On Dec 20, 2012, at 8:35 PM, "KSC - Southern Sangha"
<ksc_south@kscashland.org> wrote:
Dear Sangha Friends, We have been asked to correspond with our
meditation community about recent sad events in Connecticut. This is a
brief summary of our remarks at the Calm Abiding meditation yesterday
in Ashland. As funerals begin this week, and the political world works
and struggles to do something effective, there will be lots to reflect
upon for a while yet. We hope this is helpful. This is a time of deep
and varied emotion. As Buddhists, we continue to be aware of emotions
and make the best choices we can about the time, place, and necessity
of expressing them. In addition, we continue to be aware of the
backdrop of fear behind our varied and perhaps wildly swinging
emotions, to be willing to look at fear, sit with fear, work with fear,
accept that fear is a part of us. We fear for our children, for our
society’s institutions, for a lack of permanent safety. We are fearful
of disagreement, of violence, of difference. The “other” may embody our
fears. Our path is to practice openness --- openness to our fallibility
and our vulnerability, as well as to our kindness, compassion and
everyday insights. This openness is critical at a time when shutting
down may be the greatest temptation. The practice of openness to
ourselves and others is how we return to a sense of trusting our world,
knowing and accepting it in all its impermanent horror and
magnificence. Our desire to “do” something will need to be grounded in
skillful action. Naturally, arising out of this event, we will wish to
protect children. To carry out this excellent wish, we can take the
skills of mindfulness that we cultivate on the path, and bring them
more and more into everyday life. Knowing where children are, what they
are doing, who is around them – all of this is mindful awareness that
we can utilize in a worldly context. From that mindful awareness,
words and actions may appear to be necessary. If it is not an
emergency, we ask ourselves to do a bit of thoughtful analysis: What is
best to do in this situation? Am I the best one to do it? Can I work
with others to do what is needed? These are ways we determine the best
course of action at any time, and our path strengthens this analysis
into everyday insight into what is needed and an accurate sense of our
part in that. For meditators, we recommend doing any heartfelt practice
you know. It is important to strengthen our best qualities! Calm
Abiding asks us to look with tranquility upon each thought, feeling,
and moment of stillness. This is a wonderful antidote to our own and
the world’s intense emotionality and opinions. Tonglen asks us to care
for ourselves, our loved ones, all the strangers and even our (or
anyone’s) enemies, with even-handed concern for our/their difficulties.
At a time when there seems to be someone we can blame for this event,
or maybe many who could be held accountable for the circumstances of
this event, tonglen will bring us back to center, our own sturdy, open
heart, with its all-encompassing abilities. The Chenrezig or Green Tara
meditation will strengthen our compassionate natures and Tara, in
particular, will help us work with our own and others’ fears. As we
approach the new year, we can continue to utilize the path to create a
better world. We hope these suggestions will be helpful in that regard.
We wish each of you a fine new year. Lama Yeshe and Lama Pema Kagyu
Sukha Choling109 Clear Creek Drive,Ashland, OR
97520www.kscAshland.org541.552.1769
