Southern Thailand Conflict News
Spirit Rock Notes: Visit the class Monday night with Jack Kornfield Buddhism
by Peter Menkin
Spirit Rock not a New Age center in itself. Located in San Francisco Bay Area (Woodacre Marin County), Spirit Rock is home to Buddhists. They are Zen Buddhists, as was said. They are Theravada, as one of its founding members, the popular teacher and author Jack Kornfield.
Many Spirit Rock and a refreshing place to visit and retreat. Marin County, and in particular South Marino is not a place of Christian worship. Christian professionals and attend church are few. So says a previous study on the practice Marin religious. (Lin Tobin, Gary A. and Patricia religious and spiritual change in America .. The experience in Marin County, California, San Francisco: Institute for Jewish and Community Research, 2002.) The following anecdotal evidence, the religious interest of San Francisco Bay Area Marin County. A librarian in the library Tiburon said most spiritual and religious books in his collection are from the New Era. Christian reading is of no interest. Jack Kornfield, Buddhist teacher, is a writer popular and many read their books here in San Francisco Bay Area and the United States.
Jack Kornfield writes books that are the Buddhist teaching.
Random House, publisher of the book "… After the clothes," says: "Enlightenment existe''de internationally renowned author and meditation Captain Jack Kornfield assures us. "Without the freedom and joy, union with the divine … these experiences are more common than we know, and not far away.
"But even after the completion of this achievement – after ecstasy – we face the task of translating all the days of liberty in our imperfect life. We are faced with the Laundromat.
"Based on the experience and knowledge of managers and professionals of Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Hindu and Sufi This book offers an intimate and unique understanding of how honest the modern spiritual journey unfolds -. and how we prepare our hearts awakening "
An excerpt of the book is as an additive to the end of this article, used with permission of the publisher.)
According to a Marin Independent Journal article, "His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold over a million copies. These include a path with heart: After the ecstasy, the laundry, Teachings of the Buddha, seeks the heart of the lively wisdom of Dharma; Pool A forest again, Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart, the book of Buddha little instruction, the art of forgiveness, kindness and peace and his latest book, wise heart. A Guide to Buddhist teachings Universal Psychology "
A brief excerpt of " target = "_blank"> The Wise Heart target = "_blank">: A Universal Guide to Buddhist teachings of Psychology published. "(" Wise Hart, who in hardcover by Bantam in April 2008 and is in trade paperback in May this year.)
"When we learn to relax in consciousness, there are two support and silence. He is listening to what the next step and awareness of everything that happens, a large space and a sense of connection with love. When there is enough space, all our being able to understand both the situation and be comfortable. We see the dance of life, dance well, but do not take it. In all cases, you can open, relax and get back to nature like the sky of consciousness. "
Therefore, Jack Kornfield, author promises in his new book.
My friend Jack Kornfield said Letty Church is not the only writer who is a teacher of Spirit Rock. The work of Sylvia Boorstein, entitled "It easier than you think "this is about Spirit Rock Teacher" … experience as a Buddhist. "The fact is that even if, as writer Jack Kornfield is very popular and well known, there are other Buddhist Spirit Rock teachers who write books on the subject.
As someone who is not familiar with the Spirit Rock, visitors came up with the idea of the place is New Age. What I found was a place of Buddhist meditation, and personal ethics which is warm and inviting. There are some "members" Spirit of the Rock, and that failure to sign a book for "official" members, or want to enjoy the rite of Christian inclusion. In other words, all are welcome and people and go as they wish. Above all, they come to visit and even stay for years to say that Buddhists. It works and is appreciated by many and practiced for many visitors.
Spirit Rock answers are not necessarily come in the classic sense, and this reporter does not could get all your answers to the questions. They settled among others, and add the taste of his worldview:
The question comes to mind, and to confirm the fact also, if you? Spirit of the East Rock a relationship with the Dominicans, and if so, what is, how long has it been going and what is nature and a little detail about this relationship?
His response: "We are Thai Buddhists in the forest or the Theravada tradition but if the association Dominicans. "
In another series of email questions were asked.
- What is the official name of the room?
- Jack is associated with a monastery or other organization, or has his official residence Spirit Rock Buddhist?
- Is there a certain order or the Buddhist teaching?
- Does the money earned to go talk to him (Partly?)?
- What money from his books entirely to Jack?
- What Jack is "security" or in other words, we can talk about him "brother" or "Master?"
- Is it the formal way? I realize the whole world is called by his name, Jack.
- Do you have a press photo of himself with his wife or family?
The e-mail response by one of its press officers guy that …
"This is what can you say. Jack is a co-founder Society of Insight Meditation at once (IMS) in Barre, MA and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA. He was a monk in Thailand under Ajahn Chah Forest Monastery Wat Pah Pong in Thailand, part of the tradition of Theravada Buddhism. Here's a link to information about the requirements Jack:
http://www.watnongpahpong.org/aboutajahnchah.php
We call the room where the event took place last night officially the "Upper Room Retreat" with the "high" in lowercase. For Usually the Monday evening class is holding down the hill in the community room of meditation, so it was a unique little last night. I have no answer for you at the number, but was filled to capacity. Jack is often called people of good size, so it was as we expected last night. Jack has no title Ph.D. (Although there is a tendency to refer to him as Dr. times to write his name with a Ph.D. later.) It's officially a "Dharma Master, but not would be used in traffic. He has a wife and a daughter, but we have pictures of themselves together for liberation. His family tends to keep a low profile. "
Enough to respond in their own way: it should be noted here your email is interesting and shows how the Spirit Rock meets and how they see the world which is of character with other religions, as well worldview is seen through his lens.
