An American microcosm of the Dharma akin to India's Buddha Gaya (Danielina-79)
I have a dream, much like Martin Luther King, Jr. The Great Vehicle makes us yearn to save the world. The Teaching of the Enlightened Elders makes us yearn to attain knowledge-and-vision.Western, particularly American, Buddhism has no desire to limit its vision to one side or the other of this cultural divide. We want to provide a united bridge for those wishing to "cross over" from illusion and suffering to enlightenment and happiness.
I have a dream. Like visionaries of the past, I envision a land grant. And on that land we will build an all-welcoming permaculture Buddhist temple complex -- a center inviting Mahayana and Theravada, Vajrayana and Zen instruction for meditation (mental-emotional-spiritual-moral cultivation).
zero-energy meditation hall merged with sustainable permaculture system (inforse.org)
And those visiting, living as they wish, subsisting on harmless vegetarian food from a food forest maintained to show sustainable natural living, will have a sitting meditation schedule. And massage to soothe sore limbs. And healing hypnotherapy to bring calm and serenity. And a library to find answers in the treasury of the Dharma. And herbs to restore themselves. And a sauna to cleanse themselves.
Will there be sex? Yes, sometimes, free of hypocrisy -- tantra mindful of sexual misconduct. There will be freedom and bodily withdrawal and mental seclusion for even greater bliss born of concentration (samadhi).
Will there be nirvana? Yes, sometimes, free of expectations -- vipassana and insightful study of the commentaries and Abhidharma. There will be a living "path of purification" for those electing to be free.
Will there be music? Yes, sometimes, free of distorted states -- binaural beats for entraining theta and other meditative brain waves. There will be shaman drums, native rattles, Tibetan bells and bowls, mantras and meditative harps, flutes, and strings.
Will there be friendship? Yes, sometimes, free of foolishness -- because Ananda ("Joy") said to the Buddha ("the Awakened"): "Half of the best way of life is noble friendship." But the Buddha disagreed: "Not so, Ananda, not so! Noble friendship isn't just half of it, it's the whole thing!" (SN 45.2)
What is needed to realize this dream?
- A land grant, which will be offered in trust to a noble Swedish-American Buddhist who is an "incomparable field of merit for the world," whose name sounds a lot like Carlin R. Barlin
- dreamers aligned in a vision of diverse community
- professional volunteers who love our bureaucratic world
Possible meditation hut integrated with natural surroundings (greenguysglobal.com)
