Dana

by Ralph Pamperin
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Dana is a buddhist term which embodies a deep personal spirit of generosity and gratitude; it is fundamental to a Buddhist spiritual life and deeply engrained into buddhist cultures. In our western culture we emphasize charitable giving to the less fortunate, which is very important. Dana goes beyond this, moving from an open-handed generosity of giving to the needy to more of an open-hearted generosity. Cultivating generosity helps us to eliminate greed and hatred; when you give you have loving-kindness in your heart, so greed and hatred or ill-will are absent. When we understand how interconnected we all are, and are filled gratitude for life and loving kindness for all, we have a heartfelt desire to share generously from whatever gifts we have received in this life. You can give many non-material things which may count even more than material things. When we are kind to each other, we are giving kindness, gentleness, comfort, peace, happiness, etc. For example, we can listen to a troubled person with compassion. The buddhist monks share the teachings of the Buddha from this place of generosity. For them it is foreign to deeply held spiritual values to charge money for sharing the gift of the Buddha's wisdom with which they have been blessed. They in turn invite us to share in this spirit of generosity in whatever way we are gifted in life.


I recall an early, almost insignificant experience with Bhante Sathi. We had started a meditation class in Chanhassen and needed cushions for the class. At the end of one of the classes, Bhante suggested we might buy cushions to bring to the class. Several of us agreed this would be a good idea and someone volunteered to research where to buy a quantity of them. We would each buy our cushion and bring them to class each week. Bhante broke in and suggested that we might want to buy them for all to share and buy for more than our own needs. In the way he presented this it was obvious to me that we each had first thought of our own needs, and buying OUR cushions. It is hard to explain, but I sensed something very different in the way Bhante invited generosity from us. I sensed it was deeply engrained and not something that he had to think about doing the right thing. He was inviting us to selfless, generous loving kindness. There was no guilt, no should's; it felt like an invitation to expand. This almost insignificant experience made a deep and lasting impression on me.


Having grown up in a church in which asking for money was an ever-present aspect. I sometimes find it difficult to ask for donations for the monks. When I find it difficult I know it is because this value of Dana is not yet embedded in me. Dana does not involve guilt or fear of not having enough; it emanates from deep gratitude for life and a heart-felt loving kindness for all.

Meditation and anger management

Everyone get mad, anger. Let see how we can control when you got angry. I am sure the following text would be much useful all of us. Just read and comment.


Here are some practical suggestions for dealing with anger.

1. When you are angry say nothing.

If we speak in anger we will definitely aggravate the situation and quite likely hurt the feelings of others. If we speak in anger we will find that people respond in kind, creating a spiral of negative anger. If we can remain outwardly silent it gives time for the emotion of anger to leave us.

“When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred. “


2. Be indifferent to those who seek to make us angry.
Some people may unfortunately take a malicious pleasure in trying to make you mad. However, if we can feel indifferent to them and their words; if we feel it is beyond our dignity to even acknowledge them, then their words and actions will have no effect. Also, if we do not respond in any way to their provocation, they will lose interest and not bother us in the future.
3. Use reason to stop anger.
When we feel anger coming to the fore try to take a step back and say to yourself “This anger will not help me in any way. This anger will make the situation worse.” Even if part of us remains angry our inner voice is helping us to distance our self from the emotion of anger.
4. Look kindly upon Others.
Another visualization, suggested by spiritual teacher Paramhansa Yogananda, is to see the anger-rousing agent as a 5 year old child. If you think of the other person as a helpless 5 year old child your compassion and forgiveness will come to the fore. If your baby brother accidentally stabbed you, you would not feel anger and desire to retaliate. Instead, you would just feel he is just too young to know any better. This exercise may be particularly useful for close members of the family who at times evoke your anger.
5. Value Peace more than anger.
If we value peace of mind as our most important treasure we will not allow anger to remain in our system.
“You may have every right to be angry with someone, but you know that by getting angry with him you will only lose your precious peace of mind..”
6. Always try to understand those who are cross.
Don’t worry about feeling the need to defend yourself from their criticisms. If you can remain detached and calm they may begin to feel guilty about venting their anger on you. Inspired by your example of calmness, they will seek subconsciously to do the same.
7. Focus on Something Completely Different.
Suppose someone has done something to make you angry. Think about something which will make you happy. The best antidote to negativity is to focus on the positive.
8. Breathe Deeply.
The simple act of breathing deeply will help considerably with removing anger.
9. Meditation.
Practise meditation regularly to bring your inner peace to the fore. If we can have an inner access to our inner peace we will be able to draw upon this during testing times.
10. Smile
When we smile we defuse many negative situations. To smile is offer goodwill to others. Smiling costs nothing but can effectively defuse tense situations.

Meditation and Pain Relief

July 11, 2010

by Mehmet C. Oz, MD, and Michael F. Roizen, MD |

If you're among the tens of millions of North Americans living with chronic pain, we've got news about a drug-free "om remedy" worth trying: easy meditation. Plenty of research shows that your brain's superpowers can help conquer the most stubborn of miseries, including bad backs, cancer pain, arthritis, tension headaches, and inflammatory bowel disease. (Check out how meditation can help knee pain.) The best part?

You don't have to move to a mountaintop, sit on a rock-hard meditation cushion, or shell out big bucks for a meditation instructor to get results. In a new study from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, people who meditated for just 20 minutes a day saw their pain tolerance rise in 4 days. Volunteers learned an ultra-easy technique called mindfulness meditation that teaches you to focus on your breath and stay in the present moment, not worry about what's ahead. Researchers tested the volunteers' pain thresholds with mild electric shocks and found that shocks considered "high pain" before meditating felt mild afterward.

Volunteers who didn't learn the meditation had unchanged responses to the shocks. (No, we can't imagine why anyone volunteered for this, though we're grateful that they did.) Please don't try this at home! But once you've finished reading this column, take a few minutes to test-drive our simple instructions (see below) for mindfulness meditation and two other pain-soothing techniques. You'll feel calm, centered, and Zen-fully refreshed, fast.

