Indescribably wonderful (p17, AA Big Book)

Nottingham University Campus: Thich Nhat Hanh UK Retreat 2008, originally uploaded by Irish friend of Bill.

"there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful." (p17, AA Big Book)

"We have entered the world of the Spirit." (p83, AA Big Book)

I have no idea how to describe the Thich Nhat Hanh retreat so I'm not even going to try.
Thank GOD, once again it provided me with more answers, more guidance, more insight. I rely completely on stuff like this.
I have no idea how people manage without it. It was magical and special, as usual.

The reason I'm not posting much these days is because I have been using the summer break to try to really get to grips with the talks by Munindo and Amaro. I am really trying to understand the suggested path they are proposing.
What I am finding out, is that it is a very subtle and carefully constructed plan, spanning from heart wisdom and indefinable places. Basically I cannot explain it.
And thankfully I don't have to because Munindo and Amaro do such a fantastic job. My explanation is not required. But yes, I am struggling to grasp what they are saying. I love it, but am very much a beginner in this subject so I find it very hard to remember. I keep forgetting bits and so I keep having to go back over it. Not sure if I am stupid or it is just a very subtle teaching.
Whatever. It is my FAVORITE path at the moment. It makes more sense than all the others. For the time being anyway. Its a weird one.
Very similar and yet very different to AA. More paradoxes than you can shake a stick at. But seriously great. So that's where my brain is at, and has been at most of the summer.
Its hard! Seems much harder than my term time study! But I think I'm addicted.
2 other AA's came along and really loved it. Whatever. Its pointless trying to explain this in words. Its one of those things that doesn't really make sense unless you actually GO. Same as meetings basically. You could never explain a meeting to somebody who had never been. Well retreats with this type of rare individual are very similar. Doesn't really reveal itself to you, till you SHOW UP. Shame, but there you go..

Anyway. There is a very senior Lama (Khensur Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche) teaching over a three week period in the Jamyang Centre quite soon. I suggest you book very quickly as they sell out faster than hot cakes.

Also I am strongly tempted to attend a retreat with Sogyal Rinpoche as I have never seen 'Crazy Wisdom' in action ,and I think I might like it. It is a less formally restrained type of teaching. I like to think I have adopted a less restrained approach with sponsees so I might find his style of teaching very interesting.
Whatever. I have enough to be getting on with. A heavy duty academic year kicking off in three weeks. Head down till May basically.
Oh well.

But yeah I am a very blissed out bunny at the moment. Very happy with my 'education' into meditation practice over the summer.
Basically I don't watch TV. I very rarely listen to the radio. I only listen to music to keep me awake or during exercise, and the rest of the time I am listening to Amaro and Munindo. So im kindof getting in the groove, and want to hang on to it by maintaining what I have learned for as long as I can. Its SO easy to let this stuff slip.
I've started sitting for a mere 30mins in the morning and I have to say it is a blessed relief. Wonderful. But there you go.
I'm blissed out. I just want to listen to dharma talks and get 'in (and stay in) the zone. We shall see.

Oh yeah. And just as many mountains to climb as ever. I am still (aren't we all?) trying to figure out ways around my negative mental habits. Nothing changes! But I ! love the way it feels at the moment.
I am SO grateful for those recorded talks. That's all I can say. I've ordered DVDs of Thich Nhat Hanh retreat so that will remind me if I've forgotten anything..

Have a great Thursday!

Deep Deep Joy!

Dalai Lama Ticket May 2008, originally uploaded by Irish friend of Bill.

Deep Joy.
Block FBC is the second !! block from the front. The front block is full of die hard ninja types and monks. Religious types and what have you. So I will be near all them. VERY VERY cool. I cannot WAIT.
Early bird gets a seat near the front!!
Hehee
!! Excited now!!

I just LOVE this stuff. Even though most of it goes RIGHT over my head. !!! I can't WAIT. I LOVE this stuff. Don't know why. I just DO.
Anyway. Have a GREAT Friday y'all!

15th Century Statue of the Bodhisattva Vajrasattva in Room 33 of the British Museum

15th Century Statue of the Bodhisattva Vajrasattva in Rm 33 British Museum, originally uploaded by Irish friend of Bill.

