We looked at three erroneous views held about cultivation and revisited one on how sitting meditation relates to cultivation this afternoon at our regular Sunday afternoon dharma class. We did this as many present were experiencing the threat of riots and civic unrest in their cities and the rest of us witnessed it on TV. The discussion covered how just studying, even memorizing, the holy sutras is not enough; the fact that you should not put off learning Buddhism until you have more time, raised your family, become rich, etc; and that you do not need to give up your career or work to learn Buddhism. We had a very heartfelt discussion of how one does deal with difficult or abusive behavior in the work place. How and when do you engage? Do you interfer with karmic conditions that you do not fully understand? Do you do nothing? How do we act when we may not yet have the wisdom to do what is the right thing?
We did this in the context of the sorrow felt over what was happening around us. The participants shared their experiences with helping others and their understanding of karmic forces. The immediate situation that we were experiencing helped us gain insight into just why we do follow and practice the teachings of the Buddha. We must remember that everything does come back to karmic conditions. How we choose to participate depends on our understanding of what the Buddhas have taught us. We use our dharma in all that we do–on and off our cushions (or chairs). We know that only as we become holy beings can we truly know how to act, speak and think, but we apply what we do know as best we can so as to progress toward the state of enlightenment when we are free of karma and can truly help living beings.
All of our classes have been wonderful, but this one was especially so. My thanks to all who came and participated so freely.
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