Sometime in the fall of 1967, when I was 13, I bought a used copy of Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. The bright orange cover caught my eye at one of the ubiquitous NYC book stalls across from the Pierre Hotel (coincidently where Alan and I spent our honeymoon!).
I started reading it on my way home on the train, and didn’t stop until I’d read it twice back to back. That’s when I began a meditation practice, which I still do today. I started by spending hours staring into a candle flame (probably stoned). I don’t do that now. I went from Yogananda’s Hindu teachings to Tibetan Buddhism a long time ago. But what I’m excited about is that for the first time ever, we have an actual space dedicated to meditation and yoga in our house. Never had that before.
I don’t consider myself a Buddhist particularly, although I honor the 4 Noble Truths and try to practice the 8-fold path. But I dislike religious dogma, so have never gotten deep into the religion of it all. Since COVID, Alan and I enjoy attending the Monday night dharma talks via Zoom at the Durango Dharma Center.
I did get to meet the Dalai Lama twice, though, once in London at a small gathering in 1970 where he was soliciting donations for the Free Tibet movement. He spoke a few words to me during the Khata ceremony. He said “Keep learning. Go to the mountains”. I think. His accent was very strong. The second time was in NYC around 2004. I was chosen by lottery to attend a day-long retreat for American-Vietnamese monks who had been waiting for years to be ordained by HHDL. It was amazing. This time during the Khata, he said to me “It’s time to give back”. Those words changed my life.
4Fords Journal 