The Sherpa and The Shepherd

What is Generosity?

2/12/2021

Shepherd
The Theme for February here at YWM is Love, and the foundational attitude supporting that is Generosity.

I read a quote from the Buddha -
“If you knew as I know the benefit of generosity, you would not let an opportunity go by without sharing.“

Can you tell me some of the benefits that you have found from generosity?

Sherpa

There is this odd tension in a human being; the separate sense of ‘me’ or ‘I’ and the sense of unity and connection with all of life. In philosophy it is called the problem of the one and the many. From my understanding, both the separate one and the unity are true.

With that being said, my theory is that generosity is a harmonization of the individual and the oneness. When I am generous (teaching, giving, helping, ect….) my experience is an awareness of the qualities or aspects of ultimate reality, of All. When this occurs the bloated ego, which causes suffering, calms down and the oneness of everything is experienced.

Shepherd

Thank you for diving in deep right off the bat. So you are saying that when you give generously, this giving reminds you of your connection and unity with the rest of creation, and therefore lessens the suffering that you experience from forgetting that truth. A “bloated ego” results from forgetting that connection. This concept of generosity fits so well with what you were saying recently about compassion. When we realize deeply, our inherent connection with all others, we cannot help but hurt for their hurts, and seek to share what we have to alleviate that pain, and to build the other up. When we give to others, we are giving to a part of our own self.

Jesus put it this way: “Give , and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

When we are generous, we discover that we continue to have enough to continue to be generous, because we are all connected.

It does take some trust and some reminding of this truth. What have you found that helps dispel that forgetting, what helps to remind oneself of that truth of interconnectivity?

Sherpa

The quote from Jesus is wonderful and poetic. It also defines aspects of karma (another topic for another day).

The bloated ego is not just from forgetfulness of interconnectivity, but also the grasping of a solid and substantial idea of self. (Again, another topic for another day) Even to answer one question automatically involves other important concepts--the interconnectivity of all things!

To answer your question on what I, personally, find helpful to remember and trust in this connection and ultimate non-separation is not always fresh and alive in me. The forgetting is so tied to the weight of attachment to a separate self that only consistent study and meditation can dispel the experience of separation. And I at times lapse in my study and practice, sometimes for short spells and others for embarrassingly long spells.

Being generous is a teaching in Vajrayana Buddhism that softens attachment, so that points to putting knowledge into action. Meditation rooted in compassion for all is another action to unveil the truth of reality of the one and the many. And, I must say, being extremely fortunate to have a Tibetan teacher who exemplifies the teachings of the Buddha so profoundly is a blessing that never fails to assist my growth as a human being, including elevating my level of generosity.

I work every day to better fortify my ‘soul’ in the truth, and in compassion to the best of my ability, which includes the practice of generosity.

Shepherd

The act of giving generously supports the mindset that frees me from the burden of a desperate feeling of need and fear of not having enough. At the same time, having access to great examples of generosity, and the study, and meditation that supports the understanding of the connection between myself and all others, frees me up to give generously. Maybe generosity is about FLOW.

When we dam up the flow by grabbing hold, jealously, of a possession or a small identity of self or a small identification of another, then we bring forth stagnation from what once was life giving flowing water. Maybe growing generosity is about pulling apart the dams. Receiving generously and giving generously allows the flow.

Sherpa

I really love your idea of generosity being a reflection of flow! How beautiful.

When the topic of generosity usually is discussed the ideas of gifts and charities rise to the top of the conversation. If we think about generosity as an iceberg, we have focused in our discussion here on the giant unseen underbelly of the iceberg. I am compelled to make clear that this does not undermine the importance of the tip of the iceberg: Generosity of gifts and time, of paying attention to another, of paying for someone’s meal, important charities ect ect…

The iceberg’s tip is important as our actions as human beings, and the iceberg’s underbelly of generosity’s philosophy is equally important. To understand the deeper meaning of generosity only inspires and fortifies the ACTS of generosity.

