Triple Gem of the North

Nirvana is an open mind

2011-01-13T08:54:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Tricycle Magazine for this quote

Nirvana is an Open Mind

Nirvana, or whatever you want to call it, means the complete deconstruction of all of our rigid mental patterns and habits as well as the deconstruction of all of our limiting beliefs. This deconstruction creates a space for true inquiry. When we open our hearts and our minds completely, we are in a place where we can experience something new, a new truth, a new reality, a miracle that we haven’t experienced in the past. We can see things differently and they present new, expanded opportunities, new horizons. Therefore an open mind is required. This is true not only in relationship to the truth but in relationship to everyday life as well.

- Anam Thubten, "How a Tomato Opened My Mind"

Walking Meditation

2011-01-03T10:44:00.000-06:00

Walking meditation is a simple practice. You choose a straight path—indoors or outdoors—roughly fifteen or twenty steps long. You walk from one end of the path to the other, turn around, and walk back. You continue in this fashion, walking back and forth, focusing your attention on your feet. Your posture is upright, alert, and relaxed. You can hold your hands at your sides, or clasped in front or behind. Keep your eyes open, cast down, and slightly ahead. You can experiment with your pace, perhaps walking quite slowly or at a more regular speed, in an effort to find the pace at which you’re most present. As you walk, direct your attention to the sensations in the feet, to the bare experience of walking. Try to feel one step at time. Be fully, wholeheartedly aware of the physical sensations involved in taking each step. Feel your foot as it lifts, moves through the air, places down against the ground. In particular, pay attention to the touching down of the foot, the sensations of contact, and pressure. Remember that you’re feeling each step, you’re not thinking about the foot, or visualizing it.

- Peter Doobinin, "Five Practices to Change Your Mind"

Dana

2010-12-28T10:20:00.000-06:00

by Ralph Pamperin
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Dana is a buddhist term which embodies a deep personal spirit of generosity and gratitude; it is fundamental to a Buddhist spiritual life and deeply engrained into buddhist cultures. In our western culture we emphasize charitable giving to the less fortunate, which is very important. Dana goes beyond this, moving from an open-handed generosity of giving to the needy to more of an open-hearted generosity. Cultivating generosity helps us to eliminate greed and hatred; when you give you have loving-kindness in your heart, so greed and hatred or ill-will are absent. When we understand how interconnected we all are, and are filled gratitude for life and loving kindness for all, we have a heartfelt desire to share generously from whatever gifts we have received in this life. You can give many non-material things which may count even more than material things. When we are kind to each other, we are giving kindness, gentleness, comfort, peace, happiness, etc. For example, we can listen to a troubled person with compassion. The buddhist monks share the teachings of the Buddha from this place of generosity. For them it is foreign to deeply held spiritual values to charge money for sharing the gift of the Buddha's wisdom with which they have been blessed. They in turn invite us to share in this spirit of generosity in whatever way we are gifted in life.

I recall an early, almost insignificant experience with Bhante Sathi. We had started a meditation class in Chanhassen and needed cushions for the class. At the end of one of the classes, Bhante suggested we might buy cushions to bring to the class. Several of us agreed this would be a good idea and someone volunteered to research where to buy a quantity of them. We would each buy our cushion and bring them to class each week. Bhante broke in and suggested that we might want to buy them for all to share and buy for more than our own needs. In the way he presented this it was obvious to me that we each had first thought of our own needs, and buying OUR cushions. It is hard to explain, but I sensed something very different in the way Bhante invited generosity from us. I sensed it was deeply engrained and not something that he had to think about doing the right thing. He was inviting us to selfless, generous loving kindness. There was no guilt, no should's; it felt like an invitation to expand. This almost insignificant experience made a deep and lasting impression on me.

Having grown up in a church in which asking for money was an ever-present aspect. I sometimes find it difficult to ask for donations for the monks. When I find it difficult I know it is because this value of Dana is not yet embedded in me. Dana does not involve guilt or fear of not having enough; it emanates from deep gratitude for life and a heart-felt loving kindness for all.

Meditation and anger management

2010-12-22T10:14:00.000-06:00

Everyone get mad, anger. Let see how we can control when you got angry. I am sure the following text would be much useful all of us. Just read and comment.

Here are some practical suggestions for dealing with anger.

1. When you are angry say nothing.

If we speak in anger we will definitely aggravate the situation and quite likely hurt the feelings of others. If we speak in anger we will find that people respond in kind, creating a spiral of negative anger. If we can remain outwardly silent it gives time for the emotion of anger to leave us.

“When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred. “

2. Be indifferent to those who seek to make us angry.
Some people may unfortunately take a malicious pleasure in trying to make you mad. However, if we can feel indifferent to them and their words; if we feel it is beyond our dignity to even acknowledge them, then their words and actions will have no effect. Also, if we do not respond in any way to their provocation, they will lose interest and not bother us in the future.
3. Use reason to stop anger.
When we feel anger coming to the fore try to take a step back and say to yourself “This anger will not help me in any way. This anger will make the situation worse.” Even if part of us remains angry our inner voice is helping us to distance our self from the emotion of anger.
4. Look kindly upon Others.
Another visualization, suggested by spiritual teacher Paramhansa Yogananda, is to see the anger-rousing agent as a 5 year old child. If you think of the other person as a helpless 5 year old child your compassion and forgiveness will come to the fore. If your baby brother accidentally stabbed you, you would not feel anger and desire to retaliate. Instead, you would just feel he is just too young to know any better. This exercise may be particularly useful for close members of the family who at times evoke your anger.
5. Value Peace more than anger.
If we value peace of mind as our most important treasure we will not allow anger to remain in our system.
“You may have every right to be angry with someone, but you know that by getting angry with him you will only lose your precious peace of mind..”
6. Always try to understand those who are cross.
Don’t worry about feeling the need to defend yourself from their criticisms. If you can remain detached and calm they may begin to feel guilty about venting their anger on you. Inspired by your example of calmness, they will seek subconsciously to do the same.
7. Focus on Something Completely Different.
Suppose someone has done something to make you angry. Think about something which will make you happy. The best antidote to negativity is to focus on the positive.
8. Breathe Deeply.
The simple act of breathing deeply will help considerably with removing anger.
9. Meditation.
Practise meditation regularly to bring your inner peace to the fore. If we can have an inner access to our inner peace we will be able to draw upon this during testing times.
10. Smile
When we smile we defuse many negative situations. To smile is offer goodwill to others. Smiling costs nothing but can effectively defuse tense situations.

Meditation and Pain Relief

2010-12-22T10:10:00.000-06:00

July 11, 2010

by Mehmet C. Oz, MD, and Michael F. Roizen, MD |

If you're among the tens of millions of North Americans living with chronic pain, we've got news about a drug-free "om remedy" worth trying: easy meditation. Plenty of research shows that your brain's superpowers can help conquer the most stubborn of miseries, including bad backs, cancer pain, arthritis, tension headaches, and inflammatory bowel disease. (Check out how meditation can help knee pain.) The best part?

You don't have to move to a mountaintop, sit on a rock-hard meditation cushion, or shell out big bucks for a meditation instructor to get results. In a new study from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, people who meditated for just 20 minutes a day saw their pain tolerance rise in 4 days. Volunteers learned an ultra-easy technique called mindfulness meditation that teaches you to focus on your breath and stay in the present moment, not worry about what's ahead. Researchers tested the volunteers' pain thresholds with mild electric shocks and found that shocks considered "high pain" before meditating felt mild afterward.

Volunteers who didn't learn the meditation had unchanged responses to the shocks. (No, we can't imagine why anyone volunteered for this, though we're grateful that they did.) Please don't try this at home! But once you've finished reading this column, take a few minutes to test-drive our simple instructions (see below) for mindfulness meditation and two other pain-soothing techniques. You'll feel calm, centered, and Zen-fully refreshed, fast.

But first, let's get something straight: Meditation doesn't work because your pain is "all in your head." Chronic pain is all too real, and too many people live with it every day. When pain won't quit, stress and worry kick in, boosting levels of stress hormones, which tricks your brain into thinking the pain is worse than it is. Destressing with meditation or similar mind-body techniques (progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery) dials back stress hormones, which so diminishes pain. The difference may be enough for you to reduce your pain meds or to get relief when drugs alone fall short.

There's more. In other new research, this time from England's University of Manchester, meditation eased pain by helping your brain stop anticipating it -- another stress trigger. Less stress and less pain can also mean better sleep, more motivation to exercise, and even less depression, all of which make you relax more and hurt less. Ready to get started? Find a quiet place where you can sit or lie down comfortably for 10 to 15 minutes. Tape a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door. Then, give these brain-powered pain busters a whirl: Mindfulness meditation: Close your eyes; it will help you stay focused. Breathe in and out, slowly and naturally (no need to hyperventilate), paying attention to how each inhale and exhale feels. Acknowledge your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations in your body, but don't get wrapped up in them. Keep gently returning your focus to your rhythmic breathing. After 10 minutes or so, begin to notice your surroundings as you breathe calmly. Then, plan to go about your day with this feeling of calm awareness.

results have been amazing.

The Middle Way

2010-06-15T11:49:00.000-05:00

Calendar of events June 2010

2010-06-02T20:48:00.000-05:00

Vesak Day (Day of Awakening)

June 6th Sunday, 2010

Dhamma Talk by

Venerable Madawela Punnaji

Topic: What is awakening?

Time: 3.00pm - 4.30pm

Location: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mankato
937 Charles Avenue
Mankato, MN 56001

Topic: Bhante Punnaji will give a talk on “Steps in to Awakening”. He will talk about how one can attain awakening in eight steps according to Buddha. He will mostly focus on “Jhana” in his talk.

Vesak Day: May Full moon day is the most special and spiritual day for all Buddhists and for those who practice the Dhamma. It is the time for us to get together and practice and cultivate the spiritual qualities such as loving kindness, generosity, the purification of the mind and wisdom.

Venerable Mahathera Punnaji: has come to the West to introduce his discoveries to intelligent readers who have an open mind free from prejudice. He is a Researcher of the original teachings of the Buddha, and has served in North America as a Teacher of Buddhism and a Meditation Master, for nearly 30 years. He is well known for his clear and accurate presentation of Buddhism and has grateful students the world over.

He has spent more than fifty years making an in-depth intensive study of both the theory as well as the practice of Buddhism. He studied various schools of Buddhist thought including what modern scholars consider to be the earliest source of the teachings of the Buddha, the Pali Nikaya.

Venerable Punnaji is well-versed in Western fields of scientific knowledge, including medicine, and has a thorough understanding of comparative religions, philosophy and psychology. His interpretations of the original teachings of the Buddha have been much enriched by these forays beyond a mere study and practice of Buddhism.

He has played a significant role in the dissemination of Buddhism in the West and is well known to Buddhists in Canada, U.S., and abroad. Sought by many as a resourceful spiritual guide, Ven. Punnaji shares his time between the Buddhist centers in Canada, the U.S., Sri Lanka and other countries. He is currently residing at the Sarathchandra Meditation Centre, North Hollywood, California, USA.

We invite you all to join the celebration of the Birth, the Awakening and Passing away of the Buddha, and to experience the spirit of "Vesak" on Sunday June the 6th at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mankato from 3.00 PM.

Event Support: We believe these teachings are extremely valuable, thus assigning a value to these teachings is an impossible task. Therefore, this talk is offered freely in the spirit of generosity. Yet, there are many opportunities open to practice your generosity by making a donation to Triple Gem Of The North, to support the teacher and towards the costs of the event (such as accommodation, traveling expenses for the teacher).

It is an ancient Buddhist tradition for the community to joyfully support/nourish/feed people, Monks, and who ever engages in intensive spiritual practice, thereby practicing in their good effort. Therefore, we present you with the opportunity to practice your good effort, by sponsoring a meal/s for Monks and participants during future activities organized by the Triple Gem of The North.

Monetary donations can be presented in-person at Monks Residence, by mail, or via internet. Please send your donations by mail to: PO box 323, St Peter, MN, 56082. Please make checks payable to Triple Gem Of The North.

Half Day Retreats with Venerable Punnaji
June12th , 2010
Location:
Chanhassen Library
690 Coulter Dr
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Time: 1pm- 5pm
Call Ralph for more information 952-934-9727
More info click

Study on meditation's effect on battle stress

2010-05-30T20:36:00.004-05:00

Below is an interesting article from the Milwaukee Sentinel about a study starting up on whether meditation can help post traumatic stress disorder in war veterans.

In the seven years since he finished his stint in the U.S. Navy, Todd Dennis has rarely slept well.

