Machig Labdron and the Foundations of Chod

 

“To consider adversity as a friend is the instruction of Chod.”

Machig Labdron

 

 True liberation happens when one is free from the restraints of the ego. If you read Across many Mountains by Yangzom Brauen--a book I wrote about last February--you are somewhat familiar with Machig Labdron’s teachings. The Chod is a spiritual Tibetan practice introduced by a woman a thousand years ago. Her name was Machig Labdron, an eleventh century Tibetan yogini.

 After reading Across Many Mountains I was intrigued to learn more about this aspect of Tibetan culture and Buddhism, so I searched reading material on the subject, and I found “Machig Labdron and the Foundations of Chod” by Jerome Edou. Jerome Edou has been an interpreter for various lamas, and is an author and translator of works on Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism.

 The book chronicles the life story of Machig Labdron, revealing her teachings and wisdom. The writer of this blog post has been a meditation practitioner for many years; the book meets the needs of this practitioner, responding to doubts and concerns and clearing spots of confusion. It helps to integrate various aspects of meditation, transcending the act of meditation itself.

  It is not clear to me whether this book will be appreciated by somebody who has no experience in the practice of meditation. Machig Labdron’s words suggest there is truth in my statement:

 “My Chod instructions consist in the authentic teaching of Mahamudra,

And the Mahamudra cannot be explained by words.”

 Buddhists agree that people tend to be enslaved by what the ego dictates. The   Chod guides the practitioner to let go of the desires of the ego. This liberation enables the mind to find its state of true freedom and clarity.

 If you are just starting to explore this subject, Loving-kindness by Sharon Salzberg may be a good beginning to introduce this topic. Eventually, you may choose Jerome Edou’s book on Machig Labdron and the Foundations of Chod.

It is time for a break. By the end of April I will be back to My Writing Life blog with more book recommendations, both fiction and non-fiction.

Enjoy the ride, wherever it takes you.

Till next time.

 

 

Interesting references:

https://dakinitranslations.com/2021/10/13/gender-blindness-patriarchy-denial-and-female-tokenism-in-buddhism/

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/10-health-benefits-of-meditation-and-how-to-focus-on-mindfulness-and-compassion/2022/12

https://www.taramandala.org/teachings/what-is-a-dakini/

 

 

 Note: the next post will by published in May. Thank you for your interest in My Writing Life blog.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

 

 Four years ago I revisited Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I thought I would find the charm I had encountered in my pre-teen years. After reading a few pages, however, my enthusiasm was turned off by the rigid gender stereotypes of the story. On the other hand, reading Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery has been refreshing and liberating... Even though the story was published in 1908, it retains the essence of freedom and zest for life that the main character, Anne, shares through her words, behaviors and experiences.

 This Canadian classic makes me smile, laugh, cry and rejoice in the wonders of each unique moment of our everyday existence. Reading about endearing Anne, a character whose spirit soars with the energy of creativity and motivation, is a celebration of the magical moments of playing in nature and reveling in the marvel of books. In her eyes, the river smiles, the trees whisper in their dreams, and the flowers sing. The beauty of the sky sends her into an endless reverie. 

 Anne’s excitement moves mountains, warms hearts and changes minds throughout the novel.

 Anne of Green Gables takes us back to a time when children played in nature and read books, absorbing the health benefits of such behaviors, instead of being encaged in the dehumanizing robotic world of video games.

  Anne was an eleven-year-old orphan when she was adopted by siblings Marilla and Matthew. The siblings had asked for a boy; they were shocked and disappointed when they found Anne instead. I love the surprises woven into the plot through unexpected turns and secrets.

   

 The exhilarating descriptions of the places bring the characters and places to life, creating a memorable movie in the reader's mind. The edition I borrowed from the library contains colorful illustrations of the characters and landscapes.

  The characters are complex and quirky, and the author's witty humor makes the novel entertaining and thought-provoking; Lucy Maud Montgomery’s clever approach uses the prejudices of her time to shake the reader. I look forward to reading the full series.

   Books like this one are invaluable resources to communicate with your middle-schooler and to share meaningful conversations about various topics, such as friendship, respect, relationships and so much more. 

 I also enjoyed reading about Lucy Maud Montgomery's life. Here's a website with her biography.

 February 24 was the sad anniversary of the inexcusable, illegal and cruel invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin’s forces. Over the last year thousands of Ukrainian people have lost their lives and/or their livelihoods as a result of this invasion. Thousands of people lost their loved ones and homes. Several Ukrainians have become refugees and are vulnerable to exploitation. 

