 |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Because of the number of projects I am currently involved with, 1326 Washington Street West Newton, MA 02465 Joel Baehr, leader 617-349-0785 Tibetan Buddhism is the fastest-growing form of Buddhism in America. The Tibetan traditions have the broadest array of spiritual practices – from basic sitting meditation to innumerable heart-practices, such as Tonglen and Lojong, and tantric practices of elaborate visualization. The Dzogchen tradition includes all of these, but it cuts through the elaborate and graduated practices with the simplest and most profound practice of all: natural awareness itself. Dzogchen means "natural perfection" or "natural completion" and points to the direct realization of Buddha-nature at the core of all beings. Dzogchen’s most characteristic practice is called "sky yoga," a form of meditation in which the mind "falls open" and is experienced as vast, like space itself. It is really "non-meditation." Just being, not doing or fabricating or interpreting anything. For this approach, relaxation is key, and allowing – letting come and letting go. So this practice is non-rigid, open-eyed, open-bodied, and inclusive of all experience – color, images, sounds, and even thoughts. The best way to become acquainted with Dzogchen is to experience the practice. There is no need for any previous Buddhist or other meditation experience. There is no need for any understanding. As I learned long ago, in spiritual practice intellectual understanding is the booby prize. Intellectuality that out-strips practice experience is frequently an obstacle to developing genuine wisdom. That being said, there are innumerable resources in the forms of books, tapes, and web sites. Works of the Dalai Lama are widely available, and the books of my teacher, Lama Surya Das will be very helpful – especially "Awakening the Buddha Within," "Awakening to the Sacred," and "Natural Great Perfection" (also by Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche, Surya’s main Dzogchen teacher). I am the author of the on-line course, "Buddhism and Everyday Life," on (www.bn.com), which is offered periodically during the year. The course involves eight lessons over four weeks and includes an active discussion through a message board. Taking that course could be very helpful to fairly quickly acquire an over-all understanding of Tibetan Buddhism. The month-long course is offered regularly during the year. At our meetings on Tuesday nights I will have available an array of books and other materials. We will meditate in a traditional setting, including ritual objects and lineage pictures. Our practice will consist of meditation (partially guided), chant, aspirations/prayers, a talk, time to share and inquire together, and the practice of Dana (generosity/offering) as an expression of gratitude for the teachers and the teachings. In Tibetan Buddhism "connecting" is important. There is such a vast array of teachings, traditions, lineages, and paths. From this smorgasbord that has never before been available anywhere in the world, we are invited to find what we genuinely connect with. Finding a path is not an arbitrary matter of whim or will. It is a discovery of an actual "fit." May each of us find an appropriate path and may our journey be beneficial to every being without exception. |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