Though never diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, he's struggled with some of the symptoms, including insomnia and feelings of anger.

Dennis says those symptoms have eased since February, when he began practicing yoga and meditation techniques he learned through the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Investigating Healthy Minds.

Beginning this fall, the center will apply the tools of neuroscience - including brain imaging - in studies to determine what if any effect such contemplative practices have on veterans with symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.

"We'll be looking at whether they make an impact in their lives, their overall function, their sense of well-being," said Emma Seppala, a psychologist and research associate, who will oversee the research, some of the first of its kind.

Researchers hope to develop psychological profiles and a kind of tool kit that help them target contemplative practices in ways that are most effective.

The center's research and its vision will be on display this weekend when it hosts events, most of them private for researchers, collaborators, donors and other supporters.

The only public event, though all tickets have been claimed, will be an unscripted conversation between center founder and director Richard Davidson and the 14th Dalai Lama on the subject of "Investigating Healthy Minds."

It was a challenge by the Tibetan spiritual leader to Davidson during a 1992 meeting in India that gave rise to the center, according to Davidson. In that meeting, he says, the Buddhist monk called on him to apply the tools of science used to study such things as depression, anxiety and fear to instead study such traits as happiness, kindness and compassion.

"That was a very powerful meeting for me, and one that altered the course of my life and career," said Davidson, a psychologist and neuroscientist who also heads the university's Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, and Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience.

Some of the research got under way even before the center's founding in 2008. In 1999, Davidson brought advanced meditation practitioners, many of them monks from Asia, to Madison to study how the long-term practice of meditation affects the mind. Among the findings, he said, was the presence of unusually high amplitudes of gamma oscillations, brain rhythms associated with such things as focused attention, learning and memory.

The center's work has drawn significant support, including a $6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

In addition to its study on veterans, it is developing programs for school-age children and individuals transitioning from prison back into society. The student project launches in the fall with a pilot program for fifth-graders in Madison public schools.

"We're interested in determining if simple practices can be brought into the schools to improve students' concentration and skill in emotion regulation . . . both of which are necessary for kids to be successful," said Davidson.

Seppala will be posing the same questions in her work with veterans. The findings, she said, could be used to develop programs to treat thousands of vets who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder.

"Twenty percent of the 2 million veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have PTSD, and it's believed the high suicide rate among veterans may be attributed to that," she said.

The three-year study will involve 90 veterans in three groups, two of which will participate in either mindfulness meditation or yoga breathing exercises. Those in the third group will continue with their current courses of treatment.

There is, at least, anecdotal evidence that contemplative practices are beneficial for veterans. Both Navy veteran Dennis and Jennifer Kannel, who spent a year in Iraq with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, said the breathing exercises and meditation practices improved their sleep and sense of well-being.

"That's one of the big ones vets say, whether they have PTSD or not, that it helps promote sleep," said Andrew Hendrickson, who leads a yoga-based relaxation series for returning combat troops at the Zablocki Veterans Administration Medical Center in Milwaukee.

"They say it helps them feel at ease, helps them deal with physical pain - all the things you would expect from a mind-body technique.

Hendrickson asks vets in his program to rate their level of distress, on a scale of zero to 100, before and after participating.

"I frequently get people who drop from 80 to 20 or 10," said Hendrickson, who used yoga to sleep at night while working at a combat hospital in Afghanistan. "One guy with severe depression went from 60 to zero."

For more information on the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds go to www.investigatinghealthyminds.org.

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Meditation improves brain function

2010-05-30T20:24:00.004-05:00

This story appeared in the "Epoch Times." It reports on a scientific study that showed that a person who meditates for four days at 20 minutes per session had marked improvement in their understanding and ability to process information.

We have long believed that a cup of coffee every morning can make us more awake, yet a newly published study suggests that brief meditation can prepare us for the day just the same.

In past research, neuroimaging technology has shown that meditation techniques can promote significant changes in brain areas associated with concentration, but it was thought that the effect required extensive training to achieve.

However, according to the new research, the benefits may be achievable with much less effort. It suggests that the mind may be more easily trained to focus than we previously believed.

Psychologists found that participants who meditated for 20 minutes a day for four days showed an evident improvement in their critical cognition skills and performed significantly better in cognitive tests than a control group.

“In the behavioral test results, what we are seeing is something that is somewhat comparable to results that have been documented after far more extensive training,” said Dr. Fadel Zeidan in a press release. Zeidan is a post-doctoral researcher at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and a former doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where the research was conducted.

“Simply stated, the profound improvements that we found after just four days of meditation training are really surprising,” Zeidan noted. “It goes to show that the mind is, in fact, easily changeable and highly influenced, especially by meditation.”

The study is published in the April 2 issue of Consciousness and Cognition.

The experiment involved 63 student volunteers. Participants were divided into two groups, one of which received the meditation training while the other group listened to a book (J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit) being read aloud for equivalent periods of time.

Before and after the meditation and reading sessions, the participants were subjected to a broad battery of behavioral tests assessing mood, memory, visual attention, attention processing, and vigilance.

Both groups performed almost equally on all measures at the beginning of the experiment. Both groups also improved at the end of the experiment in measures of mood, but only the group that received the meditation training improved significantly in cognitive measures. The meditation group scored as much as 10 times better on one challenging test that involved sustaining the ability to focus while holding other information in mind.

“The meditation group did especially better on all the cognitive tests that were timed,” Zeidan said. “In tasks where participants had to process information under time constraints causing stress, the group briefly trained in mindfulness performed significantly better.”

“Further study is warranted,” he stressed, noting that brain imaging studies would be helpful in confirming the brain changes that the behavioral tests seem to indicate. “But this seems to be strong evidence for the idea that we may be able to modify our own minds to improve our cognitive processing–most importantly in the ability to sustain attention and vigilance–within a week’s time,” he said.

Zeidan noted that brief meditation only prepares the mind for activity, but it’s not necessarily permanent. Therefore, in order to have long-lasting effect, regular meditations need to be performed.

Ajahn Brahm Dhamma Talk

2010-04-13T18:11:00.000-05:00

The four ways of letting go

Calendar of events April 2010

2010-04-08T09:41:00.000-05:00

One day Retreat- Chanhassen MN

April 17, 2010

Practice Meditation and Learn how to:

Cultivate Mindfulness

Deal with Emotions and Stress

Develop compassion and loving kindness

The day will include an introduction to meditation, seated and walking meditations, and teachings and discussion on mindfulness. Lunch is potluck. Please bring something to share for lunch or tea breaks, and a cushion if you have one.

This is a dana event; dana is a buddhist tradition of monks sharing their teach-ings for no fee. You are invited to practice dana with a donation to support the monks and their teachings. for more info Click

This Week in Mankato

Monday

Meditation Group1 (Mankato)
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: At First Congregational United Church of Christ

150 Stadium Ct, Mankato

This is a meditation class good for experienced and beginners open thinkers. Open discussion followed by guided meditation. You are welcome!

Wednesday
Meditation Group11 (Mankato)
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Monks Residence
This is a meditation class for open thinkers. Open discussion followed by guided meditation. You are welcome!

Sunday

Metta Meditation Group

10:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.

Location: Monks Residence (Mankato)

We will practice Metta meditation about 40 minutes followed by Dhammapada studies. Dhammapada is a collection of verses delivered by Buddha which contains deep Dhamma teachings and lessons on the proper way of life.

Paramitha (perfection) Group

4:15 p.m. to 5:45p.m.
Location: Monks Residence

This is a committed group meet and studies how to apply and practice Dhamma with day to day life. We shire certain document via e-mail and reed before come to the meeting. You are welcome to be part of this group. Contact Bhante Sathi for more information.

Awakening to Life, Awakening ro Death

2010-04-06T17:08:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Tricycle Magazine, we can all sit down and watch this 25 minute Dharma talk from author Stephen Batchelder.

http://www.tricycle.com/online-retreats/buddhism-one-and-only-life/awakening-life-awakening-death

Meditation techniques effective for pain relief

2010-03-18T09:58:00.001-05:00

This article is courtesy of the American Pain Society.

Meditation has analgesic benefits associated with creating a relaxed state of mind and enhancing the ability to moderate reactions to pain, according to new research published in The Journal of Pain, the peer review publication of the American Pain Society.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina measured pain ratings in students interested in learning meditation who recruited for the study. Subjects were trained in meditation for three consecutive days and were given experimental pain stimuli.

Results of the trial showed that relaxed states promoted by the brief mindfulness meditation sessions reduced the reported pain ratings. Participants had less pain to both low and high pain intensities and showed significant reductions in anxiety after each meditation stimulation. The authors concluded that decreases in anxiety and increases in the ability to sustain personal focus can attenuate the feeling of pain.

In assessing their findings, the authors noted that the analgesic effects of meditation can be realized even after a short period of time learning the technique. Also, the results provide additional validation of the benefits of cognitive techniques for controlling pain. [via The American Pain Society]

One Day Meditation Retreat: March 27th 2010 Saint Paul MN

2010-03-12T09:10:00.000-06:00

Bhante Sathi will guide and conduct this retreat/workshop. The focus of this retreat/workshop will be introducing some meditation techniques on “stress reduction and finding peace.” The session will particularly focus on learning and practicing these techniques. A full day commitment is expected. The retreat is open to everyone. Lunch will be a potluck, therefore please bring a dish to share.

Date: Saturday, March 27th

Location:
Pht-An Temple
475 Minnesota Ave
Roseville, MN

Registration is required by March 22nd
Space is limited for 25 people.

Fee: this is a dana base retreat, Dana is a practice that Buddha highly encouraged. Monks practice dana by offering the teachings without a price tag attached. You also can practice dana by making a donation of money, time and/or labor. Your donation allows us to continue offering the teachings to others and offer our monks a life support. Our organization is maintained only by the generosity of all of you who value the teachings.

Register Now or Call (612) 216 4854 Email us info@triplegem.org

RETREAT SCHEDULE
9:00 am Introduction
9:20 am Guided Meditation
9:50 am Sitting and Walking Meditation
10:15 am Tea/ Coffee
10:30 am Method of Awakening (Sitting Meditation)
11:30 am Lunch
12:15 pm Walking Meditation
12:45 pm Q&A
1:30 pm Teachings
2:00 pm Meditation practice
3:00 pm Tea/Coffee break
3:15 pm Teaching
3:45 pm Introducing Thoughts
4:30 pm Closing Practice
5:00 pm End

Never Seeing The Same River Twice

2010-02-23T09:33:00.005-06:00

As ordinary people, we always think we are correct. We think that we know everything. If someone says something that follows your belief system, then you agree with them. But if someone says something that is the opposite of your beliefs then you disagree.

Behind that mind is our ego. Because of one’s ego we really don’t see what is correct or incorrect. We see what we would like to see. Therefore, one’s ego will prevent from us maintaining an open mind.

But this habit closes the inquisitive and probing mind.

How do we cultivate an open mind? By observing without judgment. Meditation practice not only makes it possible but allows something that seems too difficult suddenly easy.

Buddhist Meditation and teachings is simply creating an environment for wisdom.

There is famous saying: “No one can see the same river twice.”

Once there was a monk named Milarepa who was highly respected in Tibetan tradition. There is an interesting story from his childhood. One day after school he decided to go sit by the river. He watched the water flow over the rocks noting how it is changing moment to moment.

When he was late getting home his mother asked him, “Where did you go?”

He said, “I went to the river.”
“What did you do?” she asked.
“I just looked at the water.”
“How could you just sit there and look at the water without doing anything?”
He said, " I was doing something. I was becoming aware."

With meditation practice we are training our mind to not be engaged with anything. Those who maintain this balance know that meditation is not boring but peaceful. The present moment is always new, just as the river is always new.

It is very difficult for some people to understand because their mind isn’t open to notice it. But if you take the time to notice the river flow, that is the beginning of open mind.

Practice to be open. Let awareness grow within your experience. It allows you to destroy the ego and see the reality.

Dog up for adoption

2010-02-22T09:17:00.003-06:00

12 years old 62 lbs

No health issues.

Has several benign tumors checked by Vet recently.

Half Rotwieler, half Husky, but his disposition is all Husky.

very quiet, sweet, loving and loyal.

Raised on a farm. Happy indoors or out but he loves the outdoors.

Still loves to run.

Happy to lay by your feet and be quiet.

He had been neglected but is still very trusting of humans.

Very tolerant with other dogs and children.

Not neutered but willing to discuss splitting cost if that's an issue.

I will deliver him.

Needs a good loving home for his golden years.