 Vladimir Putin has destroyed schools, hospitals, homes… he has destroyed families. His goal is to force Ukraine to become part of Russia and to dissolve democracy. His intention is to cause a genocide and to annihilate the Ukrainian culture.  To attain his goal, Vladimir Putin kills his own people as well.

 Vladimir Putin’s regime in Russia is an authoritarian one where citizens are persecuted, beaten and tortured for the mere act of expressing their disagreement. You can learn more about this Orwellian regime by reading a post I wrote here.

 Anybody who refers to Putin as “smart” is as dangerous as Putin. Let’s be clear on this. Only somebody morally bankrupt can make such a sickening statement. There is nothing smart about his lack of empathy and respect for life.

There is something terrifying and ominous about people who either choose to look the other way or to deny the facts.

 Human rights violations in Ukraine by Russian soldiers and forces are well documented by Human Rights Organizations; those who choose to ignore them, do so at their own peril. Putin was responsible for human rights violations within his own borders even before the war started. Yet the world had no problem with their business as usual approach with Russia, so here we are. We cannot change the past, but we can work to create a better future.

Several Ukrainian children have been abducted by the Russian army. Where are these children? I want to follow this closely. These children need to be set free as soon as possible.

My Writing Life blog continues to stand with Ukraine, and also supports the brave people who stand up against Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

References and sources to learn more about the invasion of Ukraine:

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/02/ukraine-one-year-after-full-scale-russian-invasion-victims-rights-must-be-at-the-heart-of-all-justice-efforts/

 

https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-calls-transfer-of-children-to-russia-genocidal-crime/a-64835163

 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63580372

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/14/russians-flee-putins-regime-after-ukraine-war-in-second-wave-of-migration.html

 

 

Rebirth

 

“Could we just look at what unites us instead of always searching for what divides us?”

Galatea Georgiou

 There is no way out of grief. It is through the emotions of grief that we can heal and become whole. Galatea’s poetry flows like the clear waters of a stream. It is transparent and straightforward. It refreshes the soul, washing away the resistance to feel what one needs to feel.  

  Her poetry is simple yet profound. The blending of the poems with her photography deepens the message.

“It takes guts to be gentle and kind.”

   With so much going on in the world today it is easy to fall. Despite the turmoil and disappointments, working toward our life purpose contributes to our own healing, and as we persevere, we build resilience and kindle the fragile light of hope within ourselves.

 I embrace the reflections and observations that her healing process evinced.

 Rebirth is the inspiring expression of her authentic self and the wisdom drawn out of pain and solitude. Rebirth is a journey toward healing. It is the discovery of one’s inner strength. It is about finding one’s spiritual home and caring for the inner child.

 

“fill your mind with knowledge

 and your heart with unconditional love

change yourself to the best version of you

only then we can rebuild the world.”

 

 I thank the poet for sharing Rebirth with me for My Writing Life blog. Galatea Georgiou is also a songwriter, musician and photographer. She lives in Sweden. You can visit her website here:

                     https://galateageorgiou.com/

Note: the photo added to this post is by Andy Holmes. 

Just Five Minutes with You, My Son: A Son's Suicide, a Mother's Journey

 

 The loss of a son or a daughter is a devastating, life-transforming experience for which nobody is prepared, and when the loss happens as a result of suicide the confusion may be even greater.

 No words can relieve the pain. Along with the vastness of such an emptiness, the love in a parent’s heart stays alive, and the relationship with the lost child is as unique as each person’s life journey.

 “Every day I create a bond between us. I write the story of his life and death. I write to remember,” Hanna Granot wrote.

    Doron was only nineteen years old when he ended his life, twenty years ago. His mother spent ten years writing Just Five Minutes with You, My Son. Doron was a happy, optimistic person, so his suicide shocked everybody. Hanna was determined to examine his life in search for answers.

 “I set out on the journey into Doron’s life to find healing, consolation and insights into our loss of him.”

 Reading Hanna’s book has been a very emotional experience. Immersing myself in Doron’s childhood was magical. The questions and reflections he expressed when he was a child cast a spell on me. From his interactions with one of his teachers and parents I perceived his giftedness.

   It was unsettling and painful for me to learn that at age nineteen his military duties had chronically deprived him of the sleep hours he needed to maintain his health. Today we know that regular sleep is an essential part of the foundation of mental health.

