Tomorrow night, Monday July 7, we will have a meditation at 7 Pm, and at 8 PM Jim Hild will lead the discussion on Johns last Shantidevas poem, chapter 8 ,meditation. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Professor Jih will be joining us on the 14th of July. He will sit with us for the first hour and then led a discussion on the comparison of two types of contemplative technique would serve as an ice-breaker. His intention is to set up a platform for the sharing and discussion of the benefits of meditation in terms of physical health, psychological well being, and cognitive evolution. he will bring his own laptop and projector, and also prepare some material for the participants. Professor Jih is a professor at Temple University. Please join us for this special day. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Want to help out but not sure what needs to be done each Monday evening? Heres the link to our sign up schedule - signupgenius/go/10C0E44ACAA29A5FD0-monday2 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dear Friends of the Princeton Buddhist Meditation Group-- Hope you are enjoying summertime as it unfolds. Here are details of PBMGs activities this month. -- Introductory meditation instruction is scheduled for 11:15 am-noon on Sunday, July 13. -- Our Thursday night summer film series continues, as we screen DVDs related to Dharma practice and/or Buddhist traditions. Here are Julys films: • July 3: Words of My Perfect Teacher (2003, Lesley Ann Patten; 103 mins--see wordsofmyperfectteacher) • July 10: Digital Dharma (2012, Dafna Yachin; 82mins--see digitaldharma/) • July 17: When the Iron Bird Flies (2012, Victress Hitchcock; 96mins--see chariotvideos/documentaryfilms/ironbird/) • July 24: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana (1997, Ayelet Menahemi/Ellona Ariel; 52mins--see karunafilms/dtdv/dtdv.htm#!doing-time-doing-vipassana/c1wy3/) • July 31: Free the Mind (2012, Phie Ambo; 80mins--see danishdocumentary/site/freethemind/) As you see, the length of the films varies. Sitting will be tailored accordingly. Films will start promptly, so try not to be late! -- On Sunday, July 27 at 11:15 a.m., we will again work with Chenrezig practice. You might notice that this practice is not on the calendar--it requires an introduction. -- During the regular session on Sunday, July 27, we will screen a new Dharma DVD by Anam Thubten. As we do on the last Sunday of each month, well sit briefly (5-10 mins) and then watch the DVD, with a little discussion afterward. For more details and ongoing updates, see our Web site, princetonbuddhist.org. And Happy Interdependence Day... every day! Yours in the Dharma-- Trime and Beverly ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NOT BITING THE HOOK from Pema Chodron In Tibetan there is a word that points to the root cause of aggression, the root cause also of craving. It points to a familiar experience that is at the root of all conflict, all cruelty, oppression, and greed. This word is shenpa. The usual translation is “attachment,” but this doesn’t adequately express the full meaning. I think of shenpa as “getting hooked.” Another definition, used by Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, is the “charge”—the charge behind our thoughts and words and actions, the charge behind “like” and “don’t like.” Here’s an everyday example: Someone criticizes you. She criticizes your work or your appearance or your child. In moments like that, what is it you feel? It has a familiar taste, a familiar smell. Once you begin to notice it, you feel like this experience has been happening forever. That sticky feeling is shenpa. And it comes along with a very seductive urge to do something. Somebody says a harsh word and immediately you can feel a shift. There’s a tightening that rapidly spirals into mentally blaming this person, or wanting revenge or blaming yourself. Then you speak or act. The charge behind the tightening, behind the urge, behind the story line or action is shenpa. You can actually feel shenpa happening. It’s a sensation that you can easily recognize. Even a spot on your new sweater can take you there. Someone looks at us in a certain way, or we hear a certain song, or walk into a certain room and boom. We’re hooked. It’s a quality of experience that’s not easy to describe but that everyone knows well. Now, if you catch shenpa early enough, it’s very workable. You can acknowledge that it’s happening and abide with the experience of being triggered, the experience of urge, the experience of wanting to move. It’s like experiencing the yearning to scratch an itch, and generally we find it irresistible. Nevertheless, we can practice patience with that fidgety feeling and hold our seat.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 00:22:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015