week, the shrine will be used by a dedicated group of members who seek further instruction, a welcoming community, and engagement with Buddhist practice and teaching.

Our ultimate goal is to create a community that promotes and supports sincere and authentic Dharma practice. We know, based on the success of various Buddhist events in Asheville, our total experience with the area ourselves, and even the prevalence of Buddhist statuary in secular spaces, that the time is right for Urban Dharma. As a result, we have thoughtfully envisioned Urban Dharma in such a way that it might meet the needs of anyone who might come through the door, even if that means simply providing a comfortable place where people may come to relax, nourish their spirit, and enjoy some tea.

Programming

Urban Dharma has the unique chance to provide Buddhists, and other open-minded seekers in the Asheville area, with a spiritual home. As such, Urban Dharma will be witness and support to the major transitions in this life such as birth and death, down to the simple tasks such as breathing and giving. As a community and as a sacred space, Urban Dharma will give people the support to mature through the teachings through a variety of capacities.

Hence, programs at Urban Dharma will be divided into three broad categories: spiritual, secular, and social. Spiritual programs are centered in Buddhist education and practice. We will offer courses that include fundamentals of Buddhism, Buddhist ethics, and advanced Buddhist scriptural and doctrinal studies. As the teachers and core members of Urban Dharma happen to ground their practice in the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, practitioners at Urban Dharma will be guided through the gradual path of awakening as taught and transmitted for generations in this lineage. We nonetheless adhere steadfastly to a sincere attitude of respect and openness to all Buddhist traditions and lineages and whenever possible and appropriate will host teachers and programs from other traditions.

Secular programs are designed for those who are seeking to incorporate meditation practice and theory into their lives without necessarily subscribing to the spiritual views of Buddhism. This will include daily lunchtime and after-work meditation sessions. We also hope to host programs that enhance health and wellness - programs such as taiji, yoga, and meditation for stress reduction and chronic-pain management. Finally, Urban Dharma is a social space for the community - a space open to bands, musicians, literary readings, dances, potlucks, and artshows.

Another aspect of the center as a social space is that we will serve tea in the Chinese gong fu style as a daily, free service. The slow and careful preparation of the tea, so different to a common, busy lifestyle, typifies our endeavor to introduce people to methods alternative to the ones they know. As a healthy, social activity, that both feeds and inspires, serving tea will also exemplify the kind of culture we wish to see flourish. Furthermore, serving tea will attract people to the center who otherwise might have been too intimidated to ever come, despite a hidden interest.

The process of drinking tea is often a meaningful and subtle experience, whereby each member, separated by worldly differences, may be brought together by a common taste and experience. This service is also the easiest way to deeply and meaningfully ingratiate our selves with visitors, even if they are not, as of yet, interested in the Dharma. Nevertheless, we believe these relationships are still worth cultivating. Ultimately, however, these secular and social programs are all gateways and opportunities for others to encounter the Dharma.

Sample weekly schedule:

Hours of Operation 11am-8pm

Monday through Friday:

12:30-1:15 Lunchtime Meditation

5:15-6:00 After-work Sitting

Wednesday:

7:30pm-9:00pm “Becoming Compassion”

Meditation training on compassion and loving-kindness through the deity-yoga practice of Avalokitesvara.

Saturday:

3:00pm-5:00pm “Liberative Wisdom”

Study of core Buddhist texts.

Sunday:

10:00am-11:30am Sunday Morning Service

“Seven-Branched Worship” and Dharma discourse.

Monthly special days:

Every 15th and 30th day of the lunar calendar:

“Transference of Consciousness” training and practice

Every 10th and 25th day of the lunar calendar:

“Shower of Blessings: A Feast Delightful to the Senses”

II. Five Year Plan

A. Year 1: January - December 2011 (may extend into year 2)

Summary of Goals to be Achieved During First Year:

1) Achieve non-profit status - the first step in this process was achieved on February 1, 2011 when Urban Dharma received its incorporation papers (to function as a religious organization) from the State of North Carolina

2) Gain visibility in the community by hosting various Dharma events and social gatherings

3) Maintain a comprehensive website and web-presence that promotes Urban Dharma and its activities

4) Secure a suitable property in Downtown Asheville and transition into the space by creating a shrine room and tearoom

5) Establish weekly programming and practice schedules (see “Programming”)

