Today we have celebrated our last meeting of the year! It was deep and moving. As always, we have shared thoughts, ideas, achievements and goals  for the coming year.

We have closed the meeting working on the seven jewels of  Buddhism:

” The jewel of dignity, the jewel of  wisdom,

   the jewel of learning, the jewel of discipline,

   the jewel of giving, the jewel of self-control,

   the jewel of  faith. these are the seven riches.

(From the Jewel rosary of the Bodhisattva)

   Best wishes for all of you, who share the path of growth with us.

 When we start out on a spiritual path we often have ideals we think we’re supposed to live up to. We feel we’re supposed to be better than we are in some way. But with this practice you take yourself completely as you are. Then ironically, taking in pain – breathing it in for yourself and all others in the same boat as you are – heightens your awareness of exactly where you’re stuck.

                                                               Pema Chödrön

Poem  (continuation…)

                                                          by Atisha Dipamkara

Forsake material possessions,
And adorn yourself with the riches of the Aryas.
Leave behind all busyness and distraction,
And remain in places of solitude.

Refrain from idle gossip,
And always guard your speech.
Whenever you see your masters or preceptors,
Cultivate the wish to serve them, with respect.

Both those possessing eyes of Dharma,
And those first setting out upon the path,
Are to be regarded as your teachers.
And when encountering any other beings,
Look upon them as your parents or your children.

Do not befriend those who act in harmful ways,
But rely instead on true spiritual friends.
Abandon any feelings of hostility or ill will,
And be always joyful, wherever you may go.

Poem… by Atisha Dipamkara… continuation

Proclaim your own failings,
But do not look for faults in others.
Hide any good quality you may have,
While declaring others’ virtues.

Let go of concerns for gain or respect,
And always renounce the desire for fame.
With few wants, remain contented,
And repay any kindness you receive.

Cultivate loving kindness and compassion,
And make your bodhichitta stable.
Avoid the ten unwholesome actions,
And let your faith be forever strong.

Overcome all anger and conceit,
And adopt an attitude of humility.
Renounce unethical forms of livelihood,
And sustain yourself according to the Dharma

Shantideva, the great Indian teacher, compares our mind to a large  incredible jewel lying in a heap of garbage we walk past everyday. Garbage is a metaphor for our discursive mind, which lacks trust and confidence in the source of true happiness, loving-kindness and compassion: our mind.

The three qualities we need which lead to happiness and success are:

Wisdom: We are always chasing after happiness thinking that it depends

on others or things. A wise individual, in contrast, knows how to move

forward instead of in circles, because he or she knows the true source

of happiness: the mind.

Compassion: Compassion is the best way to lead a life fully, not just in

terms of the spiritual, but also the mundane. But maybe we have

thoughts of compassion, but we are not able to live up to them. So we

need the other element: courage.

Courage: To have courage is to remember that we can gradually change

our mind with quite a simple technique. If we can stop thinking about

ourselves, we’ll be free to ask, “What about others? What do they need?”

with  courage, we think about what we are willing to give before looking

at how much we are going to get.

(Sakyong Mipham on uncovering this treasure) Shambala Sun publications

Poem:

by Atisha Dipamkara

In the language of India: Bodhisattvamaṇyāvalī
In the language of Tibet: byang chub sems dpa’i nor bu’i phreng ba
In the English language: The Jewel Rosary of the Bodhisattvas

Homage to great compassion!
Homage to the masters!
Homage to the deities who inspire devotion!

Put aside all doubt and hesitation,
And take delight in earnest practice,
Abandon entirely lethargy, dullness and laziness,
And exert yourself constantly with enthusiasm.

With mindfulness, vigilance and carefulness,
Guard the doors of your senses at all times.
Again and again, thrice by day and by night,
Examine the continuum of your mind.   (to be continued)

I have no use

for the compass needle

I am never lost

whatever soil calls me home

it is there

I am grown toward the heavens

I am home

for snail, moss

lichen, wren

-you-

where the exit

is at once the entrance

they breathe

you breathe

I breathe

an exchange of

One

transcendent breath

as We are mysteriously – profoundly

held in the Womb of Life being born moment by moment.

(excerpt from the Womg of life) Shambala sun magazine