This month (September 2005) we talk to Brenda McIntyre.

Brenda is the oldest of 7 children and grew up in rural East Texas. She is the mother of 3 children and has 1 grandchild. She is enrolled on the TTP (Teacher Training Program).

When were you first attracted to Buddhism?

In this current life, my desire to understand the Buddhadharma began in August 2002.

What made you come to this Buddhist Center?

After searching the internet for a Meditation Center, I decided to attend the New Kadampa Tradition Center at Parbawatiya in Safety Harbor, Florida.

Were you apprehensive about coming? What did you expect?

There was a small amount of apprehension about coming, I thought that the class would be in Tibetan and I would not understand anything. I also had some concerns about being accepted.

What were your first impressions when you arrived?

When I first entered the meditation room, I immediately became aware of the beautiful Buddha statues and noticed a peaceful, faintly orange radiant glow of love and compassion pervading the whole room. At that moment I became very happy and comfortable. I was home. The people were just like me, and they were very friendly. I felt as though they had been waiting for me.

What do you like best about coming here?

The best thing about coming to the NKT Center, is learning to control my mind by understanding and practicing the Dharma.

How would you explain the benefits of meditation to someone new?

The benefits of meditation are boundless. Through meditation you rid your mind of the delusions of anger, jealousy, pride, and hatred; and replace them with the seeds of patience, wisdom, giving and moral discipline.

How has what you have learned here made a difference in your everyday work and home life?

Since coming here, the differences that have occurred in my life are innumerable. I have become more compassionate for my enemies. I cherish each moment with the most difficult people. I no longer search for external happiness. Now, for each moment of my existence I am learning to stay in the present. I no longer allow my mind to wonder into past memories of pains, sorrows and regrets.

What do you feel that Buddhism can offer to the world today?

Buddhism can offer to the world true peace and pure happiness.

What is your favorite Kadampa Buddhist quotation?

There are numerous favorite Kadampa quotes that I read daily, however, two special ones are:

Faith is like pure eyes that enable us to see a pure and perfect world beyond the world of suffering we currently experience.

The inner enemies of hatred, attachment, and so forth
Do not have arms and legs,
Nor do they have courage or skill;
So how have they made me their slave?
While they remain within my mind,
They harm me at their pleasure,
And yet, without anger, I patiently endure them.
How shameful! This is no occasion for patience.

What is you favorite book by Geshe Kelsang?

My favorite book by Geshe Kelsang is Living Meaningfully, Dying Joyfully.

With which historical Buddhist practitioner do you most identify, and why?

I identify with Milarepa, Langri Tangpa or Shantideva, but I probably most identify with Lam Chung. My only hope is to work in the temple and sweep the floor over and over until I realize emptiness.

What aspect of the Bodhisattva's way of life most inspires you?

Training the mind in perfecting the 6 perfections of giving, moral discipline, patience, effort, mental stabilization, and wisdom along with developing universal compassion inspires me mostly.

What's the first thing you're going to do when you become a Buddha?

When I become a Buddha, I will radiate through out the 6 realms of all sentient beings pure happiness, free from misery, and equanimity thereby freeing them from hatred and attachment.