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THEME FOR OUR FINAL ISSUE:
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JULY 2012
Greetings! Welcome to the July issue of Exploring the Path. Our theme is Opening The Heart. Compared to the deep and complex subject of wisdom or emptiness, the compassion wing of Buddhism can seem quite straightforward. But opening our hearts can require great courage, and it never seems easy to do. Our contributors share advice and experiences from their own lives. We hope you find them useful. This will be the final issue of Exploring the Path. We have very much enjoyed working with you all, and we thank you for your contributions, feedback, and support of our newsletter. Special thanks to our committee, including our newest member, Elizabeth Enfield, for all of your help. With love, Anne Meyer Stacey Fisher Roy Toulan Barbara Simundza
Elizabeth Enfield
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...the way we behave in our everyday life affects not only the people around us but even the dogs, birds, and other animals as well. Their happiness and suffering depend on us. - Lama Zopa Rinpoche |
SPIRITUAL MATTERSOpening the Heart 
What is this non-physical thing we call the heart? We couldn't be talking about it if everyone didn't have a sense of it. It is the vulnerable place in us where we have a living, continuing sense of our own goodness.
Opening the heart happens when we let go of fear and allow our natural warmth and tenderness to flow towards something or someone.
What does it feel like to open the heart? It feels wonderful. It may be gentle, or come upon us like a huge wave of inspiration and happiness. It may open smoothly, or open like a creaky door. It can happen all at once, or over a long period of time. When it happens we feel expansive, comfortable with everything around us, as if we just found the best medium in which to live, like bird who just took to the air.
We open a door with a key, or a can with a can opener. A can is penetrated, and there's an exchange of air. When a door is opened we go through. When you open your heart there's a great release, freshness, a new vista. There's movement and flow, free exchange and lots of space. There's a sense of well-being and happy outlook toward adventure.
For a can to open, it has to be penetrated. For the heart to open it has to be permeable. If we can soften our sense of separateness, we will release the casing of fear, anger, jealousy and self-preservation. We are not alone with these afflictions - everyone suffers from them. We can't open our hearts to anyone without our starting with ourselves.
To live with an open heart is not easy. Nor is it simple or naive. Everyone has such a hard time doing it. Well, of course. We feel we'll be annihilated. It's absolutely terrifying when you really think about it. And we don't think about it because it's absolutely terrifying. We're pretty foggy about how it happens, and we don't investigate. I mean do we plan our days around it? Do we sit up at night making lists of heart-opening things to do the next day?
Monday morning: write a love poem to my husband and leave it near his toothbrush, sit down and say a prayer of gratitude for being alive, dress myself nicely, as if it were an offering, park the car and put two quarters in the empty meter next to me. Get to work early, clean the staff kitchen with soap that smells like mint. Start work, and if someone sighs and goes for coffee leave a candy kiss on their desk.
You see? Do we fill our days with this? This lovely list is laying the ground for living with an open heart. It's a kind of grace. It's creative and it's magic. But it won't just happen on its own any more than a surprise party happens on its own. It requires a kind of purposeful play, lighthearted, loving, totally unselfconscious and supremely giving without any fear at all. What fun. Why don't we do it?
Living with an open heart is a high art. The good thing about being an artist is that it keeps you humble. It's so unbelievably daunting to think of publishing a book, or playing in Carnegie Hall, or having your painting hang at MOMA that you can't afford to think about it. All you can do is work on your fingering in the passage you can't get command over, or face the blank page and write the next three paragraphs, or complete one small part of your preliminary drawing. This is good, because one of the main things preventing us from opening our hearts is striving for perfection. First of all "striving" and "perfection" don't live at the same address. Perfection has a nice house down a long drive off the main road. Striving lives out of his car and is too stubborn to ask for directions. By definition if you're striving for perfection you're never arriving there.
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I don't think we ever define perfection to ourselves. Not really. It's extremely elusive. We only know it by failing. To define perfection would mean to get up close and personal with it. If we did, we wouldn't see it as perfection because we don't believe it has anything to do with us. So forget it. Don't get so far down the road. Warmth and tenderness are right at hand. Stay here with them. Softening is always available. To open the heart the key has got to get in.
Our idea of perfection is a dangerous illusion that keeps us focused on the idea of progress so that we live enslaved to "never." We'd like to be more loving, but perfection says it's really out of our league. We want to stop being angry, but perfection says leave that to the saints, it'll probably backfire just as it always has. This is our belief system, and every enlightened being that has ever walked the planet has said so. They have also said that you are unlimited because within you is a heart that by its very nature is pure love. So we're sitting at the source! When I encounter people who have never acted onstage they say to me, "Oh, it must be so wonderful to be somebody else!" They look at me with a kind of longing. Little do they know. I might play Ophelia, but who shows up every night in the dressing room? Of course it's just me. I'm there to show others that everything is already in them.
