Dear friends,
This Sunday, December 20th, we gather to enjoy our annual Pot Luck from 2:00pm-4:00PM at Bard Hall, First United Unitarian Church before our usual Sangha gathering from 4:00-6:00PM. We hope you can make it, even if we haven’t seen much of you this year. It’s a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community and build our brotherhood and sisterhood.
The Pot Luck will be at Bard Hall, just downstairs from where we usually meet, from 4-6. Some notes from Marge follow:
We encourage you to bring vegan food, and you are also asked to bring your own table setting and water bottle or other personal non-alcoholic beverage. We will not have access to the kitchen, so it may make your clean up easier if you bring a plastic bag to put your dirty dishes in to take home and wash. We may make some music, listen to one another play, and/or sing some holiday songs. If you have musical instruments to play, bring them along, or if you have words to holiday songs, you may bring them, too. We’ll also have more time to socialize than we do at our regular gatherings. Please let Marge know if you are coming (margewur (at) cox.net), so we can have enough tables and chairs. Thanks!
Sangha: After enjoying edible nourishment we have another treat as Dharmacharya Richard Brady “True Dharma Bridge” is visiting San Diego and graciously offered to share with us.
Richard became a member of the Order of Interbeing in 1992 and received Lamp Transmission from Thay in 2001 with a special focus on cultivating mindfulness in young people. He is a founder of the Mindfulness in Education Network, co-founded the Washington Mindfulness Community (DC) in 1989 and the Mountains and Rivers Mindfulness Community (VT) in 2008. He is active in Wake Up schools, is a retreat leader, writer, conference coordinator, and educational consultant. Some of his writing is available on the Resources page of his Minding Your Life Website. Richard taught high school mathematics at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC for 34 years before retiring in 2007 in order to devote all his energy to supporting mindfulness in education.
When selected to become a Dharma Teacher and receive the Lamp Transmission one offers an Insight Gatha and receives one from him in return. Below is the poem Richard offered to Thay and the Sangha on the day of his Lamp Transmission:
This freedom—not freedom from,
from childhood habits,
from childhood fears;
not freedom to,
to open to the love enfolding me,
to know and live my truth.
This freedom—freedom with, with habits, with fears, with heart protected, truth hidden deep inside.
This freedom—freedom with this moment, just as it is.
We hope you can join us this Sunday. If not, enjoy the moments wherever you may be.
Peace,
Pete
practicing mindfulness in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh
Sunday, December 13
Dear friends,
This Sunday I will share a little bit of Phap Hai's book, Nothing To It, and we will practice with a few questions, such as:
How do we keep our practice fresh, alive, growing?
How do we support our practice and our loved ones' practice in our daily lives?
This Sunday I will share a little bit of Phap Hai's book, Nothing To It, and we will practice with a few questions, such as:
How do we keep our practice fresh, alive, growing?
How do we support our practice and our loved ones' practice in our daily lives?
In gratitude,
-h _()_
“Our own life has to be our message.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh
-h _()_
“Our own life has to be our message.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh
Sunday, November 29
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I hope you holiday was full of love and gratitude.
This Sunday, November 29th is an auspicious day for those of us in the USA practicing in the Plum Village Tradition. It marks the beginning of the Winter Rains Retreat. It’s a time to come back to ourselves, to look deeply and strengthen our spiritual roots. It is the only retreat of the year that is primarily oriented for monastics and the residential community and those participating do not leave the grounds and often do not go online. As lay practitioners we have many responsibilities in the world but can take advantage of visiting Deer Park on days of mindfulness or staying for a week or weekend if able.
We can also make this a deeper practice period for ourselves and are also invited to come back to ourselves, to look deeply, and to strengthen our spiritual roots by setting an intention for the period. This might be to practice sitting meditation every day, even if only 10 minutes, visit the monastery, listen to Dharma talks each week, etc. Last year Phap Ho offered long time practitioners this schedule as a suggestion and many OI’s will be following it again this year. Do not feel obliged to take on more than is comfortable but please do be encouraged to look deeply and set a real intention. Embracing the path of healing and transformation in this way helps us all heal. By observing the retreat period we genuinely honor Thay, all of our spiritual and blood ancestors, elevate the Sangha and create conditions for peace and harmony in the world.
In the spirit of this I will offer a reading from Phap Hai’s new book “Nothing To It” this Sunday. It is based on a series of 10 talks he gave at a prior Winter Retreat and covers the heart of Buddha’s teachings with his usual insight, encouragement and inspiration. It's a wonderful book and if members of the Sangha are interested we can buy 10 or more copies at a 50% Sangha discount at Parallax Press.
