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Meditations
By Chuck Stanford, Lama Changchup Kunchok Dorje
The founder of the Rime Center, Lama Chuck Stanford was ordained in 1998 as
Lama Changchup Kunchok Dorje. Lama Chuck writes a monthly column on
Buddhism for the faith section of the Kansas City Star and is the Buddhist
member of the Kansas City Interfaith Council. In addition he is a
volunteer chaplain at Lansing Correctional Facility and regularly
visits Buddhist inmate groups at five area prisons.
Is There Faith in Buddhism?
You may have recently seen in the news or in
a new book the story about Mother Theresa
questioning her faith all her life. Apparently, she
experienced what St. John of the Cross described
as the “dark night of the soul.” She continually
asked God why she didn’t feel his presence
and/or a connection with him.
Faith, in the monotheistic religions, means
believing in a metaphysical God who is personally
involved with our lives. Buddhism is
different because it isn’t based on such articles
of faith. First, the Buddha taught that our suffering
is caused not by outside influences but by
the clinging of our own mind – such as being
attached to expectations of some kind of pay
off. And second, in one of the famous sutras,
the Buddha said not to accept his teachings just
because he says they are true or out of respect
for him, but rather to examine them like a goldsmith
examines gold. And only when you know
there is some value, some benefit to you, should
you accept them. So the Buddha encouraged us
to question – to actually be skeptical.
I think an important question is what exactly
do we mean by the term faith? In the Lam Rim
Chen Mo teachings we are taught there are three
kinds of faith:
• Clear faith is when you see images of the
Buddha, that make you feel good, and they
give you a clear mind and faith in your own
Buddha nature. An example of this type of
faith is when you bow or prostrate coming
into the shrine room or to images of the
Buddha.
• Inspirational faith motivates you to do
spiritual practice. An example of this type
of faith is when we meet great teachers such
as His Holiness the Dalai Lama or one of
our root teachers who visit the Rime Center
regularly. When we actually see with our
own eyes their incredible compassion and
bodhichitta and witness the stability and
balance of their mind, it reminds us that this
is also possible for us.
• Trusting confidence – faith occurs when
you use your own intelligence to guide you
in your practice. An example of this type
of faith is when we experience the results
of our daily practice. We see that a daily
meditation practice can actually transform
our mind from its gross forms of clinging to
calmer mind states.
We are also taught to examine all the Buddhist
teachings from the Four Noble Truths to the
esoterica of the Vajrayana and ask three
questions:
• Does it work?
• Does it stand up to logic?
• What are the consequences of seeing things
differently?
Mary recently told me that she thinks a better
word for faith is certainty. In her hospice work
she visits patients of different faiths – other than
Buddhism. She finds that those who are certain
about their faith are happier and more at ease
when facing their mortality.
So, I think Mother Theresa had faith – I think
she had tremendous faith – because even
though her expectation of feeling a connection
was never realized she had certainty in what she
believed to be true. She had faith because
despite her disappointments she continued
serving the poor her entire life.
I think the message is very clear to us – the
problem for Mother Theresa wasn’t her faith
but it was her expectation of a pay off. And the
same is true for Buddhists. The Buddha taught
that whenever we have an expectation – such as
wanting to feel a certain way, or attachment to
an idea or a teaching, or how things are to go, or
even wanting enlightenment – we continue to be
trapped in suffering. The message is very clear
– through the meditation practice we must learn
to let go. We must let go of all expectations, let
go of attachments and let go of our ego clinging.
Join a Committee
Today
Committees meet at various
times and dates. If you are interested
in becoming involved and
serving on a committee, please
contact the following chairs:
Facilities Committee
Meets the 4th Sunday of the
month after the service at
12:15 p.m.
Teri Brody
barkitup2000@yahoo.com
Programming Committee
Meets the 2nd Sunday of the
month before the service at
9:30 a.m.
Marisa Stanley
risastanley@gmail.com
Gift Shop Committee
Meets the 3rd Sunday of the
month before the service at
9:30 a.m.
Mary Stanford
marystanford2000@yahoo.com
Finance Committee:
Finance & Fund Raising
Committee meets the 2nd
Sunday of the month after the
service at 12:15 p.m.
Bill Golden, treasurer
mochefbill@sbcglobal.net
Membership Committee
Meets the 1st Sunday of the month
before the service at 9:30 a.m.
Chris and Melanie Mikel
chrispmikel@gmail.com or
melaniemikel@gmail.com
Prison Outreach
Chuck Stanford
lama108@aol.com
Help Us Update Our
Mailing List!
