Vajrasattva Retreat 2005:

On 5 January 2005, a three-month Vajrasattva Retreat was held at Sravasti Abbey. During the retreat, each morning the participants took turns leading their fellow retreatants in cultivating a good motivation for their meditation that day. You may want to read one of these motivations each morning to inspire your practice

Motivations by Miles - Feb 12, 2005

(Theme: Sangha)

Why did you get up to meditate this morning? For the past month and a half you have done the unimaginable; climbed Mt. Meru buck naked, widdled away boulders of negative karma with a feather. Really feel in your heart the purification you've done.

Time and time again you've dragged yourself in here and "mashed your negative, egotistical, self-centered mind. You are brave" as Lama Yeshe would describe it.

I feel that I owe each and everyone of you everything I have. It is unlikely that I would ever be able to do any of this on my own. Thich Nhat Hanh says, "That is why you come (here), to take refuge in the Sangha. You allow the Sangha to transport you like a boat so that you can cross the ocean of sorrow" (Hanh, pg.23). The support of our Dharma family is amazing.

Thank you SO much! Idea: let's dedicate each one of our sessions today to each other specifically.

Together, for as long as this dream lasts, let us appreciate these efforts. We purify our minds to help the ocean of sentient beings who are in great suffering. Please lead us all in taking protection, refuge.