In other news, we now have an Earth Holder Sangha web site and are encouraged to get involved with the People’s Climate Prayer “Contemplation and Action” November 29 – December 11, 2015. I hope the Sangha can join the Climate Marchg again this year and consider other ways to participate. The Earth Holder Sangha offers some good suggestions: http://www.earthholder.org/what-you-can-do
Wishing you well,
Pete
True Ocean of Joy
I hope you holiday was full of love and gratitude.
This Sunday, November 29th is an auspicious day for those of us in the USA practicing in the Plum Village Tradition. It marks the beginning of the Winter Rains Retreat. It’s a time to come back to ourselves, to look deeply and strengthen our spiritual roots. It is the only retreat of the year that is primarily oriented for monastics and the residential community and those participating do not leave the grounds and often do not go online. As lay practitioners we have many responsibilities in the world but can take advantage of visiting Deer Park on days of mindfulness or staying for a week or weekend if able.
We can also make this a deeper practice period for ourselves and are also invited to come back to ourselves, to look deeply, and to strengthen our spiritual roots by setting an intention for the period. This might be to practice sitting meditation every day, even if only 10 minutes, visit the monastery, listen to Dharma talks each week, etc. Last year Phap Ho offered long time practitioners this schedule as a suggestion and many OI’s will be following it again this year. Do not feel obliged to take on more than is comfortable but please do be encouraged to look deeply and set a real intention. Embracing the path of healing and transformation in this way helps us all heal. By observing the retreat period we genuinely honor Thay, all of our spiritual and blood ancestors, elevate the Sangha and create conditions for peace and harmony in the world.
In the spirit of this I will offer a reading from Phap Hai’s new book “Nothing To It” this Sunday. It is based on a series of 10 talks he gave at a prior Winter Retreat and covers the heart of Buddha’s teachings with his usual insight, encouragement and inspiration. It's a wonderful book and if members of the Sangha are interested we can buy 10 or more copies at a 50% Sangha discount at Parallax Press.
In other news, we now have an Earth Holder Sangha web site and are encouraged to get involved with the People’s Climate Prayer “Contemplation and Action” November 29 – December 11, 2015. I hope the Sangha can join the Climate Marchg again this year and consider other ways to participate. The Earth Holder Sangha offers some good suggestions: http://www.earthholder.org/what-you-can-do
Wishing you well,
Pete
True Ocean of Joy
Sunday, November 15: The Art of Resting
Dear friends,
Our teacher, Thay, says "Resting is a very important practice. We have to learn the art of resting...The problem is that not many of us know how to allow our body and mind to rest. We are always struggling; struggling has become a kind of habit. We cannot resist being active, struggling all the time. We struggle even during our sleep." At this time of year, as the days become shorter, the weather cooler, and as the holiday season approaches, it is a wonderful time for us to practice the art of resting and mindfulness of body. This Sunday, we will explore and practice this art together as a sangha.
May you enjoy some rest between now and then :-)
Stephanie
(who will be facilitating :)
(who will be facilitating :)
Sunday, November 8
Marge will facilitate using the topic “Present Moment, Wonderful Moment,” and she will be joined by Stephanie and Tree who will guide parts of our practice. As our teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, said: "We can smile, breathe, walk, and eat in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available. We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive. Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment."
We will take more time for Dharma sharing at this gathering, so sangha members may share with each other ways that they are able to stay in the present moment, enjoying each wonderful moment.
We will take more time for Dharma sharing at this gathering, so sangha members may share with each other ways that they are able to stay in the present moment, enjoying each wonderful moment.
Sunday, November 1
Dear brothers and sisters:
Sunday, November 1 is Dia de Los Muertos, and what better day to contemplate impermanence? This is from the National Geographic website: "Dia de los Muertos recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience, a continuum with birth, childhood, and growing up to become a contributing member of the community. On Dia de los Muertos, the dead are also a part of the community, awakened from their eternal sleep to share celebrations with their loved ones."
I will share some readings from Brother Phap Hai's book, "Nothing to It" and we will practice the Five Remembrances.
Please remember to TURN YOUR CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR!
Smiling,
Karen
I will share some readings from Brother Phap Hai's book, "Nothing to It" and we will practice the Five Remembrances.
Please remember to TURN YOUR CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR!
Smiling,
Karen
Sunday, October 18
Dear Friends,
This Sunday we will be reciting the Five Mindfulness Trainings. This is especially timely as the retreat next week at Deer Park offers an opportunity to receive a transmission of the Five Mindfulness Trainings, possibly even for those not attending the retreat. We will look deeply together to explore the question, “What is the deepest fundamental insight and gift of the Five Mindfulness Trainings.” I look forward to being with you.
