Categories: articles buddhism

    Deepening refuge

    by Kaspa

    We come to rely on our spiritual communities. When big changes happen that can be very jangling in all sorts of ways, and it also presents an opportunity to deepen our spiritual practice.

    Earlier this year Satya and I told you that we would be moving out of the temple some time this year, and handing over day to day running to a team of stewards. Some of you have heard about the many, many houses we’ve looked at in our search for a new home. Not having somewhere to move to yet has left us with a feeling of uncertainty, and maybe you as well. When will the hand over actually happen?

    Our move will almost certainly be in the autumn – maybe September, maybe December…

    But I want to recognise that living with the unknown in that way can be stirring for the whole community, and anticipating this kind of change can be stirring as well. Some of you may be anxious about what the future holds, some of you may be itching for us to go so you can get started with the new phase. Some of you may be angry we are leaving; some of you may be relieved.  Some of you will be pleased that we are choosing to act in a way that is good for us and congruent with our needs. Some of you may feel that us choosing in this way gives permission for you to choose things in your own life.

    You may be feeling all of these things at different times.

    Some of these feelings may be extra-charged as the changes echo situations from your own personal history. We all bring our own stuff from the past to whatever is going on in the present.

    Some of these feelings you may feel comfortable expressing to us. Some you may share with each other. Some of these feelings may occasionally leak out, or colour your mood and reactions in daily life.

    All of these reactions are understandable.

    I am confident that whatever unfolds here will be good for the temple. Satya and I will have energy freed up to offer new things and follow our where our enthusiasm takes us. There will be an injection of new energy into the daily life of the temple.

    There will probably be bumps along the way, but we’ll all learn together and make progress.

    In Wednesday’s practice session Satya, inspired by Kiyozawa Manshi, reminded us that it is taking refuge in the Infinite that relieves suffering.

    It’s tempting to take refuge in Buddhist teachers, and Buddhist temples and communities. And while these are all good things to have confidence in, ultimately we should treat them as sign-posting our true refuge – Amida Buddha – and not as the true refuge themselves.

    Going through times of change offers us a great opportunity to deepen our sense of refuge in the infinite.

    Here we are, human beings with all of our reactions and feelings – and here is the infinite love and compassion of Amida Buddha. What a gift!

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    About the Author

    Kaspalita Thompson ()

    Website: http://www.kaspathompson.co.uk

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