BUDDHA SAYS "HAVE PATIENCE"

"Slow down,
You move too fast,
You gotta make
The moment last,"

This past Saturday was the 4th of the month which meant you could find me at the Tango Tea Room leading my favourite morning yoga class. I can't really tell you why it's my favourite, because truth be told, I love all the classes I attend; whether leading or following. There is something.... fun, though, about my Saturday classes in Morrocan Lounge at the Tea Room. The people who come really seem to like what they get from the classes and it makes me feel so good to see the same faces coming back again and again.

With a late start due to room rearranging and getting everyone onto the same page - wave length if you will - we agreed to have a late ending, as well. No one was in a hurry this morning and from the sound of it, this class was pretty much the only thing on everyone's schedule for the day. So why not go the extra mile?

I say "pretty much" because even though I was in no particular hurry either, I did have other plans. Later that afternoon, in the same room used for my yoga class, was going to be a Buddhist Meditation workshop lead by a nun from the Chittanami Buddhist Center in Austin, TX. In yoga, meditation is also called dhyana, 7th of the 8 limbs of Raja/Hatha yoga. It has been a very difficult one for me to attempt, much less practise on any consistant basis. I've been looking for a guru or teacher to help guide me through the teachings and practises of meditation, but it has been one of those journies where I must be still and wait for my teacher rather than actively seek one out. "Be still and know that I am."

When I recieved the update about this Buddhist meditation workshop coming to town I knew I had to act upon it. One of the reasons was, as is typical of me, sheer curiosity. You see, my on-going martial arts study is from the Matsumura family who helped to bring the teachings to Okinawa from the Shaolin Temple monks. When I looked into the Buddhist teachings of meditation, their roots came from the same Shaolin Temple. I had to go.

I wasn't sure what to think about it, but I knew I was going to attend. Last February I had the privilege of sitting before the Dalai Lama and listening to him speak, but I've never met a Buddhist nun and I wasn't sure what to expect. Was she going to be a flighty, light-headed theologian that talked of whimsical beliefs and a generic view of love? Was she going to guide us through 2 hours of closed-eye, silent meditation? Was I going to be able to understand anything she said; either linguistically, intelligently or spiritually? But most importantly, was I going to be open-minded enough to listen?

That last one was the easiest for me to answer, at least. Yes. The simple fact that I was going told me already where my mind laid. Like all teachers before me, it didn't matter whether I agreed with them or not, I always learned something from them. And funny enough, the more I disagreed with a teacher or instructor, the more surprised I was at what I learned from them and the situation. Like the Dalai Lama said, "When you lose, don't lose the lesson."

So between the time my yoga class ended and the meditation workshop was to begin I slipped in a good 4 mile walk to keep up my training for the marathon. I know, 4 miles in 50 minutes is a far cry from 26 miles and 7 hours, but every bit counts, right? Plus I had the added advantage of being downtown for my yoga class so I was able to enjoy a full hour along the seawall that defines the eastern side of downtown. Bright Spring sunshine, 75 degree temperature, a briney breeze, lapping waves, pelicans, sailboats and to top it off, I was able to stop in and enjoy the Art Museum for a bit and view some of my godmother's work before heading back for the workshop.
When I walked into the Morrocan Lounge, where the workshop was to be held, I saw people already busying themselves with chair arrangments and jovial salutations. The spokesman for the group seemed very anxious and flitted about with an air of nervous energy. Being my first time there, I chose to step out of the way, take a seat on one of the couches along the back wall and wait for our lecturer's arrival. It wasn't long before I saw that most of the people gathered by this point were just as excited as Ms. Spokesman. The joy and excitement over having another chance to study with this buddhist nun was palpable.

Then she arrived. Her greying hair was cut short in traditional Buddhist fashion, she was draped in rust and saffron-colored monastic robes that looked to be pieced together from various large swatches of fabric. She smiled with ease and greeted everyone individually.

Her name was (is) Kelsang Inchug. She sat in the chair prepared for her at the front of the room and placed a cloth bound book on the little side table stationed next to the chair. By that time 12-15 people had arrived with about as many new comers -yours truly included - as returning followers. I was happy to see such a wide variety of people in such a small group: 40 years difference in ages, men, women, a middle aged mother with her severely down syndrome daughter, teachers, baristas, doctors.... oh my!

Kelsang Inchug began with a meditation preparation. The first step in practicing meditation that clears the mind by purifying hindrances caused by our previous negative actions. We closed our eyes and she guided us through So-Ah-Ham breathing; "Think 'So' as you inhale through your nose, 'Ah' at the peak when you hold your breath for just a second, and 'Ham' (hoom) when you exhale through your nose."

After our minds had quieted a bit and we were more in tuned to the moment, she proceeded with an extremely enlightening and informative lecture on the Buddhist way of Patience. It was our focus of meditation for the day. Beyond the specifics of Buddist teachings, what she had to share on the theories and practices of Patience was no different that what we've all heard our whole lives. The difference came in her own personal delivery and relay of the practice of Patience. With her calm, dignified demeanor she taught us about the principles and practices of Patience in the 21 Lamrim meditations.

She spoke of the Four Noble Truths, Samadhi, the difference between love and attachment, true Patience (joined with) (rather than) simple tolerance.....

This is also refered to as the time of contemplation. The purpose of contemplation is to bring to mind the object of placement meditation; in this respect it was Patience. She parleyed various lines of reasoning, contemplating analogies, and reflected on the scriptures - Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian alike.

In much the same respect as the Dalai Lama, Kelsang Ichung listened fervently to any and all questions and stories that arose during her lecture, she used parables to illustrate her responses and laughed unreservedly with her whole body. Not once did I ever feel this Buddist nun putting on anything more than her true face and showing us her true self. Not once did I feel she didn't wholly believe and embody the very word she was speaking and teaching. It was one of the most supportive environments I have had the pleasure of being in, in my short 29 years.

I can not relay to you all that was covered during that workshop. There was so much information to digest and so much personal growth that I still have to go through (lifetimes of it) that I must stop now in my story. For the sake of your eyes and my fingers if nothing else.

Some recommended readings:
Introduction to Buddhism
The New Meditation Handbook
The Joyful Path of Good Fortune

Namaste :)