Ana B Ruiz
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Allison, I had the same feeling. It really feels much quicker when we practice with others. It’s mind blowing what difference just presence can make. Thank you for sharing.
Hi MaryBeth,
I suspect we are all better meditation teachers we give ourselves credit for. It’s interesting you mentioned feeling like you were mimicking Susan, I also felt that way! I think the instruction will become more natural as we trust ourselves more. I agree with you that we are passing on the practice – and eventually we’ll do that in a language that feels more and more like ours. Thanks for sharing your insights.Before giving meditation instruction on Saturday (first time) I prepared a little cheat sheet ahead of time that I could fall back to if I needed it. Like others have pointed out, having received this instruction many times before made things easier. I tried to incorporate some of the instructions I received when I first learned to mediate that I still find helpful. This initial instruction was given to me before I “discovered” the OHP, and I wanted to honor my first teacher by passing on some of what I still carry from that experience.
I agree with others who have pointed out what a lovely community this is. I felt it was ok to mess up and that helped me go into it fairly relaxed. I think doing this in person would make it easier to “feel” where the student “is” during the practice, but could also make it harder for the teacher to stay grounded. Practice will tell… It was a lovely experience overall. Thank you Susan for “making” us do this and for your trust. It honestly feels like a gift to me.
Hi Kat, this is fascinating. I would love to learn more about this practice. Your essay makes me think that, among other reasons, lineage is also important to keep the practice within certain confines (or the soul of the practice), as opposed to introducing too much of our own interpretation and/or intuition. I really appreciate your statement, “While individual understanding deepens over time, the form itself does not change.” Thanks for sharing this!
Hi Erin, thank you for shedding light on the fact that we can have temporary experiences in both “camps”. That’s a nice way to think about it. While I want to further explore a middle way, there are also some nihilistic ideas that I don’t want to let go entirely – for example, some things might be pointless, and that’s ok. Regardless, in some weird way I’m excited to change my mind on all of this!
Hi Djuna, it’s interesting to read that in your experience nihilism led you towards feelings of sadness and defeat. It makes so much sense, however I never thought about it that way. As a former nihilist, my experience was a little different than yours (and it almost feels like it could be its own middle way?!). In my teens I was very involved in political and social causes and it was instilled in me that any contribution to the greater good was not only positive but essential, even if we wouldn’t see the results in our own lifetimes. Thank you for sharing about your experience.
Like many in this community, I also grew up in an atheist family. Come to think of it, my parents were probably the first atheists in each one of their family’s history. We never talked about God or even took the concept seriously. Most of those around me thought along the same lines (except for my grandparents, but they never talked about religion with me). I always gravitated towards “evidence”, “proof”, and similar ideas. Somewhere along the way – I can’t remember when or why – it began to make more sense to me to give space to a middle way, and that’s where I stand now. I believe, however, that ultimately it’s a matter of choice, as we have no evidence for neither extreme.
If I understand Thinley Norbu Rinpoche’s essay correctly, eternalism appears to be more possible than nihilism because it does not deny the continuity of mind. But again, what is the evidence for this alternative? This is something I would like to understand more about.
Staying open minded and aware of what we believe versus what might be is key for informing our evolving views and staying closer to our personal “middle way”. I’m really looking forward to seeing how my view changes and meanders over the course of this training, and to be challenged by all the different points of views and experiences here.
I agree that presence is an important tool. The most I think about it, the more it seems like THE most important. If we are present, everything else follows. It makes me think that humans’ needs for not feeling alone is key to experiences with an unknown outcome. It’s something I will think about more in this journey. Thank you for bringing it up.
A prerequisite for supporting discovery is knowing that we are all on a path to finding answers and we all need to go through our individual journeys. Spiritual or not, I believe we are all in some kind of quest that follows its own labyrinthic thread. Even if we knew a person’s life history intimately, we can never know how the dharma teachings may resonate with them or how they may be applied in their own particular situations. One can argue that it is only when we go through life experiences that we discover our own truths. Before then, for me at least, the teachings are only a rational belief. I also believe that the journey of discovery itself is a teaching experience. By rushing to conclusions about the meaning of teachings, we might unintentionally hinder this valuable process (both for ourselves and our students).
Supporting discovery also requires awareness that we likely don’t know about the teachings themselves and other people’s lives as much as we think we do. If I believe that it is only through my individual process of discovery that teachings are transformed from being just words on a page into my own personal truths, then it is very possible that I’m not as intimately familiar with many of the teachings to begin with, as they are vast and multi-layered. From that self-awareness, I would strive to support rather than teach; accompany rather than lead.
Spiritual teachings take time to seep in. Some tools for supporting discovery may include “being” with the student in their own journey, even if we don’t have all the answers. Not being alone during a process of discovery can make all the difference to how far and deep we go. Another tool may be encouraging the student to continue their exploration through the writings of Master Teachers and discussing them together. Being transparent about what we don’t know or fully understand is another primary tool. And as Susan always says, “Don’t take my word for it” it’s a golden rule for reminding others that even the most “sacred teaching” should not be taken as an absolute truth, and instead should be tested and experimented on before they become our own.
Hi all! My name is Ana Ruiz. I live in Denver, CO with my teenage daughter and our dog Luna. We also have five chickens (don’t ask!). I’ve been meditating with and learning from Susan for the last 10 years or so. I’m very excited to be on this journey with you all.
anabruiz@gmail.com
303-332-1114Hello, my name is Ana
I live in Denver
What I’d like to change is spend more time in the “liminal space” and beyond 🙂
My practice is about 15 min a few times a week and can easily fall to the back burner when other things come up. I want to incorporate Sangha into my practice to help me be more consistent and also deepen my practice.
Beloved recordings that come to mind are: Leonard Cohen’s in London & Dublin; most anything by Lila Downs.
I’m excited to be here!