Smiling with love and gratitude,
Keith
Universal Emptiness of the Heart
True Enlightenment Garden
This Sunday we will be reciting the Five Mindfulness Trainings. This is especially timely as the retreat next week at Deer Park offers an opportunity to receive a transmission of the Five Mindfulness Trainings, possibly even for those not attending the retreat. We will look deeply together to explore the question, “What is the deepest fundamental insight and gift of the Five Mindfulness Trainings.” I look forward to being with you.
Smiling with love and gratitude,
Keith
Universal Emptiness of the Heart
True Enlightenment Garden
Sunday, October 11
Join us this Sunday, Thay's continuation day, as Dmitry leads us in Deep Relaxation and Touching the Earth. We invite you to bring a blanket to lie down on the floor. We will meet downstairs in Bard Hall.
Sunday, Oct 4
"Love is a living, breathing thing. There is no need to force it to grow in a particular direction. If we start by being easy and gentle with ourselves, we will find it is just there inside of us, solid and healing."
-Thich Nhat Hanh, How to Love
This week at Open Heart Sangha we will have the chance to get in touch with the love that is inside of us. Together we will explore some of Thay's teachings and practices around love (from his recent book How to Love). I (Stephanie) will be facilitating.
Bowing and smiling,
Stephanie :)
Sunday, September 27
Happy Autumnal Equinox!
Join us this Sunday for the Recitation of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings, which will include some of the ceremonial chanting (Incense Offering, Opening Verse, The Three Refuges, Closing Verse) in the Plum Village tradition.
It is also the day of the full moon Mid-Autumn festival, so if you have a lantern or something autumnal to add to our center alter, feel free to bring it (and maybe I'll make moon cakes).
Join us this Sunday for the Recitation of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings, which will include some of the ceremonial chanting (Incense Offering, Opening Verse, The Three Refuges, Closing Verse) in the Plum Village tradition.
It is also the day of the full moon Mid-Autumn festival, so if you have a lantern or something autumnal to add to our center alter, feel free to bring it (and maybe I'll make moon cakes).
Sunday, September 13th: Right Diligence
Loretta will facilitate the eighth right practice of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Diligence.
Sunday, September 6: Right Livelihood
Dear brothers and sisters:
As we continue to explore the Noble Eightfold Path, this coming Sunday brings us to Right Livelihood (and on Labor Day weekend, too!).
If you would like some "homework" before sangha, please consider the following exercise. Take a few quiet moments to stop and look deeply at your work/livelihood. What emotions come up? Write them down--there will probably be more than one. For example: enthusiasm, fulfillment, frustration, excitement, boredom, anger, disengagement (just working to pay the bills)? How do you feel when you leave for work? How do you feel when you leave work for home? For those no longer working for a paycheck, how do you spend your time, and what are the rewards?
Enjoy your breath!
Smiling,
Karen
As we continue to explore the Noble Eightfold Path, this coming Sunday brings us to Right Livelihood (and on Labor Day weekend, too!).
If you would like some "homework" before sangha, please consider the following exercise. Take a few quiet moments to stop and look deeply at your work/livelihood. What emotions come up? Write them down--there will probably be more than one. For example: enthusiasm, fulfillment, frustration, excitement, boredom, anger, disengagement (just working to pay the bills)? How do you feel when you leave for work? How do you feel when you leave work for home? For those no longer working for a paycheck, how do you spend your time, and what are the rewards?
Enjoy your breath!
Smiling,
Karen
Sunday, August 30: 5 Mindfulness Trainings
Dear friends,
Please join us this Sunday for the Recitation of the Five Mindfulness Trainings, which will include some of the ceremonial chanting (Incense Offering, Opening Verse, The Three Refuges, Closing Verse) in the Plum Village tradition.
Please join us this Sunday for the Recitation of the Five Mindfulness Trainings, which will include some of the ceremonial chanting (Incense Offering, Opening Verse, The Three Refuges, Closing Verse) in the Plum Village tradition.
Sunday, August 23: Right Action
Dear Friends,
It is my pleasure to facilitate this Sunday as we continue to explore the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path. Buddha is said to have stated, "wherever the Noble Eightfold path is practiced, joy, peace and insight are there". I am honored to be sharing on the topic of RIGHT ACTION.
About Right Action, Thay says: There are many things we can do to practice Right Action.
1. We can protect life
2. Practice generosity
3. Behave responsibly
4. Consume Mindfully
The basis of Right Action is Right Mindfulness. In mindfulness we recognize our thoughts that lead to our actions and make decisions that produce healing and recognition.
In the next week I invite you to explore one of the above practices with mindfulness and see what happens when you bring awareness to your actions.
