VAJRA BELL

Volume 6 Issue II

April 2008

Akshobya the unshakeable

By Dharmasuri

ou may have thought there

is only one Buddha.In
Tantric Buddhism we enter
the world of symbols and
myths, a world that includes
the five Primordial Buddhas. In Tantric
Buddhism spiritual development through
the reflection on symbolism and the
language of myth are essential for gaining
Enlightenment. Hundreds of years after the historical Buddha,
Sakyamuni, achieved Parinirvana, five archetypal Buddhas
-Akshobhya, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha, Amoghasiddhi
and Vairochana- emerged to symbolize the embodiment of
spiritual awakening.In this and the next several issues of the
Vajra Bell you will learn how the symbols of each of the Five
Jinas (conquerors) are depicted to represent important spiritual
qualities. As a result of this series, I hope that you will take
the time to explore further the mystical realm of symbols and
more aspects of the Five Buddhas. Vessantaras Meeting the
Buddhas is a good place to begin.
We enter the mandala from the east where Akshobhya
resides.One of the best ways to learn aboutAkshobhya is through
deep concentration on his visual image.Like meditation, we
begin by sitting quietly, letting the mind become calm so that
the concerns we are currently dealing with can drop away.We
start by visualizing a deep blue, expansive sky all around us.By
placing ourselves in the peaceful blue sky, our minds take on
the same characteristics of shunyata or emptiness.
Imagine Akshobhya appearing before you in
thedawnsky.He is dark blue in color, seated on a vast blue
lotus throne supported by four massive elephants.Dressed in
blue robes, he is seated in the full-lotus posture.He holds a
AKSHOBYA

Continued on Page 12

Aryaloka Buddhist Center

14 Heartwood Circle, Newmarket, NH 03857

Illustration courtesy of Chintamani from A Guide to the Buddhas

VAJRA BELL

PAGE 

From the Editor

By Samayadevi
The next five issues of the Vajra Bell
will be dedicated to the five Jinas and their
consorts. We have been spending time on
the practice of Buddhist Ethics, on the six
Paramitas, and how they show up in our lives,
how they focus our intentions and purify our
motivations. The Jinas might seem like a lurch
from the path of practice, but in fact they are
not. Each one embodies certain aspects of
Enlightenment, each has a female consort.
Each is associated with a color, an element,
a direction and a time of day. Each one has
a representative animal, a specific mudra,
and personifies not only a specific wisdom,
but also combats a specific poison (ie. hatred,
pride, greed, envy and ignorance). So what
does this have to do with our practice?

Actually, quite a lot. We are relational

beings; we thrive in relationships and are
challenged to wake up in relationships.
Sangha is not an optional extra, but the very
pool we swim in. And we need sangha as
much as the Buddha and the Dharma. The
Jinas are part of our Arya Sangha, those
beings whose influence for good is always
available to us.
When we visualize the Jinas, we are
opening our minds and hearts to their
beneficent influence, to their specific
wisdoms. We can live in relationship with
them and allow them to color our world.
It is a matter of what influences we choose
to open to, what relationships we choose to
foster. The choice is always ours. Thank you
Dharmasuri and Dayalocana for introducing
us to Akshobhya and to Locana.!

Musings from the Chair

By Dh. Dayalocana

or internal, Aryaloka sangha members return

to practice with friends; to learn, reflect and
Although we have had record snowfall and continue spiritual growth. Our commitment
difficult driving conditions in NH this winter, and resolve of the winter months will mingle
events at Aryaloka have carried on non-stop. well with the joys and delights of spring. May
The trees decked out in pure white snow wel- your practice flourish and may we choose to
comed sangha members to the silent shrine live peacefully with mindfulness and compasroom lit by softly glowing candles. Colorful sion.
flowers, a hint of what will come, brightened

rooms as we gathered for meditation, puja and

SPRING WINTER
Dharma study. The snow could not stop miBy Sangharakshita
tras and Order Members from attending a se
ries of teacher training workshops. There was
The hills of the horizon
no slow-down in kula activities. Cleaning,
With snow are dappled round.
shoveling, publishing Vajra Bell, fund - raising
White blooms the sweet plum-blossom
and setting up for retreats carried on as usual.
Six foot above the ground.
There was no let - up in friends and mitras ap
pearing for meditation and Dharma classes, in
As a bird in the blue ether
Order Members attending gatherings and in
My joy is on the wing
friends meeting for conversation over steamTwixt the purity of Winter
ing cups of tea.
And the loveliness of Spring.
There is no stopping our response to the

Dharma once it enters our mind and touches

Sangharakshita complete poems
our hearts. No matter what obstacles, external
1941/1994

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

Contact
Information
Aryaloka Buddhist
Retreat Center
14 Heartwood Circle
Newmarket, NH 03857
603-659-5456
info@aryaloka.org
www.aryaloka.org

Aryaloka Council
Dayalocana
dayalocana@comcast.net
Saddhamala
saddhamala@verizon.net
Amala
amala@metrocast.net
Kemavassika
sueb1011@verizon.net
Sandy Bonin
sbonin@earthlink.net
Samayadevi
samayadevi@mac.com

Vajra Bell Kula

Samayadevi, Chair
samayadevi@mac.com
Viriyagita
pewedyer@worldpath.net
Sandy Bonin
sbonin@earthlink.net
Stephen Sloan
sloan@comcast.net
Eric Wentworth
thewintercrow@hotmail.com

Please be sure Aryalokas windows stay closed in winter and remember

to close them when leaving the center in warmer months. Thank you!

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

VAJRA BELL

PAGE 

Locana, the wise consort of Akshobhya

By Dayalocana
Locana, one of Five Female Buddhas,
is known also as the consort of the
Dhyani Buddha Aksobhya and as a Prajna
(wisdom) figure. She represents mirror
-like wisdom an aspect of enlightened
awareness. Sitting calmly, not reacting,
still and unwavering, she embodies the
wisdom that sees things clearly with a pure,
simple, direct awareness. She is not torn
or swayed, not overtaken by aversion or
cravings. Locana observes impartially, with
endless equanimity. Her element - water forms a mirror that is not changed by the
object reflected in it. Likewise, Locanas
mind reflects clearly things as they really
are without subjective distortions.
Thus her name, Locana, is translated
as she who has the Dharma eye, seeing
with eyes of wisdom, clear - visioned
one, she who is illuminated by the
Dharma.
Locana sits on the eastern side of the
Mandala of the Five Dhyani Buddhas.
Depicted as blue in color she is seated on
a moon mat that rests upon a pale blue
lotus. She sits cross-legged solid, stable,
imperturbable. She is dressed in beautiful
LOCANA

Illustration by Eric Wentworth

Continued on Page 13

Buddhaworks
The Aryaloka Bookstore

* Meditation Candles
* DVDs from Pema Chodron
and Lama Surya Das
* Meditation Journals
* CDs from Thich Nhat Hanh

* Singing Bowls
* Brass Door Chimes from
Nepal and India
* Childrens Coloring Books
* Lots and Lots of Great Books!

Your support brightens Aryalokas future.

Buddhaworks is located at the Aryaloka Buddhist Center

PAGE 

VAJRA BELL

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

Sangha Notes - Whats Happening?

By Sandy Bonin
Many thanks to the Childrens Kula
for arranging a recent overnight for
children and parents during school
vacation week (see article elsewhere
in this issue). The children are eager
to return for another event at Aryaloka
because, Its just really fun to be
here!Amala, Samayadevi, and
Steve Cardwell have hosted four
student groups here at Aryaloka
during the last couple of months. These
included students and teachers from the
United Church of Christ in both Exeter
and Durham, Phillips Exeter Academy,
and Odyssey House. Thanks to all of
you for your interest in learning more
about Buddhism and meditationSandy
Bonin recently represented Aryaloka
at a Spiritual Caf for students at
the University of New Hampshire
sponsored by the campus ministry

The Family Overnight was a great success! All of the attendees had a wonderful time
and were eager to come back.
Our big bulletin board at the foot of
the stairs now has a designated space
for holding announcements of interest
to sangha members that come from our
wider geographical community. Please
check with the office if you would

like to post something thereIts too

late to sign up as a volunteer to attend
the upcoming retreat at the Concord
State Prison for Men on April 11-12,

was expressed to Khemavassika for the

tremendous amount of work that she has
Total revenues continue to be at target done over the years to keep Aryaloka filevels for this fiscal year. Some energy nances up-to-date and professionally orcosts are higher than budgeted, howev- ganized. Sadhu!Samayadevi has sent a
er, because of the increase in the cost of thank-you note to the Dana Kula for orfuel A $3600 contribution was received ganizing the Movie Marathon fundraiser
in January from Buddhaworks, our cen- on January 12Recent dana from an
ters bookstore. Buddhaworkss total anonymous donor will be used for major
contribution for last year was $7600! building improvements currently in the
Many thanks to Saddhamala and Steve planning stagesIt was decided to set the
and Debby Cardwell, our hardwork- rental rate for individuals at the Akasaing bookstore kula, as well as all of you loka building at $30 per day and $45 for
who bought books and other articles to an overnight.A 10% discount will be
support your practice!A plaque is be- offered to people coming on their first
ing designed to accompany Bhante Sang- retreatAn energy audit was recently
harakshitas photograph that hangs over conducted on the two larger buildings.
the dana bowlHeartfelt appreciation The Council will follow up on the recom-

mendations. The two water heaters in the

domes building have just been replaced.
It was decided to delay increasing the vent
size on the Aryaloka furnaceDayalocana will arrange to have our regular water
testing done through the state labThe
Council will hold its annual meeting
with the sangha at a brunch on Sunday,
April 13 from 10 a.m. to noon all are
welcome! Please RSVP the officeThe
next few meetings of the Council are
scheduled for April 13 from 1-3 p.m.,
May 18 from 10 a.m. - 12 noon, and an
overnight from June 14-15. Visitors are
always welcome at meetings please call
Dayalocana if you would like to observe a
meeting or if you have something that you
would like to present to the Council .

SANGHA NOTES

Continued on Page 15

The Council
By Sandy Bonin

Who can contribute to the Vajra Bell?

YOU CAN!

Submit an article, poem or picture for consideration, or simply share some information and well do the writing
for you. Just contact any of the Vajra Bell staff - see the Contact Information section on Page 2 of this issue.

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

VAJRA BELL

Movie Review
By Eric Wentworth
The Fountain
(2006), 96 minutes, PG-13,
Available on Netflix
All right, I admit it, I am a huge science-fiction movie geek. But this admission comes with one caveat: as cool as the
effects may be, it has to have a strong story. Rarely is a sci-fi flick both technically
amazing and mentally stimulating, but The
Fountain is both by leaps and bounds.
Written and directed by Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream), the
film looks at the human pursuit of eternal
life, and whether that pursuit is fruitful or
foolish. The imagery and symbolism that
it incorporates have their roots in a broad
cross-section of religions and belief systems, including Mayan spirituality, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism.
However, the message of the movie is not
particular to one religious system. Rather,
it borrows from many different traditions as
if to reinforce that the question at hand is
common to all of humanity, not limited to
one set of beliefs or another.
The story is centered around the love
between a man and woman in three vastly
different times and places - 16th century
Guatemala, a modern-day city and a spherical future spaceship approaching a golden
nebula. In all three settings, the goal for the
male character is the same, to find a way

PAGE 

Online In-Site

to end death. As a Spanish conquistador, he

sets out on a quest in the New World to find
the Tree of Life for his queen. As a research
oncologist in the modern world, hes searching for a cure for his wifes cancer. And as
a space traveller, it becomes clear that the
final destination holds the power to renew
life. All of the storylines are intertwined
subtly and intricately, and the more times
you see The Fountain, the more you see.
Speaking in purely Buddhist terms, I
found that the theme of the film strongly
echoed some of the basic teachings of the
Buddha. At one point in the movie, the
main male character makes a declaration
that is strikingly similar in tone to the the
Four Noble Truths. He exclaims, Death
is a disease, theres a cure and I will find
it. The way the storylines are combined,
the couple seem to be connected through
rebirth or a karmic bond, trapped together
in time to learn the lessons of dependent
origination. Ultimately, the male character
must change his perception of death altogether in order to move forward and break
free of what binds him. His realization of
impermanence and the necessity of sacrificing himself are what lead to his goal.
Students of Buddhism will see much
more rich Buddhist symbolism than Ive
mentioned here, but the film allows its
viewers to draw their own conclusions,
regardless of belief. It leaves them with a
cosmic sense of what it truly means to be
human.

This issues featured websites

http://www.wildmind.com
Wildmind is an excellent website
run by our own Bodhipaksa, offering
meditation information that caters to
every type of learner and lifestyle.
The home page has a large
section of free information for
beginners about meditation. This
covers basics such as posture and
overcoming obstacles during your
sit, types of meditation, application
of meditation to everyday life
through mindfulness and dealing
with specific issues, and some key
Buddhist texts.
For those who would like to go
further, they offer several online
courses with experienced teachers
to help guide you along and deepen
your practice. This is especially
helpful for those who have active
lifestyles, different learning styles
or disabilities and may benefit from
going at their own pace online.
Wildmind has an extensive online
store offering CDs, DVDs, MP3s
and audiobooks as well as links to
other sites that carry meditation and
yoga supplies.
ONLINE INSITE

Continued on Page 14

Preview Screening of Dalai Lama Renaissance

IOKA show to benefit
Tibet organization and
support Aryaloka
By Anne Rugg
Dalai Lama Renaissance, a feature
documentary film narrated by Harrison
Ford, will be screened at the Ioka Theater

in Exeter, NH on Wednesday, May 7th at 7

p.m.
Dalai Lama Renaissance has
screened to enthusiastic, sold-out audiences
throughout the U.S. and the world,has won
10 awards, and is the official selectionat 35
film festivals around the world.
Audiences are saying thatDalai Lama
Renaissance givesthe most intimate and
direct experience of the Dalai Lama on film.
Dalai Lama Renaissance is an 80

minute documentary about forty of the

worlds most innovative thinkers who travel
to India in the Himalaya Mountains to meet
with the Dalai Lama to solve many of the
worlds problems. What happened was
surprising and unexpected.
Tickets are $12 and $7 for students and
can be purchased at the door. Proceeds will
support theAryaloka Buddhist Center and
the Tibetan organization chosen by the Dalai
Lama.