But first, let's get something straight: Meditation doesn't work because your pain is "all in your head." Chronic pain is all too real, and too many people live with it every day. When pain won't quit, stress and worry kick in, boosting levels of stress hormones, which tricks your brain into thinking the pain is worse than it is. Destressing with meditation or similar mind-body techniques (progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery) dials back stress hormones, which so diminishes pain. The difference may be enough for you to reduce your pain meds or to get relief when drugs alone fall short.

There's more. In other new research, this time from England's University of Manchester, meditation eased pain by helping your brain stop anticipating it -- another stress trigger. Less stress and less pain can also mean better sleep, more motivation to exercise, and even less depression, all of which make you relax more and hurt less. Ready to get started? Find a quiet place where you can sit or lie down comfortably for 10 to 15 minutes. Tape a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door. Then, give these brain-powered pain busters a whirl: Mindfulness meditation: Close your eyes; it will help you stay focused. Breathe in and out, slowly and naturally (no need to hyperventilate), paying attention to how each inhale and exhale feels. Acknowledge your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations in your body, but don't get wrapped up in them. Keep gently returning your focus to your rhythmic breathing. After 10 minutes or so, begin to notice your surroundings as you breathe calmly. Then, plan to go about your day with this feeling of calm awareness.

results have been amazing.

The Middle Way

Calendar of events June 2010

Vesak Day (Day of Awakening)

June 6th Sunday, 2010

Dhamma Talk by

Venerable Madawela Punnaji

Topic: What is awakening?

Time: 3.00pm - 4.30pm

Location: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mankato
937 Charles Avenue
Mankato, MN 56001

Topic: Bhante Punnaji will give a talk on “Steps in to Awakening”. He will talk about how one can attain awakening in eight steps according to Buddha. He will mostly focus on “Jhana” in his talk.

Vesak Day: May Full moon day is the most special and spiritual day for all Buddhists and for those who practice the Dhamma. It is the time for us to get together and practice and cultivate the spiritual qualities such as loving kindness, generosity, the purification of the mind and wisdom.

Venerable Mahathera Punnaji: has come to the West to introduce his discoveries to intelligent readers who have an open mind free from prejudice. He is a Researcher of the original teachings of the Buddha, and has served in North America as a Teacher of Buddhism and a Meditation Master, for nearly 30 years. He is well known for his clear and accurate presentation of Buddhism and has grateful students the world over.

He has spent more than fifty years making an in-depth intensive study of both the theory as well as the practice of Buddhism. He studied various schools of Buddhist thought including what modern scholars consider to be the earliest source of the teachings of the Buddha, the Pali Nikaya.

Venerable Punnaji is well-versed in Western fields of scientific knowledge, including medicine, and has a thorough understanding of comparative religions, philosophy and psychology. His interpretations of the original teachings of the Buddha have been much enriched by these forays beyond a mere study and practice of Buddhism.

He has played a significant role in the dissemination of Buddhism in the West and is well known to Buddhists in Canada, U.S., and abroad. Sought by many as a resourceful spiritual guide, Ven. Punnaji shares his time between the Buddhist centers in Canada, the U.S., Sri Lanka and other countries. He is currently residing at the Sarathchandra Meditation Centre, North Hollywood, California, USA.

We invite you all to join the celebration of the Birth, the Awakening and Passing away of the Buddha, and to experience the spirit of "Vesak" on Sunday June the 6th at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mankato from 3.00 PM.

Event Support: We believe these teachings are extremely valuable, thus assigning a value to these teachings is an impossible task. Therefore, this talk is offered freely in the spirit of generosity. Yet, there are many opportunities open to practice your generosity by making a donation to Triple Gem Of The North, to support the teacher and towards the costs of the event (such as accommodation, traveling expenses for the teacher).

It is an ancient Buddhist tradition for the community to joyfully support/nourish/feed people, Monks, and who ever engages in intensive spiritual practice, thereby practicing in their good effort. Therefore, we present you with the opportunity to practice your good effort, by sponsoring a meal/s for Monks and participants during future activities organized by the Triple Gem of The North.

Monetary donations can be presented in-person at Monks Residence, by mail, or via internet. Please send your donations by mail to: PO box 323, St Peter, MN, 56082. Please make checks payable to Triple Gem Of The North.



Half Day Retreats with Venerable Punnaji
June12th , 2010
Location:
Chanhassen Library
690 Coulter Dr
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Time: 1pm- 5pm
Call Ralph for more information 952-934-9727
More info click

Study on meditation's effect on battle stress

Below is an interesting article from the Milwaukee Sentinel about a study starting up on whether meditation can help post traumatic stress disorder in war veterans.

In the seven years since he finished his stint in the U.S. Navy, Todd Dennis has rarely slept well.

Though never diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, he's struggled with some of the symptoms, including insomnia and feelings of anger.

Dennis says those symptoms have eased since February, when he began practicing yoga and meditation techniques he learned through the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Investigating Healthy Minds.

Beginning this fall, the center will apply the tools of neuroscience - including brain imaging - in studies to determine what if any effect such contemplative practices have on veterans with symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.

"We'll be looking at whether they make an impact in their lives, their overall function, their sense of well-being," said Emma Seppala, a psychologist and research associate, who will oversee the research, some of the first of its kind.

Researchers hope to develop psychological profiles and a kind of tool kit that help them target contemplative practices in ways that are most effective.

The center's research and its vision will be on display this weekend when it hosts events, most of them private for researchers, collaborators, donors and other supporters.

The only public event, though all tickets have been claimed, will be an unscripted conversation between center founder and director Richard Davidson and the 14th Dalai Lama on the subject of "Investigating Healthy Minds."