Peace and Joy
Tree
It is my pleasure to facilitate this Sunday as we continue to explore the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path. Buddha is said to have stated, "wherever the Noble Eightfold path is practiced, joy, peace and insight are there". I am honored to be sharing on the topic of RIGHT ACTION.
About Right Action, Thay says: There are many things we can do to practice Right Action.
1. We can protect life
2. Practice generosity
3. Behave responsibly
4. Consume Mindfully
The basis of Right Action is Right Mindfulness. In mindfulness we recognize our thoughts that lead to our actions and make decisions that produce healing and recognition.
In the next week I invite you to explore one of the above practices with mindfulness and see what happens when you bring awareness to your actions.
Peace and Joy
Tree
Sunday, August 2: Right View
Hey everyone,
Good news, this Sunday we will all see everything exactly as they are, be able to see with the eyes of non-self, inter-being, impermanence and realize Nirvana! Hahaha, just playing, I mean, maybe. that could happen, it is possible, but that will not be my intent (despite what the brain wants). The reality of insight isn't something conveniently packaged into a concept that the brain can comprehend intellectually (concepts by definition can only point us in a direction). However, the good news is that understanding certain things on an intellectual level can help pave the path to a deeper realization; and that insight comes effortlessly as a natural byproduct of practicing Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration (along with many other aspects of the Noble 8-fold path) :)
So this Sunday, we will dive into Right View, talk about our experience with practicing with it, and help us to relax into being in tune with these deep understandings of reality. Maybe for just a moment, we can remove the human filter and see with our real eyes. For homework, until then, I invite you to spend at least 5 minutes imagining that you suddenly have amnesia (forget how to speak, read, write, label things, etc.) and all that you know is that you are not from this planet; that you are from another planet in another dimension where you didn't previously have eyes. I highly encourage you to spend at least 5 minutes of silent sitting meditation with your eyes closed to prepare for this experiment. Closing your eyes for the sit will symbolize the instant you experience the amnesia and the 5 minutes of sitting will symbolize what life is somewhat like on your home planet (wearing ear-plugs can help too but not necessary) :) Enjoy!
_/|\_ Nick
Good news, this Sunday we will all see everything exactly as they are, be able to see with the eyes of non-self, inter-being, impermanence and realize Nirvana! Hahaha, just playing, I mean, maybe. that could happen, it is possible, but that will not be my intent (despite what the brain wants). The reality of insight isn't something conveniently packaged into a concept that the brain can comprehend intellectually (concepts by definition can only point us in a direction). However, the good news is that understanding certain things on an intellectual level can help pave the path to a deeper realization; and that insight comes effortlessly as a natural byproduct of practicing Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration (along with many other aspects of the Noble 8-fold path) :)
So this Sunday, we will dive into Right View, talk about our experience with practicing with it, and help us to relax into being in tune with these deep understandings of reality. Maybe for just a moment, we can remove the human filter and see with our real eyes. For homework, until then, I invite you to spend at least 5 minutes imagining that you suddenly have amnesia (forget how to speak, read, write, label things, etc.) and all that you know is that you are not from this planet; that you are from another planet in another dimension where you didn't previously have eyes. I highly encourage you to spend at least 5 minutes of silent sitting meditation with your eyes closed to prepare for this experiment. Closing your eyes for the sit will symbolize the instant you experience the amnesia and the 5 minutes of sitting will symbolize what life is somewhat like on your home planet (wearing ear-plugs can help too but not necessary) :) Enjoy!
_/|\_ Nick
Sunday, July 26: 5 MTs
This Sunday, Karen will facilitate the Five Mindfulness Trainings, with an eye on the Noble Eightfold Path.
Sunday, July 19: Right Concentration
Dear Friends,
I hope this finds you well and enjoying your breathing! :)
This week at sangha, we will continue our exploration of the Noble Eightfold Path with the theme of Right Concentration. I (Stephanie) will be facilitating.
About concentration, Thay says:
"Joy and happiness are born of concentration. When you are having a cup of tea, the value of that experience depends on your concentration. You have to drink the tea with 100 percent of your being. The true pleasure is experienced in concentration."
(From The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh)
In the days leading up to our gathering, I invite you to experiment with doing just one thing at a time with your full concentration, and see what happens!
Bowing and smiling to all,
Stephanie :)
I hope this finds you well and enjoying your breathing! :)
This week at sangha, we will continue our exploration of the Noble Eightfold Path with the theme of Right Concentration. I (Stephanie) will be facilitating.
About concentration, Thay says:
"Joy and happiness are born of concentration. When you are having a cup of tea, the value of that experience depends on your concentration. You have to drink the tea with 100 percent of your being. The true pleasure is experienced in concentration."
