Acceptable Conduct

What is acceptable behavior for a Buddhist? It is something closer to the traditional rules of a monastic or something a bit more free flowing like a mahasiddha? Is there a compromise in between the two examples that is more appropriate for life in the modern age? Many people say its based on culture and the form of Buddhism one is following.

Its also based on where one is in the process of development. There are different measures and remedies for the afflictions that we all suffer from, that are appropriate for the level of awareness where one is at. This changes the more we learn and the more we practice Dharma. Based on various karmic conditions, no two people develop along the same path. So, how can another person making judgments on another's observed behavior without knowing what's exactly in their mindstream?

One example might be being married/partnered to someone who is not a Buddhist, like in my case. I've been with my partner for over 9 years. He's not a Buddhist or remotely even interested in spiritual topics nor is he a vegetarian. We've come to a point of acceptance in our relationship where we both are mature enough to entertain the other's quirks and differences. But I know that from my study of karma, he must have done some Dharma work in previous lives, otherwise how would he have come to have a Buddhist in his life or see Buddha images and be around Dharma everyday?

If you keep your Dharma close to your heart and keep Dharma on your mind in the midst of all worldly activities, you should be okay. You make the inversion from a worldly being participating in Dharma to a Dharma being participating in worldly functions. If you keep that motivation then every activity has a root in the Dharma mind and it becomes inseparable.

Emerging from the Cave

Just like all good things, they must come to an end.

The break from Twitter was refreshing and much needed. The one thing I did notice about not maintaining a presence on Twitter was that my writing went down. It can be a great tool for writing, especially in the constraints of 140 characters. You have to be concise, clear and somewhat grammatically aware. It helps to concentrate ideas and hone the focus of what you are trying to convey. Word choice surfaces, so does tone and voice. I try not to use 'txt' abbreviations in what I tweet--some of the context gets lost if things are truncated too far.

In Dharma practice news, 2010 seems to be the year of the Medicine Buddha, Compassion and Lam-Rim. Za Choeje Rinpoche, my refuge guru and spiritual director of the Emaho Foundation has decided to give teachings this year focused on healing and the Medicine Buddha. There will be teachings on the Medicine Buddha sutra and the different associated yogas. The Medicine Buddha empowerment will be offered at this year's annual retreat in May. I'm very excited about all of this! The Medicine Buddha sutra is one of my favorites. I connected with it very early on in my studies. I was also able to memorize the long mantra in Sanskrit somewhat easily. Must be a past-life connection.

I am also enrolled in a Lam-Rim intensive course being offered at the Emaho Center. This 12 week intensive will take us through a general view of the Lam-Rim. Geshe Jampa is the resident geshe at the Emaho Center. His presentations are sourced from the different Lam-Rim texts as well as from various sutras and commentaries by the Indian and Tibetan Dharma-masters. He's got a good grasp on English and a fantastic vibrant teaching style.

I signed up to give a student discussion on Avalokitesvara/Chenrezig in July. The discussion topic on the sign-up sheet was on bringing compassion into everyday life and the Om Mani Padme Hum mantra. I've been lightly researching some topics to discuss. Its going to be an interesting presentation because again, I have to limit myself to a time constraint but also I have to be learned enough to answer questions concisely. I'm really looking forward to the presentation. I've been formulating an outline in my head, going from the origins to prayer wheels.

It's shaping up to be an interesting year and Losar is right around the corner!

Going Within

There are times when it is necessary to withdraw from the outside world. In the modern context, I take that to be involvement with the global community known as the internet. Throughout the day, many of us spend hours reading websites, blogs, playing on Twitter, texting friends & loved ones and losing ourselves in interaction with the digital world.

Is this all really necessary or it is just another sign of the degenerate age?

I have always loved new technology but at one point I refused to be a slave to it. Technology is a tool not a yoke. I don't own a smartphone or really have the need for one. I have no one to text or call, since I have few social obligations. My attention is focused mainly on my partner and our cats. Outside of that interaction, I live very detached from society, which is really a blessing I am finding.

I'm certainly not lonely or recluse. I get out to the local Starbucks, go to work, grocery shopping and check out the latest places to go eat. But I see all the people around me who are so involved in digital life, on their phones while they drive or sit at Starbucks on their laptops or even go out to walk the dog/baby with one hand on the leash/stroller and one with a phone to their ear. From an outsider's perspective, it just looks like a huge distraction from organic life.

Lately, I've been feeling the need to reinforce the bubble, so-to-speak, like there's an event I'm preparing for. Something is definitely on the spiritual horizon. Its a feeling I can't quite shake. Its a call to step-up my Dharma practice and batten down the hatches before the hurricane hits. The dark storm clouds are gathering and I've got a strange feeling its going to be a very bumpy ride for the next year or two.

This is a good time in my life to take some time out from social involvement. A good time to go within. Instead of running of to the mountains to go meditate in a cave or the forest, my daily life has become like that place of solitude. My life is very stable with few commitments. No screaming kids or family drama. I'm actually able to practice quietly and with little distraction, so I'm going to take this golden opportunity to answer that call to practice.