   “Just Five Minutes with You, My Son” celebrates Doron's life and reflects on   various aspects of grief and love. It is a source of support, comfort and understanding to parents who have lost a child. It is also a resource for those who want to genuinely support others in similar situations.

   One aspect of the book that enchanted me was the way she travels with her imagination through time, and to various places. She also dives into her son’s mind and even creates imaginary situations. For example, she wrote an imaginary conversation between Doron and Anne Frank.

 This book is a reminder that it is okay to not be okay. It may encourage people to seek help at times of crisis, for it sheds light on the helplessness of the loved ones who are left  with all the questions.

 Nobody is immune to such a tragedy.

   I appreciate Hanna’s courage and the insights she shares, a result of the wisdom that emerges from the depths of bereavement:

  "I understand that the pursuit of perfection is misguided at its very core. There is nothing immaculate in our world."

   I thank Hanna Granot for trusting me with her book.  “Just Five Minutes with you, My Son” may help save lives, and it may kindle a light to connect people through understanding and kindness.

 

 

 

 

Across Many Mountains: A Tibetan Family's Epic Journey from Oppression to Freedom

 

 This is probably one of the best books I’ve read in my life.

 Across Many Mountains is an extraordinary read about resilience and following one’s path in life. Even though we belong to different cultures, I experienced a profound spiritual connection with the three women portrayed in the book cover: grandmother, mother and daughter.

  Invigorating, memorable, astonishing are some of the adjectives I can use to describe this reading journey to understand the Tibetan culture and plight under the oppression of the Chinese government, as well as the intricacies of the hybrid Swiss-Tibetan culture.

 Kunsang is Yangzom’s grandmother, a Buddhist nun who led a peaceful existence in a mountain monastery with her family, until Chinese soldiers invaded Tibet in the 1950s. Chinese soldiers had no respect for Tibetans’ lives, and they committed all kinds of atrocities. They destroyed everything in their path. They vandalized homes and monasteries; they killed animals and people. It was clear to Kunsang that she and her family would not survive such an invasion, so she convinced her husband, a Tibetan monk, that they had to escape to India.

 It was not an easy plan.

 Imagine yourself trekking the Himalayas without proper shoes, with hardly any food and no money. Starvation and misery awaited them. The only thread of hope they clung to was the thought of a new life in India. Their spiritual strength propelled them forward despite the dangerous risks involved due to the presence of Chinese soldiers lurking close by. These violent men were prepared to catch and assault them to prevent them from fleeing from Tibet.

 Across Many Mountains shares every detail about Tibetan culture. There is no sugarcoating in her descriptions, and we also witness their struggles in India as the refugees toiled to make ends meet under the abuse of employers who took advantage of their desperation. Kunsang lost her husband and one of her children during this excruciating period of their lives, but she carried on with her only daughter left: Sonam.

 Kunsang and Sonam managed to survive in different places in India. When Sonam was a teenager, she worked as a waitress at a luxurious restaurant in India. That was when she met a Swiss student of anthropology who fell madly in love with her. His name was Martin Brauen. With their extremely different cultural backgrounds, their challenges appeared to be as insurmountable as trekking the Himalayas as refugees, but tolerance, patience and respect proved to be invaluable in their relationship and the understanding between both families.

   The Chinese government fabricated a narrative to justify their cruelty in Tibet, a scheme that Vladimir Putin also used to invade Ukraine. It is the way tyrants proceed, but, unlike Ukrainians, Tibetans had no outside support or help to fight against the Chinese soldiers.

  The Chinese government claimed to "modernize" Tibet. However, in the year 1986, when the exiles were allowed to visit Tibet, Kunsang and her family found that the villagers had no access to running water. They had no toilets and no baths. The air was heavily polluted by Chinese factories; the precious forests that had cheered Sonam's childhood had been cut down.

 “Though the rugged ridges of the Tibetan Alps were the same, the rest of the landscape was different from that of her childhood. Much of the deep forest had given way to scarred, rocky slopes or weed-choked valleys. The Chinese had chopped down the once never-ending wealth of trees, transporting them back to a motherland greedy for construction material and fuel. They did not replant the forest.”

 The Chinese government meticulously suppressed the Tibetan culture and restricted the freedom of Tibetans’ citizens. Abductions, torture, persecutions are part of the system imposed by the Chinese government since the beginning of the  invasion. The author explains how Tibetans are monitored when they try to communicate with their relatives overseas.

