Re:Awareness is the key

[Guest guest]

Kundalini-Yoga , " Satsimran Kaur "

<satsimran wrote:

>

> One of the reasons for doing Kundalini Yoga (at least in my day), was so

> that we could develop our intuition and know the consequences of any

action

> or sequence of actions that we engage in. I think these alcohol

strips are

> a good idea, but can't understand why we would be in a bar drinking

in the

> first place. In trying to figure it out, and giving the benefit of the

> doubt (don't want to judge) perhaps it is for dancing and we are

drinking

> soda water? However, this brings to mind the translation of an old

saying

> that Yogi Bhajan referred to when letting us know the importance of

knowing

> what the consequences of an action could be. It is, " Don't leave

your house

> unlocked and then call the other man a thief. "

>

>

>

> With love and prayers, satsimran

 

Almost a year later, Have you changed your tune?

 

 

Monks and priests across the world often wonder how to make their

religious faith relevant to the younger generation.

 

In societies where life is busier than ever, where cities are swelling

and families dispersed, the religious rituals of yesterday do not seem

so relevant.

 

But in Japan, a group of Buddhist monks are trying to change that.

They have secured a regular spot at a jazz bar where they seek to

enlighten and entertain.

 

Chippie Sound Music Bar is tiny and full of smoke - not incense,

though, but cigarette smoke. This is a bar after all.

 

There is cold beer on tap and a cool crooner on the stereo.

 

 

It's amazing. The Shomyo sounded great. I feel really relaxed

Bar visitor

 

This is not normally where you would expect to find a trio of monks.

 

But Hogen Natori and his two friends believe this is as good a place

as any to spread the word about Buddhism.

 

As they make their way to the stage they ring a small bell. The small

crowd falls silent.

 

Then the chanting begins and strangely haunting melodies fill the space.

 

It is Shomyo chanting, a style of Buddhist chant found only in Japan.

 

Warm response

 

This is what you might call " Buddhism-lite " though. It is performance,

not preaching.

 

After their first session on the stage, which lasts about 20 minutes,

they sit down with the audience for a drink and a chat.

 

 

Monks chanting in the bar

Come and join us. We are telling people what Buddhism is, what monks are

Hogen Natori

 

One of the monks gets a bag of balloons out of his pocket and starts

sculpting balloon flowers for some of the older ladies sitting around

the room.

 

" Many Japanese don't want to come to temple, " Hogen Natori says. He is

standing behind the bar where he has lit up a cigarette as he chats

with the drinkers.

 

" They think Buddhism is very difficult, and deep and serious, but

Buddhism is much more than that - exciting, funny even. I want to

spread this kind of teaching. "

 

He feels people are more receptive in a bar, when they are drinking

and with friends.

 

Relaxing sounds

 

He gets a warm response from the crowd.

 

Some are a little older than you might normally expect to find in a

bar like this, but they are clearly charmed by the younger monks.

 

" It was wonderful, " says one woman.

 

" It was my first time but I am really glad I came to listen to it. The

chanting itself was superb and so close by. It was wonderful. "

 

A monk in the Tokyo bar

The monks have faced criticism of their decision to perform in bars

 

Another first-timer was similarly impressed. " It's amazing, " he said.

" The Shomyo sounded great. I feel really relaxed. "

 

The monks say that their decision to perform in bars like this has

upset some Buddhists. One woman told them they should not " lower

themselves " in this way.

 

" What do you say to your critics? " I ask Hogen Natori.

 

" Come and join us, " he replies. " We are telling people what Buddhism

is, what monks are.

 

" When people hear our chants they look relieved, " he adds. " How nice! "

 

Then it is time to get back on stage for the second half.

 

Again silence, and then again the haunting chants of a bygone age, the

three shaven-headed monks in their grey robes kneeling in front of us,

sharing their faith with the drinkers.

 

 

>

[Guest guest]

I found this story extremely uplifting. Thank you so much for sharing it.

 

Of course the Bhuddist monks in the bar are absolutely correct. I

find it funny but not surprising that some people felt they were

" lowering themselves. " After all, we are One and the goal of the

spiritual person is to be the dust of the feet of reality. No one in

that bar is less worthy of awareness than someone at a yoga retreat or

zen center, and it is the height of spiritual ego and ignorance to

think otherwise.

 

It is the Western puritanical strain that says some places are good

and other bad. It is the same limited mentality that would listen to

you tell an uplifting story of spirituality at a bar, but respond only

with a veiled condemnation asking why you were at the bar in the first

place.

 

If Yogi Bhajan had declined to teach freaks and drug addicts, there

would never have been a 3HO. And those who stay freaks and drug

addicts never become less worthy of spiritual access than the ascetic

yogi in a cave who touches nothing but water.

 

God bless those monks. Perhaps there is hope for spirituality in this

new world.