The Ecumenical Buddhist A Publication of the Ecumenical Buddhist Society of Little Rock May 2016, Volume 26, Number 3 Saturday, May 14, 6 p.m. Monday, July 11, 7-8:30 p.m. Potluck and Talk Buddhist Healing Practice: Peace, Love and Rock-n-Roll Medicine Buddha and the Uncovering the Peaceful Heart During Blessing of Medicines Times of Chaos with Kaycie Marler with Ellis Widner & Charlotte Besch 6 p.m.—Potluck: Bring some vegetarian food you would like The Medicine Buddha is a healing Buddha from the Tibetan Bud- to share with the group. 6:30 p.m.—Talk dhism tradition. Many cultures have healing deities or rituals, and the Kaycie Marler has over 13 years of meditation experience. Her teach- Medicine Buddha is a profound practice for healing physical, mental, ings reflect retreat experience and study with Eastern and Western and emotional elements. It is even more powerful when a group prac- teachers with special emphasis on the Prajnaparamita, the Heart Sutra tices together, focusing on the loved one who needs healing. The and the 37 Verses of the Practice of the Bodhisattva; Dzogchen, and Blessings of the Medicines will also be done, so participants can Advaita Vedanta. She is also an Ordained Minister of Spiritual Peace- bring their medicines to be blessed. making, Art Therapist, and Reiki Master. Ellis Widner and Charlotte Besch are members of the Vajrayana practice group at EBS and have been practicing for over 20 years. They have studied with several traditions and teachers in the practice Saturday, May 28, 6 p.m. of Medicine Buddha. Potluck and Movie Saturday, July 16, 6 p.m. Vajra Sky Over Tibet Potluck and Play 6 p.m.—Pot Luck: Bring some vegetarian food Chess Workshop you would like to share with the group. Meditation in Play with 6:30 p.m.—Movie Vajra (vaj-ra) is the thunderbolt of illumination flashing from the Nolan Kordsmeier vastness of an open sky that cuts through delusion. Vajra Sky Over 6 p.m.—Pot Luck: Bring some vegetarian food you would like to Tibet is a cinematic pilgrimage bearing witness to the indomitable share with the group. 6:30 p.m.—Discussion & Friendly Play faith of Tibet’s endangered Buddhist community and the imminent Playing chess has meditative and contemplative qualities to it on threat to its very survival. With unprecedented access to many legend- many different levels—developing intuition, self-knowledge, clarity ary venues, this is one of the rare documentaries to be filmed entirely of mind, overcoming limitations, concentration, insight, and visuali- inside of Tibet. It is the third installment in the Yantra series of docu- zation. There will be a discussion of these qualities as well as learn- mentaries about sacred places in Buddhism. ing the techniques of the game. Come, enjoy good food, and have some friendly play—for beginners and experienced players. Saturday, June 18, 6 p.m. Nolan Kordsmeier, a professional scholastic chess coach for over Potluck and Talk 10 years, will discuss the concept and technique of the game. He is a member of the EBS Board of Directors and a graduate student at How to Create a UALR. Meditation Garden with Tom Neale Sundays, May 15-June 12, 4 p.m. Book Study on Karma 6 p.m.—Pot Luck: Bring some vegetarian food you would like to share with the group. 6:30 p.m.—Talk According to Traleg Kyabgon, the Buddha's teaching Tom Neale is an Arkansas Certified Nursery Professional and a mem- on karma (literally, "action") is nothing other than his ber of the River Valley Mindfulness Sangha at EBS. He is an organic compassionate explanation of the way things are: our guru, landscape designer and nurseryman. Tom founded the Central thoughts and actions determine our future, and there- Arkansas Master Naturalists group in 2006. He is passionate about fore we ourselves are largely responsible for the way our lives un- sustaining our environment. Governor Beebe awarded his chapter the fold. Yet this supremely useful teaching is often ignored due to the “Conservation Organization of the Year” in 2013. misconceptions about it that abound in popular culture, especially oversimplifications that make it seem like something not to be taken For information and questions on the talks on this page, please contact seriously. Charlotte Besch at [email protected]. In a five-week book study, May 15-June 12, we will examine Kyabgon's teachings in his book, Karma: What It Is, What It Isn't, More Inside Why It Matters. We will meet at the EBS from 4-5 p.m. Day of Mindfulness at Magnolia Grove Monastery, page 3 Please have chapters 1 & 2 read for our first meeting on May 15. New Vajrasattva practice group, page 3 This discussion is open to 12 registrants. Please contact Kaye