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THIS MONTH'S THEME:
Jan header 2012

JANUARY 2012

Greetings!

 

Welcome to the first quarterly issue of Exploring the Path, the monthly newsletter of ACI-Cape Ann, dedicated to exploring and sharing dharma as we experience and practice it in our daily lives.

Our theme this quarter is Why Have a Spiritual Path?

To kick off our new quarterly format, we asked you 'why?.' What is your motivation? What challenges and benefits have you encountered?

And here are your answers! Diverse perspectives, diverse media, a wonderful collage of ideas. We hope readers will find views that will resonate with, challenge, and extend their own. We thank all contributors from our hearts for sharing their insights with us and with our readership.  

Please keep it coming! Our themes for the rest of the year are listed in the Send it In column. Please send your work and your suggestions to [email protected].  

Don't miss the links to video interviews, and to other relevant media. 

With love,

Anne Meyer
Stacey Fisher
Roy Toulan
Barbara Simundza   
Stephanie Hobart  

Back to Contents 

contents
Contents


 


Quick Lnks

ACI-Cape Ann

LamaMarut.org

2011 Summer Retreat 

spiritualmatters   

SPIRITUAL MATTERS

Jesse Fallon
Jesse Fallon


     

Why have a spiritual practice?

 

It is the only way to be truly happy.   You could say that is the definition of a spiritual practice - "practicing the true causes of happiness." Why is true emphasized in true causes of happiness? Because the other things we try to use to make ourselves happy don't actually work!

 

First of all, let's get clear that being happy is a worthy goal. There is nothing wrong with being happy. Nothing selfish about it. Nothing simpleminded about it. It is actually the uniting goal of all living creatures.

 

Declaration of IndependenceEven the founders of the United States understood this, and that is why our Declaration of Independence, the adoption of which we celebrate on the 4th of July (we weren't originally celebrating family, beer, and snacks) reads:  

"We hold these truths to be self-evident,  

that all men are created equal,  

that they are endowed by their Creator

with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

 

Or, from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso:

"We begin from the recognition that all beings

cherish happiness and do not want suffering."

 

All living beings want to be happy. That wish is something that is a part of us all, endowed by our Creator, whether you think that Creator is our past deeds in the form of karma, or God, or our DNA.   And the fulfillment of that wish for happiness, contentment, joy, is something we deserve, one of our inalienable Rights.

 

That wish is what motivates us to do everything in our day, including the simplest actions like eating or getting up from bed. If we don't think somehow that a thing is in our interest of happiness, then we won't do it.

 

When we are happy, we are more able to care about the welfare of others. Because when we are unhappy, all we can do is to contemplate our own misery. So it is actually selfish to remain unhappy. For the sake of others - we must figure out and practice the causes of happiness!

 

If everyone wants to be happy and to avoid suffering, then how come so many of us are depressed so often?

 

We all try to be happy in various ways: relationships, money, security, home-ownership, a nice job, sports, vacations, alcohol, partying, drugs, TV, movies, and more.

 

And none of them are ultimately fulfilling.

 

If you pay close attention, they are the opposite of fulfilling - they either increase our desire for more of them, or they "let us down" in the sense of not providing the joy we thought they would.

 Gerbil Wheel

Do you remember the term "rat race?"

The reason why trying to be happy and get ahead through a worldly life is called the rat race, is because it goes nowhere!

 

We have all been trying the same things over and over to make our lives have meaning: maybe another partner, another job, another party, another vacation, maybe another family even. This is a sign of what is called 'crazy' - continuing to do the same thing over and over that hasn't worked out in the past.



The only option left is the spiritual life. We have already tried the secular, profane, unreligious, consumerist, hedonistic, selfish, meaningless life, and I think you already know that it isn't working out. We are scared and depressed because we know deep down that we have no idea how to be happy but that all the ordinary things we have been trying don't work so well. Let's stop the madness of continuing over and over again to try and fill the hole in our heats with more food, drink, sports, relationships, movies, webpages...

 

Let's try something different, but not something new. Just something that we have purposely overlooked because our culture, our laziness, and our selfishness doesn't feel like trying the option. Let's try the spiritual paths that have been part of our cultures for many more thousands of years then the current flavor of capitalism.

 

Let's try what we all know to be the true cause of happiness - working to give others happiness. Let's do what we all long to do, that dream that we gave up when we "grew up" and became a boring and unhappy adult - the dream to save the world.

 

Which kind of person do we want to be? Which kind of person do we admire? Do we admire or want to hang out with those around us who are always thinking of themselves? Of course not. Our heroes are those who are able to look beyond their own interest for the good of the many.

 

From Buddha Shakymamuni:

Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.

-Udanavarga 5:18                        

 

And from the Buddhist Master Shantideva:

The total amount of happiness

that exists in the world

has come from wanting

to make others happy...

 

The total amount of suffering

in the world

has come from trying

to make yourself happy. 

           - Bodhisattvacharyavatara (8:129)       

 

Or from Jesus, as recorded in the Bible:

"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.

This is the law and the prophets." 

- Matthew 7:12                                

 "to Love your neighbor as yourself"

 - Mark 12:33                                     

 

Or, as the great philosophers from Star Trek once said:

Star Trek

 

Spock:  Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many

outweigh the needs of the few.

 

Kirk:  Or the one.

