Dharmata Sangha of Austin Update March 21

[Janet Gilmore]

This week, as usual, we have two opportunities to get together, meditate and appreciate and inspire each other,   

Tonight (thursday)we our discussing 'training the mind' by Chogyam Trungpa.  We are on the slogan, 'abandon any hope of fruition'.  This is, of course, Jim Phillips favorite slogan and one of my favorites as well.  Dilgo Khyentse explains this slogan:

"The general effect of Mind Training is to free the practitioner from hope and fear. We should practice the exchange of happiness and suffering without expecting any reward. We should not hope, for example, that because of our practice many non-human beings will gather round, obeying us and displaying miracles, and that people, prompted by them, will also serve us, bring us wealth and influence.".

On Sunday, March 24, we will sit together and then discuss the paramita of generosity.   I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's experience of this practice in their day-to-day lives. Zen master, Dogen, says of this practice:

 "when one learns giving well, being born and dying are both giving. All productive labor is fundamentally giving. Entrusting flowers to the wind, birds to the season, also must be meritorious acts of giving." ...He further states, "...great giving... is not only a matter of exerting physical effort; one should not miss the right opportunity."

Happy spring everyone!

Sending love,

Janet