The Grapevine -

Our kind and wise assistant clerk at Woodbury Friends Meeting, Carleton Crispin, suggested recently that it might be interesting and worthwhile to take a note on our discussion themes in our Adult First Day School each Sunday. I volunteered to do that and decided it might be of interest to share with others. This is what we talked about today.

One of our members, Marilyn, had recently attended the 78th Annual Seabrook Buddhist Temple's Obon Festival with her husband, who is a long time reader of Buddhist literature and practitioner of Buddhist meditation techniques as well as a teacher of Tai Chi.

Back in the 1970’s, many Americans (including Marilyn’s husband Ralph and me) became acquainted with Buddhism through two books that were best-sellers and immensely popular on college campuses and among counter culture folks: The first was ZEN MIND BEGINNERS MIND by Shunriyu Suzuki. The other was Alan Watt’s book, The Way of Zen. Watts, was born in England and studied philosophy. Both authors popularized the study of Buddhism in America. Alan Watts was also a vegetarian because, he said “Cows scream louder than carrots.”

For simplified information on the basics of Buddhism, I recommend a pbs website accessible through google. It describes the 4 noble truths which involve human suffering and the eightfold path out of suffering.

My own personal study of Buddhism continued from the above mentioned books into the writings of Pema Chodrin, American Abbot of Gumpo Monastery in Nova Scotia. She has a gift for translating abstract ideas into applied behavior. It is no exaggeration to say that her books came to me at a time of great pain and confusion and saved me. The first book I read was When Things Fall Apart, the second was Start Where You Are, and then Comfortable with Uncertainty. I have since read my more. She is known for teaching the Path of Loving Kindness, in which, I am sure, we can all find parallels with our Quaker faith.

The Light Within has glowed in the hearts of people of many cultures around the world and throughout time. I find it hopeful to know that.

Jo Ann