Rugged Interdependency - Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

Golden Highways Revisited: 1998employment of more paid staff, contracting out such things as lawn-mowing, andthe reduction of volunteer staff to less than 10 people, was all part of the improvements.A little murmur was felt in my heart, however, as so many times, in ourefforts to do things better/more efficiently/effectively, we spoil the very quality ofwhat we’re doing.The ethos of what is provided exists within how it’s provided and if spiritualcommunity is to be dropped in favor of efficient management/professional institutionalism,something very special is going to be lost in the process. Witness thecaustic remarks made about the polish and style of such places as Esalen thesedays. It’s not just a question of worshipping the funky, down-at-heel good ol’ daysbut looking at our core priorities – what do we want to offer to the world as theheart of the Buddha’s dispensation? Would the Master be pleased with what hesaw here? Is it to be Insight Meditation Society or I.M. Systems Inc.? What should welook out for in the development of Abhayagiri? Will we be facing the same dilemmas20 years down the track?Right now there is no vestige of thought to run Abhayagiri with employeesand charges. Like most monasteries it’s a public space: everyone is welcome aslong as they respect the place and keep the Precepts. There is no need to register orpay. As a member of the public you can show up for teachings or not, as you chose.Come and go when you like. If you want to stay overnight you need to find outfrom the guest monk if there is space. But even if you have stayed for three months,and eaten the Monastery’s food every day, no one would even think of glancing inthe donations box to see if you gave anything. It’s not like that… now… Let’s planto keep it this way.We spent a little time talking about Abhayagiri, Edwin was very impressedwith our plans. He took them off to make a copy or two for ideas re the newlong-term retreat center. We also broached the Massachusetts Monastery questionsomewhat but, having put so much time into the other issues, we only skated thesurface. Not that, at this stage, there’s much to say; I was also glad to have it playeddown as IMS is not a particularly desired location for most of the Circle.The evening talk, apropos of a couple of issues that came up in the interviews,was the familiar exposition on Spiritual Friendship/Relationships. It seemed to godown well, even though the Piyajatika Sutta was a main feature, also Visākhā andthe grandaughter … not much sleep … revs too high and howling coyote packs –oh well.April 17 thGrey and rain, April’s grasses drink it up and flowers blush with the touch.Interviews are over in the morning so I spend the whole afternoon sitting in thehall. Powerful peace together with occasional nasal explosions, and when the mindmoves to desire objects or future scams – oscillating between the questions:Is this a person?andWhere is the mind?44