 

The "Declaration Toward a Global Ethic" from the Parliament of the World's Religions (1993) proclaimed the Golden Rule ("We must treat others as we wish others to treat us") as the common principle for many religions.

 

This "Golden Rule" is the real, true, and only cause for deep lasting happiness. So that is the common "spiritual" practice.

 

But what is the "practice" part all about? Being happy is going to take some work. Our minds are deeply, deeply habituated to thinking of ourselves first. If we watch our mind and look at it on a moment by moment basis throughout the day, how many of those moments are honestly of the selfish flavor of "What about me?" that brings us all our pain and how many thoughts are of the altruistic flavor of "What about you?" that brings us all our joy?

 

Let's look at some definitions of "practice" to understand this part of the "Spiritual Practice", from the New Oxford American:

 

practice

noun

1 the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method as opposed to theories about such application or use

 

2 repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill so as to acquire or maintain proficiency in it

 

So, the "practice" part of Spiritual Practice means that retraining our minds so that we have some proficiency or skill in the actual application of loving others as we love ourselves is going to take some repeated exercise, some work. Not just theories.

 

Why have a spiritual practice?   It is the true cause of happiness.

 

What is spiritual practice?

Every day, we work a little bit, to retrain our thoughts, words, and actions, so that our "natural" state of being is the one we long for, a happy way of being, a heroic way of being, a kind way of being, a way of being that cares about others at least as much as we care about ourselves. Only then will our life finally have some joyful meaning.

 

One powerful way that you can practice this: no matter what someone does to irritate you in your day, remember that they are another suffering human, and try and love them, even as they are doing the thing you don't like. The main facet of your practice of the Golden Rule is your intention. Your words and actions will look different depending on the situation. But in your heart, you always have love for others ... if you want to have a good life.

 

If you want more help on the elements of a daily spiritual practice, you can ask for help from the places that specialize in the spiritual life. But at its core, the spiritual life is enunciated by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama:

Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.  

And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.

- HHDL Tenzin Gyatso

 

It's a better and happier way to live. Get to work, and enjoy your practice.

 

Love,

Jesse

 

HHDL and Cardinal 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HH 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso meeting HE Donald Wuerl,

the Archbishop of Washington D.C., in 2011

Photo by Wonderlane     

 

* Images from WikiMedia Commons except gerbil wheel, which is used under Fair Use Copyright Law for educational purposes. 

Back to Contents 

 


Behind most spiritual practices is the belief that you have to get someplace
you're not-a destination called realization or enlightenment. But realization isn't someplace else; it's the naturally occurring human state.
It doesn't belong to anybody.   It's who we all are.

               -  Suzanne Segal           

 

 takingtostreet
TAKING IT TO THE STREET
Master Culadasa
Upasaka Culadasa


Why Have a Spiritual Practice?
An interview with Master John Yates

Upasaka Culadasa, John Yates Ph.D. 
has been practicing Buddhist meditation for 35 years and is the Director of Dharma Treasure Buddhist Sangha, dharmatreasure.com

That's what the goal of the path is. To be someone who is free from every kind of suffering, from clinging to the cause of suffering, who has wisdom and as a result of that wisdom has really true compassion. Then we have a life with meaning an purpose.

 

Sometimes, we'll be talking about dharma and somebody will say, well, "Why would a Buddha ever do anything if they don't have any desire and aversion? The only reason I do things is because I want something"

 

And that's the thing. That's why a Buddha gets out of bed in the morning. Compassion! And the compassion comes from the wisdom, understanding how things really are. And that results in a kind of logic, that there's really nothing else to do, than to be compassionate, to try and bring everyone else out of suffering.   

 

To view video, click here

  

- from an interview with MasterJohn Yates  
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Allegra Ahlquist
Allegra Ahlquist


An Interview with Allegra Ahlquist

  

Allegra Ahlquist has lived at Cochise Stronghold with Master John and Nancy Yates for three years. This article highlights some of her ideas from a recent interview on the subject of spiritual practice.

 

AA: It seems that life is very empty without a spiritual practice. I have traveled the world and lived well, and I have realized that having things, doing things, being entertained, is not satisfying. Now I am able to reach into my mind, watch my speech, and my actions. I eat very slowly and mindfully, instead of putting something in my mouth and having the spoon ready for something else before I have even swallowed, which is the way I've eaten for many years.

 

Having a spiritual practice has made me realize how much we are all connected and why we are here, what this world is about. And of course, I still don't know. It's still a mystery. But for some reason there's something I think in the human being that just wants to know, wants to keep seeking, wants to keep trying to find out. And of course the best thing to do is to just surrender to the whole thing and just see what happens, and just be present, allow whatever is coming towards me to come towards me and not resist.

 

It seems basically, as human beings; we're trying to come up out of the muck. My feeling is that we're on the edge of a new way, in many many ways. And many things are falling that need to fall. It all depends on how we live and how we treat each other and how we can get to the place where whatever happens is OK.

 

For the video, click here. For the transcript, click here.
- Based on an interview with Allegra Ahlquist 
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Why Have a Spiritual Practice?

 

I did not always know that I had a spiritual practice. I believed that the dance I practiced many days since beginning its development more than 35 years ago was based on ballet principles and that it was ballet. I have always known that my approach was an alternative to a competitive approach practiced around the world. It is and has always been a single-focus approach. During the past several years, I have begun to recognize this practice as a spiritual practice.

 

The "why" question is thought-provoking. Why indeed? When I was 16 and went to a bar on Nantucket Island and heard live music for the very first time, my feet began to move and I found my legs and arms flinging around rather wildly. I felt exhilaration and a joy I have never felt at any other activity.

 

- Amy Seabrook

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PRACTICING BUDDHISM - An Interview with Sharon M

Sharon Muddiman
Sharon M.

 

Sharon is 52 years old. She began attending A.A. meetings at age 21 and was diagnosed as Bipolar that same year. Sharon first got sober at age 35. In her early years of sobriety, what helped her to stop was to eat sugar to get rid of the craving for alcohol (a sugar). Later on, she began to adopt and follow the spiritual program of recovery offered by AA to claim and maintain her sobriety.

 

Sharon's first exposure to Buddhism was Pema Chodron's When Things Fall Apart, a book recommended to Sharon by her therapist, who also suggested that Sharon take in Lama Marut's talk on 'Happiness' at the Rockport High School. After that Sharon attended Lama Marut's summer night teachings at Windhover. She started her journey on the path by shutting out the Media, including no TV or newspapers. Interested in learning more, she took classes and teachings at the ACI Cape Ann Vajramudra Center with Lama Phil, Mary K., Margaret Redington, and Larry Wolf, as well as Tai Chi with Bob Arnold and Yoga with Patti O'Brien. In response to Sharon asking Lama Marut online about choosing a Heart Lama, he recommended Lama Jesse Fallon.

 

Sharon still goes to A.A. and, when she can, practices loving-kindness by helping others in AA on a one-to-one basis. She seldom has a craving and, when out with friends who offer her a drink, she tells them she has an allergy to alcohol; "I tell them I break out in handcuffs". She says she gets angry at times, but gets over it quickly." I only look at myself, I don't worry about others." In therapy for depression she learned not to blame her parents, and was taught not to see herself as 'victim'. "They did the best they could," she said. About 7 years ago she had a 6-week relapse, but has been sober for every day since then. Not one drink. (continued) 

  

For full article, click here.

  

-  Based on an interview with Sharon by Elizabeth Enfield.   

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Spirituality

 

My spirituality consists of using meditation, dharma and yoga to try to eradicate my afflictive emotions and enjoy deep lasting peace. I think of meditation just as I used to think of my 401k, I invest immediately in my meditation practice each morning in order to take care of my top priority for the day. I am able to teach yoga on Monday's and Tuesday's at my place of work and I am fortunate that a Friday class is also offered that I enjoy taking.   On the weekends I challenge myself with yoga videos from Rodney Yee and others. I love picturing the ideas from Geshe Michael's book, How Yoga Works and try to use yoga and meditation to generate healthy thoughts.

 

David FlynnThose activities set me up well for when the rubber meets the road with my home lamas, my wife and three children. While working with the kids one morning in Sunday school one of my buddies asked me: "What is the difference between a 2 year old and a terrorist?" Answer: "You can reason with a terrorist." At nighttime the challenge is: "Daddy, read me another story?" At the beach it is the kids arguing over who gets the front seat. Or as the kids are getting older the challenge is "Daddy just one more video game level." At these times I try taking a deep breath and facilitating outcomes by thinking: "How can I help my family in the long run while generating positive karma or at worst, generating no negative karma." My wife and I both use our spirituality to strengthen our marriage. I find this typically takes the form of saying more: "Yes dear" and less of: "You know dear I prefer...". My book is filled with pluses and minuses about my interactions with my home lamas.

 

Finally I try to serve my Lama to the best of my ability. I try to serve him in my thoughts and deeds by studying hard, meditating well and visualizing him as perfected (which he makes easy in my case). I also give thanks to the center and the teachings, and to all members of our lineage. I believe that they are guiding me towards a consistent and stable happiness. Namaste.

 

- Dave Flynn

 

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Spiritual Practice 

 

I think whether or not one acknowledges it, everyone has a spiritual practice. I believe that because my definition is what Lama Marut said in the opening statement of his talk at the Governor's Academy this past summer. 

 

If I can remember it correctly, (doubtful) he said: "I am going to tell you the purpose of your life; it's to be happy, that's it, now you can go home". So everyone has a spiritual practice: Why? Because everyone wants to be happy.

 

This simple yet profound statement by our Lama, in some ways says everything about spiritual practice. Of course, no one left the auditorium after his opening statement because HOW we try to achieve happiness is what we were all there to learn. It was and is critical to our actually being able to do so. 

 

So, having a spiritual practice is necessary for our happiness, but having the right spiritual practice, with the right view, is what that happiness depends on. For me, that view can only come through the lens of Buddhism, although admittedly for others it can come from any tradition where compassion, love and kindness are the key tenets.

 

We are not perfect beings, we all fall down, hurt other people and make mistakes, but practice makes perfect.

   

 - Walt Kolenda

 

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Why have a Sipritual Practice? 

Corinna Trabucco
Corinna

 

I recently had an accident that reminded me that life is what happens while I am making other plans! Last December, I fell hard and broke my left hip. As I was lying on the ground telling myself to get up, I realized that life had changed as quickly as the snap of a finger. All that I have been learning the last few years reminded me that how I viewed the event could make a difference in whether I caused myself more suffering. How can I look at an event that I don't want, as a positive experience? What opportunity can I choose to see? Why might this have happened?

