A dyed-in-the-wool East Coast guy, Lama Surya Das — Tibetan Buddhist teacher; founder of the Dzogchen Center in Cambridge, MA; and author of such bestselling books as Awakening the Buddha Within and Buddha Standard Time – will be making the trek way out west next month for a special mini-workshop at InsightLA in Santa Monica, CA.
Heartfulness Magazine - March 2022 (Volume 7, Issue 3)heartfulness
This month, discover a treasure of tips on how to be happy: Charlotte Dufour on love, Sam Eiszele on passion, Fabio Koehler on Samba, Karisham Kara's hints, SukritiKohli on courage, and Four Arrows on how to live life the best way you can be. IchakAdizes continues his series on management, and William Ury shares more on peace-making. We are delighted to feature an inspiring interview with Sounds True founder, Tami Simon, and Daaji shares three habits to help us create happiness right now.
Heartfulness Magazine - October 2021 (Volume 6, Issue 10)heartfulness
In October, we focus on timeless wisdom - traditional African storytelling, the wisdom of the Quran regarding the environment, and the wisdom of Indian sages. We learn about the biology of time, the art of listening, and the importance of body language in communication. We explore how to love ourselves, how to share new ideas, and how art can blend timeless traditions with modern life. Daaji’s series on habits focuses on the value of self-study, the surest way to nurture wisdom.
Heartfulness Magazine - June 2019 (Volume 4, Issue 6)heartfulness
In June we celebrate the power of prayer as a way of opening the heart to infinite possibilities and higher dimensions. Prayer can be the most evolutionary and revolutionary tool, and it connects us to the source of universal wisdom. We discover visual prayer through the doodles of Sybil MacBeth, and we also hear from Donna Cameron and Dr Ichak Adizes on gratitude. Robert Chilton is interviewed on preserving the ancient literature of Buddhism and Daaji continues his series of Yogic Psychology by exploring the mental afflictions known as Kleshas and how to be free of them.
Heartfulness Magazine - May 2019 (Volume 4, Issue 5)heartfulness
Our love of simplicityapplies to many things, from beautiful architecture and interior design to the way we arrange our clothes, and to the elegance of a musical composition or mathematical equation. When we see pure simplicity of line or color in art itcan take our breath away. Why do we create complexity in the first place? What causes complexity? How to remove it? We explore these questions in this issue.This month, Daaji shows us how conscious awareness is directly related to simplicity in his series on Yogic Psychology. Joy Joyce explores farming as the art of the soul; Guy Finley looks at the process of change; Glennie Kindred connects with trees; Rahul Mehrotra encourages us to tune in to both outer and inner nature; and Ravi Venkatesan share some relationship tips for successful leadership.
What is the teaching of the Buddha?
Is it a religion, or is it really something else—something we don’t even have a word for?
Why does Buddhism have so many rules?
Is there a scientific basis for integrity, ethics, morality, right and wrong?
What are the benefits of precepts like truthfulness, mindfulness and renunciation?
Aren’t they just outmoded beliefs?
Unity or oneness is the goal.
Mindfulness misdefined as open, receptive, pre-verbal awareness.
The Buddha does not speak with final authority because of cultural differences.
Idealism or perfection is unrealistic, against human nature.
Suttas should not be read as literal descriptions but as poetic mythology.
The Suttas encourage meditative activism.
Unity or oneness is the goal.
Heartfulness Magazine - September 2021 (Volume 6, Issue 9)heartfulness
This edition focuses on inspired parenting - how to encourage kind, empathetic, and grounded young people in today's world. We hear from writer Annie Murphy Paul, parenting expert Naomi Aldort, and educator Kiran Bir Sethi. Lynne Azarchi addresses bullying and prejudice in schools, and Upama Rajasekhar showcases the benefits of the Brighter Minds program. Ichak Adizes asks, “When should we stop parenting?” Daaji continues his series on changing habits, Liz Kingsnorth on communication, and Ravi Venkatesan on innovation.
