I found out about MAPLE through Vimukti and different meditation discussion circles. For me, I originally had signed up for MAPLE purely based on these private group discussions and went directly to their website to coordinate and register to visit. Afterwards, I did really struggle with all of the online commentary I had found surrounding MAPLE. It did really strike against my own experiences with Soryu Forall from the popup, where I had a very engaging primer on their approach to foundational knowledge. They lived the practice, and I wanted to see it for myself.
I came without expectations and with full intention to follow any guidelines and instructions given, working towards being a local instead of an outsider. I have found that this had a significant positive impact on my experience. While there were many personal insights, I think the core outcome that is more worth communicating is being able to see the western approach to wellness and retreats as therapeutics to help people feel good about doing bad things in their everyday life in a brief respite of peace. MAPLE is dedicated to a critical view on core Buddhist elements, and their stated goal of the liberation of all beings is very clear and infectious. How do I engage the world I am going back to in a way that isn’t just extracting for personal gain, but instead aims to leave things better than I found it? To me, they have provided me a positive experience to inspire building a life around practice.
Four years ago, I entered modern monastic training with the intention of looking deeply into the mind and heart.
It has turned out to be the most meaningful, impactful, and love-filled decision of my life.
Today, I am ready to take the next step: I am going to ordain and give my life to this path fully.
This means that I am moving to Japan to train as a Rinzai Zen monk!
Two years ago, when I asked a dear friend to tell me how I have changed from my monastic training, he was silent for a while and then said: "You're still you. You're just better at it now."
In moving to Japan and taking on traditional forms of training, I hope to continue and intensify this process -- to deepen in clarity, in wisdom, in compassion, and in my capacity to be of true service.
I got a taste of how meditation can actually reduce suffering in my life. I saw how I initiated those shifts myself, supported by a group of people and a set of intentionally designed life circumstances. The people, the place, the circumstances and the practice together form the monastery. I was drawn to MAPLE specifically because it seemed to be engaged in the current problems of the day (existential risk and AI).