Contact
Dave Rubin
612 703 0462

Oprah Talks to Thich Nhat Hanh - Oprah.com

2010-02-18T08:25:00.000-06:00

Oprah Talks to Thich Nhat Hanh - Oprah.com

Metta Bhavan Practice

2010-02-18T08:02:00.000-06:00

In the Metta Bhavana practice we’re cultivating love, or friendliness, or lovingkindness.

Our aim is to learn to emit an even supply of warmth to everyone we meet. This is an attainable goal for every human being, but it requires time and commitment.

The practice is in five stages. We cultivate Metta for:

· Ourselves

· Our family and good friends

· A “neutral” person—someone we lack strong feelings for

· A “difficult” person—someone who angers us or who is tiring to be around

· All living beings—this includes animals such as pets

Notice the progression. It’s natural for us to cultivate loving-kindness for ourselves and for our friends. It’s slightly more challenging to do this for people we don’t know well. And it’s a real test to cultivate lovingkindness for those who trigger our angst. Finally, we really must work to remember to cultivate lovingkindness for all sentient beings: i.e. all those known and unknown, visible and invisible—including people we’re in conflict with — plus ourselves of course.

Aside from these five stages, metta practice focuses on four intentions that all living beings be

well, happy, skillful and peaceful.

Metta practice focuses on four intentions. The aim of this meditation is that all living beings be well, happy, skillful and peaceful. We can talk about the four qualities of the Loving-kindness meditation so we understand the importance of this practice and why we wish this for ourselves. When we cultivate these positive qualities we train ourselves to overcome the powerful negative emotions of greed, anger, ignorance, fear, anxiety, and cunning, to name a few.

Be Well

When we hear these two words, our intention goes much deeper than the hope of good physical health. Think about the moment you get upset with someone. Whenever you experience the emotions of anger, frustration, fear, or restlessness, you are not functioning well. Whenever you involve with fear or anxiety, you become much more uncomfortable. No matter how healthy your body is, you will not function properly if negative emotions arise.

Sometimes when your body is sick, you can think properly. Maybe you can tell others. Your mind is stronger than your body. You can tell others what you want and don’t want, but when your mind is sick with fear, anxiety, anger, you are not doing well. What is behind this? This is not something someone can give you. This is something you have to generate. This is something you have to maintiain within you. We often blame others when we are angry or fearful. We blame the future or the past.

The one who has good protection will not involve with those thing. When ever you experience this, you notice it. That is the beginning of protecting yourself. That is the meaning of Be Well. In order to maintain this kind of wellness, you have to protect yourself from the outside.

Be Happy

We always look for happiness outside. We are trying to do something to make ourselves happy. How many times have you ended up unhappy after an attempt to make yourself happy? Just think about purchasing a new car. This can make you happy. Later, the same car can make you unhappy. Maybe you are excited to go to a party and see a new friend. Later, that same situation makes you unhappy.

Where is this happiness and unhappiness? Do you think it comes from the outside? It doesn’t. Happiness and unhappiness you can experience by yourself.

So now with this situation what are we trying to do? We are trying not to depend on the outside. We are trying not to depend on others. We are trying not to depend on the past or future for our own happiness. If you can experience the happiness within you, that is what you are wishing for. That is the permanent happiness that you can experience. That is unconditional happiness. We are trying to generate and cultivate that kind of unconditional happiness within ourselves.

Skillfulness

Skillfulness is very important. What is the opposite of it? What are the unskillful qualities we possess. Outcomes of greed, outcomes of anger, outcomes of ignorance or ego. Greed, Anger, Ego—whatever you do out of one of these, those are unskillful. So we carry these things in order to survive, to offer excuses, not to perform right action, we carry those things.

Recently, I stopped by the print shop to print something. Then I noticed someone left a jump drive on the table. An unskillful mind would encourage me to take it. Right away, I though I should hand this over to the manager of the store. Then, I thought, no, the manager might just keep it. I had many other thoughts. I thought I should keep it. The owner won’t come back. Jump drives aren’t that expensive. All these many thoughts came to my head. I thought, Don’t even touch it. Then, I thought the jump drive would be safer with me. Immediately, I thought, what is happening? Greed had arisen in my heart. I was making a lot of excuses about what I should do. One main quality that goes with unskillfulness: Cunningness. Cunningness 90% goes with ego, ignorance. It makes you heavy. It does not make you light. It makes you tired.

Skillfulness is training to overcome greed, anger and ego, and then cultivate unconditional love, unconditional giving, and unconditional compassion. If you can treat a homeless person like a member of your family, that is a skill. If something bad happens to a loved one, you will not runaway from it. You will help in anyway you can. Can you care the same way for someone suffering on the street?

Is your mind harmful to you or somebody else? If you have a harmless mind you will be free from fear. Those are the skills we should cultivate and we should introduce. What are the desires of those peaceful words, peaceful mind.

Peaceful

What happens with cultivation? You let your heart open. You open with those wishes. This allows you to become free, to become light, not a dark, heavy painful person. You are preparing your heart to accept and respect peace. With mindfulness, with breathing meditation, we are preparing the ground. With this we are planting the seeds in the ground so everyone can enjoy the harvest. None of you family members will hurt themselves because of you, because you aren’t sharing anger, you’re not sharing anxiety, you aren’t sharing fear. When they experience one of those, you will be able to help them build immunity. As a person with a healthy mind, you can look at and see how to help them build immunity. That is what we are doing with this meditation.

We should not give up the practice because of excuses and cunningness.

Special Event: Committing to your Spiritual Path

2010-02-11T09:51:00.000-06:00

Precepts Observing/Renewing Ceremony 2010

-Commitment to Your Spiritual Path -

When: Sunday, February 28th 2010

Time: 10.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.

Where: Monks residence Mankato, Minnesota

Registration: Registration ends February 15th

Check to see the Precepts - Manual

To register go to http://www.triplegem.org/Precepts%20Ceremony%202010.html or send email to info@triplegem.org

Allow this moment to surprise you

2010-02-08T08:18:00.001-06:00

by Bhante Sathi

If someone were to ask you, "What is the purpose of your life?" what would you say? You may list many reasons or you may draw a blank. If you do come up with an answer, it may not be the same answer you gave in the past. In reality, this is the most complicated question you could ever ask yourself.
On one hand, your parents created you; this was not your choice. Your parents raised you and educated you. You finished school and began to support yourself. Then you may go on to create your own family. This is the system your family has followed for generations, that you pass on to your own children.

I have a middle-aged friend that lives alone and unmarried. Recently, a few people asked me about her. They imply that this person is not normal because she does not have anything people are supposed to have at her age. The reality is, my "normal" is not "normal" for this person. This is what we need to pay attention to: What is this "normal"? We define life for others based on ouw own expectations. If someone goes outside the boundaries of these expectations, we think there is something wrong.

A mindful person sees this as thinking inside a box. With education and experience, we change the way we think and learn not to be narrow-minded. This helps us to become open and free, like one who moved from a small room to a bigger house. That freedom comes from having an open mind.
Yet, that is also a bigger box. A meditator notices these boxes all the time and continually breaks those boxes. It starts in this moment. This moment was not planned by anyone, so what is the reality?

We have a fresh future before us that we have never experienced before. Yet, we expect the future environment to be the same tomorrow and next week. If a friend gains or loses weight we notice because it is not the same as before.

We always want to see what we expect. We always listen to what we want to hear. Once we really start to listen, we see that we are continually creating a stereotype.
A gardener is similar to a meditator in the sense that a gardener allows surprises. This is the nature of life: last year was a great year for raspberries; this year the raspberries were abundant. Yet, in daily life we only allow the surprises that we want. For example, your spouse may change over the years in a way you did not expect. It is unpleasant when your house begins to decay. A dent in the car brings anger. Why are these events any different than a garden crop? The gardener can see that a flower may bloom for a day, then it may turn into something else or it may die. That's alright because it's nature. You can add some fertilizer to help it along, but in the end, nature takes its course. If humans are natural beings, why do we expect that our plan for life will be any different?
Meditators practice looking at the present moment without attaching to it, like the gardener who allows surprises to come and go. The difference is, meditators bring that attitude into everything. Whatever exists in this moment, the meditator accepts it as it is. If something grows, the meditator notices. If it needs water of fertilizer, the meditator attends those needs. But the meditator has no need to complain if everything doesn't grow according to plan.

When the we see something is unbeneficial, we should have a clear mind about the appropriate course of action. Meditation helps one to take action without negativity. When we allow life to surprise us, we can maintain a calm, quet mind. That means observing and accepting nature as many meditators and yogis have done for centuries.
We create ourselves within this system. Stepping out of that box is a hard thing to do. Meditation helps us to observe that, to notice that, and to step out of that. This allows us to take action, yet allow everything to surprise us.

Metta Bhavan Practice

2010-02-05T11:23:00.003-06:00

by Bhante Sathi

In the Metta Bhavana practice we’re cultivating love, or friendliness, or lovingkindness.
Our aim is to learn to emit an even supply of warmth to everyone we meet. This is an attainable goal for every human being, but it requires time and commitment.
The practice is in five stages. We cultivate Metta for:
· Ourselves
· Our family and good friends
· A “neutral” person—someone we lack strong feelings for
· A “difficult” person—someone who angers us or who is tiring to be around
· All living beings—this includes animals such as pets
Notice the progression. It’s natural for us to cultivate loving-kindness for ourselves and for our friends. It’s slightly more challenging to do this for people we don’t know well. And it’s a real test to cultivate lovingkindness for those who trigger our angst. Finally, we really must work to remember to cultivate lovingkindness for all sentient beings: i.e. all those known and unknown, visible and invisible—including people we’re in conflict with — plus ourselves of course.
Aside from these five stages, metta practice focuses on four intentions that all living beings be
well, happy, skillful and peaceful.
Metta practice focuses on four intentions. The aim of this meditation is that all living beings be well, happy, skillful and peaceful. We can talk about the four qualities of the Loving-kindness meditation so we understand the importance of this practice and why we wish this for ourselves. When we cultivate these positive qualities we train ourselves to overcome the powerful negative emotions of greed, anger, ignorance, fear, anxiety, and cunning, to name a few.
Be Well
When we hear these two words, our intention goes much deeper than the hope of good physical health. Think about the moment you get upset with someone. Whenever you experience the emotions of anger, frustration, fear, or restlessness, you are not functioning well. Whenever you involve with fear or anxiety, you become much more uncomfortable. No matter how healthy your body is, you will not function properly if negative emotions arise.
Sometimes when your body is sick, you can think properly. Maybe you can tell others. Your mind is stronger than your body. You can tell others what you want and don’t want, but when your mind is sick with fear, anxiety, anger, you are not doing well. What is behind this? This is not something someone can give you. This is something you have to generate. This is something you have to maintiain within you. We often blame others when we are angry or fearful. We blame the future or the past.
The one who has good protection will not involve with those thing. When ever you experience this, you notice it. That is the beginning of protecting yourself. That is the meaning of Be Well. In order to maintain this kind of wellness, you have to protect yourself from the outside.
Be Happy
We always look for happiness outside. We are trying to do something to make ourselves happy. How many times have you ended up unhappy after an attempt to make yourself happy? Just think about purchasing a new car. This can make you happy. Later, the same car can make you unhappy. Maybe you are excited to go to a party and see a new friend. Later, that same situation makes you unhappy.
Where is this happiness and unhappiness? Do you think it comes from the outside? It doesn’t. Happiness and unhappiness you can experience by yourself.
So now with this situation what are we trying to do? We are trying not to depend on the outside. We are trying not to depend on others. We are trying not to depend on the past or future for our own happiness. If you can experience the happiness within you, that is what you are wishing for. That is the permanent happiness that you can experience. That is unconditional happiness. We are trying to generate and cultivate that kind of unconditional happiness within ourselves.
Skillfulness
Skillfulness is very important. What is the opposite of it? What are the unskillful qualities we possess. Outcomes of greed, outcomes of anger, outcomes of ignorance or ego. Greed, Anger, Ego—whatever you do out of one of these, those are unskillful. So we carry these things in order to survive, to offer excuses, not to perform right action, we carry those things.
Recently, I stopped by the print shop to print something. Then I noticed someone left a jump drive on the table. An unskillful mind would encourage me to take it. Right away, I though I should hand this over to the manager of the store. Then, I thought, no, the manager might just keep it. I had many other thoughts. I thought I should keep it. The owner won’t come back. Jump drives aren’t that expensive. All these many thoughts came to my head. I thought, Don’t even touch it. Then, I thought the jump drive would be safer with me. Immediately, I thought, what is happening? Greed had arisen in my heart. I was making a lot of excuses about what I should do. One main quality that goes with unskillfulness: Cunningness. Cunningness 90% goes with ego, ignorance. It makes you heavy. It does not make you light. It makes you tired.
Skillfulness is training to overcome greed, anger and ego, and then cultivate unconditional love, unconditional giving, and unconditional compassion. If you can treat a homeless person like a member of your family, that is a skill. If something bad happens to a loved one, you will not runaway from it. You will help in anyway you can. Can you care the same way for someone suffering on the street?
Is your mind harmful to you or somebody else? If you have a harmless mind you will be free from fear. Those are the skills we should cultivate and we should introduce. What are the desires of those peaceful words, peaceful mind.
Peaceful
What happens with cultivation? You let your heart open. You open with those wishes. This allows you to become free, to become light, not a dark, heavy painful person. You are preparing your heart to accept and respect peace. With mindfulness, with breathing meditation, we are preparing the ground. With this we are planting the seeds in the ground so everyone can enjoy the harvest. None of you family members will hurt themselves because of you, because you aren’t sharing anger, you’re not sharing anxiety, you aren’t sharing fear. When they experience one of those, you will be able to help them build immunity. As a person with a healthy mind, you can look at and see how to help them build immunity. That is what we are doing with this meditation.
We should not give up the practice because of excuses and cunningness.