PAGE 

VAJRA BELL

Aryalokas library

Kula Korner
By Sheila Groonell,
Kula Coordinator
First I would like to thank those of you
who recently have volunteered to help
Aryaloka in many different ways. Jahnay
Pickett and Heather Murphy, a brand new
member of the Aryaloka Sangha, have volunteered for the Library Kula. Nina Jordan,
recently returned from wintering in California, has resumed her oh-so-reliable responsibilities on the Cleaning Kula. Steve
Pittman and Barry Timmerman, in addition
to their spring, summer, and fall work on
the Grounds Kula, have volunteered to help
with recycling. Steve has also volunteered
to help with the Shrine Kula, and loves the
time spent with Amala in this transcendent
zone. Joe OSullivan volunteered for the
Tech Committee.
I am so touched by and grateful for your
generosity. We all live dependent on the
kindness of others, known and unknown.
Re-shelving books, you make the dharma available for the inspiration of all sangha
members. Recycling trash, you make the
environment healthier for all within Aryaloka and beyond. Doing laundry, you create a clean and welcoming environment for
all visitors, fostering peace and contemplation.
And so it is with all kula activities. In

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

the shrine room, at the computer - wherever

we volunteer - we offer ourselves and our
work for the good of all.
Such generosity has no bounds. Its benefits spread in all directions. Aryaloka exists because of your efforts, and the efforts
of all Kula volunteers.
I hope you volunteers are coming to
know the satisfaction of your generosity:
deepening friendships born in shared work,
and an ever-growing sense of Aryaloka as
your spiritual home. We are all infinitely
grateful to you.
For those of you who have not yet volunteered yourselves, the time commitment
can be very small - one or two hours a
week, a month, or a season - but the rewards
are enormous: personal satisfaction, new
friendships and shared fun, and a deepening
sense of Aryaloka as your spiritual home.
Aryaloka welcomes you all.
Currently the following kulas are actively looking for additional help: the Cleaning
Kula, the Fundraising or Dana Kula, the
Technology Kula, the Childrens Kula, and
the Library Kula.
If you would like to investigate these or
other volunteering possibilities, please call
me at 778-7522 or email me at sgroonell@
comcast.net.
Ill be really happy to discuss the possibilities with you. Sincere thanks!

Did you know, we have an extensive

Buddhist library here at Aryaloka? It is
situated on the mezzanine just above our
main sitting room. You will see the stairs
near the kitchen at the end of the room.
Here you will find books arranged
in sections according to their main
category. These categories include: a
full set of the Jataka Tales (stories of the
Buddha before he became the Buddha),
children & family, contemporary
authors, meditation, topics in Buddhism,
women in Buddhism, general Buddhist
information,
inspirational
topics,
and Zen. There is also an excellent
collection of sutras and commentaries
from Theravadan,Tibetan, Chinese,
Japanese, Sanskrit and Indian sources.
We have an almost complete collection
of FWBO books and books written by
Sangharakshita.
Three magazines we subscribe to
are Buddhadharma, Shambala Sun, and
Tricycle. They are to be read in the center.
All the books may be checked out. You
will find a notebook and instructions for
checking out and returning books.
To top all this off, there is a lovely
shrine in our library and comfortable
places to sit and read.
COME BROWSE As we read and
reflect, we understand the Dharma more
fully and can practice more effectively.

Keep our center vibrant with open-handed generosity

By Ann Rugg
Dana Committee Chair
The Treasure of Generosity
And what is the treasure of generosity?
There is the case of a disciple of the
noble ones,
his awareness cleansed of the stain of
stinginess
living at home,
freely generous,
open handed,
delighting in being magnanimous,
responsive to request,

delighting in the distribution of alms.

This is called the treasure of generosity.

The Dana Sutra (translated from the Pali
by Thanissaro Bhikkhu)

-------------------------------------------------Practicing generosity (dana) is the first

of the six perfections (paramitas) describing
how an enlightened being behaves. It feels
good to be generous. Whether youre sharing
your income, time, attention or your heart - it
all creates joy.
A stingy heart is hard, constricted, and

tight with hoarding thoughts of me and

mine. A generous heart is light, happy,
and deeply satisfied by helping others.
This transformative practice of dana is an
excellent way to free ourselves from the pain
of clinging and attachment.
Aryaloka is fueled by dana by people
volunteering their time and supporting it
financially.No one else funds our daily
operations and life-transforming programs.
Let Mikey do it, does not apply here. It is
our responsibility-- as friends, mitras, and
Order Members to support our Center to
DANA

Continued on Page 

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

VAJRA BELL

PAGE 

Whats the meaning behind the vajra and bell?

By Stephen Sloan
The vajra and the bell are symbols
from Tantric Buddhism. Vajra means both
diamond and thunderbolt: something of
impervious strength and irresistible potency,
which is capable of smashing, shattering,
pulverizing everything that stands in its
way. The Vajra occupies an important place
in Buddhist symbolism, even giving its
name to a whole phase in the development
of Buddhism: the Vajrayana - the Diamond
Path, or the Way of the Thunderbolt.

(Wisdom Without Words,Sangharakshita,

1993) When the bell is used together with
the vajra, the vajra is thought to represent
the compassion of the Buddha, in this
case the masculine principle; and the bell
represents wisdom, or the female principle.
To achieve enlightenment, these two
principles must be combined. The bell may
be visualized as the Buddhas body, the
vajra visualized as his mind, and the sound
of the bell as Buddhas speech in teaching
of the dharma.
The Tantric path to Enlightenment

itself [has come] to be spoken of as the

Vajrayana, in other words the path or the
way or the vehicle of the vajra. So what does
this mean? It means the path of Reality. And
similarly with the vajra bell... It means that in
the Tantric ritual everything that you touch,
everything that you handle, everything that
you offer, everything that you do, is imbued
with this sense of Ultimate Reality. You
experience Ultimate Reality as existing in
its very depth. You dont just touch a bell,
you touch the vajrabell. (The Symbolism of
the Sacred Thunderbolt, Sangharakshita)

Mark Haddon captures the voice,

insights, terrors and struggles of an
autistic boy so convincingly, we are left
wondering if perhaps he himself suffers
from autism. He does not. Yet he introduces
us to Christopher John Francis Boone, who
knows all the countries of the world, all
their capitals, and every prime number up
to 7,057. Without a computer. At times, it
is a difficult book to read as it requires us to
relax our grip on the world as we know it,
and open our minds and hearts to the very
different reality experienced by Christopher.
Yet it is a rare privilege to enter into the

mind of another, and living through the

mind of this boy is especially rewarding. It
inspires compassion and understanding; it
awakens kindness; it allows us to marvel at
a raw courage against almost inconceivable
odds.
Perhaps the Daily Telegraph says it best:
Beautifully written Heart-in-mouthstuff, terrifying and moving. Haddon is to
be congratulated for imagining a new kind
of hero, for the humbling instruction this
warm and often funny novel offers, and for
showing that the best lives are lived where
difference is cherished.

Book Review
By Samayadevi
The Curious Incident of the
Dog in the Night-time
Mark Haddon
Vintage Publications, 2003

It is often a challenge to find a novel that

inspires and challenges, a secular book
full of dharmic wisdom and compassion.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Night-time is such a book. Although it
could be labeled a detectivenovel, that
hardly covers its genre.

News from Nagaloka

By Gail Yahwek

color and the animal associated with each

Buddha. On the wall hung the sewing art
Greetings to all from Portland, Maine. work of our very creative Dharmasuri.
There has been a lot happening here at We were able to experience each Buddha
Nagaloka. We have just finished up our study through a meditation led by Dharmasure and
of the four Brahma Viharas. We spent two followed by a discussion of their aspects of
weeks each on mudita (sympathetic joy), enlightenment. Thank you, Dharmasuri.
karuna (compassion), metta (loving kindness),
Our Wednesday night sangha is just
and upeksha (equanimity). We practiced beginning the study of Vajraguptas
each meditation together, and then spent Buddhism, Tools for Living Your Life.
time sharing our experiences and discussing Linda started us off with a wonderful story of
how we could go deeper into each. Then we a tool box from her Dad which led us into a
talked about why this may be helpful in living heartfelt discussion of the tools we do need to
our lives and in our relationships with others. live the dharma. We are looking forward to
Dharmasuri led us in an advanced/mitra the self-reflection this book offers through its
study of the five Jinas. The shrine was many suggested exercises. Taking the time to
beautifully decorated in the representative look at our lives and how we really live them

can be a very revealing and intense learning

experience for all of us.
Anne Rugg has just begun leading
us in a 13-week advanced/mitra study of
Sangharakshitas What is the Dharma?. In
discussing the first chapter we really were able
to take a good look at causes and conditions
and how they affect our lives and if we really
use this concept in making our daily decisions.
Thank you so much to Anne for coming up to
us and sharing her time and experience!
Special thanks to Nancy for leading a
Parinirvana celebration in February, and to
Karunasara for leading a day retreat on living
and dying at the beginning of March. Thanks
also to Ross and John K. for beautifully
finishing our new library bookcase.

PAGE 

VAJRA BELL

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

Poetry Pages
Imagining the Shadow
by Laura Davies Foley

On the night of the eclipse

I burn my arm, second degree loss of skin
from boiling hot soup
and a blender over-filled. Earlier
in the grocery store
a jar of Pad Thai sauce drops
onto the concrete floor and smashes
as I am reaching for another.
The next day, in prison, B. comes stumbling in
for meditation. Usually bright and alert,
he says he feels limp, as mellow as jello.
His eyes look glazed and soft.
It must be the eclipse, I opine,
showing him my red and bandaged arm.
He tells me he saw it.
The guards let the men out into the yard,
so they could stare at the moon,
men and guards together
in the frigid night air.
Imagine them there.

Love in the Grocery Store

by Narottama

Behind a slow moving elderly pair

gray and bent in the bright flourescent aisle,
slowly shuffle the steps of age approaching.
My impatience irrupts, then checked
with knowledge that I am but few steps behind.
Softly speaking, silver cart used as a cane,
one leaning gently on the other then back again
they near the beeps of the voracious checkout
and gaudy bosoms and bare shoulders of magazines.
And though their faces are creased and lined
the earth drawing our bodies back to the beginning
I see that the woman holds that vital fount of life,
and his eyes this day still love.

Spring

by Sangharakshita
The quick sap rises in the dry stalk:
On naked boughs the furled green buds appear;
Returning swallows beat about
The clay-built house they left last year.
Earth smiles, and like an almond tree
The Bodhicitta flowers in me.
(Complete Poems 1941-1994, Windhorse Publications)

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

VAJRA BELL

PAGE 

Prison Chaplaincy

by Laura Davies Foley (Concord Sangha)

Walking into the prison I carry
an armload of books.
But I know
its not about the books.
Its about the doors clanging open,
and how they let us in.
from Laura Davis Foley (Concord sangha)

A Witness

by Laura Davies Foley (Concord Sangha)

Although it is cold and only three oclock
he rises from his cell.
The full moon shines on the razor wire,
the watch towers, the concrete yard.
He steps across the crusted snow
over ice fossilized into symmetrical lines of shape.
Remembers yesterdays contention
between legless inmate, wheels and slush,
a mosaic of struggle now hushed.
And he, a witness to icy elegance

India

India

Oh India, womb of my spirit,

the very dust of your pathways
sparkles with the dharma.

The birds sing dharma.

Many cultures, many expressions
One heart of love, one dharma

by Samayadevi

formed from broken earth--like him

in the frigid morning, luminous air.

DANA

Continued from Page 

the best of our individual circumstances.

Some people think, I volunteer my time,
so I dont need to give money or I give
money, so I dont have to volunteer. The
truth is we need both. Your monetary support
and volunteer help is greatly appreciated and
needed, regardless of size or frequency.
To all of you who make monthly dana
contributions in the Mandala of Supporting
Friends or a one-time donation, thank you!
If you havent yet felt the joy of sharing
your time and finances in supporting the
Center, please consider this opportunity to

by Sheila Groonell

Each day, each recommitment,

may I know and live this more.

deepen your practice of dana right here, right

now.Much thanks.

Aryaloka Mandala of Supporting Friends

This giving program is made up of donors

who make an annual pledge and contribute
donations monthly or otherwise to Aryaloka.
It is an increasingly popular way to give, since
most Mandala members opt to automatically
deduct funds from their credit card or
checking account. So easy and painless!
Its a win-win situation for everyone
because a steady stream of income helps the
Center pay for increasing operating, building

maintenance and infrastructure expenses. It

also allows us to offer a sliding scale for class
and retreat fees to those in financial need.
We currently have over 35 individuals
participating in the Mandala of Supporting
Friends! Last year, these generous donors
contributed over $19,000 to the Center. Their
dana helped make sure our programs continue
and grow, our buildings are maintained and
improved, and no one is turned away because
of an inability to pay. If you would like more
information on how to join the Mandala of
Supporting Friends, please call the office.
Please consider making Aryaloka part of
your estate planning. Thank you.

PAGE 10

VAJRA BELL

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

India: Nirvana in samsara, samsara in nirvana

By Sheila Groonell

Since returning home from India and

Dharamsala, this mantra has been running
through my mind, and for good reason.
India is a mystic stew: Sikhs, Jains,
Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sufis,
Hindus. Everything, they say, is Divinity to
be worshipped: the rats and the monkeys,
the stones and the trees. There is unending
poverty and unimaginedbeauty.Traffic - of
people, cars, motor taxis, pedal taxis, tuktuks, camels, donkeys, horses, elephants.It
never stops. Rather it moves in collection,
in swirls, amoeba-like. Change of traffic
direction is made not by lights - these are
mostly ignored. Rather, change of direction
happens when one being takes a step forward,
into the mass of oncoming traffic, providing
coverage and confidence for the person,
being, or vehicle beside them, who does
the same, until, stream-like, the direction of
movement is changed completely.
For me, India remains a swirl of
impressions: the sweep and color of saris,
the snarl and chaotic coil of electric lines in
Old Delhi bringing both power and death
irregularly.The riot of animal forms:brown
monkeys climbing all structures, roads and
trees; the black-faced monkeys outside our
Dharamsala home; steppe eagles flying
overhead as the Dalai Lama speaks; dogs
in the street - skinny in India, fatter in
Dharamsala. Cobras in baskets, peaceful
cows everywhere. Two-way streets - one
car wide - speed limit non-existent. The
constant blare of honking horns to announce
the drivers determination to persist in his
given direction despite the other drivers
intention to do the same. Just dont look!
And yet we are safe.Safe on the
roads.Safe in the tender care of Jasvir,
our Delhi guide.He, however, is not safe.
Jasvir, beautiful and young, BA in French
lit., MA in English lit., with a law degree,
is from the lowest caste.Jasvir married
a kshatriya woman whom he met in law
school. Together they fled their families
to avoid their being killed, he says, for the
transgression of caste rules. Could this be
true? This is true, says Shantum, our guide,
teacher, and friend in Dharamsala.They are

in mortal danger.How can this be?When

Samayadevi attends a wedding officiated
by the monk who made the movie The Cup,
the women guests introduce themselves as
Brahmins.
Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj seems
much more orderly, calm, peaceful.A
little like Berkeley, Amala had said. And
so it is. Travelers, drifters, from all over
the world, the young, the raggedy, the

vagabonds, the monks, the beggars, the

seekers, the well-heeled Buddhist tourists
like ourselves. The Buddhist community
in exile seems eminently competent in
almost all matters.They have established
a government in exile, with Ministries of
Finance, Health, Education, and Culture.
We meet with the Prime Minister of Tibet,
INDIA

Continued on Page 11

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

INDIA

Continued from Page 10

urbane, intelligent, witty, frank. He was

elected to his position by the Tibetans in
India. The Dalai Lama had been hoping
for a young woman, the PM said, but
all he got was this old monk.Easy, selfdeprecating humor seems a hallmark of the
exiled Tibetans in high position. He tells us
not to avoid Tibet, but to go to Tibet, to bring
publicity and awareness to what is happening
there. We tourists, he says, can help protect
Tibet with our presence.He tells us that the
Jews are their idols for having survived
in exile and to have thrived as a culture.He
tells us that China gaining most-favored
nation status is the triumph of economic
interests over human rights. How did I earn
the opportunity to be in the presence of such
a person as this, I wonder?
We meet with the Dalai Lamas brother,
Tenzin Choegyal, TC, Top Cat. TC had been
identified as a very high-up, reincarnated
tulku when he was two, maybe, but he
resigned at 8 or 10 because, he said,I felt
like a donkey in a tigers skin. Theres
that grace and humor again. He charms
us all utterly with his intelligence, insight,
humor, humility, vulnerability, pain and
compassion. Hes banged around the world
- hard it seems - in the US, in the army,
in service jobs. Hes not a fan of ritual or
formality, but weaves dharma into every
sentence. I think its all about being kind,
dont you??? he asks.He thinks there
should be a universal AA for Afflictive
Emotions.We swoon in agreement.
Then we meet his wife, Rinchen
Khando Choegyal.Gorgeous, regal, warm,
intelligent,
hard-working,
financially
competent, she runs the guest home where
we stay.She has also been a teacher, a health
worker, a government minister for two terms,
and a Dharamsala representative.She has a
portrait of the Dalai Lamas mother hanging
in her office at Dolma Ling. We meet with her
there. Recognizing the need to educate the
largely illiterate female Tibetan population,
she dreamed of, initiated, arranged financing

VAJRA BELL

for, built, and now runs the Tibetan Nuns

Project and its expansive, gorgeous temple,
monastery, and school campus at Sidhpur
(www.tnp.org).She recognized the desire
of nuns for full ordination and is working
to that end. She recognized their desire for
PhD level education and is expanding the
nuns program to that end.She believes that
ordination should allow nuns to switch from
the robed life to the worldly life, to expand
their fields of service, to be teachers and
health providers. She is working to provide
them with the required training.She is
clearly a force of nature. (P.S. - Women can
go on independent retreat at Dolma Ling.)
For twelve days the Dalai Lama holds
teachings at the Tsulakhang, the compound
around his monastery. The compound
itself is a complex of temples, bookstores,
residences, dormitories, libraries, bathrooms,
knick-knack and souvenir shops, food carts
and charity hawkers. Before entering the
Temple Courtyard where the teachings are
held, we are scanned and frisked.Bags are
checked. Cell phones, cameras, explosives,
guns, and knives are banned because of an
incident a few years back.Finally we are
in the teaching courtyard. Here is the Dalai
Lama. Each day of teaching he crosses the
100-yard courtyard from his residence to the
seat in the temple from which he addresses
us. He is escorted by robed monks, young
and old; one woman; and sharp-eyed Indian
soldiers with AK-47s.The first day, he,
laughing uproariously, passes about 10
feet from us. He is pounding the back of
the old monk in front of him who is also
doubled over with laughter. The crowd
is distributed about the courtyard, on side
porches, on balconies, in various floors of
the open sided temples which surround
the courtyard.We have been told to bring
FM receivers.Each language group receives
its simultaneous translation on different
FM stations. The image of the Dalai Lama
appears on wide-screen HD TV for those
who cant see him directly.This is a techsavvy lot.
We have received copies of the Tibetan

PAGE 11

Dhammapada and the Jataka Tales in

preparation and the Dalai Lama reads fast
from these tests. Very fast.So fast that I
can hear, but not process, the translators
words. Each day is similar. Once in a while,
the Dalai Lama stops to give a short talk.
Invariably he speaks lovingly and urgently
of basics: the need for kindness, love,
compassion, generosity.His readings from
the Jataka Tales are startling descriptions
of the Buddhas complete self-sacrifice in
previous lives. For sure, the Dalai Lama
is not talking about Kindness Lite!I
try very hard to follow the readings but
comprehension is swept aside by the speed.
My mind is cut loose. I am saved, though, by
the transcendent sight of the steppe eagles,
wheeling and soaring above the courtyard.
I soar with them and am reassured of living
the Buddhas message of interbeing for
glorious moments.
Outside the courtyard, there are
monks, tourists, beggars, and hawkers
everywhere.Open wounds on twisted limbs.
Each day a cobbler rolls out his blanket of
tools in the same spot. Each day he works
hard. Mothers and barely clothed babies beg
on sidewalks.
Then I notice many of these people do
not seem Tibetan, but Indian, in saris, in
rags with nose rings.Days later I notice
the workers, providing stoop labor, picking
and shoveling out the foundation of a new
building outside the Tibetan Government
Archives and Library.They seem to be all
Indians. Could it be?
Despite all the pain and poverty, I sense
no aggression. No blame.I am amazed and
then remember the paroxysms of violence
that erupt between Hindu and Muslim, and
Hindu and Sikh. How can it be, I wonder?
Nirvana in Samsara.Samsara in Nirvana.
The impressions float freely.They swirl with
no fixed form. I know that the importance of
kindness, compassion, patience, gratitude,
forgiveness and generosity are stronger in
me now. I know I love India, for what it is,
and for what it has offered the Tibetans
and me.

