Daily Support from Sravasti Abbey During Covid-19

Thousand-arm Chenrezig, sravastiabbey.org

Every day one of the residents at Sravasti Abbey gives a short talk as part of a series known as "Bodhisattva's Breakfast Corner" (the BBC).

These daily talks are filmed and then shared on the Sravasti Abbey YouTube channel. To find them look for the videos named "BBCorner."

They can be in response to breaking events and news stories, and I have found this aspect of the BBC to be very helpful when I need some instant support and help with how to think.

Here is the Sravasti Abbey April 2020 eNews, received on April 1.

"Despite hearing the Buddha’s teachings about impermanence, most people were taken by surprise by the coronavirus pandemic. We thought it was in a far-away country, that such things wouldn't happen to us. We thought that the government was on top of the situation. And then in less than two weeks, our lives changed drastically here in the US.

"We’re all in this together and it’s an opportunity to genuinely put the mind-training teachings into practice. To this end, many of our Bodhisattva's Breakfast Corner talks have been on this topic because we know many people are disoriented, anxious, and fearful. The Dharma can really help our minds in this situation.

"Please watch these talks on Youtube here and use the Buddha’s teachings to transform your mind, to see the goodness in the world, and to dispel anxiety. You can find more practice resources on our website here.

"Many of you have emailed us to ask how we are and if we need anything. We are so grateful for your care and compassion. We’re well and have good circumstances for sheltering in place compared to so many people. Only one person goes out once every two weeks, so we have little danger of infection, and we can take walks in the forest and meadow, unlike people living in the city.

"Three of our friends are stuck in India and Nepal and cannot get out because all international flights have been canceled. We’re trying to help them, but embassies are not very responsive now.

"We've moved upcoming teachings and events online as much as we can. Check the Abbey website Events page to stay in touch with ways we can share the Dharma together.

Sravasti Abbey"

I watched several of the videos in Sravasti Abbey's new Covid-19 pandemic series and particularly liked this talk given by Sravasti Abbey resident nun Venerable Thubten Chonyi.

In her talk Venerable Thubten Chonyi references the Thousand-arm Chenrezig, known as Guan Yin in Chinese Buddhism. This deity, known as Avalokitesvhara in Sansrkit, is the bodhisattva of compassion, embodying the compassion of all of the buddhas.

You can listen to this beautiful recording of the Chenrezig mantra here on loop.

OM MANI PADME HUNG

Sravasti Abbey's Events page lists this upcoming event:

Sharing the Dharma Day Sunday, April 12 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM PT followed by afternoon discussion

It will be livestreamed on Livestream.com. Having not yet had the chance to visit Sravasti Abbey in northeast Washington State, I am looking forward to joining remotely after watching this four-minute welcome video about the monthly Sharing the Dharma Day event.

There are more resources on Sravasti Abbey's Covid-19 Practice Resources & Teachings collection on their website.

Sravasti Abbey was founded by American Tibetan Buddhist nun Ven. Thubten Chodron, a well-known teacher and author who has co-written four books in a series known as The Library of Wisdom and Compassion with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She received novice ordination from His Eminence Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in 1977 and full ordination in Taiwan in 1986.

You can watch Ven. Thubten Chodron teach on The Foundation of Buddhist Practice, the second volume in the The Library of Wisdom and Compassion series, on Friday nights 6:15 PM - 8:00 PM PT on Livestream.com. The videos are archived on Livestream.com.