A Dhamma wish.

I have always considered myself to be perfectly blessed in my life, from the most difficult moments to the most pleasant and everything in between. For twenty two years I trained with a Master who showed me how to accept simply having life as the gift it is. Without the ever changing conditions that we meet in this endless stream of different moments how could we understand the reality of impermanence, the complete absence of a fixed self, or the true cause of our struggles and endless difficulties?

In other words, how could we Awaken?

Life is the gift and the different conditions we meet are the seeds to our illumination.

When my teacher felt my understanding was sufficient he sent me into the world to share the beautiful Dhamma of love and awareness so that others could benefit, as I had benefitted.

In my mind it never occurred to me to become famous or rich, only to serve Dhamma and my Master, as they had served me.

I was sent to India, to Budh Gaya where for many years I taught traditional and authentic Vipassana retreats at the International Meditation Centre, supported by my first disciple and Dhamma friend, Henry. Here we worked tirelessly to present the best retreats we could and were often both exhausted by the end.

At the end of each ten day retreat would sit outside in the afternoon sun, sipping a chai and awaiting the new arrivals for the next ten days, and it seems now, always had the same conversation.

Dhamma is for sharing. It is a gift to the world and all beings because it is established and supported only by love. Here there are no inequalities based on gender of social or political status, only the intuitive recognition that all beings are equal, and so deserve respect and consideration at all times.

So we would continue our conversation by cautiously wishing that a generous millionaire would arrive and offer freely a Dhamma Centre to us, where people could come to study and train. They would be able to stay for a long time, meditating each day, receiving teachings and perhaps working in the garden or kitchen a little to support the Centre. They would be able to take a rest from the world, to gather their strength and so return refreshed with new understanding.

The Centre would at all times manifest the necessary integrity and compassion to appropriately use the word Dhamma in the title.

Of course, it never happened, and Henry died four years ago, but I still have the dream. To offer Dhamma to all beings. To make a place available for them to come and reconnect with their Dhamma heart so that their life becomes a blessing not only to them but to every part of life they touch.

I do not seek fame, fortune or new age celebrity, only the possibility to touch and serve others.

May all beings be happy.