Buddha in Ghana

Long-time Seattle Shambhalian Sala Sweet is abiding in Ghana, where she works with a physician named Dr. Addae, at the College of Integrative Medical Sciences, near Kumasi, the country’s second largest city. She landed in Ghana on March 19 and I will return to Seattle on October 17. Sala works on many amazing projects, and has co-founded an organization called Grow Foundation for Ghana (look for more about that in a separate blog post). Below are some of her reflections about being Buddhist and touching Ghana.

 

Rainy Season Practice
by Sala Sweet

The rainy season begins here in early June. That means some days it rains for 13 hours straight. Most houses here are not built on raised foundations. So if you sit in the house, you are nearly sitting on the ground – grounded. And windows open to the sounds beyond the walls. This morning I am practicing the Sadhana of Mahamudra, with the blessing of the Sakyong’s Office.

Because it is raining medium hard, the normal sounds of the morning are stilled – the voices of vendors, the baah-baah-baah of the goats, the roosters, and most of the birds. The falling rain hits the ground outside the window. Because it has been enclosed by short barriers, it has formed a pool and the water from the rain and the roof cascades into that pool, sounding like a waterfall. A slow, methodical drip into a bucket inside, coming from a leak in the roof adds a steady rhythmic beat.

And I practice. Buddha sitting on the table in front of me. Duality ceases for momentary flashes. A bird with one insistent tweet brings me back when my mind wanders. Phat. Thunder accentuates the end of the practice. And the smooth coo of doves announces peace.

Each time I do this practice I learn more. A new sentence will stand out and offer me insight. I am grateful.

Creating Enlightened Society

Well, this is a huge topic. I share some of my humble observations living in an African culture. The age of materialism has reached this country, Ghana – at least in the urban areas, which constitutes a large percentage of the population. Separated from the support of a village, where everyone knows they are in some ways supported and acknowledged, those living in urban areas have entered the age of materialism. Owning status cars, building impressive houses (often started but not finished) and connecting to the earphones and texting pads of technology we have entered the age of materialism. For those who have the means. But most do not. And so they are struggling to survive without their village.

As the Sakyong says in “The Shambhala Principle” – “Because of the perpetual play of interdependence and impermanence, it is very unlikely that a world as big and unruly as ours will ever be dominated or united by one spiritual tradition. We must support the unique qualities of various traditions, for that is the fabric of humanity”
And so, I aspire to understand the spiritual and societal tradtions of where I am and search for ways to bring people I meet to a realization of their basic goodness.

Many in this culture rely on the external God of Christianity or Islam. The basic tenets of those religions are generosity and living a disciplined life. But as presented to practitioners they often expound the basic wrongness of humans and offer the opportunity to be saved by a god who will make them pure and take care of everything. And so, sometimes, and I don not want to dismiss all the acts of charity performed by religious communities, sometimes, greed and dishonesty occupy six days of the week. This creates a culture where children are taught form birth that they should not be curious, should not question. And dishonesty is accepted as a common trait. A common trait that your family and community may expect you to uphold. A trait that most Ghanaians believe is impossible to change and therefore you shouldn’t try.

How does a Shambhalaian walk through this? How does an aspiring bodhisattva give?

For me, I will work with programs that teach people of their potential and encourage them to exercise it. I will begin each day with meditation, reminding myself to relate to those I meet during the day as a fellow human being, not an observer. You don’t always see the seeds you plant grow into flowers.

Meditation Guidance

I have been wondering whether I can take my training as a Meditation Guide to people here in Ghana. Buddhism is a very exotic and little understood concept in Ghana. There is one Buddhist Community – Nicheran – which I meet with occasionally. But their practice is chanting, not meditation. On June 1 I met with my MI, Kimberley Lueck, by phone. We talked about my making an effort to offer meditation instruction here. It is now July 2. I have made an initial contact to the Accra Expat group here – a group of about 5,000 from many different parts of the world. I have contacted them, but as often happens, have not had a reply. Never give up.