Shasta Abbey, located in Mt Shasta, California, is a Soto Zen Buddhist monastery where I had an inspiring experience that changed my life. I studied Buddhism for 11 years about 10 years ago at Matthew Shasta. I was first introduced to Buddhism during my senior year in high school when we read Siddhartha. I wanted to find out if it was possible for someone to and live, in their life and life or relieve the pain could an existence full of mercy and compassion for others. I did not set a certain path to grasp Buddhism; I read books by monks and nuns from a wide range of different sects. I wanted my trip to be all inclusive, so that I could get what I wanted from H.H. I would like to take the 14th Dalai Lama, Thich Naht Hahn, Nishitani Keiji, and Aung San Suu Kyi, to name a few. I took the vows of retreat in the Tibetan tradition at the Columbus KTC in Columbus, OH from Lama Kathy Wesley in March of 2006. I recalled my time at the center, however short it made me feel like my choice in Buddhism was the right one for me and how I am. he wanted to see the world. Whatever has been said about him, I don’t quite wrap my head around it; I will discard it, because in my opinion, as long as I am not harming another sentient being, and I am trying to do good, I am on the right path. That all changed once I found Mt Shasta.
I need to change my life and figure out how to deal with the emotions of my life through my spirituality. I was thinking along the lines of using “Buddhist Retreat” as my other. I found many, but the reason I chose Mt Shasta was because they didn’t object to participating in their retreat! I was stunned, to say the least. The reason for this is that the monks of St. Shasta practice and believe in the spirit of giving and receiving charity, which is the underlying spirit of true generosity. I laid down a line to begin retreating to one of them, and decided to go towards the end of February.
I took a long trip from Albuquerque, NM to Weed, CA and one of the monks came to the visitor center in town to pick me up and two retreatants who happened to be they were on the bus The reception was for 3 days, we stayed at the guest house, we had meals together with the host and the laymen. residences, who lived in the Abbey, and assisted the monks in various activities, helping the kitchen to prepare meals generously donated by the community (Dana), helping in hospitality or work in the temple. Our days started at 4:30 a.m. and ended around 7:30 p.m. Our day of meditation after meditation time at 5 p.m. actions The exercises are open to all who are interested in learning about the abbey and the work of the monks.
After receiving the retreat, I decided to stay 8 days more. I wanted to take advantage of the beautiful surroundings, to have provided knowledge and wisdom to the monks in a safe and secure place, and to be around sincere people who were serious about learning about Buddhism. Shasta Abbey offers spiritual counseling where all questions and concerns about Buddhism or life in general can be answered as fully as possible by a senior monk. I attended, asking myself how I had found the way in my study and my time at the Abbey. Then in meditation I had an image that I had been trying to control for years. I had to become aware of a death in the family 11 years ago that raised a sense of inquiry in life and how someone who was so dear to me could suffer in a way that was a conscious response to him. I couldn’t get this image out of my head for 11 years. I could not sleep through the night, despite prescriptions for depressants, sleeping pills, or anxiety medication. I signed up for spiritual advice after seeing this image again in meditation and talking to a monk about what was going through my head. The situation unfolded in such a way that I understood what I needed to do to relieve my guilt, anger, emptiness and pain that I felt about the state. I did what he taught (which involved meditation) and worked through the tears, pain, anguish, and distorted memory to see the truth, I loved my brother, and he did what he thought was best to do about anything. he was walking through After that crate, I slept that night. I am not haunted by images at night, nor are the distorted images facing my memory. During the next two days, during periods of meditation, I came to those thoughts from time to time, and I sat with them all, not judging them, not pushing them away. I felt lighter. I felt free to just be okay.
I am so grateful that I found Mt Shasta. I can have spiritual advice today. I do it from time to time, based on some issues I face in my ordinary life, and even though the monks are busy, they take time when they can help. The monks encouraged me to see that there was no inadequacy in myself or others, but I slipped from time to time, but I always remind myself of the lessons I learned at Shasta Abbey.
www.shastaabbey.org
3724 Supreme Dr.
Mt Shasta, CA 96067-9102
(530) 926-4208