Significantly, many teachers Spirit Rock emphasis on women like Debra Taylor Chamberlin, who wrote in his August 2009 "Spirit Rock News," I do not know There is another facility that has a statue of Prajna Paramita Buddhist meeting on equal terms with the Buddha on the altar. The image of the Mother of all Buddhas is communicated clearly intended Spirit Rock in honor of the female. Some people may wonder, "What sense does it does not matter because the lighting was not between the sexes. This is true but for many people, especially women, because the image is important both consciously and unconsciously. It is a reminder that women and men may wake completely.
In the same "Spirit Rock News" "The Sacred Feminine: Restoring balance in difficult times (Interviews by Walt Opie, Coordinator Communications), "a yoga instructor is a novelist (" Enlightenment for Idiots "), wrote:
Again, not about men against women because I've seen too many teachers focus on these dimensions of practice. But when I'm sitting on a yoga retreat oriented sacred feminine, I am aware of the explicit intention of the value of the interpersonal aspects of the practical aspects intimate practice, the qualities of relaxation and openness rather than domination and control. It is an approach that emphasizes that allows and if, instead of doing and being.
Her name is Debra Chamberlin-Taylor.
The opportunity came to talk with Jack Kornfield after his speech because he was in the main meditation hall more retirement when I left. A little more handsome than anyone had imagined, this writer did not speak to him, it is easy to see that he had a piercing gaze and to know when preparing to speak at the rally was over 300. The room was standing with the people in the hall. A greater proportion of these were young or even younger. Almost half of the room was on the floor with pillows pillows flat section of meditation is good, educated in attendance everywhere. No problem, here or ascetic of the company. Jack Kornfield is present, so it was like most others who were present, the familiarity of having seen and heard his speech came his way, He's glory.
Some of the late night talk:
The chairs in the rest of us Sat good Quality, in the lobby. I realize how comfortable they are, many churches do not have these beautiful chairs. For many churches, folding chairs are usually seats. Spirit Rock is a comfortable, elegant and more expensive than some, I was in love Immaculate Heart Hermitage in Big Sur. Impressed by the beautiful buildings and quiet this retreat, this retreat center is in a comfortable middle-outer away from bub.
glass windows in the room is ambient light. Everyone enjoyed the room, which appeared. They were a happy people.
Call this crowd? Perhaps most importantly, they appear as plaintiffs. They do not feel disappointed by Jack Kornfield.
Someone said Jack returns from a tour book recently, and this was his first speech since his return on Monday. So the big crowd. However, attracts an audience interested and after anyway.
We sat for 15 minutes before the arrival of Jack Kornfield to class. He was a teacher at Spirit Rock 20 years or more on compassion and enlightenment. Essentially, the night was quiet the mind, supposedly for 35 minutes introductory talk and discussion. Of course, this does not include 40 minutes of meditation. It's beautiful meditation.
Notes on presentation:
7:23 h. Calm and quiet. cell phone rang and it was Jack reminded people to extinguish, and to be present.
7:40 pm Quiet, yet. We can clearly hear one or more birds are calling from outside the room.
Jack Kornfield is sitting on a small raised stage (vertical) with a statue Buddha behind him and Prajnaparamita. One is black and one brown. The flowers are set between the Prajnaparamita Buddha and the statue that is behind Jack. This is a simple altar. There is an office before Jack Bell (altar?) And a bell tto the right (not a valve hood). It is used at times during the conversation and meeting.
. 7:48 pm He said: "Rest in the space of consciousness." The bell rings twice 19:50
We sat together, so many People of all, connectivity. So has one of the objectives of the afternoon. Jack spoke briefly about a visit to Israel and Palestine, said it was an establishment journey of peace. He calls it "… very expansive." Spirit Rock offers high-calls in a large room.
A sense of the evening was the ethical everything is expensive spoken. At night, for many, is composed of cherished memories, or what is shown.
8:10 pm. The doorbell rings several times to asking people to return from the break of 15 minutes. There will be a conference on Buddhist practice and Jewish rabbi and a Buddhist teacher Sylvia Boorstein. A man sits the woman to my right and exclaims: "How are you? "I'm wonderful."
8:13 pm The conference begins, and we are told, there a test at the end. Was asked what people shout "resonance" with them. Jack explains that he has health problems. The 60-year-old, said that " Weird things are happening. "On a humorous note, Jack said:" The doctor asked if he could just be me. "The group laughs.
It is time to return to ourselves, "said Jack. He said these are "seekers."