  “Everyone knows that phone calls are tapped and regularly cut off when the wrong subjects are mentioned. All too often Tibetans who have made calls to the West receive visits from the police. As in all dictatorships, any contact with foreigners is treated as suspected espionage. The only difference in this case is that the international community doesn’t classify the People’s Republic of China as a dictatorship, even though there are no elections and no self-determination for the various nationalities, no right to freedom of expression, no free press, no unmonitored contact with the rest of the world, and no independent justice system. Any small state that restricted its citizens’ rights so strongly would be ostracized by the international community, yet the rest of the world courts China’s favor and in 2008 allowed it to present itself as a peaceable host of the Olympic Games…”

  Yangzom Brauen, the author of Across Many Mountains, was detained in Moscow for protesting against the decision to hold the Olympics in Beijing in the year 2008 . Thankfully, she was soon liberated with the help of the Swiss Embassy.

   The lives of Kunsang, Sonam and Yangzom unfold gracefully in the voice of Yangzom, whose prose stimulates the intellect, paints vivid scenes of their experiences and reveals the personal transformations that ensued after Sonam and Kunzang moved to Switzerland.

 I could not put this book down. There is something surprising on every page, and when I reached the epilogue, I did not want the story to end. It is the honesty of her writing what makes it irresistible and gripping.

  Across Many Mountains was published in the year 2012; it would be interesting to read a follow-up book about their lives. Yangzom Brauen is a very talented writer. You can learn more about her amazing artistic career by visiting her website.

  Feel free to check these articles and websites related to the blog post, to learn more about the topic:

https://savetibet.org/major-ict-reports/

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/land-10142021182417.html

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2022/country-chapters/china-and-tibet

Between Us: how cultures create emotions

 

  Batja Mesquita was born and raised in the Netherlands, and when she moved to the United States in the year 1993, her colleagues at the University of Michigan welcomed her. Yet she sometimes felt out of sync because she was not familiar with various aspects of the American culture, and her lack of understanding led to awkward situations. Mesquita shares her experiences with honesty, putting the pieces of the emotional puzzles of two cultures together.

   Coming from another culture, she was sometimes misunderstood, even when she had the best intentions in mind. There is a process of emotional acculturation that may take place over several years. I was enthralled by how she clearly described her personal experiences, making sense of what happened to her in ways that will relate to others.

  As a person who has lived and worked in different cultures with people from various countries, I think her book is relevant. Over time there is a shift that happens as a result of a process of learning and adaptation, and people become more aware of the nuances that can be the source of misunderstandings, insecurities and disappointments.

   After an insightful introduction rooted in her personal experiences, the author moves on to explain how various cultures mold and shape emotions, and how differences in upbringing condition people to experience and express emotions in certain ways.

   I was touched and inspired by the way Japanese mothers raise their preschoolers to foster empathy in them.  Learning about the unique aspects of various cultures can help us to be more tolerant and understanding of other peoples’ emotions. It can also make us humble and less judgmental. It is a reminder to stay open-minded when in doubt, and to simply accept that we do not have the power to know what is going on in somebody’s unique emotional situation, no matter how much we think we know.  

  Mesquita points out the ways in which cultures differ in terms of emotions. For instance, she states that happiness in American culture is experienced as “excitement”, whereas in Daoist cultures the concept of happiness is associated with a sense of inner peace and being calm. In the case of happiness, I think she seems to paint a black-and-white picture that does not always reflect reality. In our global world cultures influence each other, so it makes sense to accept that the concept of happiness transcends the boundaries of a specific culture.

   The information she provides encourages us to be more empathic toward others’ emotions rather than judgmental. As cities become more multicultural and diverse, this book awakens our awareness on the complexity of  cultural landscapes that may differ from our own; it also invites us to be open to explore emotional terrain that is not consistent with what we are familiar with.

  We have all been guilty of misjudging and misunderstanding others whose upbringing is very different from our own. Between Us lets us see a new perspective and another side of the story.

   It is also necessary, however, to read this book with an open mind, without placing our thoughts and interpretations into rigid boxes, because it is still possible that learning something about somebody’s culture is an open door to stereotype and label others.

   Even though I do recommend this book, I need to admit that there are a few caveats to consider.