Toward Better Understanding of Spiritual Intelligenceijtsrd
Spiritual intelligence is concerned with integrating the inner life of mind and spirit with the outer life of work in the world. It is essential for both personal and professional development. This paper briefly examines the concept of spiritual intelligence as a basic quality from which all other human abilities arise. Matthew N. O. Sadiku | Adedamola Omotoso | Sarhan M. Musa "Toward Better Understanding of Spiritual Intelligence" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-4 | Issue-4 , June 2020, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd31343.pdf Paper Url :https://www.ijtsrd.com/humanities-and-the-arts/education/31343/toward-better-understanding-of-spiritual-intelligence/matthew-n-o-sadiku
Heartfulness Magazine - March 2022 (Volume 7, Issue 3)heartfulness
This month, discover a treasure of tips on how to be happy: Charlotte Dufour on love, Sam Eiszele on passion, Fabio Koehler on Samba, Karisham Kara's hints, SukritiKohli on courage, and Four Arrows on how to live life the best way you can be. IchakAdizes continues his series on management, and William Ury shares more on peace-making. We are delighted to feature an inspiring interview with Sounds True founder, Tami Simon, and Daaji shares three habits to help us create happiness right now.
Heartfulness Magazine - October 2021 (Volume 6, Issue 10)heartfulness
In October, we focus on timeless wisdom - traditional African storytelling, the wisdom of the Quran regarding the environment, and the wisdom of Indian sages. We learn about the biology of time, the art of listening, and the importance of body language in communication. We explore how to love ourselves, how to share new ideas, and how art can blend timeless traditions with modern life. Daaji’s series on habits focuses on the value of self-study, the surest way to nurture wisdom.
Heartfulness Magazine - June 2019 (Volume 4, Issue 6)heartfulness
In June we celebrate the power of prayer as a way of opening the heart to infinite possibilities and higher dimensions. Prayer can be the most evolutionary and revolutionary tool, and it connects us to the source of universal wisdom. We discover visual prayer through the doodles of Sybil MacBeth, and we also hear from Donna Cameron and Dr Ichak Adizes on gratitude. Robert Chilton is interviewed on preserving the ancient literature of Buddhism and Daaji continues his series of Yogic Psychology by exploring the mental afflictions known as Kleshas and how to be free of them.
Heartfulness Magazine - May 2019 (Volume 4, Issue 5)heartfulness
Our love of simplicityapplies to many things, from beautiful architecture and interior design to the way we arrange our clothes, and to the elegance of a musical composition or mathematical equation. When we see pure simplicity of line or color in art itcan take our breath away. Why do we create complexity in the first place? What causes complexity? How to remove it? We explore these questions in this issue.This month, Daaji shows us how conscious awareness is directly related to simplicity in his series on Yogic Psychology. Joy Joyce explores farming as the art of the soul; Guy Finley looks at the process of change; Glennie Kindred connects with trees; Rahul Mehrotra encourages us to tune in to both outer and inner nature; and Ravi Venkatesan share some relationship tips for successful leadership.
What is the teaching of the Buddha?
Is it a religion, or is it really something else—something we don’t even have a word for?
Why does Buddhism have so many rules?
Is there a scientific basis for integrity, ethics, morality, right and wrong?
What are the benefits of precepts like truthfulness, mindfulness and renunciation?
Aren’t they just outmoded beliefs?
Unity or oneness is the goal.
Mindfulness misdefined as open, receptive, pre-verbal awareness.
The Buddha does not speak with final authority because of cultural differences.
Idealism or perfection is unrealistic, against human nature.
Suttas should not be read as literal descriptions but as poetic mythology.
The Suttas encourage meditative activism.
Unity or oneness is the goal.
Heartfulness Magazine - September 2021 (Volume 6, Issue 9)heartfulness
This edition focuses on inspired parenting - how to encourage kind, empathetic, and grounded young people in today's world. We hear from writer Annie Murphy Paul, parenting expert Naomi Aldort, and educator Kiran Bir Sethi. Lynne Azarchi addresses bullying and prejudice in schools, and Upama Rajasekhar showcases the benefits of the Brighter Minds program. Ichak Adizes asks, “When should we stop parenting?” Daaji continues his series on changing habits, Liz Kingsnorth on communication, and Ravi Venkatesan on innovation.
