Sunray Meditation Society’s Inspirational Messages Series
In this Issue:
Replacing Fear with Courage & Replacing Doubt with What We are Certain Of
by Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo
The Amazing Month of July 2020
Donation of Statues of Ksitigarbha,
Bodhisattva and Protector of the Earth
Community Resources:
Our Children During These Uncertain Times
by Renee Blanco-Fisher
The Big Question: HOW DO I GET MY KIDS TO FOCUS?
Learning Reimagined: Radical Thinking for Equitable Futures
For a New Beginning
by John O’Donohue
Turning to Each Other – We Are One With All Life
We know that the Sunray community and our friends are finding ways of connecting even though we find ourselves at this time in our homes, working at home, and even home-schooling our young ones. We’re learning to see the opportunity that’s presented in even this challenging and concerning moment for us. We have the opportunity to continue to deepen and expand our connections as a global community committed to peace, honoring Mother Earth, and creating positive futures for all living beings. We hope the messages we are sending through this channel will inspire you, and remind each of us we are not alone. We are together no matter the distance that physically separates us.
We welcome your feedback and any inspirations that you’d like to share…you can do so by going here.
Replacing Fear with Courage & Replacing Doubt with What We are Certain Of
Dear Community of Explorers,
I salute the light and wisdom that is you.
As we dance, move and live through these extraordinary times, let us remember that our response to appearances determines the outcome and the result. When we experience the incredible changes that are occurring in health and communities, many experience fear, and I’m reminded of an old Cherokee saying that the only thing people fear are loud noises and falling down. All other fears are postulations of the questions of “What if this?” and “What if that?”
The remedy is to think of the antidote. First, fear is to be recognized as an energy. That energy takes hold in the limbic system, belly, in the heart, and resonates with seeds of uncertainty echoing from past experience.
So when we see the vast changes, it appears many have lost the opportunity to generate sustenance, and many are losing their homes and becoming wanderers. The antidote to uncertainty is to reflect on what we know for sure.
We know for sure that each day the sun arises and sets, and that when we inhale, we exhale until the last breath. We know that the heroes we aspire to be are inseparable from the wisdom beings that we are. Just the power of imagination–if we engage it for the benefit of all sentient beings— transforms the ripples of dissonance, and supports the wisdom of family, clan and nations.
In a sense, fear can be an abdication of our spiritual authority. So when we see the changing views, the changing of economic markets, the changing of methods moving in the world, let our attention be on what has been accomplished that has expressed and nurtured joy and the ways in which our heart awareness brings forth deeper understanding.
For example, you may have been worried about your company closing, then you look within and recognize, I have prepared myself for this. How did you prepare yourself for change? Through contemplation, meditation, and investigation?
As belief systems unwind, I invite you to explore the courageous being that you aspire to be as inseparable from who you are. What was visualized in the architect’s mind is made manifest through the heart, mind and hand.
So what purpose does fear serve? It is to remind us that all appearances are energy, and nothing is fixed. What is important is that we don’t abdicate our spiritual authority, or acquiesce to the imposition of thought forms that impair the recognition of wisdom mind within. It is important that we don’t “bite the poison apple” of disharmony, divisiveness and fear.
All this is to say to you, today is a day we’ve practiced for so let our attention be upon the awakened wisdom heroes and ourselves as inseparable.
When thinking about “What if? What do we do next?” in earlier years in my life, the mantra, “Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha” literally swept away the cloud of uncertainty. It revealed the method of doing it now and analyzing what is beneficial for family, clan and nation.
Conceptualize yourself, family and loved ones as co-workers participating in luminous fields… in positive fields of positive activity. Like the dakinis’ laughter when we opened the door, they laugh as we choose which door to open. So the antidote to fear is at the Western door of Dancing Bear, of transformation, of Amitabha Buddha. It is the courage to experience and recognize the luminous potential of what was fear, inspiring to reveal skillful methods. There is no running from or towards fear. There is an awareness that energy in its open state can be compassionate and discerning wisdom.
