embracing myth & imagination - Aryaloka Buddhist Center · has an incredibly strong hold on...

vajrabellkeeping sangha connected

WINTER 2013

embracingmyth ampimaginationA recovering Catholic learns to trust intuition imagination and Buddhas in all colors by Lilasiddhi

also inthis issue

The first Pan-American womenrsquos GFR retreat

Buddhism amp Environmentalism

wwwaryalokaorgcategoryvajra-bell

VAJRA BELL KULA

EDITOR IN CHIEF Eric Wentworthericwintercrowstudiocom

ADMINISTRATION EDITOR Dh Vihanasarivihanasaricomcastnet

SANGHA EDITOR Satyadasloancomcastnet

ASST SANGHA EDITOR Pam Whitepwhite31comcastnet

FEATURES EDITOR Mary Schaefermbschaefercomcastnet

ARTS EDITOR Elizabeth Hellardekhellardcomcastnet

ARYALOKA COUNCIL MEMBERS

COUNCIL CHAIR Dh Dayalocanadayalocanacomcastnet

CO-TREASURER Dh Arjavahavaughancomcastnet

CO-TREASURER Dh Akashavandaakashavandagmailcom

Dh Surakshitasurakshitacomcastnet

Dh Vihanasarivihanasaricomcastnet

Dh Shrijnanashrijnanagmailcom

Barry Timmermanbarrystimmcomcastnet

SECRETARY Eric Wentworthericwintercrowstudiocom

Aryaloka Buddhist Retreat Center14 Heartwood Circle

Newmarket NH 03857603-659-5456

infoaryalokaorg wwwaryalokaorg

vajrabellAs each of us in our own manner says goodbye to 2012 and greets the new hori-zon of 2013 we are left with many chal-lenging questions to consider about what is of value in our

lives and perhaps we are also presented with opportunities for deep reflection on what it means to be an engaged Buddhist in our modern world

At the moment of this writing we mourn the senseless and almost unimagi-nable losses of twenty tiny innocent young children and six brave caring adults in Newtown Connecticut For me this tragedy hits very close to home My wife teaches her own class of children not much older than these six and seven-year-olds and like the teachers in Newtown I know she would instantly place her students be-fore herself Like so many parents of little ones itrsquos all too easy to imagine the horror of losing my own children in such a violent act My heart breaks for these families and for their community

Whether itrsquos another shooting tragedy in America or Afghanistan the threat of environmental collapse the problems of poverty and addiction a harsh and divisive election brutal wars and conflicts around the globe corruption and greed in the financial system it seems wersquore continually reminded that samsara - that perpetually-spinning wheel of suffering and delusion - has an incredibly strong hold on humanity causing problems so big and systemic that it can feel hopeless to confront them

But confront them we must The prod-ucts of samsara will not go away simply because we choose to ignore them or fear acting in the face of them We cannot ldquofixrdquo samsara but that does not allow us the luxury of throwing up our hands in resignation In times like this when the world seems like a dark and scary place to be wersquore presented with our greatest opportunities for change and growth - as individuals and as a people At times like this I am ever more deeply grateful for the vision and values found in Buddhism and

in our community which offer a path to tread and a lamp to guide the way

The Buddharsquos teachings are first about changing oneself - thatrsquos where we all have to begin - but in the end itrsquos about what happens next The insight that emerges from practice reveals that we are all very literally from the same family We inti-mately share in the sufferings and the joys of the world as one whether we know it or not What we do as individuals - no matter how small we think it may be or how little we think it makes a difference to anyone else - has an effect on the great web of existence that we all belong to

Everything matters We have a re-sponsibility a duty as loving beings to mitigate the suffering that exists wherever it is found wherever we can It starts with what we do And we can always help in at least some small way Even the simple act of changing onersquos own mind has the poten-tial to sow the seeds of a mass movement that goes far beyond us as individuals

As Buddhists we are all ldquobodhisattvas-in-trainingrdquo Our lifersquos work - in whatever way we individually choose to manifest it - is to encourage happiness for all beings We subscribe to the notion that inner evolution leads to outer revolution We cultivate aware creative compassionate peaceful spontaneous and joyful respons-es to the challenges we encounter We are aware that time always is short - always change is upon us - and every moment is too precious to be spent frivolously

This rich dynamic and beautiful practice this way of walking in the world has inevitable meaning for what we do with our time and efforts And it naturally has an effect on how we influence society through the ripple effect of direct action and also through the examples we each offer of a life lived peacefully

I believe that Buddhism has something unique to offer a new age which still holds on to the vestigial organ of violence As we mark the beginning of another year I know I will not be alone in contemplating deeply what role I might fulfill and what of my own practice I can bring to the great project of effectively and creatively bring-ing about an end to suffering

editors note Eric Wentworth

VAJRA BELL2 WINTER 2013

Please be sure Aryalokarsquos windows stay closed in winter and remember to close them when leaving the center in warmer months Thank you

In the winter months at our Cen-ter there is a sense of stillness a reflection of the seasonal pause in naturersquos cycle of activity Winter at Aryaloka provides a time for slowing

down for focused study and quiet medita-tion Within our peaceful setting there is opportunity for contemplation deepening our practice searching within and open-ing to possibilities

Standing outside in the brisk and clear night air looking upwards to the sky tak-ing in the beauty of the stars and the mys-tery of the vast universe we feel connected to a dimension beyond our everyday expe-rience

Looking back at the golden light shin-ing in the windows in the shrine room hearing the voices of our community chanting in the puja knowing all are wel-come to walk through the door we realize the importance and the significance of our community with whom we share our ev-eryday practice

As the stars continue to sparkle in the midnight sky as the morning sun touch-es the snow and turns it to diamonds I in-vite you to consider how you might add to the sparkle of our world Can we find time and inclination to connect with oth-ers with words of kindness offer a hand to those who suffer consider the consequenc-es before we act or speak Do you ever look at the shimmering water on a lake and wonder what might happen if each of us brought a little more sparkle into our world

Letrsquos give it a try

musings from the chair Dh Dayalocana

VAJRA BELL 3WINTER 2013

At the October meeting the Council discussed replacing some of the more uncomfortable mattresses with newer ones donated by Arjava

Dayalocana reported that the newly-formed Womenrsquos Mitra Convening Team has had its first meeting and that members are sharing various responsibilites for the mitra convening process

Council members agreed that regular teachers at Aryaloka may obtain books for a course they are teaching at no cost

The Animals at the Center policy was revised to ask service dog owners to have their animal under control and to avoid walking in the woods during tick season

A request was received to not limit the number of participants for classes All agreed that class size should be determined by the instructor to ensure a quality

experience for all At the December business meeting

at Tom Gaillardrsquos home the Council approved a 2013 operating budget of $126828 This included projected income from pledges dana programs retreats the bookstore fundraising rent and visitors Projected expenses included staff (44) facilities (32) administration (8) retreat costs (5) and other (8)

The proposed Aryaloka program from January to June 2013 was approved and will be printed and mailed by the end of the year

The development team is researching the possible acquisition and use of a mobile card reader The facilitiy team gave an update on the state of the solitary cabin The administrative team discussed changing the name of Tuesday night gatherings back to ldquoFriends Nightrdquo as it was previously called since a good portion of the sangha is unable to attend on those evenings (approved) The possibility of a Friends of Aryaloka Facebook page was

also discussed as was a blog (or blogs) for Friends Night class discussions

Council meeting dates for the first six months of 2013 were approved

Following dinner the Annual Meeting of the Aryaloka Council was convened Council members elected to serve for the coming year include Dayalocana Shrijnana Arjava Eric Wentworth Surakshita Vihanasari Barry Timmerman and Akashavanda Newly-elected officers include Dayalocana chair Arjava and Akashavanda treasurers and Eric half-time secretary Each team also shared a review of the most notable issues dealt with over the past year (see article elsewhere in this issue)

Much gratitude was expressed to Tom and his family for hosting the meeting at their home and for Tomrsquos excellent work as treasurer during the last several years His expertise diligence thoughtful reflection and hard work are much-appreciated as are his support grace and wonderful sense of humor We will miss him on the Council

from the council Dh Vihanasari

RETREATSCLASSESSOLITARIESThose registering for retreats (including solitaries) and class-

es of any length will be asked to pay a minimum deposit of one-half of the total cost to finalize registration If a registrant can-cels two weeks or more before the retreat she will receive a credit of the full amount toward another event If the cancella-tion is received less than two weeks before the event the regis-trant forfeits half of the retreat fee and the remainder may be credited toward another event

YOGA RETREATSThose registering for yoga retreats will be asked to pay the

full cost in advance in order to finalize the registration If a reg-istrant cancels two weeks or more before the retreat she will receive a credit of the full amount toward another event If the cancellation is received less than two weeks before the event the registrant forfeits half of the retreat fee and the remainder may be credited toward another event

