Jerry Springer at SA Homeless Shelter - Shelter Sit-Dec 26th

(HMP Newsletter from YTDR Floresville)

***Updated 12-31-O9: "What you are about to read, is a Dramatized Version of what really happened. If you are a Writer or Public Speaker, you know that first...you must get the audience's attention. This event did happen, although if you were in group that day, I doubt that you would even think it was something worthy of Blogging about.

I did a little skit, for dramatic effect and then we had our usual meditation class. No Harm. No foul. But because I also blog about these experiences, I tend to lean toward the Grandiose. It's like the Evangelist who tells you about 'The Great Revival'..."There must have been two thousand saved that day!" But you remember being at that Revival, and there were only about a hundred people there, albeit..most of them 'were' really touched by the message.

I am not crazy, and I'm not dumb. I am just a Buddhist Teacher whom is willing to use 'Skillful Means' to bring my audience back to the present moment so that they can actually hear what is being said.

There is a video camera in that room and if anyone wants to see the video, Please, contact the San Antonio Downtown Shelter. That being said, enjoy the blog"****




We had a good sit this Saturday Dec 26 at the Homeless Shelter.


I knew what I wanted to discuss in group this morning, but my 'Acting Abilities' even surprised me. The topic came from a discussion I had had with a Resident a couple of weeks ago.

It was the type of conversation you hear everywhere. You hear it at work, with friends, with your family, in the Super Market, and on TV. The guy I was talking to was 'Bad Mouthing' the Staff and the Shelter. He was using a lot of "They and Thems."

So after our first five minute Vipassana Meditation, I rose straight up, turned around, and threw my chair across the room! It went bouncing, spinning, skipping, and finally.... crashing against the back wall! (That side is used for storage, so it was safely done.)

But wait, let me set the scene. The guys are circled up, just coming out of their meditation. The room is also occupied by people who are talking loudly and generally not giving a crap that we are trying to do a meditation group. So, when the chair went crashing across the room, not only were the people in the group surprised...but the whole room got deathly quiet.

After the chair came to rest, I turned around and started yelling, "If they would give us comfortable chairs around here! Then maybe we could meditate better! If they would feed us descent food! Maybe we would feel better! If everybody in this room would Shut Up Once in Awhile! Maybe we could concentrate!"

I stomped over and grabbed the chair and then came stomping back. One of the Staff Members came flying out of her office and stood there watching me. I set the chair upright, and sat down. Everyone was holding their breath.

"See, isn't that how are minds work? How easily our emotions drag us around? We are so busy trying to fix or blame the outside world for our problems...and never get down to the real issue....which is fixing ourselves."

First one guy started laughing, then another, and then the Staff Worker, then the whole room. They suddenly realized that they had just witnessed a dramatic illustration.

The rest of the session went well, also. The room was quieter, even the people outside the circle were listening. I had their attention. When I was leaving, one guy grabbed me by the arm and laughed, "Man, I can't believe you did that! You even had the staff freaking out! But I understand what you were trying to get across."

So, I had fun, but I don't plan on doing that 'exact' type of thing again, It scared a few people more than I had intended. Although, Buddha did use Skillful Means to convey his message.....I don't think he was much on throwing chairs.

peace,

jon
http://homelessmeditationpractitioners.blogspot.com/

http://ytdrfloresville.wordpress.com/


Even after all this time
The sun never says to the earth,
"You owe Me."

Look what happens with
A love like that,
It lights the Whole Sky.

~Hafiz