my last two entries were parts of a prayer song we sang at the buddhist temple. i miss my sudays at the temple. me and my friends sitting with Sangha as he spoke Dharma. bald head and saffron robes his head always a bit tilted down with his eyes rolling up to make contact with ours...his lips always in half smile causing his large ears to wiggle back and forth as he spoke truth with his british accent. he seemed turtle like to me always. a dear wise comforting turtle, Sangha was. his level of compassion was so high to stand near him would to be bathed in kindness. he always sent us home with something, honey, chocolate, fruit, when i would resist he would reply "but it's been blessed!" hmmmmm Sangha my Dharma teacher i miss him . ironic... the monk who taught me about impermanence and non-attachment and i am attached to him as a teacher.
then after temple mr.B would always take us sailing on the lake . i would sit on the bow and pratice my meditation thinking of teachings...."as you sit and watch your breath thoughts will arise... that is ok...just observe them without holding on....imagine you are sitting on the bank of a river...your thoughts are the river floating by. you are only watching from the grass." this was nice to do while sitting on the lake with the sound of water all around. come and go come and go that's what thoughts do if you just sit and watch them without reaching out and crawling in.
through the virtues i have collected
by practising the stages of the path
may all living beings find the opportunity
to practise in the same way
may everyone experience
the happiness of humans and gods
and quickly attain enlightenment
so that samsara is finally extinguished
peace&blessings
juni
then after temple mr.B would always take us sailing on the lake . i would sit on the bow and pratice my meditation thinking of teachings...."as you sit and watch your breath thoughts will arise... that is ok...just observe them without holding on....imagine you are sitting on the bank of a river...your thoughts are the river floating by. you are only watching from the grass." this was nice to do while sitting on the lake with the sound of water all around. come and go come and go that's what thoughts do if you just sit and watch them without reaching out and crawling in.
through the virtues i have collected
by practising the stages of the path
may all living beings find the opportunity
to practise in the same way
may everyone experience
the happiness of humans and gods
and quickly attain enlightenment
so that samsara is finally extinguished
peace&blessings
juni
VIEW 16 of 16 COMMENTS
I've read several of the things you've written since you've joined, and it has me thinking about what I've yet to learn. I don't really feel lost so much as I feel clumsy in my layman's applications of what I understand to be the teachings of the Buddha.
I've read some books written by Mahayanans, and while there is a small Theravadan community and forest monastery near my hometown, some of what I've read has been critical of this tradition as being dogmatic. I don't have the ability to make that judgment, or even evaluate the statement critically. I'm terribly curious about what a service is like, but I don't have the benefit of knowing any practicing Buddhists. I wouldn't know how to approach the community around the local temple. I'm a private person and somewhat timid. I just want to find a comfortable place to think and listen to the wisdom while I find my way.
Can you share anything of your own experiences in finding your religion? Your teacher? Your path?
I'm full of questions, please forgive me
I'm afraid to quit!