Note In all situations special circumstances will be taken into consideration

Policy for retreat Deposits

The Aryaloka Buddhist Center Council gathered together for their annual meeting in December Tom Gaillard and his family were kind enough to host and his rooms were filled with good cheer as we shared a potluck meal together took care of some pressing business and reflected on the year gone by

At this time each year the floor opens for existing Council members to announce their departure and for new members to be elected Alas this year we lose two powerhouses from our team - Tom Gaillard and Brian Jervis - who will be moving on to new projects and making room for more practice All of us shared in strong rejoicing in the merits of these two gentlemen and their contributions and gifts were presented in thanks for their service The Council also unanimously accepted the nomination of one of our sangharsquos great friends Barry Timmerman Barry will no doubt be an amazing addition to the team

Each Council team had the opportunity to speak about their work in 2012 and what has been achieved over the year and they would like to share them with you Here are some of the highlights

Finance Team Launched first Meditation Marathon

raising over $6000 and creating a fun sangha event

Facilities Team Survived the flooding with the

unexpected bonus of upgrades to our floor and laundry room

Added a wall around the bottom floor of Akashaloka to prevent animal incursions

Administrative Team Instituted a three-tiered pricing

solution with great positive results Better control over building keys New procedures to check rentals in

and out Repurposed one bedroom into an

extra meeting room

Development Team Optimized email system and mailing

list to boost subscriptions improve email design and better update sangha

Improved publicity workflow and methods

Developed Aryalokarsquos presence on social media

Set the foundation for a better sangha contact database

Programming Team Introduced many new introductory

and Order events strengthened meditation

retreat offerings and focused attention on workshops and series

Teaching Kula completed policy for teaching at Aryaloka and made substantial progress in developing a comprehensive curriculum

Spiritual Vitality Team Convened a new team to support

women mitra training menrsquos team going strong

Tuesday night greeters program is working very well

~ Eric Wentworth


council celebrates many Successes in 2012

The Aryaloka Council minutes are posted on the bulletin board at the foot of the stairs


sangha notes

Tuesday Friends Night at Aryaloka has been busy and full of energy We have greeted many newcomers to Aryaloka and enjoyed the company of old friends There has been guidance and instruction for those who are newer to meditation and lovely unguided meditation in the shrine room for those who are comfortable with silent practice We have also had the opportunity to attend three ongoing classes after meditation

Akashavanda and Lilisiddi have facilitated an ldquoIntroduction to Buddhismrdquo This eight-week course

provided newcomers an overview of the fundamental teachings of Buddhist philosophy practice and key Buddhist principles

Arjava taught an intermediate Buddhism class using two books Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung by Ajahn Brahm and Tales of Freedom by Vessantara This sixteen-week class read and discussed these wise and mythical tales in an effort to inspire us and help us gain insight

Amala and Satyada explored Desert Island Dhamma ndash Living with the Dhammapada one of the oldest and most beloved Buddhist texts The text offers pithy teachings from the Buddha in a strong and uncompromising voice Those attending were encouraged to bring

various translations of the Dhammapada to read aloud compare and discuss

But possibly the highlight of Friends Night was Tuesday December 18th when four of our friends became mitras Surakshita and Akashavanda led this beautiful ceremony as Sue amp Eric Ebbeson Michelle Hart and Alisha Roberts placed white flowers candles and incense on the shrine

Mitra ceremonies are such a happy and uplifting event especially when witnessed by so many friends and family Sadhu to Sue Eric Michelle amp Alisha

As one by one we make our own commitment

An ever-widening circle the Sangha grows

ARYALOKA SANGHA(NEWMARKET NH)

There is big news from Nagaloka Buddhist Center in Portland Maine this winter We have moved to a brand new location in the heart of the arts district in the city of Portland Our new location is at One Forest Avenue within walking distance to all manner of restaurants and coffee shops The move took place on December 1st 2012 with the help of many of our hard-working sangha there to help pack move and unpack

Nagaloka now occupies the first floor of a beautiful brick building We have separate rooms for a book store library shrine room and open discussion room There is also a kitchenette and ample room for storage The wood floors have been beautifully refinished and shine brightly Clean new paint makes the shrine room

glow in a golden tone the library and book store are a warm peach color and the open discussion room is a fresh light green You can expect lots more happenings in the New Year for our new center The program will include our regular Wednesday night Friendsrsquo meditation and study

We will continue monthly mitra studies followed by a potluck luncheon Meditations will be on Monday evenings Thursday at noontime and Sunday mornings A new childrenrsquos program will begin taking place on some Sundays with a story time and puja for the whole family We will be hosting day retreats throughout the year and keep your eyes open for special events

A big thank you goes out to the whole sangha for helping in the move and supporting us in our new space A very special thanks to Dharmasuri for making this all happen and for all that you do

~ Gail Yahwak

The Portsmouth Buddhist Center continues to grow and offers a lively space for meditating with others discussing the Dharma and creating sangha together Our Wednesday Sangha Nights have featured a Religion Without God series of talks followed by Parables from the White Lotus Sutra Our January program includes explorations on the themes of Going for Refuge Faith in Buddhist Practice the

Tiratnavandana and the Sevenfold Puja With more and more people being

drawn to meditate our team looked to the the New Year as a great opportunity to introduce our new Sunday Morning Meditation session Beginning on January 13th our sangha will be gathering for this vital and calming practice every Sunday from 10-11 am

The Center is located at 40 Congress Street on the fourth floor For their current program and directions visit their website at wwwportsmouthbuddhistcentercom

~ Dh Viriyalila

NAGALOKA SANGHA(PORTLAND ME)

PORTSMOUTH SANGHA(PORTSMOUTH NH)

In September three cars full of people headed south of the border to join Triratna Seattle for the Sun Lakes Fall Retreat led by Karunadevi This venue is a great favorite of the Vancouver sangha with many of us having a long association with the place It was great to connect with the thirty or so retreatants from the region who participated

Centre activities continue apace with new faces and growth in all three of the friendsrsquo drop-in sessions we offer In December we wrapped up an Introductory Meditation and Buddhism course that ran over ten consecutive weeks This format attracted a few very committed participants

This January will see the expansion of our mitra sangha when wersquoll witness Jodi Loudfootrsquos public ceremony within the context of a day retreat at the Vancouver Centre for Peace We are looking forward to further growth in 2013

~ Dh Dayasiddhi

VANCOUVER SANGHA(VANCOUVER BC CANADA)

TRIRATNA CENTERS IN THE USNewmarket NH

Portland MESomerville MA

New York City NY

Missoula MTSan Francisco CA

Seattle WAPortsmouth NH

For your information

By Scott Hurley

I first became involved in the environmental movement when I was seventeen as a high school student in an environmental science class I had recently reformed from a reckless lifestyle and was looking upon life with a fresh set of eyes when my world suddenly expanded and came alive from learning about ongoing environmental issues I immediately became involved in that community and continued on with it after graduation

Some of the most significant experiences that followed on from that first encounter included a three-week course in permaculture design at the Sirius intentional community in Shutesbury MA a week-long march from Nashua to Concord advocating climate change

policy and a semester abroad in the ldquouniversal townrdquo of Auroville India studying ecological sustainability and spirituality Irsquove had the opportunity to deeply study permaculture intentional communities and earthskills which have opened windows for me on ecologically-sustainable living community living and living in the wild respectively

When I first started coming regularly to Aryaloka in 2008 my understanding of Buddhist principles and practices and my connection with the community here was strongly influenced by the experiences and education I had received from these various aspects of the environmental movement

Irsquod learned to question harmful views such as the rights of man over nature and infinite economic growth Irsquod taken

intentional action on moving toward compassion and non-violence such as choosing to support environmentally friendly products and participating in environmental activism And Irsquod deepened my direct contact with reality by spending lots of contemplative time in nature My openness to the Aryaloka community was supported by positive experiences of having lived in intentional communities at Sirius and at Sadhana Forest in Auroville India

Practicing Buddhism in turn has benefited my attempts to make a difference and connect more fully with the environment The practices of self-metta contentment and mindfulness have given me a foundation where I experience less burnout and isolation and more receptivity


continued on page 17

By Barry Timmerman

I am not a meditation teacher I am a meditator and I have a daily meditation practice My intention for writing this article is to share my own experiences of developing the proper conditions for a positive outcome in sitting practice

Irsquove learned about meditation from a variety of sources numerous books formal day-long classes and longer meditation retreats

I have spoken with other meditators - some brand new some intermediate and some quite experienced But first and foremost Irsquove meditated I have journaled about my meditation experiences and experimented with many forms of meditation and I know that my meditation practice is continually evolving Whenever I feel my practice is stagnant I try a different approach I talk to others get feedback and make adjustments

What follows are some of the things I have learned through experience that have benefitted my practice