It was a challenge by the Tibetan spiritual leader to Davidson during a 1992 meeting in India that gave rise to the center, according to Davidson. In that meeting, he says, the Buddhist monk called on him to apply the tools of science used to study such things as depression, anxiety and fear to instead study such traits as happiness, kindness and compassion.

"That was a very powerful meeting for me, and one that altered the course of my life and career," said Davidson, a psychologist and neuroscientist who also heads the university's Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, and Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience.

Some of the research got under way even before the center's founding in 2008. In 1999, Davidson brought advanced meditation practitioners, many of them monks from Asia, to Madison to study how the long-term practice of meditation affects the mind. Among the findings, he said, was the presence of unusually high amplitudes of gamma oscillations, brain rhythms associated with such things as focused attention, learning and memory.

The center's work has drawn significant support, including a $6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

In addition to its study on veterans, it is developing programs for school-age children and individuals transitioning from prison back into society. The student project launches in the fall with a pilot program for fifth-graders in Madison public schools.

"We're interested in determining if simple practices can be brought into the schools to improve students' concentration and skill in emotion regulation . . . both of which are necessary for kids to be successful," said Davidson.

Seppala will be posing the same questions in her work with veterans. The findings, she said, could be used to develop programs to treat thousands of vets who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder.

"Twenty percent of the 2 million veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have PTSD, and it's believed the high suicide rate among veterans may be attributed to that," she said.

The three-year study will involve 90 veterans in three groups, two of which will participate in either mindfulness meditation or yoga breathing exercises. Those in the third group will continue with their current courses of treatment.

There is, at least, anecdotal evidence that contemplative practices are beneficial for veterans. Both Navy veteran Dennis and Jennifer Kannel, who spent a year in Iraq with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, said the breathing exercises and meditation practices improved their sleep and sense of well-being.

"That's one of the big ones vets say, whether they have PTSD or not, that it helps promote sleep," said Andrew Hendrickson, who leads a yoga-based relaxation series for returning combat troops at the Zablocki Veterans Administration Medical Center in Milwaukee.

"They say it helps them feel at ease, helps them deal with physical pain - all the things you would expect from a mind-body technique.

Hendrickson asks vets in his program to rate their level of distress, on a scale of zero to 100, before and after participating.

"I frequently get people who drop from 80 to 20 or 10," said Hendrickson, who used yoga to sleep at night while working at a combat hospital in Afghanistan. "One guy with severe depression went from 60 to zero."

For more information on the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds go to www.investigatinghealthyminds.org.

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Meditation improves brain function

This story appeared in the "Epoch Times." It reports on a scientific study that showed that a person who meditates for four days at 20 minutes per session had marked improvement in their understanding and ability to process information.

We have long believed that a cup of coffee every morning can make us more awake, yet a newly published study suggests that brief meditation can prepare us for the day just the same.

In past research, neuroimaging technology has shown that meditation techniques can promote significant changes in brain areas associated with concentration, but it was thought that the effect required extensive training to achieve.

However, according to the new research, the benefits may be achievable with much less effort. It suggests that the mind may be more easily trained to focus than we previously believed.

Psychologists found that participants who meditated for 20 minutes a day for four days showed an evident improvement in their critical cognition skills and performed significantly better in cognitive tests than a control group.

“In the behavioral test results, what we are seeing is something that is somewhat comparable to results that have been documented after far more extensive training,” said Dr. Fadel Zeidan in a press release. Zeidan is a post-doctoral researcher at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and a former doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where the research was conducted.

“Simply stated, the profound improvements that we found after just four days of meditation training are really surprising,” Zeidan noted. “It goes to show that the mind is, in fact, easily changeable and highly influenced, especially by meditation.”

The study is published in the April 2 issue of Consciousness and Cognition.

The experiment involved 63 student volunteers. Participants were divided into two groups, one of which received the meditation training while the other group listened to a book (J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit) being read aloud for equivalent periods of time.

Before and after the meditation and reading sessions, the participants were subjected to a broad battery of behavioral tests assessing mood, memory, visual attention, attention processing, and vigilance.

Both groups performed almost equally on all measures at the beginning of the experiment. Both groups also improved at the end of the experiment in measures of mood, but only the group that received the meditation training improved significantly in cognitive measures. The meditation group scored as much as 10 times better on one challenging test that involved sustaining the ability to focus while holding other information in mind.

“The meditation group did especially better on all the cognitive tests that were timed,” Zeidan said. “In tasks where participants had to process information under time constraints causing stress, the group briefly trained in mindfulness performed significantly better.”

“Further study is warranted,” he stressed, noting that brain imaging studies would be helpful in confirming the brain changes that the behavioral tests seem to indicate. “But this seems to be strong evidence for the idea that we may be able to modify our own minds to improve our cognitive processing–most importantly in the ability to sustain attention and vigilance–within a week’s time,” he said.

Zeidan noted that brief meditation only prepares the mind for activity, but it’s not necessarily permanent. Therefore, in order to have long-lasting effect, regular meditations need to be performed.

Ajahn Brahm Dhamma Talk

The four ways of letting go

Calendar of events April 2010

One day Retreat- Chanhassen MN



April 17, 2010



Practice Meditation and Learn how to:

Cultivate Mindfulness

Deal with Emotions and Stress

Develop compassion and loving kindness



The day will include an introduction to meditation, seated and walking meditations, and teachings and discussion on mindfulness. Lunch is potluck. Please bring something to share for lunch or tea breaks, and a cushion if you have one.

This is a dana event; dana is a buddhist tradition of monks sharing their teach-ings for no fee. You are invited to practice dana with a donation to support the monks and their teachings. for more info Click



This Week in Mankato

Monday


Meditation Group1 (Mankato)
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: At First Congregational United Church of Christ

150 Stadium Ct, Mankato


This is a meditation class good for experienced and beginners open thinkers. Open discussion followed by guided meditation. You are welcome!



Wednesday
Meditation Group11 (Mankato)
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Monks Residence
This is a meditation class for open thinkers. Open discussion followed by guided meditation. You are welcome!