This is something for those that are planning on taking the The Vajrasattva Initiation in Nottingham, May 2008 with the Dalia Lama
I find it helpful to 'get to know' the ? Deities in question before I take an initiation. I was drawn to this statue the other day before I heard that the Dalai Lama was doing an initiation next year in May 2008. I nipped in toady in passing to see if there were any Vajrasattva statues in the museum and sure enough. There he/she/it was!!
Cool. Anyway Pictures work for me, so here is a pic of the 15th Century Statue from Nepal. The words underneath are the short form Mantra, which invokes the Deity. But you may be required to have an initiation before you actually use it. (!) Not sure. Haven't done my research yet. Some you do, some you don't. It is always wise to repeat these things respectfully, and that your motive for using them always be 'For the good of all sentient beings'. As opposed to some other motive.
Whatever. Hope you find the picture helpful, if you plan on attending next year. I just did it to help me get to know ? It better.

Its a really lovely statue. So many beautiful artifacts in Room 33..I LOVE that this stuff is so OLD. Real 'Tomb Raider' stuff..Worth a visit.

Death: "Birth and Death are Just a Game of Hide and Seek" by Thich Nhat Hanh

Tibetan Buddha in Room 33 of the British Museum, originally uploaded by Irish friend of Bill.

This refers to a video called Birth and Death are Just a Game of Hide and Seek in my sidebar of a talk by hich Nhat Hanh in Sept 2005. I do not know how to post videos from google video so I'm including a link instead.

For those of you that feel ? Like something has been 'taken away' so to speak when a person dies, this video may help. I am of the belief that Thich Nhat Hanh has a better grasp of the nature of reality than most, so yes I know what he says might sound a bit odd, but he is very good at explaining these things in almost childlike terms. There is no real need to understand it in its infinite complexity. You just need a rough idea of how the dang thing works. That's all. HOW it works isn't necessary to know.

What he describes isn't as simple as reincarnation, if that's what you're thinking. For a start that would rely on the concept of a separate self. To a degree. He describes it much better than I ever could but basically he describes the inter connectedness of ALL things. Which is just another way of describing Non Duality. Which is the concept of only one 'person', as opposed to lots of separate selves. He describes the web of connections that connect us all. To everything and everybody. All the time. Whether we like it or not. The connections don't just exist in the present, they go back in time. Forward too probably. Gawd knows. So basically we are knitted into this fine web of connections to EVERYTHING.

In relation to people who have 'passed' this is relevant in that the connection is no less 'valid' due to the fact the person has passed. So basically we need never be alone again. And our loved ones are only a thought away. Well that's how I see it.

We cannot separate ourselves from them any more than we can separate ourselves from ourselves. Why? Because they ARE ourselves. Another leaf on the same tree, so to speak. We have no choice other than to be knitted together for all eternity. Whether we feel it or not. Whether we believe it or not.

Whatever. Now I'm just talking out of my a*se. So I'd better ! shut up. See I sounds like s*ite when I say it, but Thich Nhat Hanh, on the other hand, makes it sound terribly ordinary. Which is why he teaches all over the world, and I don't. Easy really!

But yes, I saw him do a very similar lecture in Scotland a couple of years ago. It blew me away. I have profound issues with death as I've been dealing with it since I was ? 4 or something. Basically I am programmed to expect death. Mine, or anyone else's I hold dear, or rely upon. Anything I love and value. I expect them to die, or for circumstances to 'take them away'. So this was a very powerful talk for me. It showed me I could never be separated from the most special people I have grown to love and value in this lifetime. Which was a wonderful gift from Thich Nhat Hanh. Like I say, Its not quite as simple as ? 'simple' reincarnation. More a continuum of connections that never 'disappears' as such, but manifests in an ever changing forms, and exists in states that have no intrinsic 'form' or 'shape'. Its just 'there', wherever 'there' is. But like I say. He sees it a DANG site better than I do, so listen to HIS version, not mine.

There is a pretty dull intro (in my opinion) by a woman host. I always skip the intro and go straight to the lecture. I have no patience!

Look I know this stuff seems WEIRD, but try to take it on trust that, that's really how it is, out there in the ether. (If you want to that is). I accept this stuff as reality. That's my choice, but I have come to believe that it is true.

Right I'm off then. Hope that's not too morose for you!

Dalai Lama: Vajrasattva Initiation and Bodhisattva Vow. Nottingham Sat 24th-Wed 28th May 2008

Amazing. His Holiness will be teaching in Nottingham in May 2008.. Thanks Johno for emailing me about it.