I remind myself why I meditate In beginnersrsquo Buddhism courses at

Aryaloka we pose the question ldquowhy

meditaterdquo A simple succinct answer is that meditating makes one a better person on the inside and the outside This is scientifically proven to be true - meditating changes the brain for the better Even when one is experiencing quite a bit of mental activity while meditating it is still beneficial The longer and more frequently one meditates the greater the benefits Meditators are kinder less stressed out more patient more content less apt to be impulsive experience less illness and are generally able to function more creatively and efficiently in whatever task they are engaged in

When I remind myself of this fact meditation is not a chore it is something I look forward to I can enter each meditation session with a positive state of mind Irsquom not meditating because I have to or to make something happen I hold no expectations or wants other than the desire to be present with whatever happens without judgment and with kindness towards myself

Sometimes my mind is calm sometimes it is a maelstrom but Irsquove come to accept the variety of mental states that I encounter during meditation sessions letting them come and go

I do not meditate impulsivelyI precede each meditation session with

an intention - preparing for each session with a formal devotion to the Buddha the Dharma and the Sangha I know this is not for everybody but it works for me

I meditate when itrsquos the most conducive for my schedule at a time that allows me to sit without worrying or being in a rush For me this is early in the morning - Irsquove chosen to wake up earlier so I can meditate with time to spare Another benefit of early morning meditation is that itrsquos a wonderful way to begin each day On those infrequent days when I havenrsquot meditated in the morning but instead had a sit later in the day I am struck by how much more difficult my day has been in comparison Also in the morning I do not under any circumstances watch television particularly the news

I create the right environmentIrsquove created a comfortable and

safe place to meditate in my home - a place that is quieter than other spots in my living area and that provides an aesthetically pleasing view of the outdoors The temperature is just right

continued on page 7

Setting the conditions for Positive meditation

buddhism and the environmental movementHow two efforts -inner and outer - to benefit all beings might benefit each other

with a comfortable but firm place to sit In my space I have a shrine decorated with a number of devotional objects that symbolize the path to enlightenment and other positive qualities that I am working to develop on my path as a Buddhist

I use a meditation timer that has a pleasing bell sound If you have a smartphone there is a great app called the ldquoInsight Timerrdquo With this app you can create presets with your choice of bell sounds sitting times and number of meditation stages In addition you can connect with others who are meditating all around the world

I prepare my body for practicePrior to meditating I ensure that

Irsquom wearing loose comfortable clothing

- nothing that binds or pinches I clear my sinuses - an unobstructed airway like good posture improves the quality of the meditation experience Posture is important In this regard I remember what my mother always said to me as a child ldquoSit up straightrdquo This is good advice When one sits up straight be it in a chair or on a meditation cushion or bench things flow the way they should without impediment - the blood the breath and the energy that makes its way through the various conduits and circuits that form our connective systems

I take care of any bathroom needs before meditating It may sound odd but many people will begin a meditation session then realize partway through that their bladder is in need of emptying or they have a need for expulsion of other waste I do not eat prior to meditating - food in the stomach equals lethargy

I begin each session before formal meditation with a body scan I come into my body and bring my attention to all the areas where I may be holding tension or pain I let go of the past and future and enter into the present

These are some of the conditions Irsquove learned to set up to ensure a positive meditation experience however I maintain that whatever experience one has in meditation is a positive one There is always something to learn something to be in awe of Just the act of breathing is a miracle in itself I hope you find my discoveries helpful to your own practice and for those who are new to meditation I hope it may inspire you to begin in earnest At Aryaloka we are blessed to have many wonderful opportunities to learn meditation to sit with others and to be part of a community that provides support for self-improvement


20 good reasons to attend the ldquoexploring the Joy of mindfulnessrdquo retreat

Retreat runs January 25-27 Led by Arjava and Akashavanda

Going on retreat is a gift to 1 yourself that also benefits all beingsDeepen your meditation practice2 If you are a newcomer or never 3 been on a retreat this retreat was especially designed for you (all others welcome of course)Enjoy a period of noble silencehellip4 no need to talk or be distracted by othersrsquo talkingExperience stillness and peace 5 that comes from meditation and silenceTry out ldquoLaughing Yogardquo (not 6 physical postures required)Delight in ldquojust beingrdquo ndash drop your 7 roles activities ldquoto dordquo listRecharge your batteries from the 8 stress of your busy life

Help cook or just enjoy the 9 gourmet vegetarian meals served up by ArjavaExpand your knowledge of the 10 DharmaHave fun with a ldquomindfulnessrdquo 11 scavenger huntGive yourself a break from the 12 responsibilities of family and workRelax and do nothing13 Make new friends or deepen 14 existing friendshipsEat chocolate mindfully15 Totally focus on your practice 16 without any distractionsEnjoy the time to be with yourself17 Touch the electric blue Buddha 18 head and see what happenshellipHang out with Arjava and 19 AkashavandaBring your cross country skis or 20 snowshoes and explore the nearby woods ~ Dh Akashavanda

mens Practice Days for the new yearThe menrsquos sangha has had a great

time at our monthly Mens Practice Days at Aryaloka over the last few months

In October Vidhuma and Perry Blass led a day on ldquoBasic Goodnessrdquo and what that means for practice In November Bodhipaksa and Eric Wentworth held a basic practice day where we meditated and discussed insight and the Three Lakshanas Our December event was a very fulfilling day of outreach work at the Cornucopia Food Pantry in Durham which we all enjoyed thoroughly

Menrsquos Practice Days are already set for January 27th February 23rd and March 24th and we have more great events in store - including a day exploring the Five Hindrances in meditation and a day with Sravaniya from the Boston sangha Watch the Aryaloka website and your email for announcements and more details

Menrsquos Practice Days are open to men of all experience levels and are an excellent opportunity to explore specific Buddhist topics strengthen sitting practice and build spiritual friendships and closer connections with other men

setting the conditionsContinued from Page 6


experiencing the gift of Spiritual Friendship beyond our borders

By Jean Corson

After having missed my early morning flight from Boston I was rerouted to San Francisco which - I was to discover - was a fortuitous change in ldquoconditionsrdquo I was on my way to the first ever womenrsquos Pan-American GFR retreat near Mexico City

ldquoJeanrdquo A voice from behind caught me by surprise as I buckled myself into my seat for the second leg of the trip Turning I saw a familiar face belonging to a Dharma sister - Anne Lavergne a mitra from Vancouver BC - sitting behind me We had met a few times before at retreats and I was happy to see her again And I found she was fluent in Spanish an added bonus

At the Mexico City airport we waited at baggage claim for another Dharma sister Mellissa Dana coming from San Francisco via Houston The emails had been flying back and forth between us as we plotted our logistics We planned to take the bus to Cuernavaca together once she

arrived After an hour with no sign of her we decided to go through customs find the bus and proceed to our destination It turned out that Mellissarsquos flight was late but she was on the bus right behind us All the ldquoconditionsrdquo came together again by sheer luck and hinted at an even greater convergence to follow once we had reached our destination two hours south

Saddhajoti a Mexican Order member

and an amazing and patient host met us at the bus station in Cuernavaca and drove us to The Chintamani Retreat Centre where the retreat had begun a day earlier In the dark we discovered a little piece of paradise awaiting us as we pulled through the gates and up the long and winding drive The real adventure though would be meeting the more than fifty Dharma sisters who were for the moment fast asleep

Though bleary-eyed and weary I awoke excited and ready to meet the others who had arrived from Vancouver Montana New Hampshire California Hawaii Maine Massachusetts New York and Mexico City Many Order members were already there having stayed on after a convention the previous week

As I entered the dining hall a wonderful din greeted me full of a strange fusion of multi-lingual conversation -

By Diane Palaces

Since requesting ordination in the Triratna Buddhist Order in April 2010 Irsquove attended three Going for Refuge (GFR) retreats for women The first was held at Aryaloka in August 2010 the second at Jikoji in California in July 2011 and the latest was held November 2012 at The Chintamani Retreat Centre near Cuernavarca Mexico

These retreats have been from eight to twelve days long and were attended by thirty to forty women who have requested ordination The women hail from Triratna Buddhist Communities on the East and West coasts Missoula MT Vancouver Canada Hawaii and this year Mexico The retreats are led by public and private preceptors who are members of the ordination team Other female Order members attend and generously support the team and the retreat attendants

The structure of the retreat allows

for in-depth and detailed exploration of the retreat theme There are several meditation times each day Refuge Tree practice and a daily puja Silence is kept from after the devotional activity in the evening through either breakfast or lunch of the following day Usually there are a few days when silence is maintained throughout the day