Sunday



Metta Meditation Group

10:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.

Location: Monks Residence (Mankato)



We will practice Metta meditation about 40 minutes followed by Dhammapada studies. Dhammapada is a collection of verses delivered by Buddha which contains deep Dhamma teachings and lessons on the proper way of life.



Paramitha (perfection) Group

4:15 p.m. to 5:45p.m.
Location: Monks Residence

This is a committed group meet and studies how to apply and practice Dhamma with day to day life. We shire certain document via e-mail and reed before come to the meeting. You are welcome to be part of this group. Contact Bhante Sathi for more information.

Awakening to Life, Awakening ro Death

Thanks to Tricycle Magazine, we can all sit down and watch this 25 minute Dharma talk from author Stephen Batchelder.

http://www.tricycle.com/online-retreats/buddhism-one-and-only-life/awakening-life-awakening-death

Meditation techniques effective for pain relief

This article is courtesy of the American Pain Society.

Meditation has analgesic benefits associated with creating a relaxed state of mind and enhancing the ability to moderate reactions to pain, according to new research published in The Journal of Pain, the peer review publication of the American Pain Society.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina measured pain ratings in students interested in learning meditation who recruited for the study. Subjects were trained in meditation for three consecutive days and were given experimental pain stimuli.

Results of the trial showed that relaxed states promoted by the brief mindfulness meditation sessions reduced the reported pain ratings. Participants had less pain to both low and high pain intensities and showed significant reductions in anxiety after each meditation stimulation. The authors concluded that decreases in anxiety and increases in the ability to sustain personal focus can attenuate the feeling of pain.

In assessing their findings, the authors noted that the analgesic effects of meditation can be realized even after a short period of time learning the technique. Also, the results provide additional validation of the benefits of cognitive techniques for controlling pain. [via The American Pain Society]

One Day Meditation Retreat: March 27th 2010 Saint Paul MN

Bhante Sathi will guide and conduct this retreat/workshop. The focus of this retreat/workshop will be introducing some meditation techniques on “stress reduction and finding peace.” The session will particularly focus on learning and practicing these techniques. A full day commitment is expected. The retreat is open to everyone. Lunch will be a potluck, therefore please bring a dish to share.



Date: Saturday, March 27th



Location:
Pht-An Temple
475 Minnesota Ave
Roseville, MN

Registration is required by March 22nd
Space is limited for 25 people.

Fee: this is a dana base retreat, Dana is a practice that Buddha highly encouraged. Monks practice dana by offering the teachings without a price tag attached. You also can practice dana by making a donation of money, time and/or labor. Your donation allows us to continue offering the teachings to others and offer our monks a life support. Our organization is maintained only by the generosity of all of you who value the teachings.

Register Now or Call (612) 216 4854 Email us info@triplegem.org

RETREAT SCHEDULE
9:00 am Introduction
9:20 am Guided Meditation
9:50 am Sitting and Walking Meditation
10:15 am Tea/ Coffee
10:30 am Method of Awakening (Sitting Meditation)
11:30 am Lunch
12:15 pm Walking Meditation
12:45 pm Q&A
1:30 pm Teachings
2:00 pm Meditation practice
3:00 pm Tea/Coffee break
3:15 pm Teaching
3:45 pm Introducing Thoughts
4:30 pm Closing Practice
5:00 pm End

Never Seeing The Same River Twice

As ordinary people, we always think we are correct. We think that we know everything. If someone says something that follows your belief system, then you agree with them. But if someone says something that is the opposite of your beliefs then you disagree.

Behind that mind is our ego. Because of one’s ego we really don’t see what is correct or incorrect. We see what we would like to see. Therefore, one’s ego will prevent from us maintaining an open mind.

But this habit closes the inquisitive and probing mind.

How do we cultivate an open mind? By observing without judgment. Meditation practice not only makes it possible but allows something that seems too difficult suddenly easy.

Buddhist Meditation and teachings is simply creating an environment for wisdom.

There is famous saying: “No one can see the same river twice.”

Once there was a monk named Milarepa who was highly respected in Tibetan tradition. There is an interesting story from his childhood. One day after school he decided to go sit by the river. He watched the water flow over the rocks noting how it is changing moment to moment.

When he was late getting home his mother asked him, “Where did you go?”

He said, “I went to the river.”
“What did you do?” she asked.
“I just looked at the water.”
“How could you just sit there and look at the water without doing anything?”
He said, " I was doing something. I was becoming aware."

With meditation practice we are training our mind to not be engaged with anything. Those who maintain this balance know that meditation is not boring but peaceful. The present moment is always new, just as the river is always new.

It is very difficult for some people to understand because their mind isn’t open to notice it. But if you take the time to notice the river flow, that is the beginning of open mind.

Practice to be open. Let awareness grow within your experience. It allows you to destroy the ego and see the reality.

Dog up for adoption

12 years old 62 lbs

No health issues.

Has several benign tumors checked by Vet recently.

Half Rotwieler, half Husky, but his disposition is all Husky.

very quiet, sweet, loving and loyal.

Raised on a farm. Happy indoors or out but he loves the outdoors.

Still loves to run.

Happy to lay by your feet and be quiet.

He had been neglected but is still very trusting of humans.

Very tolerant with other dogs and children.

Not neutered but willing to discuss splitting cost if that's an issue.

I will deliver him.

Needs a good loving home for his golden years.

Contact
Dave Rubin
612 703 0462

Oprah Talks to Thich Nhat Hanh - Oprah.com

Oprah Talks to Thich Nhat Hanh - Oprah.com

Metta Bhavan Practice

In the Metta Bhavana practice we’re cultivating love, or friendliness, or lovingkindness.

Our aim is to learn to emit an even supply of warmth to everyone we meet. This is an attainable goal for every human being, but it requires time and commitment.