Regarding tickets. Floor seats are better (usually) as they can be closer to the stage.
Regarding hotels. I think the Nottingham Central Travelodge looks sufficient. 55 quid for a family room that can sleep three if you want ! it to. Starts early on Saturday morning. So book Sat, Sun, Mon and Tues night for the whole event.

There are two main events so to speak.
The Bodhisattva Vow.
The ceremony for engendering the Heart of Awakening - or bodhicitta. To generate the aspiration to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings and to enrol on the spiritual career of a Bodhisattva. Cool!

The Vajrasattva Initiation. Wednesday morning 28th May 08.
Vajrasattva is the buddha of purification. The meditation and recitation of Vajrasattva is considered supreme among all practices for the purification of all the accumulated negativities, illness and obscurations that are not inherently part of our true nature. A Sharp Weapon for the Total Elimination of Inner Darkness Caused by the Delusions and Distorted Emotions. Even better!

And some pretty !!! dense teachings, I would imagine. Not easy to grasp with the limits of the human mind. Unless you have many lifetimes of accumulated wisdom to draw from, and an above !!! Average mind. (Neither of which I have..)

General information on the Vajrasattva deity.

Nice old pic of the deity.

Downloadable Recording of the 100 syllable Vajrasattva Mantra sung by Khenchen Rinpoche

Recording of the 100 syllable Vajrasattva Mantra sung by Ven. Geshe Dakpa Topgyal.

Downloadable video of the 100 syllable Vajrasattva Mantra sung by Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche

Vajrasattva Invocation Mantra

OM VAJRA SATTVA HUNG

OM VAJRASATTVA HUM
OM VAJRA SATTO HUNG PHED

The 100 syllable Vajrasattva Mantra
-as described in Geshe Topgyal's: A Guide to Daily Vajrasattva Purification Practice and The Practice of the 35 Purification Buddhas - A Sharp Weapon for the Total Elimination of Inner Darkness Caused by the Delusions and Distorted Emotions)

OM
OM Banza Sato Samaya
Manu Palaya
Banza Sato Teno Per
Thi Kya Dri Dro Mey Bhawa
Suto Kyo Yo Mey Bhawa
Supo Kyo Yo Mey Bhawa:
Anu Rakto Mey Bhawa
Sawa Siti Mey Tra ya Tsa
Sawa Kama Sutsa Mey
Tsi Tam Shri Yam Kuru Hung
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha Hoe Bha Gha Wana
Sava Tathagata
Banza Ma Mey Mun Zha
Bhan Zhi Bhawa
Maha Samaya Sato
Ah
Hung

See you there!

Check out this new AA Recovery Blog. My kind of guy!

It's a cool long time sober Buddhist AA guy explaining stuff about relationships and it's called Relationships in Recovery
Right up my street! Cool. Isn't the blogsphere GREAT? You get to read what people with (what I consider to be) 'niche' experience and interpretations have to say on things. I'm not kidding. I VERY RARELY meet people with a similar outlook in AA. Ie a little bit 'clinical' in the way they view the 'suffering alcoholic, a chunk of Buddhist experience, so a bit ? 'esoteric' for want of a better word, and PLENTY of time in AA.
So cool! I'm happy. Just my cup of tea. Looks VERY interesting..

Disclaimer: If you know me you will know I am very comfortable with differences of opinion, and have never had a problem with the idea of different viewpoints, so you will know that when I say that I really like the look of something, that doesn't mean I agree with EVERYTHING they say. I see nothing 'disrespectful' about drawing a different conclusion than the other fellow. But that's another post really.

Basically it looks very interesting, so check it out. There's a lot of useful information about relationships, which his GREAT because I have always noticed that there are a always a LOT of people in AA who are NOT in a relationship, and I'm a strong believer in the healing effects of CONSTRUCTIVE relationships, as opposed to abusive / chronically dependent ones!

Stability and reliability soothe the Hungry Ghost

All I know is that my 'hungry ghost', IS fulfilled by the presence of continuity. A stable loving presence. So for me a relationship is a 'rock' to soothe and 'settle' the hungry ghost. Teachers, Lamas, monks and other very loving people are very helpful to my emotional stability.

But I would not call that dependence. For me it has been about learning to feel safe and trust, despite having a very involuntary, and instinctive survival-based reaction to life. So for me relationships are teachers, and sources of healing because they teach me to trust.

His would not apply if they were mad people. My reactive 'core' is calming down the longer I am around stable influences, regardless of how inept I am in other respects.