For Your Information ...

FWBO Centers in the U.S. - Newmarket, NH; Portland, ME; Belfast, ME; Lubec, ME; Somerville, MA; New
York City, NY; Missoula, MT; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; Richland, WA.

PAGE 12

VAJRA BELL

AKSHOBHYA

Continued from Page 

golden vajra upright in his left palm while the

right reaches down, palm facing inwardin
the earth touching mudra.Akshobhyas
smile radiates an all-knowing wisdom that
can transform ignorance intocomplete
understanding.
His blue-black hair is tied with a topknot,
while his head is surrounded by a splendid
green halo.There is also a silver-red halo
around his body.The soft blue light that
emanates from his heart is the seed symbol
HUM, the symbol of the integration of the
individual with the universe.Chanting his
mantra OM VAJRA AKSHOBHYA HUM
is like an elephants step; it is really there,
slow and steady like the beat of a drum.
Akshobhya means unshakeable or
imperturbable.He appears confident and
composed.Touching the earth symbolizes
his call to the Earth Goddess to be his
witness at the time the Buddha gained
Enlightenment under the bodhi tree.
That was when Mara ordeathcame
to distract the Buddha in order to keep
him bound to his earthly existence.Mara
represents the evil that challenges us.The
Buddha turned the arrows thrown at him
into flower petals.He was not seduced by
Maras beautiful daughters.Finally Mara
asked the Buddha, What gives you the right
to sit upon the very same spot where other
Buddhas have gained Enlightenment?The
Buddha replied that it was because of his
practice of generosity, ethical discipline
and many other spiritual practicesover
aeons.When Mara asked for proof, the
Buddha gently and confidently touched
the earth to call on Mother Goddess,
Vasudhara.She appeared and claimed to be
the witness of the Buddhas perfections. The
Buddha gained Enlightenment and Mara
disappeared.
It was through meditative concentration
that the Buddha was able to move beyond
Maras evil forces.The Buddha-to-be
showed us a great amount of determination.
We can compare Maras negative actions to
our own destructive thoughts and actions,
and the Earth Goddess as the positive force
to overcome them.
Meeting this image of Akshobhya in
a reflective meditation can compare to
meeting someone new.By being open

There is the Mirror-like

Wisdom, or, we may say,
objective Wisdom, which is
associated with Aksobhya,
the dark blue Buddha, the
Buddha of the east. It is
the Wisdom that merely,
that simply, reflects. It sees
everything, just like a mirror
reflecting all forms, but
it sees, just as the mirror
reflects, things as they are
- there is no distortion.
The surface of the mirror
is perfectly flat, perfectly
smooth, flawless, theres no
distortion in the reflection,
and the reflections come
and go - the mirror doesnt
hang onto the reflections,
they dont stick - so the
Mirror-like Wisdom is like
that, it sees everything
perfectly, clearly, objectively,
and is attached to nothing.
- The Symbolism of
the Sacred Thunderbolt,
Sangharakshita
we take an interest in getting to know this
new individual with curiosity and with
full attentiveness.With mindfulness to
the present moment we can experience the
likeness of character we may share, and
we may aspire to gain the qualities this
individual represents.We may also be aware
of the arising of an emotional response in the
presence of our new friend.
Akshobhyas animal is the remarkable
elephant.The elephant is the biggest and
strongest land animal.They are wise and
you cant push them around!They place
one foot after another upon the earth with
unshakeable certainty.
Akshobhya is the head of a spiritual
family which is called the Vajra family.This

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

family includes Kshitigarbha, Maitreya, and

Vajrasatva.Akshobhya holds a diamond
vajra standing upright in his left palm.The
vajra, the sacred thunderbolt, symbolizes
sovereignty.It is as strong as a diamond
and is an irresistible force.It is a symbol
of Reality because it is able to cut through
everything mundane and transform it.
Akshobhya is associated with the
element water.Blue is the color of water.
The calm, still water reflects images that
surround it like a mirror.This highly
developed wisdom is known as mirrorlike wisdom.Like a mirror we see things
as they actually are without adding into the
mix our own perceptions or judgments.The
mirror stands imperturbable whether the
circumstances are favorable or unfavorable
to us.We can stand, too, with confidence
and a clear mind.In the same way, our minds
are able to reflect on our true experience
like a mirror reflecting on an image.This
represents clarity in thinking as we gain
freedom from wrong views.From this, faith
and confidence arise.
In the six realms from the Tibetan wheel
of life, Akshobhya is in the hell realm helping
those beings that create their experience
through hatred and anger.By focusing on
Akshobhya we can transform the poisons of
hatred and aggression into clear mirror-like
wisdom.The poisons can be dissolved by
transforming them into energy that is used to
destroy obstacles that get in our way along
the path to Enlightenment.
Another way to encounter Akshobhya
is by meditating on shunyata or
emptiness.Buddhism denies the solid,
fixed existence or nature that we perceive as
real.As we are able to see that everything
is fleeting and changing, we lessen our hold
on our concepts.We begin to believe more
in our experiences and lessinconcepts, like
the reflections in a mirror.
I will finish with a brief look at the some
of remaining aspects of Akshobhya. He is
associated with rupa {form), one of the five
skandhas {aggregates) as depicted in the
Heart Sutra.Akshobhya is associated with
the heart chakra, from which feelings of love
and compassion emanate.The heart chakra
is where we connect with others with positive
energy. Locana The Clear-Visioned One is
AKSHOBHYA

Continued on Page 13

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

VAJRA BELL

Living the Dharma

How one Buddhists career and practice intertwine
By Dr. David Johnson

My medical and Buddhist practices

are interconnected. The iissues of
compassion, suffering and change are
importantaspects ofmedicine. As with
the rest of life, weeach experience them in
our own way. For me, it is simple to have
compassion for the seriously injured or ill
person who is suffering physically and who
gratefully accepts my efforts. People who
are often labelled as habitual abusers of
the system, who are surly, demanding and
unappreciative offer me a more daunting
challenge. But do they deserve any less
of my time and compassion? Why should
it make a difference? I can get a heady,
ego-boosting sense of accomplishment
when I make a difficult diagnosis or
satisfactorily relieve someones physical
pain. But frustration, self-recrimination
and even despair follow me when I

err,and sometimesmore so if someone

else solvesthe problem that I could not. Is
my joy more focused on my success and
not on the relief on anothers suffering?
How unskillful it is to be so self-absorbed
with my failure while my patient continues
to suffer from pain or improves because
of someone elses expertise. I crave, I
suffer.
What I do is who I become. As a
healer I suffer when I am unkind, distant,
impatient or otherwise unskillful. For
the rest of the day (or longer), I am either
distracted with regret for my behaviour or,
if unaware, my behaviour continues. But
then a patient will see my struggles and
efforts and buoy me withher kindness
even asshe enduresher own suffering.
The healer becomes the patient; the full
cycle.
In the end, doctor and patient are
interconnected.