8:23 pm. More stories about Jack, as aphorisms. Henry Miller quotes briefly during the conference, among others. Jack asks, "What drives your life?" Instructed, still stands and let your compassion you can to see the world as observed. He says Rilke. Instructed, take a seat in the center of everything.
h 8:28. Speaking of George Schaller, Jack primatologist speaking of gorillas and humans. Your comment about the presence and kindness and gentleness. Suggested to the present, Buddha Sit. He says: Our life is full of rivers. (He said he would talk about this database evening._ said: Every Breath You Take air containing one molecule of Julius Caesar.
8:36 pm. A history of Iraq shows a sign of respect instead of pulling U.S. in the war. Are reminded those present to sit in the center your body.
8:44 pm. Mark Twain said, briefly, too. Jack reading Mark Twain and comments.
Jack tells a story of how meditation helps medical training is not good, even in the face of death. People move, but audible.
Albert mentioned Camus, James Baldwin.
Continuation of written notes, he said, to take place in the center of things have value. Practice more in the space consciousness.
. 8:48 pm says: We are here and now. It is a place of freedom.
George Washington Carver is mentioned.
8:53 h. Jack says something, the madness of the spiritual life. It is offered as a declaration, the nature of Buddhist in you. Things are as they are, "he told everyone in the room.
9:09 h. ends. Offers Sit for a few minutes. There are 3 bells. Everybody sing as a guest.
Final night.
Located on 410 acres in rural west Marin County, 30 miles north of San Francisco, pensions and future discussions are described in July by the Spirit Rock for these titles:
- In a series of classes, "How to be an earthling: The evolution as spiritual leader of environmental release and healing. "
- "The Neuro-Dharma of Love – Using brain science and Buddhist wisdom to illuminate the heart of relationships. "
- "What we do now? The lessons of Buddha in difficult times
- LGBTQ Awakening the Heart of Love and Wisdom: A shelter during the day for the queer / bi / trans community. "
- "The Bodhisattva path and desires."
Addendum:
Preview a book by Jack Kornfield, "From" After the Ecstasy, the Laundry. "
When I found myself becoming a Buddhist monk in a forest monastery in Thailand for over thirty years, I learned to bow. It was weird at first. Each time we enter the meditation hall, which would fall on your knees and performed three times respect our head in the palms of our hands on the stone floor. It was a practice of reverence and attention, a way to honor him with a body gesture of our commitment to the monk's way of simplicity, compassion and awareness. We bow in the same way every time we take our places for teacher training.
After being in the monastery for a week or two, one of the monks I was left over for further instructions. "In this monastery should not stoop to enter the meditation hall and receive the master's teachings, but when know your elders. "As the only westerner, and the desire to act correctly, I asked to be my seniors." It is a tradition that all who coordination of more time that monks have been more than that for the elderly, they said. It only took a few minutes to realize that the whole world listens.
So I began to bow to them. Sometimes it was very good – there were quite a few ancient sages and worthy in the community. But sometimes it felt ridiculous. I met a monk of twenty years, full of pride, he was there only to please their parents or they could eat better food at home, and I had to take a bow because he had ordered the week before me. Or had to bow to a rice farmer neglected old monastery reached last season's retirement plan farmers, betel chewing and had never ever thought a day in your life. It was hard to honor these fellow forest dwellers like large teachers.
However, I was there, bowing, and because it conflicted, I was looking for a way to make it work. Finally, as I prepared once again for a day to submit to my "old", I started looking for something to everyone bowed. I greeted the wrinkles around the eyes retired farmer, of all the difficulties he had seen and suffered and triumphed. I leaned to the vitality and recreation for the young monks, the incredible opportunities of each place in your life even earlier.
I started to enjoy losing. I leaned my older, I bowed before entering the room to eat and when I left. I bowed as I entered my cabin in the woods, and I tend to think well before take a bath. Ater, a lean time has become my way – what I did. If he moved, I leaned toward her.
It is the spirit of the bow that informs this book. The true task of spiritual life is not in remote or unusual states of consciousness: It is here, in the present. Ask us a welcoming spirit to greet all that life presents us with a heart of wisdom, respectful and caring. We can welcome the beauty and suffering, our fears tangles and confusion, and injustices of the world. In honor of the truth in this way is the way to freedom. To comply with what is rather an ideal is not necessarily easy, but difficult is a most useful and honorable practice.
To recognize the fact of pain in our lives and betrayals is to accept, and the profound meaning, we discover that life can be achieved. As we learn to give up, we discovered that the heart has more freedom and compassion that we can imagine.
The Persian poet Rumi speaks of this:
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, baseness
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain all
Even if a multitude of penalties
who violently sweep your house
empty your furniture.
Always treat each guest honorably
May bleed
for fun again.
Black thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite
Be thankful for next year,
because it was sent
as a guide beyond.
After extract Ecstasy, the Laundry by © Copyright 2000 Jack Kornfield Jack Kornfield). Reprinted with permission from Random House Publishing Group. "
About the Author
Peter Menkin, an aspiring poet, lives in Mill Valley, CA USA (north of San Francisco).
My blog:
http://www.petermenkin.blogspot.com
A Land Apart