Bingen Blog
This morning I read a great article on gene expression related to memory and the enhancement or deterioration depended on gene expression. Last night and the day before I read two other great article one on mental illness and gene expression and the other relating to anorexia and addictions. These articles gave me great fodder for Dharma talks or just thinking about how the brain and the mind work on a physiological basis. This seems to be a new and popular science that is emerging. This interests me very much and also help me to gain understanding of the Buddhist methods but also help me to challenge Buddhism from new perspectives so I do not get complacent and become a drone. What is grasping, craving and addiction? How can I avoid it? Is following the vows just being a drone and addiction or is it healthy?
I think this questioning is very healthy. I see very often even in my own pagoda people acting in a thoughtless way. My master once told us about his visit to see Thich Nhat Hanh. Thich Nhat Hanh said that when he first started teaching he tried to have all of his students “mindfully” do this and “mindfully” do that mindful singing, mindful doing the dishes. But after a while realized the Sangha had so many routines that nothing was natural anymore! Everything was rehearsed not natural or mindful. He said to himself “ I have created a Zombie army”. Meaning that even though everything was organized and working well and people seemed healthy they were not really “looking deeper into things” and they were not questioning things or being aware of their environment. Actually the whole practice of being mindful was out the window because they had so many mindfulness routines. As our master says we should practice with wisdom and not just be a follower.
In this way one is staying aware, creating healthy living according to the present conditions, an enjoyable life. It is important to always do new things to always try things differently or go new places speak with new people.
Yesterday we went to Bingen here in Germany. There where so many castles! I have never seen this before. It was hot and I was feeling sick on the boat ride in the hot sun. But I managed to have a good time and eventually really started to enjoy myself. I spoke with Hue Tho about meditation and she help me with my German. I spoke with Thay and Hue Pho about anorexia and addiction and I ended the day with a close car ride back to the pagoda with Hue Truc. Bhante was audibly asleep in the back seat Hue truc was in the middle and I was on the right side by the window. It was Hue Truc’s Birday yesterday and I really wanted him to have a nice Day. So I made sure he had Italian cake in the morning. Which Hue Loc did a great job in choosing on his weekly outing to the Metro. But getting back to the car ride. Hue Truc had been having some difficult and feeling sad and frustrated with his practice. Which is normal for a novice monk (but also normal for some one in their thirties,I assume, I am only 24. 25 next month). I think he feels like he will never reach enlightenment or even the Jahnas and his Birthday is just another reminder that this life is impermanent and everyone’s days are numbered. I had talked with Hue Truc the previous days thinking it might to alleviate some of his distress.
On this car ride back he really showed his weakness and I could not help but do the same. I guess it was both of our desire to let down our guard that made it possible. “People learn through osmosis” as the master once said. Hue truc really spoke from his heart about his feeling always like something is wrong with him and it was soo nice and I was able rub his bald head against mine and hold his hand (something I have difficulty with. Physical touch with another male!) This always use to make me so un-comfortble. Being a monk in general has really helped me with this. Helped me to clarify that this is normal. It seems in our society especially in the USA this affection is looked at as odd behavior, unacceptable even. But I find it natural and nice. Affection with out having to to feel like to need to please the other person. Actually being a monk in general makes affection a lot less confusing.
I think now I will wrap things up and say our trip to Bingen was a lot of fun and I think everyone should spend a day floating down the Main River seeing all the castles. And if you have good company and an open heart it is all the better.
Hue Gioi
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