“Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.” ~St. Theresa of Avila
Archive for March, 2010
"Personal transformation can and does have global effects. As we go, so goes the world, for the world is us. The revolution that will save the world is ultimately a personal one." – Marianne Williamson
As followers of the Christ Dharma begin their intensive week of mindfulness training, the contemplative approach to Holy Week, we can all benefit from understanding some of the mythos related to these events, as an opportunity to see how they relate to our own lives.
We read in the Dhammapada:
"One should not pry into the faults of others, what they’ve done and left undone. Consider instead what you yourself have done and left undone." (Dhammapada 50)
Beyond the literal and obvious instruction in these words is the implication that we may, at times, put ourselves in situations which cause us to constantly see the faults of others. And there is nothing that makes that easier than reading the blog of someone who considers their view of Buddhist fundamentalism to be the "righteous path".
So many times, we imagine that our way is the only way, and that is quite simply delusion and ego at its worst.
The Christian narrative tells the story of Jesus’ betrayal by those who should have openly embraced his radically inclusive, liberating and non-sectarian message. He was a revolutionary… but not the kind of militaristic one the were hoping for. His revolution was a revolution of love and compassion, gnosis and mindfulness.
“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet," Gandhi pointed out.
Homophobia and intolerance are often thought to be something that has not sullied the reputation of the Buddhist community, which seldom concerns itself with such things, outside a few fundamentalist Theravadan sects, and Japanese fundamentalists from the Nichiren and Nichiren spin-off sects. Yet we find an alarming number of Buddhists jumping on the intolerance bandwagon in recent months. And now that intolerance is spreading to include an intolerance toward those who are not as quick to buy into the religious dressing that has been foisted upon (and in many cases, obscured) the authentic teaching of the Buddha.
We find stories of injustice, vilification and even imprisonment in places like Sri Lanka, where sectarian Buddhist fundamentalists and their horrific “state religion” (a complete and utter bstardisation of the legitimate Dharma) call for and incite intolerance, violence and hatred.
Here in the West, there are the self-appointed mouthpieces of sectarian Buddhism (most prevalently, I am afraid, those from certain Nyingma and Nichiren derived traditions, whose obsession with the mythos and superstition surrounding lineage and “purity of sectarian tradition” has blinded some of these poorly-trained (if at all) individuals from recognising the room that exists for a non-traditional, non-sectarian and even syncretic tradition such as our own.
Quick to point out that “no legitimate teacher need ever defend themselves,” they also conveniently forget the prescriptions against attacking a monastic, especially one who is regarded to be a lama or guru of others.
And so even in our own Eastern traditions, the opportunity exists to look at the Jesus Mythos, and consider ways in which we have persecuted others, or allowed such persecutions to go on, without having the courage to stand up for what is right.
And we can use this time to turn our minds inward, and begin to gently let go of those habituations, cravings, opinions and fears that have kept us from loving.
Then we will realise there is only US… no “them”… only NOW… only Love.
Namasté
khenpo gurudas sunyatananda
Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.
The Buddha taught: “The man who foolishly does me wrong, I will return to him the protection of my most ungrudging love; and the more evil comes from him, the more good shall go from me.” -
What better way to respond to those who bear ill-will against us… who disparage us… who attempt to discredit or even harm us.
They are sick, delusional, frightened and hurting… with minds weaker than the most unsophisticated single-cell organism. We cannot help but have compassion for them, and hope to help them heal, so that they are not doomed to recreate the karmic consequences of their hatred and actions in countless lifetimes.
Namasté
khenpo gurudas sunyatananda
Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.
“If we have a positive mental attitude, then even when surrounded by hostility, we shall not lack inner peace. On the other hand, if our mental attitude is more negative, influenced by fear, suspicion, helplessness, or self-loathing, then even when surrounded by our best friends, in a nice atmosphere and comfortable surroundings, we shall not be happy.” – His Holiness XIV Dalai Lama
Stay in the moment. Once you’ve read a chapter, close it… no need to return again and again, else you will never make progress in the story! Your life is like that. Make amends for the pain you caused and move forward. The past is no longer. Forgive yourself and others and let it go. Bring your awareness to the moment, and seek ways to alleviate the suffering of others. There you will find peace and freedom.
Namasté
khenpo gurudas sunyatananda
Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.
If during our spiritual practice, we are not aware of others’ suffering, we have not learned mindfulness, and our practice is meritless.
"Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love." – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr (Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech – 1964)
On this 51st Anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising, let us resolve to do whatever we can whenever we experience intolerance, oppression, violence and hatred. Let us confront such vitriolic institutions fearlessly. Let us WORK FOR PEACE AND NON-VIOLENT REFORM.
Namasté
khenpo gurudas sunyatananda
Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.
“What we have labeled as ‘mistakes’ are, in actuality, the seeds of personal transformation. It simply depends on your awareness.” – Through the Looking Glass of the Heart Retreat – 2008 (Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda)
Namasté
khenpo gurudas sunyatananda
Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.
We often allow ourselves to become disturbed by those who fail to recognise our attempts to do the right thing. We become agitated by the hypocrites, closet cases, hatemongers and bigots, when they attempt to justify their horrid behaviour, by casting aspersions upon others.
One of the monks living in the Desert Skete, Abba Lucas gathered the Desert Brothers together, and taught:
“May you all be forgotten.”
“But why?” one of the monks asked. “Does that mean that our example can never serve to help someone in need?”
“In the days when everyone was just,” the abbot replied, “ no one paid any attention to people who behaved in an exemplary manner. Everyone did their best, never thinking that by behaving thus they were doing their duty by their brother.
“They loved their neighbour because they understood that this was part of life, and that they were merely obeying a law of nature.
“They shared their possessions in order not to accumulate more than they could carry, for their journeys lasted an entire lifetime.
“They lived together in freedom, giving and receiving, making no demands on others and blaming no one.
“That is why their deeds were never spoken of and that is why they left no stories. If only we could achieve the same thing now: to make goodness such an ordinary thing that there would be no need to praise those who practise it.”
Namasté
khenpo gurudas sunyatananda
Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.