Wishing to go back to the past and running towards the future, one may miss the joy and skills arising in the moment. So as we see great change and emotions flowing slowly like the wind, let us know as the winds blow and the waters flow, our voice and our emotions are part of the conversation. And so speaking words of love is the antidote, or as I found as a young mother, the mantra, “Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha.” This mantra swept away uncertainty of how to care for young children and transformed it into the recognition that all that was arising was opportunity to see more deeply and to embody the wisdom that is.
Let us replace the energy of fear with the mindfulness of the joy markers.
Be attentive to the joy markers in your life – what are the moments in which you understood something very well? What are the moments in which you accomplished your vision?
In this moment, we create a raft of understanding so that all who may be drowning in the sea of change will be carried to the shore, free from illusion.
Sincerely,
Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo
The Amazing Month of July 2020
Late June 2020 in Vermont was very warm. Lingering uncertainty and caution filled the air as the Governor of Vermont began to relax pandemic stay-at-home orders. Vermonters began to leave their homes and move around within their communities, but with great caution and complying with the Governor’s strict social distancing requirements.
At the Peace Village the Elders Gathering Planning Committee and the local Sunray community members began to tackle what at first seemed impossible: hosting a virtual 36th Annual Native American Elders Gathering, while the local community simultaneously carried out the traditional ceremonies at the Peace Village. As the date for Elders Gathering approached, the realization of the power of Sunray’s global community began to unfold.
The most magnificent manifestations of this unfolding came in the form of the global tech team that created the crystalline-like, digital structure that supported teachings from the Elders who came together to share their wisdom, the annual Bear Fox & Sisters concert, the previewing of the documentary film, One Word Sawalmem, the Ywahoo Lineage Healing Celebration, and three post-Elders Gathering workshops. In addition, the local community, while few in number, worked together and readied the Peace Village in beautiful ways for ceremony and celebration.
This year we had over 300 individuals who registered for the gathering. And each day we had approximately 180 people at one time attending the different sessions. This was by far the largest registration we’ve had for Elders Gathering, and it produce needed abundance to continue to support the Peace Village and Sunray’s mission.
Deep gratitude to Ven. Dhyani Ywahoo for calling the Elders together to share their wisdom with all who came, and to each person who contributed to making the 36th Elders Gathering such a blessing. All of this was achieved in a time of uncertainty, shifting times, and great change unfolding in the world. This is what we can do together for the benefit of all living beings!
Wado!
Elders Gathering Planning Committee
Donation of Statues of Ksitigarbha
Bodhisattva and Protector of the Earth
Sunray was blessed to receive two marble Ksitigarbha statutes that were donated to the Sunray Peace Village by Ven. Lama Konchok Sonam and his community, the Drikung Meditation Center in Arlington, MA USA. Sunray community members Julie James, Rev. Chonyi Richard Allen, and Lucie LeBlanc were instrumental in arranging for delivery and erecting of the statutes at the Peace Village in July just before the start of the 36th Elders Gathering.
Kṣitigarbha[1] is one of the great Bodhisattvas[2] in Mahayana Buddhism, and he is portrayed as a mendicant monk carrying the great beggar’s staff. His face is kind and gentle and unperturbable, with eyes half closed in contemplation as he is walking with his staff. Ksitigarbha is treasured and revered for his great vow to help all beings, in the here-and-now of our earthly realm, and that is why his name is called in time of Earthly disaster, tumult and suffering. He is the embodiment of the Earth-element based enlightened activity in our world now. He also represents the cultivation and growth of earthly crops, as well as our spiritual and dharma practices.
There could be no more befitting gift to the Peace Village, especially in the times we are living through, than these precious statutes of Ksitigarbha! We are grateful to Lama Sonam for his unwavering support of our community and recognition of our continual practices and prayers of peace, sent forth through the pristine water, land and ley lines within the Peace Village for the benefit of all beings.
You can listen to the chant of Ksitigarbha’s mantra here.