6) Maintain business hours of operation

7) Form community partnerships through common initiatives

8) Create texts and educational materials to be used for weekly programs and to support members in their daily practice

9) Secure start-up funding sources and develop strategies for future financing

First Year Quarterly Goals:

January - March 2011

1) Draft by-laws for non-profit status - completed

2) Scout possible rental locations in downtown Asheville - in process

3) Create brochure for Urban Dharma to raise community interest - in process

April - June 2011

            1) Secure rental property by May 1st and begin renovations

            2) Host a pre-opening “Water & Land Dharma Assembly” scroll exhibition to publicly                      introduce Urban Dharma - in planning

            3) Acquire, fill, and install main shrine statue

            4) Train center facilitators in the ritual aspects of a common set of practices - in process

            July - September 2011

1) Open Urban Dharma - July 15, 2011

2) Host monks from Tibetan Meditation Center, of Frederick, Maryland to create a sand mandala in the newly opened space

            3) Gain nonprofit status and establish the members of our Board

            4) Establish programming for center overseen by center facilitators

            October - December 2011

            1) Begin operating a small Buddhist books and supplies store with books, tea, and                         Dharma supplies

            2) Continue to train facilitators in the core spiritual practices at Urban Dharma

           

B. Year 2: January - December 2012

1) Run and expand all programs established in the first year

2) Increase facilitators and programming, including community outreach

3) Offer weekend and week-long retreats

4) Expand and re-evaluate the shop as a financial operation and begin to assess the market for a tea house

5) Enhance web presence and online shop

6) Hire day-to-day operations manager as paid staff or intern

7) Explore possibility of hosting H.H. Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche for a large public event

8) Begin hosting social evenings to nurture the diverse culture and community within Urban. Dharma

9) Begin to offer lecture-series from local and visiting professors on Buddhist literature, thought, and history

10) Implement workshops focusing on tsa-tsa making, prayer flag printing, etc.

C. Years 3 through 5: January 2013 - December 2015

1) Increase web presence

2) Further develop staffing system, curriculum, and system of leadership

3) Offer pilgrimage tours to Asia (another significant source of funding for Urban Dharma)

4) Expand physical space or separate the temple and shop

5) Increase membership and community involvement

6) Explore new revenue opportunities or other possible ventures

The future of this blog?

With the newest developments concerning the future of Urban Dharma, and not knowing exactly yet what that might entail, I have come back to consider my own practice and to reflect more deeply about what, if anything, I have to share with others through this center. That's definitely an important question for myself, and I have been thrilled at the idea that even if I don't have much to offer now, at least at Urban Dharma I can share in the Dharma with others, and perhaps learn how to share it constructively with new practitioners in the future.

In the vast interim between now and then, I wanted to begin using this blog again to continue communicating and connecting with you all through the Dharma. I've realized how great it has been hearing people's ideas for the center as this entire process has unfolded, and I thought that posting in some form our experience with the Dharma, would be a good way to complement and inform our own individual practices while supporting the community that Urban Dharma represents.

I recently heard Dr. Hun give a (short) talk on The Four Dharmas of Gampopa. I confess, when I first read them in preparation for the talk, I was not struck by them in any special way, but by the time the talk was over I was quite moved.

If we allow our minds to turn towards the Dharma, as Gampopa pleads that his mind may, then it must help that we start communicating in those terms as well. It is in this spirit, then, that I invite everyone to use this blog for exactly that, to share one's encounter with the Dharma, whether it is mundane or profound, important or trivial, personal or general, comic or tragic. For I think as Urban Dharma grows this will become our story more and more--how does Dharma intersect with our daily life? How can we apply Dharma to our experience (our path)? And to begin finding ways to talk about our experience, realistically.

Turning my mind towards the Dharma seems more important to me now more than ever. On a personal note, I will be a father any day, and while I don't know how the Dharma will inform this experience, I know that I cannot chance being without it now. So when I get a chance, I will be posting, too.

Four Dharmas of Gampopa

Grant your blessings so that my mind may turn towards the Dharma.
Grant your blessing so that Dharma may progress along the path.
Grant your blessing so that the path may clarify confusion.
Grant your blessing so that confusion may dawn as wisdom.
– Gampopa (1079-1159)

Something to consider with our sangha.

Another interesting article from buddhistgeeks.com
This could relate to issues within our own sangha-in-the-works.

http://www.buddhistgeeks.com/2011/01/children-and-buddhism-an-undesirable-match/

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.