Q & A with Robina

QUESTION

Dear Robina:

I am seeking guidance on establishing a meaningful daily practice. This is something I am not sure of.

I have been studying Buddhism for around twelve years. Most of my knowledge is through online teachings.

My local Buddhist center holds most of their programs during the week and I work full time. I have not been able to seek guidance from them.

I am unsure of how to incorporate a daily practice into my life and grow my commitment to Buddhism, take the next step, but this is something I desperately feel the need to do. Do you have any recommendations?

Thank you for reading.

S

ANSWER

Happy to hear from you, dear S.

I’m glad to support you in your practice and studies, but before we go further, tell me a little about what you have studied and what you like to practice, what you learned.

Love to you,

Robina

QUESTION

Hello Venerable Robina,

I’m so happy to hear from you. Thank you.

I completed FPMT’s Buddhism in a Nutshell twelve years ago. Since then I’ve attended teachings at my local center, but mainly attended online Dharma teachings. Usually once every few months but more recently once a week. 

My main areas of interest are:

Karma

Suffering – creating our own suffering though harming others and ourselves

Controlling actions (mind, speech, etc.)

Compassion for others and their suffering

Intention

Impermanence

I’ve meditated over the years and formally studied transcendental meditation. But I struggle to meditate now. I only really find this successful if I’m repeating a mantra with meditation beads. But I struggle to incorporate this into my daily life. 

Buddhism has changed the way I relate to others. I’ve worked as a prison officer for several years and now work full time with the homeless. As well as in my personal life I have been provided daily opportunity to apply what I have learnt. Buddhism has given me the tools to change my mind and show compassion in challenging situations as well as have compassion for myself.

I now find that when I attend Dharma talks, a lot of what I hear I have heard for years and I would like to deepen my understanding and practice. I feel I am missing something, unable to take the next step without some guidance.

Thank you so much.

S

ANSWER

Thanks for explaining things, S.

You’re doing well, I must say! I admire how you deal with your life.

First of all — I forgot to ask you — it’s excellent to ground your studies and practice by formally taking refuge and the five lay vows.

Second, yes, you need to further your studies: this is good for the mind, gives us enthusiasm, and of course increases our knowledge of the Dharma and our commitment to practice.

There are so many good programs online these days, as you must know. The FPMT has many centers running more advanced studies; for you, it’s a question of finding those that suit your time zone.

Many people these days connect with centers in other cities, other countries. People find their community this way now. So do some research. 

In England Jamyang Buddhist Centre has many students studying the more advanced programs with Geshe Namdak, who’s Dutch and who teaches, of course, in English.

In Australia there are a few centers offering programs, as well as in the US.

In Italy there’s Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa where they too teach more advanced courses and translate into English.

Anyway, do some research, see what you come up with.

Meanwhile, I’m more than happy to stay in touch, to support your studies and practice, S!

Let me know your thoughts,

Robina

QUESTION

Dear Robina,

Thank you so much for your guidance.

I have booked in to FPMT’s Exploring Buddhism course. I think the content will be very helpful. And I’ll continue to attend my local center.

Are you able to provide guidance regarding taking refuge and the five lay vows? Taking vows is something I have thought a lot about and I wish to do. I am not sure how to do this as I do not have this guidance from a teacher.

Kind regards, 

S

ANSWER

Well done, S! So, so pleased about Exploring Buddhism.

As for refuge and the vows, you should take them from a teacher you feel connected to.

I give them from time to time online; if you want — please confirm — I can put you on my list and inform you about when I’ll do them again.

Love to you, S,

Robina

QUESTION

Good morning, Venerable,

Yes, please! I would love for you to add me to your list for vows and refuge. I can definitely say I feel a connection to you. I have been watching and participating in your online teachings for over ten years. I really enjoy the way you teach and feel a connection to your presence and your words.

Kind regards,

S 

ANSWER

Good, S! I’ll keep you informed.

Also, here are some PDFs of teachings: a very simple presentation of the lamrim and another covering karma, death, compassion, etc.

Also attached is the PDF I send to people once they’ve taken refuge and the lay vows. You could become familiar with it now if you like; among other things, it describes how to set up a daily meditation practice.

I have versions of these formatted for easy reading on a phone, if you’d prefer.

With many prayers of inspiration, S,

Robina