The retreat includes talks attended by the whole group small study groups individual conversations with Order members shared meals reconnections with old friends meeting new travelers on the ordination path opportunities to work on creating beautiful shrines shared tasks around meal prep and clean-up and usually some dramatic - sometimes comedic - expression of the theme There are countless opportunities to practice and receive generosity loving-kindness patience skillful speech and mindfulness

reflecting on going for refuge retreats Pastcontinued on page 16


By Mary Schaefer

My horizons of Buddhism and the Triratna Buddhist Community broadened considerably in 2012

Two Dharma sisters and I from Aryaloka traveled to Mexico in early November to attend the first Pan-American GFR (Going for Refuge) retreat This is an annual retreat usually held in San Francisco or here at Aryaloka for women who are going for ordination

It was my first such retreat since asking for ordination last year The trip was my second in 2012 exploring the global reach of the Triratna community In January I traveled with fellow Triratnans from across the country to India to retrace the life of the Buddha and meet the people who are bringing Buddhism back to modern India

There we met dozens of long-time Order members many of whom worked with Sangharakshita during his thirty years in India We met and meditated with hundreds of fellow sangha members in Pune Nagpur Bodh Gaya and Mumbai who are using Buddhism as a powerful tool for personal and social improvement What I took away from that trip ndash among many profound lessons and experiences ndash was that Aryaloka is just one small part of a global movement and worldwide sangha How cool and amazing is that

The GFR retreat took place at the Chintanami Retreat Centre about 15 hours (or 90 km) south of Mexico City Some fifty-two women ndash Order members and GFR mitras ndash came together from Canada San Francisco Hawaii New York Montana Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Many of our Mexican dharma sisters ndash a warm and inspiring contingency that made up about half of the group ndash are part of Mexico Cityrsquos large and fast-growing Triratna community I have come to appreciate ndash meeting and talking with Dharma sisters from Hawaii Vermont and even New York - that we are quite fortunate to be part of the large robust community here at Aryaloka But in seeing and

hearing about the Triratna presence in Mexico City again I realized how Aryaloka is just one small part of a wider sangha

The Mexico City area has close to twenty-two million people making it the third largest city in the world with ninety percent of its population Roman Catholic Buddhism is growing in Mexico though and Mexico City is large enough to be home to not just one but two centers

Diane Palaces and I arrived on

November 1st in Mexico City and ventured in to visit the largest Buddhist center located in the central borough Colonia Roma Jean Corson arrived a few days later The center is located in a renovated Victorian-style house which was opened to the public in January 2002

The beautiful venue attracts on average about 900 people each week to


aryaloka Part of a growing global Spiritual movement



magination was an important part of my Catholic experience When I became disillusioned with the Church I left and buried my spiritual imagination Finding my place in

Aryaloka and the Dharma helped reopen my heart and my imagination This is my story of that journey

As a child sitting in Mass at Assumption Church I imagined myself under the Last

Supper table among the dirty feet playing with the cats The stories chants and incense effortlessly whisked me across a 2000-year divide

Later when I learned about the churchrsquos history ndash the Inquisition the misogyny etc ndash I had to leave disillusioned and sad that I had lost my spiritual and imaginal vocabulary along with meaning and purpose in life I believed I had allowed the churchrsquos aesthetics and my own imagination to lure me into a false refuge and I retreated into my rational left brain For thirty-five years I tried different churches scientific materialism behavioral psychology therapy marriage and art I doubted them all

Finally arriving at Aryaloka I found the Dharmic vocabulary different but familiar The spiritual yearning was the same and the people friendly There was homework (I love homework) meditation ( I love meditation) and open questioning and debate all the better to catch the errors in my logic I found no dogma no doctrine and no sin Nonetheless my wariness persists Wherersquos the catch

I operated almost exclusively with the left side of my brain For years as a mitra I questioned everything green Buddhas blue Buddhas infinite patience no things no self and the role of devotion In meditation I stuck close to the forms as taught The answers from my teachers and friends started to make sense My confidence in the Dharma grew My death grip on the rational relaxed Gratitude to the



embracing myth amp

imaginationA recovering Catholic learns

to trust intuition imagination and Buddhas in all colors

by Lilasiddhi

I

Sangha my teachers and the Buddha grew Eventually most of my doubts were

answered I wanted to deepen my practice but I still needed to know if I could join an Order headed by Sangharakshita whom I had not yet met I had to go to Birmingham UK to meet him put my questions to him and to find out once and for all if this was my tribe

I met Sangharakshita in Spring 2011 with my many questions in hand Questions about the reality of the Jinas the usefulness of Vaihingerrsquos philosophy ldquoas if rdquo (see the article Re-Imagining the Buddha p 11) mundane and absolute reality and rebirth I presented every question I had so that if I was going to get turned away from the Order I would get it from the horsersquos mouth Much to my surprise and delight I felt affirmed by his every response Again and again he responded ldquoWell you just have to make up your own mindrdquo No coercion or transcendental threats just freedom imagination and opportunity

I said ldquoFor me entering the realm of the Buddha feels like going to the theater It may be fiction just a script and actors nonetheless we open ourselves to the drama We empathize We live in the experiences presented Our reactions and emotions affect us AS IF the play were reality The effect is real The fact that it is not REAL in a conventional sense doesnrsquot matter if our hearts are open and we can feel morerdquo Sangharakshita understood and agreed

I left the meeting high as a kite I shed the heavy old winter coat of self-protective skepticism that I had put on when I left the Catholic Church I threw my heart into the wide Dharma river with gratitude relief and joy

I took the lock off my intuition imagination and faith ndash those transcendental right-brain functions Irsquod buried I allowed myself to believe that the Buddha was enlightened the Dharma was trustworthy the Order was a reliable vehicle and Sangharakshita was a caring human being I now ldquolay my heart uponrdquo them all

I remembered Jill Bolte Taylor a neuroanatomist in her thirties at Harvard Medical School when she suffered a massive left-brain stroke In her book My Stroke of Insight and in her TED talk the recovered Taylor described the strokersquos effects in detail It shut off all sequential language-based functions eliminated preoccupation with past and future and broke down the separation between self and other

Forced to rely almost exclusively on her right brain Taylor felt herself to be part of a great beautiful and loving ldquowholerdquo a part of the infinite process in a realm of beautiful interconnection with all that existed She believed she entered a kind of Nirvana which we can enter through our practice

I remembered Sangharakshitarsquos respect for Jung who believed intuition was the perception of the unconscious In the article Revering and Relying on the Buddha Sangharakshita and Subhuti

encourage us to rely on imagination ldquowhen reason has flown as high as it mayrdquo According to the article Re-Imagining the Buddha Sangharakshita believes that Jung and his followers had taken the realm of imagination seriously and made discoveries that could be of great assistance to Buddhists today In that same article Sangharakshita and Subhuti write that ldquoImagination transforms the objects of our experience The data is spontaneously selected organized and transformed in ways that draw out its inner meaning Our intimations of deeper meaning are given a form by which we ourselves can come to know them The components of the image are transformed into symbolsrdquo

By imagining the concepts of the enlightened mind like Infinite Love or The Wisdom of Equality represented in beings like the Jinas and the Bodhisattvas we create dialogue and interaction with our highest aspirations Loving-Kindness is no longer a concept it is Amitaba the red Buddha The Wisdom of Equality is no longer a cognitive ideal (or political stand) it is Ratnasambava the yellow Buddha By suspending disbelief as we do when reading a novel or watching a play we set aside the fierce need to prove their reality We slip the bonds of rationalism These spiritual beings can become our tools and skillful means As such they can enable us to play in the fields of imagination the pure lands of our most inspired hearts

Satisfying only the logical demands of our minds can be a form of self-clinging Adding intuition and imagination we


myth amp imaginationContinued from 1

BuddhaworksThe Aryaloka Bookstore

Your support brightens Aryalokarsquos futureBuddhaworks is located at the Aryaloka Buddhist Center

Books by Sangharakshita DVDs from Pema Chodron and Lama Surya Das Meditation Journals CDs from Thich Nhat Hanh

Singing Bowls Brass Door Chimes from Nepal and India Meditation Candles Lots and Lots of Great Books

open our hearts and minds to experience that which is greater than our individual selves - the Transcendental Calling such experience ldquoplayrdquo we free ourselves from the scorn of our left brains Like the Buddha we can allow ourselves the freedom to worship and lay down the burden of our separate selves

Let me offer some personal examples My first imaginative experience may seem quite odd I was at Aryaloka looking at a painting of the Buddha sitting under a gnarly and graceful Bodhi Tree The next thing I imagined was the Buddha riding a motorcycle while I sat on the back of the cycle holding on for the ride Just a flash of this image nothing more But I was delighted and intrigued By setting down my self-protective skepticism I had allowed the image to emerge and a very personal connection to be established Itrsquos not ldquoorthodoxrdquo but it was a start and it suited me

Imagination can play an important role in meditation In the first meditations that the Triratna Buddhist Order teaches the mindfulness of breathing and the metta bhavana of course it is crucial to get the basic structures committed to memory and to stick with the forms as taught for a long while