Non duality: Group Soup: the ''fellowship of the spirit"

The ''fellowship of the spirit" is a very real thing. It's not a fairy story. You can just 'feel' it after a while. Its quite distinct really. We sort of get 'embedded' in the collective psyche of the group and other like minded people. Or something. Who knows. But we are all very connected. But for some reason we have a very tangible connection with other members of the fellowship.

I STILL find it weird that I have such a strong sense of 'family' with AA's. in some Buddhist circles they call it 'group soup'. I have distinctly different feelings of connection with different groups of people. I feel connected to monks different than AA's. AA feels the most like 'family', but monks and nuns feel different. More refined and soft. Weird really. Actually mow that I think of it, everyone is different, but there is a strong degree of similarity in the way I can feel about fellowship people. I love the increased sensitivity that being drug and drink free gives us. We can just 'tune into' things more. Which is pretty cool.

Abusive Background?: Your TOUGHEST lesson in sobriety is VULNERABILITY

Its tricky learning how to endure the overwhelming scariness of being vulnerable if you come from an abusive background. There is a tendency to either over indulge or repress, as well which doesn't help. All these thing require a very skillful, mindful, balancing act interiorly. Its quite subtle. Plus nigh on impossible if you cannot tolerate overwhelming emotional states without needing to drink to deal with it. so I suppose the heavier stuff, works best after step 9. Well that's what I've found anyway.

If you come from a physically abusive, sexually abusive, indifferent or cruel emotionally abused background, my guess would be that the TOUGHEST thing you will EVER learn in sobriety will be letting your guard down and allowing yourself to be utterly vulnerable. Trust basically.

No front. No defence. No second guessing.
Not everyone is the same, but I think that will be your greatest and toughest lesson. My experience is that the miraculous power in trying to live along spiritual lines by doing the steps can create enough healing to make that possible.

By the way, some people have a ‘front’ but do not make it obvious in their outward manner. These are the types with GOOD social skills, who nonetheless, never REALLY drop their reserve. These are just the ‘controlled’ types. Again this need to ‘be a certain way’ is a little inflexible and fear based and can be reduced with a good step 11 practice after step 9.
For these people the lesson is ‘not being in control’. Not having all the answers. But don’t worry. Basically if you bash away at the programme long enough, you Do get to be more like the ‘wearing life like a loose garment’ type. You DO get there in the end!

For those in search of a surrogate parent, or ‘someone to take care of them’ I recommend step 11. It ! Should leave you feeling connected to an ever present feeling of love, no matter what is happening. I refer to this in a previous post called a ‘‘dual mind space’.

Basically ‘god’ is the new ‘mother’, or parent you never had. The new benchmark for trust, security and wellbeing. Perhaps the first TRUE constant you have ever experienced. Its very cool. And step 11 brings you right into the bosom of your higher power. Steps one to nine, ‘set the stage’ for the step 11 magic to happen.

Personally I prefer ‘spiritual’ ? Esoteric ? Remedies for these things rather that (what I see as) the very limited scope of man made intellectual awareness that is available in 20th century mental health. Too limited! I want something MUCH more advanced than that. Ancient wisdom from the great masters. So that’s why I do not promote therapy with my Sponsees regardless of their histories. I understand that is not a currently popular view, but when I say this stuff, I say it to explain what I do. Not to try to control others or ‘make’ you do what I do. I have MUCH better things to do with my very limited reserves of energy than try to herd cats! No Siree! MY life is centre stage. I have NO power over others so that is not my concern. So what I mean is ‘do as you please’. I do not ‘need’ people to agree with me in order to feel ? Validated.
By the way, if these things didn’t work I would never subscribe to them. My experience and observations is that these things DO work. (Just in case you think I am a deranged idiot!)

Anyway! Regarding the abuse personality type, it’s worth noting that alongside this ‘invincibility’ (which is just another way of saying they NEVER let their guard down, or ‘show their face’ that this heavily defended approach is often coupled with a ‘god shaped hole’ of YEARNING to be take care of. This is because people with these backgrounds seem to spend the rest of their lives looking for surrogate parents. In the form of a partner often. Women with this tendency can often have a terrible emotional desperateness about ‘wanting ? Something’ from a relationship that it can never really provide.
They are looking in all the wrong places so to speak. Looking to fill the god shaped hole in relationships. Looking to satisfy the "Hungry Ghost". Relationships were never designed to meet the needs of a desire for a surrogate parent.

