Taking My Buddhist Vows / it's official: I'm a Buddhist now!
I was raised an Espiscopalian but left the Church as a teen-ager. Always interested in Asian philosophy after a liftime of noodling around I've become a Buddist. No, really. I've converted. As Ben says, now I'm a card carrying member.
Three years ago my Mom gave me a book/DVD set about meditation. Buddhist meditation. Well, I lost the DVD before I had a chance to watch it but I took the book on a trip and read it on the plane. The timing was right, the message found fertile ground, and the journey began. To this day I tease my Mom for making me a Buddhist. She says she doesn't remember where or why she picked that gift out. Yeah, right. My mother is deeply devoted to the church and her life is living proof. She has a strong spiritual core.
I read a couple of book and then Lisa and I attended a public talk the Dalai Lama gave in Vancouver BC. I cried. This man was proof that everything was possible. Right here in front of me is this being. No denying the steps to enlightenment now. Lisa and I attended a teaching in San Francisco after that. I've heard two public talks and attended several teachings with two more schedule (NYC in May and Switzerland in the summer). The public talks I call Buddhism Lite. The teachers are another kettle of fish altogether.
Teachings are given in Tibetan and translated for the rest of us. The Sangha (monks and nuns) are the intended audience. Ther rest of us are there for the ride. Don't get me wrong. There are many devoted practicioners in attendance, Tibetan and otherwise. It's just that the teachings are The Real Deal. Undiluted, lineage being passed on, mouth to ear, straight sh*t. A traveling seminar.
So me taking vows. When? Where? Why? I Took Refuge in the Three Jewels with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Bloomington IL in Oct 2007. Sorta snuck up on me. I attended a teaching on Atisha's "Light for the Path of Enlightenment" and on the last morning His Holiness goes on about how some of us might be looking for a teacher... Next thing I know a buncha us are doin' it. The funny thing is that when I left I was walking behind three people who were having the same conversation among themselves that was going on in my head. "Was that what I think it was? What just happened? Hey, that was it, wasn't it? Did I miss something?" Of course when I listen to the webcast, I "hear" different things than I did back then.
With a wish to free all beings
I shall always go for refuge
to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha
until I reach full enlightenment.
Enthused by wisdom and compassion,
today in the Buddha's presence
I generate the Mind of Full Awakening
for the benefit of all sentient beings.
As long as space endures,
as long as sentient beings remain,
until the, may I too remain
and dispel the miseries of the world.
The next teaching I attended was in Madison WI in Jul 2008, Shantideva's "Guide to a Bodhisattva's Way of Life" and Kamalashila's "Middle Stages of Meditation". A long life ceremony (Tenshug) was performed for His Holiness and in the midst things I took Bodhisattva vows. Again, not exactly what I went there for but obviously what I was there to do.
Interesting aside: my son Bryan and I attended a teaching on The Four Noble Truths given by the Dalai Lama in Long Beach CA sep09. I took refuge and Bodhisattva vows again, with my son as witness.
I've had the pleasure of spending time with His Holiness the Karmapa. While I totally respect him, he didn't have the impact on me the Dalai Lama does. Lisa and Bryan loved him. HHDL is The Man in my book. It's no celebrity worship or name brand recognition or wannabe groupie. The man makes me cry. My life is better.
I stumbled across the song "Bodhisattva Vow" by Beastie Boys from their Ill Communication CD. The lyrics sum it up pretty well.
I'm looking forward to the liberation of all sentient beings now and in future lives. I can't get on The Mothership until everyone else does. I think of vajrayana as communalism. Works for me.
I want a Buddhist tat. And I'm old school; ink doesn't come naturally to me. But hey, these vows are for life/lives, right? "Om mani padme hum" on my left arm in memory of Mr. Wolf my 4th grade French teacher. I made a boneheaded ignorant remark about him not liking me because I was Black and he was Jewish. God bless him; he took me out into the hall and rolled up his sleeve to show me his tat from the Nazi concentration camp. After what he'd been through there was no way he could hate anyone else because of their ethnicity. I was embarassed then and have grown to love him more for that selfless act to educate a young person. A true Boddhisatva.
Q: What's the most unique thing about me?
a.) I'm a Cleveland ex-pat
b.) I'm a Black man in high tech
c.) I'm a Dharma bum
d.) all of the above
A: all of the above
