"You don't have to achieve just strive to be better" -Ven. Hsin Bao

Many things have been happening this week. I can feel many changes in my body and mind, and though they are subtle they definitely have positive connotations. We have been keeping up with our academic and Dharmic talks as well as stepping up the meditation. We have had multiple sitting sessions lasting 30 minutes or so. Some of them have been consecutive with only a small break in between. Our classes have been on a variety of topics with one very interesting one about Buddhism (specifically meditation), psychology and neuroscience. Basically we learned meditation helps the brains neuro-plasticity or helps it relearn and adapt. We also learned the amhygdala, the part of the brain controlling fear responses is lessened which helps create less of a me vs you and more of a vision of oneness in the world. We also learned about Pure Land Buddhism. Pure Land at its face value seems a little silly but with a deeper understanding (or a more enlightened teaching) its something that may resonate with some of you deeply. The basis of Pure Land is that if you chant Amituofo (the name of the Buddha of Infinite Light/Life) you will be reborn in his pureland where everything (even the birds and wind) teach the Dharma. This (according to some of our teachers) was a way to attract less educatined folks to Buddhism in hope they would later gain a deeper understanding. On the flip side, if we take the pureland as something we can create with our mind we can say that reciting Amituofo (or spreading love, light and life) we can create the pureland around us, where everyone is a Bodhisattva and we do learn from all phenomenon. Very powerful stuff. This relates heavily to Chan buddhism in that Chan masters say there are lessons to learn all around us. We did an evening Pure Land chanting service in which we chanted Amituofo and were asked to picture a perfect world. I won't say what I imagined but I will say that I felt very light and surrounded by white light, which is apparently a very common thing. It was very similar to many visualizations and manifestation techniques that new age gurus tote in the west. Today we had a relaxing day to prepare for our 7 days of silent meditation retreat starting tomorrow. I am very excited for this and will not be able to post again until after. I have so much I would like to say but not enough time (wish I could have all you here with me) because we stay so busy and I have to borrow other peoples computers. I am learning so much and can't wait to come back and implement some of this in my life. Love you all! Amituofo and lets create the Pure Land around us!!