In addition. These types can be the ‘We don’t make friends we take hostages’ type. Meaning there is a clinging also. A sort of ‘hanging on to the apron strings’.
I find that people with these types of background have the most difficulty with abandonment issues and ‘letting go’ when I complete the first nine steps with them. They kind of want ‘more’.

‘More’ is just another word for the "Hungry Ghost"., and I direct people to a GOOD step 11 practice who are suffering from this condition. Step 11 is a VERY effective tool for addressing this spiritual condition. The hunger is finally satisfied! Wow. That’s how powerful a GOOD step 11 practice is. It reaches places in the soul that neither you or I will ever know exists. Its very powerful. Make sure you have a good teacher!

By the way, vulnerability does NOT mean being a 24 hr pool of weeping ? ..whatever. It means not being afraid of being exposed, of being (temporarily) a blobby mess. Not being afraid of being 'seen'. It is not a blank check for catharsis, or anything else. It means TRUE honesty. TRUE intimacy. No holding back. No trying to be 'clever'. Its an unflattering exposure of self. There is no ego. But more importantly, its a decision to NOT BE SUSPICIOUS or defended.
It can mean many things. Bu that's more what I mean in this case. So basically, I am not advocating limitless weeping as a hallmark of vulnerability. It is MUCH more than that.

The dark side of humanity: We ALL have a latent aspect of the Shadow

In trying to come to terms with violence and terrible deeds of one sort or another, I have been helped by reading stuff about the shadow. (Robert Bly is very good)
I believe we all have the capacity to discover ! terrible things about ourselves depending on what we focus on.
(as in)
You MOVE TOWARDS, and BECOME LIKE, THAT WHICH YOU THINK ABOUT, whether it is good for you, or bad for you

So, if I were in military combat. for instance and was required to kill others to survive, I think I would get to see some VERY ! dark places in my mind. We all have a shadow nature, but we don't get to see it very well if we choose to live a wholesome life.

I believe violent people are very caught up in that aspect of their condition, due to habitually negative behaviors, and do these things in an act of desperation to relieve the suffering that is building up inside them. I believe it is simply overwhelming for them and they blindly follow the tendency because they can see no other way of finding satisfaction. they are very sick people, and they create huge amount of suffering upon themselves for many lifetimes for performing such an act. its very sad.

They may put an end to their body, but they do not put an end to their suffering or their newly acquired karmic debt. Well that's how I see it anyway.

Also my non-dual view of the world and everyone on it, means I do not see myself as separate from anyone including people who kill and maim. But that's another post!
Like Thich Nhat Hanh says in the poem 'Call Me By My True Names':

I am the twelve-year-old girl, refugee on a small boat, who throws herself into the ocean after being raped by a sea pirate. And I am the pirate, my heart not yet capable of seeing and loving.

On that rather ! Unexplained point, I'm off! Anyway have a great Tuesday!

I am LOVING Ajahn Munindo's online talks right now

(And people like Ken Wilber.) It feels like what I need to hear right now.
Just thought I would share that with you!
I was listening to the talk called Am I Practicing Rightly? Today and LOVED it.

Gawd knows, but its just the ticket. Mostly stuff about what I call 'emotional processing' because I have NO CLUE what else to call it!
He refers a lot to Self centeredness, but the words he uses to describe it is 'trying to get my own way', and control freak. I always use those two terms to describe what's happening when we are 'trying to run the show'.

He also describes what he calls a 'capacity to feel', being increased by this process. Which is what I was trying to describe in an earlier post called
'Steady containment' is what I call enlightenment
Becoming a 'Strong Vessel': Increasing your capacity for holding very powerful (good and bad) mind states in consciousness, without going mad!
Peace of mind is NOT dependent on having PLEASANT thought forms or emotions

What he describes is the ability to hold powerful emotional states in consciousness without making them a problem. Normally they are overwhelming, But that the more you do this thing, the greater your capacity is to feel these things. This is a step 11 mindfulness technique if you don't already know. This is a post step 9 thing really.

Anyway, he explains it better! have a nice Sunday!

Give till it hurts and INTENSIVE work with alcoholics: A Female Mystic enlightenment path

This is a U tube talk by Ken Wilber where he explains the path of 'Give till it hurts'.

