Good November Sunday morning out there. It is a wee bit nippy outside here in Wisconsin (okay, maybe more than a wee bit), and Ngawang Pema has requested that I post something as a test of this blog site that is more valuable to read than "testing, testing", so I am posting thoughts about preparing for pilgrimage.
Some of you are so excited to go that you are already packed. People are discussing immunizations, how to get visas and what kind of weather we can expect; how to pack and a plethora of details to take care of the outer experience. By the way, Rinpoche told me just a couple of days ago to let everyone know to not get too excited too soon, or you may use up all your enthusiasm energy getting ready and not have enough left for the actual pilgrimage. So I recommend you approach this like a marathon. Pace your enthusiasm, and save the biggest burst for the actual trip itself.
While people are planning and packing, I am amazed and delighted at how people are turning interior and asking themselves the deeper questions of pilgrimage (including myself). I have fielded questions from a number of people who want more information about various levels of vows (from lay vows on up); who want to understand them deeply and look inside at their own levels of commitment to living dharma, and becoming living dharma. There must be something about preparing to walk in the places where Lord Buddha walked, and taking teachings in the places that Lord Buddha taught, that strikes a deep resonance within us. How deeply am I ready to drink of the dharma? How ready am I to change? Who am I willing to become?
may there be a rain of dharma
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment