2009 November 05 « Rev. Danny Fisher

A Gift of Dharma for 11.5.09

Today’s quote comes to us from His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, Ranjung Rigpe Dorje (1924-1981).

Recognized by the Eleventh Tai Situpa, His Holiness was renowned for “accomplishing extensive retreats in his youth.” By the time he was nineteen, Tai Situpa had given him full ordination vows and “further comprehensive Kagyu teachings on the giving of empowerments.” He also received teachings from the great Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche.

After the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959, he fled to India and settled at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, India. Within seven years a new monastery was erected at the spot, and the site has since become “the hub from which Kagyu Dharma would spread throughout the world.”

His Holiness undertook world tours in 1974 and 1977, and was the subject of the classic documentary film The Lion’s Roar.

Here’s the quote:

The responsibility of the teacher is to always give the teachings. It doesn’t matter that only a short time has passed, or a long time has passed; what matters is that the teachings are continuously given. Sometimes it may seem to be more appropriate to teach because most people are at leisure and have a lot of time, and it appears to be a good time to give teachings. Maybe at other times it may appear that the teachings should not be given because people are busy and perhaps they are not interested. It is important not to discriminate in this way as to time or to place, but to make the teachings constantly available. If only one person is interested, the teaching must be made available. Whether there are just a few people, hundreds of people, or even millions of people interested, the Dharma teaching must go on without any sense of satisfaction or discouragement. The Dharma teaching must continue at all times, transcending the appearances of the time.

Another situation that might arise is that because of time or what we may have done or accomplished, we feel that maybe now we should stop practicing or listening to teachings. This is not the Dharma path. You keep going. That is the bodhisattva’s way. As long as it benefits even one being you have to, without any sense of discouragement, go on.

If you have 100 percent dedication and confidence in the teachings, then every living situation can be a part of the practice. You can be living the practice instead of just doing it. Regarding the establishment of the Dharma anywhere, it happens as a result of what takes place on an individual basis; it is the practitioner’s responsibility. It is understanding the Dharma properly, respecting the truth of Karma, the truth of cause and effect. One respects the truth of the teachings and knows that this is something that one must live up to and preserve. But if beings fail to respect the truth of the teachings, or the truth of cause and effect, which is also the truth of the teachings, then that would not further the establishment of the Dharma.

[Photo via the Intercollegiate Diamond Way Buddhist Network.]

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November 5, 2009

The Wat Pa Phong Sangha Disavows Bodhinyana Monastery Over Ajahn Brahmavamso’s Ordination of Nuns

Breaking news from The Buddhist Channel:

On Thursday 22nd October 2009, Sisters Vayama, Nirodha, Seri and Hassapañña were ordained as Theravada Bhikkhunis in a dual ordination ceremony held at Bodhinyana Buddhist Monastery in Perth, Western Australia.

Ayya Tathaaloka, from the United States, was the Preceptor. Ajahn Brahm and Ajahn Sujato performed the certifying acariya chanting in the bhikkhu’s part of the ceremony.

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[Ajahn Brahm] was summoned to a meeting in Thailand on Sunday November 1st where, after much harsh discussion, he was given the choice of publicly stating that the ordination was invalid or [Bodhinyana Monastery would be disavowed by the] Wat Pah Pong community.

He refused to recant, as he was not willing to disavow an ordination procedure which was valid according to the Vinaya (the monastic rules established by the Buddha), nor was he willing to go against the wishes of the Australian Sangha Association and the thousands of lay Buddhists from around the world who supported the full integration of women into Theravada Buddhism.

The status of Bodhinyana Monastery was subsequently revoked.

NellaLou at Enlightenment Ward also points us to many reactions to this news in the Buddhoblogosphere. Of special note among these many reactions, though, are those from Wisdom Publications’ editor David Kittelstrom and Arun at Angry Asian Buddhist, who doesn’t like the way the words “excommunication” and “schism” are being thrown around in this discussion.

My thoughts on all of this? I simply quote His Holiness the Dalai Lama:

Given that women are fully capable of achieving the ultimate goal of the Buddha’s teachings, in harmony with the spirit of the modern age, the means and opportunity to achieve this goal should be completely accessible to them.

The most effective means and opportunity for achieving this goal is full ordination (Upasampada) as a Bhikshuni and full participation in the life of a community of Bhikshunis, that is, a Bhikshuni Sangha in their practice tradition.

Full ordination for women will enable women to pursue wholeheartedly their own spiritual development through learning, contemplating, and meditating, and also enhance their capacities to benefit society through research, teaching, counseling, and other activities to help extend the life of the Buddhadharma.

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November 5, 2009

UWest’s Religion & Film Series Continues Tomorrow with Water

Just a quick reminder that UWest’s Religion & Film Series will continue tomorrow with a screening of Water–Deepa Mehta’s hugely controversial 2005 Academy Award-nominee for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year. The film is described by the All Movie Guide in this way:

Following the sudden and unexpected death of her husband, a widowed child bride lashes out against her fate in the Hindu ashram where she is expected to atone for her sins in this humanistic drama, the third installment of filmmaker Deepa Mehta’s Elemental Trilogy. Chuyia’s husband has died, and religious doctrine dictates that she now retire to an ashram to atone for the sins that caused her husband’s untimely death. As Chuyia bides her time among widows both young and old — some accepting of their fate and some bitterly resentful — the preadolescent widow’s spirit remains unbroken and hopeful for a brighter future.

A trailer for the film is at the end of the post.

The screening starts at 7 p.m. in Room ED309. It is free and open to the public. A discussion will follow. We hope to see you there!

November 5, 2009

Dharma Publishing Bookstore to Have Grand Opening on November 7th

The Dharma Publishing Bookstore, at 2211 Harold Way in Berkeley, CA, will have its Grand Opening this Saturday, November 7th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The events scheduled for the day include “Jatakas Tales for Reading for Kids, with Rima Tamar” (10:30 a.m.), “Kum Nye Yoga Class, with Meggie Hayne” (2:30 p.m.), ”Transforming Stress in Difficult Times, with Arnaud Maitland” (3:30 p.m.), and “Learning Visualization Techniques in One Lesson, with Arnaud Maitland” (4:30 p.m.).

The official website explains more about Dharma Publishing for those who aren’t familiar:

Dharma Publishing is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to preserving the culture of Tibetan Buddhism while contributing to the Western understanding of mind, well-being and human potential. All income is directed toward this goal.

Founded by the Tibetan Lama Tarthang Tulku in 1971, Dharma Publishing has been fortunate to publish sacred art and books that have brought insight and inspiration to people throughout the world for almost forty years. We are honored to have had a role in preserving and transmitting even a small portion of the Tibetan tradition of wisdom and compassion.

We are devoted to making the perennial wisdom of the Buddhist tradition available to Westerners through our products, publications, and educational programs. All products are manufactured on site by our team of volunteers.

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Part of all proceeds goes to the Yeshe De text preservation project, an ongoing effort to reprint sacred Tibetan texts that survived the Chinese occupation of Tibet for an annual distribution at the World Peace Ceremony in Bodh Gaya, India.

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