The practice is in five stages. We cultivate Metta for:

· Ourselves

· Our family and good friends

· A “neutral” person—someone we lack strong feelings for

· A “difficult” person—someone who angers us or who is tiring to be around

· All living beings—this includes animals such as pets

Notice the progression. It’s natural for us to cultivate loving-kindness for ourselves and for our friends. It’s slightly more challenging to do this for people we don’t know well. And it’s a real test to cultivate lovingkindness for those who trigger our angst. Finally, we really must work to remember to cultivate lovingkindness for all sentient beings: i.e. all those known and unknown, visible and invisible—including people we’re in conflict with — plus ourselves of course.

Aside from these five stages, metta practice focuses on four intentions that all living beings be

well, happy, skillful and peaceful.

Metta practice focuses on four intentions. The aim of this meditation is that all living beings be well, happy, skillful and peaceful. We can talk about the four qualities of the Loving-kindness meditation so we understand the importance of this practice and why we wish this for ourselves. When we cultivate these positive qualities we train ourselves to overcome the powerful negative emotions of greed, anger, ignorance, fear, anxiety, and cunning, to name a few.

Be Well

When we hear these two words, our intention goes much deeper than the hope of good physical health. Think about the moment you get upset with someone. Whenever you experience the emotions of anger, frustration, fear, or restlessness, you are not functioning well. Whenever you involve with fear or anxiety, you become much more uncomfortable. No matter how healthy your body is, you will not function properly if negative emotions arise.

Sometimes when your body is sick, you can think properly. Maybe you can tell others. Your mind is stronger than your body. You can tell others what you want and don’t want, but when your mind is sick with fear, anxiety, anger, you are not doing well. What is behind this? This is not something someone can give you. This is something you have to generate. This is something you have to maintiain within you. We often blame others when we are angry or fearful. We blame the future or the past.

The one who has good protection will not involve with those thing. When ever you experience this, you notice it. That is the beginning of protecting yourself. That is the meaning of Be Well. In order to maintain this kind of wellness, you have to protect yourself from the outside.

Be Happy

We always look for happiness outside. We are trying to do something to make ourselves happy. How many times have you ended up unhappy after an attempt to make yourself happy? Just think about purchasing a new car. This can make you happy. Later, the same car can make you unhappy. Maybe you are excited to go to a party and see a new friend. Later, that same situation makes you unhappy.

Where is this happiness and unhappiness? Do you think it comes from the outside? It doesn’t. Happiness and unhappiness you can experience by yourself.

So now with this situation what are we trying to do? We are trying not to depend on the outside. We are trying not to depend on others. We are trying not to depend on the past or future for our own happiness. If you can experience the happiness within you, that is what you are wishing for. That is the permanent happiness that you can experience. That is unconditional happiness. We are trying to generate and cultivate that kind of unconditional happiness within ourselves.

Skillfulness

Skillfulness is very important. What is the opposite of it? What are the unskillful qualities we possess. Outcomes of greed, outcomes of anger, outcomes of ignorance or ego. Greed, Anger, Ego—whatever you do out of one of these, those are unskillful. So we carry these things in order to survive, to offer excuses, not to perform right action, we carry those things.

Recently, I stopped by the print shop to print something. Then I noticed someone left a jump drive on the table. An unskillful mind would encourage me to take it. Right away, I though I should hand this over to the manager of the store. Then, I thought, no, the manager might just keep it. I had many other thoughts. I thought I should keep it. The owner won’t come back. Jump drives aren’t that expensive. All these many thoughts came to my head. I thought, Don’t even touch it. Then, I thought the jump drive would be safer with me. Immediately, I thought, what is happening? Greed had arisen in my heart. I was making a lot of excuses about what I should do. One main quality that goes with unskillfulness: Cunningness. Cunningness 90% goes with ego, ignorance. It makes you heavy. It does not make you light. It makes you tired.

Skillfulness is training to overcome greed, anger and ego, and then cultivate unconditional love, unconditional giving, and unconditional compassion. If you can treat a homeless person like a member of your family, that is a skill. If something bad happens to a loved one, you will not runaway from it. You will help in anyway you can. Can you care the same way for someone suffering on the street?

Is your mind harmful to you or somebody else? If you have a harmless mind you will be free from fear. Those are the skills we should cultivate and we should introduce. What are the desires of those peaceful words, peaceful mind.

Peaceful

What happens with cultivation? You let your heart open. You open with those wishes. This allows you to become free, to become light, not a dark, heavy painful person. You are preparing your heart to accept and respect peace. With mindfulness, with breathing meditation, we are preparing the ground. With this we are planting the seeds in the ground so everyone can enjoy the harvest. None of you family members will hurt themselves because of you, because you aren’t sharing anger, you’re not sharing anxiety, you aren’t sharing fear. When they experience one of those, you will be able to help them build immunity. As a person with a healthy mind, you can look at and see how to help them build immunity. That is what we are doing with this meditation.

We should not give up the practice because of excuses and cunningness.

Special Event: Committing to your Spiritual Path

Precepts Observing/Renewing Ceremony 2010

-Commitment to Your Spiritual Path -


When: Sunday, February 28th 2010

Time: 10.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.

Where: Monks residence Mankato, Minnesota

Registration: Registration ends February 15th

Check to see the Precepts - Manual

To register go to http://www.triplegem.org/Precepts%20Ceremony%202010.html or send email to info@triplegem.org

Allow this moment to surprise you

by Bhante Sathi

If someone were to ask you, "What is the purpose of your life?" what would you say? You may list many reasons or you may draw a blank. If you do come up with an answer, it may not be the same answer you gave in the past. In reality, this is the most complicated question you could ever ask yourself.
On one hand, your parents created you; this was not your choice. Your parents raised you and educated you. You finished school and began to support yourself. Then you may go on to create your own family. This is the system your family has followed for generations, that you pass on to your own children.

