FIFTY STATES OF MIND: Conclusions from meditating in every state in 2021

In 2021, I meditated with Buddhist practitioners all over the United States, and almost all of the sessions were small, intimate and live, except for a couple of live streams and one recording.  Impressions?  In general, I was warmly welcomed (with a couple of kind warnings against 'Buffet Buddhism'), and would recommend all of them.  

Here's some specific findings: 

BIGGEST:  This stat goes to two places, one was Tsultrim Allione's Colorado New Year's (albeit a special event) with over 400 attendees, and also to dear Narayan at Cambridge Insight Meditation Center with 377 for a regular weekday inspirational session which typically lasts about fifteen minutes. 

SMALLEST:  Goes to the last but not least Wyoming, with 4, and South Carolina with 3 (although it was an introductory session;  there were a few places, all Zen, which asked to meet you before you joined in the Sangha, which was nice).   Most of the zoom sessions were small with 10 or less practitioners in attendance. 

MOST INTENSE:  Definitely Upaya Zen Center, where we explored cultural, ethnic and gender issues from a shamanic lens.  Upaya also strongly identified the Native American lands around them, as did many Sanghas.   

THE REAL DEAL:  All of them were.  I can't prove it of course, but I always felt that on retreat in the Theravadan tradition, I could hear the Buddha speaking in an unbroken millenia-long tradition.  In these sittings, I realize it is everywhere.  But for a really direct dose, consider anything at Clear Mountain Monastery in Washington state with Tan Nishobo. 

KISMET:  I don't know why, but I intend to keep visiting with Rokuzan Kroenke at the Zen Buddhist Priory in South Carolina.   Something speaks to me there, and it is all about my own path to deeper practice. 

Overall, the spirit is available at all times (can you feel it touch your head), but we need guidance.  Legitimate teachers in a long unbroken lineage are available and they welcome you.  Kind groups of seekers just like me and you are willing to share their fears, hopes, and general humanity.   

Most groups have a community service of some kind, which is heartening.   It seems that Buddhist groups are not getting larger, but perhaps Covid has an impact.   Pop culture mindfulness is everywhere, and its not all bad, and sitting in ardent faith for an hour is everywhere too.  

I think it is important for middle class persons like me and those I sat with (we were mostly white; at my age many persons were younger, and there were a lot of 'they/them' gender identified persons) to use the resources of mind, body and heart to look within, stabilize, and then give to others.  

It was a worthwhile thing to do for a year, it energized my daily practice and my sense of hopefulness in what is beyond the material world and the avarice of the senses.  

Wishing any reader a happy life, peace, and a way to the truth.  The way is at hand, the path is blocked only by our reaction to what we believe to be our permanent, separate quest for satisfaction.