We stonewall the open heart. We wall ourselves in with constant activity, and have so many things to do we become impenetrable. The stream of our stressful thoughts is constant: "I'm about to do something, I'm going to do it, I'm doing it, I'm thinking about the next thing I have to do, I did it, good I can relax, no, I need to my check email - is that the phone? Hello? Oh, an email. Yes? No! Twenty emails! You're cutting out. Oh my God. Fifty emails! What do these people want from me? Hello? Call back! My life, what's happened to my life! I feel so squeezed, so squeezed - I'm in a vice - Hello? Call back! Goodbye!"
This is what makes us feel American. It's our constitution in the biggest sense. Grab your courage and just stop it. Let time fall away. Put space around your reactions. Be available to the unexpected and let somebody in. All of us have stepped into our own story, and parade around as a cast of characters with narrow points of view and preferential tastes, stamping our feet and demanding conformity as if Danish Modern were to walk up to French Baroque and expect to have an easy day.
When you look at the world it looks back at you like a mirror, reflecting only what's already there. Your personal view brings the world to birth, and what you give birth to is family. Thinking this way will keep the heart open. You might keep business hours, but leave time to be available. Welcome in the unknown, the extraordinary. Soften, and put space around all that you do.
I grew up in the Christian tradition, where it's taught that divine love is all-pervasive. This means you are loved already. By the time you're making coffee you are loved. It's an incredible thought, because it means that what you are looking for has already been accomplished. Love is the only perfection, the ever-changing, living exchange of warmth and tenderness, the constantly opening heart. Relax, and stop striving, stop doing, stop looking. Love is not out of reach; it's not out ahead of you. In fact it ushered you in.
- Lindsay Crouse
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Anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." - Martin Luther King, Jr. |
TAKING IT TO THE STREETTransformation Over 35 years ago my five-year old daughter died. Her death began a medical malpractice suit. My grief turned into bitterness and hatred towards the doctor involved. As time passed, it became obvious to me that these feelings were poisoning my mind, heart and body. I discovered where the doctor lived and began walking by his house saying, "Blessings on you." Did I believe what I was saying? Not a word! But I continued my walk-bys. Then one day I realized that I didn't need to walk by again. I was free of those feelings. Did my feelings turn to love? No. I just knew that somehow I had forgiven him. But that's not the end of the story: A few years ago I was at a gathering and an old man came over and asked me if I recognized him. When I said I didn't, he identified himself as THE doctor. He looked in my eyes and said, "I have not been able to get you and your daughter out of my mind all these years." In the midst of this group of people we hugged each other; old painful tears released from us both in this common bond. Blessings. Anonymous 
 My grandbaby Kiwi got a prize for taking her medicine nicely. The prize was a flower watering can and shovel. She has it in her mind that it is a tea pot and there is no changing her mind. For her, it is a teapot.
I have learned so many things about emptiness from this child. She helps me see that until the world gives us labels for things, we have our own. We can make things the way we want them to be until others say we are wrong. Then we might feel dumb and conform to their way of thinking in order to be accepted. The dharma helps me see that this is a poor way to live. My granddaughter inspires me to value my own viewpoints and understandings. Thank you Kiwi! Sharon Muddiman
What Opened My Heart  At the Kurukulla Center I heard Venerable Robina speak about compassion. I heard her say that "telling it like it is," or speaking the truth with good intentions, may be a compassionate thing to do. People may think you are being mean, unkind, or angry when you say what needs to be said in a way that is direct and to the point. This is especially true if you are saying something that they don't want to hear. Yet often days, weeks or even months later, they may realize that you were actually being kind.