I worked with the basic forms for about three years until I gained control of monkey mind and could experience periods of time without thinking I would begin with a body scan that included a mental ldquofoot massagerdquo I would visualize massaging each toe the ball of the foot the arch and heel It helped to picture as well as feel the breath slipping into and out of my lungs It helped to enlist as many senses as possible into my meditation

With the first stage of the metta bhavana I sometimes picture myself holding me as an infant wishing me happiness freedom from suffering and so on I try to feel the glowing warmth rather than concentrating on the words I sometimes picture my mother holding me as she did in an old photo bestowing loving-kindness

Other people imagine themselves serving tea to sitting next to or walking alongside the individuals in the stages of their metta bhavana One may lean towards the other enveloping them in

warmth and love Whatever works for you just allow your heartmind to soar a little beyond the script of meditation AFTER yoursquove got the structure well in hand

A final illustration from just before my recent ordination may help At ordination we select a yidam or a sadhana as a focus for meditation It can be a Jina a Bodhisattva or Shakyamuni himself Some people choose sacred texts like the Heart Sutra

I was auditioning some possibilities ndash Vajrayogini Vajrapani Shakyamuni Buddha and Prajnaparamita I would just sit and open myself to an image or a line of text about the being I had narrowed the field down to either Prajnaparamita or Shakyamuni Buddha but really couldnrsquot get more focused Ashokashri my private preceptor suggested that I just meditate open up and see what happened for a week or so

One night (I often meditate in the middle of the night) as I sat I found myself walking up a hill to the home of Nancy my childhood imaginary friend I approached the door and rang the bell A lean graceful woman standing as my mother often did answered the door I knew this to be Prajnaparamita I walked into the house and saw that it was the facade of my auntrsquos house in Connecticut It was only the facade Inside was a long elegant stairway just like the stairs in her house I walked up slowly As I got to the top the stairs the house faded away and a glowing sky of golden light swirled before me I stepped into the light After a while I backed down the stairs out the door and walked away I left knowing that

I would chose Prajnaparamita because I felt she had invited me into her realm

I had not willfully conjured this imagery in any way I had not thought of Nancyrsquos house in a long long time But the elements of this were pulled from my experience were selected organized and transformed and expressed a spiritual meaning that drew me in and created a relationship that has since become a devotion

In summary I came to Aryaloka as a person disillusioned and made wary by my first spiritual and religious experiences I retreated into rationalism In order to open my heart to faith in the Buddha Dharma and Sangha I first had to satisfy my logical mind I had to ask many questions and get credible answers to all my doubts in order to develop trust Once that left-brain part of me was satisfied I found that was not enough I had to find a way MY way and MY path towards the joy and freedom that is the Bodhisattvarsquos Way I had to let my intuition and imagination play widely and happily to lead me toward my spiritual aspirations

Sangharakshita in The Bodhisattva Ideal (p137-8) references Shantideva saying

ldquoThe Bodhisattva is like an elephant (a highly complimentary comparison in the Indian literary tradition) The elephant is a playful beast and he loves to bathe in lotus ponds He merrily squirts water over himself and trumpets and plucks great bunches of lotus flowers washes them carefully and eats them In this way he passes the day very happily As soon as he has finished playing in one pond he plunges into another And the Bodhisattva is like that As soon as one task is finished he dives straight into another with equal delight

ldquoSometimes the Bodhisattvarsquos activity is spoken of as lsquolilarsquo ndash a sport a sort of game that the Bodhisattva plays This is how he or she experiences the manifestation of the perfections the different aspects of the path to Enlightenment and eventually the great game of Buddhahood and the manifestation of Enlightenment itselfrdquo

So let us learn our structured meditations Let us get all our questions answered Let us burn the night oil studying the Dharma And let our imaginations carry us high over lotus ponds of love and joy to play in Buddha Fields together with all sentient beings in all the infinite worlds

Satisfying only the logical demands of our

minds can be a form of self-clinging Adding

intuition and imagination we open our hearts and

minds to experience that which is greater than our individual selves -

the Transcendental


myth amp imaginationContinued from Page 12

Meditation practice synchronizes the mind and body bringing us into the present moment awake and aware of our sense perceptions and our environment From that open space a gesture can arise a word a thought a stroke a genuine expression informed by our awakened state

Through exercises and discussion we will examine creating not as product or process but as a natural state of being that arises as we connect with our felt sense of things as they are

Rebekah Younger will lead this day of exploration into the power of creating as meditation starting from Square One For ldquonon-artistsrdquo and ldquoartistsrdquo

This workshop is an abbreviated introduction to the larger five-part series known as Shambhala Arttrade based on the Dharma Art teachings of Choumlgyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Join this very special opportunity on Saturday February 23 10 am ndash 4pm

~ Dh Kiranada


mens Day at the mFaarts at aryaloka Aryaloka has a deep commitment to the contemplative arts - supporting the art process creativity and artistic expression as tools for communicating spiritual insights and in the process of creation dropping the self

creating as meditation in actionA Day of Exploration

Upcoming contemplative arts at aryalokaThe arts have been a vital part of the

Triratna Community for forty years now and are central to our work with the Dharma

The Arts at Aryaloka program focuses on contemplative arts rather than art simply as entertainment or distraction Art in its many forms - from painting and photography to dance poetry and music - can help us enhance our experience and broaden our sympathies It can enlarge our imagination and show us ways of going beyond the present - a gateway to the visionary It can refine and redirect our emotions and can communicate spiritual values

We have a wide variety of arts

programming scheduled in the next six months for your enjoyment and exploration

In February we are happy to welcome back the multi-disciplinary artist Rebekah Younger from Bath Maine who exhibited her photographs for her show titled Earth Water Fire this past fall On Saturday February 23rd Rebekah will present a Creating as a Meditation workshop using meditation as a ground for creating - using ink paper clear vision and clear expression

The Aryaloka Quartet a wonderful group of Boston-based classical musicians under the direction of our own Dh Sravaniya will come to the center for their

second much-acclaimed concert on Friday June 7th

Also in June we are extremely fortunate to host the Ka-do the Way of Flowers workshop with Antoinette Drouart an Ikebana Sogetsu School teacher from Nashua Thatrsquos on Saturday June 15th from 10 am - 3 pm

And when the snows of December laid a damper on our wonderful Heather Mahoney Concert that we were all looking forward to we were lucky to get it re-scheduled for a spring date when perhaps the weather will be more congenial Come join us on April 14th for a deeply rewarding evening with this fine musician and vocalist ~ Dh Kiranada


arts at aryaloka

a Look back at arts eveningSangharakshita has encouraged us to

include in our practice both appreciation and participation in the arts And he has set us an example with his own poetry How fortunate we are in the Aryaloka sangha to have the riches of the arts on display at the annual ldquoarts eveningsrdquo

This year was another shining example The highlight of each of these evenings has been the invited guest artists who come to us to share their art as well as to bring us the example of how this contributes to their spiritual practice

Last seasonrsquos guest Rebekah Younger was a splendid example gracing our walls was the exhibit Earth Water Fire - abstract photographs representing the elements And we were privileged to hear the artist speak to us of her practice both as a photographer and as a Buddhist

The evening was again well attended and many who were not present for the artistrsquos presentation were able to view and appreciate her work as we moved through

the yoga room participating in other events at the center

Much appreciation must go to Kiranada for her tireless efforts to add the dimension of arts practice to our practices of meditation ritual and friendship She has scoured the area to invite guests who have brought us both pleasure and inspiration

But perhaps most importantly these evenings have been a means for members of our own sangha to bring us fine examples of how practice of the arts thrives among us and to inspire us to both appreciate and contribute with our own practices

This past year we saw a rich variety of music and poetry Jon Prichard played native American flute as we held our breath and felt the music touch our hearts Jon tells us the flute was made by a Nitmuc indian who considers the construction of the flute a spiritual practice in itself during which he thanks

the tree which is transformed into the flute Jon too considers playing his flute spiritual practice as he too honors the tree that allows him to ldquospeakrdquo music into the world

And then Cathy Okhuysen played the shruti box an instrument new to many of us which lent an unfamiliar sound and evoked deep feelings in all of us She too spoke to us of the element of spirituality in her music and led us to an experience of the magic evoked by the music

Last but certainly not least we heard poetry offerings by Samayadevi and Vihanasari and also a little something about how they bring their emotions and practice into focus with the words in their poems Please see some samples of Vihanasarirsquos work in this issue

Irsquom sure Kiranada will be planning to bring new riches to us in 2013

Try to not miss the evening

~ Dh Kavyadrishti

When New Englandrsquos unpredictable weather hit in December we were crushed to have to cancel our concert featuring talented musician Heather Maloney But Heather has been kind enough to set a new event date with us and we are very pleased to have her We hope yoursquoll be with us on April 14th at 630 pm to enjoy an evening of ldquoimpermanence in songrdquo Bring your friends and family for what is always a sweet and intimate atmosphere