"Give till it hurts" Mother Theresa
"Practical experience shows that NOTHING will so much insure immunity from drinking as INTENSIVE work with other alcoholics." p89

My favorite old timer used to say this, but (although it is a standard I use) I tend not to advertise this ? method for fear of being labeled horribly co dependent. Anyway. The missing piece of the jigsaw fell into place when I saw ken Wilber's utube item called 'give till it hurts'

Its actually very difficult to describe unless you've done it, so if you haven't really pushed yourself to your ! limits of patience and tolerance and gone to ANY LENGTHS to try very hard to help others, this may not mean very much to you at all. Who knows. But when I heard Ken Wilber describing the 'radical acceptance' that an INTENSE relationship to 'damaged goods' can bring about, I recognized it straight away. But then I have a bit of experience with meditation as well so perhaps that's why I can notice it.

I always say to Sponsees that newcomers are literally 'mind altering', in that they bring about a very clear and even mind space, but only if we are 'going the extra mile', or going to any lengths. Anyway, all I know is that at some point in the process, (usually after feeling very !! exasperated with the awareness that any judgment I am experiencing is completely road blocking my attempt to help) I sort of 'push myself up a gear', to 'get through to the person'. And reach a point internally where I GENUINELY feel no sense of 'good' or 'bad'. Its sort of like I can see the divine in them. They are not 'bad' people getting good. They are sick people getting well.
Anyway, it all goes a bit ? Neutral. Ken Wilber calls it an 'immoveable awareness'. Which sounds about right. It feels like I am 'holding' a 'space' for the craziness of the newcomer to exist in, where I do not flinch, internally or externally (in the form of speech or action) , while they relate their craziness to me. Its like I'm 'holding steady'. Yet it feels very intense at the same time. Anyway, it feels very cool. Kind of tough, but very cool. Its a very nice place to be in my head.

Anyway, Ken describes this as a way of achieving pure Equanimity, or 'one taste', which is just another word for releasing all judgment. All notions of things being either 'good' or 'bad'.
Anyway he pointed out that this was a way that women mystics tried to achieve the mental states normally created in more patriarchal institutions such as monasteries by sitting meditating for eight hours not blinking. It was very interesting and puts the mother Theresa doctrine into context. I always like mother Theresa, but I did not understand why. (Like most things to do with higher powers and what have you) Now I know! Well a BIT better!

Anyway anything that helps me put the jigsaw pieces together is good! I'm STILL 'looking though a glass darkly' but it all helps!

By the way, Mystics are very interesting if you can be bothered reading about them. I have heard the Christian mystics are worth getting to know, but I haven't done research in to book names or authors.

Podcasts of Ajahn Munindo. (The Abbot at Harnham)

I just didn't realize they were doing Podcasts at Harnham. now, that's all.

This guy is COOL. Trust me! He KNOWS his subject, and just sounds like a nice guy who doesn't take any crap from people. Tough! But very gentle at the same time. I LOVE that combination. Excuses would NOT wash with a guy like this, but there is TREMENDOUS compassion as well.
Basically a cool bloke.
These guys are BLESSINGS to the world.

Thank you Universe, for the existence of these people!!

I don't know about you, but I NEED people like this to explain some things and 'show' me how to be kind and compassionate. I learn BEST from following other peoples example. Just being around cool people really. I do not find that I need to have endless conversations with them, or interact with them. I just need to hear them, or read their words, or be around them. I love the 'silent teaching' from just being in the presence of cool people. Its LOVELY.
Anyway, I digress. As usual!!
Better be off! Yeah I have a TON of stuff to do!!

View from the Monastery Kitchen: Blog by Jim the Kitchen Manager

It's called View from the Monastery Kitchen. Cool.

I must get up to Harnham sometime!!!
I LOVE this silly blog about kitchen requirements!

I LOVE the photos of Harnham, but then I love these chain of monasteries in the main. But this one looks LOVELY.

The poor guy who is effectively being asked to write lists of stuff that they need like ONIONS and other !! Fascinating stuff, is actually a rather entertaining read. Im not sure if he is a novice or a 'proper monk'. I think he might be a proper one. Cool!

Ah. Reminds me of the old days, down at the Devon monastery.. What a COOL place that was! But that's emotionally living in the PAST. Nostalgia, is just a sneaky way of dragging us out of the present moment. Easy to do!

Oh yeah, and all the Theravadas have finished their winter retreat as of the end of Feb, so its back to 'business as usual' at Amaravati and what have you.