I learned that as long as my intentions are in the right place, and I consider carefully how I speak, I can be truthful without regret. People in our community know me as a person who "tells it like it is." I have been this way for years and have something of a reputation for it. When I first came to Buddhism I felt that instead of speaking frankly I should keep quiet. I thought then that to be a good Buddhist I should just sit back and go with the flow, accept things as they are, and not make waves. Then I heard Venerable Robina's talk on the subject. It fit with what have heard others say-that accepting life does not mean being passive and letting others walk on you. I realize that as a person and as a Buddhist, I need to love all beings, including myself. If I am feeling disrespected, that is my karma ripening. But I can shift the karma by the way I handle the next moment, and being honest, even though difficult, can be very positive. The teaching by Venerable Robina helped open my heart because I can see that speaking truthfully may help other living beings, may be a kindness to them and to myself. A caution comes from Pema Chodron: "Honesty without kindness, humor, and goodheartedness can be just mean. From the very beginning to the very end, pointing to our own hearts to discover what is true isn't just a matter of honesty but also of compassion and respect for what we see.*" Sharon Muddiman * Pema Chodron. When Things Fall Apart. page 94 Back to Contents |
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The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
- Gandhi
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DHARMA ARTS
At the End of the Day By John O'Donohue What dreams did I create last night? What dreams did I create last night? Where did my eyes linger today? Where was I blind? Where was I hurt without anyone noticing? What did I learn today? What did I read? What new thoughts visited me? What differences did I notice in those closest to me? Whom did I neglect? Where did I neglect myself? What did I begin today that might endure? How were my conversations? What did I do today for the poor and excluded? Did I remember the dead today? Where could I have exposed myself to the risk of something different? Where did I allow myself to receive love? With whom today did I feel most myself? What reached me today? How deep did it imprint? Who saw me today? What visitations had I from the past and from the future? What did I avoid today? From the evidence-why was I given this day? Submitted by Elizabeth Enfield
Pema and Pain: Using Difficult Circumstances as the Path to Awakening  In the audio CD called This Moment is the Perfect Teacher, Pema Chodron teaches us how to use difficult circumstances as the path to awakening. She describes Lojong and meditation practices for developing an open heart and a spacious mind, the compassion and wisdom wings of Buddhism.
It seems fairly easy to fall into the trap of seeing enlightenment or awakening as something far away, difficult to reach, and definitely not here, now. Pema Chodron tells us to start where we are, tap into what is within us in the present. To develop our hearts, she suggests noticing small moments of grace-the moon glimpsed through a window, a soft breeze on a hot day, a delicious taste-and cherishing them, softening to them, extending them just a little bit. To develop our compassion, she suggests opening ourselves to our own pain and the pain of others. This requires great courage and concentration. Compassion, according to Pema Chodron, means experiencing pain with the other. When pain arises, our habitual pattern is to run from it, to harden against it, to turn to our chronic maladaptive behaviors to avoid experiencing it. In small increments, she suggests just to be with the pain for a few moments. Behind the fear that underlies our anger, our craving, our sense of inadequacy, our sorrow, we can find a soft, tender spot, where we can sit quietly and accompany ourselves. Pema makes a beautiful analogy to describe the Bodhicitta, or boundless love and compassion, within each of us. She likens it to a deep spring of pure water trapped inside of a rock. By taking these tiny moments to nurture our love and our caring we are releasing tiny drops of water through minute cracks in the surface of the rock. We are weakening the hardened façade, the barriers we erect between ourselves and others. These tiny drips slowly become a flow. The force of the water is unstoppable. Just so the force of our inner love and compassion flows more and more strongly. She cautions that by moving towards awakening, we are not eliminating difficult circumstances. Even enlightened beings experience challenges and difficulties. Or as Pema quips, the Buddha could have had a "Shit Happens" bumper sticker! In her book, The Wisdom of No Escape, she writes of the truth of suffering in this way: "The first noble truth says simply that it's part of being human to feel discomfort. It's simply coming to know the fieriness of fire, the wildness of wind, the turbulence of water, the upheaval of earth, as well as the warmth of fire, the coolness and smoothness of water, the gentleness of the breezes, and the goodness, solidness and dependability of the earth. Nothing in its essence is one way or the other....If we feel that that's a problem, we resist it. The first noble truth recognizes that we also change like the weather, we ebb and flow like the tides, we wax and wane like the moon.... If we resist it, the reality and vitality of life become a misery, a hell.*" In all of these teachings Pema Chodron is encouraging us to embrace life as it is, each moment, fully, including all the vicissitudes. Or as Master Culadasa taught, pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. By not grasping to the ideal of a life without difficulties, we can let go into life as it is and find peace and acceptance. By opening and softening to moments of loveliness and moments of pain, we start the inexorable flow of Bodhicitta. This is the path to an open heart and a spacious mind. -Anne Meyer *The Wisdom of No Escape and The Path to Loving-Kindness. 2010. Boston and London, Shambala Library. Pps 52-53 The Guest House