Over the last three years on the road Heather has been singing her songs in over 225 shows in twenty states and released two heralded albums She is now working on a third that will come out on Signature Sounds in 2013 This will be her third performance at Aryaloka Buddhist Center and she is deeply welcomed

heather maloney concert rescheduledSecond chance show set for April 14th


attend about thirty meditation yoga and Dharma classes retreats and regularsrsquo nights One of our Mexican sisters said that the attendance to all the activities for regulars or mitras could reach 200 with participation numbering as high as 300 on special occasions

One of our gracious hosts Order member Akasavajri reported in the Triratna News that the Center under the chairmanship of Dharmachari Upekshamati has made a significant contribution to spreading not only the Dharma but Bhantersquos vision in Mexico for the last eighteen years

Upekshamati said they welcomed about 300 mitras since the center started with 180 to 200 still in contact and thirty-five preparing for ordination Some sixty-five mitra ceremonies were conducted in 2011 and another fifty in 2012 Today there are at least thirteen Order members twelve of whom are ldquohome-grownrdquo The place features an enormous shrine room which can fit 275 people which some say is proof of Upekshamatirsquos theory that the size of a sangha rises in proportion to the size of the shrine room

The second Buddhist center in Mexico City opened its doors in Coyoacaacuten in early December in the southern part of the city according to Dharmacharini Saddhajoti This center features daily activities including yoga Dharma workshops study groups chapter meetings and pujas Triratna actually started its activities in Coyoacaacuten in 1994 before it set up the center in Colonia Roma

The Chintanami Retreat Centre which was the site of the nine-day GFR retreat is under the direction of our super-host

Saddhajoti who along with Gisela Peters Castilla was a key force in making this center a reality The center was started about ten years ago and is situated on 86 acres of land in the Valley of Cuautla in Yautepec near the charming city of Cuernavaca The quiet secluded beautiful spot is dedicated to inner development leisure and friendship

The week before our global assembly arrived Chintanami hosted Triratnarsquos first Pan-American Order Convention Saddhajoti wrote in the Triratna News that ldquoMexico witnessed the first-ever encounter of Order members from different countries of the Americas The Order members attending were from across the US (San Francisco Seattle New Hampshire New York Oregon Maine Montana Spokane) from Canada (Vancouver) from Mexico (Mexico City and Queretaro) plus a few visitors from Spain New Zealand Scotland and England including our two

Order convenors Mahamati and Paramirdquo In all thirty-eight Dharmacharis and Dharmacharinis gathered to spend a few days together meditating reflecting and exploring the ldquonew system of spiritual liferdquo

Apart from Chintanami and the two centers in Mexico City Saddhajoti tells me there is another Triratna Center in the city of Quereacutetaro (two hours north of Mexico City) This community also holds activities facilitated by some Order members in the cities of Pachuca and Toluca where some mitras live

In just the few years I have been involved in the Triratna Buddhist Community I have witnessed tremendous growth right here in the Aryaloka sangha As I look and travel beyond the borders of New Hampshire I see that we are also part of bigger growing international movement that is bringing Buddhism to more and more people in the world Again I say how cool and amazing is that


global spiritual movementContinued from Page 9

some of it in my familiar native tongue and occasionally a few words in Spanish that I understood

After a flurry of hugs smiles and greetings with familiar friends and with those from more distant places I experienced a wonderful spontaneous familiarity with those I had just met Language was no longer an issue we didnrsquot need words to communicate our immediate connection

From the Mexican women we heard

many wonderful stories of spiritual journeys including an impressive young Argentine woman now working in Mexico with indigenous people teaching them to read and write Deny Salgado another young Mexican is campaigning for support for a shelter she is opening for the homeless Hearing and sharing these stories brought us all closer together

After five amazing days it was time to leave (it seemed I had just arrived) and I departed with two of my GFR sisters to Mexico City where I needed to find a hotel room I met Jessica at the Mexico City Center ndash yet another spectacular Buddhist

gathering place ndash who made it her mission to find me a room When it was clear no rooms at the hotel were available Aurea Zepeda an open-hearted woman who lived just up the street insisted I stay with her and her family for the night She had not been feeling well that day but wouldnrsquot take ldquonordquo for an answer

I was totally smitten with these amazing Mexican women and all the other women who traveled from all over the continent to demonstrate solidarity with our sisters to the south I discovered much common ground in our practices and our love of the Three Jewels

gift of friendshipContinued from Page 8


Therersquos laughter and contentment too The 2012 retreat theme explored the

mythic elements of living a Buddhist lifeSubhuti explains in a recent paper

entitled Re-Imagining the Buddha that ldquoTo live the Buddhist life to become like the Buddha we must imagine the Buddha The goal must be embodied in our imaginations our deepest energies gathered in an image of what we are trying to move towardsrdquo

Being on retreat at the beautiful Chintamani Retreat Centre during Mexicorsquos celebration of the Day of the Dead provided immediate opportunities to move into the mythic realm The Mexican Mitras explained the detailed colorful shrines to the departed and we all dressed in white face with darkened eyes and mouths to give a dead or skeletal appearance We imagined ldquogoing beyond deadrdquo and reflected on our false refuges We imagined ourselves personally transformed for the benefit of both ourselves and the world

At the time of the retreat I was

questioning how far I wanted to take my Buddhist practice While studying the Bodhisattva Ideal in mitra study recently I became acutely aware that ldquofor the benefit of all beingsrdquo goes far beyond study being happier and having tea with very nice people These doubts accompanied me to the retreat

I brought to the retreat an intention to strengthen my meditation practice One shrine toward the retreatrsquos end included a skull along with the Buddha rupa When

I entered the shrine room I saw only the skull and was moved to tears I did not know from where this emotion had come I looked away to prepare my seat for meditation When I began to salute the shrine I then noticed the Buddha rupa that I had not seen before

During that meditation I experienced a strong clear confident feeling of ldquothis can be trustedrdquo and a rocking rhythm in my body that said ldquohave faith have faith have faithrdquo

gfr retreats pastContinued from Page 8

to the natural worldI believe that there are some

fundamental principles that are shared by the Buddhist tradition and the environmental movement These include non-violence compassion the renunciation of worldly life and waking up to reality I also see some essential ways that Buddhists and environmentalists could benefit from working together

The most basic Buddhist motivation I can see for wanting to help the environment is offered in the first of the Five Precepts ldquoI undertake to abstain from taking liferdquo Humanity takes for itself far more than the gross sum of sustainable resources that are required for every organism on the planet This means that every time we buy and use a product we are likely preventing other organisms from living reducing the resilience of naturersquos life support systems and ensuring that future generations bear those same effects (Merkel 2003)

Another point of motivation for Buddhists to help the environment is the fact that without nature life could not take

place and nor could the practice of the Dharma If humans continue to emit fossil fuels at current rates global climate change may near a tipping point in only sixteen years after which the planet could become unrecognizable and unable to support life (McKibben 2012) If this were to happen it is not guaranteed that we could even practice the Dharma in the future

Although the environmental crisis would not be cured simply by onersquos personal enlightenment Buddhism offers a lot to those in the environmental movement

First if environmentalists were to put their activities in Buddhist terms with Buddhist principles and tradition underpinning them they might take on new meaning and importance Environmental action in this context could be seen as practices meant to expand compassion or reduce self-grasping methods of deepening onersquos connection to nature and cultivation of mindfulness and wisdom as ways of living sustainably and fully engaged with our surroundings

Secondly by freeing ourselves from reactive patterning and recognizing our interdependence with all life the environmental issue - inconceivable and

overwhleming to many often accompanied by emotional and mental suffering and based ultimately around actions rooted in ignorance of self and the world - might be positively transformed

I hope that by highlighting some of my experiences and thoughts about the environmental movement and Buddhism it might offer something of use in both areas and that the environment might benefit

Perhaps the environmental movement would benefit from the participation of the very capable people that Buddhism creates

Perhaps those involved in the environmental movement might benefit from practicing the Dharma

And perhaps the world could benefit from all of our collective compassionate efforts

McKibben Bill ldquoGlobal Warmingrsquos Terrifying New Math Three simple numbers that add up to global catastrophe ndash and that make clear who the real enemy isrdquo Rolling Stone Magazine Jan Wenner 2 Aug 2012 Accessed online 122112

Merkel Jim Radical Simplicity Small Footprints on a Finite Earth Gabriola Island New Society Publishers 2003

buddhism amp environmentContinued from Page 6


Children of the Pyre(2008) 88 minutes Not Rated

Available on Netflix

Children of the Pyre by director Rajesh S Jala was correctly described by The Times of India as a ldquohaunting documenta-ryrdquo Filmed in Varanasai (Benares) at the

well-known Man-ikarnika crema-tion grounds it ex-plores the lives of seven young boys - all between the ages of seven and twelve - who spend their lives surrounded by and tending to the dead