[1] Kṣitigarbha is known by many names —Sanskrit: क्षितिगर्भ Kṣitigarbha; Chinese: Dìzàng, 地藏; Tibetan: Sahi-sning-po; Japanese: Jizō Bosatsu; Korean: Chijang Posal; Mongol: Gachar-un Jiruken, Earth Treasury Bodhisattva (sometimes Earth Store or Earth Womb Bodhisattva). [2] In Buddhism, a great Bodhisattva is who is able to enter nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to help all suffering beings.
Community Resources: For Teachers and the Families Who Are Home-Schooling or Wanting to Reimagine Education
Our Children During These Uncertain Times
by Renee Blanco-Fisher
In today’s times, we simply cannot escape the exposure to toxic material. We can turn on the television, watch the news and it seems we never hear anything good. Our smart phones will “ping” with the latest news events. Social media may tell us the news, however, most likely with a twist; the start of a conspiracy theory. All these things create distractions and will even try to coax you to “believe” in some of these misrepresentations.
We as parents need to make sense of all this information. If this is not enough, we are responsible for ensuring that our child(ren) know the difference between real information and that which is solely theory with no proof. We are responsible for providing our children with the facts or how they can themselves find them. Our goal is for them to be able to form a responsible assessment and one that is supported with facts.
Being a mom to two children, ages 10 and 15, I have learned that being honest with them when they ask questions is the best approach. This may be difficult depending on their age. However, the truth is the best. For my younger child, I provide the facts with a limit. An example is when my daughter (10) asked me where babies come from. I explained the woman’s and man’s role in the process. This was appropriate in answering her question. If my son (15) asked the same question, the conversation would have expanded to include a conversation around precautions he would need to take around having sex and the outcomes if they were not taken, e.g., diseases, pregnancy.
You want your child(ren) to trust you early as a reliable source of truth and someone they can confide in. You want them to come to you for the information and not go somewhere else or to someone else who may influence them to follow through on actions that may not be the best outcome for your child. I remind my children that “Not everyone has the best intentions for YOU”, so be sure that they know all the information (facts) and are confident enough to make tough decisions.
We are all not experts in knowing all information, so I need to be able to know where I can get information. For me, it is important to provide information without bias. I want my children to be able to form their position on a topic and know where to obtain the facts, so they can discuss why they formed this position. To me, this is the greatest tool you can give your child(ren) and a valuable one. When they are in a situation that they do not know how to answer, they will be able to make sound decisions based on information. For those questions that they may have around news events in which they are trying to untangle the truth from theory, I have shared news media stations that provide the facts, like PBS or BBC, or online publications that can provide actual accounts of the history for why these issues may still exist today. I have guided my children to online encyclopedias, textbooks, and factual channels with a website, e.g., the History Channel.
The last item that ties all this together is providing my children with a foundation of ethical principles. This comes with providing them with a belief and/or faith. For me, we have a strong belief in a religion which we incorporate into their daily life with prayer, by attending church, and making sure that they understand the importance of having gratitude for their blessings, like food on the table. With the negative press or the impact of decisions made by our leaders, this foundation I know will ensure my children will be able to help those in need. An example I must share is that there are many people in our community who have lost their jobs and struggle to buy food. We have, as a family, made efforts to be sure we provide food to local churches and food banks that deliver this food to these homes.
As parents, we are responsible for providing our child(ren) with the ability to form objective opinions centered on fact-based information and principles. We want them to be able to go out in the world and continue being a positive force which will not allow the continuance of negative behaviors toward each other. Respect people for who they are and be accepting of the value they can provide. If we can continue being a positive influence in the lives of our youth, these children will become confident adults armed with the tools for success.
National Geographic Family, September 6, 2020:
The Big Question: HOW DO I GET MY KIDS TO FOCUS?
IDEO’s 2020 Report:
Learning Reimagined: Radical Thinking for Equitable Futures
For a New Beginning
Look out next week for the next issue in the series of inspirational messages.