Nancy 2
Crestone, CO
Nancy, a woman with a rich spiritual journey, shares her diverse experiences that have shaped her beliefs and practices. From her early days exploring various Christian churches to delving into her Quaker roots, Nancy embraced meditative practices from a young age.
Background
Nancy, a woman with a rich spiritual journey, shares her diverse experiences that have shaped her beliefs and practices. From her early days exploring various Christian churches to delving into her Quaker roots, Nancy embraced meditative practices from a young age. Her spiritual path led her through an esoteric Christian Church focused on meditation, where unique exercises left a lasting impact.
Engaging in a group exploring the intersection of Buddhism and Christianity, Nancy found common ground between the teachings of Christ and Buddha, viewing them as spiritual brothers with coordinated efforts for the planet’s benefit. Eventually drawn to Tibetan Buddhism about 30 years ago, she appreciated its scientific approach and transformative nature. Following the principle of self-inquiry, she explored meditation not as a means to feel better but as a journey of profound transformation.
Nancy’s three-decade commitment to Tibetan Buddhist meditation, starting with foundational practices and courses, reflects her dedication to the path. Despite having explored Zen for a period, she found Tibetan Buddhism more resonant due to its incorporation of color, sound, movement, and a holistic approach to meditation. Managing a gift shop in Preston, where the Mojave Desert Town Center is located, Nancy attends daily meditations and conducts offerings at home, finding deep joy in her current spiritual practices. Her unique journey has brought her to a place that feels right for her at this moment in life.
Voice & Presence
Refuge
Nancy reflects on a pivotal phase in her spiritual journey, recounting a period when she moved away from the group exploring the compatibility of Buddhism and Christianity. During this dry spell, she encountered a Canadian nun named Cecily Quiet, attending her teachings without full commitment. The turning point came when Nancy met the Dalai Lama, an experience she hadn’t publicly shared until now. In his presence, she felt a profound sense of space filled with compassion, a feeling she couldn’t articulate in Tibetan Buddhist terms.
Seeking guidance, Nancy approached Cecily and shared her experience, expressing her desire to pursue that path. Cecily affirmed her instincts, stating that she was in a good place. Nancy subsequently embraced the Tibetan Buddhist notion of spaciousness, emptiness, interdependence, impermanence, and compassion as the ultimate goal.
Ngondro
Nancy recounts a transformative phase of her spiritual journey marked by her engagement in the Dharma Apprenticeship Program. While classes were more meditation-based, her studies expanded into the Kangyur lineage under Cecily Quiet. Exploring the Kangyur practices...
Fruit of Practice
Nancy reflects on the practical aspects of her spiritual journey, moving beyond lofty ideals to consider how daily practices shape her interactions with the world. She emphasizes the challenge of embodying love, kindness, and patience in everyday life, acknowledging the effort required in this ongoing process...
Personal Adversity
In her wheelchair, Nancy reflects on the development of spaciousness and compassion in her life, despite dealing with disability, medications, and pain. Drawing from Dharma teachings received remotely, she describes a transformation in her heart, emphasizing the shift from personal struggles to a more compassionate perspective towards herself and others. This change is attributed to the fusion of Tibetan Buddhist practices, including the clearing of virus sites, shedding old patterns, and engaging in practices like Chen Razi and Green Tara meditation.
Nancy’s meditative experiences, including visualizations and offerings, contribute to her ability to focus on pain and develop concentration. She discusses the profound impact of accepting her disability and letting go of desires, connecting it to the principles of Maha Mudra. The meditation practices become a means of dissolving attachments, releasing negative mind states, and fostering inner freedom.
Addressing common self-esteem issues, she notes the tendency in American culture to feel unworthy, highlighting the healing qualities of these practices. Nancy emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment, free from the past-future dichotomy. She delves into the concept of inner freedom, which allows individuals to transcend external circumstances, including physical limitations.
Nancy sees her disability as an integrated part of her spiritual journey, acknowledging the gifts and lessons gained from the experience. Her insights extend to her role as a hospice chaplain, where her personal challenges enhance her understanding of others’ struggles. Overall, she describes her disability as not just a source of suffering but as a path intertwined with spiritual growth.
Teachers
Nancy recounts her experiences with various Tibetan Buddhist teachers, expressing deep reverence for the Dalai Lama, whom she took hospice patients to meet. She shares her unwavering confidence in the Dalai Lama and recounts a profound telepathic connection during a teaching event in Los Angeles.
She elaborates on her encounters with a young Rinpoche and her participation in empowerment teachings. Nancy emphasizes the heart-centered connection she felt with the teachers, particularly the young Rinpoche, describing a reciprocal and magnetic love between them. She recounts staying at his center for several weeks and attending annual teachings, highlighting the joy and cheerfulness that genuine teachers possess.
Nancy reflects on her cautious approach to choosing teachers, citing a desire for joy and cheerfulness as a test for their authenticity. She acknowledges the rarity of finding teachers with a deep purity of essence and considers it precious. Her encounters with these teachers have profoundly influenced her understanding of genuine dharma, and she emphasizes the importance of being around such dedicated and persistent individuals to learn and resonate with their teachings. Nancy concludes by expressing her commitment to embody the teachings and be of benefit to others, attributing her understanding of this quality to her interactions with these genuine teachers.
Learn more
Registration is required to view the complete profile and support the project.
