Author: Bhusita

UncategorizedBy Bhusita

A New Chapter for Heartwood

Dear Heartwood Community,


We share some important news about the path ahead for our community — change that we hope you’ll receive not as an ending, but as an evolution rooted in the same intention that has always guided us: supporting each other’s cultivation and awakening.At our recent Board meeting, we discussed some significant steps forward for Heartwood. As our community evolves, we are adjusting our schedule, transitioning our physical space, and reframing how we study and practice together.Here is what you need to know about where we are headed and what to expect in the coming weeks.

Transitioning our Physical Space


We have made the decision to place Heartwood’s current property on the market due to a combination of factors. Selling the building should free up financial resources, giving our sangha a capital reserve to pilot our next phase without immediate financial pressure. 

What about a new space?


We will not be signing a new lease until a sales contract on the current building is in place. We are currently exploring potential rental options in the area—as well as shared or donated space models—to ensure our future location is sustainable, accessible, and well-aligned with our practice needs.

A New Vision for our Sangha

Interactive Study & Practice: Heartwood is transitioning into a lay-led sangha model focused on foundational Buddhist cultivation. Moving forward, we are shifting to an interactive, community-led format focused on daily accountability and living the teachings. We will be using trusted texts to anchor our discussions. Venerable Bhusita will likely be spending extended periods in California, and possibly other monastic settings, present locally at least six months of the year. During these away periods, operational and facilitation leadership will be carried by our sangha community. As a part of preparing for the sale of the property, multiple changes will need to be made to the interior to prepare it for showings. 

  • Wednesday noon sessions are canceled for the foreseeable future.
  • Evening practices are paused until further notice
  • Sundays -Interactive Dharma contemplation or Dharma Talks from 12-1:30 each week live in person and on Zoom

Supporting our Transition

Heartwood remains a fully donation-based community. As we step into this nimble, lay-led chapter, your presence, participation, and practice are what keep our sangha vibrant and sustainable.We invite you to step into leadership, join our Sunday practice sessions, and help us steward this next evolution of Heartwood.If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to any board member or reply directly to this email.With deep gratitude for your practice and commitment,

The Heartwood Board,

Brian, Nancy, Elsie, Joe, and Bhusita

https://portal.onehome.com/en-US/consumer-share/MzE3MzM0NjA4I0NBTk9QWSM3MTk0MiMx

UncategorizedBy Bhusita

Devotion

Devotion and faith (to the way of the Buddha) aren’t outward things. They don’t depend on the words we say, the altars we build, whether one is a monastic or a lay person or even who one prays to. In true devotion, there is no contrivance and nothing is required except a giving of the heart – and renunciation or letting go of the fierce attachment to the thoughts, fears, and appearances of this transient life. This requires no formality or ceremony. In letting go, we create space for the light of truth and liberation from suffering. What does letting go mean? The Dharma teaches that we must first see with wisdom that what we hold onto are mirages! -memories, names, false constructions, temporary feelings connected to thoughts and smells, and associations. They are built through innumerable causes temporarily coming together in a moment and then falling away… if we let them.


This heart of devotion doesn’t try to force or control or to preach. It doesn’t judge, doesn’t push, and doesn’t pretend. It completely lacks fabrication. This is love in the true sense – in the absolute sense. Bodhicitta.

We are in a battle right now. There are forces that are attempting to drag us away from that one true thing- to distract the surface mind, to steep us further into delusion, to give away agency, and to inhibit our intrinsic nature from being known and expressed through all sorts of means.

It is funny. Even as I write this I notice an irritation arise as intrusions from phone notifications push in. I notice a desire for space- – but isn’t that also what needs to be released? It isn’t the people or the notifications- it is the attachment to the thought and reaction and aversion to the “intrusion”. I can actually be here now with no push/ pull; no me/ no you; no here/ no there.

Let us be unrelenting in considering all obstacles AS path and in rooting in the truth of our being. Let us look at and really see each other with open hearts. Let us shed all that is false. Let us take refuge in the goodness and the brightness that is our essential nature.

Manjushri said, “Layman, how should a bodhisattva who is ill go about tempering and controlling his mind?” Vimilakirti replied, “A bodhisattva who is ill should think to himself: ‘Now these illnesses of mine all spring from the deluded thoughts, the upside-down thinking and various earthly desires of my past existence. They have no real existence, so who is it who suffers illness? Why? The four major elements come together, and therefore we apply a makeshift name, calling the thing a body. But the four major elements have no master, and the body has no “I” or ego. And these illnesses too all arise from attachment to ego. Therefore I should harbor no such attachment to ego.”

…”Then, in order to wipe out the thought of phenomena, the ailing bodhisattva should think to himself: ‘This thought or concept of phenomena too is a form of upside-down thinking, and upside-down thinking can lead to great misfortune. I must rid myself of it. But how to rid myself of it? By ridding myself of thoughts of I and mine, which means ridding myself of dualism.’ “What is meant by ridding oneself of dualism? It means not thinking of phenomena as internal or external, but treating all as equal. What is meant by equal? It means that I and nirvana are treated as equal. Why? Because I and nirvana are both empty. Why are they empty? Because they are mere names, hence empty. Neither of these two phenomena has any fixed nature or characteristics. Once one has acquired this kind of equal outlook, one will be freed of all other illness and will have only the illness of emptioness, and the illness of emptiness too is empty.”