0 Comments

Seeing New Beginnings with Young Eyes

1/29/2021

2 Comments

Sherpa

As the theme for YWM is 'new beginnings', I began contemplating the essence of what that means. There is a teaching in Vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhism I've heard from my teachers that shines light on the idea that we should never lose the connection to being as a child who has entered the temple for the first time. I understand this to mean it is healthy to maintain an awareness of the present moment; for our perceptions not to be profaned by the past or future, and to be free from concepts. I recall the bible speaking of a similar idea but do not recall the passage. Would you share that with us?

Shepherd

Your words bring to my mind a few different passages.

There was a time when Jesus' followers were arguing among themselves and came to Jesus to ask him which of them was going to be the greatest in the Kingdom. Dramatically he called a little child to him to get the attention of these men vying for power and he said:

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”

On another occasion Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”
On another he said “anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

On another he said to a national leader and teacher of the law, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

One thing Jesus seems to be doing is lifting up the children as an example of humility, untainted by the pride of assuming you have figured it all out, and the presumption of being better than others.

He is also telling us to be open to learn, able to receive things with new eyes, a fresh view, and able to stand in awe. Awe is the sense of being in the presence of something much larger than one's self and one's ability to understand it fully. Some other characteristics of children that have been seen in these verses are innocence, vulnerability, dependence, and willingness to trust.

There are many other passages that point to the importance of awareness of the NOW. I had never before connected this idea of being fully aware of the present moment with these passages about children, but I think that there is something valuable to that connection. When we retain, or reclaim, a childlike curiosity, and an ability to be fascinated by what is right in front of us, right here and right now, our eyes are opened to see things that are hidden from dull and tired eyes, and hidden from eyes that are grasping for position of honor.

Sherpa

I think the phrase you used, ‘dull and tired eyes’, connects to what I am pointing to and to what you are pointing to. A dull mind is lethargic and becomes lazy to be awake. And being awake, or aware, is the only way to be in the present moment. The idea of grasping and vying for power, or attention, I would interpret as the ego-clinging of a person. In Buddhism all suffering comes from grasping, or holding on. It is understood that grasping is the energy of the ego’s desire to maintain a permanent state of the ‘I’. Because everything is impermanent, grasping onto anything will inevitably cause us to suffer.

Where we may differ are the characteristics of a child in relation to being in a state of the present moment. In Buddhist teachings, from my understanding, being as a child entering the temple is not suggesting one be vulnerable, dependent, or innocent. I digest the teaching as a lesson to be free from conceptual thought so as to allow the inherent light and wisdom from inside to be unblocked and thus, to be aware of reality just as it is without this concept or that concept to muddy the waters.

When I read the biblical passages I can easily see that Jesus is saying what the Buddhists are saying. However, I realize I am interpreting the passages from my view and could be layering meaning where none was meant to be.

Shepherd

I am enjoying these exchanges more each time we have them. They help me to open my “dull and tired eyes” and look at stories that have been so familiar to me, with new eyes of a child, and hearing the words with new ears. Your talk of “grasping” and “impermanence” reminds me of Solomon’s words about how everything in this world is like “vapor”. You can see it, but when you try to grab it, this is as futile as “chasing after the wind”. We must pursue that idea in a future edition of the blog.

2 Comments

Lotus Blossom - the "gunk" in life is important

11/30/2020

0 Comments

Shepherd:
I had known that the lotus flower was an important symbol in Buddhism. A short time ago you guided a meditation during which you explained at least one reason why it was significant, and offered a great insight into an important life concept. Can you share a little about that for us here?

Sherpa:
The lotus flower is a symbol across Asia signifying the concept of the gift of struggle. The blooming lotus shifts our minds away from resisting challenges to using challenges for the benefit of oneself and all others. In this shift we can view the purity and beauty of the blossom is only possible because of the gunk at the bottom of the pond.