 

That hard fall stopped my all too busy going, going and doing, doing work life completely! I rolled onto my knees and got myself up, praying that I had not broken my hip but I knew the truth. I had to accept that I could not walk on or even put weight on my leg.

 

At the hospital I was advised to take something to stay ahead of the pain. I was to hear this phrase over and over again-stay ahead of the pain. About an hour later, I was moving in and out of consciousness, but I was also very itchy, which kept me alert and attentive to the experience. I now had an orange bracelet that indicated I was allergic to the pain med.

 

For me, spiritually, stay ahead of the pain, means I don't have to make it worse than it is by the way I think about it. Accept that it happened, don't wallow in "if only", or blame myself, or create a big story. Recognize that others have experienced this and worse. It's karma. I cannot do anything about the past so stay in the moment and see if I can do something in the present to improve the future. How can I help someone else? Smile, say "thank you".

 

I was amazed by the experience of what was happening. I made an effort to stay in the moment. Truly, there was nowhere else to be. The surgeon who performed arthroscopic surgery looked like an angel. He appeared in an old brown zip up hoodie. I found that reassuring. I was in pain the first day after surgery but everyday got better. The nurses and aides were caring. I learned to ask for help. They gave it gladly. I tried to remember all their names. Lama Phil visited with Margie and reminded me that my experience of receiving loving kindness could be dedicated to all others who are in need of the same. I tried to remember "May all have the loving care that I continue to experience." The more I thought about others, the less focus it put on my "problem". Here was opportunity. I reached out to my hospital roommate and later to my rehab roommate.

 

I thought I would be going home after surgery but began to better understand my need for rehabilitation. I began to think about what "home" really meant after reading an article in Shabhala Magazine's July 2010 issue about Thich Naht Hanh. Andrea Miller wrote in her article: "Finding his true home inside himself is an ability that Nhat Hanh would continue to develop over the years and now he's well known for the meditation, I have arrived. I am home." Miller continues, "He wrote in his same book by that name, "I have arrived in the Pure Land, a real home where I can touch the paradise of my childhood and all the wonders of life. I am no longer concerned with being and non- being, coming and going, being born or dying. In my true home I have no fear, no anxiety. I have peace and liberation. My true home is in the here and the now." This quote was a deep blessing. I read it often and prayed for insight.

 

Watching my 78-year-old roommate who had shattered her hip struggle to hop with the walker and accept that she would probably have to stay at the rehab for at least another 4 weeks filled me with compassion. I have to say that I didn't meditate much. It was hard to meditate but I made every effort to be there for my roommate, to listen, to offer hope, to see her in my mind gaining strength and a full recovery and going home. She is a wise woman, who at times was disheartened. We got to know each other. We watched Mash together at the end of day. We laughed together and wondered about breakfast lunch and dinner. We couldn't remember what we ordered so it was always a surprise. I enjoyed her family. The first night there, some of them including 5 grandchildren came in to sing Christmas carols-- a real treat.

 

It was a challenge for me to be in a position of needing physical help. I pride myself on all that I know about the mind/body relationship and my good health. I help people who are in pain all the time, but I did not know how to heal my broken hip. A little humility is always a good thing! The nurses and my good friend helped me to recognize that I was not merely "uncomfortable", I was in quite a bit of pain and it would interfere with my recovery if I didn't take something stronger than Tylenol to alleviate it. I realize that this was an opportunity to learn how pain affects others and how my own recovery could make me a more compassionate person. Perhaps I will some day be able to use this experience to help someone else.  

 

- Corinna Trabucco 

 

 Back to Contents 


I feel that the essence of spiritual practice is your attitude toward others. When you have a pure, sincere motivation, then you have right attitude toward others based on kindness, compassion, love and respect. Practice brings the clear realisation of the oneness of all human beings and the importance of others benefiting by your actions.

                                                                                                   - His Holiness the Dalai Lama 

DharmaArts
DHARMA ARTS

365 Days of Om
painting, many OM symbols
365 Days of Om
 

365 Days of OM began as a natural organic outgrowth of my daily yoga and meditation
practice. Inspired by a New Year's Day address given by my Teacher, I was moved to paint the symbol OM. The power of this symbol on canvas led me to repeat it the following day, the next and then the one after. Before I knew it, an entire year had passed with me diligently painting the Om symbol, layering one symbol upon another. The resultant work had not only grown into one of my favorite paintings, but had taken on special spiritual significance for me - a mantra of sorts, an act of devotion. I've come to think of 365 Days of Om as a Prayer on Canvas - a Work of Heart.

 

In 2011, I submitted 365 Days of OM to The Peace Project, an organization that aims to inspire people everywhere to believe that through creativity, compassion, a common goal, and community action, a significant difference can be made.  The Peace Project was launched in July of 2010 when Lisa Schultz, founder of online creative community TheWhole9.com, asked "If one person can singlehandedly establish World Peace Day, what can an entire creative community do?"

 

This one question sparked an idea that inspired creative people around the world to take action for Peace. Within weeks of launching The Peace Project, over 700 artists from around the world stepped up and submitted visions of peace to The Peace Project's international art competition. Simultaneously, Peace Walls were created in Sierra Leone and Los Angeles on World Peace Day 2010.  The Peace Project then embarked on an extraordinary initiative for 2011, Operation Rise, which was developed to help get the people of Sierra Leone on their feet.  

