3116 Awakening the Mind, Opening the Heart: A Postdenominational Spirituality

An eager audience of several hundred people greeted Lama Surya Das , founder of the Dzogchen Center and the Dzogchen Foundation , who spoke on the need for a “post-denominational spirituality.” The event was sponsored by the U.U. Buddhist Fellowship .

Introducing Surya Das was one of his students, U.U. minister Rev. Joel Baehr, stating that his teacher “has been called the most highly trained, Western-born Tibetan lama.” Baehr said that “he is like an international treasure….a kind of walking encyclopedia about (the 20th-century Tibetan Buddhist) culture.” He praised his teacher for the ability to transmit complex Buddhist teachings in a clear and relevant way to Westerners.

Surya Das began his presentation with a traditional Tibetan Buddhist chant followed by a guided meditation focusing on mindful breathing and on creating an empty inner state of no thoughts, finally asking each participant to focus on inner questions concerning who is doing the thinking and whose self is doing the meditating. He ended the meditation with another Tibetan Buddhist chant and a prayer in English for universal peace.

Speaking extemporaneously, Surya Das explained that within all of us resides a Buddha nature, but that this shouldn’t be taken on faith. Instead each of us needs to “check it out” for ourselves. “We are all Buddhas by nature, not Buddhists.” Buddhism is a direct mysticism, “not so much a religion as a way of enlightenment, an ethical, psychological way of awakening.” He explained that the essence of Buddhism has no creed, religious conversion ceremony, or dogma; rather, it is the experience of enlightenment. This experience is possible for and accessible to all beings.

Surya Das pointed out that self-enlightenment consists in practicing mindful self-improvement. “The Dalai Lama,” he said, “often tells us teachers when we have gatherings and meetings, ‘Don’t convert others; contribute to others.’ That’s the Buddha’s way….Don’t convert to Buddhism; become a better whatever you are.”

Surya Das then explained that Buddhism isn’t about beliefs. “It’s about what we do and how we live.” He called for a nondenominational, post-denominational adoption of ethical behavior, explaining that one’s own happiness is intrinsically linked to the happiness of others and that we must work to improve the conditions of everyone around us and of our environment.

He discussed the need for a daily spiritual practice that includes bringing it to bear on our actions every day and every moment of our lives. “That’s where the rubber really meets the road on the spiritual path,” he said. “Not just enlightenment from the eyebrows up, but in our whole body, in our whole being.”

He challenged participants with the question “What is authentic spiritual practice?” and then gave the following explanation: “It’s not just joining a new fad because it’s hot in Hollywood or cool because Buddhism is cool. I don’t think we need any more ‘-isms’ and the schisms that come along with that kind of sectarian thinking. In this postmodern age we need a post-denominational spirituality, a transformative spirituality, something authentic that fits us….”

He listed the following Six Pillars of Spiritual Life, which he described as “complementary, not contradictory to any spiritual quest.” The first three are practices primarily done alone; the second are done in and for community. Surya Das explained that one needn’t do all six, depending on one’s life situation, but doing as many as possible can maximize the possibility for spiritual growth and enlightenment.

1. Personal, daily-ish spiritual practice. “The ‘-ish’ is important so that we don’t beat ourselves up any more than usual,” he said.

2. Spiritual study. “Authentic higher spiritual education” (tapes, books, videos, journal-writing, observation of nature).

3. Inner growth work (therapy, men’s/women’s groups, creative work, conscious self-nutrition and exercise).

4. Group practice, community life. “(This) can round off our rough edges, can open our hearts,” he said.

5. Teacher practice, learning from elders, mentors, experts.

6. “Seva” or service, compassion in action (social activism, volunteering).

A question-and-answer period followed, during which time Surya Das pointed out the need for following a “middle way” of simultaneous engagement and nonattachment.

It was with some reluctance that the audience left at the conclusion of Surya Das’ engaging talk.

Reported for the web by Jeanette Leardi, edited by Lisa Presley, Web Design by Julie Albanese