(From The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh)
In the days leading up to our gathering, I invite you to experiment with doing just one thing at a time with your full concentration, and see what happens!
Bowing and smiling to all,
Stephanie :)
Sunday, July 12: Right Mindfulness
Dear Sangha,
Last week Marge gave an overview of the 4 Noble Truths and the Eightfold Noble Path, the heart of Thich Nhat Hanh’s (Thay’s) teaching as well as the Buddha’s first teaching after his enlightenment. Over the next few months we will be devoting a Sangha session to each one of the Steps of the Eightfold Noble Path. We are starting with Mindfulness, the 7th Step in the Eightfold Noble Path. It is the heart of our practice so it is fitting to start here.
At Deer Park Monastery, (and other monasteries in our tradition), as you probably know, the large stain glass window at the front of the Ocean of Peace Meditation Hall has three Sanskrit words on it, Smrti, Samadhi, Prajna, which we translate as Mindfulness, Concentration and Insight. These are the last 2 and the first of the 8 steps in the Eightfold Noble Path, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration and Right View. This sums up our practice. Mindfulness deepens to concentration and produces insight, which is enlightenment, wisdom and our salvation. Insight is the goal of our practice and what makes our practice possible.
Thay says mindfulness is our inner sunshine. I love that. It’s so clear. It is this great power which we have to shine our attention upon the present moment and upon any specific aspect of the present moment. Mindfulness is the essence of what we are. One of the characteristics of light, and mindfulness, is that it makes no discrimination. It shines everywhere, though it can be focused.
Smrti is also translated as remembering. We remember we are breathing. We note our breathing in and out, and this noticing, calling our breathing by its true name, invites our mind to attend to the actual sensations of our breath. This is mindfulness of breathing. It is a great practice for it allows us to move from thinking, remembering, imagining, planning, worrying, trying to figure out how to accomplish our projects, etc., to simply enjoying our breathing and the world as it is, in all of its amazing wonderfulness, in the present moment. Mindfulness of breathing is a powerful practice, which is an antidote to a problem we have, which is the opposite of mindfulness, which Thay calls forgetfulness. He says we live as if in a dream, not noticing or enjoying the wonders of life. He also says this forgetfulness has the quality of dispersion, and some of our literature talks about “leaking.” Our vitality leaks away because we are caught up in a treadmill of thinking in ways which do not enhance our life but actually exhaust us. We shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves for functioning in this way. It is actually very natural. The human brain, neuroscientists have discovered, has a negativity bias. It is Teflon for good news and Velcro for bad news. This comes from hundreds of millions of years of evolution in which it was paramount that we are ever aware of the predator who might take us out of the game with a single bite. Not so important to notice the good news in that situation.
But now, things are completely different. Now, being paranoid and mistrusting of others is completely pathological and threatens all of life on earth. Now we want and need to cultivate happiness and wellbeing and through loving kindness and compassion to communicate to others that they are safe too and can relax their guard and join in the fun of being alive and caring about each other and the whole earth community. Now, instead of thinking about how to use Earth for our survival and success in a struggle, we need to settle down and enjoy interbeing with a world that has birthed us and supports our life and with which we are completely one.
Now, with the incredible powers granted to the human species by 13.8 billion years of cosmic evolution and 4 billion years of the evolution of life on earth, we have the chance to reflect upon (remember, Smrti, be mindful of) our enormous good fortune to be born humans, and to shift from nervous and fearful pursuits, to communion with our fellow beings, what we might call real Holy Communion. This is our chance to feel how we are inside of Mother Earth, being loved and cared for by this planet, as if we were in her womb.
Mindfulness of breathing is mindfulness of reality, beyond our thoughts. This is Thay’s definition of Nirvana, reality without concepts. Mindfulness of breathing quickly becomes mindfulness of body. They are inseparable. Mindfulness doesn’t exclude anything and mindfulness of our breathing body immediately includes the air we are breathing and the world which generates this air and the sky and the trees and the whole world, as directly experienced in its exquisite detail and in its beautiful wholeness. Mindfulness, like light, doesn’t discriminate, and thereby illuminates the interdependencies, the interconnectedness, the richness of reality.
By practicing mindfulness in this way we are opening ourselves to the world, softening the tension in our bodies which prevents our senses from working well and keeps us from feeling all the subtle depths of emotion and feeling of which we are capable, and which emerge naturally when we are unafraid, relaxed, open, attentive, and in the beloved company of our loved ones, including our Sangha.
Thay said our practice is very simple. We focus on our breathing which makes us aware of our body which brings us into the here and now where we can get in touch with our feelings and from this state of mindfulness and concentration we can get insight, a transformation, liberation.
