Facing Everyday Life
July 28th, 2010 by Sarah Liptonby guest writer Edwin Treitler
We know that these are troubled and dangerous times, and many of our leaders have looked for solutions. Most of these responses to conflicts are “outward” ones: more troops, walls, war, actions that only encourage an atmosphere of fear for the average person.
But for you and me, living our lives amid political and personal crises, how can we respond in an “inward” way to events that destabilize our daily lives?
One answer has been around for many centuries: meditation. “Why meditate?” you may ask. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, spiritual head of the Boston Shambhala Meditation Center gives us this reason: “Meditation is based on the premise that the natural state of the mind is calm and clear. It provides a way to train our mind to settle into this state. Our first reason for meditating might be that we want some freedom from our agitated mind. We want to discover the basic goodness of our natural mind. To do this requires us first to slow down and experience our mind as it is.”
It follows that this slowing down can help us face the problems of life with clarity. When we are clear our relationship to others is clear, and our reaction to conflict, both personal and political, takes on a wider perspective.
Again, Sakyong Mipham tells us, “Meditation is not purely a Buddhist practice; it’s a practice that anyone can do. It doesn’t tie in with a particular spiritual tradition. If we want to undo confusion, we’re going to have to be responsible for learning what our own mind is and how it works, no matter what beliefs we hold.”
Starting this summer and continuing throughout the year, the Boston Shambhala Meditation Center will launch an extended training in the foundation of Shambhala Buddhism for people living in the modern world. This path is for people of any spiritual tradition. The study will provide the tools for meditation, contentment, joy, fearlessness, and wisdom in everyday life. These practical techniques added to our personal experience of insight can aid us in the challenges of our modern society and provide an opportunity for contemplative practice and social action.
The Boston Shambhala Meditation Center in Brookline, MA is open all year with a full schedule of events and meditation practices. See our website: www.shambalaboston.org for further information.
Call us at: 617-734-1498