Toward Better Understanding of Spiritual Intelligenceijtsrd
Spiritual intelligence is concerned with integrating the inner life of mind and spirit with the outer life of work in the world. It is essential for both personal and professional development. This paper briefly examines the concept of spiritual intelligence as a basic quality from which all other human abilities arise. Matthew N. O. Sadiku | Adedamola Omotoso | Sarhan M. Musa "Toward Better Understanding of Spiritual Intelligence" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-4 | Issue-4 , June 2020, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd31343.pdf Paper Url :https://www.ijtsrd.com/humanities-and-the-arts/education/31343/toward-better-understanding-of-spiritual-intelligence/matthew-n-o-sadiku
Diapositivas de la presentación del taller de evaluación realixzado en noviembre de 2009 a los docentes de la unidad educativa MIGUEL ANTONIO CARO por Martha Raquel Gómez Coordinadora de Convivencia.
Heartfulness Magazine - July 2021 (Volume 6, Issue 7)heartfulness
In July we give voice to people who are experiencing the deep realities of the Covid pandemic, and through their stories of loss, community, and resilience, we see glimpses of how to navigate our new present and future. Dan Siegel explores the effects of another pandemic - that of the separate self, Daaji continues his series on removing and creating habits, and there is much more.
"The spiritual transformation of impact investing".
We often think that there is a disconnect between our spiritual lives and how we allocate our time and our capital. This speech explores the connection between our spiritual lives, our values and how we engage in the workplace and in our lives. It explores tools for integrate our spiritual and material realities.
My latest (7th) Dhamma book for free distribution.
A Collection of 30 Dhamma / LIFE Lessons Articles to reflect upon on our path to mental peace and liberation
Karma yoga chapter v we help ourselves, not the world.Ravi Ramakrishnan
Swami #Vivekananda Bengali: , Shāmi Bibekānondo; 12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902), born #Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindu monk, a chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna. He was a key figure in the introduction of the Indian philosophies of# Vedanta and #Yoga to the Western world and is credited with raising #interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the late 19th century. He was a major force in the revival of Hinduism in India, and contributed to the concept of nationalism in colonial India. Vivekananda founded the #Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. He is perhaps best known for his speech which began, "Sisters and brothers of America ...," in which he introduced Hinduism at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893.
Born into an aristocratic Bengali family of Calcutta, Vivekananda was inclined towards spirituality. He was influenced by his Guru, Ramakrishna Deva, from whom he learnt that all living beings were an embodiment of the divine self; therefore, service to God could be rendered by service to mankind. After Ramakrishna's death, Vivekananda toured the Indian subcontinent extensively and acquired first-hand knowledge of the conditions prevailing in British India. He later traveled to the United States, representing India at the 1893 Parliament of the World Religions. Vivekananda conducted hundreds of public and private lectures and classes, disseminating tenets of Hindu philosophy in the United States, England and Europe. In India, Vivekananda is regarded as a patriotic saint and his birthday is celebrated there as National Youth Day.
Teaching Middle... A Spiritual Practice
Teaching is profound, personal, and complex- almost a spiritual practice. Using that metaphor, perhaps we can draw on inner resources which will allow us to remain balanced and compassionate even on our most difficult days. This presentation will not espouse any specific religious tenets but gently look at philosophical underpinnings common to all.
Presenter: Ann Mary Roberts - Radford University - Radford, VA
A Collection of Articles with LIFE Lessons for us to reflect upon as we walk The Path to grow in compassion, mindfulness, wisdom and liberation of the mind.
TEN TIPS AND POINTERS FOR BEFRIENDING TIMESurya Das
1) Rest in the breath while letting go of all thoughts, concerns, plans, worries, and preoccupations.2) Be mindful of the physical sensations you feel right now.
One day retreat make me one with everythingSurya Das
Join Lama Surya Das, bestselling author and recipient of the 2003 Infinity Foundation Spirit Award, in his newest work from his most recent release “Make Me One with Everything: Buddhist Meditations to Awaken from the Illusion of Separation”.
