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26 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

wholesome development. That is and being with it in a caring, open, Any final message on how
one more reason why it is in our and curious way. It differs from modern day lay Buddhists can
best interest to develop societies vipassana in that there are no truly practice the Dharma and
that support everyone’s flourishing. specific instructions to focus on enjoy a good life?
suffering, impermanence, and non-
Meditation is a core practice in self. Zen meditation and vipassana I like to keep things simple. Be
Buddhism. Is Zen meditation the are alike in that there are often kind and compassionate, not just
same as mindfulness meditation? moments of great peace, openness, to others, but also to yourself.
Basically, how does meditation spaciousness, and heartfulness, but Don’t expect perfection—just
help us to live a good life? in Zen we observe those moments do your best in each moment.
come and go without attachment. Approach each situation, not from
In my Zen lineage, meditation is Zen meditation teaches us to be the perspective of “what’s in it for
committing to sitting still and paying intimate with experience, to be me?” or “what will I get out of it?”
intimate attention to one’s heart/ present in each moment, to live life but from the perspective of “what
mind/body/environment as one mindfully and heartfully, to notice can I contribute than can make
experiences it moment-by-moment. our oneness with everything, to things better?” Finally, remember
While there is effort involved accept what can’t be changed, and to that being happy is not a matter
in being still and maintaining be grateful for our lives. It also helps of owning more, consuming more,
attention, there is also a lot of us to understand that thoughts and or being better than others, but is
“letting be”—accepting what arises emotions come and go but need not the outcome of living wisely and
without trying to make it different be reacted to or acted upon. virtuously. EH

What is Right

Livelihood?

By Venerable Ajahn Sona

Ajahn Sona is a first-wave Western Theravada traditions in his teachings, in addition to his modern
ordained monk and the Abbot of Birken Forest western sensibilities. His pre-monastic education in
Buddhist Monastery in British Columbia, philosophy, humanities, and classical Western music
Canada. After several years of practice as a lay have aided him in understanding the Western psyche
hermit, he took full monastic ordination in 1989 and in establishing paradigm bridges between East
with Bhante Henepola Gunaratana at The Bhavana and West. Ajahn Sona is also deeply interested in
Society in West Virginia, USA. He later switched the ecological movements of this environmentally
to the Thai Forest Tradition and trained at Ajahn critical time, both at the practical and philosophical
Chah’s monasteries in northeastern Thailand for levels. The off-grid monastery, which he has carefully
several years. Ajahn Sona now draws on both the curated over the last two decades, employs the latest
Sri Lankan and Thai scholastic and meditative in green design technologies and principles.