I always had attributed Mike and my 2002 trip to Asia as the impetus for my Buddhist belief system, but as I thought harder, I realized this just couldn't be so. With all the 10 year anniversary coverage of 9/11, it brought back memories of my trip there, witnessing all the devastation firsthand. In the midst of it all I recall visiting the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art. So clearly, something compelled me across the Hudson River to Staten Island, long before I stepped foot in Asia. While there, I purchased a card of the Buddhist Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, who embodies compassion, a card I still cherish today. The title here, Om Mani Padme Hum, is that mantra I repeat almost daily. I mean is there anything better to strive for than having compassion for all sentient beings? (note, I have a long way to go :)
This past August into September also marked my first ever Summer Retreat at Jewel Heart. It was the most intense 10 days of my life. Retreat is rather a misnomer, as I think I needed a
month to recover from the wealth of information garnered from Gelek Rimpoche reading Pabongka Rinpoche's book Liberation in the Palm of your Hand.At the end of the 10 days, there was an Amityus long life empowerment given by Rimpoche, and a Lama Chopa Tsoh. Both of these are, well, "above my pay grade," to explain, so see the links of my Google search.
Pabongka's book is amazing, I mean there it is, right there, a text to, well, give you liberation. I was so thrilled reading this tome, step by step instructions, if you will, of Buddha's teachings to help me on my path to spiritual enlightment. Read this, and I'm done! Whoa, slow down there, cowboy. My brain literally ached after each evening, trying to absorb it all.But what is so satisfying, despite the overwhelming nature of it all, is that it's truly all in my hands, not some external source to save me from damnation.
I think--no, I know it will take me more than this lifetime to grasp the dharma, but I continue to meditate on the Buddha's teachings, knowing each day I am changed from the one that has passed.
