Nirvana Day

Today is Nirvana Day, the celebration of Buddha's death at the age of 80, at around 487 BCE. It's celebrated in East Asia on February 15th, or on February 8th by some.

Buddhists celebrate the date of the death of the Buddha, because death is when the soul is released from the body to experience Nirvana. The word Nirvana means "to extinguish", but it's really more of a transformation to a new kind of existence. Nirvana is usually described as a state of bliss or peace, and a release from all physical suffering. The Buddha taught that Nirvana was beyond human imagination, and so speculation about what Nirvana is like is considered by some to be foolish.

Agenda for today:

1. Read the Buddha's teachings

2. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft"

3. Ancestor practice

4. Ongo Journal

5. Set intentions for Lent

1. Read the Buddha's teachings:
Nirvana Day is a time for contemplation of the Buddha's teachings. Some monasteries and temples hold meditation retreats. People visit and bring gifts of money and household goods to support the monks and nuns.

Buddhists often read passages from the Nirvana Sutra today, describing the Buddha’s last days of life. The message of this sutra is that all beings possess a "Buddha nature", and have the ability to reach enlightenment. This lines up well with the Quaker belief that there is "that of God" in each person.

2. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft":

I'm reading this sweet little book by Sarah Lyons (2019) that I got from my daughter for Christmas. The subtitle is A Guide to Magical Activism.

Chapter 2 is Shaking Off the Dirt, about letting go of lethargy so we can change the world.

The first section is A Disenchanted World - "...a place of separation - from each other, the land, nature, our bodies... It's a place where all the magic is gone, and it's our job as witches to bring it back."

She is talking about cynicism and nihilism, which is being wished on us by the powers that be because it gives them power over us. We are cutting down forests, poisoning waters, and causing animals to go extinct in the service of making our stuff - "Someone with a name and address makes a lot of money for producing those those negative consequences..." and they don't want you to question where they come from.

We are fighting a worldview that makes all this disconnection possible, and the way to fight it is to stay connected, with other  humans and with spirits all around us. "I can't tell you exactly how to re-enchant the world where you are, but I have some ideas to help you get started."

3. Ancestor practice: 

I still haven't made this ritual a part of my routine, so I'm repeating it today: The ancestors I'd like to connect to are the English witches and shamans who were wiped out during the inquisition - those grandmothers of mine who knew the earth as a part of themselves.

Collect a white candle, and hold a glass of water in both hands, saying, "For all my grandmothers who died because they were close to the Earth."  Then imagine a warm light flowing from me to the cup, so that the water becomes Light. When it feels full, put the water down, light the candle, and offer gratitude. Blow out the candle.

 

4. Ongo journal:

I'm going back through this book by Catherine Madden and Jesse Weiss Chu (2022), focussing on the solo practices. I'm on week 7, and Day 1 is Gratitude List. This section is about "giving our presence to all that enriches our life. ... gratitude is a state of being that reflects our oneness with all that is."

 

Gratitude practice: Reflect on anything that is happening or has happened recently that stimulates a sense of gratitude. Make a list of 10 such happenings, and name the Needs that are nourished by them.

1. Meeting my new Grand-doggy Pippin, and being given the opportunity to grow a new relationship. (Nurturance, meaning, lightness)

5. Set intentions for Lent:

Lent starts this week, and I'm ready to set some intentions.

At Lent I allow myself to be slow, simple, and thoughtful. I spend time each day in focused study and prayer. This year I'm really taking that to heart with a totally simple set of practices. My theme is Being At One with the Earth, because I want to help to  dissolve  the boundaries between myself and nature:

• Devotions: I intend to read Living Earth and Earth Medicine as daily devotionals, and add to my Ongo gratitude list for Oneness, because starting my day with attention to the Earth will open the door to new connections.
• Submersion: I intend to fast from being indoors all day - I will spend much more time outside - walking, doing Oneness and awareness exercises, and simple garden tasks, because this will lead to a deeper experiential connection.
• Earth Action: And I intend to take action on my Nature-Culture book - writing and practicing what I write - creating sanctuary, practicing reciprocity, and producing creative Oneness projects, because I want to model how to shift the paradigm towards unity with all of nature.