One of the most learned and highly trained American-born lamas in the Tibetan Dzogchen tradition. He is a meditation teacher and author.
I have been on book tour in Texas and the Midwest, speaking about my new book on how to be a Bodhisattva (a Buddha-to-be, wisdom warrior) at churches, synagogues and book stores. On the road I’ve been hearing a lot about “The Secret”, which is a bestseller and a movie too, which is basically about the power of positive thinking and the law of attraction, rehashing the ancient wisdom that Intention and Spirit are the most powerful forces in the world and that we can have whatever we set our minds towards. This is fine as far as it goes, I suppose, but I do think we have to actually work more skillfully and diligently to set things in motion rather than just wishing for them and affirming them as our due. Moreover, I am not so sure that getting whatever we want is the deepest form of spiritual hope and aspiration; we too often tend to be rather shortsighted and self-centered. Is it really desirable for your children to always get whatever they want? Contentment is the ultimate form of wealth and mental health.
It is relatively easy to achieve material security or even have a spiritual experience, epiphany or breakthrough; but how to develop deep and ongoing spiritual life, consciously evolve, become more integrated, self-aware, authentically wise and living, content and serene? This is what tried and true, ancient yet timeless spiritual traditions like Buddhism and yoga can help us to accomplish, through providing us with the know-how and how-to, the tools and techniques for actual transformation, inner illumination and spiritual realization.
We all want to change the world, for the better — but who is ready, willing, and able to change themselves? Change begins within. The spiritual life is an inside job; others can’t do it for us, although they can help.
It is not enough to be merely a Sunday Christian or a Saturday Jew, delightful as church-going may be; there are six and a half other days of the week to consider. To develop a well-rounded spiritual life, I myself advocate and practice six building blocks or foundational principles, to help us go deeper as well as integrate Dharma (transformative spirituality) into daily life.
1. Daily-ish explicit spiritual practice (such as meditation, yoga, chanting, prayer, tai chi)
2. Spiritual study and reflection (learning life’s lessons, including how to live and how to be authentically ourSelves)
3. Inner growth work (self-inquiry, journaling, therapy, 12 step programs etc.)
4. Group practice and spiritual community
5. Teacher practice (learning from experienced Masters and Mentors, Elders, Experts)
6. Selfless service and compassion in action (volunteerism, charity work, etc.)
Buddha is as Buddha Does. When you become truly You, buddha becomes Buddha. Life becomes a new LIFE, life renewed– we are spiritually reborn–and this truly is the best of all possible worlds. Then every day is a good and blessed day.
What we seek, we are. Look deeper; it is all within. Don’t overlook it, just because it is too close or it seems to good to be true.
Do you want to know the secret of spiritual seeking, of the infinite journey? Being here while getting There, every single step of the way.
For all intents and purposes, I am new to Buddhism. My roots are Catholic, but haven’t practiced since high school.
I’ve dabbled’ in different religions since the sixties.
My spiritual ‘food’ comes from Alcoholics Anonymous and for the most part has been for the last 22 years. However, one of our co-founders has suggested that AA is merely a spiritual ‘kindergarten’, and I tend to believe that.
I found the article on ‘The secret’ to be interesting in that I have believed most of what was written since the sixties. (I consider myself an ‘evolved’ hippie) I have read “The power of positive thinking” many times and have found it very helpful. Yet one point that is brought out in the article is one of the ‘rubs’ that I have had since reading Dr. Peales book.
That being that the focus seems to be on gaining material wealth through
inner peace, serenity and contentment.
Personally, those are in themselves the goals I seek. Though I found myself for eighteen years seeking life in that material world. Was very much caught up in it and had no peace. Just the pursuit itself allowed me to lay down the spiritual tools that I used. I say ‘allowed’, and by that I mean self-justification.
Now that pursuit is left behind, and instead of seeking MORE, it now is a daily fight to survive. But it makes it easier to stay focused on the spiritual.
At least to desire it more. I tend to allow daily worries about money, bills etc. to detract me from what’s really valuable in life, as I did in pursuit of MORE. But has, as well, made me more humble, and less apt to feel & act as though I am self-sufficient. The confidence of wealth was very blinding for me. When I could go shopping and see what I liked or wanted, I bought it. When bills were due, I paid them. If my son asked for something, I usually bought it for him.
Basically, I felt secure at all times, and it also appeared that ‘I’ was the one doing it. Since ‘I’ went to work daily, and ‘I’ had a nice bank account due to ‘my’ paycheck, and ‘I’ chased it evermore.
There’s a line in an ‘Eagle’s’ song from “Sad Cafe” that goes: “…I don’t understand why fortune smiles on some, and let’s the rest go free.”
Though from their perspective, I didn’t understand it, but from mine, I got it. That’s what has happened to me; fortune has decided to “let me go free.”
The six building blocks referred to in the article are things that I have practiced for some time. With the exception of #6. That has always been a stumbling block for me. I am naturally (or not) a selfish person. And to me, #6 is a tall order. Not that I haven’t done charity work etc., but as the article suggests, one’s spiritual self should act daily, not just on Christmas,
or once in awhile to relieve myself of guilt feelings. I’ve often felt like a hypocrite, and in the process have judged others to be so. And I must say, it appears that way when following someones life on a daily basis. Talking the talk is much easier than walking the walk.
I feel more whole when applying the principles I have learned to my daily life, but that is a mountain, to me. It is easier to apply it to those I Love, like my son, but those who seem to make themselves enemies, it becomes much more difficult. The best I seem to accomplish is to just ignore them. Going beyond that is risky at best, and at times, dangerous.
I’ve long ago given up on changing the world. Jesus Christ, Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King all tried that, and to some degree, did.
But they sacrificed it all. Martin Luther King said that if you fear death, you are a prisoner. By that definition, I suppose I am. I do fear death, for many reasons. Not the least being that I am raising a son, and I would like to see it through, and even watch as his life unfolds.
So I am less likely to take risks, especially with hostile individuals who have looked for and found reasons to hate.
I am in hopes, that this way of living may better that. I have read some writings of Tenzin Gyatso and found them very inspiring and informative.
I seek to understand somewhat, the guiding principles of Budhism, that I may practice them in my daily life and overcome the fear I have that death causes me. Or more correctly, that I give it ‘permission’ to cause me.
Lama Surya Das,
How sad I was when I found out that you were visiting Baltimore for a presentation and book signing on the same day that I left for a competition in Boston! Argh!! And, not that I’m complaining, but I will again be playing music in France during Omega, so I must wait to have the privelege of practicing with you until the Dzogchen winter retreat.
Thanks for inspiring us younger folks…I feel blessed that I can soak up some timeless wisdom without leaving America, without stopping my quite rigorous guitar training…and I also liked very much your story of Lama Govinda 🙂
Thank you,
love,
Ben
Thank you so much for this book… I don’t have any teacher except you because there are no groups near me which I can go to. Your work is so accessible, your words really ‘speak’ to me. Thank you. Namaste