Good Karma Music Stories

A couple of weeks ago, I helped out at my local Sotozen tempel, stuffing many zafus (meditation cushions) for people doing time in prison. With the guidance of the Sotopriest, they will do zazen to help them get rid of their marihuana-addiction. I am a strong believer of rehabilitation instead of harsh punishment in the prisons. The people who’s serving time are human beings like everybody else, and they need our support and our compassion.

In the sutra of the past vows of Earth Store Boddhisattva, the Buddha explained very very clearly to us that there are three kinds of giving. They are giving of wealth, giving of Dharma and giving of fearlessness. When I read the sutra, I was extremely excited to learn how these types of giving enable one to plant blessings, and the more I read the sutra, the more it gave me encouragement to do more giving. For example, when I saw some beggars on the street or those who are sick, I would immediately take out my wallet and give my money to them and sometimes I would buy them food and nutritious drinks. And when I returned to Indonesia, my sister and I would buy fish from the market and liberate them in a safe river near my house. My heart was full of joy whenever I did meritorious work. These are examples of me giving wealth to the poor and giving fearlessness to the animals.

I helped a friend find legal representation after her university mistreated her following an attack by another student. Talk about a double dose of suffering! I hope she can heal, complete her degree, and find work in a field she loves.

(again a story from me, 3rd time, this time to pass on to a new friend for his birthday – so here’s the story:)I was volunteering at a school in a project about injustice in the world. A macho-type guy from a grade which was not in the project came up and started telling me i’m a hippie – obviously and intentionally trying to insult me. It didn’t take effort not to use anger in responding. 🙂 may all beings have non-anger. Amituofo

i was all angry at this guy for derailing some process that i thought i wanted to happen, and it messed up my shoulders and the world got dark. totally bad news. then it was remembered to me the dalai lama said about the chinese that people who seem to be mean to you are good teachers, and then this other thing from some other text that said if people abuse you in public you should say, ‘yeah, well, you’re right probably, ok, thanks!’. ha ha! now i’m not angry at all. i guess this is just kindness to myself, but maybe it counts? i certainly won’t yell at that guy or anything. he’s just doing his best! thanks!

Today I helped Laung Pho to the meditation hall, this makes me feel like im doing something kusala (wholesome) at this time my mind was not affected by lust, hate or greed.

I attend college in Poultney Vt. About everyday I sit in zazen on a hill where people frequently pass by. Sometimes people come up to me and ask questions about meditation and the practice of mindfullness but other times I simply preach by smiling and saying no words at all to those who walk by. I also practice this on the steps of the dining hall. I wrote a poem on the experience. The Step SutraStraight spine on the stairsPillars, lotus womb andBodies grooved into their rightful points of theuniverse. A passerbyasks “What are you doing?”I smile spine erectreply “just sitting here.”Not useless babble but compassionate sermon!My sermon my sutraSmile at all the passerbyRevolve around your heart