Bodhi and Sensei
in Death Valley, 1998 

1994, preparing to meditate

When I first heard that Shibuya Sensei meditated hours and hours and hours a day, I didn't understand why anyone would want to do that. I saw meditation as a way of practicing your mind so that you could get more out of life; the calisthenics to give you a healthy mind. At age 26, I already had a long background in meditation from the spiritual center I was raised with and through my practice as a Soto Zen student. The later is quite structured and disciplined in the practical process of meditation sessions and contrasted with the self-determination required to sit as long as you can or as long as you choose to with Shibuya Sensei in the garage meditation hall behind the temple.      When I first met him at UCLA in 1992 I was so impressed by the clarity with which he described meditation. I felt like I was hearing myself describe it to me, and the meditation process began to make more sense. I started practicing with him 3 or 4 times a week for 1 to 4 hours. He inspired me to challenge myself to reach greater success in my meditation, which I did in Spring of 1993. By regularly sitting in 2nd or 3rd Jhana, I realized that life and meditation are the same thing -- that the same situation exists with both. I also let go of my ideas of meditating to greater success to impress my friends.      Along the way, I published his book Wakeful in 2000 under the name Bodhi's Press.  My goal was to print copies of my teacher's book both as a gift to him and as a gift to those who may study with him. I was not trying to accumulate good karma points or anything silly, I was just so moved by what I had learned -- to experience jhana -- that it was a pleasure to provide such a clear description to my friends and other persons interested in meditation.      I was ordained, receiving precepts as Bodhicari Bodhi (Bodhicari = lay minister-teacher, see precepts below) in May 1995 at the Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhist Temple where he lives (Dharma Vijaya Bubbhist Vihara). I led the UCSD meditation club in 1995-1996, wrote a few things (article, sutra), and led a couple 1-day events in WA/2004 and in CA/2010. I've been inactive with the Theravada community since around 1998, but maintain contact.      Over the years, we've become friends and have traveled from LA to places like San Diego, Catalina Island, San Jacinto, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Mt. Whitney Portal, Sequoia, Antelope Valley, Summerville/OR, Mt. Vernon/OR, and I visited his hometown in Japan as well. Generally our trips were in search of a good place to meditate, though I enjoyed them as adventures too.      I've practiced with him for so many years and learned so much, like how a person can love meditation, and how understanding one's self can be of vital and consuming importance. Still, I have yet to fully let go and enter the stream as they say. The conversations, adventures and people I've met with him take second only to the practice sessions when I've observed his good example and tried to demonstrate the same. He continues to be my good example.

Bodhicari Precepts (in Pali):
*Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. I undertake the precept ...to refrain from killing.
*Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami.  ...to refrain from stealing.
*Kamesu micchacara veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. ... to refrain from sexual misconduct.
*Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. ...to refrain from lying.
--Pisunavaca veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. ...to refrain from backbiting.
--Pharusavaca veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. ...to refrain from using harsh or abusive speech.
--Samphappalapa veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. ...to refrain from idle conversation.
*Sura meraya majja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. ...to refrain from intoxicants.
--Miccha ajiva veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. ...to refrain from wrong livelihood.
--Sabba sattesu metta sahagatena cetasa viharana sikkhapadam samadiyami. ...to live with loving-kindness to all living beings.
--Yavajivam aham ratanattayam na niggahessami samadarena tam garukarissamiti sikkhapadam samadiyami. ...to not revile the Three Treasures but cherish and uphold them.
--Karun upaya kosalla pariggahita dasaparami paripurana sikkhapadam samadiyami. ...to practise the Ten Perfections with compassion and skill.

1990's photos:

tea at the temple Carlsbad flower fields Carlsbad flower fields walking in Vista Bodhicaris Bodhi cedar forest, Japan Mt. Haguro-san, Japan movies in Hollywood dinner in Beverly Hills home zendo be wakeful

For information regarding my current activities as a Buddhist Minister & Teacher, visit: http://psiontist.com

Bodhicari Bodhi, P.O.Box 11131 Newport Beach, CA 92658-5019, bodhi@pacceka.org.