The crema-tion grounds or ghats as they are called in Varanasi are indeed one of the strangest and most striking places you might ever visit In India it is considered a blessing to spend your dying days in the city and to be burned ceremonially there Mourners carry their loved onersquos body to the burn-ing grounds pay what they can for fire-wood and also for the use of the ceremoni-al fire As you can imagine the ghats have become like a death factory with funer-al pyres burning twenty-four hours a day and a new corpse arriving every five min-utes

The caste system in India singles out one family group as being the overseers of this ongoing procession of death Despite the fact that they are tasked with running the pyres and officiating such an important social ceremony this group is considered to be Untouchable the lowest of the low in

Indian cultureThe seven boys that are highlight-

ed in this documentary have been in ser-vice to the cremation grounds since a very young age - some of them as early as five years old They recount their first ex-periences witnessing the dead burning as being frightening but they soon be-come immune - even deadened - to the sight of death through a combination of duty smoking marijuana to escape and the mind-numbing conditions of surviv-al One boy tells the camera that they donrsquot stare at the bodies otherwise the dead will visit them in nightmares

Aside from the physical dangers from nature of constant heat sun and smoke exposure the children of the cremation

grounds also deal with a heavy dose of abuse Many have abusive relationships with their parents - who may be drunk or high regularly To make money to support themselves and their families the boys re-sort to stealing the decorative shrouds that wrap the dead bodies They snatch them and run away to sell their finds to a shroud dealer who will resell them to mourners Sometimes the family is happy to let them have the shroud but often they are beaten for their efforts

While certainly not for the faint of heart this film is thoroughly fascinating in what it reveals not only about the hor-rid conditions that these children bear but also in what it has to say about Indian cul-ture ~ Eric Wentworth

Audio-visual resourcesexploring Buddhism

wwwclear-visionorg

movie review Letting Life Take the Lead in Later Life


poetry cornerin JanuaryBy Dh Vihanasari

I take the old canvas coatfrom the peg and wrapmyself in his smellLeaning into the windwe walkthe coat and Ione set of footprints in the snow

catBy Dh Vihanasari

I am catBorn from a wisp of superstitionand the dust of starsI have sat on jeweled pillowsin the laps of kingsand stalked night ratsnear cribs in filthy hovelsThe barest ripple in tall grassI shadow the ages of Manand reflect His imagewith startled eyes

Late novemberBy Dh Vihanasari

In the field below my housefrost coats the remainsof asters and Queen Annersquos laceand the wind plays a kind of solitairetossing dried oak leaves back and forthover a crystal game board

Overhead a blue heron circleslong legs trailingShe looks for open waterbut finds instead a skim of icecrusting the cow pond Tonight a foxlone hunterwill trace a dotted lineacross the matted grass

Upcoming EventsContinued from Page 20

26 Womenrsquos mitra class 715 - 915 pm27 Introduction to Meditation and Buddhism 6-Week Spring Series 7 - 9 pm - Satyada28 Foundation mitra class

MARCH

1-3 OrderMitra weekend - more details to follow4 Menrsquos mitra class5 Friends Night 645 - 915 pm All are welcome5 Womenrsquos mitra class 715 - 915 pm6 Introduction to Meditation and Buddhism 6-Week Spring Series 7 - 9 pm - Satyada7 Foundation mitra class8-10 Yoga Retreat with Lily Sibley10 The Five Factors of the Mindrsquos Release Pali Canon Study 9 am - 1 pm - Bodhipaksa11 Menrsquos mitra class12 Friends Night 645 - 915 pm All are welcome12 Womenrsquos mitra class 715 - 915 pm

13 Introduction to Meditation and Buddhism 6-Week Spring Series 7 - 9 pm - Satyada14 Foundation mitra class15-16 Retreat at Concord State Prison for Men - contact Satyada15-17 Mindful Eating Weekend Retreat - Megrette Fletcher18 Menrsquos mitra class19 Friends Night 645 - 915 pm All are welcome20 Introduction to Meditation and Buddhism 6-Week Spring Series 7 - 9 pm - Satyada21 Foundation mitra class22 or 24 Celebration of Dhardo Rimpoche More details to come22-24 Rental - domes closed23 Introduction to Meditation - Mindfulness 9 am - 1 pm - Lilasiddhi24 Menrsquos Practice Day - open to all Time TBA25 Menrsquos mitra class26 Friends Night 645 - 915 pm All are welcome27 Introduction to Meditation and Buddhism 6-Week Spring Series 7 - 9 pm - Satyada29 Full-Moon Puja and Meditation 7 - 9 pm


JANUARY

1 Meditate for Peace Day 6 am - 6 pm No Friends Night5 Going Deeper by Engaging the Heart Through Devotion and Puja 9 am - 1 pm - Karunasara7 Menrsquos mitra class8 Friends Night 645 - 915 pm All are welcome8 Womenrsquos mitra class 715 - 915 pm10 Foundation mitra class12 Introduction to Meditation - Mindfulness 9 am - 1 pm - Vihanasari14 Menrsquos mitra class15 Friends Night 645 - 915 pm All are welcome15 Womenrsquos mitra class 715 - 915 pm16 Intro to Meditation and Buddhism (six-week course Weds evenings) 7-9 pm - Bodhana17 Foundation mitra class18-21 Outlying Centers Retreat - center closed21 Menrsquos mitra class22 Friends Night 645 - 915 pm All are welcome22 Womenrsquos mitra class 715 - 915 pm23 Intro to Meditation and Buddhism (six-week course) 7-9 pm - Bodhana24 Foundation mitra class25 Full-Moon Puja and Meditation 7-9 pm25-27 Experiencing the Joy of Mindfulness (Introductory Retreat) - Arjava amp Akashavanda27 Menrsquos Practice Day - open to all Time TBA28 Menrsquos mitra class29 Friends Night 645 - 915 pm All are welcome29 Womenrsquos mitra class 715 - 915 pm30 Intro to Meditation and Buddhism (six-week course) 7-9 pm - Bodhana

31 Foundation mitra class

FEBRUARY

4 Menrsquos mitra class5 Friends Night 645 - 915 pm All are welcome5 Womenrsquos mitra class 715 - 915 pm6 Intro to Meditation and Buddhism (six-week course) 7-9 pm - Bodhana7 Foundation mitra class9 Bahiya Sutta from the Udana Pali Canon study 9 am - 1 pm - Dayalocana10 Introduction to Meditation - Loving-Kindness 9 am - 1 pm - Arjava11 Menrsquos mitra class12 Friends Night 645 - 915 pm All are welcome12 Womenrsquos mitra class 715 - 915 pm13 Intro to Meditation and Buddhism (six-week course) 7-9 pm - Bodhana16 Parinirvana Day 10 am - 3 pm - Karunasara17 Going Deeper Into Ethics 9 am - 1 pm - Arjava18 Menrsquos mitra class19 Friends Night 645 - 915 pm All are welcome19 Womenrsquos mitra class 715 - 915 pm20 Intro to Meditation and Buddhism (last class) 7-9 pm - Bodhana21 Foundation mitra class22 Full-Moon Puja and Meditation 7 - 9 pm23 Menrsquos Practice Day - open to all time TBA24 An Introduction to Noble Silence 9 am - 3 pm - Bodhana25 Menrsquos mitra class26 Friends Night 645 - 915 pm All are welcome

upcoming events

ongoing events

(All events are subject to change For the latest up-to-date information check our web site at httpwwwaryalokaorg or call the office at 603-659-5456)Akasaloka events are in italics

Sangha Night At Aryaloka Every Tuesday evening 645-915 pm

bull LedbyArjavaAkashavandaandothersanghamembersbull Opentoallbull FeeSuggesteddonation$10perclassbull Noregistrationnecessary

Typically our Tuesday night activities includebull 645-Gatheringteaandannouncementsbull 715-Meditationandshrineroomactivitybull 800-Studydiscussionoratalkontheeveningrsquostopicbull 915-End

With these activities you are free to participate or to just sit and listen Nothing is compulsory If you have any questions please ask

Full Moon PujaFriday evenings as scheduled (unless noted) See the Aryalo-ka website or Vajra Bell events schedule for dates and locations 700 pm meditation followed by puja

The rich devotional practice of meditation and puja is shared on these special Friday nights by those who find devotion an im-portant part of their practice

When we celebrate the Sevenfold Puja which combines faith and devotion with poetry and sometimes an element of visual beau-ty we find that our emotional energies are to some extent refined When this happens it becomes possible for the vision and insight of the higher thinking center to act through these refined sublimat-ed emotional centers directly on the moving center In this way the whole of life is completely transformed

