We promised to do a follow-up on the Money Email Class but recent events have eclipsed the focus on money. The significant takeaway from the class for many is encouragement to cultivate the attitude of “having more,” to be more focused on abundance rather than deprivation, and to find out how to harness what we love to have more. When we aren’t in a contracted ego place, we open up to possibility. A beautiful example of this is the recent Bridge Walk campaign in which, as a way to generate donations, a dozen people took on the challenge of harnessing their love of the community of Kantolomba and the passion they have. People created greeting cards and sold them at a craft fair; taught classes on movement, art and writing; and walked across the bridge in their neighborhood. Between them they generated a third of the funds needed for the coming year. This is the most successful alternative to our previous Golden Gate Bridge Walk we’ve had to date. Every single participant had to go beyond fear, resistance and ego voices to make this a success.
We’ve realized this is a great way to stay engaged, positive and focused on being the change in the world we want to be. So, we will begin a new stewardship program this year to provide stewards for the Africa project. Everyone committing to being a Bridge to Africa steward will sign on to hold an event or create a project to put into action the principle of having more. The possibility in this is to pursue an interest and find a way to engage others. Becoming a source of income for one’s self (a portion of which can go to support a charity which, of course, we would like to be Kantolomba) is also a possible direction. This could happen any time of year.
Those interested are invited to sign up and make a commitment, not to go for a particular outcome but to go beyond what stops you from having Life’s “more.” Support will be offered, as always. Stay tuned for more details on this program, but if you are inspired, sign up today!
Why are we taking this route, you might wonder. This Sangha is incredibly generous. Without the participation and generosity of Sangha there wouldn’t be a Sangha or a project in Kantolomba. And, what we don’t want to do is to keep tapping Sangha to support more and more. Fundraisers focused on Sangha, even those offered by Sangha, can leave folks feeling “dunned” beyond their limits. Taking on activities that reach out beyond Sangha, not only do we find new sources of support, new people get to learn about the Africa project. Often those people feel inspired and eager to support. An excellent way to practice being Love in Action.
The Yearlong Retreat will end in less than a month. In the past we’ve simply shut down through the holidays. My little joke has always been “there are few things less in demand during Christmas and Hanukkah than a Buddhist.” However, for much of Sangha this is far from a usual year and even with all the gatherings and celebrations, perhaps because of the gatherings and celebrations, there is fear and depression about the future. We’ve been looking at how we can offer support to stay focused on here, on where we are now, rather than being pulled off into imaginary futures presented by fear-mongering voices in conditioned mind. How can we remain squarely in thisherenow, attentive and aware, choosing to be the unconditional love, acceptance and compassion we want for the world? As we well know, that’s a big task in the best of times, and these don’t look, for a lot of folks, like the best of times.
We began with Gandhi, and as people have been reading What I Believe by Leo Tolstoy we’ve had two Sunday workshops processing what we saw in the film about Gandhi and exploring what we see as evil.
This coming Sunday, Nov. 24, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Pacific, we look at Love. All are welcome to join in. An email with details on signing up and calling in has been sent out.
We’re endeavoring to have some sort of practice activity available through the holidays and the month of January. We’re planning an email class for February, but realistically much might have changed for all of us by then. We have a tentative plan, an idea, and we’ll all need to stay tuned for pivoting and punting. Yes, that’s always the case and, again, for a lot of folks the stakes don’t seem so high during “regular” times. The stakes are as high; they just don’t feel like it. All that to say: More soon.
We’ve achieved another milestone in the ebooks department. What You Practice Is What You Have is now available as an ebook on keepitsimple.org.
Everything in these parts is buttoned up for the change of season. The Gazebo is secured. We know this because we’ve had some wicked winds and all sides stayed on the building. With some heaters and lanterns for light, and loveliness, we’re ready for some good winter practice.
Speaking of good winter practice, I’ve renewed my relationship with my old friend Ryokan. Short cold days and long cold nights always make me think of how contented he seemed to be in his various huts. Each time I consider what it would be like to leave my little bunker, not just for a trip to the bathhouse, but to walk down to town to beg for food, I’m inspired to have a more sincere practice. One of his poems reads:
Undisturbed by the affairs of the world I live at ease,
Woodsmen’s singing rarely reaching me through the trees.
While the sun stays in the sky, I mend my torn clothes,
And facing the moon, I read holy texts aloud to myself.
Let me drop a word of advice for believers of my faith.
To enjoy life’s immensity, you do not need many things.
In gasshō,
ch