I have a middle-aged friend that lives alone and unmarried. Recently, a few people asked me about her. They imply that this person is not normal because she does not have anything people are supposed to have at her age. The reality is, my "normal" is not "normal" for this person. This is what we need to pay attention to: What is this "normal"? We define life for others based on ouw own expectations. If someone goes outside the boundaries of these expectations, we think there is something wrong.

A mindful person sees this as thinking inside a box. With education and experience, we change the way we think and learn not to be narrow-minded. This helps us to become open and free, like one who moved from a small room to a bigger house. That freedom comes from having an open mind.
Yet, that is also a bigger box. A meditator notices these boxes all the time and continually breaks those boxes. It starts in this moment. This moment was not planned by anyone, so what is the reality?

We have a fresh future before us that we have never experienced before. Yet, we expect the future environment to be the same tomorrow and next week. If a friend gains or loses weight we notice because it is not the same as before.

We always want to see what we expect. We always listen to what we want to hear. Once we really start to listen, we see that we are continually creating a stereotype.
A gardener is similar to a meditator in the sense that a gardener allows surprises. This is the nature of life: last year was a great year for raspberries; this year the raspberries were abundant. Yet, in daily life we only allow the surprises that we want. For example, your spouse may change over the years in a way you did not expect. It is unpleasant when your house begins to decay. A dent in the car brings anger. Why are these events any different than a garden crop? The gardener can see that a flower may bloom for a day, then it may turn into something else or it may die. That's alright because it's nature. You can add some fertilizer to help it along, but in the end, nature takes its course. If humans are natural beings, why do we expect that our plan for life will be any different?
Meditators practice looking at the present moment without attaching to it, like the gardener who allows surprises to come and go. The difference is, meditators bring that attitude into everything. Whatever exists in this moment, the meditator accepts it as it is. If something grows, the meditator notices. If it needs water of fertilizer, the meditator attends those needs. But the meditator has no need to complain if everything doesn't grow according to plan.

When the we see something is unbeneficial, we should have a clear mind about the appropriate course of action. Meditation helps one to take action without negativity. When we allow life to surprise us, we can maintain a calm, quet mind. That means observing and accepting nature as many meditators and yogis have done for centuries.
We create ourselves within this system. Stepping out of that box is a hard thing to do. Meditation helps us to observe that, to notice that, and to step out of that. This allows us to take action, yet allow everything to surprise us.

Metta Bhavan Practice

by Bhante Sathi

In the Metta Bhavana practice we’re cultivating love, or friendliness, or lovingkindness.
Our aim is to learn to emit an even supply of warmth to everyone we meet. This is an attainable goal for every human being, but it requires time and commitment.
The practice is in five stages. We cultivate Metta for:
· Ourselves
· Our family and good friends
· A “neutral” person—someone we lack strong feelings for
· A “difficult” person—someone who angers us or who is tiring to be around
· All living beings—this includes animals such as pets
Notice the progression. It’s natural for us to cultivate loving-kindness for ourselves and for our friends. It’s slightly more challenging to do this for people we don’t know well. And it’s a real test to cultivate lovingkindness for those who trigger our angst. Finally, we really must work to remember to cultivate lovingkindness for all sentient beings: i.e. all those known and unknown, visible and invisible—including people we’re in conflict with — plus ourselves of course.
Aside from these five stages, metta practice focuses on four intentions that all living beings be
well, happy, skillful and peaceful.
Metta practice focuses on four intentions. The aim of this meditation is that all living beings be well, happy, skillful and peaceful. We can talk about the four qualities of the Loving-kindness meditation so we understand the importance of this practice and why we wish this for ourselves. When we cultivate these positive qualities we train ourselves to overcome the powerful negative emotions of greed, anger, ignorance, fear, anxiety, and cunning, to name a few.
Be Well
When we hear these two words, our intention goes much deeper than the hope of good physical health. Think about the moment you get upset with someone. Whenever you experience the emotions of anger, frustration, fear, or restlessness, you are not functioning well. Whenever you involve with fear or anxiety, you become much more uncomfortable. No matter how healthy your body is, you will not function properly if negative emotions arise.
Sometimes when your body is sick, you can think properly. Maybe you can tell others. Your mind is stronger than your body. You can tell others what you want and don’t want, but when your mind is sick with fear, anxiety, anger, you are not doing well. What is behind this? This is not something someone can give you. This is something you have to generate. This is something you have to maintiain within you. We often blame others when we are angry or fearful. We blame the future or the past.
The one who has good protection will not involve with those thing. When ever you experience this, you notice it. That is the beginning of protecting yourself. That is the meaning of Be Well. In order to maintain this kind of wellness, you have to protect yourself from the outside.
Be Happy
We always look for happiness outside. We are trying to do something to make ourselves happy. How many times have you ended up unhappy after an attempt to make yourself happy? Just think about purchasing a new car. This can make you happy. Later, the same car can make you unhappy. Maybe you are excited to go to a party and see a new friend. Later, that same situation makes you unhappy.
Where is this happiness and unhappiness? Do you think it comes from the outside? It doesn’t. Happiness and unhappiness you can experience by yourself.
So now with this situation what are we trying to do? We are trying not to depend on the outside. We are trying not to depend on others. We are trying not to depend on the past or future for our own happiness. If you can experience the happiness within you, that is what you are wishing for. That is the permanent happiness that you can experience. That is unconditional happiness. We are trying to generate and cultivate that kind of unconditional happiness within ourselves.
Skillfulness
Skillfulness is very important. What is the opposite of it? What are the unskillful qualities we possess. Outcomes of greed, outcomes of anger, outcomes of ignorance or ego. Greed, Anger, Ego—whatever you do out of one of these, those are unskillful. So we carry these things in order to survive, to offer excuses, not to perform right action, we carry those things.
Recently, I stopped by the print shop to print something. Then I noticed someone left a jump drive on the table. An unskillful mind would encourage me to take it. Right away, I though I should hand this over to the manager of the store. Then, I thought, no, the manager might just keep it. I had many other thoughts. I thought I should keep it. The owner won’t come back. Jump drives aren’t that expensive. All these many thoughts came to my head. I thought, Don’t even touch it. Then, I thought the jump drive would be safer with me. Immediately, I thought, what is happening? Greed had arisen in my heart. I was making a lot of excuses about what I should do. One main quality that goes with unskillfulness: Cunningness. Cunningness 90% goes with ego, ignorance. It makes you heavy. It does not make you light. It makes you tired.
Skillfulness is training to overcome greed, anger and ego, and then cultivate unconditional love, unconditional giving, and unconditional compassion. If you can treat a homeless person like a member of your family, that is a skill. If something bad happens to a loved one, you will not runaway from it. You will help in anyway you can. Can you care the same way for someone suffering on the street?
Is your mind harmful to you or somebody else? If you have a harmless mind you will be free from fear. Those are the skills we should cultivate and we should introduce. What are the desires of those peaceful words, peaceful mind.
Peaceful
What happens with cultivation? You let your heart open. You open with those wishes. This allows you to become free, to become light, not a dark, heavy painful person. You are preparing your heart to accept and respect peace. With mindfulness, with breathing meditation, we are preparing the ground. With this we are planting the seeds in the ground so everyone can enjoy the harvest. None of you family members will hurt themselves because of you, because you aren’t sharing anger, you’re not sharing anxiety, you aren’t sharing fear. When they experience one of those, you will be able to help them build immunity. As a person with a healthy mind, you can look at and see how to help them build immunity. That is what we are doing with this meditation.
We should not give up the practice because of excuses and cunningness.

