Doing Knowing Seeing Feeling
15th Annual Ten-day Calm Abiding Meditation Retreat at SIBA
Forty-two people attended the 15th annual Ten Day Calm Abiding Meditation retreat 2011 at SIBA .
Buddha gave countless teachings of innumerable styles and methods that have the ability to speak to anyone's heart. One of the distinctive aspects of Sakya Losal Choe Dzong and it's sister centres which share Lama Choedak Rinpoche as their spiritual director is the large number and variety of retreats that are on offer. Retreat is unsurpassable in deriving benefit from those teachings, not just intellectually but doing, knowing, seeing and feeling.
Buddha did what had to be done for the benefit of all sentient beings. It may require getting out of bed a little earlier or sitting in an unfamiliar posture, perhaps with a sore bottom at times. But real satisfaction comes from doing something that was well conceived and settled on at the beginning and seeing it through to it's fruition.
Knowing what we are doing and why takes time. Reading, writing and arithmetic are second nature but we had to train in the form and rituals until we knew, beyond any doubt, how and why. Retreats are intensive courses (without a crash) perfectly conducive to study, mindfully and respectfully devoting ourselves to improving our understanding of the Buddhas teachings.
Buddhas meditation was so insightful that he perceived ignorance as the root of all suffering. Our body, speech, minds and hearts become blessed, seeing clearly what are the real causes of suffering to be avoided and causes of happiness to promote.
Compassion for others who do not understand their suffering and how it arose goes beyond sympathy. The ultimate benefit of practice and retreat is the feeling of liberation from our deluded perceptions. Through retreat our motivation and practice is restored. We become fit to give and share joyfully on the path, not just on retreat, but at all times.
Taking Refuge
Nine people took refuge towards the end of the retreat. Below is some insights offered by the refugees:
1.What does being a Buddhist and Taking Refuge mean to you?
KDJ - To take refuge is to pay homage to the great Buddha and his teachings which shine so bright and the community of spiritual practitioners who help remind you of both relative and ultimate truths. To me, it has opened my heart wide and through generating bodhicitta so that we can help to generate more kindness and compassion to all sentient beings.
JA - It means coming back home after so many lifetimes of trying to remember where it was. It feels wonderful to have returned.
Anon - Believing in and practicing the Teachings of the Buddha
DG - Taking refuge in the Triple Gem and becoming a "bona fide" Buddhist, has made official in my heart and mind a growing sense of belonging, and even more importantly, a sense of direction in my life.
2. How did you come to consider yourself a Buddhist?
KDJ - Coming from an upbringing in Catholicism, when I first heard the Dharma at the age of 18, it was something that switched on the light and illuminated the fact that I'd been stumbling about in the dark all this time. It's nothing against Catholicism but I suppose the voice of the Dharma spoke gently and powerfully all at once and I decided I would take refuge.
JA - I guess deep down I have always known. Lama Choedak Rinpoche has opened my heart to the essence of the Dharma and I feel reborn.
Anon - I realised that the Dharma was totally consistent with my world view and how I lived my life. Also I found Buddhist teachings to be very supportive and reading Buddhist literature to provide great inspiration and nourishment.
DG - Attending my first Calm Abiding weekend with Venerable Tsultim in Rockhampton, a little over two years ago, was a real "aha!" moment for me and even at that early juncture, my path was made clear.
3. What motivated you to become a Buddhist?
KDJ - Studying the Dharma and spending time with those who practiced it helped me to connect this knowledge to the benefits it brought into my life and how they translated to everyday sentient beings I thereby related to in some way (or had trouble relating to, hah!). To become a Buddhist is to have faith in the TRUTH of the Dharma and allow it to guide you to a more powerful life and realise that this life is such a precious opportunity to really create that with whole heartedness and awareness based on the time inherent nature of all phenomena including me.
JA - The wisdom, truth and sincerity of the Dharma. Having the opportunity to honour Rinpoche's courage, wisdom and humility has inspired me immensely, as does His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
DG - Buddhist philosophy appeals to my intellect and the effects of it's practices are completely verifiable. In and through the Dharma, I have found a passion and motivation within myself that I never dreamed that I could posses.
4. What to you seek to do as a Buddhist
KDJ - To be compassionate in my everyday life. To remember those whose have not been touched with these teachings., To be grateful for each moment and to work with my obstacles joyfully and with mindfulness they they are there to help me cultivate a life that can do more than just benefit myself.
JA - Become the essence of my true spirit and radiate love and compassion whilst sharing and living the Dharma, as a humble student of Lama Choedak Rinpoche.
Anon - Maintain a simple daily practice; practice compassion and mindfulness; Seek out the local community and participate in events/practices there in order to maintain inspiration and faith.
DG - As a part of being evolved in my local Buddhist centre, I hope to increase the awareness of others in our community that the depth, richness and profundity of Buddha Dharma is close at hand, should they wish to access it, just as I have been so fortunate enough to do so. Even as a result of my own personal practice, those close to me are beginning to be more and more intrigued as to the benefits of sitting silent and cross legged on the floor!
5. Did you have reservations in Taking Refuge? If so what were they?
KDJ - Reservations related to Buddhism being perceived as a religion, by actually Buddhists are non-theists (or they believe in emptiness!) so that was clearly just my own perception!
JA - I did have a few about killing (certain insects) and the sex thing. But my confusion was allayed by Jampal, Pia and Ross. I am very honoured to have Taken Refuge. It feels right.
Anon - That I will maintain a daily practice that is mindful and not just automatic. That I would lose faith.
DG - I had no reservations, what so ever, and was in fact quite eager to do so.
6. How has this retreat helped you on the path to Taking Refuge?
KDJ - It's been amazing! Rinpoche's teachings have been exquisitely articulate as well as riotously hilarious. He has taught to our level and always helped relate the teachings to the lives he knows we have been living, and still do. He's helped us again and again to get the cosmic joke of emptiness and still needs to be explained again! Such is life. The community and staff here have open heartedly shared their struggles and tips and care for each of us. And I only hope that I can take these into my practice and my life when I leave SIBA and come back for a recharge soon!
JA - The sincerity, courage and support of all the participants, residents and of course Rinpoche. SIBA is a wonderful facility and I look forward to spending more time here in the future.
Anon - Provided inspiration; further knowledge and understanding of Buddhism; a sense of feeling calm and focussed and clear headedness that comes about with regular daily practice.
DG - Being in such a beautiful, serene environment as SIBA and hearing the pearls of dharmic wisdom from such an inspiring teacher as Rinpoche, certainly helped in reinforcing my decision to affirm my identity as a Buddhist.