Meditate to become a better You

2010-02-05T11:22:00.001-06:00

How did you become involved in the science of meditation?

The Dalai Lama often describes Buddhism as being, above all, a science of the mind. That is not surprising, because the Buddhist texts put particular emphasis on the fact that all spiritual practices – whether mental, physical or oral – are directly or indirectly intended to transform the mind.

So it wasn’t surprising that when a meeting was held in 2000 with some of the leading specialists in human emotions – psychologists, neuroscientists and philosophers – they spent an entire week in discussion with the Dalai Lama at his home in Dharamsala, India. Later we agreed to launch a research programme on the short and long-term effects of mind training – “meditation” in other words.

What have we discovered about meditation and the human brain?

Experiments have indicated that the region of the brain associated with emotions such as compassion shows considerably higher activity in those with long-term meditative experience. These discoveries suggest that basic human qualities can be deliberately cultivated through mental training. The study of the influence of mental states on health, which was once considered fanciful, is now an increasing part of the scientific research agenda.

Do you have to be highly skilled to experience the benefits of meditation?

No, one does not have to be a highly trained: 20 minutes of daily practice can contribute significantly to a reduction of anxiety and stress, the tendency to become angry and the risk of relapse in cases of severe depression. Thirty minutes a day over the course of eight weeks results in a considerable strengthening of the immune system and of one’s capacity for concentration. It also speeds up the healing of psoriasis and decreases arterial tension in people suffering from hypertension.

Tell us about your new book, The Art of Meditation.

The book tackles the question: why should we bother to meditate? The answer is that we all have the potential for positive change, which largely remains untapped. That’s a great pity, because we know the virtue of training and learning. We spend years going to school and training in things like sports, but for some strange reason we don’t think that the same need applies to developing and optimising our human qualities.

Tell us about the Mind and Life meeting that will discuss compassion in economic systems.

At the conference – in Zurich in April – will be some bold economists who can demonstrate that altruists are able to influence global markets. In the past, such studies were often refuted by sceptical financial analysts. However, someone like Ernst Fehr, the famous Swiss economist, will show that if altruists make the rules and it is in the interests of selfish people to cooperate, then society can function in a more cooperative way.

Profile

Matthieu Ricard is a French Buddhist monk with a PhD in molecular biology. He has participated in numerous experiments into the effects of meditation on the human brain

Happy Buddhamas

2010-02-03T09:17:00.000-06:00

Someone Else's Happiness

2010-02-03T09:14:00.000-06:00

Sometimes we feel a need to be proven right as we look at someone else’s life choices; it is not that they are necessarily doing anything wrong or hurtful, but they may be living in a different way than we have decided they should be living. Or perhaps our advice turns out to be unappreciated or incorrect, as mine was, and we come face to face with the fact that someone’s happiness does not revolve around us and our fabulous prescience and good sense; instead, it is based on their own good sense, or even on sheer good luck. Can we let go of our need to try to dominate people’s lives and our determination of what the correct outcome of their decisions should be?

- Sharon Salzberg

Triple Gem Calendar: February-March 2010

2010-02-03T09:13:00.000-06:00

* Precepts Observing/Renewing Ceremony 2010

-Commitment to Your Spiritual Path-

When: Sunday, February 28th 2010

Time: 10.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.

Where: Mankato, Minnesota - Location to be announced

Registration: Registration ends February 10th

*Sri Lankan Dinner and Culture Night

Third Annual TGN Mankato Building Fundraiser

Sunday, March 28, 4:00 p.m.

First Congregational United Church of Christ

150 Stadium Court, Mankato

Tickets $20 (children under 6 eat free)

At Buddhist Monks’ Residence

26 Sumner Hills, Mankato

(please buy tickets in advance, a limited number may be available at the door) Please contact us for tickets by phone, e-mail or in person.

For more information, please feel free to contact us at (612) 216-4854

E-mail: info@triplegem.org

*One day Meditation Retreat, March 27, 2010

Registration is required by March 18th

Space is limited for 25 people.

Register Click Now or Call (612) 216 4854 Email us info@triplegem.org

Accident leads to meditation practice

2010-01-27T08:27:00.000-06:00

January 15, 2010

Accident leads to meditation practice

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

When Chuck St. Romain was granted a new lease on life, he also received a new view of how to live that renewed oppportunity more fully.

A hunting accident came perilously close to killing St. Romain, but his traumatic journey through that experience led to an appreciation of meditation and a spiritual awakening.

"I was duck hunting south of here," St. Romain said. "I slipped, heard a bang, got shot and was bleeding from my head. At first, I was terrified. Then that shifted into sadness, and I told those with me to tell (wife) Barb and (daughter) Claire that I love them, because I didn't think I'd see them again.

"Then I shifted into this incredible awareness of my breath. I was so present with my breath, so connected. My terror had eased dramatically."

The surgeon at the hospital in Cameron Parish told St. Romain that if the bullet had been a half-inch from where it was, he would have died instead of suffering a frightening scalp wound.

"I wanted to understand," said St. Romain, a licensed clinical social worker.

"It was no accident that it happened. I was overwhelmed. I wanted to let the universe teach me. I decided to go investigate meditation."

St. Romain has been practicing meditation for 14 years now. He has translated that discovery into Spirit Path Meditation and Spiritual Enrichment Center in Lafayette, which provides weekly meditation sittings, frequent retreats and book study for clients.

He also teaches courses through UL's Potpourri program, this spring offering Insight Meditation.

"Lafayette has been amazingly open (to meditation)," St. Romain said. "There are a lot of wonderful things going on."

As with his brush with death, St. Romain starts participants on their journey by Vipassana, a focus on breathing. They grow to appreciate Metta, compassion and loving kindness practices.

"Most who try meditation are experiencing some kind of distress," St. Romain said. "We try to help them. Some come through curiosity, and they love the idea. But you can't come and sit one time and expect a miracle. It's a daily thing. In our culture, people plan. They can't just be in the moment.

"Some are afraid of what it will do to their religious beliefs. But I'm gentle with that. Some are afraid, because as you get quiet your body begins to reveal the tension it has.

"The body is incredible. It's wounded. Emotions come out. People get afraid and want to move. In our culture, we do a lot not to reveal pain. But they need to get that fear out of the way. The human condition is that we have a great capacity for unbelievable joy and pleasure."

St. Romain guides clients through those stages of hesitancy, concern and uncertainty to a calm state. It's something that takes patience, which he has learned.

"We deal with impatience," he said. "They begin to feel tense and agitated. But you have to be present for everything. You have to stay with that breath, stay in the moment."

Advanced meditation practitioners can find themselves in an "altered state."

"I sometimes have the feeling I'm levitating," St. Romain said. "Of course I'm not, but we're so not used to the capacity we have."

That awareness can come on the cushion on the floor during sessions, or in exercises focused on each movement in walking. Touching a car door handle or brushing teeth are other opportunities for previusly unrealized sensasions.

"We have the capacity to experience life fully," said St. Romain. "I've come to appreciate the moment."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Calendar of events

2010-01-27T08:24:00.000-06:00

This Week In Mankato

Mondays

Meditation

7:00 pm to 8:15pm

Location: First Congregational United Church of Christ

150 Stadium Ct, Mankato

This is a meditation class good for experienced and beginneing open thinkers. Discussion is followed by guided meditation.

Wednesdays

Sutra Discussion group

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)

A group discussion of Buddhist sutras, beginning January 20th.

Meditation Group II

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)

This is a meditation class for open thinkers. Discussion is followed by guided meditation.

Sundays

Meditation

10:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.
Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)

We will practice Metta meditation for about 40 minutes, followed by Dhammapada studies. The Dhammapada is a collection of Buddha's Dhamma teachings on the way of life that leads to ultimate happiness.

Paramitha Group

4:15 p.m. to 5:45p.m.
Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)

This is a committed group that studies the practical application of Dhamma in day-to-day life. We share specific documents via e-mail and read them prior to the meeting. Contact Bhante Sathi for information on joining this group.

Announcements

*** Precepts Observing/Renewing Ceremony 2010

for more info Click

*** Buddhist Teacher Certification
(Course 1 - Buddhist Teachings for Daily Life) more info Click

***Journey to TGN's second home in Chanhassen, MN

For more information click here

Five tips for better meditation

2010-01-04T10:32:00.001-06:00

This posting is from yesterday's Chicago Tribune. Enjoy!

For some novice meditators, the quest for inner peace can get a bit … stressful.

Do I "om?" Picture a white-sand beach? Breathe white light out of my nostril? Can I scratch that itch on my back before I lose my mind?

Studies show that meditation has many health benefits, from lowering blood pressure to boosting happiness. But nothing defeats the purpose like stressing out about it. So let's keep it simple.

Stephan Bodian, a California psychotherapist and author of "Meditation for Dummies," recommends mindfulness meditation as best for stress reduction. In mindfulness meditation, you let yourself be fully present in the moment by focusing on your breath.

Bodian offered five pointers:

1: Breath: Breathe naturally, without forcing anything. Notice the sensation at your nostrils, and the rise and fall of your chest and belly as you breathe. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your breath.

2: Posture: Feel free to sit cross-legged, kneel, sit on a chair or lie down — whatever's most comfortable. The most important thing is posture: Your back should be straight but not rigid, so imagine that you're being pulled toward the sky with a string attached to the crown of your head. Try not to fidget or squirm; instead of immediately reacting to discomfort, be aware of how it affects you.

3: Eyes and tongue: Close your eyes, keep them open or leave them half open, but pick one way and stick with it throughout the meditation. To stabilize your tongue, rest it lightly on the roof of your mouth. This Zen technique is believed to cut down on subvocalization, which is when your tongue moves slightly with the thoughts that pass through your head.

4: Routine: You're more likely to incorporate meditation into your daily routine if you have a designated time and spot for it. Pick a quiet corner in your home, and turn off electronics. Mornings are good, before you drink any coffee so you're not wired. Try not to meditate after a heavy meal or just before bed because you tend to be sleepy. Set a timer to alert you to the end of your session to frame the meditation and give it a ritualistic quality. Aim to meditate at least five days a week; there's not much benefit if you do it once a week or every now and then.

5: Time: Meditating 20 to 30 minutes daily is ideal, but if you only have five or 10 minutes, go for it. There is no "right" way to meditate, so let go of goal orientation, and don't try to track your progress.

Triple Gem Retreat: December 27th to 29th.

2009-12-15T09:26:00.002-06:00

Year end Meditation Retreat

with Bhante Sathi

Sunday December 27th,28th,29th, 2009

Location :Mankato MN 56001(subject to change, we will be e-mail to those who registered)

Retreat Daily Schedule

This is a typical schedule for a formal retreat. Exact times and activities will vary.

4:45 AM Wake-up gong
5:00 AM -5:30 AM Optional yoga
5:30 AM -6:45 AM Group Meditation
7:00 AM -7:45 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM -8:45 AM Work period
9:00 AM -11:00 AM Group Meditation
11:15 AM-12:00 PM Lunch
12:00 PM-2:00 PM Personal time
2:00 PM -5:00 PM Group Meditation and Dhamma Talk
5:00 PM -6:00 PM Optional yoga
6:00 PM -7:00 PM Tea (optional)
7:00 PM -9:00 PM Group Meditation or Dhamma Talk

Participants may arrive on 26th night.