AKSHOBHYA

Continued from Page 12

his consort.
Aksobhyas paradise, or Pureland, is
Abhirati, the land of great delight.Abhirati is
a very beautiful and rich land.We can enter
his Purelandby following the bodhisattva
ideal and engaging in the transference of
merit.
Perhaps you have encountered a
little stirring up of your emotions as you
have read this description of Aksobhyas
appearance and qualities.Remember that
Akshobhya is Enlightened, so he inspires us
to grow and develop in our practice towards
Enlightenment.His work is to engage us
with his positive qualities and his wisdom as
he teaches us the Dharma.We may connect
to certain aspects but not to others.That is
okay.Be open to the symbols and colors.
Aksobhya helps us to connect to the
beauty of nature. As you look at the trees,
flowers, lakes and everything else in nature
there is an impression left on us of beauty.A
beauty that is beyond words.

LOCANA

PAGE 13

Dont miss it!

June 14:
Dhardo Rinpoche
Celebration
Dhardo Rinpoche holds a special place in
the FWBO.AGelugpa lama, Dhardo Rinpoche
and Sangharakshita travelled together on a
pilgrimage in India and became close friends.
Bhante was given the Bodhisattva ordination
from him, as well as the White Tara longlife initiation. They went on to work together
on a variety of different Buddhist projects
in Kalimpong. In Precious Teachers, Bhante
writes: Above all, I saw how uniformly kind
he was, how unfailingly mindful. (pg 32 and
35). Dhardo Rinpoche has said of Bhante that
he learned from him that one could teach the
Dharma in the context of friendship. Watch
the Aryaloka website (www.aryaloka.org) for
more details on the celebration!

Locanas mantra is om va jra lo ca

ne lom sv h. Chanting the mantra
clothing and jewels. Her right hand, in evokes the qualities of her enlightened
the earth-touching mudra (a gesture of awareness.
By chanting Locanas mantra,
resolve, a vow to be steadfast), holds a
visualizing
her form and recalling her
golden vajra. The vajra represents the
qualities
you
may find inspiration and a
indestructible diamond thunderbolt, a
desire
to
move
toward greater wisdom
symbol of reality and compassionate,
and
compassion,
toward the mirror-like
skillful action. Her left hand, palm open at
wisdom
she
embodies.
her heart, holds a Vajra Bell that contains
You can learn more about Locana
the face of Prajnaparamita, the Perfection
and
the other female prajna Buddhas
of Wisdom Goddess.
in
Dharmachari
Vessantaras books
Locanas beautiful eyes see things
Female
Deities
in
Buddhism and The
as they really are. Her long black hair is
Five
Female
Buddhas,
a commentary
partially drawn up into a topknot that holds
on
their
sadhanas
and
pujas.
Listen to
a small dark blue figure of Akshobya. She
Vessantara
chant
Locanas
mantra
on
wears a crown of five jewels representing
www.freebuddhistaudio.com/talks/
the five female Buddhas, the five Prajnas
(Locana, Mamaki, Pandaravasini, Green details?num=OM678. Take a look
at his website: vessantara.net/home/
Tara and Akashadhatvishvari).
projects/female-buddhas.
In addition,
Her seed syllable LOM is at her heart.
Dharmachari
Jayaravas
website
contains
Auras of light that surround her body
his
calligraphy
of
seed
syllables
and
represent the merits attained by practicing
mantras
at:
visiblemantra.org/locana/
the perfections of giving, ethics, patience,
html.
energy, meditation and wisdom.

Continued from Page 

PAGE 14

VAJRA BELL

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

Puja nights are a chance to connect

By Stephen Sloan
Buddhist devotional ritual, or puja,
is only one of many methods of spiritual
practice which address the problem of how
to engage our emotions with the spiritual
life... Through ritual expression, not only
do we externalize and make conscious our
deep spiritual feelings; we also strengthen
and intensify them. This touches on
another reason why quite a lot of people
feel hesitant about expressing themselves
through ritual speech and action. They
are simply not sure about the feelings
themselves. Perhaps in the case of many
of us, our devotional feelings are still quite
underdeveloped. It is a big step to put our
trust in these feelings, to give them space
to grow and to exert their influence on

IN-SITE

Continued from Page 

Their wonderful blog is filled with

articles, book reviews, news on the latest
Buddhism-related stories from around the
world and anything else that doesnt fit
neatly into the main sites information.
They provide a free newsletter that sends
updates on this material to your e-mail
address.
Donations to Wildmind keep it all up
and running, but also go towards valuable
prison outreach programs and translation
of the materials into many languages. Your
dana will be much appreciated. Enjoy!
http://www.savetibet.org
The Campaign for Tibet is a site
approved by the Dalai Lama .... their letters
come with a note from him encouraging
up to be aware of the site and perhaps to
consider supporting it.

If we cant connect to our

practice with our heart, we
will gain little benefit.

our conscious lives. Ritual and Devotion

Sangharakshita 1995
In the quote above, Bhante addresses
not only one of the many reasons to engage
in puja but also one of the reservations that
keep many of us from connecting with the
practice of puja. Ultimately, no matter how
well we may know Buddhist scripture and
understand the way laid out in the Dharma,
if we cant connect to our practice with our
heart, we will gain little benefit. On the

Nova program, the Lost Treasures of Tibet

(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tibet/
),can help us to keep in touch with that
ancient heritage. The program is centered
around an effort to restore ninepaintings
in the Thubchen monastery in the
kingdom of Mustang, which is part of
modern Nepal, but has a long connection
with Tibetan culture. When the restorers
arrived to look at the paintings, they
found a single woman dressed in black
who each day braved the deteriorating
conditions to light a single butter lamp
in honor of the images of theBuddha and
the Bodhisattvas in the temple. At the end
of the restoration process, the cameras
capture a ceremony where 10,000 butter
lamps were lighted. This show (which
can be watched online) is inspirational on
many levels. And the rest of the web site
can giveone an idea of what life had been
like for the Tibetan people for hundreds of
years before the takeover by the Chinese
in 1950.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tibet
The recent events in Tibet have
highlighted the loss of centuries of
Buddhist traditions within their Tibetan
context. The web site built aroundPBSs

