DharmaMind Buddhist Group

Samadhi in Action

Samadhi defined as stillness or silence of mind is an important feature of our training, but we must be careful not to misunderstand that this is where our training finishes. To create the samadhi of silent openness through passive awareness is really only the beginning. From this place of steadfastness you now turn yourself to insightful cultivation in two distinctive ways in order to see into the relationship with yourself, life and the attachments that you create. One aspect of samadhi is sitting still in awareness on the cushion and the other is taking that stillness into the activities of daily life to become samadhi in action, which then reveals the true dynamic spirit of our understanding of this important concept.

The Medicine for Fear and Suffering

A month or so prior to this talk I had an a operation on my head and neck to remove cancer growths. During this period there has been a lot of time to reflect on life and my relationship to it. I talk about the gift of self-awareness and of waking to the wonderment of life and our divine nature. I also spoke of how we can turn a potentially fearful event like this into one of great suffering by projecting thoughts and scenarios as to its future consequences. The strong lesson to be learnt is by not projecting into the future (or the past), but rather just staying with what is; there may be pain, but there is never suffering or fear.

A Glimpse of the Bodhisattva

The bodhisattva ideal is a major concept in mahayana buddhism and therefore relevant to the type of training we pursue in our group. I believe it to be a greatly inspiring concept but it carries a danger far greater than misunderstanding the other defining concept of our tradition in that, because we all possess buddha nature we therefore do not need to train. Misunderstanding the bodhisattva ideal is far more common because we perceive the bodhisattva in the human form and therefore can easily grasp at this ideal and see ourselves to be becoming one of these truly enigmatic beings. In order to steer clear of the danger of turning this training into a self-image ego trip we need to understand what sets the bodhisattva training apart from any other pursuit that we may be familiar with. This talk touches on the unique perspective and qualities of this type of training.

Talk 6/6 - Questions and Answers

We come to the last day and time given over to issues on our way of dharma training through a Q and A forum. In this session answers to the retreat students questions highlight - The Physical Centre of Practice / The Dangers of Sleep / Not Liking Myself.

Talk 5/6 Dharma Offers More Than Just Happiness

A familiar promise often made by teachers of Buddhism is one of happiness. This is true, but the problem with happiness is that it relies on circumstances to experience this much desired emotion, In truth all circumstances are in the grip of the law of impermanence, so when the circumstances that bring happiness go into change so does your happiness. As well as happiness the practice of Buddha-dharma also promises contentment, which is of a far greater order and importance. Contentment is much more subtle and more difficult to bring into your life, but once established takes you beyond the need to chase ever-changing circumstances that you hope will bring the emotion of happiness. With contentment established you will be happy anyway, because you will no longer be pulled around by life's vicissitudes but have an equanimity and stability in all situations, this we call the middle way, and so go beyond the stress of continually chasing after the impermanence of happiness, that proves in the end, to be just a temporary shield from the human malaise.

Talk 4/6 Time for Renewal

This talk took place on New Year's Eve, and so I suggested to the group that they made use of this time to look back over the year that was about to end, and ponder if there were grounds to renew their commitment to practice in the New Year that was about to begin. Of course, as practitioners we should always be watchful of our commitment to training as a part of everyday awareness; but be especially watchful to the danger of falling into the 'comfort zone' that manifests in numerous ways being the greatest and most common mara that follows us all.

Talk 3/6 The Jewel of Awareness

Dharma training can so easily become complicated and even confusing. Yet the key and centre focus is always to do with the simplicity of awareness. All forms of Buddhist training are paths that lead back to simple naked present awareness. It is then from this position that you begin to observe and wake up to yourself, and make decisions to let go of attachments to discover your natural stillness and freedom from suffering. We need to remind ourselves over and over that this is the simple basic truth of all dharma training.

2/6 Breaking Through the Darkness

We can all aspire to a vision of awakening and enlightenment, release from suffering and eternal freedom. Many teachers offer this vision but often forget to remind the student that release is only possible by first opening and working through the mind's created samsara and its suffering. Our form of training also offers the great vision, but continually reminds the student to primarily focus on the created suffering of self and ego. Because it is only when the darkness of the created world begins to fade will the great vision of liberation we all aspire to begins to shine through.

1/6 Making Life Positive

As practitioners we are aware of the suffering that characterises much of life, and can therefore become conditioned to see life from a negative point of view. But taking on dharma training this perspective can be turned around by seeing that that very suffering itself can instead become really something very positive. Now you can train yourself to see it as the very substance of the path of transformation itself, and the gateway to freedom and liberation.

The Secret of Awakening

Our way of being is to create a dualistic world of opposites. We grasp at things or reject them. We like or dislike. We have views and opinions that invariably display one-sidedness. We want to do this training, then we don't want to do it. What we seldom experience with any sort of consistency is living in the middle of these extremes. But the definition of authentic practice is to be able to live in that middle space between these opposites. That place that you sometimes touch but seldom abide in with any consistency. Lift yourself up when you feel uninspired and fearful, contain yourself when you are tempted to grasp and get carried away. This is the secret of awakening, and the secret that the Buddha discovered - it's called the Middle Way.