Participants are expected to attend all group events. Please note that we do not serve or eat an evening meal.

NOTE: Introduction to meditation retreats have shorter meditation periods. For all retreats the meditation is split between sitting, standing, and walking meditation.

Accommodations

It is traditional on retreat to take the accommodation assigned and to practice with whatever situation one finds oneself in, and to accept the food that is offered.

We will provide accommodation to first 20 people, (males will stay at monks residence and females will stay with our neighbor) rest may have to stay somewhere ells.

Three meals a day will be served, with the main meal at noonand light tea fare in the evening. Simple vegetarian foods will be provided. Retreatants allergic to wheat and/or dairy products will be accommodated if this need is indicated on the registration form. Those with other dietary needs are encouraged to bring their necessary food items. There is some refrigerator space provided for retreatants' own food items. There are no facilities to prepare/cook individual meals.

Attendance

Retreatants are asked and strongly encouraged to start and end the retreat with the entire group. Any exceptions are made by the teacher. Any late-arriving retreatants will be assigned their work-meditation job by the retreat manager.

Ways to Support the Retreat

The retreat is offered freely in the spirit of generosity. There will be an opportunity to leave a donation to Mankato Meditation Centerat the end of the retreat, to support the teacher and the center.

Prior to the retreat, retreatants and other community members will have the opportunity to make a donation to be used to purchase all the groceries and supplies for the retreat, (Any extra will go to support Monks residence.) It is an ancient Buddhist tradition for the community to happily feed people and Monks, who engaged in intensive spiritual practice, thereby participating in their good effort.

Monetary donations may be made in-person at Monks Residence, by mail, or by internet. At Meditation class please leave donations in the envelope labeled for retreat groceries by the dana basket. By mail, send donations to: PO box323, St Peter Mn 56082. Please make checks payable to Triplegem Of The North , and mark "December residential retreat". Online donations may be made through the Triplegem website.

Register Now or Call 1(612) 216 4854 Email us retreat@triplegem.org

Questions/Comments Contact Usif you haveany questions/comments.

Meditators Toolbox

2009-11-23T09:35:00.003-06:00

This is from the pages of Tricycle Magazine. Many have trouble committing to daily meditation. We all have excuses why we can't sit for 20 or even 10 minutes. With the holidays upon us the reasons really begin to stack up. Here is a link to a helpful article titled "Meditator's Toolbox: 21 tips to power your practice."

Enjoy and keep sitting!

Calendar Events for November and December 2009

2009-11-19T08:59:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving Retreat (One Day Retreat)

Where: Pht-An Temple

475 Minnesota Ave

Roseville, MN

When: Saturday, November 28, 2009.

Registration deadline is November 18, 2009.

*** Space Available for 6 more attendants ***

For more information click

-------------------------------------------------------------

Mindfulness Retreat (Half Day Retreat)

Where: Mankato, MN

When: December 05th, 2009

For more info Click

Study shows that meditation may help in managing stress

2009-11-12T09:05:00.000-06:00

Study shows brief training in meditation may help manage pain

Living with pain is stressful, but a surprisingly short investment of time in mental training can help you cope.

Calendar of events: November 2009

2009-11-05T09:26:00.002-06:00

Wednesday
Meditation Group11(Mankato)
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Monks Residence
This is a meditation class for open thinkers. Open discussion followed by guided meditation. You are welcome!

Friday

Meditation

6.30 pm- 8.00 pm

Location: The Marsh, Minnetonka MN

Saturday

Meditation

10.10 am - 11.30 am

Location: Library- Chanhassen, MN

Sunday

Metta Meditation Group

Sundays

10:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.

Location: Monks Residence (Mankato)

We will practice Metta meditation about 40 minutes followed by Dhammapada studies. Dhammapada is a collection of verses delivered by Buddha which contains deep Dhamma teachings and lessons on the proper way of life.

Paramitha (perfection) Group

4:15 p.m. to 5:45p.m.
Location: Monks Residence

This is a committed group meet and studies how to apply and practice Dhamma with day to day life. We shire certain document via e-mail and reed before come to the meeting. You are welcome to be part of this group. Contact Bhante Sathi for more information.

*************************************************************

Coming Events...............

Stress Reduction Meditation Workshop

Where: The Marsh-

Minnetonka, MN

When: Saturday, November 7, 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. At

Meditation Workshop - Led by Bhante Sathi, this workshop is designed to help you relax in stressful situations. You will learn meditation and breathing techniques, and find out how to focus on yourself. For more info click

Thanksgiving Retreat (One Day Retreat)

Where: Pht-An Temple

475 Minnesota Ave

Roseville, MN

When: Saturday, November 28, 2009.

For more information click

-------------------------------------------------------------

Mindfulness Retreat (Half Day Retreat)

Where: Mankato, MN

When: December 05th, 2009

For more info Click

---------------------------------------------------------------

Samadhi Meditation Retreat (Half Day Retreat)

Where: Mankato, MN

When: Saturday, November 14, 2009

For more info Click

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Visit our blog http://triplegemofthenorth.blogspot.com/ for our newsletter.

Please feel free to share your valuable thoughts as we highly appreciate your insight. For more info contact us at (612)216 4854

or go to web www.triplegem.org

One who loves his own life loves all

2009-11-02T09:21:00.002-06:00

I remember when we saw two people running through our backyard. We immediately thought they were hunters. We ran over to them and asked, “What are you doing in our backyard? You can’t hunt here.” They said they were chasing after a deer they shot a few miles away. We found the dead deer in our neighbor’s yard. As I walked back to my house I thought, “Those who run after another’s death do not know that their own death follows them as a shadow.”

When I was little, I have heard a story about two boys. One day a boy saw a swan suffering on the ground. This swan had been shot by somebody. The boy pulled the arrow out and gave the swan some water. Then another boy came there following the blood track. The second boy saw that shot swan on the other boy’s hand. The second boy said, “Give me my swan; I am the one who shot it.” The first boy said, “No, this one is mine because I am the one who saved him. If it is dead it is yours, since I saved it, it is mine.”

Who owns a life? We don’t have to go with any philosopher to understand that how much we each want to live. To protect our own life we would do anything. To understand this simple, uncomplicated truth we don’t need Buddha, Krishna or Jesus. Only we have to be honest.

We are humans; we can think. Thinkers become honest and open. An open honest person is rich with wisdom. One who has wisdom will not depend on anyone else’s idea.

Some immaturities hide the truth for the purpose of feeding the ego. We play with life, not knowing the value of life. We are ok when we are having fun, but we are not ok when the time comes around for us to die.

Once Buddha went to an animal sacrifice held by group of other priests. They believed this activity would bring power and prosperity to those who participated and that the animals would go to heaven directly. Buddha disagreed with this event. He was begged them to not to kill the animals but they were convinced that this was not bringing harm to those animal at all. They believed that they were freeing the animals from worldly suffering. Buddha asked if they were really sure the animals were going to heaven. The head priest confirmed yes, that they believed. Buddha asked them if they had children and they answered yes. Then he brought the question to them, “If you are that sure that you can send someone to heaven in this way, why don’t you sacrifice the life of your children for your god? If you are not sure if you would do that, then let these animals go.” They freed the animals.

No one can own another’s life. All living beings have the desire to live. Recently somebody asked me, “Do you eat meat?” I replied that I don’t. The person asked why. I said, “Because I don’t want anyone to eat me or kill me for their food. Since I don’t like it, I think nobody likes it.” To understand this very simple truth, we don’t need any religious master. It is simple. Those who don’t know the value of their own life will not understand the value of another’s life. One who destroys another life will destroy her own life.

Calendar Events for November 2009

2009-10-31T14:20:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving Retreat (One Day Retreat)

Where: Pht-An Temple

475 Minnesota Ave

Roseville, MN

When: Saturday, November 28, 2009.

For more information click

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Mindfulness Retreat (Half Day Retreat)

Where: Mankato, MN

When: December 05th, 2009

For more info Click

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Samadhi Meditation Retreat (Half Day Retreat)

Where: Mankato, MN

When: Saturday, November 14, 2009

For more info Click

Something to meditate over

2009-10-25T10:29:00.000-05:00

Something to meditate over

Taking time to stop and notice

2009-09-30T08:49:00.005-05:00

Below is an excerpt from a Washington Post story printed two years ago. The reporter,Gene Weingarten, won the Pulitzer Prize for this piece and it shines a light on how people don't stop to appreciate or even notice the world around us. Dear readers, please take a moment to stop and take notice of this article. You can read the entire story here.

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?

Robe Ceremony TGN October 4,2009

2009-09-29T08:12:00.001-05:00

Robe Ceremony 2009

Sunday, October 4^th, 2009

This is a traditional day of offering gifts to the monks.

Gifts can include food, household, bath and office supplies, and daily necessities.

You may also sponsor a monk with a monetary donation.

Schedule

10:00 a.m. Arrival

10:10 a.m. Metta Meditation

10:30 a.m. Dhamma talk

11:00 a.m. Offering to Buddha

11:15 a.m. Offering of robe to monks

11:30 a.m. Offering of lunch to monks

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. End

Location: Monks residence Mankato MN

Lunch is a potluck; please bring a dish to share.

Sponsor A Monk or Nun: You are welcome to Sponsor A Monk or non by offering 50$ donation.

Wish Tree: A fascinating ritual associated with the Katina ceremony is the setting up of the "wishing tree", traditionally referred to as the kapruka, (legendary tree of bounties, which grants all that one would wish for) in the temple premises.

The idea is you offer what you wish to receive. In one hand this is a karmic action we perform on a special day. Buddhists believe that every action we take on this day will be multiplied. For example, if you wish for someone's good health or recovery, you may offer some medicine that is useful for monks. According to Buddha, this Event is a powerful meritorious event. You are welcome to bring any useful item.

For gift ideas or details on monk sponsorship, please contact the Monks' Residence at 612-216-4854. Monetary donations may be sent to the Monks' Residence by mail or delivered in person at our meditation classes. Also welcome to bring with you at Robe Ceremony.

This Week in Mankato

Meditation
7.00pm 8.30pm
Meditation Class (7 p.m.- 8:15 p.m.) At First Congregational United Church-Mankato

Meditation Group11
Wednesday
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Monks Residence
This is a meditation class for open thinkers. Open discussion followed by guided meditation. You are welcome!

This Sunday

Sundays October 4^th

Paramitha (perfection) Group

Sundays
4:15 p.m. to 5:45p.m.
Location: Monks Residence

This is a committed group meet and studies how to apply and practice Dhamma with day to day life. We shire certain document via e-mail and reed before come to the meeting. You are welcome to be part of this group. Contact Bhante Sathi for more information.
We will start to discuss Thirty-seven Factors of Enlightenment on October 4th. please check out the list by clicking the link below. And we will start from The Four Correct Endeavors

http://www.zhaxizhuoma.net/DHARMA/Tripitaka/37FactorsEnlightenment.htm

*** Mankato Monks-Residence Wish List (Click here)

Please visit our blog http://triplegemofthenorth.blogspot.com/ and feel free to share your valuable thoughts as we highly appreciate your insight.

For more info contact us at (612)216 4854

Fear and Meditation

2009-09-28T09:01:00.000-05:00

Q: Lately I’ve been dealing with a lot of fear during my meditation practice. It seems to come from nowhere, and it either focuses on a specific attachment or it manifests as a more existential, nameless sort of thing. How can I deal with this?

A: Fear is what happens when reality collides with our personal fiction. Our practice is based on expectations—expectations about who we are, why we are practicing, and what our practice should be. As our hope disintegrates, it may be replaced by fear. Our characteristics, personality, all of our beautiful plans and ideas are like snowflakes about to fall on the hot stone of our meditation practice.

Maybe you’ve poked through boredom and have had a first taste of spaciousness. Until your experience has become stable, the fear remains that your dreams, your life, and your base could fall apart. The more you contemplate space, the more you are aware of the dissolution of everything you have assumed to be real, lasting, and reliable—including your motivation and your practice. Now it all feels transitory and unreliable. This crisis, rooted in dissolution, translates as fear.

This is a seminal moment in our practice. Each time it manifests, each time we are aware of fear, we have a choice: we can acknowledge our problem and work with it, or we can run away from it and seek refuge elsewhere: distractions, pharmaceuticals, weekend feel-good-about-yourself workshops, whatever. We are free to refuse the disappointment and the dissolution. We don’t have to put ourselves back into the situation where the foundation of our being is shaken by the experience of impermanence and emptiness.