Sat 31st March 2-8.30pm. Monthly Retreat at the Turnham Green Vihara

Just a reminder in case you forgot!
This is totally free and is a WONDERFUL place. Here's the link. Click on the meditation 'button' listed uncer the heading 'Classes on Buddhism'.
Bring some food to share Apples? Cake? or a packet of PG. it's always nice to bring something instead of showing up empty handed.
Try to get there for 1.30 as the thing starts at 2. And try to stay for the whole thing as it's really quite a special place and had a wonderful vibe.
Its a 5min skip and a hop from Turnham green station, which is on the Piccadilly line. So its pretty darned easy to get to!
Don't plan anything 'over stimulating' afterwards as you will NOT be in the mood at all after this! You will be very chilled out!

London Buddhist Vihara.
• 2.00-2.15 Introductory Talk
• 2.15-3.30 Sitting Meditation Practice
• 3.30-4.00 Walking Meditation Practice
• 4.00-4.10 Tea
• 4.10-5.00 Sitting Meditation Practice
• 5.00-5.30 Walking Meditation Practice
• 5.30-6.00 Dhamma Talk
(Hopefully by the Abbot who is a VERY cool human being. Comes HIGHLY recommended. This is the BEST bit!!!!)
• 6.00-6.30 Tea & refreshment
• 6.30-7.30 Metta Bhavana (loving-kindness)
• 7.30-8.00 Questions and Answers, Discussion

Last Saturday of every Month. The next ones are..
28th April 2007
26th May 2007
30th June 2007

May very well have booked up already but: Easter Retreat at Jamyang Fri 6th-2.30pm Mon 9th April

I've not done a 'proper' retreat at Jamjang, but the reason I liked the sound of it was because of the cost and accessibility. Basically if you live near the centre anyway, this would (I think!) be less palaver than hiking up to Amaravati. It could be a but weird having to go home after a 'full on' day. Meaning it might be a bit 'rough; getting dumped back into the 'real world' at the end of the meditation day, but it might not be that bad. To get the full effect, it would probably be best to steer clear of your usual pals, till its over on Monday afternoon. Including discos bars clubs etc etc!!
You can always go AFTER the retreat!
Its 8am to 7pm!! Not for pansies!

Anyway, here's the details: Its £15 to £20 at day apparently. If you are not 'living in'. This is a BARGAIN for those of you that do not know!

Retreat with Teachings on Kindness, Compassion and Understanding
Led by Geshe Tashi

As a river to the sea,
As the sea to the clouds,
As clouds to the land,
So does bodhicitta beautify this world.

This Easter Retreat led by Geshe Tashi is a new addition to the programme, and we hope will become a regular feature in coming years. Previous participants have found retreats led by Geshe Tashi to be a profound and wonderful opportunity for peace and meditation. It is preferable to follow the entire retreat programme. The retreat is organised, however, so you can attend by the day, providing that you attend the full day from 8am to 7pm.

Daily Schedule
8.00 motivation & precepts
9.15 meditation
10.30 teaching
1.30 personal practice or reading lamrim
2.45 meditation
4.15 teaching
5.15 meditation
6.15 prayers and dedications

Please book as soon as possible by contacting the office, as places are likely to go very quickly.

The Lazy Lama. 3 Little talks on Procrastination, and GETTING STUFF DONE

I really like this monk! He reminds me of the little guy in Star Wars. And I like these talks so I just thought I'd post them here. He will be in London on June 6th - June 8th

Dharma Talk Link: Acceptance by Ajahn Munindo

I was listening to the talk about 'Conscious Contentment' by Ajahn Munindo this morning and it touched on LOADS of stuff that AA's struggle with such as:

Perfectionism. Idealism.
Complaining. Disappointment.
Learning to be content with how things are instead of how we think they 'ought' to be.

I think what he might call 'contentment' AA's would call Acceptance.
It amounts to the same thing really. Just being comfortable with LIFE ON LIFE'S TERMS.
Anyway I particularly liked the UN NEUROTIC way he speaks about his failings and area where he needs to improve. He's a nice bloke.

Anyway, I've posted this Dharma Talk link on the right hand side under 'positive resources'.
I'm not crazy about ALL the monks, but this one I like. I've only spoken to him once. They are all pretty unusual in some way or other, but I just like this guy's approach. He's very ORDINARY or something. Who knows, but I just like him.

