Dear Friends,

The teachings of Buddhism are rich in scope and depth. While a single lifetime is not long enough to explore and practice all of the teachings, to study and to actualize at least one teaching thoroughly, is a worthy goal. The Buddha identified three marks of existence: impermanence or annica, suffering or dukkha, and non-self or anatta. Arguably, the most fundamental insight of the Buddha is that of impermanence. We recognize impermanence in something as simple as the progression of the seasons, and the rising and setting of the sun each day. Everything is changing, even, and perhaps especially, this precious human body. We rise in the morning and go to sleep in the evening. The sun rises in the morning, and sets in the evening. This unfolds each and every day. There is the illusion of constancy, but we know that eventually, even the sun will cease to exist. How curious it is that constant change is the one unchanging truth of our life. 

The practice of meditation is the art of inhabiting the impermanent and the eternal. They are not two. A meditation tradition may point to an impermanent relative side to things, and to an unchanging, essential side. The world is in a constant state of flux and movement, with the appearance of things transforming over time. Yet this shape-shifting all takes place within a seamless and constant thusness. Things are always just as they are. The Way is ceaselessly unfolding as the causes and conditions endlessly woven through the interplay of all things throughout space and time. How extraordinary the world is! When we meditate and study the dharma we align with living reality through the disruption of narrative. Our own self-centered narrative is the most compelling of all, and the restless human world is always competing for our attention as the great wheel of samsara continues to turn. The purpose of a meditation practice and its community of practitioners is to accept this challenge together, incrementally transforming greed, anger and ignorance into compassion, equanimity and wisdom, for the benefit of all. In exploring our human nature, we discover our Buddha nature.

At Long Beach Meditation (LBM), we appreciate and rely upon your continued presence and involvement. LBM is such a positive offering for our local community. This is especially important as we continue to experience a particularly unpredictable period in our country’s history and as we enter a more uncertain era. It is essential that communities where genuine inclusivity and human friendship can flourish are strengthened and maintained. As we approach the holidays and the end of the year, plans for our annual Sangha Celebration are in motion. The Sangha Celebration will take place on Sunday, December 7th. We look forward to this celebratory gathering commemorating the Buddha’s enlightenment, which is our enlightenment. Please join us for great food, fellowship, and fun! This year we plan to share more about the benefits of LBM membership. We hope to encourage those who have not yet joined LBM as members to do so. Many of you are already members, and we thank you deeply for your continued support!

I look forward to seeing you again soon, online, in-person, and at the Sangha Celebration, of course! May everyone enjoy good health and sincere practice as we continue onwards. As always, I welcome you to reach out to me directly at: jokai@longbeachmeditation.org.

Bows,

Jokai

浄
Jo (Pure)

海
Kai (Ocean)