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Living a Simple Life

Recently I have taken a pause from some of the commitments I have created for myself. I have felt a little burnt out. It was getting to me that I was not able to find enough time for myself and feeling pressured to prepare for the next thing, which was primarily developing the talk or theme for the next meditation group meeting.

I love working with folks to carry the beautiful message of the spiritual teachings. That has not died in me. But, to be honest, when I look around at all of the western teachers (who most, if not all, I admire) they are asking me for money to participate. I have never asked for that from others. One site even had the nerve to suggest if I did not pay a certain amount that others would be carrying me (which was upwards of over $80 a month). In reality they were supporting other teachers, so I guess I understand.

Regardless, all of the world is asking for my attention and for my support. And I want to do it all, but I can’t.

This still goes on but the real battle is within me. I have made space for myself but I keep getting asked to give other areas of my life attention. These areas include physical fitness ,getting out and about, getting with family, personal education (learning a new language, day time education, musical hobbies, writing a book, future mindfulness teaching, etc…).

And then there is all the wasted time with TV, sports, Youtube, politics.

All of these are addictions. Things I come to outside of myself instead of going within. I still meditate daily. But it is not enough. Living to my fullest capacity of well-being is that it starts here, inside.

Believe me, I endure a lot in there. I am living with constant pain in my head and in my body. I am sure that a lot of it is due to my paying attention to all of the things in my life that keep me out of balance and doing things other than those that bring about the balance I need.

I have not given up and will not. It is the difficulties I experience which bring me back to spiritual practice. It is my contemplation and recognizing what I am doing (seeing the karma I am creating for myself) that pushes me in the other direction.

The momentum has changed for sure. Loving what it is, regardless of what it is. There is ugliness and beauty in life. That is part of it. What I am really looking for is a simple life.

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MMR Taking Leave

Please note that August 27th will be the last scheduled Marin Mindful Recovery Gathering. I will be taking an undetermined sabbatical from teaching so that I can reconnect with own my practice, as well as give space for other things in my life.

I am grateful to you all for your love and support, and for providing me with an avenue to carry transmit this very important possibility of freedom that available to all of us. It is my hope that these seeds of hope are alive and well in you all and that you chose to cultivate the practice.

The world needs your wisdom and care.

May all beings, May Mother Earth, May the Universe gain benefit from our practice. May you all be happy and have the causes of happiness. May you all be free from sorrow and the causes of sorrow. May you all have that great happiness, which is sorrowlessness. May you come to rest in the great equanimity, which is free from attachments and aversion.

Andy

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7/16/23 Marin Mindful Recovery Topic

This evening we will continue with our review of Bhikkhu Bodhi’s Book, “Noble Truths, Noble Path: The Heart Essence of the Buddha’s Original Teachings”, which, as the title states, covers teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

This week we will be beginning our exploration of Chapter 3 on the Six Sense Bases: Channels through which introducing Suffering Originates. There will be a very brief review of the topics/teachings covered so far but we will focus on what the six sense bases are, how they contribute to craving & suffering, and how we can work with them to end suffering.

You can find our link to the meeting on our website.

May you all be well.

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Bystander or not

I was having breakfast with a friend at a local restaurant when I witnessed an elderly gentleman choking on his eggs. I could see others were noticing what he was going through but no one jumped up to help him.  Seeing this, I quickly got up and went over to help him. He was gagging and gasping for air, and I could see that he was struggling to breathe. I asked him if he was okay, and rubbed his back for a minute to try to calm him. After a short time, he was able to clear his throat and start breathing normally again.

I was relieved that the gentleman was okay, but I was also troubled by the fact that no one else had helped him. I started to think about why people sometimes don’t help others in need, and what kind of world it would be if had a culture of caring for each other. There are a few possible explanations.

  • The bystander effect: This is a psychological phenomenon that describes why people are less likely to help someone in need when there are other people around. The idea is that when there are other people around, we feel less responsible for helping. We assume that someone else will help, so we don’t have to do anything.
  • Fear of getting involved: Some people are afraid of getting involved in a situation where they might be hurt or embarrassed. They might worry that they will do something wrong or that they will make the situation worse.
  • Apathy: Some people simply don’t care about helping others. They might be too busy with their own lives to worry about the problems of others.

Whatever the reason, I believe that we all have a responsibility to help others in need if we can.  If we see someone who is in trouble, we shouldn’t be afraid to step up and help. You could save a life.

If you see someone who is in need, it appears that there are a few things we can do to help.

  • Assess the situation: The first thing you need to do is assess the situation. Is the person in immediate danger? Do they need medical attention? How would you feel if didn’t help but could of?
  • Offer your help: If the person does not need immediate medical attention, you can offer to help them. This could involve anything from calling for help to providing emotional support. When we take action and show we care, not only do we help those in need, but we are planting the seeds of a culture of care.
  • Be respectful: It’s important to be respectful of the person’s needs. Don’t force them to accept your help if they don’t want it.  But we also need to understand that this is a default response for many people, we should be prepared to help regardless.
  • Be prepared: It’s always good to be prepared to help others in need. This is a big part of a culture of care, having the intention to care, to be supportive, and to be helpful – even to those we do not know.

