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Volume 6, Issue 2 Just as the great ocean has one taste, the taste of salt,
April-June 2010 so also this Dhamma and Discipline has one taste,
the taste of liberation.
Uposatha Sutta
Flexibility, Tenshin Hyon Sek When I first decided to do a vow of silence, I had in mind a concept of “spiritual
Further Information on Lawsuit retreat,” a vacation of a religious sort. But once I started, that idea was short-
Concerning Buddhist Prisoners, lived. It seems that anything different, out of the ordinary, has an inescapable al-
Rob Newby lure for the masses. So everyone I’d ever so much as spoken to on the yard just
Buddhist Prisoner and Strict had to see how the “silence thing” was going. And wanted to talk about it.
Vegetarian Lawsuit, Ariya Bantu
Meditations on Anger, James L. Halbirt Then there are the “friends”—you know, the ones who want to joke and play and
My Path, Angie Oakes see if they can trip you up. Yes, this is definitely no monastery, and irreverence is
Karma, Ariya Bantu a culture, a way of life, here. That is when it dawned on me—this is exactly like
Life! This is the struggle that every reverent and spiritual Muslim, Christian, Jew,
Poetry Hindu, etc., faces day after day in Life. So the quest then became: Living the Path
Where I Go To, Brian Alberer In An Irreverent World.
Reasoning, Marty Knoff
Buddha's Door, James Davie The practice of Noble Silence is directly related to the Buddha’s teaching on one
Time and Light in Flux, of the steps of the Eightfold Path: wise speech. Like most faith systems, the
Steven Erik Prowler Buddha addressed lying, gossip, slander, and angry and aggressive speech. But
Rat Race, Marty Knoff he went a step further when he addressed idle speech. As a matter of fact, he
Poem, Christopher Brainerd went so far as to say that unless our speech was both needed and beneficial,
One, Minister Willie Campbell then we should say nothing at all.
Three Poems, James Davie
During this week, I had the opportunity to sit back and just observe the qual-
Art ity—or lack thereof, I should say—of the general speech and conversation within
Mindfulness, Travis Adams this community. Most of it, I’ve observed, is aggressive, lewd, or otherwise de-
Flower, Brian Alberer structive in nature. It seems there are approximately five basic topics of “convict
Drawing, Kenneth Griggs
dialog”: 1. sex, 2. violence, 3. prison/system, 4. culturalism/racism, or 5.
money/greed.
Letters
Ronald Couch, Jr. I realized this week the extreme pull and allure of certain negative speech prac-
James L. Halbirt tices, particularly arguments and debates. There is a very strong compulsion to
Travis L. Adams jump in to such unmindful discussions, even uninvited. It takes a lot of mindful
awareness not to go barreling into these pointless and debasing situations.
So the big question is, “Did he make it?” Did I make it through the entire seven
days without speaking? NO. But I was getting the hang of it by week’s end! The
continued on p. 3
Taking Refuge
Frank
To receive copies of any of the In his last moments, the Buddha instructed his disciples to take refuge in them-
resources listed below, please selves. If you practice mindfulness you touch the Buddha. If you breathe con-
write to Rev. Richard Baksa at sciously you touch the Dharma. Our Five Aggregates (form, feelings, perceptions,
the address above. mental formations, and consciousness) is our Sangha working in harmony.
• A listing by state of Buddhist
Personally, taking refuge for me allowed me to practice mindfulness, to recognize
groups that may be able to
send volunteers to your prison what is happening in the present moment. That recognition has allowed me to re-
to conduct Buddhist activities. lieve a lot of suffering in my life. It showed me the true nature of things, which is
an important step in realizing craving and aversion. It allowed me to come to
• The "Religious Land Use and
Institutionalized Persons Act of
grips with my drug addiction and criminal past. While not absolving me of it, it
2000." This guarantees equal allowed me to accumulate merit, positive actions in the here and now.
access for all religions to prison
facilities for the purpose of reli-
Another positive for me was to practice deep listening. There are so many times
gious meetings. that you think you are listening to someone but are actually not realizing a word
they say. This leads to conflict and perhaps even violence.
• “What is the Religious Land
Use and Institutionalized Per- I urge anyone who is contemplating taking refuge to take that final step. It will
sons Act?” This explains the change your life.
Act and how it is to be applied.
T
are the courtesies that some of us time, though, I was able to relax my
here are many different types of
grew up having programmed into us mind into my body, thus lowering me
flexibility in life. There is spiritual
relentlessly—things like “thank you” nearly to the floor. At this point, it was
flexibility, which is developed through
and “excuse me.” These were the like the entire universe opened up to
a willingness to learn. This type of flex-
most difficult by far. A call to the me. I understood how wonderful it
ibility can also be gained through vari-
warden’s office mid-week also inter- was to be alive. I could smell flowers
ous spiritual teachings and practices.
rupted things a bit. But nothing in from some unknown garden. I could
The next type of flexibility is mental
Buddhist practice is about pass or hear the wind whistling through a
flexibility. This type is developed
fail. It is instead about the develop- bamboo forest in China. This was an
through meditation. Finally we have
ment of awareness, mindfulness, and amazing experience of letting go.
physical flexibility. This type of flexibil-
ultimately wisdom. And in this regard,
ity is developed through stretching. As
this week was a tremendous success. All spiritual paths have important les-
a side note, I have found that only mar-
sons they can teach us. We should
I have heard it said that, “Silence is tial arts [Budo] can develop all three
not be afraid to learn from them, nor
the language of maturity.” After this types of flexibility at the same time.
should we discourage others from do-
week’s exploration, I could not agree ing the same. There is a beautiful free-
Being spiritually flexible is very import-
more. dom, a delightful openness, that
ant to our growth and development. In
fact, the Buddha was speaking about comes from breathing in the wisdom
spiritual flexibility when advising his of past masters. I invite you all to
Rat Race disciples not to take his word on the breathe in this glorious nectar.
Marty Knoff (Brooklyn, CT) truth of his teaching, but rather ad-
I closing, I would like to remind every-
vising each man and woman to see
one to be constantly mindful. We all
for themselves.
Starting the game again have various levels of flexibility. To
One more time around Mental flexibility is simply not letting think that one cannot become any
Beginning where we left off yourself get in your own way. “I” do more flexible is to think with the ego.
Or did we stop at all not have all of the answers. Training is Let is all go. Read a new spiritual
a process of ups and downs, suc- teaching. Try a different meditation
cesses and failures. We have to be practice. Lower yourself deeper into
Finding where to begin
mentally flexible in order to find out that stretch. You might just be sur-
An opening is what we need prised what opens up to you.
what works best for us. Myself, I do
Changing the course of time
not like sutra chanting, but I tried it.
Or did it stay the same And in doing so, I discovered that I en-
joy practicing the “6 healing sounds”
Seeking to remember it often meditation. A rigid mind would not
As if we really forgot have discovered this.
Wanting to say I remember
Being physically flexible obviously
But really wanting to forget helps in our sitting practice and in our
kicks, stances, asanas, etc. I recently
Are we near the finish yet discovered something else about phys-
Or did we just begin ical flexibility. I have always dreaded
I cannot decide which is what stretching. I had to start stretching
Can someone please help more after overcoming a back injury.
My kicks had become stiff and slow. I
follow the teaching of Mr. Pavel Tsat-
Decisions cause the troubles
souline. Anyone who is serious about
Or are we the problem
gaining physical flexibility should read
That is the real question his book, “Relax into Stretch” (ISBN Mindfulness
Trying to find an answer #978-0-938045-28-1). Travis L. Adams (Bradenton, FL)
Anger is our teacher. Try by resting quietly in meditation and then give yourself
some contemplative time to apply the suggested thoughts at times when anger
arises. Choose those that help you most.
2. Make a vow: Make a vow: to control anger,not to let it control you, not to act
on angry thoughts or feelings. Without fuel, anger will go away eventually.
3. Fake it 'til you make it: Sometimes you can work with anger this way. Smile.
Laugh. Think happy thoughts. Act as though you are happy and nothing bothers
you. Think of what you are grateful for. This will actually aid in changing your
body and brain chemistry.
Kenneth Griggs (Cheshire, CT)
4. Practice letting go: Consider that whatever it is that is making you angry is
something that will end on its own at some point. You do not need to stay at- This drawing of the Dalai Lama
tached to the person, the storyline, the drama, the things you want, or the source was an art assignment, to do a
of your anger. Think of its impermanence. drawing with a number 2 pencil in
one sitting, no stopping until the
5. Practice compassion and kindness: If we are determined to practice kindness,
drawing is done. Kenneth worked
it is hard to keep that vow and to stay angry at the same time. We must explore
well into the night with his 3-watt
the ways we are attached to anger more than to our practice of kindness and
book light to complete the assign-
make some internal adjustments. Anger dissolves when we vow to be kind.
ment.
6. Practice forgiveness: If anger is rooted in fear, as it often is, the drama behind
our anger is often due to vulnerability. We feel like the victim. Whether it is a per-
son or a thing or an event, if we consider forgiving that “other” for our perceived
hurt or fears, we re-own our true power and the anger dissipates. Reasoning
7. Practice re-framing our view: There is nothing valid about our anger except in Marty Knoff (Brooklyn, CT)
the realm of our ordinary egoic drama. By remembering our true self, our wis-
Taking hold of the situation
dom self, we remember that all is perfection and that all that arises is our teacher.