But if we decide to continue, if we’re convinced of the sanity of the Four Noble Truths and decide to take refuge in the dharma that the Buddha taught, we need to be courageous. We can choose to take refuge in the brilliant sanity of enlightenment, the Buddha; trust the process of the path, the Dharma; and rely on the experience of those who guide us along the path, the Sangha. We can choose to explore our mind, learn about its problem areas and hidden treasures, but it won’t be comfortable. The guidance of a spiritual friend or teacher is crucial at this stage of our practice.

At the same time, we can be nice to ourselves, accept ourselves as we are and let go of what we are pretending to be. Our crisis is a normal phase. We all enter the spiritual path as ego-based beings, and as such we have ego-based hopes and fears. Practice is virtually never what we expect. We feel like we’ve got it all wrong, thinking, “The more I meditate, the worse I become.” My teacher, Gendun Rinpoche, always responded to this by saying, “When you see your own shortcomings, it’s the dawn of qualities. If you only see your qualities, there’s a problem.”

It’s true that if we continue to try to create our personal nirvana through our practice, we’re going to suffer even more. If we use the practice tools that develop intelligence and clarity with a confused, selfish motivation, reality is bound to collide with our fiction. This is where practice is supposed to bring us. This is the proof that the dharma works. It’s the end of our confused, fictive world, and the dawning of truth.

When fear arises within our meditation, we apply an antidote. Recognizing what is happening at each instant as mind, we remain in the present. It is important to remember that patterns don’t have to repeat themselves. Through remaining in the present, we can let go of the past and the future - the headquarters of our fears. We recognize and then we let go, whether coming back to the focal point of our meditation - posture, breath, visualization - or nonconceptual space. Through motivation, honesty, and confidence you can practice with your fears and go beyond in them in a way you never thought possible.

Lama Tsony is head of the monastic community at the Dhagpo Kundreul Ling hermitage in Auvergne, France. He travels throughout the U.S. and Europe, teaching and leading meditation retreats.

Robe Ceremony TGN October 4,2009

2009-09-21T19:56:00.004-05:00

Robe Ceremony 2009

Sunday, October 4^th, 2009

This is a traditional day of offering gifts to the monks.

Gifts can include food, household, bath and office supplies, and daily necessities.

You may also sponsor a monk with a monetary donation.

Schedule

10:00 a.m. Arrival

10:10 a.m. Metta Meditation

10:30 a.m. Dhamma talk

11:00 a.m. Offering to Buddha

11:15 a.m. Offering of robe to monks

11:30 a.m. Offering of lunch to monks

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. End

Location: Monks residence MankatoMN

Lunch is a potluck; please bring a dish to share.

Sponsor A Monk or Nun: You are welcome to Sponsor A Monk or non by offering 50$ donation.

Wish Tree: A fascinating ritual associated with the Katina ceremony is the setting up of the "wishing tree", traditionally referred to as thekapruka, (legendary tree of bounties, which grants all that one would wish for) in the temple premises.

The 31 Flavors of Craving

2009-09-21T09:18:00.002-05:00

This article is from Tricycle Magazine addressing the issue of craving.

The Pali word for craving is tanha, which means “thirst.” The Buddha identified three distinct kinds of tanha that you repeatedly experience; they are often unnoticed, because they arise and then are quickly preempted by yet another and then another. First is your craving for the six kinds of sense desires, or kama tanha: craving for certain food tastes or for pleasing sounds or for silence; craving for sexual, affectionate, or comforting touch or simple physical comfort in your body; craving for attractive, pleasant, comforting, inspiring sights as well as for pleasant, refreshing smells; and finally, craving for thoughts that are confirming, useful, stimulating, and reassuring to you. Just think of how many different sense desires you have in any given moment!

The second type of craving is the desire for existence and for becoming what you are not. In Pali this is called bhava tanha. You may want to be wealthy, or more athletic, or sexually desirable, or a better musician. The craving to “become” can be wholesome—to be a good parent or a better friend to others, or to be more generous, healthier, or more disciplined—yet still cause suffering. Even your longing for spiritual growth can be bhava tanha! It, too, can create suffering in the untrained mind: Will you get there? Are you going about it the right way? And it can result in greed, uncontrolled wanting, envy, impatience, selfjudgment, temptation of all sorts, and unskillful words and actions.

Bhava tanha is one of the most common causes of suffering in modern culture. You are exhorted to achieve and to accumulate to the point that you take birth as “one who does and gets.” Thus what might be healthy goals decay into obsession and compulsion. A tragic example of this is a story that was widely reported in the media in which a tennis father was so desirous of his children winning their matches that he drugged the water bottles of the young people with whom they competed. The dad could not stand the possibility of his children losing; it was torturous and drove him to act unskillfully. His behavior continued until one young man had an extreme reaction and died. It is easy to say the father was just crazy, but you, too, can become obsessive in a manner that causes suffering, only not as extreme. When you take birth in outcome, it is so torturous to you that even if you can refrain from acting unskillfully, the mind is still tormented.

The third type of tanha arises when you are so disillusioned with something in your life and want to get rid of it or want it to cease with such intensity that you crave nonexistence. This state of mind is called vibhava tanha. For instance, you may be so overwhelmed by chronic back pain or a difficult emotion that you are flooded with aversion to life itself. Or you have such antipathy toward your physical appearance, aging, or disease that life seems unbearable. In each of these instances, your nervous system is overcome by the energy generated by the craving, and it seems as if your whole being is rejecting existence. Vibhava tanha is annihilation. If you have ever felt suicidal, even briefly, then you have had flashes of vibhava tanha in the extreme. In its milder manifestations, vibhava tanha is part of everyday life. For example, you can feel so humiliated when you make a big mistake in front of others that for a brief moment your mind is filled with this craving.

Often students discover that before starting a vipassana practice they had been aware of cravings associated with sense desires but much less aware of suffering coming from the other two tanhas. One meditation student told me that upon hearing about the types of craving, he quickly realized that he was organized around bhava tanha— always judging himself on the basis of wanting to be someone he was not. He could see that it had caused him endless, needless suffering that he had been aware of without knowing its source.▼

Calendar Events for September and October 2009

2009-09-21T09:15:00.002-05:00

***October 4th- Robe Ceremony (Katina) 2009

keep the day open for this annual activity.

This Week in Mankato

This Sunday

Metta Meditation Group

Sundays

10:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.

Location: Monks Residence

We will practice Metta meditation about 40 minutes followed by Dhammapada studies. Dhammapada is a collection of verses delivered by Buddha which contains deep Dhamma teachings and lessons on the proper way of life.

Paramitha (perfection) Group

Sundays
4:15 p.m. to 5:45p.m.
Location: Monks Residence

This is a committed group meet and studies how to apply and practice Dhamma with day to day life. We shire certain document via e-mail and reed before come to the meeting. You are welcome to be part of this group. Contact Bhante Sathi for more information.

*** Mankato Monks-Residence Wish List (Click here)

Non Self

2009-09-18T10:27:00.002-05:00

by Bhante Sathi

Twenty years ago my mom and dad used to argue constantly. It was painful to watch. There were many times in my life I wished my father was dead because he made everyone unhappy and we would be better off without him.

But there were many other times I thought he was the best man in the world because he worked hard and was a good provider.

Today I am flying back to Sri Lanka for my dad’s funeral. Even as a monk who spends so much time developing my mind, I find myself clinging to the loss.

Who am I? Am I the person who thought my father should die, or am I the person who thought my father was the greatest? What do I really want? Why did I want it both ways?

I wanted to see my dad alive. But as I tried to hide my tears from the other passengers I realized there was an opportunity to really understand myself and my relationship with the man I hated and loved at the same time.

Then for a moment at 35 thousand feet I felt a sense of relief. The present seemed more important than what happened 20 years or 20 minutes ago.

I asked myself what is real and permanent? Am I permanent? Of course not, nothing not even my body is permanent. Then if nothing is impermanent, what is the answer?

Once there was a group of the priests who approached the Buddha and said, “It is better to be a fox in the Himalayan forest than to be an Arahant because an Arahant does not experience pleasure. Desiring pleasure builds the self." But talk about permanent happiness in heaven is an attachment because no one will want to go if it is unpleasant.

The thoughts of being trapped in the cycle of "I,me, mine" began to melt. Suddenly, my past is not me anymore. Today will be past by tomorrow and tomorrow is not here yet. So who am I?

Non self.

I'm good. How are you?

2009-09-15T09:01:00.000-05:00

When you ask accomplished teachers how they are, they always say, “Good, good, very good” — always good. Many people say that they feel dishonest saying they are good when in fact they have problems. But what we are talking about here is developing a fundamental sense of strength and well-being. Wouldn’t it be better to associate our mind with that rather than with all the fleeting emotions and physical sensations we experience throughout the say? What is the point of being honest about something so fleeting and impossible to pin down? If your well-being is so dependent upon emotions and physical sensations, you will have little opportunity to say, “I am well.” So when people ask how you are, say, “Good!”

— Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

Yoga practice helps the body and mind

2009-09-03T09:54:00.003-05:00

Here is a piece written by a fitness trainer based in California. I saw it on Facebook and wanted to share it with you.

Although Yoga is practiced by many Buddhists and is part of many Triple Gem retreats, sometimes we forget how powerful it can be in helping us overcome anger, stress and find our way in the present moment. I hope you enjoy this:

Last Saturday I found myself in a very bad way. I've been having some repair work done on my house to fix sketchy construction by the original builder. The problem is, my beautiful home leaked like an old fishing boat. A company repaired this issue 3 years ago, but this past winter, water found it's way back in. Nothing like spending thousands of dollars on something that didn't work. This time around I was going to get the best guy in the city. Turns out the water proofer was a rock star (the place is as tight as a drum) but the construction company hired to put the place back together again was pathetic. Shoddy work, lame sub contractors, overcharging me at every turn, and turning a 3 month job into 8. This project has been the bane of my existence... again!

Last Saturday the frustration cup runneth over. After endless delays and screw-ups I exploded all over the owner of this construction company. I haven't been that angry or yelled that loud in 20 years. In that moment I understood crimes of passion. Luckily my outburst was over the phone, because if this guy had been standing in front of me, I surely would have driven my fist through his brain. Even as I write this I feel my cortisol levels rise. Anger IS one letter short of danger. When I hung up (slammed down) the phone after my verbal combustion, I was shaking. The other thing I couldn't shake was this toxic feeling I had coursing throughout my entire body. In that moment I completely understood how anger can make you sick.

This hate outburst occurred at approximately 3:15 last Saturday afternoon and I was planning to go to my yoga class at 4:00 PM. If my friends Brian and Shawna hadn't joining me I would have certainly blown it off. Yoga was the very last thing I wanted to do after that confrontation. Hitting a heavy bag for an hour seemed like the only logical release for what I was suffering from. The verbal shrapnel was still flying on our way to yoga and prior to class the heat coming off of me was so intense that the girl next to me got up and moved to the back of the room. I'm not kidding. I was about to turn a simple sweet Hatha Yoga class into Kill And Destroy Yoga.

For the first 45 minutes of class every pose, every asana was executed like a Vulcan Robot. Perfect emotionless linear intensity. I didn't even break a sweat for the first 45 minutes. Between minute 45 and 50 everything changed. The anger was gone and the sweat started pouring out of me in buckets. The first thing I did after class was call the guy (I screamed at) and apologize. Even with the wrong intentions the physical movements of yoga helped me find balance again. I was transformed. A miraculous thing, really. It's possible that any physical movement could have helped me, but it was Vulcan Robot Yoga that made everything right again. Namaste.

We are not our bodies

2009-08-24T08:30:00.001-05:00

You should train yourself: Even though I may be sick in body, my mind will be free of sickness. That's how you should train yourself.... And how is one sick in body but not sick in mind? There is the case where an instructed noble disciple ... does not assume the body to be the self, or the self as possessing the body, or the body as in the self, or the self as in the body. He is not obsessed with the idea that "I am the body" or "The body is mine." As he is not obsessed with these ideas, his body changes and alters, but he does not fall into sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, or despair over its change and alteration. (Similarly with feeling, perception, mental processes, and consciousness.) This is how one is sick in body but not sick in mind.

Calendar Events for September 2009

2009-08-20T08:16:00.002-05:00

Metta Meditation Group

Sundays

10:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.

Location: Monks Residence

Paramitha (perfection) Group

Sundays

4:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Location: Monks Residence

This is a committed group meet and studies how to apply and practice Dhamma with day to day life. We shire certain document via e-mail and reed before come to the meeting. You are welcome to be part of this group. Contact Bhante Sathi for more information.

Coming Events............

