Amitabha Mantra and Wiggleworm
She waived as I walked up to the stupa and asked if there would be chanting tonight. "Yes," I said, "we are going to start now. Will you join us?" She hesitated and said that she wanted to but Wiggleworm, a squirmy little dog on a leash, would also be chanting with us. We decided that this would be no problem and settled into the 6pm Amitabha and Chenrezig practice that we hold at the stupa every Wednesday and Saturday. The visitor to the stupa and her dog seemed to enjoy the practice and both, indeed, did chant along (Mary’s diction was better than Wiggleworm’s).
Having a stupa nearly in the middle of town had its praticular joys, like being able to chant with Mary and her dog. They are not Buddhists but like many in Sedona and the surrounding area who come to the Stupa, they feel some connection with the Amitabha Stupa and even our chanting! For us it is worth it because they are connecting, the seed for a connection to this path of liberation is planted, if not already there, to have a connection one day and eventually accomplish enlightenment. As a Buddhist, when one steps back and observes what is really going on, it’s remarkable. So many with fortunate connections make it to the Stupa; they come back often bringing others who are important to them. This ripple effect goes out over and over again like the prayers on the prayer flags that surround the stupa, prayers that go out on the wind.
After a long hiatus – a month of retreat, couple weeks seeing family and friends on the way to retreat and on the way back home, and then a month here is Sedona living with frends a new house could be found -- it felt very very good to have the stability of this ancient and profound system of mantra, visualization and supplication, to stay grounded; equally, to be able to help others with their connection to this path.
There is an Amitabha and Chenrezig practice every Wednesday at 6pm and Saturday at 4pm at the Amitabha Stupa. Sundays, at 4pm, there is a Shower of Blessings Tsog. The public is welcome to come, join in, listen or just observe.
Having a stupa nearly in the middle of town had its praticular joys, like being able to chant with Mary and her dog. They are not Buddhists but like many in Sedona and the surrounding area who come to the Stupa, they feel some connection with the Amitabha Stupa and even our chanting! For us it is worth it because they are connecting, the seed for a connection to this path of liberation is planted, if not already there, to have a connection one day and eventually accomplish enlightenment. As a Buddhist, when one steps back and observes what is really going on, it’s remarkable. So many with fortunate connections make it to the Stupa; they come back often bringing others who are important to them. This ripple effect goes out over and over again like the prayers on the prayer flags that surround the stupa, prayers that go out on the wind.
After a long hiatus – a month of retreat, couple weeks seeing family and friends on the way to retreat and on the way back home, and then a month here is Sedona living with frends a new house could be found -- it felt very very good to have the stability of this ancient and profound system of mantra, visualization and supplication, to stay grounded; equally, to be able to help others with their connection to this path.
There is an Amitabha and Chenrezig practice every Wednesday at 6pm and Saturday at 4pm at the Amitabha Stupa. Sundays, at 4pm, there is a Shower of Blessings Tsog. The public is welcome to come, join in, listen or just observe.
posted by Gonpo Yeshe (David) Williams at 7:17 PM
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