Fearless Mountain Newsletter
Winter 2009 Articles
Awakened Consciousness From the Monastery From Māra’s Desk Being with Elders Kondañña Was My Teacher The Death of J. Calendar View Archive
Bhante Gunaratana on Almsround in Ukiah, July 2008
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At times the spiritual quest can feel like a grim struggle to conquer our defilements and become a flawless being like the golden Buddha statue on the hill. Thus, having the opportunity to spend time with Bhante G (Bhante Gunaratana) and Ajahn Sumedho, real humans that have sincerely dedicated their lives to the Holy Life, was a refreshing glimpse of the possibilities of practice.
In June I was fortunate enough to participate in Ajahn Sumedho’s ten-day meditation retreat at Spirit Rock. His teachings and presence were a helpful balance to my tendency to lapse into a “grit my teeth and strive” ethic. In addition to learning from his formal teachings, being able to offer Ajahn Sumedho a cup of coffee and spend time with him in an informal environment allowed me to see a lighter side of the most senior Western monk in the Ajahn Chah tradition. Ajahn Sumedho’s joyful nature and his continual reminders to “trust in awareness” stand out in my memories of the Spirit Rock retreat. Ajahn Sumedho helped me to glimpse beyond the various neat boxes of to-do’s and responsibilities that divide my life.
My good fortune continued in early July, when the date of my sāmanera ordination was set to coincide with Bhante G’s visit to Abhayagiri. Having Bhante G present as I went “into brown” allowed me to honor my connection to him and the Bhāvanā Society, the Forest Monastery and Meditation Center in West Virginia of which he is the founding abbot. I went to the Bhāvanā Society immediately after college and it was during my year as a lay resident there that I began to seriously consider monastic life. During that time I developed a great deal of respect for Bhante G. Furthermore, I am grateful for the opportunity and guidance Bhante G gave me with his presence and by making the Bhāvanā Society available.
The times I enjoyed most during Bhante G’s visit were when I was able to show my appreciation for the role he has played in my life. Presenting Bhante G with a Page 2 of 2
tray of offerings and providing him with hot water to drink at the meal were lovely, little chances to say, “Thank you.” Furthermore, seeing the excitement and awe Bhante G invoked in the residents and visitors at Abhayagiri reminded me of the rarity and value of those who have sincerely dedicated decades to the Holy Life.
I did not witness any psychic powers or supernatural occurrences during the visits from Bhante G and Ajahn Sumedho. Yet, it is the combination of the ordinary and the extraordinary within visiting elders that is so inspiring. Seeing Bhante G examine the sugar content of the offerings on the drink tray or talking to Ajahn Sumedho about the dangers of poison oak brings a human dimension to my spiritual aspirations. It is in light of their humanity that the genuine sense of well-being in Ajahn Sumedho’s grin and the twinkle in Bhante G’s eyes inspires my own faith in the possibilities of the path.