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229

TED (Technology, Entertainment,

Design) is an annual conference
highlighting some of the greatest ideas

other hand, when we allow our devotional

feelings to fuel our practice, the benefits
can be striking.
Here at Aryaloka there is the opportunity
to engage in puja on a regular basis. On the
Tuesday nearest to the full moon, puja is
offered during our regular sangha night
activities in place of meditation. On most
Friday evenings, meditation and puja is
offered to anyone wishing to attend, either
in the main shrine room in Aryaloka, or
in Akashaloka in a smaller but intimate
shrine room on the top floor. Please join
us. For those new to puja it is a chance to
deepen your practice. For those who may
be familiar with puja but arent regular
practitioners, its a way to learn to let
devotional feelings exert their influence
on our conscious lives.

and minds of our time. The conference has

a mirror website that is in itself amazing
(www.ted.com), with over 200 of its best
speeches available for free online as video
downloads. One speech in particular has
been making its way around the Aryaloka
circuit, and if you havent seen it, take
some time to watch. The site summarizes
it like this:
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 her brain
functions slip away one by one, speech,
movement, understanding -- she studied
and remembered every moment. This is
a powerful story about how our brains
define us and connect us to the world and
to one another.
The speech is about much more than
the nuts and bolts of the mind, it is about
the researchers experience of what
she could only label as nirvana as her
perception lost all sense of separation
between self and other. From the
Buddhists perspective, her description
of the minds involvement in constructing
our feelings of separateness is fascinating
and informative.

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

VAJRA BELL

PAGE 15

Family overnight a hit at Aryaloka

By Megrette Fletcher (Hammond)

From Saturday eveningto Sunday noontime duringthe February school

vacation, a small group of children aged 5-11 were formally introduced to
the Dharma atthe Aryaloka BuddhistRetreat Center. Entering the shrine
room, these curiousyoungsters started to explore the purpose of meditation,
different sitting positions, making offerings, and sharing Buddhist stories.
Each parent had a chance to connect withall of the children, sharing
with them how theDharma has opened the parents thoughts and
hearts.Other activitiesincluded visiting outside
shrines, yoga, coloring Buddhist images, and
reading stories. These were woven into more
traditionalkidplay like coloring, sledding,
and sharing a snack. The parents also had a
chance to talk with each other about how they
would like to share theBuddhas teachingswith
theirchildren. Parents acknowledge that there
isntany one way to introduce theDharma
toyoungsters,but whatever way is used
-includingincorporating curiosity -creativity
and fun are importantstrategies to include.
The emphasis on spiritual friendship that is central to the FWBO was
also considered when planning this mini-retreat.The overall structure was
purposely left flexible in order to encourage the growth and development
of free play and connectionsamong the children.
After the event, each youngster wasgiven an opportunity to offer
feedback. The older children were interested in more formal instruction
in meditation and more chances to work together. Parents thought a
walking meditation with chanting mightbe good for the younger kids. All
thechildren wanted to return to Aryaloka. When asked why, the answer
wasan enthusiastic:It is just really fun to be here!

SANGHA NOTES

New treads have recently been installed

on many of our staircases thank you to
but we hope youll consider attending Brian Sullivan and Steve Cardwell
the one on July 18-19. The sangha at The annual meeting of the sangha with
the prison is a dedicated one and very the Aryaloka Council will be a brunch
appreciative of visitors from Aryaloka. this year. Join us on Sunday, April 13
Contact Bodhana and see the bulletin from 10 a.m. to 12 noon to learn more
board at the bottom of the stairs for about what has happened here at the
more details and an application. A Center over the past year and what plans
four-part seminar for those interested are for the future. Bring questions!
in learning more about how to teach Our Friday evening meditation and
the Dharma has just concluded. The puja sessions have resumed. Join us
enthusiastic participants plan to have from 7-9 p.m. on April 4, 11, 18, and
one or more follow-up meetings, and 25; May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; June 6, 13, 20,
some hope to begin/continue supporting 27. Other dates will be scheduled from
such Aryaloka offerings as Intro Days/ July on. Please check the poster in the
Evenings, Tuesday night classes, mitra lobby for locations Many thanks to
classes, and long and short retreats the sangha members who participated on
Continued from Page 

the social action panel on the evening

of March 4. The following people each
talked a bit about their specific area
of interest and how it relates to their
practice i.e., putting the Dharma into
action: Marianne Hannagan child
advocacy, Lori Siebert African aid,
Bodhipaksa adoption, Nina Jordan
civil rights and the NAACP, Dino
Papvasiliou media, and Bodhana
volunteering in prisons. Sadhu,
everyone! Dont forget our annual
WESAK festival on the afternoon of
May 18. More details comingFinally,
our Womens Holistic Health Day will
be held on May 10 this year. Think
about coming for this day of relaxation
and rejuvenation!

PAGE 16

VAJRA BELL

VOLUME 6, ISSUE II

Upcoming Events
(Akasaloka events are listed in italics)
APRIL
16
18
18-20
23
25
30

Intro evening
Meditation and Puja
Retreat on Engaged Buddhism
Intro evening
Meditation and Puja
Intro evening

MAY
1-4
2
3

7
9
10
14
16
17

Yoga and meditation retreat

Meditation and Puja
Intermediate Workshop on Metta Bhavana
- Sunada
Intro evening
Meditation and Puja
Womens Holistic Health Day
Intro evening
Meditation and Puja
WORK DAY

17
18
18
23
30
30-31

Intro Day, 10-4

Council 10-12
Wesak p.m.
Meditation and Puja
Meditation and Puja
Avalokitesvara retreat - Surakshita

JUNE
1
6
7
8
13
14
14
14-15
19
22
27
29

Avalokitesvara retreat continues

Meditation and Puja
Devotion Day
Order Day
Meditation and Puja
Intro Day (building TBA)
Dhardo Rinpoche celebration (building TBA)
Council overnight, begins at 6 p.m.
Meditation and Puja
Meditation retreat
Meditation and Puja
Womens GFR overnight

Ongoing
Sangha Night at Aryaloka

Friday Night Puja

The rich devotional practice of meditation and puja is

shared most Friday nights by those who find devotion an
important part of their practice.

Every Tuesday evening, 7:00-9:15 p.m.

Led by Amala and Khemavassika
Open to all who have attended an
introductory class at Aryaloka
Fee: Suggested donation $10 per class
No registration necessary

Typically, our Tuesday night activities include:

7:00 - Gathering, tea and announcements

7:15 - Meditation and shrine room activity
8:00 - Study, discussion or a talk on the evenings topic
9:15 - End

With all of the activities, you are free to participate or to

just sit and listen. Nothing is compulsory. If you have any
questions, please ask!

Friday evenings as scheduled. See the

Aryaloka web site for dates and locations.
7:00 p.m. meditation, followed by puja.

When we celebrate the Sevenfold Puja, which combines

faith and devotion with poetry and sometimes an element
of visual beauty, we find that our emotional energies are to
some extent refined. When this happens, it becomes possible
for the vision and insight of the higher thinking center to act
through these refined, sublimated emotional centers directly
on the moving center. In this way, the whole of life is completely transformed.
Sangharakshita ~ Ritual and Devotion