Lundgren at [email protected] to Dates for a Upcoming Retreat with Dr. Hun Lye, page 2 register. For up-to-date information on EBS events, see your web page at www.ebslr.org. Tibetan Buddhism Healing Practices of the aim of improving our mental and physical health in this life, we can deeply benefit ourselves and others Medicine Buddha and Vajrasattva and ultimately attain Buddhahood. Tibetan Buddhism has many practices that heal on many different Although the Medicine Buddha practice can be high- levels—karma, the body, suffering, etc. The concepts of healing are ly beneficial to one’s health, some people would like to usually seen in the form of different Buddhas and Boddhisattvas such replace standard health care, and if that is done in an as Medicine Buddha and Vajrasattva. These practices come in the aggressive way, it could be dangerous. If you are depending on some form of sadhanas (Sanskrit), chanted practices that embody the es- sort of medical treatment, you should continue your treatment until sence of the Buddhist path, from the taking of refuge and engendering your doctor agrees you no longer need it. of loving-kindness and compassion culminating in the dedication of The fact that impermanence is a fundamental property of condi- merit to the benefit of all sentient beings. Each is rich, complete, pro- tioned existence is one of the most basic Buddhist teachings. Sakyong found and vast. Each sadhana has a corresponding mantra, which is Mipham Rinpoche says, “To say the Buddha discovered imperma- recited as a meditation and as part of the accumulation of merit. nence is like saying that the Buddha discovered that water is wet.” Vajrayana teachings say that mantras are recited by the person’s Tibetan Buddhist learn not to relate to illness as an enemy to be gotten spiritual wisdom body as well as their regular body. By reciting these rid of, but as part of one’s life that one needs to understand. Some- mantras, the wisdom body is strengthened and connects us to the times understanding how we are causing a problem is all that we need wisdom speech of the Buddha. to do to resolve it—and the Medicine Buddha can help us do that. Sometimes we need appropriate medical care—and the Medicine Medicine Buddha Buddha can help us find the right doctor or the right medicine. Even- By Dharma Haven tually, it will be time for us to let go of this life—and the Medicine Dudjom Rinpoche said, “Although all the Buddhas have the same Buddha can help us to accept our own death and the death of those nature, each has a particular power. When we recite the mantra, rays who are dear to us. of light emanate from the heart of the Buddha, like a hundred rising suns, curing all the diseases and obscurations of the beings and even Medicine Buddha Mantra their causes. By the power of this practice may all suffering and prob- Om Bekanze Bekanze Maha lems of the beings be removed by the power of the Medicine Bud- Bekanze Bekanze Radza Samudgate Soha dha.” Buddha Sakyamuni taught that one can benefit greatly from learning about Medicine Buddha, or just from hearing or remembering his name. There is no contradiction between practicing the Medicine Bud- Mark Your Calendars dha meditation in order to improve our own health, and the motivation to help someone else or to benefit all beings. The Tibetan masters tell August 26-28: Retreat with Dr. Hun Lye us that even if we are practicing the Medicine Buddha meditation with Dana: A Buddhist Tradition of Personal Generosity A Pledge Supporting the Ecumenical Buddhist Society of Little Rock in 2016 This pledge of financial support is your act of Dana—generosity toward others. EBS is grateful for your commitment to helping maintain our Dharma community. Your name is: Email address: Mailing address: Telephone number/s: 2015 Pledge Amount: $ Monthly Quarterly Semi-annually Annually Payment Options (please check) There are several ways to set up pledge payments for your convenience: Check is enclosed. Set up a monthly bank draft to be mailed directly to EBS (information below) Set up regular debit or credit card payments through PayPal on the EBS website: www.ebslr.org Pay by check. If you would like pre-addressed mailing envelopes, please indicate here: No. of envelopes requested You may need the EBS information below to set up payment drafts. Ecumenical Buddhist Society of Little Rock, P.O. Box 561, Little Rock, AR 72203-0561 - (501) 376-7056 If you have any questions, please contact our treasurer, Cheryl Woodard, by emailing [email protected]. Thank You! Page 2 The Ecumenical Buddhist Day of Mindfulness Vajrasattva Purification June 4-5 at Practice Group Magnolia Grove Monastery Thursdays, 6-7:30 p.m.