Q1 20131127-Larry_Rosenberg-CIMC-dharma_talk-24534

Talk: 2013-11 27 Dharma Talk.json Start_time: 00:45:57 Display_question: I would like to share how much I appreciate the ability to make the practice my own with the help of the teachings. Keyword_search: reading, Buddhist monastery, spiritual life, trust, path, relationship, daily life, dharma talk, Central Square, Harvard Square, Visuddhimagga, Vimuttimagga, meditation center, monks, nuns, good/bad situation Question_content: Questioner: I am grateful just right now, as I sit here, that I can benefit from your experience, of having lived without reading for a year, and being in a Buddhist monastery, and frustrating yourself 196 times a day, and like that you come out of that, and that you can tell us, you know, it was good. But there's other ways that are good, too. And that, I think I've always fought against any kind of, prescribed recipe, for how I'm supposed to have a spiritual life. And what I love about this place, and the attitude of this place, is that it's the trust that, it really does come from within. And that with the help of the teaching, that we can find that path. Larry: Yes. If I could add just a little bit to that. Here, what we're emphasizing is, relationship in daily life. Now, everyone agrees that everyone... you would never hear a dharma teacher say, it's only just sitting, but it can become the biggest cliche in Dharma circles. Because look what this is, our icon, a gentleman with a nice look on his face. Of course, he's not alive, but he seems to be at peace. I have one in my backyard. Snow comes, rain comes, doesn't matter, but he's not alive. So, what we're taking on, intentionally. That's why it's no accident, that the center is perched between, Central Square, and Harvard Square. I thought it was great. Break_line: Many of you have heard this, but the first Dharma talk here I gave, and I had an ancient text from the Visuddhimagga, and then one from the Vimuttimagga, 2000 years ago. And they list where you should not start a meditation center. I think there were about ten or so we were disqualified in eight, out of, the ten. In other words, there should not be a meditation center here, because there's political activity, and business, and commerce, and loud sounds, and it's urban, up and about, and goes on. But that's exactly why we need it. Because, for whatever reason, a large number of us, don't want to become monks, and nuns. But we really do want to pursue this. So, we need a path that's appropriate for us. So, what we're doing is, we're turning things around. A bad situation is a good situation. In other words, who could deny that relationship, is very difficult. If you're alive, and you don't know that you haven't been in…no, you have to be in. There's no way to not be in a relationship, if you think you're not in one. You're in your head, and you're in relationship to your head, in some way, that's not helping you. Break_line: Hermits are. They're trapped with their past. So, yes, we are attempting to… it's the same teaching, but we're attempting to shape it, so that it can accomplish what the ancient teachings were designed to do, but not in quite the exact same way, and much less formal, which is good for people like you. But some people do better with more form, and want chanting, bowing and all that. And it works better for them. To a point, yeah. This isn't for everyone, is what I'm saying. End_time: 00:49:27