By the way. He is the Abbot at Harnham Monastery in case you are interested. Pretty easy to get to! (if you live in the London area)

More stuff from a talk by Ringu Tulku .."Do it LIGHTLY"

Here's some stuff I typed from another talk so that I don't forget it. He is known as the Lazy Lama, but his name is Ringu Tulku. I like him a LOT.
This is in theory about 'practice' meaning meditation practice, but I see it as being useful 'in all my affairs' and PARTICURLY in respect to the Just for Today card instruction; "I will do at least two things I don’t want to do—just for exercise" Discipline I suppose..

(From Lazy Lama talk)
The real practice is about YOURSELF.
Its about TRANSFORMING yourself
Learning how to react.
How to work with your emotions.
How to work with your habitual tendencies.
THAT'S the practice.

The MOST important thing in the practice, is how to RELAX.
So, therefore I think its VERY important, for instance when you have to practice for four hours...You don't need to be NERVOUS for 4 hours. (Laughs.) (Acts INTENSE, and restless / flustered)
You should learn to RELAX for four hours.
Whether its four hours or not doesn't matter rally, The main practice Is about the practice, not the time spent.
It's extremely important to know HOW to practice, then time spent and all that, doesn't matter too much.

I always say, whenever I go ANYWHERE, .."Do it LIGHTLY"
Whether you do, one hour, 4 hours or ALL DAY. "Do it LIGHTLY".

For procrastinators! (like me!): the Lazy Lama's thoughts on overcoming resistance.

I procrastinate, so I was listening to some questions with the lazy lama, and typed out the jist of his answers so I can remember them better.

Here is some stuff the Lazy Lama (Ringu Tulku) said about dealing with resistance. I've put down the whole answer, but my favorite 'bits' are:

By discipline I do not mean that kind of 'forcing yourself to do things'

Like if I really DEEPLY see that this is good for me,
Then I say "OK, this is REALLY good. I need to let it happen."

Diligence is about inspiring yourself. Inspiring means: A DEEP understanding / learning / seeing things CLEARLY, that its REALLY useful, REALLY beneficial. THAT inspires you.

Its not good to push too much. To push too hard.

I tell myself, "You can NOT practice more than (so many) hours"
It makes you feel as though 'you are not doing enough.' The idea is to create the feeling that you are not doing enough.
You want to do more, but you do not allow yourself. "I will only do so much"
When you have the feeling 'I want to do more, but due to many reasons I cannot", then my interest in doing it is maintained.

Maintaining this 'kind of feeling' 'I am not doing enough'.
Creating that situation, is I think, very important, whatever it is.

You have to deal with the mind pretty skillfully, you cannot push too hard.

..Ok, here's the WHOLE answer:
(In response to the question 'How do you deal with resistance?)
I call it laziness. I don't know what it is!, but I call it laziness.

Maybe A bit of discipline?
But by discipline I do not mean that kind of 'forcing yourself doing things' That kind of discipline is not good. It is not good for me. Maybe not good for you.

The discipline that I prefer to use is that .
I ALLOW myself to do what I know is REALLY good for me.
THAT kind of discipline is good.
Like if I really DEEPLY see that this is good for me,
Then I say "OK, this is REALLY good. I need to let it happen."
(I don't need to do ANYTHING that I don't know is REALLY good for me.)
If I DEEPLY say that, sometimes I do it.

Its not good to push too much. To push too hard.

It is said in the dharma that diligence is about inspiring yourself.
Inspiring means: A DEEP understanding / learning / seeing things clearly,
that its REALLY useful, REALLY beneficial.
THAT inspires you.

Diligence is about inspiring yourself
Sometimes the best thing to do is rest.
The best way to generate diligence is to rest. Having a break.
Having a break is not stopping the practice but rejuvenating yourself.
So therefore having a break is recommended in the chapter of diligence.
So also that's another way.

This seems to work sometimes:
I tell myself, "You can NOT practice more than (so many) hours"
It makes you feel as though 'you are not doing enough.' The idea is to create the feeling that you are not doing enough.
You want to do more, but you do not allow yourself. "I will only do so much"
When you have the feeling 'I want to do more, but due to many reasons I cannot", then my interest in doing it is maintained.
But if you feel you are doing too much, then its very bad. Because then very quickly the reaction goes the other way, "Im doing too much" "I don't want to do that'

Maintaining this kind of feeling 'I am not doing enough'.
Creating that situation, is I think, very important, whatever it is.

We have to be skilful with this because the mind is very 'stubborn'. You push one way, the mind goes in the other direction!
You have to deal with the mind pretty skillfully, you cannot push too hard.