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Life As Skill

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Life As Skill Autumn 2011•2554/2555 Volume 16, Number 3 This season's theme: Life as Skill Buddhism-the Supremely Comprehensive Education System Ajahn Jayasaro A talk given by Ajahn Jayasāro on May 28, 2011 The attitude that the Buddha recom- tion without, at the same time, removing very simplified background. We attain mended was the attitude of the student, a interest or enthusiasm for practice. We are a certain fluency, a habituation through student of life. In the meditation practice learning all the time, and although some a much simplified effort, which then itself, it helps a great deal to consider the mental states are less enjoyable to learn enhances our ability to do the same thing meditation practice as an exploration, as about than others, in the long run we may in more complex environments: this is an a study. If we consider meditation as an well benefit more from being willing to understanding of meditation practice. effort to achieve a certain state of mind or look and to learn from them. In this way, We are learning to be with the mind, the accumulation of certain special experi- there is more of a seamless relationship (Continued on page 12) ences, then we are looking at meditation in between meditation practices and daily a very worldly way. This is a very common life. We are just doing the same thing, but INSIDE: phenomena, where people rather tragically in the meditation practice, we are reducing From the Monastery Pg 2 seek to recreate and re-experience certain the amount of distraction and we are prac- Exerpt from Skillfulness Pg 4 meditation experiences they had six ticing life skills in a very focused way. 10,000 Hours of Training Pg 5 months ago, a year ago, or even ten years One analogy that I am fond of using is The Craft of the Heart Pg 4 ago. Ajahn Chah would say things like, “If that if we compare the mind to a moving Calendar Pg 8 & 9 you're peaceful, know that you're peaceful. light, to track the movement of that If you're not peaceful, know that you're small point of light across a very complex Lesson from Mom, Quilt-Icons Pg 10 not peaceful. If you're peaceful, learn from background is possible but difficult. One Pacific Hermitage Update Pg 11 peace. If you're not peaceful, learn from not thing that will help us to do that is if we Sore Feet and Slow Progress Pg 14 peace.” This, I think, takes away a great spend a certain amount of time regularly Voice of the Texts Pg 15 deal of the tension and gaining attitudes following the movement of a small point Contributors: The Sangha, Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Vīradhammo, Thanissaro Bhikkhu, Ajahn Jayasāro, that can arise in the practice of medita- of light against a white background or a Ajahn Yatiko, Ajahn Sudanto, Ajahn Karunadhammo, Ajahn Jotipālo, Suddhāso Bhikkhu From the Monastery Autumn 2011 “‘The days and nights are relentlessly monasteries around the globe to visit have since taken up the practical skill of passing. How well am I spending my and offer teachings. This year, since the card-weaving and at least one resident time?’ This should be reflected upon conclusion of our 3-month winter medita- monk was able to pass on some of his again and again by one who has gone tion retreat period in April, Abhayagiri own knot-tying handiness to our visiting forth.” Repeated reflection upon life and has had the pleasure of hosting several crafts master. its passing is an intimate characteristic such teachers. In addition to these visits, Abhayagiri and even an imperative of the teaching of The last week in May, Ajahn Jayasāro, also much appreciated the shorter visits the Lord Buddha. As has been noted by former abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat, author from several other inspiring mahātheras various visiting elders in the last several of the forthcoming biography of Ajahn (monks of over 20 years standing) and months, this figuring out how to look Chah in English, and mentor at the Thawsi theras (monks of over 10 years standing) back, evaluate, and learn from one's expe- School of Buddhist education in Bangkok Ajahn Chandako (abbot of Vimutti rience is also an integral part of aquiring (http://thawsischool.com/), made time for Forest Monastery, New Zealand) and a skill. This edition of the Fearless a much appreciated visit to Abhayagiri. In Ajahn Acalo (abbot of Wat Ānandagiri, Mountain Newsletter takes as its theme addition to giving several formal dhamma Thailand.) Our familiar Ajahn Sudanto “Life as Skill” and touches on some of the talks here, Ajahn Jayasāro generously also came back for a short stay after various ways in which craft terminology made himself available for meeting with a whirlwind year of development at and practice can directly parallel one's individuals and