Noah Levine retreat: new Dharma center
We moved into the new Dharma center a few weeks ago. Dave brought in Noah Levine this past weekend, for a short talk on Friday night, and then an all-day meditation on Saturday. More information on the center and the schedule here.
Dave Smith, (left), with Noah Levine, in the front window of the new center.
Quick portrait of Noah, after the event on Saturday.
Early morning light, on Saturday morning, as we began the retreat.
Hanging around, after the event, on Saturday.
“They Call It Myanmar” film
Powerful documentary on the country of Myanmar (Burma), next to Thailand. Buddhist, but military government. Complicated. Stream on Netflix.
Click for Film Trailer
Tsoknyi Rinpoche (Tara Brach)
I was sending this podcast link to a friend, and noticed that someone actually videotaped this program. So you can see his face and hear his voice. About an hour long, and worth it, if you find an hour over the holidays. I like his gentle manner and also his humor.
Driving with Tara Brach (again)
I went to Kentucky today, to check on my mother. I got her in the car, and got her to Walgreens to get a Flu Shot. Also got her leaves raked out to the street.
The drive is almost exactly one hour, which ironically, is the length of an average Tara Brach podcast. I listened to a good one today on the way up, and it hung with me, so i repeated it again on the way home. It usually takes me twice, for it to really sink in and hit home. This one is dated September 12th, 2012, and titled “The Freedom of Yes”.
Several highlights from this podcast:
#1: “I’m going to ask you to pick times when you go past your toleration point, and we’re going to examine some. The content of the mind is usually judgement or blame, and the mind is panicking. There’s a rigidity; we can no longer plan on how to respond best to move things toward healing. We’re in really old conditioning.”
#2: “In any moment when we’re focusing our attention on ‘You’re wrong; you should be different’, we’re arguing with Reality. In those moments we are not able to access our resourcefulness. Deep empowerment, deep access to your wisdom — not possible if you’re blaming the other person.”
#3: Poem by Kaveri Patel:
“There’s a monkey in my mind swinging on a trapeze,
reaching back to the past or leaning into the future,
never standing still.
Sometimes I want to kill that monkey, shoot it square
between the eyes so I won’t have to think anymore
or feel the pain of worry.
But today I thanked her and she jumped down
straight into my lap, trapeze still swinging
as we sat still.”
#4: “People don’t want to be bad. They don’t want to be hurtful, deep down. Everybody’s got their leg in a trap if they’re causing Suffering. If you’re struggling with food addiction, or your own anger, or your own insecurity with other people, it’s not your fault — it’s genetics, or early history. It doesn’t mean you can’t find a way to wake up from it, it just means that up until this moment, the causes and conditions are in action”.
#5: Poem by Danna Faulds, “White Dove”:
In the shared quiet, an invitation arises like a
white dove lifting from a limb and taking flight.
Come and live in truth. Take your place in the
flow of grace. Draw aside the veil you thought
would always separate your heart from love.
All you ever longed for is before you in this moment
if you dare to draw in a breath and whisper “Yes.”
Re-reading Gordon Peerman’s book
I pulled Gordon Peerman’s book, “Blessed Relief”, back down from the bookshelf today. Will recommit to going to his Wednesday meditations at Second Presbyterian as well. I have much work to do; a long way to go.
Page 33
And then I came across this, later today, deeper into the book:
Tara Brach podcast: “Causing No Harm”
Made the full trip back from North Carolina tonight. If you are into Buddhism practice, or Tara Brach, this is an especially powerful one. I listened to it twice, on the drive back. The only link I could find that’s linkable is a video talk; actually I prefer just listening to the audio version from iTunes; the video is actually sorta creepy to me. You can subscribe to her podcasts for free. This one is dated September 28, 2011, titled “Causing No Harm”.
Noah Levine’s podcasts are pretty good, as well. Sometimes the audio quality is lacking. But I like that there’s a Nashville connection, to Dave Smith, here at Against The Stream Nashville.
Dave Smith, from Against The Stream Nashville
We had a great time with Dave Smith, from Against The Stream Nashville today. A diptych portrait; 8″x10″ wet plate collodion on black metal. Good stories; lots of laughter. Dave is a very admirable guy; he’s done the hard work.
Update: Here is Dave’s talk from last night’s practice, (Sunday night, Sept 30, 2012).
YogaCarnival: Bellydancers and Yoga strength
Dropped by Gillian’s Yoga Carnival last night, in the old Whiteway Cleaners complex. It was a warm night; they had fires built in the courtyard, and it was a packed house. Henna applications, bellydancers, music, and an amazing display of strength, discipline, and commitment by Gillian, Jessica, and their friends.
Yoga Carnival. Click to enlarge.
Iris’ Birthday Party.
Birthday party for Iris Baker-van Turnhout last night in East Nashville. A warm home, lots of friends, a chocolate cake, some weird cinnamon whisky, kids and dogs and cats running everywhere, and good conversation. Tony was the perfect host.
Podcast recommend: Tara Brach
Highly recommended. Free subscribe. I just download it and let it play in the background, while I’m retouching. Let it wash over you. Go to iTunes Store, and do a search for her name.
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