    In many ways Between Us feels incomplete. There is too much emphasis on the emotional differences that are forged through distinct upbringings, and the author forgets that despite our differences we share much more common ground than what she cares to acknowledge. For example, imagine a family losing their home to a severe weather event. This can happen anywhere in the world. Irrespective of their cultural background, there will be emotions consistent with grief, such as sadness, distress and uncertainty. I feel the book could have also worked with that which makes us whole: our common ground is a potential medium to awaken empathy toward others. When I read this book, however, I get drowned in the idea that we are so different we should tread carefully as we interact with people of other cultures, but what about our needs? We all have needs; we all wish to be respected and loved. We are not isolated from the environment where we live, so how are emotions connected to the natural environment and to other living beings?

  She  ignored connections that make us who we are, and how cultures may experience these relationships differently. I consider this a weakness of Between Us, for human beings are not the only inhabitants of the planet. If emotions are viewed not just as individual features but as patterns that connect us to others, then we cannot disregard this integral aspect of the situation. 

 Another important weakness of Between Us is that she barely discusses the role of gender. Gender is also an element of influence in the ways emotional expectations are set in various cultures. Yet the fact that she deals with it in such a superficial way is an indicator that she is not paying enough attention to something that influences the process of creating emotions, biases and stereotyping. She could have included gender as part of every culture she mentioned. This topic could have been fleshed out with more information and research. Strangely enough, she said that all her university professors in Amsterdam were male except for one, and it made me wonder why.

  Last but not least, one person’s emotions should not be used to justify a physical threat toward another person. Yet the author insisted on doing this. I disagreed with her assessment of the situation as she trivialized a physical threat on the grounds of one person’s emotions.  Boundaries are necessary as the foundation of respect between people.( I suspect there is an implicit gender bias in her judgment, but she is not even conscious of it!).

  All in all, I do recommend this book, but I think it is incomplete for the reasons mentioned above.  I have raised some points of contention that I hope will inspire the author to write another book, or to encourage other authors to navigate these issues with more insights and research.

 

 

Inside Animal Hearts and Minds by Belinda Recio

 

“If a cat and an iguana nuzzle each other and nap together, and a dog and a fish can ‘kiss’ upon meeting at the boundary between their terrestrial and aquatic worlds, then it’s time for humans to take a lesson from other animals in how to get along.”

Belinda Recio

 You wouldn’t imagine a crow saving the life of a kitten. Yet this is what happened in Massachusetts. Ann and Wally Collito knew that people would find the situation difficult to believe, so they videotaped the interactions between the crow and the kitten. Initially, they thought the crow would attack the kitten.

  The kitten had been abandoned on their property, and the couple witnessed how the crow, which they named Moses, fed insects and worms to the kitten, which they named Cassie. Moses nurtured Cassie and made sure she was safe at all times. This was a clear act of empathy and altruism between species.

 Cooperation used to be understood as one of the qualities that distinguishes human beings from other animals, but scientists are now starting to understand that cooperation is an important element of survival in the natural world. It is not unique to humans. Examples of cooperation in the animal world abound, and this book brings some of those together in a delightful, inspiring read.

   Qualities like loyalty, friendship, a sense of fairness, curiosity, empathy, creativity and even spirituality are not unique to humans. With both research and anecdotes, this book will broaden your perspective. It will help you to dissolve negative stereotypes attached to many animal species, and will enhance your understanding of the world around you.

 The book contains a foreword by ethologist Jonathan Balcombe, who has published over fifty scientific research papers on animal behavior and protection, and is also the author of Second Nature, which I reviewed in My Writing Life blog last year.

 Belinda Recio’s book showcases an amazing variety of heart-warming photos that make this reading adventure even more vivid and vibrant.

 The bad reputation assigned to rats is not justified. Research showed that 50 to 80 percent of the time rats were more interested in helping another rat in trouble than in a chocolate treat. Female crocodiles respond empathetically not just to their own hatchlings but also to those of other crocodiles. They even have playful relationships with river otters. You will learn about dolphins, octopuses, prairie dogs, orangutans, gorillas, parrots, goats, and many other animals.

 Albert Einstein once said that it is easier to disintegrate an atom than a prejudice. Hopefully, Belinda Recio’s book will prove him wrong.

Dive into Inside Animal Hearts and Minds, and immerse yourself in a world of wonder, awareness and empathy. Make sure you share it with the children in your life as well.

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to read my writing on Unlikely Friendships and Unlikely Heroes.

 Till next time.