Letting go off the past can be very tough, whether it’s someone's bad behavior, feelings, relationships or thoughts. Each day proffer a new chance to start over and go on from our past, however, Still we might know and understand it totally, successfully doing it is extremely tough in practice.
What did the Dalai Lama say to the hot dog vendor? "Make me one with everything!" It's a familiar joke, muses Lama Surya Das, and one that holds a profound truth: that in addition to inner peace, meditation is a path for all-inclusive connection. In Make Me One with Everything, he invites us to experience this through the art of inter-meditation and other original practices that allow us to see through the illusion of separation.
Recently I was invited to teach a weekend Dzogchen meditation retreat again at the Tibetan Mongolian Cultural Center in Bloomington, Indiana. While I was visiting we celebrated the spiritual director Arjia Rinpoche’s birthday.
Every morning I wake and take a moment to appreciate the lovely view from my bedroom window. And every day, as I take in the stillness and beauty of my little pond and surrounding woods, I wonder: Who made all of this? Wordless gratitude fills my heart and mind, body and soul each day as I begin my morning ritual, and I sense the sacred Presence transcendent over all of us yet immanent in each and every one of us, by whatever name or image-ing.
In 2006 His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who calls Lama Surya Das the American Lama, said to an American audience, “It is not enough just to meditate and pray, which are always good things to do, but we also must take positive action in this world.”
Lama Surya Das: This is a juicy subject, well worth pondering. Holding on too long is one problem, for sure; on the other hand, letting go too soon and too easily is another extreme (unbalance) or mistake.
The power of prayer - Lama Surya Das MarriedSurya Das
Only one popular Buddhist teacher has written a book about prayer, and that’s Thich Nhat Hanh. Many Western Buddhists and mindfulness practitioners today seem unaware of the numerous prayerful traditions and practices of Buddhism in the old world. I myself savor the mystic poems, songs, chants, prayers and sacred music practices of Vajrayana Buddhism. Perhaps because Mahayana-Vajrayana Buddhism is very inclusive and open to eclecticism, I too feel that way. I wanted to share with you a prayerful poem gifted to me this month, from some Catholic friends.
Care Instructions for Activewear & Swim Suits.pdfsundazesurf80
SunDaze Surf offers top swimwear tips: choose high-quality, UV-protective fabrics to shield your skin. Opt for secure fits that withstand waves and active movement. Bright colors enhance visibility, while adjustable straps ensure comfort. Prioritize styles with good support, like racerbacks or underwire tops, for active beach days. Always rinse swimwear after use to maintain fabric integrity.
MRS PUNE 2024 - WINNER AMRUTHAA UTTAM JAGDHANEDK PAGEANT
Amruthaa Uttam Jagdhane, a stunning woman from Pune, has won the esteemed title of Mrs. India 2024, which is given out by the Dk Exhibition. Her journey to this prestigious accomplishment is a confirmation of her faithful assurance, extraordinary gifts, and profound commitment to enabling women.
The Fascinating World of Bats: Unveiling the Secrets of the Nightthomasard1122
The Fascinating World of Bats: Unveiling the Secrets of the Night
Bats, the mysterious creatures of the night, have long been a source of fascination and fear for humans. With their eerie squeaks and fluttering wings, they have captured our imagination and sparked our curiosity. Yet, beyond the myths and legends, bats are fascinating creatures that play a vital role in our ecosystem.
There are over 1,300 species of bats, ranging from the tiny Kitti's hog-nosed bat to the majestic flying foxes. These winged mammals are found in almost every corner of the globe, from the scorching deserts to the lush rainforests. Their diversity is a testament to their adaptability and resilience.
Bats are insectivores, feeding on a vast array of insects, from mosquitoes to beetles. A single bat can consume up to 1,200 insects in an hour, making them a crucial part of our pest control system. By preying on insects that damage crops, bats save the agricultural industry billions of dollars each year.