various small groups; the Pacific Hermitage where he is the approach to meditation, contemplation, casual tea-time conversations, one-on-one residing elder (See the article “Pacific and a peaceful life. interviews, guidance for monks and for Hermitage Update”). As journeymen visiting lay guests, questions and answers would travel to hone their trade and MASTER AND DISCIPLE with Americans and also with the many trade their ware, we are fortunate that One necessary aspect of any form of Thai people who specifically came to the such teachers have taken up the Buddha's study - gross or subtle, interior or exterior monastery to hear the Dhamma from this exhortation to “travel-forth for the - is association with the wise. Abhayagiri well-known English Buddhist luminary. benefit of the many.” is fortunate, not only to have the presence In the featured article “Buddhism-the of our abbot, Ajahn Pasanno, along with Supremely Comprehensive Education THE ART OF TEACHING our several other local elders, but to have System,” we are given some useful perspec- In his recorded talk “Qualities of a a tradition of hospitality which welcomes tives with which to view the practice Wise Person,” Ajahn Jayasāro examined various senior Theravādan monks from and its development in a progressive and the Buddha's list of Seven Sappurisa modern voice. dhammas: 1) knowing the Dhamma, 2) Shortly after Ajahn Jayasāro's knowing the meaning, 3) knowing one's departure, Abhayagiri was again buoyed self, 4) knowing moderation, 5) knowing up by a visit from Ajahn Vīradhammo, time 6) knowing groups, and 7) knowing monk of 38 years and abbot of distinctions between individuals. In Tisarana Monastery in Perth, Ontario. In retrospect of this last season's calendar of his several recorded talks, the listener is events, one can get a picture of the range of again and again given parallels between social situations encountered as Buddhism crafts of the hands and the craft of the comes to the West and can imagine the heart which he feels was made manifest specific skill-sets needed regarding these within his own apprenticeship to Ajahn various types of knowledge. Chah and so also to the present day within Over the last several months, the training monasteries of this tradition. Abhayagiri welcomed several groups His approachable and informal demeanor of returning interested student groups: attracted monk and lay alike with surpris- Second-graders from the local Waldorf ingly quick bonds of affection being school visited, sat full-lotus, walked formed between teacher and student; some trails and asked questions; Middle- Ajahn Viradhammo inspired by example, several monks here schoolers from the City of Ten Thousand 2 • Fearless Mountain Buddhas (CTTB) came for the afternoon as per tradition of some years; and 2 days in July became the “Spirit Rock Teen Weekend” as 15 teens voluntarily gave up “normal life” for a while to come and practice with the community.. As for older students, Ajahn Pasanno and our several other teaching Ajahns have been continuing to offer Dhamma at various on-going venues: day-longs at Spirit Rock meditation center; university classes at CTTB; tea and reflections at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery; guided meditations at 3 Jewels in Ft. Bragg; sitting, and instruction at Yoga Mendocino, Ukiah and Yoga Samādhi, White Salmon; talks at the Thai monastery Wat Buddhanusorn in Freemont; and good wishes at the inau- guration of the Mindfulness Care Center in SF. In early August, as in years past, Ven. Suddhaso's ordination several monks headed by Ajahn Pasanno, traveled to Spirit Rock Meditation Center inline with the schedule and in keeping In mid-summer, Ajahn Yatiko, Canadian to participate in their yearly, five-day long with the 8 moral and renunciate precepts. monk of 20 years who trained in Thailand “Family Retreat.” A mutually- appreciated Joe Ginsberg has taken on the further but has lived at Abhayagiri for the last 3, wholesome summer camp. Such events one-year Sāmaṇera training adding the slowly walked his way down over 400 miles become “workshops” where students can precept of foregoing the use of money and of coast to San Diego-no money, no food connect with a teacher. has thus been given the new name Pesalo, in the afternoon, and very little fixed plan. In addition to going out to speak to “One of Endearing Virtue.” On the same Stopping at various Buddhist temples, interested groups, other groups choose evening, Sāmaṇera Suddhāso was given meeting up with assorted lay meditation to come to the monastery for a more full bhikkhu ordination, avowing to live groups, and being helped out by dozens immersive learning experience: A group another 5 years in “dependence” on his and dozens of strangers, Ajahn Yatiko of Dhamma Punx of Santa Cruz and San preceptor and teacher.
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