This Sunday we will enjoy practicing being mindful together, a wonderful condition for our joy and happiness.
I look forward to being with you this Sunday.
Please smile and be mindful of every breath, every step, every moment you are alive.
Keith
Universal Emptiness of the Heart
True Enlightenment Garden
Last week Marge gave an overview of the 4 Noble Truths and the Eightfold Noble Path, the heart of Thich Nhat Hanh’s (Thay’s) teaching as well as the Buddha’s first teaching after his enlightenment. Over the next few months we will be devoting a Sangha session to each one of the Steps of the Eightfold Noble Path. We are starting with Mindfulness, the 7th Step in the Eightfold Noble Path. It is the heart of our practice so it is fitting to start here.
At Deer Park Monastery, (and other monasteries in our tradition), as you probably know, the large stain glass window at the front of the Ocean of Peace Meditation Hall has three Sanskrit words on it, Smrti, Samadhi, Prajna, which we translate as Mindfulness, Concentration and Insight. These are the last 2 and the first of the 8 steps in the Eightfold Noble Path, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration and Right View. This sums up our practice. Mindfulness deepens to concentration and produces insight, which is enlightenment, wisdom and our salvation. Insight is the goal of our practice and what makes our practice possible.
Thay says mindfulness is our inner sunshine. I love that. It’s so clear. It is this great power which we have to shine our attention upon the present moment and upon any specific aspect of the present moment. Mindfulness is the essence of what we are. One of the characteristics of light, and mindfulness, is that it makes no discrimination. It shines everywhere, though it can be focused.
Smrti is also translated as remembering. We remember we are breathing. We note our breathing in and out, and this noticing, calling our breathing by its true name, invites our mind to attend to the actual sensations of our breath. This is mindfulness of breathing. It is a great practice for it allows us to move from thinking, remembering, imagining, planning, worrying, trying to figure out how to accomplish our projects, etc., to simply enjoying our breathing and the world as it is, in all of its amazing wonderfulness, in the present moment. Mindfulness of breathing is a powerful practice, which is an antidote to a problem we have, which is the opposite of mindfulness, which Thay calls forgetfulness. He says we live as if in a dream, not noticing or enjoying the wonders of life. He also says this forgetfulness has the quality of dispersion, and some of our literature talks about “leaking.” Our vitality leaks away because we are caught up in a treadmill of thinking in ways which do not enhance our life but actually exhaust us. We shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves for functioning in this way. It is actually very natural. The human brain, neuroscientists have discovered, has a negativity bias. It is Teflon for good news and Velcro for bad news. This comes from hundreds of millions of years of evolution in which it was paramount that we are ever aware of the predator who might take us out of the game with a single bite. Not so important to notice the good news in that situation.
But now, things are completely different. Now, being paranoid and mistrusting of others is completely pathological and threatens all of life on earth. Now we want and need to cultivate happiness and wellbeing and through loving kindness and compassion to communicate to others that they are safe too and can relax their guard and join in the fun of being alive and caring about each other and the whole earth community. Now, instead of thinking about how to use Earth for our survival and success in a struggle, we need to settle down and enjoy interbeing with a world that has birthed us and supports our life and with which we are completely one.
Now, with the incredible powers granted to the human species by 13.8 billion years of cosmic evolution and 4 billion years of the evolution of life on earth, we have the chance to reflect upon (remember, Smrti, be mindful of) our enormous good fortune to be born humans, and to shift from nervous and fearful pursuits, to communion with our fellow beings, what we might call real Holy Communion. This is our chance to feel how we are inside of Mother Earth, being loved and cared for by this planet, as if we were in her womb.
Mindfulness of breathing is mindfulness of reality, beyond our thoughts. This is Thay’s definition of Nirvana, reality without concepts. Mindfulness of breathing quickly becomes mindfulness of body. They are inseparable. Mindfulness doesn’t exclude anything and mindfulness of our breathing body immediately includes the air we are breathing and the world which generates this air and the sky and the trees and the whole world, as directly experienced in its exquisite detail and in its beautiful wholeness. Mindfulness, like light, doesn’t discriminate, and thereby illuminates the interdependencies, the interconnectedness, the richness of reality.
By practicing mindfulness in this way we are opening ourselves to the world, softening the tension in our bodies which prevents our senses from working well and keeps us from feeling all the subtle depths of emotion and feeling of which we are capable, and which emerge naturally when we are unafraid, relaxed, open, attentive, and in the beloved company of our loved ones, including our Sangha.
Thay said our practice is very simple. We focus on our breathing which makes us aware of our body which brings us into the here and now where we can get in touch with our feelings and from this state of mindfulness and concentration we can get insight, a transformation, liberation.