Peace image SM
Peace

On September 21, 2011 (World Peace Day), Operation Rise was successfully implemented and 10,000 pairs of crutches and crutch repair parts were distributed throughout Sierra Leone to amputees, war victims and children -- proving that great change can happen very quickly if people around the world join hands. Since The Peace Project was launched less than two years ago, nearly ten thousand people have donated time, money and resources that have transformed tens of thousands of lives in Sierra Leone.

Shannon McGough
Shannon McGough

 

 

 

 

 365 Days of OM was the recipient of The Peace Project's 2011 Inspiration Award.  I am so blessed that this manifestation of my spiritual practice was chosen as inspiration for such an amazing organization.

Shannon McGough
To see more works of heart

please visit www.365daysofom.com     

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Roy Toulan
Roy Toulan

A REFLECTION: WALKING THE PATH

 

It neither takes nor requires brilliance

To turn the mind in virtue's demise.

Transient as it may be

And weak in the face of profit or fortune.

 

When the thread of life is cut

How shall virtue's defense be known?

That sudden flash, brief and elusive,

The one hope that has been shrugged away!

 

What need be done on this day, at this time

To grow accustomed to the virtuous way?

To habituate the mind on the path

Trodden by those before.

 

To find safe protection from this fright

Where deeds of mercy never fail

To cry out in search of refuge

Where, where, where....

 

Where the sorrows of existence examined

Serve to quell the pain of living beings.

 

We all are walking the path, aren't we - whether we realize it or not.

Most days my time is spent trying to figure out which way I was walking yesterday,

so as not retrace those steps today.

But then sometimes I realize that retracing those steps IS my path today.

 

- Roy Toulan

 

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joy sea glass

Judy Stover
Judy Stover

 

On a cold gray day while on a nearby beach I was so excited to find that turquoise bottle neck. The color and size took my breath away.  Weeks later I was "playing with" my sea glass and realized it was the perfect O for the word joy. New Year's Eve rolled around and I was feeling a bit lonely as I had no plans so I took a photo of JOY and sent it to about 30 friends. All evening long my computer kept making that sound it makes when you get a new e-mail. There were so many responses to my "joy" th
at I felt like I was at a party. Loneliness all gone thanks to sharing a gift from the sea. The simple effort came back to me more than tenfold with well wishes and messages of appreciation. What a wonderful way to start the New Year. Last week I found a new O - flat and pink and I wonder what the word will be?

- Judy Stover

 

 Back to Contents 


It's one of the paradoxes of spiritual practice: we need a path to travel where we already are.

                                                                                                  - Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche

InTheLoop
IN THE LOOP       

 

Get in the Loop with Karen Aase   

The first in a series of interviews with sangha members about their lives and their practice.  

Karen Aase
Karen Aase

 

For 15 years, sangha member Karen Aase has helped more than 100 people a year navigate their loss of sight.  Recently, using Tibetan Buddhist Mahayana principles, she has applied skillfull means, compassion and wisdom to create huge changes in peoples' lives - and in her own.

 

Although Karen's specific work is teaching blind or nearly-blind people to use adaptive equipment, she is able to expertly address deeper areas of their frustration, fear, and depression and abate her own suffering as she encounters these difficulties day after day.

 

In 2006, Lama Marut personally recommended that Karen use Tonglen with her clients and for her own practice. She began listening to audios of teachings in the car, using them daily to help let go of pain, and to remember principles of emptiness and bodichitta. Working on the 'front lines' with Boston-area clients who often are homeless and destitute, her Tong Len practice helps her to be clear about her own boundaries; enables her to transform negative energy to positive; and helps her to be present whether in client homes, on the street, or in clinics.  

 

Over time, Karen has also developed a strong meditation practice which she says is the 'biggest help in her life.'  Learning specific methods from Buddhist teachings, she began first by meditating just on 'the hard days' for about 20 minutes, and has built her practice slowly into two different types of meditations each day.  She finds it foundational in every aspect of her life.  And, when they perceive that she hasn't meditated, her three wonderful children remind her!

 

Finally, on those days when things feel difficult, she remembers to look at her own mental afflictions and generate bodhichitta. This brings love to all who are around her. To view video of a wonderful interview with Karen, click here.  

 

- Based on an interview Karen Aase
 

Seeking the Deepest Stillness: Karen Aase and Judith Ring lead a weekly guided meditation and discussion group, Fridays from 5:30-6:30 PM. Sessions are informal and  include discussion, brief meditations to enhance greater brightness, and teachings.  

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Leadership Transition for ACI-Cape Ann

 

This is an exciting time of change and great opportunity.

 

Recently, the ACI-Cape Ann board accepted the resignation of former President Elizabeth Toulan and former Clerk Steven Kelley. Elizabeth had served on the board for over five years and Steve for three. For both of them, the time was right to dedicate their efforts elsewhere. Existing board members stepped forward to transition the leadership. Larry Wolf is now interim President, Barbara Koen is interim Vice President, and Karen Aase is interim Clerk. These wonderful folks have agreed to serve until May 2012, unless someone else is elected to take their place sooner. They join Kari Freytag, Treasurer, as officers of the board. As board officers, Larry, Karen, Kari and Barbara will serve as members of the Executive Committee. 