Meditate to become a better You

How did you become involved in the science of meditation?

The Dalai Lama often describes Buddhism as being, above all, a science of the mind. That is not surprising, because the Buddhist texts put particular emphasis on the fact that all spiritual practices – whether mental, physical or oral – are directly or indirectly intended to transform the mind.

So it wasn’t surprising that when a meeting was held in 2000 with some of the leading specialists in human emotions – psychologists, neuroscientists and philosophers – they spent an entire week in discussion with the Dalai Lama at his home in Dharamsala, India. Later we agreed to launch a research programme on the short and long-term effects of mind training – “meditation” in other words.

What have we discovered about meditation and the human brain?

Experiments have indicated that the region of the brain associated with emotions such as compassion shows considerably higher activity in those with long-term meditative experience. These discoveries suggest that basic human qualities can be deliberately cultivated through mental training. The study of the influence of mental states on health, which was once considered fanciful, is now an increasing part of the scientific research agenda.

Do you have to be highly skilled to experience the benefits of meditation?

No, one does not have to be a highly trained: 20 minutes of daily practice can contribute significantly to a reduction of anxiety and stress, the tendency to become angry and the risk of relapse in cases of severe depression. Thirty minutes a day over the course of eight weeks results in a considerable strengthening of the immune system and of one’s capacity for concentration. It also speeds up the healing of psoriasis and decreases arterial tension in people suffering from hypertension.

Tell us about your new book, The Art of Meditation.

The book tackles the question: why should we bother to meditate? The answer is that we all have the potential for positive change, which largely remains untapped. That’s a great pity, because we know the virtue of training and learning. We spend years going to school and training in things like sports, but for some strange reason we don’t think that the same need applies to developing and optimising our human qualities.

Tell us about the Mind and Life meeting that will discuss compassion in economic systems.

At the conference – in Zurich in April – will be some bold economists who can demonstrate that altruists are able to influence global markets. In the past, such studies were often refuted by sceptical financial analysts. However, someone like Ernst Fehr, the famous Swiss economist, will show that if altruists make the rules and it is in the interests of selfish people to cooperate, then society can function in a more cooperative way.

Profile

Matthieu Ricard is a French Buddhist monk with a PhD in molecular biology. He has participated in numerous experiments into the effects of meditation on the human brain

Happy Buddhamas

Someone Else's Happiness

Sometimes we feel a need to be proven right as we look at someone else’s life choices; it is not that they are necessarily doing anything wrong or hurtful, but they may be living in a different way than we have decided they should be living. Or perhaps our advice turns out to be unappreciated or incorrect, as mine was, and we come face to face with the fact that someone’s happiness does not revolve around us and our fabulous prescience and good sense; instead, it is based on their own good sense, or even on sheer good luck. Can we let go of our need to try to dominate people’s lives and our determination of what the correct outcome of their decisions should be?

- Sharon Salzberg

Triple Gem Calendar: February-March 2010

* Precepts Observing/Renewing Ceremony 2010

-Commitment to Your Spiritual Path-



When: Sunday, February 28th 2010

Time: 10.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.

Where: Mankato, Minnesota - Location to be announced

Registration: Registration ends February 10th





*Sri Lankan Dinner and Culture Night

Third Annual TGN Mankato Building Fundraiser



Sunday, March 28, 4:00 p.m.

First Congregational United Church of Christ

150 Stadium Court, Mankato



Tickets $20 (children under 6 eat free)

At Buddhist Monks’ Residence

26 Sumner Hills, Mankato

(please buy tickets in advance, a limited number may be available at the door) Please contact us for tickets by phone, e-mail or in person.



For more information, please feel free to contact us at (612) 216-4854

E-mail: info@triplegem.org





*One day Meditation Retreat, March 27, 2010



Registration is required by March 18th

Space is limited for 25 people.



Register Click Now or Call (612) 216 4854 Email us info@triplegem.org

Accident leads to meditation practice

January 15, 2010


Accident leads to meditation practice

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

When Chuck St. Romain was granted a new lease on life, he also received a new view of how to live that renewed oppportunity more fully.

A hunting accident came perilously close to killing St. Romain, but his traumatic journey through that experience led to an appreciation of meditation and a spiritual awakening.

