For these last six months, I’ve been teaching the six Paramitas, practices the Buddha said take us to the other shore, the end of suffering.  It would seem a formula for self-improvement, getting to be the lovely person you pretend to be or want so much to be.  However, it is the path of letting go of self, leading to liberation for all beings.  It seems to me that each of the Paramitas, from generosity to wisdom, involves not adding sweet attributes but letting go:

• letting go of fear and giving generously
• letting go of acquiring or winning at any cost but acting with virtue, with discipline
• letting go of unskillful impulses of actions, speech, and thoughts
• letting go of retaliation and enduring with patience
• letting go of impulses and alluring thoughts in meditation
• letting go of all that obscures wisdom – which for most of us, is a lot. 

 
We can endeavor to practice the Paramitas without an idea of gain for ourselves, but for the benefit all beings inseparably.  It’s a tricky thing, this practice.  As Ajahn Chah says, “If you want something, you won’t get it.”  So we don’t seek to be generous but we let go of indulging in the stingy impulse that clouds our natural generosity, our innate open-hearted wisdom that shows us our interconnection and suffers when we see others suffer and wishes to put an end to it. You have felt this.  You have felt that fresh letting go unfolding with compassion and selfless love, qualities required for achieving ultimate release for the benefit of all beings.
 
Here is a story you may have heard.  Two monks, both having vowed not to touch a woman, were walking along a muddy road when they encountered a woman (wearing a sarong I suppose)  trying to negotiate a big puddle.  One of the monks simply picked her up and carried her across and they all continued on in their respective ways for some time when the second monk, having  stewed for a while, began berating the other for breaking his vow.  The first monk said, “I set her down long ago.  Why are you are still carrying her?”  That first monk was just freely walking along while the second was creating heated suffering for himself.  Can you relate?  I tend to carry remorse, worry, and resentment, then develop a script, and seek control.  It’s painful.  Clinging is a source of suffering.  It is possible to set that lady down.  But as that old song goes, letting go is hard to do.
 
We begin with discipline, letting go from where we are.  We have a safe ground and lots of opportunity to do that in meditation.  When thought arises, we liberate it rather than fabricating and right there, we are letting go.  In the process we get a good look at our attachment and how that feels. And we get a look at how it feels to let go.  For a brief moment there, we experience that open space.  That’s pretty good.  We create the letting go habit and can carry it into life off the cushion (or chair) and do the same thing when stinginess arises and then we release it.  Generosity becomes a freer, natural response to need, virtue is natural because there is no thought of harm, effort arises as there is no turning away from the suffering of others, and we endure because we hold self more lightly and our true nature is revealed.  Thus as we develop discipline to let go more and more, the Paramitas loosen our grip to self and the volute cycles ‘round deeper and deeper.  As Ajahn Chah also said, “We practice in order to learn letting go.” 
 
When we let go, what is left?  Nothing lasting, nothing solid, and not what we assume in our confusion.
 
TRY THIS EXPERIMENT
In a meditative posture, visualize a highly realized person, maybe the Dalai Lama, Ajahn Chah, Dipa Ma, or Thich Nhat Hanh.  Place that person as clearly as possible in front of you.  Now visualize next to them a person you know or are aware of who causes much harm, seemingly lacks care for others, without virtue or wisdom.  Hold them both, side-by-side, in front of you.  Look at them for a while, perhaps one radiant and the other muddied.  Imagine the muddied one lets go and reveals their true nature.
 
 
May all beings be free,
Pam Steinbach
Teacher, IMFW
 
 
 

Please come join us at IMFW!  We offer many ways and many times to practice.

We are offering two day-long explorations of different types of meditation.  Taught by IMFW teacher John Steinbach, these stand-alone, day-long classes will offer some instruction and a chance to practice.  Come to one or both.  Feb 16 and 25^th from 9 to 5.

Tuesday Meditation at 6 pm, followed by a Dharma talk.  Come and see for yourself what a difference it makes to meditate with like-minded people.  We offer a Zoom option for Tuesday nights if you are not able to join us in person.

Sunday at 10 am, we offer a 45 minute silent meditation, which is usually followed by hot tea and lively conversation.

Second Tuesday Tea, which is immediately following the dharma talk.  Join us for tea and snacks and conversation.

Book Group continues to explore Peter Doobinin’s book, The Skill of Living, and meets on the third Tuesday, immediately following the Dharma talk.

We help facilitate KM groups.  If you are interested in being part of a spiritual friends’ group –https://www.imfw.org/kalyana-mitta click here.

During the cold and dark winter months we keep our offerings close to our core.  Our teachers are willing to help with one-on-one facilitation of deepening your practice.  You can contact them via email at insightmeditationfw@gmail.com

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.

There are a wide variety of meditation practices in Buddhism.  Often people tend to take one or two approaches and repeat the same practice every time they sit.  Having a variety of ways to approach meditation allows for flexibility in how we explore the mind and our situation.
 
During this day, a variety of approaches to meditation will be presented.  Attendees can consider making some or all a part of their ongoing practice.  There will be a few short talks/discussions during the day and the remainder of our time together will be devoted to sitting and walking meditation.  The two dates are stand-alone sessions and you are welcome to attend one or both.  Please plan to attend the entire day. Participants are encouraged to bring their own sack lunch.
 
 Thursday February 16, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday February 25, 9:00am - 5:00pm
 
There is no set fee for the day.  Dana is encouraged.  John Steinbach will lead each session. Contact him at 413-2372 if you plan to attend.
 
Classes held at 2332 Sandpoint Road, Fort Wayne, IN.