Sunyata June 2008

Well we had a long weekend of amazing weather and midges. We arrived to find the Sunyata Retreat center in need of a spring clean and it all came together with 28 people attending and our very own cook. Thanks for all the hard work put in at very short notices to get the camp running. We use theme Good, Evil and the way it is....have a look here on more about the theme.

So you can have a look here on why we chose the theme

We also ran some P4C session more details about P4C can seen here and discussed this sutta - Lady Vedehika

We also made a wonderful collage about meditation, which represented our thoughts during meditation - a blue sky with clouds.

Here some pictures and here (you will need the password).

Welcome - Day 1 Morning Puja -Day 1 Evening Puja - Day 2 AM and PM - Closing session

to many videos read? more here

Welcome Evening

we played zip zap boing and pass your name - both games can be found here

We watched this video first as a introduction to look at exploring the precepts.

We then got into small groups and asked the following questions...

Can you remember the five precepts.
Is it helpful to have precepts.
Did you see any precepts in operation in the film?
What precepts would have been helpful in the situation?
What is a good a rule, what is a bad rule?

We then finished with 2 TOUGH QUESTIONS

Question 1:

If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis,would you recommend that she have an abortion?

Read the next question before looking at the response for this one.

Question 2:
It is time to elect a new world leader, and only your vote counts. Here are the facts about the three candidates.

Candidate A.

Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with astrologist. He's had two mistresses. He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.

Candidate B.

He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college and drinks a quart of whiskey every evening.

Candidate C.

He is a decorated war hero. He's a vegetarian, doesn't smoke, drinks an occasional beer and never cheated on his wife.Which of these candidates would be your choice? Decide first... no peeking, then scroll down for the response.

Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Candidate B is Winston Churchill.
Candidate C is Adolph Hitler.

And, by the way, on your answer to the abortion question: If you said YES, you just killed Beethoven.

Pretty interesting isn't it? Makes a person think before judging someone.
Wait till you see the end of this note! Keep reading...

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember: Amateurs...built the ark.
Professionals...built the Titanic

We finished with this music for some lying down meditation.

Day 1 Morning

Guided meditation on liking the body and breath - here

We then played the chairs - read more about it here

We defined what is good, evil and the way it is...

Good
being kind to living things and oneself
being thoughtful
Looking after the environement
Looking after everyone

Evil
intenetional Killing

The way it is
Acceptance

This lead to a discussion and the reading of this from HAPPINESS & HUNGER by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu

The thing to observe in this matter is that it is impossible to attach to good and evil when there's no knowledge of good and evil. When there's no attachment, there's no dukkha and no problem. Once the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil has been eaten, however, there is this knowledge of good and evil. What happens then? If we lack the wisdom (pañña) to know that we shouldn't attach to good and evil, we'll go and attach to the good and evil of common sentient beings. Thus, there is dukkha, which brings with it all the problem of life. These are the results of eating that fruit: attachment, dukkha, and death.

Once there is this knowledge, there is no going back to a state of innocence in which good and evil aren't known. After this knowledge arises, after the fruit has been eaten, we must go on to know fully that good and evil cannot be attached to. It is our duty and responsibility to learn this. Don't attach to good and evil because they are impermanent (anicca), unsatisfactory (dukkha), and not-self (anatta).

Day 1 Evening Puja

Guided meditation on liking

We also asked what would do you like in small groups and would you rather

We watched this video and what can happen when we take liking a bit to far.

We also watched Sister Cittapala slideshow on shrines - on how we use some we might like - like a shrine - and what that could be - watch it here

We finished with om'ing it was hot and we wanted to get to the bonfire....the marsh mellows finally turned up and when the midges became to much we watched the excellent movie

Rivers and Tides

This is very contemplative - youtube clip here - wikipedia here - review here

Day 2 Morning

Guided mediation on inner listening to dislike read it here

We practice the mantra Metta- Karuna-Mudita-Upekkha - with movents -

Metta means Lovingkindness - open hands.

Karuna means compassion - bring hands to heart.

Mudita means sympathetic joy - through hands up.

Upekkha means equanimity or balance - hands outstretched in lines with shoulders.

We then went on to watch a short youtube clip from the television program called west wing watch it here- how dislike can turns to hate- how following scriptures can make you blind to the way things are... and it was followed by a discussion

to balance this we watched a film by "A Good Day" With Brother David Steindl-Rast watch it here

Day 2 Evening

Guided mediation on dislike read it here

We played the The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Advice - how to play it here

After this we watched Byron Katie talking about evil - watch it here

After puja we watched this amazing video -Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor had an opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: One morning, she realized she was having a massive stroke. As it happened -- as she felt...or maybe a enlightening experience?

Closing Puja

We finished with the usual feedback, and used blessing cards to bless each other, chanting, string.

We read this story to finish with.

Too many videos

ZEN TV

"How many of you know how to watch television?" I asked my class one day. After a few bewildered and silent moments, slowly, one by one, everyone haltingly raised their hands. We soon acknowledged that we were all "experts," as Harold Garfinkle would say, in the practice of "watching television."