Soryu Forall Talk Excerpts

It's well-known that we often find life, the world, and other people to be challenging, overwhelming, exasperating. It may be less well-known that our minds play a large part in shaping those perceptions. We have much power to change them, by purifying the mind of the Five Hindrances—sensual desire, ill will, stupor, anxiety, and shallow doubt. In doing so, we become more able to meet life, the world, and other people with our true capacity for wisdom and love. Even more importantly, we reclaim access to genuine joy and freedom. 

This is part of a talk that was given at a silent retreat in April 2018. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening.
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

Clearing Hindrances To Wisdom - Soryu Forall

Humans can be confused about the nature of many things, such as other people, and superhero movies. Those movies seem to be about people, even though the world doesn't work like that. The real superpower that has allowed humans to change the world is cooperation, whereas a single person doesn't change much. But there IS something that works like a superhero movie, and is even more exhilarating and frightening than that—because it's real. 

This is part of a talk that was given at a silent retreat in February 2019. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening. It references the Ten Stages from the Avataṃsaka Sutra, but knowing the text is not necessary.
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

Like A Superhero Movie, But For Real - Soryu Forall

Words and concepts are useful to us because they're cheap. It's easy to say "I love you." However, the act "I love you" is beyond words, more real than words, and takes real sacrifice. 

This is part of a talk that was given at a silent retreat in December 2019. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening.
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

Go Beyond Words By Taking Action - Soryu Forall

In his own training, Soryu Forall has explored this big question that may trouble many of us who want to serve the world. Amidst the natural sounds of early spring, he shares a story from the Abenaki, a tribe local to Vermont that teaches the wisdom of nature and all living things. This tale about a bear and a brown squirrel (which you might never have seen) can guide us in our own exploration.

This is an excerpt from a talk that was given at a silent retreat in May 2020. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening. It references the Fifth Stage in the Ten Stages from the Avataṃsaka Sutra, but knowing the text is not necessary.
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

Change The World Or Leave It Alone? - Soryu Forall

When facing various critical challenges in the world, from climate change to social injustices, sometimes it can feel as if the world is burning. Nevertheless, it's essential for walking a path of service that we rejoice in being able to walk it in this world. In fact, this may be something we can learn by dealing with a real fire, as MAPLE Head Teacher Soryu Forall did on the first day of a silent retreat. 

This excerpt is from a talk that was given at a week-long retreat in April 2021. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening.
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

Trial by (Chimney) Fire - Soryu Forall

The modern world tends to trap us in an endless and futile pursuit of happiness by accumulating possessions. Making it into a world that liberates us from that instead is an enormous challenge. Yet it's also based on a simple, practicable principle: the basis of true happiness is giving, not getting. This includes reframing getting as giving to yourself, or receiving the gifts of others. 

It's quite possible to test this out and see what effects it has on our lives. By taking up this practice, we do what's needed for liberating all living beings. 

This excerpt is from a talk that was given at a silent retreat in April 2021. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening.
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

How To Make A Liberating World - Soryu Forall

When we encounter challenging situations in life, we have certain choices in how to respond: complain about it, or throw ourselves in. Our teacher Soryu Forall had to make this choice when he was training at Sogenji in his late teens, and was confronted with the seemingly unreasonable requirement to meditate outside at night after each long arduous day. As his choice shifted from one to the other over time, he came to realize that complaining led to hardship, while throwing himself in led to a deep peace and happiness, in which the true struggles can emerge and be resolved. 

This excerpt is from a talk that was given at a silent retreat in April 2021. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening.
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

Choices In Response To Challenges - Soryu Forall

To realize that the basis of happiness is virtue can be a joyful adventure, but it's not easy. We can see for ourselves it takes a lot of trial and error, doing all kinds of stupid things and learning from them. Like us, the fully awakened Gautama Buddha had to do the same. While his former life was that of a prince, his path might have started long before that. More important than whether tales of his past lives truly happened is the question: can they teach us something true that can guide us in our own path?

This excerpt is from a talk that was given at a silent retreat in May 2021. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening.

Humble Beginnings of the Fully Awakened One - Soryu Forall

How many big decisions have you made in your life? Not what college to attend, but truly life-defining choices? In this talk, Soryu gives uncompromising guidance on how to not just go along with the program, but to make real decisions. 

This excerpt is from a talk that was given at a silent retreat in May 2021. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening.
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

How Not To Make Life Decisions - Soryu Forall

Siddhartha Gautama had triumphed over all of Māra's manipulations, but he had one last powerful strategy that would directly strike at Gautama's self-confidence. How was the yet-enlightened bodhisattva able to withstand such a blow? 

Part 1: https://soundcloud.com/monasticacademy/better-to-die-than-live-defeated-soryu-forall-part-1-of-3/
Part 2: https://soundcloud.com/monasticacademy/better-to-die-than-live-defeated-soryu-forall-part-2-of-3/
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

Better to Die than Live Defeated - Soryu Forall (Part 3 of 3)

As Siddhartha Gautama continued his endeavor to fully awaken, Māra returned with his myriad of terrifying armies. We may all be more familiar with them than we'd expect. How did the yet-enlightened bodhisattva survive their attacks?