By Rumi
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Submitted by Mike Sperber
A Spiritual Renegades Guide To The Good Life. by Lama Marut Lama Marut's book, A Spiritual Renegade's Guide To The Good Life, is divided into 4 main parts, followed by the epilogue: Inciting Happiness 24/7, and The Components of a Sane Life. He invites us to "get stoked" about the happiness revolution, to change the past, control the future, and relax into the present. Part 1, Igniting The Happiness Revolution, addresses our burning desire to find happiness in consumerism and in things. He introduces the alternative, radical contentment, highlighting the famous mantra, "I have enough!" He asks us to wake up, recognize the miraculous nature of our lives, and seize the means of producing our own happiness. Part 2, changing the Past, is an unusual commentary on unilateral forgiveness. We can literally change our past simply by changing our attitude. A key practice? Be grateful for everything. Part 3, Controlling the Future, describes how you can take charge of your future by letting go of the 'burning coal' of your habitual patterns and detach from the sources of your suffering. Once you have let go of your addiction to suffering, you can move from a state of anxiety and worry to feelings of trust and control. Part 4, Relaxing into the Present, offers an approach to staying happy all day every day. First, learn to be in the present and realize that our mental distress does not come from things in the environment but from our own minds. We can't change the present in the present, but we can change our interpretation. He guides us on how to use problems to cultivate this change. Finally he helps us see that we have to overcome our fear of freedom ("liberphobia"), our resistance to realizing that our lives maybe be "good enough to be perfect." And he offers advice on how to do this: "...until we drop what we think should be and fully affirm what is-we will continue to be discontented and unhappy." Highlighting teachings from both Christian and Buddhist traditions, Lama Marut emphsaizes forgiveness and gratitude. Please read this book! And be happy! - Elizabeth Enfield Back to Contents |
Love me when I least deserve it... because that is when I really need it. - Swedish proverb
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IN THE LOOP
Phil Salzman Named Co-Spiritual Advisor Dear Community,  Our Spiritual Director, Lama Marut, along with our Spiritual Advisor, Jesse Fallon, and the Board of ACI-Cape Ann rejoice in the appointment of Phil Salzman to Co-Spiritual Advisor of ACI-Cape Ann! As many of you know, Phil was instrumental in forming our sangha seven years ago. He currently serves on the Advisory Council to The Board of Directors of ACI-Cape Ann, teaches at the center and is a spiritual guiding light and teacher to many of us. Phil has served as President of The Board of Directors and has led countless beautiful evening meditation sessions, bringing mindfulness and tranquility to many. He has completed ACI's 18 formal and 18 advanced courses. Phil's appointment to Co-Spiritual Advisor is a natural and welcome one and we couldn't be more thrilled. A message from Lama Marut: "It is my pleasure to announce the immediate appointment of Phil Salzman as Co-Residential Spiritual Advisor for the ACI-Cape Ann organization. Phil has graciously agreed to serve as Co-RSA with Jesse, who continues in this role for the next year. At the end of this year, i.e., the beginning of the summer of 2013, Jesse will step down from his role and Phil will become the sole RSA." A message from Jesse: "I am honored and happy to serve as co-RSA along with Lama Phil. This arrangement has my full support, and the request for me to step down as RSA in 2013 came from me personally. I am merely looking ahead to be able to spend more time with other service activities, and feel that Phil is a natural and beautiful choice for the RSA position of ACI-Cape Ann. During this year of us being the co-RSA, I believe we can work together sweetly to benefit the existing sangha and beyond. My connection to the people of Cape Ann is real and will not disappear with the change of my title or responsibilities in a year. We have connection, and I intend to nurture and maintain those connections." This is another beautiful moment in the evolution of our sangha. If you have any questions or comments about this announcement, Phil, Jesse or anyone on The Board would be happy to discuss this with you. May you be happy! Sincerely, The Board of Directors, ACI-Cape Ann Larry Wolf, President Barbara Koen, Vice President Karen Aase, Clerk Kari Freytag, Treasurer Alison Landoni Jennie Meyer Stacey Fisher
MONTHLY BOARD UPDATES...Coming Soon!
Please know that The Board is organizing a structure of how to communicate monthly updates to the sangha. The updates will be provided by The Board via a constant contact announcement and will try to keep our community informed of the topics under consideration and decisions made by The Board. Please look for the first update this week!
With love and gratitude,
ACI-Cape Ann Board of Directors
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Dharma Salon with Rick and Lindsay
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Dharma Salon Success! Lindsay Crouse and Rick Blue hosted a Dharma Salon Wednesday evening at the Vajramudra Center. There was a sweet and lively discussion on a wide range of Buddhist topics including finding a teacher, meditation, creating a daily practice, and finding contentment.
