#42 TENNESSEE

 Today I tuned in for the meditation with the Pema Karpo Meditation Center in Memphis, led by founding teacher Khenpo Gawang Rinpoche.  There were seven of us total.  

Khenpo began with a short teaching from Shantideva's (8th century Indian philosopher and Buddhist monk)  Bodhicaryavatara as follows: 

If a problem can be solved,
What reason is there to be upset?
If there is no possible solution,
What use is there in being sad?

Khenpo explained that our minds become, or are, out of synch with the way things are, and he used the analogy of a broken vase;  it is  no more, it is not what it was, it has changed.  Such is the way of all things and we are constantly surprised and upset when it happens, believing as we do in solidity, separateness, and permanence.  

I did find the quote rather male-centered, reflecting on the times that I have jumped to some linear solution to help someone in distress who was not ready to move on.  Khenpo did note that Buddhist practice has many aspects including compassion, dedication of merit, understanding the reason for meditation, service to others and so on. 

With that in mind, most of the session was spent chanting in English and Tibetan from their lengthy chant book.   I  don't relate well to a long list of radiant beings I don't know intimately, being praised for their holiness, which was the bulk of the readings.   However I do appreciate the Heart Sutra and dedication of merit which were both included. 

Khenpo is the author of Your Mind is Your Teacher, based on a nineteenth century text by Lama Mipham. 

I appreciate this quote from the book, which I think squares off against too much 'self help.'

Most of us have the attitude that we want to do things and take care of ourselves first, and then we will think about others. If we look honestly at our minds, we cherish our selves as more valuable than others. In Shantideva’s tradition this is seen as a deception. The fact that self-cherishing is stronger than other-cherishing is actually what causes our problems. Our troubles come from this attitude of seeing ourselves as so important, and from all the reactions that are based on this wrong view.