I have gained SUCH a sense of peace these past few weeks! Granted, yes, there have been extremely highly emotional moments here and there but overall I am growing, aware of it, and grateful for the pains and aches.

A lot of this has to do with the lessons I have been learning from a local monk. Right here in Indianapolis, downtown on Pennsylvania Ave there is a Buddhist monastery and everything about him and the way he teaches is amazing and delightful!

I first met Venerable Lobzang Dorje at a networking event for theater folks, back in March of this year. I walked in all excited to learn about how to market my play and maybe even just what marketing IS to begin with. Soon after I got there I turned to see the people coming in and I saw an older black man in the yellow and red robes worn by Buddhist monks and I was AGHAST! I wanted to know everything about him! Who he was, how did he end up here, is he a theater actor??!?

Turns out he is a playwright, as well as a highly educated, well-traveled man, retired professor emeritus, and published author. If these aren’t enough, he also has the audacity to be absolutely hilarious! I’ll never forget the moment I knew I needed to be around him on a regular basis.

“HEY, uh, hey, you’re that MONK, right?? I think I saw you at-“A loud and sweaty man towered over the both of us, having just interrupted our conversation. I tried to remain patient as Lobzang began to answer his questions, his peaceful voice dipping up and down. The other man then interrupted AGAIN, having heard just enough to make the conversation about himself again. 

“YEAH, you’re right! I was there myself after having just finished-" I don’t even actually remember what he was saying, these are just the words and sounds that seem closest. What absolutely blew my mind, however, was that once the loud man started talking over him Lobzang looked at me like Jim Halpert from The Office and ROLLED HIS EYES!! I couldn’t believe it. In that moment he somehow embodied peace, love, enlightenment, and sarcasm?!?

I have only grown to respect him more. He holds a class every Saturday at 10:30 am that is now firmly part of my schedule. This starts out with a lesson plan and ends with lively discussions on sometimes heavy and otherworldly topics such as emptiness vs nothingness, releasing Self and suffering, and how to heal in this world. I sit there in that class, on a bench in the back, facing glowing golden statues on an ornate altar, and I contemplate all the events in my life that have led me to this point. I think about how grateful I am and how every single painful second that I have suffered made me the person I am today, the person that lives for these weekly sessions.

I decided I needed to write his story and help spread his wisdom out to the world. I am so glad that he allows me this privilege, and gives me extra time to go over personal topics I need guidance on. And as always, remaining authentic, introspective, and gentle. Full of jokes and anecdotes about growing up in the south during segregation, teaching at IU of Bloomington, writing plays for black voices and having to contend with non-black actors struggling with the cadence in his lines. The need for more diversity in our theater scene is a topic for another day!

I sat with him after a class and asked about love. I realize that a celibate monk might not be most people’s first option on who to talk to about this but I was curious to hear his answer.

“The perfect person doesn’t exist. Everything you think you need from another, you can give to yourself.” “Oh okay, so keep going with my self-love journey?” “Hmm. That depends.  Where is this ‘Self’ you’re wanting to love?”

I confess that some of the things he says I just write down and hope that I’ll understand it all at another point. But at the same time what I really love about his teachings is that he is able to condense his message down to concepts anyone, at any level of spirituality, can understand.

“You need to live in a way where you come to have true compassion for yourself, because ultimately in realizing renunciation one realizes compassion for oneself. We must renounce our attachment to Samsara and the cycle of birth and death.” This is something I can take and apply to my life right now. I feel comforted in being able to relax about my life and purpose, and understand that all I have to do is be my best self. Sometimes my best self is OUT THERE and bubbly, excited, drawing people in and making things happen. Other times my best self is only able to practice self-care by cleaning so my apartment smells like lavender pinesol and then being in it alone for 2 days, resting and recharging.

I am tremendously excited to publish this first entry. I feel like this is a great way to have his teachings become accessible to anyone on the internet that wants to learn! If you live locally please consider visiting the Dagom Geden Kunkyob Buddhist Monastery. You can find the website here and look at the offered schedule, read more about the teachers, and perhaps donate to the organization if you believe in his efforts. He aims to hold space for anyone willing to listen and learn about how to attain happiness in this world. He is a quiet ally to all and does not discriminate, and has in fact put a lot of work into speaking up for underprivileged groups in our society. He is also an avid gardener, and when not working on his plants and flowers he enjoys shows such as Jane The Virgin, Umbrella Academy, and Queen Sugar!

There is something for everyone at the monastery. Visit soon and get what you need!