Sangharakshita ~ Ritual and Devotion


wwwaryalokaorgcategoryvajra-bell

VAJRA BELL KULA

EDITOR IN CHIEF Eric Wentworthericwintercrowstudiocom

ADMINISTRATION EDITOR Dh Vihanasarivihanasaricomcastnet

SANGHA EDITOR Satyadasloancomcastnet

ASST SANGHA EDITOR Pam Whitepwhite31comcastnet

FEATURES EDITOR Mary Schaefermbschaefercomcastnet

ARTS EDITOR Elizabeth Hellardekhellardcomcastnet

ARYALOKA COUNCIL MEMBERS

COUNCIL CHAIR Dh Dayalocanadayalocanacomcastnet

CO-TREASURER Dh Arjavahavaughancomcastnet

CO-TREASURER Dh Akashavandaakashavandagmailcom

Dh Surakshitasurakshitacomcastnet

Dh Vihanasarivihanasaricomcastnet

Dh Shrijnanashrijnanagmailcom

Barry Timmermanbarrystimmcomcastnet

SECRETARY Eric Wentworthericwintercrowstudiocom

Aryaloka Buddhist Retreat Center14 Heartwood Circle

Newmarket NH 03857603-659-5456

infoaryalokaorg wwwaryalokaorg

vajrabellAs each of us in our own manner says goodbye to 2012 and greets the new hori-zon of 2013 we are left with many chal-lenging questions to consider about what is of value in our

lives and perhaps we are also presented with opportunities for deep reflection on what it means to be an engaged Buddhist in our modern world

At the moment of this writing we mourn the senseless and almost unimagi-nable losses of twenty tiny innocent young children and six brave caring adults in Newtown Connecticut For me this tragedy hits very close to home My wife teaches her own class of children not much older than these six and seven-year-olds and like the teachers in Newtown I know she would instantly place her students be-fore herself Like so many parents of little ones itrsquos all too easy to imagine the horror of losing my own children in such a violent act My heart breaks for these families and for their community

Whether itrsquos another shooting tragedy in America or Afghanistan the threat of environmental collapse the problems of poverty and addiction a harsh and divisive election brutal wars and conflicts around the globe corruption and greed in the financial system it seems wersquore continually reminded that samsara - that perpetually-spinning wheel of suffering and delusion - has an incredibly strong hold on humanity causing problems so big and systemic that it can feel hopeless to confront them

But confront them we must The prod-ucts of samsara will not go away simply because we choose to ignore them or fear acting in the face of them We cannot ldquofixrdquo samsara but that does not allow us the luxury of throwing up our hands in resignation In times like this when the world seems like a dark and scary place to be wersquore presented with our greatest opportunities for change and growth - as individuals and as a people At times like this I am ever more deeply grateful for the vision and values found in Buddhism and

in our community which offer a path to tread and a lamp to guide the way

The Buddharsquos teachings are first about changing oneself - thatrsquos where we all have to begin - but in the end itrsquos about what happens next The insight that emerges from practice reveals that we are all very literally from the same family We inti-mately share in the sufferings and the joys of the world as one whether we know it or not What we do as individuals - no matter how small we think it may be or how little we think it makes a difference to anyone else - has an effect on the great web of existence that we all belong to

Everything matters We have a re-sponsibility a duty as loving beings to mitigate the suffering that exists wherever it is found wherever we can It starts with what we do And we can always help in at least some small way Even the simple act of changing onersquos own mind has the poten-tial to sow the seeds of a mass movement that goes far beyond us as individuals

As Buddhists we are all ldquobodhisattvas-in-trainingrdquo Our lifersquos work - in whatever way we individually choose to manifest it - is to encourage happiness for all beings We subscribe to the notion that inner evolution leads to outer revolution We cultivate aware creative compassionate peaceful spontaneous and joyful respons-es to the challenges we encounter We are aware that time always is short - always change is upon us - and every moment is too precious to be spent frivolously

This rich dynamic and beautiful practice this way of walking in the world has inevitable meaning for what we do with our time and efforts And it naturally has an effect on how we influence society through the ripple effect of direct action and also through the examples we each offer of a life lived peacefully

I believe that Buddhism has something unique to offer a new age which still holds on to the vestigial organ of violence As we mark the beginning of another year I know I will not be alone in contemplating deeply what role I might fulfill and what of my own practice I can bring to the great project of effectively and creatively bring-ing about an end to suffering

editors note Eric Wentworth










































extra meeting room













~ Eric Wentworth





sangha notes

















~ Gail Yahwak





~ Dh Viriyalila






~ Dh Dayasiddhi




New York City NY




By Scott Hurley










By Barry Timmerman















continued on page 7
























By Jean Corson









By Diane Palaces








By Mary Schaefer

























embracing myth amp



by Lilasiddhi

I








































the Transcendental








~ Dh Kiranada















arts at aryaloka















~ Dh Kavyadrishti

































































wwwclear-visionorg





catBy Dh Vihanasari





Upcoming EventsContinued from 0


MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events


















































extra meeting room













~ Eric Wentworth





sangha notes

















~ Gail Yahwak





~ Dh Viriyalila






~ Dh Dayasiddhi




New York City NY




By Scott Hurley










By Barry Timmerman















continued on page 7
























By Jean Corson









By Diane Palaces








By Mary Schaefer

























embracing myth amp



by Lilasiddhi

I








































the Transcendental








~ Dh Kiranada















arts at aryaloka















~ Dh Kavyadrishti

































































wwwclear-visionorg





catBy Dh Vihanasari







MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events












sangha notes

















~ Gail Yahwak





~ Dh Viriyalila






~ Dh Dayasiddhi




New York City NY




By Scott Hurley










By Barry Timmerman















continued on page 7
























By Jean Corson









By Diane Palaces








By Mary Schaefer

























embracing myth amp



by Lilasiddhi

I








































the Transcendental








~ Dh Kiranada















arts at aryaloka















~ Dh Kavyadrishti

































































wwwclear-visionorg





catBy Dh Vihanasari







MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events











By Scott Hurley










By Barry Timmerman















continued on page 7





















setting the conditionsContinued from



By Jean Corson









By Diane Palaces








By Mary Schaefer

























embracing myth amp



by Lilasiddhi

I








































the Transcendental








~ Dh Kiranada















arts at aryaloka















~ Dh Kavyadrishti

































































wwwclear-visionorg





catBy Dh Vihanasari







MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events
































By Jean Corson









By Diane Palaces








By Mary Schaefer

























embracing myth amp



by Lilasiddhi

I








































the Transcendental








~ Dh Kiranada















arts at aryaloka















~ Dh Kavyadrishti

































































wwwclear-visionorg





catBy Dh Vihanasari







MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events













By Jean Corson









By Diane Palaces








By Mary Schaefer

























embracing myth amp



by Lilasiddhi

I








































the Transcendental








~ Dh Kiranada















arts at aryaloka















~ Dh Kavyadrishti
























gift of friendshipContinued from









































wwwclear-visionorg





catBy Dh Vihanasari







MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events











By Mary Schaefer

























embracing myth amp



by Lilasiddhi

I








































the Transcendental








~ Dh Kiranada















arts at aryaloka















~ Dh Kavyadrishti
















global spiritual movementContinued from

















































wwwclear-visionorg





catBy Dh Vihanasari







MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events





















embracing myth amp



by Lilasiddhi

I








































the Transcendental








~ Dh Kiranada















arts at aryaloka















~ Dh Kavyadrishti

































































wwwclear-visionorg





catBy Dh Vihanasari







MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events




















embracing myth amp



by Lilasiddhi

I














myth amp imaginationContinued from


























the Transcendental








~ Dh Kiranada















arts at aryaloka















~ Dh Kavyadrishti

































































wwwclear-visionorg





catBy Dh Vihanasari







MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events


















































the Transcendental


myth amp imaginationContinued from






~ Dh Kiranada















arts at aryaloka















~ Dh Kavyadrishti

































































wwwclear-visionorg





catBy Dh Vihanasari







MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events
































the Transcendental








~ Dh Kiranada















arts at aryaloka















~ Dh Kavyadrishti

































































wwwclear-visionorg





catBy Dh Vihanasari







MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events
















~ Dh Kiranada















arts at aryaloka















~ Dh Kavyadrishti

































































wwwclear-visionorg





catBy Dh Vihanasari







MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events












arts at aryaloka















~ Dh Kavyadrishti

































































wwwclear-visionorg





catBy Dh Vihanasari







MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events







































































wwwclear-visionorg





catBy Dh Vihanasari







MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events














catBy Dh Vihanasari







MARCH




JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events












JANUARY



FEBRUARY


upcoming events

ongoing events











embracing myth & imagination - Aryaloka Buddhist Center · has an incredibly strong hold on...

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Transcript of embracing myth & imagination - Aryaloka Buddhist Center · has an incredibly strong hold on...