But bats are not just useful; they are also fascinating creatures. Their ability to fly in complete darkness, using echolocation to navigate and hunt, is a remarkable feat of evolution. They are also social animals, living in colonies and communicating with each other through a complex system of calls and body language.
Despite their importance, bats face numerous threats, from habitat destruction to climate change. Many species are endangered, and conservation efforts are necessary to protect these magnificent creatures.
In conclusion, bats are more than just creatures of the night; they are a vital part of our ecosystem, playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance of nature. By learning more about these fascinating animals, we can appreciate their importance and work to protect them for generations to come. So, let us embrace the beauty and mystery of bats, and celebrate their unique place in our world.
At Affordable Garage Door Repair, we specialize in both residential and commercial garage door services, ensuring your property is secure and your doors are running smoothly.
Understanding the Mahadasha of Shukra (Venus): Effects and RemediesAstro Pathshala
The Mahadasha of Shukra (Venus) is one of the most significant periods in Vedic astrology. Shukra is known as the planet of love, beauty, wealth, and luxury. Its Mahadasha can bring about profound changes in an individual's life, both positive and negative, depending on its placement and condition in the natal chart.
What is Shukra Mahadasha?
Mahadasha is a planetary period in Vedic astrology that affects various aspects of an individual's life for a specific number of years. The Mahadasha of Shukra lasts for 20 years and is known to bring a period of significant transformation. Shukra is associated with pleasures, creativity, relationships, and material comforts. During its Mahadasha, these areas of life tend to get highlighted.
Biography and career history of Bruno AmezcuaBruno Amezcua
Bruno Amezcua's entry into the film and visual arts world seemed predestined. His grandfather, a distinguished film editor from the 1950s through the 1970s, profoundly influenced him. This familial mentorship early on exposed him to the nuances of film production and a broad array of fine arts, igniting a lifelong passion for narrative creation. Over 15 years, Bruno has engaged in diverse projects showcasing his dedication to the arts.
1. LAMA SURYA DAS ON HUMOR, CONTEMPLATIVE EDUCATION,
TECHNOLOGY, AND THE SECRETS OF TIBETAN MINDFULNESS
Keep Your Eyes Peeled
Lama Surya Das
2. A dyed-in-the-wool East Coast guy, Lama Surya Das — Tibetan Buddhist teacher;
founder of the Dzogchen Center in Cambridge, MA; and author of such bestselling
books as Awakening the Buddha Within and Buddha Standard Time – will be
making the trek way out west next month for a special mini-workshop at InsightLA
in Santa Monica, CA. “The Secrets of Tibetan Mindfulness: Remembering to
Remember,” to be held March 17 (tickets are still available and can be purchased
here), will explore the ways in which innate awareness offers “indispensable aids to
boost enlightened living and authenticity, freedom and well-being.” In advance of
his visit, Lama Surya Das made time to be interviewed by Danny Fisher about the
program, as well as some of the other things he’s been up to…
What can you tell us about your upcoming mini-workshop at InsightLA, “The
Secrets of Tibetan Mindfulness”?
Mindful awareness and lucid presence of mind are at the heart of any
contemplative practice, especially within the context of Buddhism. Among its many
and varied skillful means – tools and techniques for the inner science of
transformative awakening and enlightenment – Tibetan Buddhism too has its
secrets and tips, based on what lamas call “The Four Close Contemplations”
(known in the Theravada tradition as “The Four Foundations of Mindfulness”). My
Dzogchen teacher also laid out “Six Kinds of Mindfulness,” based on Nagarjuna’s
teaching about this.
3. In general there are said to be two kinds of mindfulness, according to Buddhist
pioneer Joseph Goldstein: directed and undirected. I have gradually developed,
over the years of teaching meditation, a new schema of the Six Kinds of
Mindfulness for my students to understand and better guide and focus their own
integrated moment-to-moment nowness-awareness practice and meditative
progress, both on and off the cushion.
In ascending order, I have noticed an arc of deepening and sharpening
development beginning with the natural mindfulness of interest, which stabilizes
attention; and on to intentionally generated or cultivated, effortful mindfulness;
then on thru intermittent mindfulness, on to stable mindfulness, global
mindfulness, and Dharmakaya (rigpa) cosmic mindfulness.
