New Camas/Vancouver Meditation Location from May 8th 2011!

Hi all,

I am delighted to tell you that Tenaya and VeAnne, the owners of the Breathe Yoga and Massage Studio in East Vancouver, have generously offered us the use of their space for meditation on Sunday evenings. I visited the space yesterday and it is truly beautiful, has great energy, and will be a perfect place for us to continue our practice.

The studio is very conveniently located at 17030 SE 1st Street, Suite 102, Vancouver WA 98684. You can see a map and more details about the other services Breathe offers at their website: http://www.breatheyogavancouver.com/contact-us

Here are the details: We will meet one last time at my house next week, May 1st. Then from May 8th onwards we will meet weekly Sunday evenings at Breathe yoga from 7 until 8:30ish.

We will continue to center our meditation around Metta/Lovingkindness practice, but as we are once again weekly we will also include some other forms. As always, all meditation sessions will be free, open to all and suitable for beginners. This is a great opportunity to invite new friends and family who may be interested in starting a practice, so feel free to let others know about this. Also, my mailing list isn't necessarily 100% up to date, so please spread the word!

There will be a small number of cushions, mats or chairs available -- but if you have your own then it will be a great help if you can bring them.

Please join me in Gassho/Namaste to thank Tenaya and VeAnne for their generosity. And thanks to all of you for your support during this transition period.

     Metta, Chris.

Message About Important Changes

Greetings All,

I hope that you are all well and happy. I want to inform you of some major changes in the meditation group.

From now on the meditation on a Sunday night at Rushing Water Yoga will change to be led by Paul Cheek, the studio owner. Here is his description of what will be offered:

The format will change to chanting from 7-7:30 and meditation from 7:30 -8.  People can come to one or both of the practices.  The meditation will be in the Yogic tradition - similar to what the Buddhists call "mind like sky."  So in other words it will be just sitting.  Donations will be accepted for the Inter Faith Treasure House, the Living Yoga Program or the YWCA's Safe Choice program.

The offering will continue to be free. Please consider supporting Paul as he sets this new practice up.

For my part, I would like to continue to offer a vipassana based practice for those who wish to join me. I am still working through options, but for now I have decided that I will offer a monthly metta meditation at my house on the first Sunday of every month. I know that my place is a bit of a trek for some of you, which is why I have decided to start monthly and extend the length of the sit. I have felt for a while that it would be nice to meditate for longer and get a little deeper, and I think that this will give us the opportunity to do so.

The first Monthly Metta Meet (MMM?) will be on Sunday, March 6th 2011 From 7pm to 9pm. Those who wish to stay after for tea and chat will be free to do so. I will kick any stragglers out at 10. If you have a cushion then please bring it, but if not I will have a few spares and there are always the comfy chairs :)

Please email me chris (_at_) cjrobson.com for further details and the location.

Latest NW Dharma News

For news about what is going on in the local Buddhist community check out the September/October issue of the Northwest Dharma News.

Jill Bolte Taylor: My stroke of insight

This video (about 18 minutes long) is a 'must see' for all meditators. I'm not going to comment much about it -- it speaks for itself.
Chris

Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: She had a massive stroke, and watched as her brain functions -- motion, speech, self-awareness –- shut down one by one. An astonishing story.

If the embedded video above doesn't work for you, you can click on this link.

The Three Excellences

Update: If you would like to learn more about the three excellences, then you can read more and follow along with a fully guided meditation on the Dedication of Merit here.

The three ‘excellences’ (sometimes ‘supremes’, excellencies or ‘frames’) give us a framework in which to place our meditation practice. As a basic framework it is very simple, it just says that we should develop a ‘perfect’, ‘virtuous’ or ‘supreme’ beginning, middle and end to our practice.

The perfect beginning is to start with the Supreme Preparation by developing Bodhicitta. Bodhicitta translates as awakened heart-mind. We develop an awakened heart by practicing the four ‘immeasurables’ of loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. Notice that this practice opens our hearts to others, the best way to prepare for meditation.

During our practice we are to develop Supreme Attitude towards it. The supreme attitude is that of non-attachment to results. For many people this appears counter-intuitive – we might have come to meditate to relax, calm our minds, lower our blood-pressure or become enlightened – surely we should keep our minds on the goal? The reality is that if we become attached to the outcome, our grasping keeps us from entering the space where any of these fruits might occur. Our attitude should therefore be of non-attachment to results, simply doing the practice because that is what we have committed to ourselves, not holding out for a particular outcome. Doing this is incredibly liberating, and allows us to deepen our practice without the stress or distraction of grasping for specific results.

The final stage of our practice is the Supreme Conclusion – of giving away any merit or benefit we may have gained through this or any other practice. This underlines our non-attachment to results – if we have generated any result (‘merit’ as it is called in the writings), we selflessly offer it for the benefit of all living beings. There are many ways to do this, most traditions have a verse or chant for the dedication of merit. Here is a simple one that you can use in your practice:

May all beings — without limit, without end —
have a share in the merit just
now made,
and in whatever other merit I have made.
May they attain
liberation,
and their radiant hopes be fulfilled.

Incorporating the three excellences can greatly deepen your practice, focusing you on working for the well-being of all others, and liberating you from the stress of trying to ‘achieve something’ in your practice. Look outwards, let go and be generous – that is the most excellent way to practice.

Chris