 

Three new board members, Alison Landoni, Jennie Meyer and Stacey Fisher now join long-time standing board member and yoga committee chair, Pattie O'Brien.

 

The leadership of the organization is already deciding on critical strategic decisions, having completed a two-day board retreat in December. We are guided not only by the direction set by our Spiritual Director, Lama Marut, but we are also working on a day-to-day basis with our Resident Teacher and Spiritual Advisor, Lama Jesse Fallon.

 

This is a time of growth and new direction for ACI-Cape Ann. The current leadership is one part of that change. Sorting out all the details may take a few months, but it's part of a normal growth process and is a wonderful opportunity to build a fresh and invigorated leadership team.

                                                                                                                                                

We look forward to serving all of you.

 

Love,

The ACI-Cape Ann Board

Lama Jesse Fallon, Spiritual Advisor

 

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The VMC
The Vajramudra Center

More Change for ACI-Cape Ann.

 

The building at 154 Granite Street, the current home of the Vajramudra Center, is for sale. At present there are no signs that a sale is imminent, however the board is taking prudent steps to establish contingency plans if we are forced to leave on short notice. The location of the Vajramudra Center is an important strategic issue, and there are many options on the table.

 

The Board is considering what will be best for the growth of ACI-Cape Ann and will be making an announcement in the near future regarding the strategic direction of the sangha. Our goal is to maintain the exceptional level of service currently available to the ACI-Cape Ann community while at the same time increasing our service to more beings.

 

Stay tuned...

 

Love,

The ACI-Cape Ann Board

Lama Jesse Fallon, Spiritual Advisor

divider-dark grey  ACI-Cape Ann Serving at the Open Door Food Pantry 

Jesse at Open Door
Lama Jesse

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED...

Wednesday, February 22 (2-5:30)  

Thursday, March 22  (3-6:30 PM)

Sunday, April 15 (2-5:30)

 

We need:

- Funds to buy food $200-$300  

- 4-8 meal servers 

- Head Cook: meal planner/organizer

Also Helpful: Dessert Cook, Salad Bar Preparer, Grocery Shopper and Bread Baker/Buyer 

 

Children are welcome to serve the meal and are appreciated as long as they have parental supervision. To volunteer, please contact Sharon Muddiman at  [email protected]    

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Race To Nowhere Image

 

Race to Nowhere

Free movie screening at Cape Ann Waldorf School

701 Cabot St., N. Beverly, MA.

Friday, February 3, 7-8:30pm, discussion to follow.

SEATING IS LIMITED. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED via http://rtncapeannfebthird.eventbrite.com/

 

Race To Nowhere issues a call to mobilize families, educators, and policy makers to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare our youth to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens. An important movie about how our education system is shaping the future leaders of our society.

 

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One has to try to develop one's inner feelings, which can be done simply

by training one's mind.  This is a priceless human asset  

and one you don't have to pay income tax on!

 

                                                         - His Holiness the Dalai Lama             

UpcomingEvents
EVENTS

ROCKPORT, Vajramudra Center:

The Diamond-Cutter Sutra: Asian Classics Formal Course 6

with Margaret Redington

Mondays, Jan 16 - Apr 2 (no class on Feb 20 & Mar 5), 7:30 - 9:30pm.

 

Mahamudra 2 - A Meditation Course

with Jesse Fallon

Wednesdays, Feb 1, 8, 15 & 22; Mar 14 & 21 (no class on Feb 29 or Mar 7), 7:30 - 9:30pm. Prerequisites apply. Registration required. No drop-ins.      

 

Teachings on the Five Wisdoms: Awakening to Your Potential

with Mary Kay Dyer

Saturdays, Feb 11, 25; Mar 10, 17, 24, 2:00 - 5:30pm (break included).

 

Becoming A Warrior Saint, Part 2: Dharma Essentials 11

with Larry Wolf

Sundays, Feb 19 & 26; Mar 18 & 25, 1 - 3pm.

 

GLOUCESTER:

A Meditation Series

with Mary Kay Dyer

Sundays, Feb 26; Mar 11, 18, and 25, 4-5:30pm.   

222 Arts and Wellness Center at 222 Eastern Ave., Gloucester, MA.   

Info: Contact Mary Kay Dyer at [email protected] 

 

ARLINGTON:

Living the Good Life:  Achieve the highest happiness, in order to be of ultimate benefit to the world.

with Larry Wolf

Saturday, Feb 25, 3-4:30pm. Free.  

Robbins Library Community Room. 700 Mass Ave., Arlington MA.   

 

Wisdom is Bliss: Wise up to the way the world is working. Take control of the mechanism to get what you want. Wake up, Neo!  

with Larry Wolf

Monday, Mar 26, 6:30-8pm. Free. 

Robbins Library Community Room. 700 Mass Ave., Arlington MA.  

 

NORTH ANDOVER: 

Light On Meditation - A Stillness & Insight Retreat

with Special Guest Teacher Upasaka Culadasa (John Yates, Ph.D.)

Feb 29-Mar 8. Registration required by Feb. 10th.  

Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center, N. Andover, MA 

 

NEW YORK CITY:

New Teachings on the Bhagavad Gita

with Geshe Michael Roach

Jan 23-29, 8-11pm

Pure Yoga, 203 E. 86th St at 3rd Ave., NY, NY

 

Surrendering Ourselves to Find Ourselves:  

Secrets of the Ancient Tibetan Practice of Chod, Part II 

with Geshe Michael Roach   

Jan 28-29, 2-4pm, $30/day, $50/two days 

Asher Levy School, 185 1st Ave at 11th St., NY, NY

RSVP [email protected] 

 


Humans prepare for the future all their lives,  

yet meet the next life totally unprepared. 

                                                                                                                                 - Drakpa Gyaltsen  

RebootRetreat
REBOOT...RETREAT

    

Light on Meditation - Stillness & Insight Retreat 

Culadasa in robesFebruary 10th is the deadline to register for the, possibly, once-in-this-lifetime opportunity to learn meditation techniques from a true master. John Yates, Ph.D., (Upasaka Culadasa) will  share his knowledge of how to make real progress in meditation at the Light on Meditation Stillness & Insight Retreat, February 29-March 8, Rollng Ridge Retreat and Conference Center, North Andover, Ma. Master Yates has been practicing meditation for over 35 years and is the Director of the Dharma Treasure Buddhist Sangha in Arizona. Beginners to seasoned practitioners will all be able to learn something from this special man in the quiet, nurturing environment of an 8-day retreat. Meals, lodging and  the gifts of the advanced practitioner are provided for your convenience and growth. Simply pay, show up ready to learn and be open to the possibilities of insight. See aci-capeann.org for more information.  

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IT'S NOT TO EARLY TO PLAN FOR 
 

Shoot the Moon: Diamonds, Hearts, and Wild Cards 

August 6 - PM Public Talk by Lama Marut

August 7-12  Retreat

Once again we will be at the beautiful Governor's Academy

Stay tuned for more details.  

Lama Marut laughing at Duncan's poem
Listening to Duncan Nelson
 

This year the subject of the retreat is wisdom and compassion,  

the two wings without which the human spirit can't fly.    

   

SHOOT THE MOON is the term for a key maneuver  

in the classic card game Hearts.   

DIAMONDS stand for ultimate truth or wisdom.  

HEARTS refer to living with an open heart.  

WILD CARD with which to play a masterful hand.   

 

 

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If Spirit always comes before self, then the self that we are will always manifest as Spirit first. What could be more important than this if we want to change our world?

- Andrew Cohen    

 convergences
CONVERGENCES

Those Lying Eyes part 3: How Neuroscience Can Enhance your Practice

  

We project all sorts of things that are pure fantasy. We believe that "That is reality," and then we respond to these projections. (When) ... a loved one that we are quite attached to is late in meeting me, because of traffic, and my mind projects ... "You are late, because you don't love me anymore," and "You have abandoned me," "You are never going to come." And because of our insecurity and attachment we become very, very unhappy. Then, when they finally show up, we get very angry with them, "Why are you late?" and we don't even give them a chance to explain.   

- Alexander Berzin

Perhaps one of the most powerful ways that we perpetuate our own suffering is by projecting expectations on ourselves, on others, and on how the material world around us works. We construct our vision of reality, and then we expect everyone and everything to conform to that vision. When we meet the inevitable discrepancies, we are unhappy. In this last of our three-article series, we explore yet another way that our visual systems lie to us, intensifying our illusions and therefore our suffering.  

 

In addition to the other distortions of reality described in our first two articles, the biology of our vision actually contributes to our tendency to project expectations, in part because it is designed to work in an energy-efficient way-to assist the survival of our organism-rather than to see things as they really are. To reduce the demands on the visual system (thereby conserving energy) the brain allows for past memories to have a direct impact on current sensory processing. That is, in any given moment, what it is that we perceive is primarily determined by what we already know. The consequence of this workaround is profound. Our brain can all but ignore anything that it already expects, and can save energy for processing only the things that our existing memories and expectations fail to anticipate. Those  expectations are built upon inaccurate earlier perceptions, developed by taking "snapshots" or samples of the world and building mental images we mistake for reality. To project expectations, and take notice when they are not met, requires much less energy than to process each and every experience as a unique event. This may be good for the survival of the "conventional me," but it is counterproductive when we try to perceive ultimate reality.

 

The following demonstrations illustrate directly how our visual systems project reality, based on expectations derived from sampling and prior experience.

 

Experience Your Blind Spot. We all know the phrase, "blind spot" and have probably experienced it when looking in a car's sideview mirror. But because our brains compensate for the blind spot we can easily forget it is there. For a demonstration, click on this image. 

 
blindspot 
Click Image for demo

What exactly is the blind spot? Your retina is filled with many photoreceptors that capture aspects of your environment that you use to create your reality. Those receptors integrate their signals and pass them along to the cortex through the optic nerve. There's a problem, however. The point at which your retina attaches to the optic nerve has no receptors. It is literally a blind spot. And it is not a small one either. When you try the demo, you will experience directly the disappearance of an image when it falls into your blind spot. So what gives? Why don't you see a black ring in your vision all the time? The answer is simple: Your brain is sampling from your environment right now and literally filling in the missing pieces. This illustrates that even our basic visual perception is a projected image based on a sampling process.

 

Experience how memories of shadows alter perception of greyscale.