For the benefit of all beings.

Fortune Cookie Wisdom

Today's Fortune:

If this means I'm heading for the Western Pureland, I'm all for it! Sunshine, Amitabha and Dharma all day, everyday until I'm fully enlightened. Woohoo!

YOU ARE HEADING FOR A LAND OF SUNSHINE AND RELAXATION

Solar Energies

From my personal observation, I've noticed that when the sun is crackling with sunpots and coronal mass ejections, I have the strangest, most far-out dreams. These dreams are unusual in that they're extremely vivid and often I feel like I've been transported to a different dimension. The last burst of sunspot activity, I went to sleep and 'woke up' in the dream, completely conscious and aware. My first thought was 'Oh, great. Where am I now?'

I'm not going to say that I don't enjoy these dreams. They're actually quite interesting and fun. Way more entertaining than television or any video game.

UPDATE: (01/11/10)

Bizarre dream of being in a very large airport and due to some trouble with rabble-rousers, I was late for a flight. The good thing was that I worked for the airline and have options for the flight. I could've rescheduled my flight for the next day or I could have pulled some strings with the ground crew to bring the flight back to the gate so that I could get on. I had options.

UPDATE (01/11/10)

Very strange sequence of events. Dreaming of H.H. the Dalai Lama and I was attending what seemed to be a teaching of his. Realizing that H.H. was seated on the floor instead of on the teaching throne, I was a little taken aback. Everyone else in the crowd was bowing with their heads in their laps and I was standing, so I sat down quickly and did the same. In the dream, I very informally asked H.H. what was going on, as he was quite close to me on the floor. Then one of his attendants came to me and said, "H.H. would like to give you something. It will protect you." Then the attendant put a stone necklace around my neck made of alternating long and short brown, muddy colored stones. I thought, in the dream, 'protect me from what?'

Later on, a Rinpoche or some famous high lama that I might have been in the service of (?) asked me to prepare a meal for him. So, I was putting some items in the basket, like breads, fruit and arranging them for presentation. I was very nervous and exciting about making offerings to the high lama. Then I walked up a flight up stairs that were in disrepair, some steps had large holes eaten away in the wood, very unsteady. I remember climbing those stairs before and they were in better condition.

Then I came to the area where the lama was. The area was roped off, like it was a restricted area and I knew that I shouldn't step over the rope to go in but I did any way with my tray of food. The lama was very displeased, very wrathful and scolded me for going across the barrier. I bowed before the lama and presented the tray. The lama seemed to be pleased but was still ranting and making a huge scene. He asked me to bow down to him with full prostrations and accept him as my guru. I thought this was very strange. I started to make my prostration and he laughed loudly, like he duped me into doing something.

In a instant I remembered a passage from The Vimalakirti Nirdesa about a monk who was fooled into prostrating to Mara disguised as Indra/Sakra. I also remembered something about demons masquerading as Tara or other holy deities. Then I started to mention very casually that I was given a gift by H.H. the Dalai Lama, "I was given something by His Holiness..." The demon-lama started to laugh again and mock me by saying, 'his holiness'. Then I knew exactly who it was. I couldn't speak the word but I knew. So, I struggled to say the word outloud.

I said, "Mara!" He looked at me in anger and the dream ended. When I said it, I heard myself say it in the dream and outloud as I woke up, like I was speaking in my sleep.

Sunshine of the Mind

During the night before Sakyamuni's enlightenment at dawn, he was besieged by Mara. Various weapons were utilized but all fell short of their target. The projectiles all turned into a shower of lotus blossom petals as they entered the Buddha's field of influence. He sat in perfect equipoise, undisturbed and unfazed.

The perfect sunshine of his Mind lit up the entire universe and beyond.

The world's problems, all the frightening things in the world turn into flower petals within the stainless sunshine of awareness. In the middle of the assault of what seem to be problems, let them all melt away within the stillness of compassionate motivation to benefit all beings.

Back to Basics

Getting back to the very essentials: Dharma study, writing and music. Its the music part that I miss the most. It fills my soul and takes me to unknown dimensions of experience. I've always loved underground dance music, like drum & bass. I go in phases with music, sometimes its progressive house or trance or drum & bass that captures my attention. Lately, I've been digging the big basslines of drum & bass.

As a DJ I used to spend un-godly amounts of money on import vinyl from the UK and abroad. Racking up more than $300 to $400 for the newest releases at the local shop wasn't uncommon. DJing for me was about playing the most cutting-edge music. I had to have the newest selection, even if that meant ordering records online from the UK and having them Fed-Ex'd in, especially if I had a big gig that weekend.

I'm really pleased that I can go online and shop for mp3s from the comfort of my own home. I just bought a new selection of 15 tracks to listen to and it cost me as much as buying 2 new import releases at the local shop.