New Website and Blog for Deer Park

Thank you for the updated site. Thank you for sharing the Deer Park with the world through the internet. I'm thankful for your labors.

I am so grateful for the ability to take refuge each week in the tri-fold community at Deer Park. You all, monastic and lay practioners, support me in ways I have never before experienced. You inspire and encourage me, lead me through darkness, remind me of my Buddha nature and of what is real. Thank you for your continued love and support!
Unconditional Love of the Heart

Thank you for your hard work on the new website. I am totally impressed and enjoy greatly the new features such as vcard, blog posting, etc. The font size, however, is hard on the eye for me. If you can include a feature where reader can pick the font size as in some websites I've seen that would be great.

Sr. Dang Nhiem mentioned that photos from India are on the website. Two members of our local sangha are on the trip so we would especially love to see the photos. Can you direct me to the location on the website?
Thanks for many hours of hard work to bring us this website.
Enjoying a crisp fall day at Deer Park, Jan

Thank you for opening the community through this blog to those of us who live a little far away from Deer Park. I will be reading the posted comments with an open heart, so can nourish the sangha within me,

Once again thank you for this wonderful opportunity

For about a year I've been speaking to a very nice woman, who is a Jehova's witness. Throughout this time, I thought we were having a respectful dialogue. However, last Saturday she showed up at my home accompanied by her pastor and told me that I was basically going to hell. I know she has good intentions, but I found her actions very offending. I got angry, but I recognized my anger and I followed my breath. What should I do? Should I tell this woman to stop coming to my home? Has anyone experienced something similar? I would appreciate your comments and suggestions. Thank you!

Dear Mauricio, Thank you for sharing your experience. I don't know what you should do, but I can suggest a technique that has helped me with similar problems in the past. Sometimes when I have a problem, I try sitting or walking with it. I think of the question (e.g., Your question seems to be "What should I do? Should I tell this woman to stop coming to my home?") As I sit and follow the breath, or walk mindfully, I repeat the question over and over again. After a while, it might change to a different question (e.g., the question might change to "What is the purpose of these conversations?" or to something else.) Or I might find that I'm just breathing or walking, not thinking any words at all. That's okay, I just keep going. And after some time, I find that a new understanding has arisen. I see the problem differently, and often I have a better idea about what to do.

To share an example of my own, for a long time I was getting angry with my son (who is 9 years old) for refusing to do his homework and getting in trouble at school. My anger was causing a lot of suffering for both of us. I tried walking and breathing with the question of "How can I make him do his homework and behave better?" I quickly realized that the answer is "I can't -- He's a separate human being and I can't MAKE him do anything." So the question changed to "Why do I feel so angry when he does these things?" and I eventually realized that my anger had a lot to do with my own ego. I was concerned about how my son's behavior in school reflected on me. My anger also came from fear. I want my son to do well in school, to be safe from from poverty and have opportunities for fulfilling work. Practicing with these questions helped me recognize the seeds of my anger, and to transform it into compassion for both myself and my son.

Good luck with your problem. Please post what happens next. I will be thinking of you!

Barbara, First of all, thank you for your sharing a technique to really find the source of my anger. Just by reading your words, I felt at ease. I will follow your advise and I know I will find the wisdom to act with understanding and compassion. This nice woman will be at my door tomorrow, and I know we'll find a way to communicate without prejudices or resentments.

Thank you for the many hours of thought and work that went into creating this space. Thank you for creating a space for those of us who cannot be at Deer Park physically to share and discuss our practice together. Working and taking care of my family keeps me away from Deer Park most of the time, and I miss it terribly. I'm very happy to have a way to be with the community and to hear the voices of other members of the Sangha.

Hi Mauricio
I was really intrigued by your 'situation'. How did it go?
I've often heard the term 'teachable' moment, but see the situation you describe as a 'practicable' moment! My husband and I often see our challenges today not in terms of bad, hard, or frustrating...we just try to say to teach other.."What another good opportunity to practice!". It is kind of funny, but it works. When I read your situation, I wondered what would happen if you just had them in and had a cup of tea and responded not at all, or with a "thank you for being concerned about me." On the one hand, I know I would feel like you in the same situation. But, there is a way to see it that she may be doing this because she cares about you and she truly thinks that you need 'saving'.
I also struggle with this. I have to stop myself from evangelizing (sp?) about the pracice a lot. I see so many people who would be helped by the practice, but know that all I can do is offer my presence, my example, and my happiness.
I think this is a really great issue for discussion