 

Adelson 
Click Image

In this illusion, you view an image of a checkerboard with a green cylinder on the top-left corner. In the image, light is projecting onto the board from top-left as well, and the cylinder is creating a shadow across the checkerboard. If you interact with the buttons (question 1 and question 2 on the site) you will be able to see the power of the illusion. Specifically, the squares on the checkerboard create an alternating pattern of light gray and dark gray, which we can clearly see, even in the shadowed portion of the checkerboard. And yet, when you compare two squares in the shadow (clicking question 1) without the three-dimensional context and the shadow effect, you see they are identical in their brightness. What gives? This is a classic finding in neuroscience, whereby the brain is projecting a three-dimensional space and makes use of past knowledge about the effects of shadow on luminance to actually change what you perceive through your retina. In other words, our expectations about what we will perceive literally determine what we do perceive.

 

Competing effects of artificial enhancement versus prior knowledge  


Koffka ring
clink image for demo

In this illusion, called the "Koffka Ring" you will see that past memories, even memories that you had just a few moments ago, have the ability to influence what you perceive next. Before looking at the illusion, it is useful to remember another illusion from a previous article. Recall in article 1 (November isssue)that we provided a demonstration of how the brain artificially enhances contrast between two objects, making the same shade of gray look brighter when placed against a darker background than it does when placed against a lighter one. This is a pretty automatic effect, right? Well, not quite! Here you are shown a rectangular box, where the left side is a dark gray and the right side is a light gray. In a few moments you will see a ring drop from the top of the screen until it overlays the rectangle, placing half of the uniformly gray ring on the darker background and half on the lighter background. From the contrast effect illusion in article 1 we would expect that the left side of the ring would suddenly appear a lot brighter than the right side. But does it? Well, only sort of. Because your brain knows that the ring is a uniform shade of gray, that knowledge overrides any contrast effects, so you will see the ring as one shade of gray. However, watch what happens when the ring is split -- that is, once your brain no longer interprets the ring as one contiguous pattern. Suddenly the contrast effect overrides your memory! This illusion clearly demonstrates the power of our projections to literally alter what we see.

 

How can these insights from science help us in our Buddhist practice? By helping us see what we are up against and why we need to practice consistently to break through the illusory way we see the world around us-as self-standing and independent of our projections. The way our visual system projects expectations built from past experience parallels similar psychological processes. Based on past experience and what we hope and wish will happen, we build expectations about what we think should happen. When things go according to our expectations we barely notice them. But when our own or others' behavior, or events in the world go counter to what we expect, we quickly become upset.  

 

What we don't realize is that the expectations themselves are a fiction created by our minds. We"see" selectively through the filter of these expectations rather than being open and available to what actually transpires. This prevents us from being fully engaged with the present moment, and from being available to experience the ultimate truth that is here, now, all around us.  

 

Understanding and working to counteract the tendencies of our biology can help unhook us from the false reality we cling to. Robert Thurman emphasizes the importance of being present, and seeking to know and understand what is, rather than clinging to dogma. He says: "When you achieve true wisdom, you don't adhere to any sort of belief. You allow reality to be itself, beyond your ability to grasp it."*   

 

Thomas Merton also speaks to the need to free ourselves from our expectations:  

The true contemplative is not one who prepares his mind for a particular message he wants or expects to hear, but is one who remains empty because he knows that he can never expect to anticipate the words that will transform his darkness into light. He does not even anticipate a special kind of transformation. He does not demand light instead of darkness. He waits on the Word of God in silence, and when he is 'answered,' it is not so much by a word that bursts into his silence. It is by his silence itself, suddenly, inexplicably revealing itself to him as a word of great power, full of the voice of God.**    

 

Knowing that even our vision is assembling fictions, we can build our practice to help to see the truth. And in the words of John Lennon, Let it Be.
 
  - Todd Rose and Anne Meyer

* Merton, Thomas. Dialogues with Silence, Page xiii. Cited in Parabola, Fall 2004, page 71
** Thurman, Robert. The End of Search. Interview in Parabola. Fall, 2004, page 72

 

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When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang in a minute longer, never give up then, for it is just the place and time that the tide will turn.  

- Harriet Beecher Stowe  

senditin
SEND IT IN!


This newsletter is by and for our community. We welcome submissions - art work, movie or book reviews, dharma quotes, experiences on the cushion and on the street, dharma in the media, insights and ideas.  We encounter teachers and opportunities to practice in the most unlikely places! So share it!

Upcoming Exploring the Path Themes!

To encourage all of you to create content for our upcoming newsletters, we are letting you in on the secret! Here are the themes for the rest of the year:   

 

    April:            Finding Your Spiritual Guide   

 

    July:             Lojong ~ Opening Your Heart

 

    October:     The Gift of Happiness

 

 

Please send your submissions for any issue to: [email protected]
by the 1st of the month of publication (April 1, July 1, October 1).
Please try to limit your submissions to 300 words.

Please provide full citations if submitting any copyrighted material (including the URL for graphics licensed under Creative Commons) and obtain permissions if using anything requiring permissions.


By submitting your work and your ideas you are giving EXPLORING THE PATH permission to publish them in this newsletter.  


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THANK YOU FOR VIEWING OUR NEWSLETTER!

Questions or comments on our newsletter? Send them to [email protected]

For more information about activities at the Vajramudra Center, please visit aci-capeann.org

If you have questions of a spiritual nature or want to request a meeting with our Spiritual Advisor, Jesse Fallon, please email him at [email protected]


n o   s t o p p i n g   u n t i l   e v e r y o n e   i s   h a p p y !