Be sure to bring your questions to the next one on Monday, July 30th at 7:30pm
- Write up and photo by Bob Arnold Inciting Happiness 
In June "A Spiritual Renegade's Guide to the Good Life Book Tour" rolled through the area with Lama Marut making four stops to share the wisdom from his new book and answer questions from enthusiastic audiences. Those who attended were encouraged to incite some happiness in their lives and heard amazing and practical advice on how to do just that. There was also a chance to say hello to Lama Marut and have a book signed. 
The tour included stops at The Cape Anne Theater ("The Annie") in Gloucester, the "Function Room" at Kitty's Restaurant in N. Reading, the Essex Room at Woodman's, and City Hall Auditorium in Newburyport.
Lama Marut also made time to host a forum for the ACI-Cape Ann community.
The tour will be in Boston on August 13-14. For more information about the tour or to get your copy of the book visit: Spiritual Renegade Book Tour Writeup by Bob Arnold Photos by Bob Arnold and Barbara Simundza
MAROKE Leslie Whelan completed her Maroke ceremony with great finesse on July 7 at the Vadramudra Center. She fielded a wide variety of questions, defended a lively stream of attacks in a debate with Jesse Fallon, and gave a teaching about her path. Congratulations Leslie!  Photos by Bob Arnold Back to Contents |
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Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
- Plato
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EVENTS
Rockport Ease on Down the Road: Whose Path is it ... anyway? A talk with Lindsay Crouse & Rick Blue  July 15, 7:30-9pm Pizza from 7-7:30 The Vajramudra Center, 154 Granite St. Dharma Salon with Lindsay Crouse and Rick Blue July 30, 7:30-9pm The Vajramudra Center, 154 Granite St. Gloucester Get Off Your Own Back! Why You Must Be Kind to Yourself. Learn the ideas behind enlightened self-interest. Public talk by Lindsay Crouse and Rick Blue Rocky Neck Cultural Center, 6 Wonson St. Monday, July 23, 7pm Silent Meditation and Discussion 222 Wellness Center with teachers from ACI-Cape Ann Sundays, starting July 1, 9-10:30am Info: mkdyer47@juno.com How to Develop and Improve a Buddhist Practice 222 Wellness Center with Mary Kay Dyer and Elizabeth McLindon July 22, 7-8:30pm. Info: mkdyer47@juno.com or eam@elizabethmclindon.com or 978.879.9159 Sidewalk Bazaar Stop by ACI-Cape Ann's booth at Gloucester's annual Sidewalk Bazaar Thurs,-Sun, August 2-4 Byfield Euphobia: Overcoming Our Resistance to Contentment and True Happiness Free Public Talk with Lama Marut Aug 6, 7:30-9:30pm at The Governor's Academy Info: aci-capeann.org The Summer Retreat Shoot the Moon, Diamonds, Hearts and Wild Cards Lama Marut, Cindy Lee, Lindsay Crouse and Rick Blue Aug 7-12 at The Governor's Academy Info: thesummerretreat.org ****************** LAMA MARUT BOOK TOUR *********************************** Brookline How to Change the Past, Control the Future, and Turn Problems into Opportunities Talk & Book Signing with Lama Marut Aug 13, 7-10pm at Unity Boston 70 Colchester Street Info: 617 869 0666 West Newton Inciting Happiness: A Spiritual Renegade's Revolutionary Manifesto Talk & Book Signing with Lama Marut Aug 14, 7:30-10pm Newton Unitarian Church, 1326 Washington Street
Info: 617 869 0666
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Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo.
-Herbert George (H.G.) Wells
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REBOOT...RETREAT
You're a knot in a necklace and Lama Marut is the pin trying to set you free.
Let go of the part of you that doesn't think you could ever really be happy and see how you can live life to the fullest...but, it's not what you think. What he will tell you is nothing you've ever heard from society's conventional way of thinking. Come and hear a way out.
August 6th at 7:30PM
Public Talk by Lama Marut entitled
Euphobia: Overcoming our Resistance to Contentment and True Happiness
The Governor's Academy, Byfield
August 7-12
Retreat
Visit summerretreat.org for more info.
This year the subject of the retreat is wisdom and compassion, the two wings without which the human spirit can't fly. Back to Contents |
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I have found that among its other benefits,
giving liberates the soul of the giver.
- Maya Angelou
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THANK YOU FOR VIEWING OUR NEWSLETTER!
For more information about activities at the Vajramudra Center, please visit aci-capeann.orgIf you have questions of a spiritual nature or want to request a meeting with our Spiritual Advisor, Jesse Fallon, please email him at spiritualquestions@aci-capeann.org |
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 !
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