If you no longer wish to receive
mailings from the Rime Center
or you have moved, contact us
at lama108@aol.com or
816-471-7073.
Rime Board Officers
Chuck Stanford, executive
director
Stephen Ludden, board chair
Mary Stanford, vice chair
Bill Golden, treasurer
Teri Brody, secretary
Board Members
Bernie Evans
Gabriele Otto
Matt Rice
Marisa Stanley
Toni Wills
2 The Rime Jewel - Rime Buddhist Center Newsletter Winter 2007-2008
Photo by Michele Cavin Lowrie
Schedule
Friday, Jan. 25
7:30 p.m.
First teaching
Saturday, Jan. 26
10 a.m.–noon
Second teaching
Sunday, Jan. 27
10:30 a.m.
Dharma Talk
2–4 p.m.
Third teaching
Schedule
Friday, Feb. 15
7:30 p.m.
First teaching
Saturday, Feb. 16
10 a.m.–noon
Second teaching
Sunday, Feb. 17
10:30 a.m.
Dharma Talk
2–4 p.m.
Third teaching
Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 23
10 a.m.–noon
Yoga Workshop
Sunday, Feb. 24
10:30 a.m.
Dharma Talk
Massage
Feb. 20–25
8 a.m.–8 p.m
Rime Welcomes Teachers
from Many Traditions
Over the next several months, the Rime Center will host a number of prominent teachers who
will offer a wide variety of workshops, retreats, practices and teachings.
Six Paramitas Weekend Retreat
Ven. Geshe Thupten Dorjee, Jan. 25–27
This weekend retreat is devoted
to the study of the Six
Paramitas, also known as the Six
Perfections. They include
generosity, ethical behavior/virtue,
patience, effort, concentration/
meditation and wisdom.
For more information about Ven.
Geshe Thupten Dorjee, see his biography at
www.artibet.com/geshedorjee.shtml.
This informal weekend retreat
asks the questions “How
much do we really know about the
words mindfulness and awareness?”
Retreatants will study
several contemporary Buddhist articles
and discuss their doubts and
experiences. There will be periods
of lecture and meditation.
For more information about Lama
Bruce Newman, see his biography at
www.snowlionpub.com/pages/newman.php
Continued on page 6.
3 The Rime Jewel - Rime Buddhist Center Newsletter Winter 2007-2008
Fees:
Residential Retreat (all teachings): $120 in
advance or $140 at the door, plus $25 per night
stay. Stay includes two meals per day (breakfast
and lunch). Retreatants are on their own for
dinner; there are many restaurants near the Rime
Center and the Rime kitchen is always available
for use.
Non-Residential Retreat (all teachings): $120
in advance or $140 at the door. No meals are
included.
Stages of Awareness Weekend Retreat
Lama Bruce Newman, Feb. 15–17
The workshop is designed for beginners, as
well as teachers and advanced practitioners.
Yantra yoga is a combination of yoga poses
similar to the familiar Hatha yoga and includes
breathing exercises, meditation, mantras and
mudras (hand gestures). The poses flow into a
series of movements, similar to Tai Chi, that create
a healing effect by moving energy through the
energy channels of the body.
Bring a yoga mat, pillow and blanket. Wear clothing
suitable for yoga and don’t eat within two
hours of the start of the workshop.
For more information about Lama Lobsang
Palden Rinpoche, see his biography at
Fees:
Residential Retreat (all teachings):
$120 in advance or $140 at the door, plus
$25 per night stay. Stay includes two meals
per day (breakfast and lunch). Retreatants are
on their own for dinner; there are many
restaurants near the Rime Center and the
Rime kitchen is always available for use.
Non-Residential Retreat (all teachings):
$120 in advance or $140 at the door. No
meals are included.
Tibetan Yantra Yoga, Mantras & Mudras Workshop
Lama Lobsang Palden Rinpoche, Feb. 23
www.lamalobsang.com.
Fees: $30 in advance for each half-day program,
$40 at the door.
This is not a residential retreat, but out-of-town
visitors may spend the night at the Rime Center
for $25 per night. No meals will be served, but
the kitchen will be available.
Call 773-262-8191 or 773-458-6354 or e-mail
blueberyl@sbcglobal.net to make a massage appointment.
Please pre-pay for massages through
the Rime Center by cash, check or credit card.
Fees: $115 for 90 minutes; $145 for two hours.