It has now been two years since the world and the Buddhist Centre I attended closed its doors due to the global pandemic. And now as the centre has decided to do a phased reopening, I am able to reflect on what the last two years have been like.
I have always enjoyed doing my meditation alone, something about the quietness and the solitude. It's probably my ego running away with itself wanting to feel like a Yogi in solitary retreat. But when the pandemic happened I suddenly found myself without any Sangha or Buddhist community. The centre offered online live streamed morning meditations that I wasn't able to attend as I had to be at work at the time they started. I was however, able to attend a number of online teachings given by my dear Lama, that was of great support.
After many months I start to feel a drop in my division. I searched and wondered why this happened and tried many times to raise my devotion through listening to online teachings, podcasts and reading great stories from my lineage. Whilst these helped greatly I found my division only went up a little.
It then dawned on me that I was missing my Buddhist community or Sangha as it is also known. I never really understood the importance of the Sangha. I know that it is something we supplicate to (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha) however until now, I had no idea how very important it is. Receiving teachings from my Lama and the many teachers that pass through the centre is great and inspiring, however, having a community of people that are also on the path is equally as inspiring and important. In our society in the west, the Buddhist path was described to me by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, as like swimming upstream. When our normal worldly environment is all about consuming and validating our experiences externally blaming others for their failings. The idea of controlling our minds and seeking to change the way we view the world is what is meant by the struggle of swimming against the tide of normal worldly thinking. Jetsunma Palmo would be able to explain this far more eloquently than I, but that's my summary of it.
With the struggles of swimming upstream and having a wonderful group or community who know the trials and tribulations makes it easier and more joyful. The connection with fellow Buddhists and spiritual seekers leads to wonderful bonds being born through the breaks and sharing of tea and lunch. Hearing that others are struggling with practice as well as sharing wonderful and powerful insights can really allow you to feel less alone and even inspired. Meditating alone is great as your practice can develop and grow, but, the regular connection to your friends who are on the same path means that you feel held and protected, as you all sail through Samsara together trying to grow into wonderful Dharma flowers.
I also feel that we are beings of energy and being around others can help our own energy. So whilst doing teachings, group meditation online is great and convenient; it is in my opinion no replacement for shared meditation sessions and teachings. There is just a greater connection, an energetic one that takes place when around one and other.
Stay connected both technologically and physically if this is possible for you right now, as the world starts to get back to some kind of normal.
May you swiftly achieve the state of Dorje Chang