To hear more, go to Part 3: https://soundcloud.com/monasticacademy/better-to-die-than-live-defeated-soryu-forall-part-3-of-3/
Part 1: https://soundcloud.com/monasticacademy/better-to-die-than-live-defeated-soryu-forall-part-1-of-3/
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

Better to Die than Live Defeated - Soryu Forall (Part 2 of 3)

When Siddhartha Gautama committed himself to not get up until fully awakened, he was challenged by a formidable and cunning foe who didn't want him out of their grasp. How did the yet-enlightened bodhisattva prevail? Soryu retells this most epic part of the Buddha's life story. 

This is Part 1 of 3, which stands well on its own. To hear more, go to Part 2: https://soundcloud.com/monasticacademy/better-to-die-than-live-defeated-soryu-forall-part-2-of-3/
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

Better to Die than Live Defeated - Soryu Forall (Part 1 of 3)

Soryu Forall guides us in finding relaxation and cultivating energy in the body, then exploring how they are complementary for deepening our practice. 

This guided meditation was given at a silent retreat in March 2021.
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

Relaxation and Energy - Guided Meditation by Soryu Forall

What are you willing to do anything for? What is so precious that it's worth giving this life for it? 

These are the questions our teacher Soryu Forall urged us to answer for ourselves. In the last retreat before he leaves MAPLE for a few months, he reminded us in the most uncompromisingly honest way the dire need of truly answering with clarity.

This excerpt is from a talk that was given at a silent retreat in June 2021. 
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

What Is Your Precious Life For? - Soryu Forall

While celebrating the Buddha's attainment of full liberation, it's helpful for our spiritual paths to recount the trials and tribulations he had encountered on his. It's helpful for us to remember that he was a real person like us.

This is part of a talk that was given at a silent retreat in May 2019. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening.
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

Three Stories from the Buddha's Path - Soryu Forall

One of our all-time favorite parts of a talk by Soryu Forall. He draws inspiration from his love of pie to offer teachings on how belief systems such as religions and ideologies function that may be delightfully unexpected. 

This is part of a talk that was given at a silent retreat in February 2020. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening.
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

What Pie Can Teach Us About Spirituality - Soryu Forall

There is so much knowledge to learn in both the material realm and the spiritual realm, that it can be easy to get lost there. Even Kyōgen, one of the great Chinese Zen (aka Chan) masters, had trouble with this earlier on his path. Fortunately, he also had a great master for his teacher, Isan, who helped him find his way back—by refusing to answer questions for him. 

This is part of a talk that was given at a silent retreat in November 2020. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening.

Corrections for the Cantonese pronunciations (in this system, 'j' is pronounced like 'y'):
- Kyōgen Chikan - hoeng1 jim4 zi3 haan4 香嚴智閒
- Isan Reiyū - gwai1 saan3 lin4 jau6 溈山靈祐
- Hyakujō Ekai - baak3 zoeng6 waai4 hoi2 百丈懷海
- Nanyō Echū - naam4 joeng4 wai6 zung1 南陽慧忠
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

The Answers Are Not Out There - Soryu Forall

Through a personal story involving a challenge to eat a dozen donuts, Soryu Forall shows how the stories we tell and the ways we talk to ourselves have an enormous impact on how we live. 

This is part of a talk that was given at a silent retreat in February 2019. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening.
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

We Live the Stories We Tell - Soryu Forall

How can we keep doing all this inner work that can be so challenging and confronting? Soryu Forall offers guidance and inspiration from the life of the great Chinese Zen master, Seppō (aka Xuefeng in Chinese), who was also one of the most hopeless cases in Zen history. 

This is part of a talk that was given at a silent retreat in December 2019. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening.
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

All You Need Is To Not Give Up - Soryu Forall

We may become so attached to certain patterns—conditioned ways of being—that we resist suggestions to change. Oftentimes we're pushed to change anyway by suffering, but sometimes, we may be pushed by love. Thus was the case for Khemā, who attained full awakening through the help of those who loved her. Though she herself had believed that she'd rather stick with the deluded love of patterns, it could not stand against the real love of liberation.

This is part of a talk that was given at a silent retreat in February 2020. This is a time for the MAPLE community to focus exclusively on awakening.
-----
The Monastic Academy is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth.
If you're interested in learning more, go to our website monasticacademy.org

We are accepting applications for 2-3 month-long apprenticeships. The training will provide you opportunities to dive deeply into mindfulness practice in community, working, and dedicated sitting periods. The apprenticeship is FREE with room and board provided.
Learn more here: www.monasticacademy.org/apprentice

Real Love Sets You Free - Soryu Forall

A Modern Monastery (Mindfulness & Leadership Training Center) in Lowell, Vermont https://www.monasticacademy.com/