Visiting a Buddhist center and missing the teachings.

A couple years ago (Ocober 2015) I decided to explore more of Buddhism here in Colorado.  I made it a point to meet other Buddhists and visit Buddhist centers.  Since I started up the meditation group (affectionately called 'our Sangha Circle' I have brought back this idea and am working on visiting more in the near future.  

This is one of those accounts. 

So I decided to look up and visit other groups in the Denver area and see what meditation practices there are out there.  So I started generally and looked up "Meditation in Denver".

I found the place near the downtown Denver area and liked what it seemed to offer.  It was located above a coffee shop, I arrived early at a place called 'The Bardo' (what a great name for a funky coffee shop!!!).  The space upstairs for meditation was simple as one would expect, with the typical posters and a book shelf or two.  There were sitting mats stacked in the corner and some giant photos on the wall.  Yet, none of 'The Buddha'... hmmm.

That's fine.

I sat with the small group, each had their own mala and sat ready to begin.  The leader of the group began by espousing how original this teaching was and how it was the only real teaching and the direct teaching of Buddhism and of Buddhists!  

I thought, this is great!

Then the discussion began with a little historical info as well as some of the backstory of the main teacher.   But not The Buddha... I guess the founder of this class or system...

Again, that's fine...

Soon it went to a familiar list of aspects and concepts that I knew well...
But wait...

Wait a minute.

The discussion began with Refuge, refuge in the familiar 'Triple Gem' or 'Three jewels' however it usually is discussed... This one, however had a new addition...
A 'fourth' Gem... the Lama...

Ahhh so here we go.

Original teachings, directly back to the Buddha... with a Lama... ?

I understand Vajrayana, I have studied it well.  I have also left it on the shelf because of the Lama aspect of devotion of the mind and body to the Lama, the main or root Guru, a person...
This is tightly woven into the fabric of 'Lineage' or Buddhist Pedigree and it really seems to be rather bunk.   Here is why.

When you read an article (scholarly) there is a back page or few that have references, its where that information is from.  That way you can go back and look at where that writer got the information and go back from there to better understand the process and thinking that went into that article.   Similarly we have a list of teachers, somehow taken as going back directly to the Buddha... Then something happened...

This is why when you read a sutra, or even hear it spoken about you often hear (at least should) 'THUS I HEARD'  This way the listener knows it is a reference to work done by another, not 'yours'.  As is an honorific thing to do to make sure the teachings stay consistent.  This way if and when you become more familiar with the teachings of THE Buddha you can find and pick out those that offer an eloquent yet plagiarized speech of 'their teachings'.  

After the councils and the schisms and such, early Buddhism grew some branches... and moved to new lands.
I understand this to be a cultural tweaking of the teachings to be better understood by the new culture. As I have heard before, Buddhism was basically Hinduism for export. (Alan Watts)
Minus the thousands of gods and other deities, a refinement of sorts to occured with Buddhism to bring it to the commoner, not just the Brahman.   Remember, the Brahman class is that of priests and ONLY they could make offerings, do ceremonies and have direct connection with the divine.  This probably reminds you of another 'church' that insisted on keeping the teachings in a language only the priests could read. 

SO this all culminated in a bunch of groups that were 'official' and then some 'unofficial' ones in Buddhism.  Teachers sprang up all over the place stating THEY had the REAL info.  So something had to happen.  This was the beginning of what we call 'lineage'.  

Lineage is basically a 'brand' of Buddhist teachings.  It comes from a line of teachers that have been bequeathed specific knowledge, often in a 'transmission' which is nothing more than 'hey, I think you are good student, so take over 'the' business ok?'  You can teach what I taught and say I taught you and it will all be kosher and official like!..

When people get too attached (oops there's that word!) to a lineage, they can miss and be misguided by whomever they call their teacher.  This reminds me of an old teaching that was shown in Bruce Lee's 'Enter the Dragon' where he is teaching a student and says 

"It is like a finger pointing a way to the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory.” - Bruce Lee.

This also reminds me of another teaching of basic Buddhism.  It attempts to thwart following the 'wrong teacher' with a great little discourse called the Advice to the Kalamas Sutra.  In that Sutra the Buddha explains how to test any teaching and use it for oneself.  Not being tied to 'a' teacher or 'a' book seems a pretty good way to study.  By using only one source you can end up with lots more misunderstanding, even though it is quite authoritative.  Which seems to be the issue with the class I attended...

Then I thought..
Wait, what kind of ego trip am I on?

I spent the next minutes making sure I watched my attitude and thoughts, realizing that these people are trying to do the very same thing as I... Reduce their own suffering and improve their understand what it means and to really be in 'the teachings.  Now...
Once I let go, it was a much better place to visit and the people were much more friendly.  I never did tell them I was a minister or have taught and practiced nearly 20 years.  That would have done little.  I had learned that that only opens a 'can of worms' and much suspicion. 

It was a good group. 

But this is what I learned.

The practice you do is the practice you do.  Look at it, test it, review it.  Search more...
It really doesn't matter what lineage, school, teacher, Lama, Guru, Poobah, or what ever you follow. 

The proof is in how it is really working.  

That is the hard part.

Be prepared to let go of that teacher or book at a moment's notice.  Drop it.  Develop your mind and soon you will not NEED that, but you can always go back to it as a reference and cross check.  Show respect and you will get it, look for understanding and you will find it.
In the process of letting go, really pay attention to your way of doing that, what is YOUR motivation? What are you trying to do, why?  Then you can be more confident in yourself in your reality.  Then you may really see it as it is.  Not as you think it should be, not as you were told it should be.  Stop following, you learn and do it all by yourself.  Know the way by travelling it.

