Ataraxia

One of the blogs I really enjoy is Truth is Within, written by a young guy from the far Canadian boonies who somehow ended up in Thailand ordaining as a Buddhist monk. His latest post is a seemingly innocuous update to his settling in at an L.A. temple where he’s been invited to teach meditation. It ends, however, on this startling note:

“Nasty rumours following me from Thailand; not giving them too much thought. Apparently I’m both uncultured and corrupt, and have embezzled donation money as well as insulted my venerable teacher by saying goodbye over the phone.”

I read this with particular interest and sympathy. I have myself just been the subject of my very first internet smear (perhaps that means I’m about to be famous). Apparently I misappropriate donations to support a lavish lifestyle (snort!) and the real reason I’m taking my translator to America to meet my teacher is to atone for an improper relationship with me. Double snort. Oh, and I’m priggish, sectarian, and territorial to the point of undermining the projects of others. I can’t completely deny all of that except the last bit. I checked with the person whose project I was supposed to have tried to “scuttle” and he replied, “Huh?”

But back to our young Canadian friend. I love his two syllable summary of his feelings on the matter:

“Ho hum.”

I couldn’t agree more, and I think about the Buddha’s pithy advice to Cunda in the Sallekha Sutta on “effacement”:

“Others will be cruel; we shall not be cruel here...

Others will speak falsehood; we shall abstain from false speech here...

Others will speak maliciously; we shall abstain from malicious speech here...”

So. To say it directly: in four years I have not misused as much as a single dime of the donations given to this Mongolia project, and there is nothing improper about my relationship with my translator. As everyone knows, this is my girlfriend:

 

Ah, Amaa. Since she can’t recall her actual birth date, just the astrological year (Water Rabbit or some such), this Tsagaan Sar marks her 105^th birthday. Can you imagine? Her attendant just gave me a jingle to say she has come to UB from the provinces to worship at Gandan Monastery during these auspicious days as she does every new year. We’ll find time to see one another after the holiday on Wednesday and I’ll report, with new pix if possible. There are so many false lamas these days, it’s such a dangerously degenerate time spiritually, but this one is the real article.

I still sometimes test/build my vocabulary on the Free Rice site, since the game donates rice where it’s needed, and I learned a new word today: ataraxia. Do you know it? It’s a Greek term, of course. The wiki entry’s quite interesting and this dictionary site lists one definition as “a state of tranquility free from anxiety and emotional disturbance.” Amaa seems to exemplify this, I experience it once in a while, especially lately for some reason, and feel sure it’s the result of steady adherence to virtue, exactly as the Buddha promised.

Please try to abstain from ill will, spreading rumors, or malicious speech toward others, and may you find thereby your ataraxia in this new year.

Comments

[Steve Ford]

Duuude, that is downright strange, who would sling that kind of mud? Have you angered a Republican lately?

[Noah Yuttadhammo]

Kudos, Ven.

Actually, the rumours I suffered through while IN Thailand make the latest seem kindergarten. Three wives, millions in the bank, I'm sure you know the rap.

Look forward to keeping up with your blog as well. All the best.

Yuttadhammo

[Ariel]

Konchog, you still have our support despite whatever fantasies some unscrupulous person would try to assert. I will take your positive attitude as my own example for future behavior when confronted with tis sort of falsehood and hope I can find equanimity or "ataraxia" through this. Khanmdaa and I went out to KPC in MD this last weekend with a few friends, had some buuz and "salat" with Noreen, a few anis, and a few Mongol lamas. It was really nice! They all look forward to you coming back out for a visit soon!!

[Ryan]

Ah. Brings backs memories of the Dulaan "scam" I ran. Nice to know I have company now, cuzzin.

[Konchog]

Ven. Yuttadhammo: I actually do have millions in the bank. They're tugrigs, of course, at 1600 to the dollar, and earmarked for a translation project, but still. Only in Mongolia can I be a millionaire.

And only three wives? You amateur.

[Northmoon]

So you're a millionaire, living in a penthouse apartment! (I'm not even going to ask about the number of wives.)

On the rumours, there seems to be a spiritual challenge in not letting criticism get to you. Even Mother Theresa had her critics and her response to them was very similar to the Buddha's. Her advice in part was as follows:
"If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies;
Succeed anyway."

I'd also love to find some ataraxia for myself, so today I'm thinking nice thoughts about my boss (or at least neutral) instead of complaining.

[Aarlene]

I don't think any of that to be true but what's this I hear about 'buuzing' it up? ;-)

[Konchog]

Aarlene: LOL. Good one, and guilty as charged! Just last night I was invited to someone's home to do prayers and such and buuz was right at the top of the menu. I think if you cut me right now, I'd bleed mutton fat.

[Sis sal]

AAAAAAAAGH - am now addicted to Free Rice site! And now know what albanian currency is - qindar!

Thanks, Bro.