"I was duck hunting south of here," St. Romain said. "I slipped, heard a bang, got shot and was bleeding from my head. At first, I was terrified. Then that shifted into sadness, and I told those with me to tell (wife) Barb and (daughter) Claire that I love them, because I didn't think I'd see them again.

"Then I shifted into this incredible awareness of my breath. I was so present with my breath, so connected. My terror had eased dramatically."

The surgeon at the hospital in Cameron Parish told St. Romain that if the bullet had been a half-inch from where it was, he would have died instead of suffering a frightening scalp wound.

"I wanted to understand," said St. Romain, a licensed clinical social worker.

"It was no accident that it happened. I was overwhelmed. I wanted to let the universe teach me. I decided to go investigate meditation."

St. Romain has been practicing meditation for 14 years now. He has translated that discovery into Spirit Path Meditation and Spiritual Enrichment Center in Lafayette, which provides weekly meditation sittings, frequent retreats and book study for clients.

He also teaches courses through UL's Potpourri program, this spring offering Insight Meditation.

"Lafayette has been amazingly open (to meditation)," St. Romain said. "There are a lot of wonderful things going on."

As with his brush with death, St. Romain starts participants on their journey by Vipassana, a focus on breathing. They grow to appreciate Metta, compassion and loving kindness practices.

"Most who try meditation are experiencing some kind of distress," St. Romain said. "We try to help them. Some come through curiosity, and they love the idea. But you can't come and sit one time and expect a miracle. It's a daily thing. In our culture, people plan. They can't just be in the moment.

"Some are afraid of what it will do to their religious beliefs. But I'm gentle with that. Some are afraid, because as you get quiet your body begins to reveal the tension it has.

"The body is incredible. It's wounded. Emotions come out. People get afraid and want to move. In our culture, we do a lot not to reveal pain. But they need to get that fear out of the way. The human condition is that we have a great capacity for unbelievable joy and pleasure."

St. Romain guides clients through those stages of hesitancy, concern and uncertainty to a calm state. It's something that takes patience, which he has learned.

"We deal with impatience," he said. "They begin to feel tense and agitated. But you have to be present for everything. You have to stay with that breath, stay in the moment."

Advanced meditation practitioners can find themselves in an "altered state."

"I sometimes have the feeling I'm levitating," St. Romain said. "Of course I'm not, but we're so not used to the capacity we have."

That awareness can come on the cushion on the floor during sessions, or in exercises focused on each movement in walking. Touching a car door handle or brushing teeth are other opportunities for previusly unrealized sensasions.

"We have the capacity to experience life fully," said St. Romain. "I've come to appreciate the moment."

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Calendar of events

This Week In Mankato

Mondays



Meditation

7:00 pm to 8:15pm



Location: First Congregational United Church of Christ

150 Stadium Ct, Mankato


This is a meditation class good for experienced and beginneing open thinkers. Discussion is followed by guided meditation.



Wednesdays


Sutra Discussion group





6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)



A group discussion of Buddhist sutras, beginning January 20th.



Meditation Group II

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)

This is a meditation class for open thinkers. Discussion is followed by guided meditation.



Sundays





Meditation

10:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.
Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)

We will practice Metta meditation for about 40 minutes, followed by Dhammapada studies. The Dhammapada is a collection of Buddha's Dhamma teachings on the way of life that leads to ultimate happiness.

Paramitha Group

4:15 p.m. to 5:45p.m.
Location: Monks' Residence (Mankato)

This is a committed group that studies the practical application of Dhamma in day-to-day life. We share specific documents via e-mail and read them prior to the meeting. Contact Bhante Sathi for information on joining this group.



Announcements

*** Precepts Observing/Renewing Ceremony 2010

for more info Click



*** Buddhist Teacher Certification
(Course 1 - Buddhist Teachings for Daily Life) more info Click


***Journey to TGN's second home in Chanhassen, MN

For more information click here

Five tips for better meditation

This posting is from yesterday's Chicago Tribune. Enjoy!



For some novice meditators, the quest for inner peace can get a bit … stressful.

Do I "om?" Picture a white-sand beach? Breathe white light out of my nostril? Can I scratch that itch on my back before I lose my mind?

Studies show that meditation has many health benefits, from lowering blood pressure to boosting happiness. But nothing defeats the purpose like stressing out about it. So let's keep it simple.

Stephan Bodian, a California psychotherapist and author of "Meditation for Dummies," recommends mindfulness meditation as best for stress reduction. In mindfulness meditation, you let yourself be fully present in the moment by focusing on your breath.

Bodian offered five pointers:

1: Breath: Breathe naturally, without forcing anything. Notice the sensation at your nostrils, and the rise and fall of your chest and belly as you breathe. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your breath.

2: Posture: Feel free to sit cross-legged, kneel, sit on a chair or lie down — whatever's most comfortable. The most important thing is posture: Your back should be straight but not rigid, so imagine that you're being pulled toward the sky with a string attached to the crown of your head. Try not to fidget or squirm; instead of immediately reacting to discomfort, be aware of how it affects you.

3: Eyes and tongue: Close your eyes, keep them open or leave them half open, but pick one way and stick with it throughout the meditation. To stabilize your tongue, rest it lightly on the roof of your mouth. This Zen technique is believed to cut down on subvocalization, which is when your tongue moves slightly with the thoughts that pass through your head.

4: Routine: You're more likely to incorporate meditation into your daily routine if you have a designated time and spot for it. Pick a quiet corner in your home, and turn off electronics. Mornings are good, before you drink any coffee so you're not wired. Try not to meditate after a heavy meal or just before bed because you tend to be sleepy. Set a timer to alert you to the end of your session to frame the meditation and give it a ritualistic quality. Aim to meditate at least five days a week; there's not much benefit if you do it once a week or every now and then.

5: Time: Meditating 20 to 30 minutes daily is ideal, but if you only have five or 10 minutes, go for it. There is no "right" way to meditate, so let go of goal orientation, and don't try to track your progress.