Your bio now notes that you have “turned [your] efforts toward youth and
contemplative education initiatives.” Would you say something more about this
decision to focus your efforts. Why have you made young people and
contemplative education initiatives your first priorities?
These are not necessarily my first priories, and my mission remains the same as
always: teaching and transmitting Buddhist wisdom and practice — and particularly
the Dzogchen Dharma lineage tradition — to people today and contributing to
global spirituality and a saner, safer and more beautiful and peaceful world.
4. I believe now is the time for awakening together — a collective arising and joining — and
not just for self-help and self-growth; the new generations are crucial for this. Moreover,
it’s time for those of who are old and savvy enough to aspire to be service oriented
leaders and producers — rather than mere consumer — to pass on what wisdom and
experience we’ve gathered to those to follow, and co-create with them a better world now
as well as stewarding and guarding a better future, include all beings and the entire
environment.
On the other hand, I’m increasingly interested in furthering true Higher Education,
contemplative education and self-realization, and co-creating a sacred-minded learning
community among ourselves here in this country right now. By this kind of genuine Higher
Ed, I mean a genuine wisdom-for-integrated-life-education: edifying and instructive,
including all the various kinds of intelligences — not just I.Q. — and conducive to
producing happy people. This is how we can learn to live harmoniously, flourish, and find
happiness and well being together in this ephemeral, gritty and marvelous world.
What would a truly “Higher Education” involve today? What is life wisdom? What is needed
and wanted spiritually, on all levels today — outer, inner and subtlest, both individually
and collectively? Any wise system of spiritual awakening and self-realization must, I
believe, include practical moral and mystical elements, contemplation and action,
emotional transformation and attitude refining techniques.
5. Any higher wisdom training must, I believe, include redirecting motivation; mindfully cultivating emotional
intelligence; utilizing concentration, attention and present-awareness practices; and living ethically, including
altruistic compassion in action through generosity and service. Five boosters to wisdom development,
according to transpersonal psychologist and meditation teacher Dr. Roger Walsh, are: being in nature;
silence and solitude; spending time with the already “wise”; self-knowledge; reflections on life, death and
mortality.
I am wondering if you would say something about humor and teaching Dharma. You’re a funny guy, your
emails to me in the past have been clever and made me chuckle. In addition, you’ve been on The Colbert
Report twice now. How does humor serve you in your role as a teacher? Conversely, when is it not helpful?
Religion has become way too grim in recent centuries, and philosophy too. I was Serious Das once, as my
girlfriend used to call me in the early Seventies, but am much younger and lighter now. “Don’t just gimme
that ole time religion…” is what I hear everywhere I go today (except, notably, in the Middle East).
Personally, I’d like to help transform the atmosphere of spirituality around here, without limits. Lightening up
as well as enlightening up, and making spirit and profound seeking and finding more friendly, accessible and
doable. A smile or joke is the shortest distance between two people, as has been said; this is exactly why
public speakers and teachers of all kinds often start with a joke or story, rather than with mere “seriousity.”
Wavy Gravy said, “Life ain’t much fun when we take ourselves too seriously.” Steve Colbert got it right:
Truthiness! I think it’s time to highlight and appreciate the joy of awakening and the buoyancy of the
spiritual path and enlightenment project, and express a Positive Buddhism rather than such a sometimes
negative-seeming, sufferingful, dukkha-and-anatta emptiness perspective. Any takers?
6. I’m also wondering if you would say something about the internet and social networking.
You’re a blogger, you’re on Twitter, you write for The Huffington Post. Does the internet
allow you to teach in ways you wouldn’t be able to otherwise, or is it just simply another
way of broadcasting teachings to a wider audience?
Some of both, and more too. The prana is extremely thin in cyberspace, as John Perry-
Barlow said in the Nineties, but I find that the Internet is like Indra’s web interconnecting
us all, and that even mere virtual contact, distance learning, webinars and social media
provides room for opening dharma gates for people to make contact and enter in more
deeply, and even for personal face time. I’m not that technical, but these various upaya
(skilful means) and innovations, as has occurred throughout history, are definitely
unfolding. We shall see how it all sorts and settles out, perhaps in a few hundred years.
