CONTEMPLATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Activity Summary
- Daily practice in the tradition of everyday Zen, as instructed by Charlotte Joko Beck
- 6-day solitary retreat at Dorze Khung Zong (July, 2011)
- Nature-based contemplative practice, Tai Chi, and Yoga, which I practice intuitively; by that I mean, not on a schedule but when “they” call, which is often seasonal – Tai Chi in the summer and Yoga in the winter
Strengths
- I remain committed to Zen practice on and off the cushion and to practicing the spiral of The Work that Reconnects—gratitude, honoring my pain for the world, seeing with fresh eyes, and going forth.
- This semester I have been working with a practice I call “homelessness awareness practice,” that is, stopping when I see someone standing on a street-corner holding a sign, asking for money or help.
I park, get out of the car, walk over to the person, introduce myself, and visit.
Mostly, I listen.
This spontaneously emerging practice emerged from my experience with
community-based learning in PAX 345 with Bridge House, a local
organization that serves Boulder’s homeless and working poor.
Contemplative inquiry, diversity/inclusion, and community-based learning co-
arise and co-mingle in everyday life. If I had not been engaged with
community-based learning, I doubt this practice would have arisen in my
heart-mind stream.
I am inspired by and seek to act in accord with the notion of "not turning
away," the title of an anthology on engaged Buddhism, edited by Susan Moon.
Areas for Growth
Letting go of “the self-centered dream,” whispers Joko.
Note: This reflection follows a form Naropa faculty use to self-assess our contemplative development on a yearly basis.