So many times we focus only on the murk and mire. In this state, we determinedly focus on what we are walking through and forget to look upward, to set our gaze to the growth reaching for the light. Sometimes we deny the fact that struggles and challenges are important and necessary for enlightenment. It is understandable to become lost while we are trudging through painful times. That is why meditation practice, community, and study are absolutely vital to cultivate and maintain peace in the heart.

Shepherd:
Thank you for that lesson. It reminds me of the story of Joseph in the Bible about blessings for him and his family coming from his trials, playing out of a long period of time. It also calls to my mind a particular verse: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

It is so difficult sometimes to be patient and allow the “gunk” to do it’s work of feeding the blessings. That is true, not only for ourselves, but it is tempting to jump in and pull someone else out of their own mud puddle prematurely. It can also be difficult to remember that meditation will not automatically and quickly make all the “gunk” disappear. Often, meditation is the environment in which we can begin to soak up the nutrients that are feeding that lotus blossom. And that is not always a pleasant feeling.

Sherpa:
I think it’s important to add that being aware of the murk and mire does not necessarily mean taking no action to attend to situations that may be harmful to oneself or others. The lotus blossoms because it takes the yucky stuff and redirects the energy for good, which if we are to get philosophical, points to the fact that the yucky is good also. Without the murk there is no beauty and vice versa. As humans, because we are self-reflective animals, it is extremely difficult to keep our perspective on the idea of the lotus flower. However, if we stabilize our minds through meditation and continue to study the human condition, a sort of effortless effort of the lotus of our minds opens.

Shepherd:
Thank you so much for sharing this perspective. Especially the wisdom about the need to discern which dark situations may be endured and which cry out to be addressed for safety and health. I agree that meditation is a valuable method of growing that discernment. And, as you said, community, which is our connection with others, is vital to support that discernment and enable us to grow from the trials. I can see future discussions about other aspects of the lotus flower that teach us about life and spirit.

0 Comments

Count Others more significant that yourselves.

10/12/2020

0 Comments

Sherpa:
I've recently come across Philippians 2:3 which reads: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” This is so closely aligned with the Buddhist teaching on considering others as more important than oneself. From the Buddhist perspective, this is a high practice of humility rooted in actualized bodhichetta (wisdom and compassion).
Is there a practice in your church that meditates on this passage in the Bible to actualize the wisdom in these words?

Shepherd:
So, my first internal response to "is there a practice... to actualize...." was to say "no". That would have been a very short conversation. But that short answer was not true, upon deeper reflection. I am so grateful that you asked this question, so that I would have to contemplate an answer to it, and profit from it.
The clearest connection that occurred to me later, was memorization of this and similar verses. That may sound a mile away from "actualizing". One can certainly memorize without putting it into practice. But memorization can be, often is, a step toward internalizing an idea. Internalized, an idea is much more likely to be put into action.

Sherpa:
In my Buddhist practice we chant prayers and intentions. This is a part of actualizing. My teacher instructs to not just chant mindlessly, but to feel the truth of the prayers until tears spring to the eyes. In other words, taking the cognitive processes into the heart. Similar to the Christain tradition you are describing.

Shepherd:
Giving or charity is another practice that can help support humility and considering others more important than one's self. Again, you can give out of obligation, you can give out of fear, you can give out of expectation of getting some reward or recognition in return. But with the support of an attitude of humility, and the support of reminders and teachings on humility, giving can be a practice that boosts the recognition of all of us being on the same level in the sight of God.

Sherpa:
This is a big topic in my Buddhist lineage. Giving is a deeply spiritual action that aligns us with our true nature, which in our tradition is considered compassion and wisdom. So, again, very similar to the Christian tradition.

Shepherd:
A practice among some, which I have participated in, I think only once, is to re-enact an act of service that Jesus performed for his disciples on the night before he died. He, their leader and teacher, took on the duty of a lowly servant and washed their feet (the 'sandals on dirt roads' kind of dirty feet). He instructed them to do this for one another. Most people understand his instructions to be symbolic and I generally have, but participating in a ritual washing of the feet of another christian can have the effect of supporting an attitude of humility and a readiness to consider the other's needs as more important than one's own.