1) Meditation Retreat - August 29^th

Vipassana Meditation Retreat at Roseville, MN(for more Info click here....)

2) 3rd Annual Thank You Lunch

September 13th (please keep the day open)

3) October 4th- Robe Ceremony (Katina) 2009

keep the day open for this annual activity.

** Mankato Monks-Residence Wish List(Click here)

How to Deal with Distractions

2009-08-20T08:15:00.001-05:00

In the age of cell phones and the Internet, many of us have become smitten with the distractions of choice— texting, instant messaging, twittering, listening to iPods, checking email, reading the news online. These distractions can be fun, and, when seen as multitasking, even necessary. The problem is that some distractions are more detrimental to our focus and happiness than others. Most distractions fall into one of two categories: those that draw us in multiple directions at once, resulting in confusion and an inability to complete a thought or action, and those that provide mental relaxation, offering small “breaks” that support intense focus and effort. Clearly, we want less of the former and more of the latter.

–Marc Lesser, from "Do Less Accomplish More: Distractions,"

What counts as meditation time?

2009-08-02T19:22:00.006-05:00

With apologies to David Letterman and his Top Ten list: Here are the top ten reasons to start meditating, courtesy of the blog beliefnet.com. I would also expand this to include all those who have been meditating and have stopped, and those that don't meditate everyday. In other words, many of us.

What this list doesn't do is define what counts as meditation. Many of us think of it as sitting on a cushion in the lotus position with incense burning, but is that the only way? When we think of it as strictly a solitary practice earmarked for 30 plus minutes a day, then often we set ourselves up to failure.

Life's moments always throw us off the path: an injury or illness, working overtime, making too many commitments and on and on and on. Does following our breath when we take a short walk or eating mindfully at meal time count as meditating? Does meditating for five minutes at my desk or following my breath while stuck in traffic count? I say, why not?

Although it is great when formal time is put aside everyday, not being able to do that is not a call to be angry or disappointed in myself. That fosters self hatred.

If I'm pulled away from the cushion because a loved one is sick and needs constant attention than that is my meditation. Caring for someone while being in the present moment cultivates the wisdom of compassion through selflessness. Conversely, working more hours than I care to because I don't want to lose my job is a moment of selflessness to help my employer stay in business supports me and everyone else I work with who needs their paycheck to care for their family.

It's easy to forget that meditating is multi dimensional, it's not necessarily a fixed period of time once per day. It is about staying in the present moment all day, not just when I sit down with my eyes closed.

Upcoming Events

2009-07-28T10:37:00.001-05:00

1) July 26th - Vipassana Meditation Retreat at Mankato, MN

(More Info....)

2) August 29th - Vipassana Meditation Retreat at Roseville, MN

(More Info....)

3) Buddhist Teacher Certification

Course 1: Buddhist Teachings for Daily Life (for more info click here)

4) 3rd Annual Thank You Lunch - September 13th (please keep the day open)

5) October 4th- Robe Ceremony (Katina) 2009. Keep the day open for this

annual activity.

** Mankato Monks-Residence Wish List(Click here)

Weeding the Dhamma Garden

2009-07-24T13:12:00.002-05:00

Cultivating Dhamma (the teachings of Buddha) and farming uses similar techniques. It is very important to prepare the ground before we start farming the land. Then we need to fertilize the ground. That is a reminiscent of practicing morality in our life. Similar to fertilizing the ground we need to prepares ourselves with morality or discipline ourselves. After preparing the ground and nurturing the soil we then plant the seeds. The type of seeds we chose to plant must be what we wish to harvest at the end. To give a simile, if we need to harvest corn as the end result we need to plant corn seeds, not soy or rice seeds. If we need soy as the harvest we should plant soy seeds, not corn or rice. In the same way if we need compassion we need to plant compassion, not hatred or something ells. If we need peace in our lives we need to plant the seeds of peace and not something ells. Here we need to mindfulness to identify what we need. When we talk about farming we need to know which plant is suitable for the kind of soil, the kind of weather, or perhaps the environment we have, which plant is more economical, and which will give more profit. Same way we need to select the seeds that we need. Therefore, one who practices Dhamma needs to select the seeds with extreme care, the type of harvest one likes to have are the type of seeds that one needs to grow. In our Dhamma practice we can categorize the seeds we need in to four groups - metta (benevolence), Karuna (compassion), Muditha (sympathetic - joy), and Uphekka (equanimity). These are the seeds for ones inner peace.

Ones when the farmer chooses the types of seeds they need, the farmer prepares the ground according to the type of plan/seed he/she has. The length one plow the soil, the height of the soil bed, the size of the soil clusters, what is the best time to do which activity, and so forth will be different for each crop. Inexperienced farmers may get advice from experienced farmers in farming. The one who needs to practice Dhamma has to make proper ground as well. Similarly, the inexperienced practitioner of Dhamma needs to find a person who has been successful in their practice to receive advice in how to prepare themselves to plant the seeds one would like to harvest. These “Dhamma Farmer” will find a teacher, a Monks, an experienced Sanga to learn and receive advice of this preparation. These experienced teachers will help “the Dhamma farmer” to understand the importance of self confidence, effort, self discipline, and many other things in the process of preparing oneself to plant the seeds.

After planting the seeds, the farmer needs to maintain environmental conditions that are appropriate for that particular crop. When the cultivation experiences certain challengers the farmer needs to find ways to overcome that. If it rains when it is should not, or more than the cultivation needs one should find a way to drain the extra water. If it rains less, if the cultivation needs more water one must find a way to water the plants as quick as possible, as needed. At this juncture we can say that if proper attention is not given the cultivation can be destroyed. Therefore we can say the most important thing in this process is the undivided attention and caring given to the cultivating land. Similarly, Dhamma farmers also need to follow the same strategy. No matter what comes up we need to maintain an undivided attention or awareness, which will help us to notice situational needs in our day to day practice. For an instance think that we felt slothful, sleepy, less motivated during our practice, we need to polish, dust off our skills in effort, and build self confidence and walk forward. Undivided attention has been thoroughly emphasized by Buddha as a skill we need to cultivate ourselves in finding our way to the ultimate goal.

Another most important function in cultivating and maintaining a farm land is weeding. After you make proper condition for plants to grow, naturally weeds will grow without any difficulty. A good farmer will usually notice this and will start weeding in order to protect the crop, and intending to have a successful harvest. In a similar situation it is extremely significant to take right action rather than to be frustrated. The farmer should have the knowledge to identify what is weed and what is not a weed, where with that understanding one should make a plan to pull the weeds out. The farmer needs to have enough effort and awareness to perform the action. “Dhamma farmers” should follow the same technique. When someone is practicing Dhamma in a properly prepared field full of confidence, sometimes with the absences of mindfulness, negative emotion such as anger, desire, etc. can arise. These emotions will bring pain at the end. Therefore, “the Dhamma farmer” should maintain awareness to notice these negative emotions. He/she should be able to pull these weeds out mindfully by not getting involved and by avoiding feeding these negative emotions. Constant attention is very important in maintaining the cultivated land by selective weeding. Think about a farmer who did weeding only ones and came back when it is harvesting time, what would they noticed. Weeds will probably cover the whole cultivation where the farmer may not be able to notice the crop been planted. No one will notice this as a farm, which this will become just another ground. Same will happen to the one who cultivated the Dhamma seeds without weeding. If the Dhamma farmer stops the regular practice those negative seeds will grow slowly, bit by bit and that will become a farm of weeds eventually. The Farmer might still remember what they planted but only will grow plants that bring pain and a negative harvest.

Buddha said,”Yadisam vapate beejam, tadisam harate palam”, translating in to – “the harvest one yields depends on the amount one plants”. To elaborate this further more – a farmer can’t expect a vast harvest by planting a little, a farmer can’t expect a good harvest by paying little attention to the farm. In a similar way one will gain results by following the path of Dhamma, according to the amount of preparation and the effort he/she puts in to it. If we know our neighboring farmer had a successful harvest, how does that benefit us? Unless our neighbor shares some of their harvest with us, what our neighboring farmer does with their cultivation do not affect us. If we need a certain type of harvest we need to cultivate that ourselves, no other can do it for us. Similarly in Dhamma practice, how others practice do not concern or benefit us. We need to do it for ourselves. If we need peace we need to cultivate the seeds of peace within us to be able to harvest the yield. If our goal is to be fully awakened we need to prepare a proper ground, select proper seeds, provide appropriate conditions and weed mindfully. This will be the true harvest. Therefore I would like to invite you, my noble friend, to become a successful “Dhamma Farmer”.

Dhama Talk: Patience

2009-07-13T09:16:00.001-05:00

Anger Management

2009-07-13T08:59:00.002-05:00

Here is an interesting interview with Mark Epstein, psychiatrist and author of Thoughts Without a Thinker and Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart (Broadway Books. ) Anger is a common, and for many, a daily occurance. This interview helps us all put it in perspective.

http://www.tricycle.com/special-section/be-here-angry-now

Coming Retreats and Events

2009-07-11T11:57:00.002-05:00

1) July 26th - Vipassana Meditation Retreat at Mankato, MN

(More Info....)

2) August 29th - Vipassana Meditation Retreat at Roseville, MN

(More Info....)

3) Buddhist Teacher Certification

Course 1: Buddhist Teachings for Daily Life (for more info click here)

4) 3rd Annual Thank You Lunch - September 13th (please keep the day open)

5) October 4th- Robe Ceremony (Katina) 2009. Keep the day open for this

annual activity.

For more information go to www.triplegem.org

Meditation class cancelled on July 4th

2009-07-04T11:07:00.000-05:00

The Chanhassen library will be closed on July 4th, so there will be no meditation class. The regular meditation class will be led by Bhante Sathi the next Saturday, July 11.

Ten Tips for Mindful Driving

2009-07-04T10:51:00.003-05:00

This is forwarded from Bhante Sathi. It is published on the Wildmind Buddhist Meditation website.

Driving can be a very stressful activity, but it can also be a tremendous opportunity for developing mindfulness and metta (lovingkindness), and it can even become a kind of meditation practice in its own right.

Obviously, when you’re driving it’s not recommended that you close your eyes and focus on your breathing, and I had to put a warning on my meditation CD when one customer wrote saying how excited she was about receiving her copy and how she couldn’t wait to listen to it in the car. The thought terrified me, but I hope that she’d have quickly realized even without me telling her that sitting meditation and driving don’t mix.

Then one time that I was leading a meditation workshop in Spokane, Washington, a young woman told me about a time she spaced out and rear-ended a truck, totally destroying her own car. She rather sheepishly confessed to the fact that she’d been listening to a tape on mindfulness by the Vietnamese teacher Thich Nhat Hanh at the time she’d crashed. She’d been paying so much attention to what the tape was saying about the need to pay attention that she stopped noticing what was going on around her. Fortunately no one was hurt.

So here are a few suggestions for ways that you can use driving as a meditation.

1. Switch off the radio and experience the silence. We often drive along while listening to the radio or to recordings on tape or CD. Just as an experiment, try seeing what it’s like to have the sound turned off. It might seem at first as if something is missing, but you’ll quickly learn that the silence gives you an opportunity to fill your awareness with other perceptions, some of which are more enriching. But before that, I’d just like to suggest that not listening to advertisements, the news, music, and opinion can leave you quieter, calmer, more focused, and happier than you otherwise would be.

2. The extra attention that’s freed up because you’re no longer listening to the radio is now available to notice other things. You can notice any tensions in your body, such as a knot of tension in the belly, or your hands gripping the steering well, or a clenched jaw. Notice these experiences, and let your body relax more. Notice how your experience changes and becomes more enjoyable as your muscles let go.

3. Slow down. As an experiment, try driving at or just below the speed limit. Most of us tend to want to push the speed limit, driving just a little faster than allowed. Driving just a fraction under the speed limit can take away a lot of tension. Shift over into the slower lane if necessary.

4. Notice your attitudes. Often we become competitive while driving, and this leads to tension. Make a practice of noticing cars trying to enter the road, and adjust your speed so that you can let them out if it’s safe to do so. Notice if you’re in a hurry. How does this make you feel? How does it feel if you let the pace slacken a little?

5. Practice being more aware of the other traffic around you. Sometimes we become very focused just on what’s around us, but it can be very fulfilling (and much safer) to develop an all-round awareness, using our mirrors as well as what we can see in front on us.

6. As drivers pass you, wish them well. Repeat, “May you be well, May you be happy” as cars cut you off.

7. Use every stop light or any other necessary stop to practice a fuller mindfulness of your body. When you’ve stopped, it’s safe to let your awareness more fully connect with your breathing. At those moments you can also notice what’s around you — the sky and the trees, and other people. Wish those other people well.