This Sunday we will enjoy practicing being mindful together, a wonderful condition for our joy and happiness.
I look forward to being with you this Sunday.
Please smile and be mindful of every breath, every step, every moment you are alive.
Keith
Universal Emptiness of the Heart
True Enlightenment Garden
Sunday, July 5
This Sunday Marge will be facilitating and will introduce a series on the basic teachings of the Buddha that the sangha will be contemplating over the next 2 months. She will talk about the Four Noble Truths and give an overview of the Noble Eightfold Path, describing how the Five Mindfulness Trainings and the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings embody that path. Then during the following sangha gatherings in July and August facilitators will lead us in a more in-depth contemplation of the elements of that Eightfold Path. As the Buddha is said to have stated, “Wherever the Noble Eightfold Path is practiced, joy, peace, and insight are there”. Please join us, even though it is a holiday weekend!
Sunday, June 21
Heather will be facilitating sangha this Summer Solstice Sunday, where we will practice sitting meditation, walking meditation and deep relaxation in silence.
Sunday, June 14
Dear Sangha,
This Sunday, 14 June 2015, we will complete our exploration
of the wonderful teaching, The Three Doors of Liberation, Emptiness,
Signlessness and Aimlessness, which I began last month. Liberation is a major
aim of our practice and this teaching and its use in meditation and going
through our day is powerful. Liberation is from fear and generating unnecessary
suffering for ourselves and others, and to a life of freedom, wellbeing for
all, and zest for life.
I look forward to being with you this Sunday.
Please smile and enjoy yourself,
Keith
Universal Emptiness of the Heart
True Enlightenment Garden
Sunday, May 31
Hey there everyone! This Sunday
we get to recite the 5 Mindfulness Trainings :) Afterwards we will get
to gather the first (hopefully monthly) Open Heart Choir! There is no
real agenda other than to hang out afterwards and sing some songs of
practice to have a good time! If we sound awful, hilarious! If we sound
great, lovely! Either way we are sure to curl some mouth corners up :)
Be sure to bring some dinner with you or bring money to buy food from
the Hospital Cafeteria. Feel free to bring extra as a potluck style in
case someone forgets to bring something, but no biggie if not. Happy
Vesak to all!
With love and respect
~Nick~
With love and respect
~Nick~
Sunday, May 24
In our practice Thay encourages us to heal
our past with our ancestors and to realize they are still with us. He says we
practice not only for ourselves, but for our ancestors, too. This Sunday we
will consider how we may bring our ancestors into our present experience and
appreciate their contributions in our lives. You are invited to bring pictures of one or a few of your ancestors you
would like to bring into our circle of practice.
Peace,
Marge
Peace,
Marge
Sunday, May 17
Dear Thay, Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This Sunday, we will have the opportunity to listen to one of Thay's short dharma talks on how we can be peaceful and enjoy life (and not fall prey to anger, fear, or resentment) when there is so much suffering in the world?
We will also do some sitting mediation outside, weather permitting, so we can enjoy nature after it has had such a beautiful cleansing and nourishing drink. Feel free to bring a ground cover if you would prefer to sit on it instead of on the ground.
Singing in the Rain,
Loretta
This Sunday, we will have the opportunity to listen to one of Thay's short dharma talks on how we can be peaceful and enjoy life (and not fall prey to anger, fear, or resentment) when there is so much suffering in the world?
We will also do some sitting mediation outside, weather permitting, so we can enjoy nature after it has had such a beautiful cleansing and nourishing drink. Feel free to bring a ground cover if you would prefer to sit on it instead of on the ground.
Singing in the Rain,
Loretta
Sunday, May 10
Dear Sangha,
I would like to help us find our way into a deeper and more
satisfying relationship with reality, to know our real selves, and to achieve
liberation from fear and tension stemming from our false sense of being a
separate self.
I know from my practice that it is possible to transform our
minds so that we are happy, well and vibrantly alive in the present moment.
Our teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, said nothing in the world
causes more suffering than an untrained mind. Then he said that nothing in the
world creates more happiness and wellbeing than a well-trained mind. Our
practice consists of skillful means to enable us to train our minds to achieve
concentration and liberation, joy, happiness and peace. These practices include
inspiring poetry, guided meditations and teachings, which are deep and offer us
food for contemplation. We will explore the teachings of the Three Doors of
Liberation, emptiness, signlessness and aimlessness, and the three Dharma
Seals, impermanence, non-self and Nirvana. We will enjoy being reminded of some
of the poetic images that inspire us and we will have a guided meditation to
make all of this real through practice.
