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!
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