You and I did an interview this past summer about the Maha Teachers Council for The
Buddhist Channel. This gathering was one of many that have taken place in the past
several years. Based on your experiences last year, what steps do you think should come
next? What do you think or hope will be discussed at the next such gathering?
There are plenty of interesting and worthwhile things I’d like to hear more discussion
about, and which have been coming up over the years among our teacher sangha in the
West and East too, such as the good ole koan of “preservation and adaptation/innovation”
as well as some new things brought up by younger teachers which have proved
meaningful, including diversity and related issues. We often talk about bringing
buddhadharma into the mainstream society and providing tools for ordinary people’s
daily lives.
7. What are the ways to encompass both the broad and deep dimensions of dharma teaching
and practice? Another question I’d like to and hope to hear more about, which came up at
Garrison Institute in June: Are we intent upon a Mindful Society, as Jon Kabat-Zinn tells
us? Or a more awakened and Enlightened Society, as I like to think? A Peaceful Society, a
Green Society, a Compassionate Society, a Classless Egalitarian Society… or what?
Who and what are and can be the sources of our guidance and inspiration, encouragement
and edification, blessing and empowerment today, in our secular and egalitarian society?
What is the future of Buddhism and of enlightenment in this tumultuous world, and what
part shall we play as spiritual activists, leaders, altruists and aspiring bodhisattvas? As
stewards and guardians of our world, the environment, and society? How is Buddhism
meeting modernity and adapting as well as maintaining its liberating essence?
How to awaken and enlighten up together, opening our hearts and minds while nurturing
and nourishing body and soul, energy, spirit, and the collective? What are the key
questions and candid public conversations we need to initiate and further facilitate about
the nature of genuine spirituality, beyond isms and their schisms—something relevant to
and effective for our time, place, and zeitgeist?
In a post-modern world of increasingly exponential change, many of my co-religionists
seem still to be struggling mightily — and not always knowingly — with the pressures
from both within and without the fold for mere incremental change.
8. In other words, we’re still caught up in fighting the battles of the Sixties, Seventies and
Eighties — with preservation and adaptation, gender equality and gay issues,
democratization and hierarchy, commercialization, hybridization and the global melting
pot; the value of new media, social activism and engagement; the relevance of practices
including monasticism, initiations and secret teachings, esoteric cosmology and rituals;
and significant resistance to adopting modern technology — all matters which history will
and has already for the most part decided. Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh says that eighty
per cent of everything we think is wrong; I think he’s being quite generous in this
assessment!
As I get older I certainly am joined by many in wishing to be there, behind the new
teachers, and to continue the genuine study and practice of buddhadharma in our time
and place as well as a significant part of Buddhism and enlightenment around the world.
Therefore I would like to see more of the Asian-born teachers active in the Western
countries woven into these collegial conversations and dialogues, as they were in the
Nineties. I’m also interested in trying to help further the general group sentiment among
the 80 or so Vajrayanist and so-called Tibetan Buddhists to have some Vajrayana teacher
conferences, to discuss various things which aren’t usually included in nor particularly
relevant to the entire transectarian teacher collective, including tulkus and lineage,
empowerments, samaya, tantra, secret teachings, the six yogas, guru yoga, lineage
authorization, dharmapala practice, translation, and so forth. Several of us intend to help
organize such gatherings in the near future.
9. Finally, you write at your website, “We are all Buddhas by nature: we only have to awaken to and what
we truly are.” In your view, what’s one simple thing each of us can do every day to move closer to that?
Keep your eyes peeled! Wake up and stay awake, by paying attention moment to moment. This is no
small thing. Beware of dullness, haziness, and self-deception. Questioning is very helpful.
Awakefulness is the Way. Remember to remember the Diamond Rule: recognize the Buddhaness, the
divine, the light in everyone and everything.
Lama Surya Das – Surya.org