Is what we got to do
Arising anger is a great blinking red light that is asking us to pay attention to the
Stop worrying about the outcome
perfect teaching being revealed to us. Rest in wisdom and allow it to awaken you
But to control what happens
to where you are attached to a psychological drama. This gives you a chance to
heal. Write, draw, have an inner dialogue. Do anything that helps clarify the wis- Everything has its place
dom lesson that has presented itself. Even if it is out of order
8. Practice your highest intention: If your highest intention is to awaken to subtle Finding out where it belongs
conscious awareness and you clearly know that we can never know what is really That is our destiny
unfolding and that we never know how long we have in this lifetime to discover
Confusion sets upon us
our true self, ego dramas fade into the background pretty quickly. We are vaster
When we try to figure it out
and wiser than most of those piddling little meltdowns. Growing into our true self
Bewildering our thoughts
and all that we are is not easy. If we know our highest intention, that is a rare gift
Even now when we read this
and not one to give away for such a small price. Keep the focus and know that
every time you turn down the invitation to succumb to anger, you become a little Events are always happening
stronger and a little more skillful. Around us and in our lives
9. Work with your physical and subtle energies to cleanse and wash away the It’s how we perceive them
negatives: There are mantras in many traditions that bring balance and harmony. That gives them meaning
continued on p. 11
M y path in life has been long and me. I had the rep of a tough girl who petrified when she died that very
hard. I grew up with a violent could outdrink, outsmoke, outcuss, night in a car accident. I found no
father and an enabling mother. I and outfight any guy. It’s hard to keep peace. My best friend killed himself
watched my father beat up my mom, up a hard exterior and never let any- that year, too. I did not believe there
listened as he insulted her, and saw one see who you really are. was any peace for me.
her just take it. He’s beaten my baby I learned to blend in with the crowds At 20, I saw the inside of a county
brother for being himself. He’s beaten around me. I could be anyone I jail for the first time. I was in for
me just because I’m the oldest. He did needed to be. No one ever saw me double murder. For two years I stud-
a good job tearing us down. fall or crack. I wanted to help other ied the Bible because my mom
The only way I could cope was to shut people and keep them from suffering. wanted me to. She told me I would
myself down. The only emo- Fixing them meant I never had to face find peace and forgiveness for what I
tion I acknowledged was had done. All I found was
anger. I was angry at my more questions and even
parents, at my life, and at deeper guilt. I still didn’t
myself for being weak and find peace. When I got to
powerless. My mother was the state prison, I went to
raised Catholic and my all different services. Noth-
father, Baptist. Church was ing felt right. While I was
not a place I went very of- working a 12-step pro-
ten. When I would ques- gram for my addictions to
tion Christian beliefs, I was alcohol, pain killers,
chastised for it, told we muscle relaxants, and hal-
are not to question God. I lucinogens, a friend told
just couldn’t understand me she was a Buddhist.
how if this God loved me She and I spent time talk-
he would leave me to suf- ing about her beliefs. I
fer at my father’s hand. was so surprised to find
I turned to alcohol and that I already believed
drugs to help keep me most of what she said
numb. When my parents and did. I began to find
divorced I ended up living books about Buddhism. I
with my dad. I couldn’t couldn’t get enough. In
handle my mom sniveling 2000, I had my religion
and wanting him back. Brian Alberer (Smyrna, DE) on my ID changed to
She laid all her problems Buddhism. I was a lone
at my feet, wanted me to practitioner. The librarian
myself or let other people know I
fix things. So I went to my dad’s. I helped me get new Buddhist books. I
needed help. But I stayed away from
learned to drink with him. We got started writing different groups and or-
religious people. They were all trying
along when we were drunk. I stayed ganizations for study materials. In
to convert me or save me. I was bey-
clear of him when we were sober. 2005, I stumbled upon the BCC and
ond their help, and I didn’t believe
I’ve been a student ever since.
My dad molded me to be the son he anything based on blind faith. Viol-
didn’t have. I could hold my alcohol, ence was real; God wasn’t. In the last five years—I am now 36—I
and I could take a punch like any feel a peace I never thought I’d feel.
I had friends who were atheists, ag-
man. I knew my way around a gar- My father died 16 years ago this
nostics, Wiccans, Satanists, and even
age. I had to learn to work on en- year. I harbor no ill will toward him. I
Christians. I tried to find inner peace
gines, do bodywork, and drive. I was with Wicca. The thing was my heart
also a good motorcycle rider. In high continued on p. 7
was cold and my spirit was seeking re-