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Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Noviate Re-collection #2: Sweeping Emotion
Post Aloka Novitiate 2008, Bodhgaya
by Darshani
During the Novitiate programme, Bhante Mahinda talked about gratitude. Gratitude to everyone who has been a part of our life journey from our parents to teachers, to persons who prepared the food for our daily consumption to the taxi driver to got us to our appointment on time. For the Novitiate programme, we expressed our gratitude to our parents, friends, organizer, helpers, the hotel and monastery that housed us, th
e driver and even to our bosses who approved our vacation leave to enable us to attend the programme and our colleagues who need to cover for us during our absence.
On my return from the programme, it got me thinking about my attitude towards the road sweeper. Every morning, she will be on either side of the road, sweeping the road diligently. I would get irritated should she be on my side of the road as I will then need to give her space for her trash bin and space to avoid my car being hit by her broom with her sweeping motion. One morning, due to traffic jam, my car stopped within 5 feet behind her trash bin. When she looked up, I gave her a smile, a nod and mouthed ‘Thank You’ to her. She was stunned for a moment and when she recovered, she gave me a wide happy smile. As she continued to sweep the road ahead, she kept turning back and grinning happily back at me.
It was a joyous experience – just a smile in gratitude can make another’s day!
Noviate Re-collection #1: Making Peace with Mosquitoes
The four years of Aloka Noviate in the Buddha’s holy sites in Nepal and India must have been an experience for many. We begin this series of recollections – anecdotes, personal accounts etc – for all to re-connect with the Triple Gem, the sacred sites, and fellow samaneras, upasikas, anagrika, helpers and organisers. We welcome your stories and first hand accounts. Just email it to kllim@alokafoundation.org
by Darshani
Aloka Novitiate 2009, Sarnath
During a novitiate programme, I was bugged by mosquitoes at night. They would buzz and buzzzz and buzzzzz all night -- on my right ear, on my left ear, on both ears. When I shared this with my roommates, they provided a number of remedies - apply tiger balm on the earlobes; spread tiger balm on the pillow; cover your head with a thin scarf, etc. They all didn’t work!
One night Bhante Mahinda talked about the mosquitoes menace and advised us to ‘negotiate’ with the mosquitoes – take your bites then leave so that I can have a good night sleep. Didn’t work either. Next, ask forgiveness from the Mosquitoes Devas, since those I have killed may not be around to receive. It worked, sort of :-P The mos
quitoes were still there but the irritation eased a bit, but not for long before I was in full blown irritation mode. Another sleepless night…
Must have killed too many mosquitoes as nothing seemed to work!
Then I had an insight – I must have bugged my mother when I was a child, wanting this and wanting that… eeeeee Mummy this eeeeeee Mummy that… Now suffering the results of my kamma i.e my past action.
Then another insight – mental hindrances – sensual pleasure – the mosquitoes – their buzzing an irritant to my ear sense, anger at their bites on my body, invading my space, causing me sleepless nights – such a strong I, me, my and mine.
Once this understanding arose, I was able to accept the mosquitoes’ buzz, bites and all. They were still buzzing, but not as irritating as before, they were still biting, but with less anger to their bites, they were still buzzing around my face, ears, the whole head, it’s okay it’s their space too and not surpising, I was able to have a good night sleep thereafter.
3C - Connect, Communicate, Connect
Re-posted for labeling under 3C
Connect with the Triple Gem. Connect with spiritual friends.
Communicate with one another to stay informed.
Commune for the communal support and be self sustaining.
Bhante Mahinda advocates keeping in mind these 3Cs – not the Cs of cash, credit card, condo – to be able to realise, accept and surmount the Big C of Change that always confronts us.
Speaking to past and intending participants of the Aloka Novitiate at Aloka House on Saturday, (24 July 2010) Bhante reminded everyone that “as we live in this time of change, it is important to learn how to cope and accept things as they change”.
He quoted the Buddha (in Dhammapada Verse 277):
Sabbe sankhara anicca'ti
Yada pannaya passati
Atha nibbindati dukkhe
Esa maggo vissuddhiya
Sabbe sankhara anicca'ti: All component things are subject to change
Yada pannaya passati: When one sees with wisdom. Sees what? Sees that all component things are subject to change
Atha nibbindati dukkhe: One becomes detached from suffering
Esa maggo vissuddhiya: This is the path of purification
Bhante said many can say that they understand the word “change” but really, they do not realise the phenomena of change.
“If one realises the phenomena of change, one would have realised the Truth. One would experience the bliss and a certain marked transformation would have taken place. The more one experiences and realises change, the more things will change in one. One’s perception will change and the way of life will change. When one experiences change, one will accept things as they come without reacting (negatively).”
Bhante said the Aloka Novitiate in the holy sacred sites in India created opportunities for participants to connect with the Buddha. Through that, one would then see the Dhamma clearer and be closer to Sangha.
Through the Novitiate experience, the participants knew how to live in peace and harmony in one place. Albeit, living in refugee style but still peacefully. Peaceful atmosphere and great harmony, added Bhante, is the kind of environment that is conducive to support spiritual growth.
“That is why the Buddha instituted the Sangha community; to facilitate the development and purification of the mind.”
Bhante called upon the Aloka Novitiate participants to stay connected with the Triple Gem and create their own Sangha – their own spiritual community.
He advised that the affinity of coming together in the Aloka Novitiate be nurtured by maintaining communication to be informed. And build this up to commune with compassionate love.
In the context of commune and communal support, Bhante said the sensible thing to do in such times of change is to invest in something that will sustain life.
Action Plan
The following are the decisions made in the mini workshop that deliberated on Bhante’s advice of connect, communicate and commune:
- Maintain Aloka Connect, groups of five or more that will stay connected and do things together like having fellowships as well as attending Dhamma discussions and Metta Bhavana sessions in Aloka House
- Stay connected via Friends of Aloka Facebook
- Communicate to inform of prayer support needed in times of sickness or bereavement involving loved ones
- Connect each Friday at 8.30 pm to radiate metta and make aspirations for a safe journey in the forthcoming Aloka Novitiate in Kushinara
- Set up eco-farm to commune, pick up skills on organic farming, produce organic vegetables, be self-sustaining and have refuge place in times of crisis
Footnote: Bhante emphasised that he called for the gathering of past participants as well as intending participants of Aloka Novitiate as it was easier to group people with one such commonality to start with to provide guidance so as to be able to steer the course of spiritual life. It should not be construed as to exclude others.
Saved by the dogs
by Darshani
During Novitiate Programme at Kushinara
During the pindapata by the Burmese community, we were offered various food and delicacies. After days of having rather bland food, it was a treat! One of the sweets offered was ice cream. I could not wait for the lunch offerings to the monks, speeches and blessing to finish so that I could dig in.
Finally, the wait was over and I dug in. Yucks! It’s not ice cream! It’s yogurt and tasted like burnt rice! As I was under the precept to eat everything that was offered, I decided to mix some of the yucky yogurt with the rice. Not great but bearable :-P As I was contemplating how to finish the rest of the yogurt, a few dogs got into the tent and proceeded to lick and gobbled up whatever they could reach and one of the ‘victim’ was my cup of yogurt :-)
Was I happy with their intervention! Now I could really enjoy the rest of the yummy treats :-)
I know I should view the yogurt as just food; food to sustain the body, to continue to practice. But I am just so not there yet!
Thank you Devas for sending the dogs and saved my lunch!
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