In addition to the bystander effect, there are a few other reasons why people might not help others in need. One reason is that they may lack empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. When we lack empathy, it is difficult for us to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and understand what they are going through. This can make it difficult for us to feel compassion for others and to want to help them.

Compassion is the feeling of sympathy and concern for another person’s suffering. When we have compassion, we want to help others to alleviate their suffering. Empathy and compassion are both important for a society’s well-being. When people have empathy and compassion, they are more likely to help others in need. This is what compassion is really about. We are not showing compassion if we are not willing to take action. This can help to create a more caring and compassionate society.

There are many ways to develop empathy and compassion. One way is to spend time with people who are different from us. This can help us to understand and appreciate different perspectives. Another way to develop empathy and compassion is to volunteer our time to help others, in whatever form that may be. This can help us to connect with others and to feel a sense of purpose.

This is one of the benefits of living in an urban area.  We are all mingling together, and, as a result, we can get to know each other – to build a sense of community. When we get to know others we care.

Empathy and compassion are important qualities for everyone to have. They can help us to create a more caring and compassionate world.

A culture of caring for each other is one in which people are kind, compassionate, and helpful to one another. It is a culture where people are willing to lend a helping hand, even if it is not convenient for them. It is a culture where people are respectful of each other’s differences and value each other’s contributions.

What would a culture of care be like?  It would mean that:

  • People would be kind and compassionate to one another.
  • We would be helpful and willing to lend a helping hand.
  • Would respect of each other’s differences.
  • Would value each other’s contributions.
  • Would be willing to work together to solve problems.
  • Would be more committed to making the world a better place.

A culture of caring for each other would have many benefits. It would make the world a more peaceful and harmonious place. It would make people happier and healthier. It would make it easier to solve problems and make progress. It would make the world a more just and equitable place.

There are many things that we can do to create a culture of caring for each other. We can start by being kind and compassionate to each other. We can be helpful and willing to lend a helping hand. We can be respectful of each other’s differences. We can value each other’s contributions. We can work together to solve problems. We can be committed to making the world a better place.

By taking these steps, we can create a world where everyone feels cared for and valued. We can create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We can create a world where everyone is happy and healthy.

Who knows, that person choking on their eggs might be you or someone you love.

 

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New Series of Meetings on “Noble Truth, Noble Path”

Are you seeking a deeper understanding of the teachings of Buddhism and how they can be applied to modern life? Are you looking for a recovery-oriented supportive community to explore these teachings with? If so, we invite you to join us at Marin Mindful Recovery for a new series of group meetings focused on Bhikkhu Bodhi’s new book, “Noble Truths, Noble Path”.

This series will explore the core teachings related to the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. These teachings are at the heart of Buddhism and provide guidance on how to find freedom from suffering and live a more mindful and fulfilling life.

Our group meetings offer a welcoming and supportive environment for individuals to come together and explore these teachings through group discussions and reflection. Whether you are new to Buddhism or recovery or have been sober and have been practicing for years, you are welcome to join us and share your insights and experiences.

It’s important to note that Marin Mindful Recovery is not only for those in recovery but also for those who know those in recovery and might benefit from the teachings and group discussions. Our aim is to provide a space where individuals can come together and support each other on their journey toward greater well-being and understanding.

Through this series of group meetings, we hope to deepen our understanding of the teachings of Buddhism and how they can be applied in our modern lives. If you are interested in joining us for this exploration of “Noble Truths, Noble Path”, please see the link to our meetings on our home page.  We look forward to embarking on this journey with you.

Be sure to check out our schedule as we tend to avoid any conflicts with any major holidays.

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April 30th Meeting – cancelled

Due to family obligations, we will not hold our weekly meeting this Sunday, April 30th.

Please join us the following Sunday, May 7th, as we begin our series of meetings covering topics from Bhikkhu Bodhi’s new book, “Noble Truths, Noble Path: The Heart Essence of the Buddha’s Original Teachings”.  All of the core Buddhist teachings will be covered and discussed.

Hope to see you there.

Be well.

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April 9th Meeting Cancellation

Please note that the online Marin Mindful Recovery meeting scheduled for April 9th, 2023 has been canceled due to the facilitator being on retreat. We look forward to resuming our regular weekly meetings on Sunday evening at 7:00 PM on April 16th.

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Cancellation of In-Person Meetings on Thursdays

Please note that due to a lack of attendance, we have decided to stop offering in-person meetings on Thursday evenings effective immediately.

We are exploring other ways to potentially offer a meeting in the future including possibly teaming up with a local recovery center.

In the meantime, if you are looking for a sangha to connect with online please note that we hold regular Sunday evening meetings.  Please refer to our calendar for the current schedule.