Notes on Reading

Mysteries of the Dark Moon, Demetra George
There can be no light without darkness, for it was in primal darkness that the stars and the cosmos were engendered.  This is a book about the dark phase of the moon and its relevance, to the natural cycles which define the cosmos, and to female cycles specifically. In reading Mysteries of the Dark Moon,  I found myself examining everything I have ever read, heard, or been told about this mysterious time of the month when we cannot see the moon for a few days.

In the beginning the dark moon time was viewed as a time of hidden energies, of healing, reflection, wisdom and power. After the expansion of the Indo-European tribes and their belief systems into Europe, the time of the dark moon began to be associated with malevolent energies, shape shifting, sorcery and evildoing.

There is much in this book about the so-called dark goddesses, deities originally revered as the keepers of cosmic law and custodians of balance in the universe.  Our failure to recognize these dark archetypes and our repression of the values they represent can lead to a dangerous imbalance in our psyches, to chaos and confusion in our daily lives.  We need to explore the time of the dark moon and its custodians, to establish a connection with Mother Nyx, the Furies, Hecate, Demeter and Persephone. They have much to teach us.
 

Sacred Celebrations, Glennie Kindred
This is a book about the eight Celtic festivals which form the Wheel of the Year or calendar of the seasons.  There is a wealth of information here about the history and customs of the great festivals and a treasure trove of ideas for celebrating them in modern times.  Glennie encourages us to foster a connection with the earth and to create meaning in our lives through understanding and celebrating the natural cycles - the art and poetry in her book are enchanting.
 

Elderwoman, Marian Van Eyk McCain
Marian McCain has written a glorious book on woman's journey into the third age (or cronehood), and how I wish this book had been in existence when I began my own voyage a few years ago!  Life's journey is a curious and winding trail, full of twists, turns and surprises.  It takes us through shaded valleys, across moonlit mesas, and at last up into the high clear air of the mountains.  The journey to elderhood should be a joyful one, and Elderwoman is the perfect guide to take along with us on the trip; a book chock full of wisdom, compassion, simplicity and lightness. I keep a copy of this book close by, and I return to it often.
 

Tree Wisdom, Jacqueline Memory Patterson
Jacqueline Memory Patterson's book is about the trees of Britain, many of which also grow here in North America.  As a long time Druid and a devoted rambler in the British countryside, she has vast knowledge  and a profound reverence for trees, and she has written sagely of their folklore, mythology, magical powers and healing properties - the chapters on Ogham and the runes are remarkable.  After reading Tree Wisdom, I found myself thinking wistfully of yew trees and wishing they grew this far north in Canada.
 

One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism, Joseph Goldstein
A wonderful thing is happening, and Joseph Goldstein has written about it, addressing some very important questions.  Is there one single Buddhist path to liberation or enlightenment which encompasses all paths? Can we enfold the diverse Asian perspectives which are now encountering each other within a greater unity, "One Dharma"?

In fulfilment of long ago prophecy, a new (and authentic) Buddhism is now coming into being in the West, one which is not a complex philosophy, and which is not allied exclusively with any of the traditional sectarian views.  I find myself very drawn to this new school, because it is rooted in a simple pragmatism which goes right back to the Buddha himself, who questioned each and every tenet of the very structured Indian society into which he was born. It comes down to basics in such a beautiful and simple way.  What is it that can free the mind from suffering?  How can I develop a compassionate heart?  How may I reach an awakened state?

The cultural mosaic of the West has drawn many spiritual traditions to these North American shores, and many of us have turned toward Asia in our pursuit of wisdom, a natural thing for us to do because Buddhism is non-theistic and relies on empirical query and investigation rather than on faith and dogma.  Perhaps that is why it resonates so compellingly with the paradigms of Western culture.

Not only are East and West meeting here on Turtle Island, but isolated Asian schools of practice and spiritual traditions are encountering each other for the first time in many centuries, and out of these rich, fertile ( and occasionally very funny) encounters the new Western Buddhism is taking form.  In the West, we are not bound by the strict conventions of Asian society, and our society values intellectual inquiry and individual choice - we are free to absorb that which is good and useful from the many Asian traditions and put it all together in our own spiritual practice in a way which works for us.  In my own case for example, my spiritual practice is mainly Dzogchen, but it incorporates elements of Chinese and Japanese Zen practice along with elements of the other Tibetan schools, and with Thai, Korean and Burmese practices.

There hasn't been anything even remotely like this exchange or interaction since the legendary days of the great Buddhist University at Nalanda, India, which was founded in the 5th century and flourished for seven hundred years. During its existence, there were always at least two thousand teachers teaching at the university and several thousand monks and lay practitioners from different Buddhist traditions, living, studying, working side by side and exchanging ideas.

Interesting questions coming out..............

Is something new and dynamic really being forged here?

Will this new Western Buddhism work or will it just be a huge sticky brew in which everything gets blurred together and loses distinctive character, flavour and fragrance?

Can we retain the spiritual abundance of the individual cultures while nurturing the riches which arise from their contact with each other?

How much of our spiritual practice/discipline is rooted in cultural trappings of Asia which are not relevant or useful to us?

Are we diluting the essence of many Asian teachings simply because they are foreign to our western way of life?

How far can we go in making changes and whittling material away from the various schools of  Asian spiritual practice before we go too far?

Depending on who and what one is reading, enlightenment goes by many names: the Buddha Nature, Dharmakaya,  Pure Mind, the Great Awareness,  Clear Mind, Bodhicitta and Nirvana to name just a few, and they all emphasize different aspects of spiritual practice, so we have a lot of "stuff" to work out.  What exactly is liberated mind?  Is it already here as Dzogchen practice tells us, or does it transcend ordinary life entirely, existing above and beyond this earthly plane?  Do different ways of meditating get us to different places? How do we integrate Buddhist awareness into our mundane day-to-day existence?

Jack Kornfield says, "Those who are awake live in a constant state of amazement." and he is right. There are interesting times ahead in the Buddha fields.............