8. If there are other people in the car with you, wish them well. As you drive, a part of your mind can be repeating “May you be well, may you be happy”.

9. As you get into your car, before you switch on the engine, and before you get out of the car, after you’ve switched off the engine, just sit for a moment and take three deep breaths, really letting go on the out breath.

10. If you don’t drive, but take public transport instead, then wish your fellow travelers well, radiating lovingkindness towards them.

Buddhists challenge their beliefs against modern science

2009-07-01T07:27:00.007-05:00

An article titled "Tibetan Monks and Nuns turn their Minds to Science" appars in the Tuesday edition of the New York Times. Unlike many conventional religions which at times see modern science as an irritant to their core beliefs, Buddhists have always embraced science as a complement to their belief system. Below is a quote from the article and you can read the entire story here.

“There are contradictions within Buddhist philosophy itself,” pointed out Lobsang Gompo, a 27-year-old monk from Drepung monastery in south India. Tibetan Buddhists are already accustomed to analyzing multiple viewpoints, he said.

The Dalai Lama’s confidence in “critical investigation” means that “if scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims,” he wrote in “The Universe in a Single Atom.”

Lhadron, the nun, added, “Buddhists believe whatever reality is there, not just what such and such a text says.”

A Remedy for Evil Thoughts

2009-06-27T16:12:00.002-05:00

When the petty ego appears, do not be concerned with it. Simply ignore it. When a negative thought strikes you, acknowledge it, then drop it.

The Zen saying goes, “The occurrence of an evil thought is an affliction; not to continue it is the remedy.”

–Katsuki Sekida

I Am Reminded Why I Do Not Eat Meat

2009-06-26T08:08:00.002-05:00

by a TGN member forwarded by Bhante Sathi

I was driving home today after a long week of tending my husband in the hospital. I saw movement on the road ahead and noticed a raccoon running frantically back and forth from the edge of the road to the middle of the road. As I drove closer I could see why. Her three little kits had been hit by a car. For a moment, all appeared flattened and dead.

She saw my approaching car (now greatly slowed down) and ran to safety in the ditch…then, looking at me, came running back to one of her babies. Now I saw something else as I got closer. The third kit was trying to right itself, pulling its shoulders up, supported by tiny front paws. This baby raccoon was alive, although its back end was run over. I have seen a dog in this condition and knew there was nothing I could do – although for a moment my heart felt very sore: should I try to capture it? No…I knew there was little hope.

The mother faced my car, frightened and purposeful at the same time. I drove past carefully wondering briefly what can I do, what can I do and then I knew: I stopped a bit further on to send Meta: May you be well, little one, may you be free from suffering, May you be at peace and at ease. I give you merits. Be at peace and at ease.

At least it felt like I was doing something. When I drove back in to town later, the third baby was missing from the road. I am sure that the mother picked it up and carried it off into the woods. It was a simple act, but tender. The mother had been ready to take on a car, frightened yet determined to save her remaining child.

Yet, as with all beings, she wanted to live…which is why she rushed back and forth out of harms way. The injured baby wanted to live…which is why it raised its little head off the roadway and attempted to pull itself upright.

This is why I do not eat meat. Every animal wants to live. It will run away from harm. Every animal has a mother who would sacrifice much, perhaps her life, to save the life of that child. When I look at a cow I remember the mother Angus who took my uncle down and stomped him into the ground because he came too close to her calf. Perhaps some people would hate the cow for that, but I saw her act as bravery, to go up against the all-powerful “human gods” to protect the calf you love. She took a great risk, and in the end, that risk of protecting her calf cost her her own life. For some, “love” may be too strong a word to associate with animals. But I am reminded, today, that I am not so separate from the animals who are not human, and why I do not eat meat.

Please check out the TGN calendar for upcoming events

2009-06-20T07:56:00.003-05:00

Please be sure to visit the TGN website for all upcoming retreats, meditation sessions and social events happening from Minneapolis to Mankato.

Buddhists take protest to the streets! Obama kills a fly

2009-06-19T10:13:00.005-05:00

This one is hard to resist. Obama kills a fly during an interview on CNBC. Many of you have seen this as it is all over the news , but I love the second video from the fly's perspective.

Is it like deja vu all over again?

2009-06-19T09:52:00.005-05:00

This video post is from Bhante. It is the story of a two year old boy who has vivid memories of a past life as a World War Two fighter pilot. His parents claim he has in depth knowledge of fighter planes from that era. Through research they believe their son, who is now seven, is the reincarnation of James M Huston who they claim their son gave vivid and detailed information about this man's life.

Decide for yourself whether this claim is true or false. The interviewer doesn't ask any hard questions to the family, he just goes with it.

click on this link to watch the video: Reincarnated WWII Fighter Pilot?

Shared via AddThis

What I did when I fell out of practice

2009-06-12T11:18:00.004-05:00

For a while I found myself devoting very little time to practice. I don't know why, perhaps I was trying to do too many things in a day while balancing work, family and running a house. In other words, I made it a low priority.

Eventually I asked myself, why is meditation so low on the priority list? Since the benefits of calmness, insight and a clear mind are so important why am I not starting my day this way and treating it as the number one priority that it is.

I knew I was feeling a tad uninspired. The ritual of sitting became just that- a ritual. It was ordinary and had lost it's sense of freshness and adventure. I then realized that making some slight changes in my routine could make a world of difference.

First I tried walking meditation, and that helped but it didn't excite me enough to get me in a daily routine again. Then I tried getting up earlier in the morning but my kids would hear me and then they'd get up. No good.

Finally, I found some incense sticks given to me and I tried that. It worked!

It put me in the mood, gave me a good vibe and the burning scent held my concentration for an entire 30 minute sit. It seemed like the scent was cleaning the air and setting the stage for a positive frame of mind.

Plus the scent lingers in the house all day which is a pleasant reminder that I meditated today and to remember to stay in the present moment.

If others would like to post their own "best practices" on how they stay on the cushion please feel free to click on the "comment" tab below.

Be happy and well

Happy Friday. Enjoy this video

2009-06-05T17:10:00.005-05:00

Finally, the answer to our life long question:

Does Life suck?

Karma and natural disasters

2009-06-01T20:00:00.007-05:00

Below is an excerpt from a Harvard Radcliffe fellow and engineer, Thrish Nanayakkara. He is working on a "robot fish" that swims in the ocean and gathers data that analyzes changes that can alert scientists about changing marine conditionsthat includes predicting tsunamis and earthquakes.

Why am I writing this here? Thrish's idea came after the Tsunami devastation that hit the South East Asia. While helping in the relief effort in Sri Lanka Thrish was questioning how Bad Karma could ruin so many lives at once. It all seemd so random. He then met a monk who answered his question. Below is an excerpt from Thrish's book titled, "Devi."

“I cannot understand why this happened. Can Karma be the
cause? No, it cannot be because this many people could not have
had the same bad Karma. I saw bodies of babies stuck in the woods.
What sin could cause such Karma?”

“Well,” the monk began, “according to Dharma, anything in
this nature is an effect of a process that starts with a set of causes
and conditions. The effects of one process can work as the causes
and conditions of another process. Thus it can go like a chain.”

He paused and then continued, “There are five sets of laws that govern the conversion of
these causes and conditions to effects.”

“There is a set of laws governing the changes in
matter and movements of matter.

There is another set of laws that governs seasonal changes, weather conditions and other effects caused by planetary movements. The movements of continental
plates might also fall into that set of laws.

There is a third set of laws that governs the growth of organic bodies based on genetic
substrates and other organic reactions.

There is a fourth set of laws that governs dynamic reactions in the mind.

The last set of laws governs the working of Karma, those unseen forces that relate
effects experienced now to deeds and thoughts of the past.”

He went on to say, “Any effect can be a result of many causes
and conditions working under one or more of these sets of laws at
any given time.”

Monk for a month---the perfect vacation getaway?

2009-05-27T08:16:00.003-05:00

Planning your summer vacation? Sure a trip to the lake or the mountains might be relaxing, but how about a trip to Thailand to become a resident monk? A news web site called Global Post reports on a different type of getaway where you can shed your hair, worldly desires and about $700 from your wallet to live in a temple.

Some call this a novel way to find the Middle Way, others think it is exploitative of the Buddhist belief system. Whatever you decide, it is a modest hit for this Northern Thai monastery which was hatched by an Australian and the Temple's head Abbott, Phra Aphisit Pingchaiyawat.

They have a website and are a big hit on Facebook. My opinion? Although I don't think monasteries should turn their place into a tourist trap, I think, with some restraints, it can offer a unique opportunity for the serious minded to to see what life is like while wearing crimson robes.

The downside? Trying to explain to your boss when you return to work why you have no hair or eyebrows.

Desire and Pleasure

2009-05-22T11:04:00.004-05:00

by Bhante Sathi

In Buddhist practice most people are interested in resolving pain. Most of us don’t want to get to the bottom of desire, to untangle the mystery that surrounds the strong urge for pleasure. Yet it is the most important phenomenon to understand.

There are two meanings to the word desire. Often it is to say that we want something. The other is the quest for pleasure. Pleasure is a sensual experience that one enjoys. Pleasure comes from picture, sound, taste, smell, and touch. It is an experience one has with mental images.

According to Buddha, the nature of pleasure is Tanha Daso atittito: ordinary beings become a slave to pleasure. Have you ever totally satisfied yourself with pleasure? No, total satisfaction is always in the future. The past never provides complete satisfaction, so we are always being driven to the future. With careful observation we can see that we are losing ourselves in this quest for pleasure.

Going to the extreme end of pleasure causes blindness. All human beings and animals have the same senses and are subject to the same desires for pleasure. Unlike animals, human beings have the ability to develop awareness of these phenomena and change our behavior. We like to think we are helpless, but when we start to practice awareness it is really not that difficult.

Before we realize who we are we may think we are just this body, but with awareness come to know that the actual self is more than the body. By cultivating awareness we can overcome the limits of the senses. Mindfulness brings clarity to the desires and pleasures that pass through us.

In past Christian priests practiced self-punishment to purify desires. At that time they thought desire pollutes the spiritual mind. Hindus are encouraged to avoid a luxurious life and Hindu ascetics are trained to live with minimal necessities. Followers are not respecting the religion if they go for pleasure.

Buddhist cultures are the same. Even Buddha followed that strongly before he became Buddha, but the most important thing he realized is that no one can overcome desire by going against desire. He even encourage monks not to follow that extreme. According to Buddha, addiction to indulgence of sense pleasures and addiction to self-mortification are two sides of the same coin.

Recently, I went to lunch at a family’s home with a few other monks. I had my bowl with me and the other monks used plates. Since I had my monk’s bowl the people respected me more than the monks who didn’t. They started to serve me food even before the monks that were older than me until I requested that they serve the elder monks first. They wanted to serve me first simply because of my appearance. It wasn’t fair for them to think I was more spiritual or moral than the other monks because of my appearance. So we should be aware about how we think and realize how narrow these judgements are.

Look at how much we give power to unnecessary items. If someone finds a piece of wood that is supposed to be a part of Jesus’ cross how much power would we give to that? A special mystery is there that we cannot explain. We should not mix up morality and training discipline.

For example, Buddhist monks do not eat heavy foods after lunch. Buddha advised this for a few reasons, but he also asked sick monks not to follow this discipline. The monks who follow this find it helps their practice and that it is not difficult with the proper training. However, according to Buddha following this precept does not make someone moral or immoral.

Buddha said, “Bhikkhus, these two extremes ought not to be cultivated by one gone forth from the house-life. What are the two? There is devotion to indulgence of pleasure in the objects of sensual desire, which is inferior, low, vulgar, ignoble, and leads to no good; and there is devotion to self-torment, which is painful, ignoble and leads to no good.” -Dhamma-chakka-pawattana Sutra, (Wheel of Dhamma)

A story about inner conflict

2009-05-22T10:36:00.004-05:00

Here is a parable sent to us by Ben at Stillwater Meditation.

How often have we suffered over our inner conflicts? Why is it so hard to do the right thing?

An old Cherokee was teaching his grandson about life.
"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil-he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is good-he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth compassion and faith. This same fight is going on inside you-and inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The grandfather replied, "The one you feed."

Welcome to the Triple Gem of the North Blog

2009-04-27T13:10:00.004-05:00

Hi Everyone:

I hope you like this new site. It will be replacing the Insight newsletter. Here is a You Tube of Ajhan Brahm's latest Dhamma talk. Enjoy!