Vimilakirti Sutra

Art & Science, MusicBy Bhusita, , , ,

Turning the Light Inward: On Curiosity, Connection, and Wonder

I have been inspired lately by a couple artists. Ren, a Welsh singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, and producer -and BassForge (Tyler Engle) who is a “multidisciplinary sound designer and music producer exploring the intersection of vibration, resonance, and consciousness.”. What do they have in common?

They piercingly observe. They are both deeply curious and ask the big questions and share what they discover.

Ren has a gift for transmuting and transforming suffering into compassion and art. He shares the truth of his experience in this world with such raw openness and fullness that it reaches and penetrates right to the heart of our own experience. As a result, we are no longer separate!

BassForge is using his interests and gifts to help others look deeper at what we might ordinarily not notice at all. To consider how science and spirituality meet. To remove barriers to deeper knowing.

In this era of artificial content, deception, escape and diversion (from ourselves and others), they both mirror essential human qualities: humility, sincerity, connection, joy and enthusiasm! They explore the mysteries within and without. Their work seems to be deeply personal but with the underlying intention to be useful and beneficial.

They inspire me to keep taking the deep dives. To beware of closing the doors of exploration through the “I know” attitude. To explore with curiosity and wonder!

What can we find when we ask the big questions? When we turn the light inward? When we deeply consider another? What types of expression may lie dormant within us? Waiting to be utilized? What is possible with this precious human life? How exciting!

https://www.youtube.com/@RenMakesMusic

https://bassforge.us/pages/about-us

I will leave us with Mary Oliver’s inspiring words:

Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.

UncategorizedBy Bhusita, ,

Lessons from Bodhi

Contentment is right here

Complete surrender can coexist with absolute readiness to act

Attunement = compassion

Stay loose!

No hurry

Bad and good are just words and names

To adapt requires nothing other than to move with what is

Nothing special

Presence is powerful

Acceptance frees

When there is no thought, there is no separation

Look closely and be veeeery patient

Don’t seek

Just here

Just this

Buddha is all- all is Buddha

UncategorizedBy Bhusita3 comments

A Message from Ven. Bhusita

Dearest Community,

Here at Heartwood, a lot has changed in the past year. Our most powerful beacon of light, Venerable Pannavati, left this world. Her assistant, and our dear friend, Venerable Soma, has taken to the road on a pilgrimage. The old stalwarts, me, Kedara-Sacca, and Reba, remain as residents of the monastery. Our small sangha moves steadfastly forward with the intention of learning from the Buddha, studying the Dharma, and putting the principles into practice. 

While change and uncertainty continue, we are invited to turn toward our own Buddha-nature and allow ourselves to rest in the gap of the unknown- to see what it can teach us without trying to change or grasp at anything or anyone. That is where prajna wisdom lies. 

There ARE some knowns though!

The formal organization of Heartwood currently consists of:

  • myself, Bhusita- President of Heartwood Mandala and Academy program leader
  • Kedara-Sacca- Vidya program leader
  • Joe Rogers- Lay leader, programs co-leader, Board Member/Treasurer 
  • Brian Silva- Chairman of the Board
  • Nancy McClung- Board Member
  • Elsie Fort- Board Member/ Secretary

Some of the most engaged sangha came together in July to discuss a shared vision and mission to guide us. While the mission is still being developed, our simple vision is:

Heartwood Mandala is a community of lay and monastic practitioners dedicated to cultivating and embodying the teachings of the Buddha.

We are developing more structure and communication about offerings. You can expect: 

  1. General access and support for learning and living the Buddha Dharma through study of the suttas and cultivation of our conduct -Dharma Contemplations and Dharma Talks, 1-1 support
  2. There are additional studies offered on Tuesdays and Fridays for dedicated students. Those studies are closed once a study begins. Please contact us with questions or to request more information.
  3. Sustaining activities – evening Meditation, Novena and Sadhanas.
  4. Retreats as needed to support deeper practice and the establishment of practice – Ex. Preliminary Practices, etc.
  5. Service programs to be developed  (children’s programs, programs/ supports for people contemplating or nearing end of life)

Venerable Pannavati and Venerable Pannadipa planted strong Dharma roots here in Hendersonville and made up the heartwood of that beautiful tree. We now have the opportunity to fertilize and tend to that tree. Despite being a relative neophyte myself, it is clear that there is still a need for the refuge of Heartwood- to study and embody the teachings of the Buddha, to be of service to beings in need, and to steadily practice self-effacement, thus uncovering the intrinsic and luminous light of our true nature.

I share my deepest gratitude to this sangha for their generosity of heart, for the considerable resources that have been offered to maintain Heartwood and the monastic presence, and for the sincere commitment to the triple gem. May blessings abound and prajna guide our every step.

Namo Buddhaya, Namo Dhammaya, Namo Sanghaya! 

All beings, are essentially pure by nature, 
Pure as in shunyata, 
Pure as in emptiness. 
I too, am essentially pure by nature, 
Pure as in shunyata, 
Pure as in emptiness.