That reminds me of another quote I have heard from Buddhism.  'When you use a raft to get across a river or stream, you leave it at the shore and continue on land, not carrying it on your head.'  (paraphrased).

The Buddha as he lie on his right side under a tree waiting to die told his followers, 'All things are changeable and not lasting', and later told them... 'be like a lamp unto yourselves' Shine your own way, use the light to see for yourself. 

Just a couple thoughts is all...

With sincere metta and gassho, bows.  

Rev. Sean

Buddhist holidays

 

Buddhist holidays

From strict dogmatic adherence to casual contemplation, this list of Buddhist holidays is derived from many souces.  Since Buddhism developed over millenia in very diverse cultures it has some varitation in the practice and observance of the important milestones and historical dates followed by each group.  Here we can contemplate the days on the most common celebration day, that is of the Full Moon.  The moon is a constant reminder of time and change and it marks all great events.  Only in this moderna ge where we have all but abandoned the lunar calendarSome of these will last for the entire month (from full moon to full moon) or until the ‘new moon’ in some cases. These are all based on the Sri Lankan calendar as they are Theravada (the vehicle of the elders) it is a more orthodox teaching.  There are many other holidays that can overlap, and I have added notes on those.  It is not important to celebrate strictly one way or another but to keep the intention and essence of the teachings and observe the basics of it as a form of community and personal development along the centered path.

Duruthu:  Full moon in January This commemorates the first visit of the Buddha to Sri Lanka.  It is celebrated with fasting and observance of the extended precepts.  Although it is said that the Buddha travelled to Sri Lanka three times, this is the commemoration of the first visit some three years after he attained enlightenment. 

Bodhi Day:  Magha: This is the full moon of February, and it commemorates ‘Sangha Day’ or a day to revere famous previous monks and nuns or to appreciate the local monks and nuns.  This is done by attending teachings, merit-making activities and alms giving.  On this day it is also customary to follow the extended precepts. Think of it as Buddhist ‘All Saints Day’.   It is a day that historically is attributed to a time when 1,250 followers gathered without being summoned. It is a day to practice patience, and non-doing of evil. 

Vessantara: (Medin Poya) The fill moon of March is a day to invoke protection from spirits, It is a time for relaxation and enjoyment, we listen to stories or music Think of it as a kind of Halloween for Buddhists without the costumes but with the treats. There is a transfer of merit for deceased relatives.  The recitation of the Vessantara Jataka is common. 

Bak: The full moon of April marks the second visit of the Buddha to Sri Lanka, in his fifth year after enlightenment. It is a day that the Buddha helped calm a feud between two groups of ‘Nagas’ (basically snake beings).  It is a day to practice calm and non-hatred.

Vesak:  The full moon of the fifth month (May) is by far the biggest day on the calendar, think of it as a Buddhist ‘Christmas’ where we celebrate the birth, awakening and Parinibbana of Siddhartha Gautama.  All of these happened under a tree and so this day is a day to commemorate the Buddha as well as appreciate nature and all it can give us as well as our interdependence to it.  The traditions are usually of eating and bathing a baby Buddha statue who stands with lotuses with his right forefinger pointing to the sky.  

Poson: This full moon of June is celebrated in Sri Lanka as the day that Buddhism first arrived at the island nation in the 3^rd century (BCE).  The monk Mahinda Thero introduced Buddhism to the island in 236BCE it is a time of following the precepts and contemplating the teachings.   In some traditions it is the Medicine Buddha Puja which is a time to focus on health and healing and making offerings.

Asalha/Esala: It is the day celebrating the first turning of the Dharma wheel to the Buddha’s first five disciples. On this full moon of July, it is said the Buddha visited the ‘abode of the gods; here he taught them.  It is a day to teach others, not by speaking necessarily but by example.   Also, this is when a relic of the Buddha arrived in Kandy, a place where the “temple of the tooth” is.  It was brought to Sri Lanka by Prince Danta and princess Hemamali from India the kingdom of Kalinga.  So that they would get it and a sapling of the Bodhi tree, princess Hemamali hid the tooth relic in her hair until they arrived in Kandy.

Ulambana/Hungry ghost/Nikini:  The full moon of August in this calendar is celebrated by remembering the “first council” (Sanhayana) where the monks all met to discuss the future of Buddhist teachings right after the Buddha’s death.  This was led by his devoted disciple Ananda who had flawlessly remembered all the teachings.  Most Chinese, Taoist and other Mahayana groups hold remembrance days, like a Memorial Day for all those that have passed.  It is a time of reflection and the realization of impermanence and change.  ulambana means 'resucing those that are hanginig upside down' in sansckrit. 

Binara: The full moon of September marks the day women were to become ‘Bhikkhunis’ or the order of nuns.  This is a day to appreciate the contributions of women monastics and learn from this as a time of empowerment and acceptance.  Think of this as like a ‘Mother’s Day’ but to appreciate nuns.

Kathina /Vap: This full moon of October is the day that monks traditional get their new robes.  It is a donation ceremony to the monks and nuns to help take care of them.  In many countries it Is called ‘Kathina’.  

Il:  The full moon of November marks the end of the rainy season in Southeast Asia, in Buddhism

Unduvap:  This is the remembrance of the sacred Bo tree (Bodhi tree) that was brought from India to Sri Lanka.  The day to celebrate trees, nature and just sitting under them.  This is on the full moon of December.