Snowboarding to Nirvana

See more at:
Rama Meditation Society

If you are
looking for an
enlightened
teacher but
have not found
one yet...
or to
simply learn of
Enlightened
Mahasiddhas...

****
Rama
recommended
"The Buddhist
Masters of
Enchantment"
by Keith Dowman
for its wonderful
art work and
stories about
some of these
Mahasiddhas,
all of whom
became
enlightened,
and some of
whom were
women.

For someone
without a teacher
in the physical,
he suggested,
"If your karma
has not led you
to an encounter
with a fully
awakened one
in your current
lifetime, then...
choose one of
the eighty-four
Mahasiddhas"
or any other
fully enlightened
teacher.

He points out
that meditating
upon one of
these teachers
will help create
a connection
and the
practitioner
"will receive aid
from other
dimensions"
in attaining
enlightenment.

Blue Sky Meditation

A Rama student gave a copy of "Snowboarding to Nirvana" to a surfer friend in his 20’s who was a slow reader and the kind of guy who is somewhat laconic in talking. The Rama student was confident the sex scenes in the book would help pull the surfer friend along, but curious what the friend would make of the book overall.

Every now and now, the surfer friend would casually mention, "Yeah, I’m still reading that book you gave me" and not say much about what he thought of it, except sometimes to say, "I like the parts about sex."

The Rama friend patiently waited. As long as the friend was still reading it, this was a good sign.

The surfer friend took off for a trip to Costa Rica to catch some really big waves that were heading in and told the Rama student before he took off, "I’m gonna take along that book you gave me. I think I can finish it there."

Rama had mentioned once that while beginning snowboarding is very simple to pick up with a few lessons even for older people, advanced snowboarding requires more athletic skill and focus. However, Rama rated surfing as more challenging: "It takes years to really get good at surfing. Not many people can really give it the time to get good."

So the Rama friend had respect for the surfer’s abilities, knowing that the laid-back attitude was a covering for a dedicated, passionate soul.

When the surfer friend came back from Costa Rica, he reported in to the Rama student that the surfing had been great. Then he casually mentioned, "Oh, I finished that book", which did not surprise the Rama student. However, what came next was unexpected. The surfer said simply, "It helped me."

"Oh?" said the Rama student, wondering if the shy surfer was alluding to some success with getting laid.

"Yeah. I got in a little trouble on a big wave. And I did that Blue Sky thing. You know, from the book. And it worked!!" he said with satisfaction. **

"Whoa, I’m not sure suddenly meditating on a board on a big wave is the place to start!" said the startled Rama student, a little horrified. The Rama student had been secretly hoping the surfer might give meditation a try, but had pictured it more along the lines of a quiet sunset meditation sitting on the beach.

"But it worked! So that was cool! I was on the board, and it was getting a little hairy, and I pictured the Blue Sky and all the peacefulness, and I got really calm and just rode the wave", explained the surfer.

The Rama student reflected on how the surfer with his strongly developed focus had obviously successfully connected with the technique for stopping thought and while it wasn’t the application that had been anticipated, nevertheless, it WAS really cool that the surfer had jumped there. And the Rama student remembered the "Snowboarding to Nirvana" book did mention about the eighty-four siddha masters *** and how they "did not follow the usual monastic methods of practice as elaborated upon in the sutras".

"Good. Glad it helped."

"Yeah, I’m probably gonna try that Blue Sky thing again", allowed the surfer friend

"That’s cool," replied the Rama student.

** Blue Sky meditation technique described on pages 88-89. As part of the technique, you "feel that you have become the perfect peace and tranquility of the blue sky."

*** pps. 185-187
Note: Rama recommended
The Buddhist Masters of Enchantment" for its wonderful art work and stories about some of these Mahasiddhas, all of whom became enlightened, and some of whom were women. For someone without a teacher in the physical, he suggested, "If your karma has not led you to an encounter with a fully awakened one in your current lifetime, then...choose one of the eighty-four Mahasiddhas" or any other fully enlightened teacher. He points out that meditating upon one of these teachers will help create a connection and the practitioner "will receive aid from other dimensions" in attaining enlightenment.

Let Dr. Lenz's Books Teach | Home to RamaLila