Lisa

Boston, MA

Lisa reluctantly turned to Buddhism when she grappled with chronic pain, initially resisting meditation prescribed by her therapist. Despite her apprehensions, the practice transformed her body and led her to explore Buddhist meditation techniques. Intrigued, she delved into the Dharma, finding resonance in the lineage of Triratna.

Experience

15-30 Years XP

Tradition

Mahayana

Background

The founders of her community, Triratna, had a unique approach. Having studied various traditions, they recognized the challenge of integrating the Dharma into the Western context. They emphasized separating cultural traditions from the core practices, aligning more closely with the original teachings such as the Pali canon. Lisa shared this sentiment, believing that adopting a foreign culture as part of her practice would be disingenuous.

In the current landscape, Garage Charter places a significant emphasis on creative and artistic expression, a distinctive aspect of their approach. This focus on creativity has become an integral and enriching part of Lisa’s Buddhist practice. As she navigates this unique territory, she finds solace and authenticity in a community that aligns with her values and allows her to embrace Buddhism without compromising her cultural identity.

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Voice & Presence

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Lineage

In the world of Triratna, formerly known as the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, Lisa navigates a unique lay order that underwent a name change to accommodate its growing global membership. Despite variations in practice from center to center, Triratna operates as a non-hierarchical order. Order members, once initiated, participate in decision-making through consensus.

The sangha, or community, plays a pivotal role in Triratna , with gatherings often inclusive of friends who may not have committed to a Buddhist lifestyle. In Lisa’s Boston sangha, a tight-knit group of around 15 regular members meets regularly at the Boston Theosophical Society. Their practice involves chanting, meditation, and communal discussion of a chosen book, fostering a space for shared exploration and the cultivation of right listening.

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Impact

In Lisa’s journey with mindfulness practice, she grapples with her workaholic tendencies in the high-tech industry. Transitioning to a 40-hour workweek didn’t alleviate her constant preoccupation with work-related stress. Seeking relief from chronic pain, she underwent monitoring that revealed the positive impact of meditation on her autonomic nervous system.

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Deepening

Lisa initially resisted the idea of asking for ordination, feeling the need to be absolutely ready and certain before taking such a significant step. However, a fellow practitioner undergoing ordination training provided a perspective shift.

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Meditation Tech

Lisa, an avid practitioner of mindfulness, initially approached it as a tool for relaxation and, more recently, to calm her nervous system. Being technologically inclined, she utilizes tools like the Muse sensing headband, which reads brain signals and indicates focus through bird sounds. While recognizing the benefits of various mindfulness tools for health and stress reduction, Lisa emphasizes the importance of integrating ethics into mindfulness practice.

In Lisa’s view, mindfulness, when divorced from ethical considerations, may fall short in its transformative potential. Mindfulness often focuses on being aware of the present moment but may not delve into how personal views shape perceptions. Lisa highlights the need to explore the underlying reasons behind emotions or reactions, such as potential biases or preconceived notions.

Lisa contends that the separation of mindfulness from ethical precepts limits its ability to penetrate deeply into one’s psyche. She underscores the common goals among Dharma practitioners, regardless of lineage, emphasizing the shared recognition that alleviating suffering involves addressing ethical considerations. Lisa sees ethical guidelines like right speech, right action, and right livelihood as frameworks to reduce suffering rather than mere rules.

Acknowledging that many individuals turn to mindfulness to alleviate suffering, Lisa asserts that solely paying attention to the present moment lacks the structural support to break free from ingrained perspectives. She believes that mindfulness courses, even those addressing deeper issues, benefit from the support of a community practicing together. In Lisa’s perspective, having experienced individuals and a supportive community fosters the necessary environment for individuals to challenge their views, ultimately leading to a reduction in suffering.

Practice

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Lisa, an enthusiast of mindfulness, engages in various meditation practices within the Tree Ratna community. While she occasionally meditates for 25 minutes during her daily commute, her practice intensifies, lasting up to an hour, especially after returning from retreats. Over the ten years of her meditation journey, Lisa has observed the blending of different meditation techniques, with her sessions now typically beginning with a body-focused self-compassion center.

Lisa’s meditation practices include mindfulness of breathing, the Brahma Viharas (loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity), and Skylake Mind, which involves opening oneself to whatever experiences arise without fixating on them. A notable transformation for Lisa has been in mindfulness of breathing. Previously perceiving it as solely a concentration practice, she now recognizes its embodiment within the body, particularly after engaging in voice movement therapy and breath-related physical health practices.

Skylake Mind, a practice that encourages openness and spaciousness of the mind, has been illuminating for Lisa. It helps her notice the fragmented nature of her thoughts, especially her strong inner narrative, providing a valuable perspective on the interconnectedness of thoughts.

The Brahma Viharas, especially kindness (metta), hold significance for Lisa. While the practice involves cultivating compassion, kindness, equanimity, and sympathetic joy towards oneself and others, Lisa emphasizes the challenge individuals often face in extending self-compassion. This practice has been foundational for her, influencing her initial steps into Buddhist meditation.

In discussing meditation practices, Lisa acknowledges variations in terminologies, such as Skylake Mind being referred to as “just sitting” within the Tree Ratna community. She finds group meditation to be particularly beneficial, offering support and a shared experience. Overall, Lisa’s evolving meditation journey emphasizes creativity, interconnectedness of practices, and the importance of ethics and compassion within mindfulness.