Andrew Petrarca
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In many ways it felt familiar. In my experience, meditation practices have always been taught as much by example as by direct instruction. The direct instruction seems mainly to serve to point out details that could easily be overlooked.
While giving this instruction for the first time, I found myself worrying that I’d leave out something important that isn’t obvious. I didn’t worry too much given that Djuna is already familiar with the technique, but I could see myself getting distracted by that worry if I was giving instruction to a beginner.
I felt comfortable leaving space for the practice just to happen after the initial instruction, though. I’ve seen many times that once they’ve got the basic moves down, it’s best just to let people dance.I think my personal struggle with eternalism is the constant need I feel to see myself as an undeniably good person, as though that’s something I could achieve and hold on to, and the nagging sense that I’m failing to live up to that (im)possibility.
Both eternalism and nihilism are based on the underlying assumption that the only things that really matter are things that are permanent (“eternal”). If you believe this assumption and think such things exist, you become an eternalist. If you beleive the assumption and don’t think permanent things exist, you become a nihilist.
The idea that only eternal things matter is very tempting, but once you buy it you’re locked into one of those two paths.
So the struggle, and I think possibly the central point of Buddhism, is to understand that every moment matters, even though every one of them is ephemeral.Lineage is such a big topic! I feel like I’m part of several great wisdom lineages. My parents met in the 1960s while volunteering at the Martin de Porres Center, a Catholic community center whose mission focused on racial justice. So I was born simultaneously into the Christian tradition, the American civil rights movement, and a family of people who deeply cared about the people around them. My parents instilled in me through their words and more importantly through their actions, the importance of compassion. I follow their example.
Later in life I stumbled onto the Buddhist path, and began my first awkward steps in following the tradition passed down through the lineage of Buddhist practitioners. I see these (and others) as lineages that I am a part of. I would not be who I am without these wisdom traditions.I think you’re onto something here. Understanding your own motivation is important. As is the ability to get out of your own way when listening.
Again and again, I have witnessed first-time meditation students showing tremendous wisdom. We are here only to help them find that. We’re not imparting it to them.
I was trying to craft my answer without using Shambhala jargon, but I accidentally used “confidence” in a possibly confusing way. In common speech, “confidence” often means self-assurance in an egotistic sense. What I meant is having no doubt that the present moment is splendid, and that the student is capable of witnessing that splendor and posesses the wisdom to recognize it.
Having attended the week one meeting, I would add that egolessness is essential – allowing the student to tell you what their experience is, and not trying to control or interpret it for them.
The key to supporting discovery initially is establishing an environment in which the student feels safe to explore possibilities. The primary tools are compassion and confidence. Through these, the teacher shows that they have the student’s best interests at heart, calming the student’s fears and inspiring them to surpass any doubts they may have about their own ability, potential, or worthiness.