Sherpa:
That is really beautiful. To serve another with a spiritual intent naturally relaxes our ego-driven activity and is a way to align our actions with our hearts.

Shepherd:
There is a word that is certainly no stranger to the Christian community, but which I have come across so often in the Mindfulness community. That word is "kindness". This word in common use often comes across as a weak, trivial, maybe even childlike word. But the way it is used in the Bible, and the way it is used in the Mindfulness community, makes it clear that there is a depth here, not a triviality. This got me to thinking about the etymology of the word "kindness" and I discovered that it is rooted in the concept of recognition that we are all "of a kind". We are more alike one another than we are different from one another. We are connected with one another though our alikeness and our common origins. So we should treat one another in light of that reality. We are to "love one another as you love yourself" - the “Golden Rule”.

Sherpa:
How wondrous to know the root meaning of kindness! I love that. It's really so simple to be kind, yet it seems it is humanities biggest hurdle. What I've discovered through personal experience and observations of others is that our kindness to others is directly in proportion to the level in which we love ourselves. Meditation clears away our fog so that we can see how amazing we are, how amazing others are, and how precious is life. So actualizing loving-kindness, or bodhichetta, doesn't always mean doing something external, but sometimes it means going inward, or discovering our internal landscape.

Shepherd:
Another practice, taught to the very young, and sometimes lost as we mature, is to structure prayer around asking God to bless a long list of people. This practice can help develop and maintain a sense of interconnectedness and desire for the well-being of others, moving away from prayer as a time to ask for things for myself.

Sherpa:
In my tradition, we embrace the Buddhist path for others, which includes ourselves. It is thought that it is through compassion for others that ultimate enlightenment is made to become aware to the practitioner. I think of all people as having the same nature, so when a Christian prays for another without thought to personal gain, free from pity for the one being prayed for, and a Buddhist prays for another without concern for personal gain and free from pity for the one being prayed for, both are praying with the same nature and are touching the same experience of Ultimate Reality, or God.

Shepherd:
Another practice is some versions of the ritual of communion. The communion ritual is very specifically focused on "the body of Christ", and this is often understood to refer to his physical body that he gave in sacrifice for us. But it is also understood to be referring to all the members of the church, together, making up "the body of Christ.". We are often very different from one another, but we fit together as a whole, no one part of the whole being expendable. We are urged to treat one another with this understanding and attitude, that each is valuable is his or her own right

Sherpa:
Sangha is the word for the community of Buddhist practitioners. It is important for us to embrace the community as they are fellow brothers and sisters with their eyes resting in the same direction. We also consider all sentient beings as part of our Sangha in a big view, but on a practical view Sangha consists of fellow practitioners that support one another.

I find that Truth will find its way into different spiritual traditions because there is only one Truth. It is not surprising to see how the different traditions are so similar. After all, we are all human beings on this beautiful earth with the same basic experiences of love, pain, loss, birth, and death. Practicing seeing others as just as valuable as yourself, or more important than yourself is essential for a kind and loving society. Otherwise, the ego, the power, and the lust dominate and we descend into a very dark place.

Shepherd:
It is always fascinating to hear of such similar values and practices coming from these different sources. Your religion founded on observation and contemplation about how the world works and my religion founded on revelation uncover some very similar attitudes. The revelation I look to even refers to the importance of observing creation and contemplating it to understand the world works and how we fit into it.

0 Comments

Sabbath

9/17/2020

Shepherd: As we have been rushing to get this website pulled together this summer, I have been more keenly aware of the importance of having a strong practice of reserving some time on a regular basis to intentionally set aside WORK, and to just BE. This led to a discussion between us of the religious practice of observing a Sabbath rest. In my upbringing, I was taught that observing the Sabbath was a thing of the past for Christians, a part of the Old Covenant between God and Israel. I recognized that many different Christians hold very different understandings of the Sabbath. In my adult life, I have begun to recognize the wisdom and health of this practice, but have found it to be very difficult to practice as an individual or even as a family, outside of being a part of a community that observes Sabbath together. Is there anything like this concept among Buddhists?

