Ajhan Amaro quotes a song Marilyn Monroe sang, “When you get what you want, you don’t want it anymore.“ We want to want. Wanting is exciting, it holds promise of delight, future happiness, and hope. What fun! Oddly, it’s the thrill of almost getting what we desire that is particularly luscious because the want is still unquenched, the desire is still alive, and the desired is so close! But the delight when the waiter brings the strawberry shortcake you saw on the menu can’t match the eating of it. At that point, it’s yours; the wanting is over, the burn is gone, and we seek something else to desire. When I get a notice that my Amazon order is six blocks away, my wanting already starts to wane. Desire cools. There’s no more desire when it’s virtually at my door. There’s a subtle let down. Notice that.

At zen centers, we chant “Desires are inexhaustible, I vow to put an end to them.” That sounds like an impossible vow, right? How can one exhaust the inexhaustible? Well, not by quenching each desire. Like drinking salt water, the more you drink, the more thirst increases. We exhaust desire only by acknowledging the poison of desire and being aware when it is seeping into the mind. Right there, open your hand. Drop the spoon and release that poison before you eat it once again. You can make it a habit to look at the desire itself. It is said that desire for desire can arise and THEN we seek an object to attach it to.

Same with hatred. We may have a friend who has a lot of riled up energy. When we get together, we fall into it, too - hence Buddha’s admonition to give up bad friends, by the way. Just seeing our friend can bring up the habitual energy of indignation. It arises in us and we rummage around to identify something to be fired up about. And it is energizing! There is a thrilling aspect and we wake up and join the fray. Only later does the fresh wide-eyed indignation turn sour. It leaves a trace, perhaps regret, and a habit we are likely to indulge more strongly.

Ignorance isn’t about being a dumbbell or not knowing much about arithmetic. It is ignorance of seeing how this realm we inhabit truly is; dependently originating all the time with no inherent lasting existence. That ignorance brings us the suffering of attachment, fear, anger, and all the other obscurations. The truth of our very existence is clouded over. By its nature, confusion is the most difficult to see. We can ask of our assumptions, “Is that so?” When the mind is calm, we can ask who is meditating and catch the moment of the unanswered question. In that unknowing, the mind opens and our wrong seeing loses its hold.

Once we move toward these poisons, it is difficult, but possible, to stop indulging in their appealing goodies. Thus it’s most efficacious to catch the impulse at the start and that takes mindfulness and mental alertness. By mindfulness, I mean having a mind full of the commitment to let go at the first whiff of the edginess and stirring attraction to indulge in desire, anger, and confusion. By mental alertness, I mean introspective awareness. Yes, that. I find I need little reminders; a sangha friend to get me on track, a meditation practice, and reading. Hearing, thinking, and meditating on the dharma unwaveringly is good, if not difficult for those not living a monastic life.

“What is Nirvana,” Shariputra asked the Buddha. Buddha explained that it’s the extinguishing of desire, hatred, and delusion. We notice them, refrain from them, and develop generosity, loving kindness, and wisdom.

Please, help me thank and honor Ellen England for her long service on the governing body for IMFW. Ellen began her service to the Sangha as a member of the Dharma Council in 2014 (almost eight years on the governing body) after sitting with the group at Plymouth church since 2007. She set up and maintained the original website for many years. (The current website was designed and is maintained by Matt Katinsky.) Ellen set up and maintains the Gratitude Group. She was a member of the Dharma Council at the time they found, purchased and renovated the building at 2332 Sand Point Road. She was involved in that tremendous task of getting IMFW established as a 501(c)3! This includes, and is by no means limited to: writing by-laws, establishing an official Board of Directors to manage the business of IMFW, and ensuring that the board is wise and mindful of how donor money is invested into the business, establishing a mission, and the very important task of selecting a Buddha for our meditation hall.

Ellen brings her depth and wisdom to everything that she does. She loves books and the English language! She has been a trusted editor for our newsletter and many other documents relating to the business of IMFW including our Welcome brochure. She also set up the library at IMFW and maintained it until the pandemic limited travel. She and her husband, Bruce even donated the rug that adorns the actual library floor and the chairs we sit on in the meditation hall.

Ellen is a long time practitioner who cares deeply about how the Sangha operates. She is a tremendous resource for all who practice here and she has become a dear friend to many of us through her dedication to a path out of suffering and service to the community.

Ellen, thank you for being the deeper vibration, giving a voice to wisdom in anything you have undertaken. How you show up teaches us how to live.

Her long and distinguished board service ends this year.

We continue to offer opportunities to sit in community on Tuesday nights at 6 pm and Sunday mornings at 10 am. Lisa teaches yoga on Saturday mornings and Pam on Sunday mornings. During the next month – that may be just the thing you need to navigate this time of year mindfully.

May all beings be well.

Our mission is to provide for the study and practice of Insight (Vipassanā) Meditation according to the Theravāda Buddhist religious tradition and to support and encourage the development of community based upon Buddhist ideals, teachings and practices.

IMFW is entirely supported by voluntary donations that embody the ancient practice of dāna or generosity. The teachings are always offered freely and practitioners are invited to offer support that matches their own financial means, and/or by volunteering time and talents to support the teachers and the upkeep of Sangha House.

Lisa Selby, 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT), is offering a Yoga class, in the basement of Sangha House. Class will be a one hour, all levels, flow class. All are welcome! Bring your mat, and any props you have, and start your weekend off right!

Please drop in, no pre-registration required. This class is offered freely. A donation of any kind is welcome.

If you have any questions you can email me at lisa@lisaselby.yoga.

A friend invited me to my first yoga class 4 years ago. After going back the following week, I knew that yoga was something I needed in my life, as often as possible. A year after that, I knew I wanted to learn everything I could about yoga and share it with as many people as I could! I am a 200 hour yoga teacher, registered with The Yoga Alliance. I studied therapeutic yoga and I believe yoga is for every body! There is no age or flexibility limit! I truly endeavor to empower my students, in every class, by teaching with proper alignment, muscle engagement (I will tell you to spread your toes 50 times!) and lovingkindness. I can't wait to see you on your mat!

Lisa Selby