And learning to quiet that busy “monkey” mind.
Every other week, Connie Berry will report on the news, events, and people at Martha’s Vineyard’s various places of worship.
When I met Sharon Gamsby at a recent
Island clergy luncheon, I thought, What a great way to get an
introduction to Buddhism. Sharon is a coordinator of the Bodhi Path
Buddhist Center, along with Barbara Dacey. I called Sharon, and we met
for coffee later that same afternoon. I wanted to know why she had
embraced Tibetan Buddhism, and I wanted a few tips on how to quiet my
mind. Between watching too much election coverage on CNN and my three
grown children, it’s tough for me to find time for peaceful
contemplation.
Sharon said she’s been involved at
Bodhi Path since its inception in 1999. Her own pain and suffering led
her on a journey through self-help books, various spiritual practices,
and eventually, after she read a book about Buddhism, to meditation.
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| The Bodhi Path Buddhist center on Waldron's Bottom Road in West Tisbury. —Photo by Sam Moore |
“It said something about being your
genuine self. I was making choices that just didn’t fit, and this book
talked about being authentic and genuine. I knew I had to make changes,”
Sharon said.
She talked to me about quieting the mind and how we don’t have to believe everything our minds tell us.
“Your mind is unsettled; maybe your
shower was cold, your coffee was late. If you aren’t that familiar with
your mind, you’re going to let your emotions and mind go, and you might
feel angry,” Sharon explained. “We all relate to this, but you don’t
need to fuel it … Your thoughts do matter. Why not get close to those
thoughts, try to understand them?”
In other words, maybe all that CNN
coverage and worry over grown children might be manageable if I could
get a grip on all the millions of thoughts that seem to take on a life
of their own.
So last Sunday I went to the Bodhi
Path Buddhist Center, which is off Waldron’s Bottom Road in West
Tisbury. I was a little apprehensive, but excited to try this calming
meditation that Sharon embraced.
As I walked into the center, I
noticed that the woman in front of me had a scarf wrapped around her
head and shoulders. Was I supposed to wear a scarf? She took it off, and
I realized that she was only protecting herself from the wind. And how
could I ever sit on my haunches, with my arthritic hips? I might make it
down, but there was no way I’d get back up without some serious help.
Thankfully, there were chairs with cushions in the back of the center.
No awkward clambering to my feet when the meditation was over. That was a
relief.
After a warm greeting, I was given a
brief introduction to what was about to happen: There would be three
15-minute sessions of quiet meditation with a few minutes to stretch in
between. Sharon had already told me that all I needed to do was to focus
on breathing in and out; how hard could it be?
Plenty hard. As soon as we began the
first session, my mind wandered. Wasn’t that a beautiful wood floor? The
color of honey really. I just love that painted striped pattern on the
walls. I wonder what they use those little stools for at the front of
the room? After a few minutes of this, I decided to close my eyes. This
helped. A little.
After the second session, a man who
sat behind me came over and kindly put three pillows under my feet. What
a difference sitting comfortably made! My third session was more
successful. Every time those crazy monkeys started jumping around in my
head, I brought myself back to breathing in and breathing out. They
still swung from synapse to synapse, but I knew they were there. I had a
glimpse of what understanding my mind might be capable of, even if it
was for a nanosecond. I liked it.
If you’re curious, make a visit. The
center is open for meditation Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 pm, and for
meditation or teaching at 10 am on Sundays. Visit bodhipath.org to learn more about the center and about Buddhism.
Goings-on
The young people involved in the
Island’s ecumenical youth group, the Net, are on the road this weekend.
They’re heading to Boston to take part in the CityReach program, helping
with the homeless ministry there. It will be great to hear about their
experience when they return.
The Reverends Armen and Vicky Hanjian
are still holding down the fort at the Chilmark Community Church. They
will share the duties there until the end of June, when it’s planned
that a new pastor will be named.
“We’re loving the congregation up here,” Vicky said last week. “It truly is a community church.”
She reminds everyone that the 5:30 pm
Tuesday soup supper switches over to 6 pm pizza nights on March 8. “All
are welcome to stop in,” she said. “Someone usually pulls out board
games. It’s a lot of fun.”
The next gathering of the
Neighborhood Convention is at 11 am on April 5 at the Federated Church
in Edgartown. Leah Palmer will present “English Language Learners in
Martha’s Vineyard Schools.” Bring a bag lunch; the hosting church serves
beverages and desserts. Founded in 1894, the Neighborhood Convention is
the oldest nondenominational group on the Island.
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