Sherpa: From my understanding and personal practice of Vajrayana Buddhism, the practice of retreat comes closest to the idea of Sabbath. Retreats are taken as a skillful means in which to mindfully cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself and your relation to ultimate reality. Purposefully taking a break from your work and obligations to bring greater and more intense focus upon your practice brings heightened wisdom, not only to your practice, but to your work and obligations when you return to them.

Shepherd: This is interesting. In my world, a retreat is something planned specifically by a community, and may occur on a regularly repeating basis, but is often scheduled one event at a time. I have also thought of the concept of a spiritual group "retreat" as a relatively modern invention. Do I understand you correctly that there are cyclical times of retreat and that this is a widespread and old practice?

Sherpa: Retreat in Vajrayana Buddhism is an integral part of a serious practitioner. I won't go into too much detail now, however there are individual retreats and group retreats. A retreat is commonly taken up by a person with a strong spiritual calling and can last from 24 hours up to 3 years and beyond. Retreat is a time for deep connection and practice involving Buddhist rituals and philosophies. It is not uncommon, because you are working through confusions and ignorance, that there are times during a retreat which are not so fun. It is a meditation and mindfulness practice, and as we know, those practices are not always a walk in the park, although sometimes it can be a walk through paradise!

Shepherd: So, the word "retreat" has always brought to my mind a hint of failure and fear, but I have understood the concept, even in military terms, to be much broader and deeper than that. There is such a thing in the military as a "strategic retreat" in which there is an advantage to withdrawing for a time and coming at the goal from a different angle or at a different time, or with reinforcements at hand. Is there possibly a connection between these concepts and using the word "retreat" for a time of spiritual refreshing and renewal?

Sherpa: I can see why you made the military connection, but I would say retreat is not a refreshing, but a remembering or an unfolding into awareness of one's true nature and the true nature of Reality. The side benefits, however, can definitely be spiritually refreshing and renewing for the practitioner.

Shepherd: So, the “retreat” can be for renewal or bringing in “reinforcements”, but it can also be for reassessment of the situation. I can see Sabbath providing the same thing. I often feel that the restrictions of Sabbath are a burden, that they get in the way of me getting things done. I take heart in the words of Jesus about the Sabbath "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." when some religious folks were challenging his activities on a Sabbath day. I resist following some rules someone made up, but I also recognize that I am missing out on something important by just ignoring a regular practice of Sabbath rest. After all, it was "made for me."

Sherpa: I, too, don't do things simply on the basis of other human beings making the rules (not sure if that is always a good quality). It is advised in Tibetan Buddhism that one should never practice without thoroughly questioning the practice, or teacher, first. With intellectual inquiry, a person either sees or does not see wisdom behind a ritual or teaching. Practice without inquiry, to me, is just dogma, which sits on shifting sands, never allowing a person to pierce too deeply into the nature of reality. I think that your explanation of Sabbath being made for man is maybe close to what I’m speaking of. If man was made for Sabbath then it would be rule-following, but Sabbath being made for man is about connection to God through inquiry and faith. Pardon me if I misunderstand.

Shepherd: I was thinking something similar to your end thought on Jesus' words, as I was reading your previous thoughts. Many in christendom would disagree and say that we should never question a command. Jesus, Job, Abraham, Moses, David and Peter and the Bereans would certainly all disagree with that concept: Jesus would disagree with those who expect blind obedience. He and Moses and Job etc. etc. argued and debated with God. The name Israel literally means "struggles with God”.

Sherpa: I never knew the name of Israel meant ‘struggles with God’. Thank you for bringing that to light. We shall resume where we left off during our next conversation, for there are endless and wondrous ideas to discover!