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Creating Bridges: Spirituality & Philosophy:
Spirituality in Daily Life:
Hurricane Wilma
and Its Aftermath
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by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron |
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October 30, 2005
There is a small Buddhist group in Cancun, Mexico. Some of its members have attended my talks in other cities when I've taught in Mexico and they write to me for Dharma advice from time to time. I received this email about a week after Hurricane Wilma slammed into Cancun, bringing fear and insecurity in the minds of those there and causing great damage to the town.
Ven. Chodron
Dear Venerable Chodron,
I hope this finds you in good health. I am writting in behalf of our Buddhist group here in Cancun. You must have heard about the hurricane that hit this area. Even though we were prepared for a major hurricane, the destruction and devastation is beyond imagination. Members of our group were not harmed and we all had a safe place to endure the storm. Unfortunatelly, looting and vandalism took over during the disaster, for the first time in Mexico's history, so now we also have to look for safety even after a week.
It is difficult for me to explain how we all feel. There are people that stand strong and positive, others feel broken and find no hope. There is much suffering around. Besides reconstruction of the city, the economy is paralyzed. We know we'll have to work harder but at times it seems very difficult.
Ven. Chodron, would you please advice us about practice during these tough times? We've been following a program as you suggested in the past. Previous to the hurricane we were doing analytical meditation on precious life in depth. I hope we all can get together in a couple of days and practice together. Personally, I found great inspiration in Green Tara, as well as Tonglen. What do you suggest?
Much love
Silvia
Dear Sylvia,
I was in India and just received your email. All of you in Cancun have been through an ordeal. Although we hear teachings on the disadvantages of cyclic existence, the ignorance in our mind prevents us from meditating on this topic-we don't want to think that suffering will happen to us. So while this experience has not been pleasant, it has opened your eyes to the dangers of cyclic existence and now you understand better why our teachers encourage us to generate the determination to free ourselves from cyclic existence.
Yes, the tonglen-taking and giving practice-is good to do. Think, "As long as I'm experiencing these difficulties, may it suffice for all sentient beings who are going through hard times." Think specifically of those who have been in hurricanes and imagine taking on their suffering with compassion and giving them happiness with love. When we spend some time considering others' problems, our own difficulties appear more manageable in comparison. Sure, we have problems, but in comparison to what many others are experiencing our difficulties aren't so bad. Our mind becomes stronger and more courageous; we know that we can manage the situation all right.
Green Tara practice, too, is very helpful. Imagine Green Tara in front of you, or if you've had the initiation, imagine becoming Tara yourself. From Tara's heart, beautiful green light radiates and touches each and every sentient being. It purifies their negative karma and eliminates their misery; it also fills them with the realizations of the path-love, compassion, wisdom, and so on. When you feel that your physical energy is in a slump or that your mind is depressed, then imagine Tara's spectacular green light filling you from head to toe-going into every cell of your body. At the same time, Tara's optimistic, compassionate energy fills you, giving you a sense of hope and willingness to work to improve the situation of yourself and others. Then dedicate for the enlightenment of all sentient beings.
This whole experience is a teaching in impermanence. Watch how things arise and at the same time cease. The hurricane came and went. Our moods come and go. The situation around us is constantly changing; our emotions are as well. Thus, don't make anything solid and concrete in your mind. Avoid forming a negative view of what you're experiencing or thinking that it will last forever. It won't. Since the hurricane struck, you've received so much kindness from others and you've been able to give kindness and optimism to others as well. So rejoice in the goodness that exists in the universe and generate the bodhicitta motivation.
Sending my love and good wishes to everyone in the Dharma group,
Ven. Chodron
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Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron,
Buddhist Nun, Teacher, Author
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Thubten Chodron (Cherry Greene) graduated with a B.A. in History from UCLA in 1971. After traveling extensively in Europe, North Africa and Asia, she taught in the Los Angeles City School District did post-graduate work in Education at USC.
In l975, she attended a meditation course given by Ven. Lama Yeshe and Ven. Zopa Rinpoche, and subsequently went to their monastery in Nepal to explore Buddhism. In l977, she was ordained as a Buddhist nun.
Chodron studied and practiced Buddhism of the Tibetan tradition under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan masters for many years in India and Nepal.
She was the spiritual program director at Lama Tzong Khapa Institute in Italy for nearly two years and studied three years at Dorje Pamo Monastery in France. For two years she was resident teacher at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore, and for ten years she was resident teacher and spiritual advisor at Dharma Friendship Foundation in Seattle.
She currently is co-founder of Sravasti Abbey at Liberation Park in USA. Ven. Chodron has taught Buddhist philosophy, psychology and meditation worldwide.
Her books include:
Open Heart, Clear Mind; Buddhism for Beginners; Working with Anger; Taming the Monkey Mind, and Blossoms of the Dharma: Living as a Buddhist Nun.
Active in interfaith dialogue, she also does prison work. Ven. Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha's teachings in daily life and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners.
www.thubtenchodron.
org
www.sravastiabbey.
org
www.dharmafriendship.
org
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