I look forward to being with you and facilitating this
Sunday.
Smiling,
Keith
Universal Emptiness of the Heart
True Enlightenment Garden
Sunday, May 3
We will have a chance to study and practice with elements from The Four Establishments of Mindfulness (Sattipathana Sutra), facilitated by Pete.
Sunday, April 19
Nick and Stephanie facilitated beautiful practices on our oneness with Mother Earth:
Readings
Healing Ourselves, Healing the Earth
The Question of Overpopulation
Saving Indra’s Net
Take Refuge in Mother Earth
Touching the Earth for Ecological Regeneration
Description of the Touching the Earth Ceremony
Songs
I am Home
Lullaby of Interbeing
Readings
Healing Ourselves, Healing the Earth
The Question of Overpopulation
Saving Indra’s Net
Take Refuge in Mother Earth
Touching the Earth for Ecological Regeneration
Description of the Touching the Earth Ceremony
Songs
I am Home
Lullaby of Interbeing
Sunday, April 12
Pete will facilitate this week, where we will have the opportunity to study and reflect on Thay’s translation of “Sutra on the Net of Sensual Love”. This little known Sutra was initially taught by the Buddha to monastics. Thay insists it is relevant for everyone.
“Mindfulness practice doesn’t sweep away or bring an end to sensual desire. To bring such a thing to an end would make us no longer human. We practice in order to have the capacity to deal with desire, to smile with desire, so that we may be free of it.”
“Love can bring us happiness and peace as long as we love in such a way that we don’t make a net to confine ourselves and others.”
“Love can be our greatest joy, or - when it gets confused with craving and attachment - our greatest suffering. By understanding the roots of our suffering and learning how to develop deep understanding of ourselves and our loved one, we can enjoy the relaxation, joy and peace that comes from true love.”
“Mindfulness practice doesn’t sweep away or bring an end to sensual desire. To bring such a thing to an end would make us no longer human. We practice in order to have the capacity to deal with desire, to smile with desire, so that we may be free of it.”
“Love can bring us happiness and peace as long as we love in such a way that we don’t make a net to confine ourselves and others.”
“Love can be our greatest joy, or - when it gets confused with craving and attachment - our greatest suffering. By understanding the roots of our suffering and learning how to develop deep understanding of ourselves and our loved one, we can enjoy the relaxation, joy and peace that comes from true love.”
Sunday, March 29
This Sunday, we will recite the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings, which will include some of the ceremonial chanting (Incense Offering, Opening Verse, The Three Refuges, Closing Verse) in the Plum Village tradition.
Sunday, March 15
Pete will facilitate on getting back to basics and focusing on Sitting meditation practice. Those with a copy of “How To Sit” are encouraged to bring it.
Sunday, March 8
Dear Sangha,
Our practice is designed to help us enter reality deeply, with openness, mindfulness and concentration to generate the ultimate fruit of our practice, insight and wellbeing. Buddhism is the practice of salvation through insight, through our own direct experience of awakening. Our practice aims at ultimate knowing which is the intuition of inter-being. The idea of inter-being is not too difficult to understand. Everything is made of everything else in the cosmos and the cosmos as a whole, including the source of the cosmos. It is not too difficult to understand the flower is made of sunshine, rain, clouds, ocean, soil, water, etc. It takes a whole universe to produce a flower and the same is true of us. We can understand this. But to have our experience of ourselves and our world transformed so that this becomes how we experience ourselves and our world, that takes skillful practice, and that is our practice. Enlightenment is the direct intuition of wholeness, the direct “grokking” of reality, unfettered by concepts. It is to be able to maintain this mode of experience as we go through all our activities, not being caught by ideas or pulled out of our absorption in the wholeness of being by fears, worries, memories or anticipations. It is simple, this practice of mindfulness of the present moment in its wholeness and unfolding particulars, but it requires training and practice to overcome deeply ingrained habits of thought and reaction. That is why we need a community of fellow practitioners (Sangha) and a practice (Dharma). It doesn’t just happen. Fortunately we have a great Dharma Teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay), a beautiful Maha-Sangha of monastics and lay practitioners around the world and a thriving, wonderful, local Sangha, the Open Heart Sangha, to share the adventure of a lifetime with. How wonderful!
I look forward to being with you and facilitating our Sangha this Sunday. I will share with you a beautiful teaching from Thay, which he gave at the 21-day retreat last June, on the structure of our mind and how we can do our part to help our mind to generate deep joy, happiness and insight. In the process we will also generate love and compassion to transform the suffering of ourselves, other people, other creatures and the whole earth, who is our mother, our body and our home.
Smiling,
Keith
Universal Emptiness of the HeartTrue Enlightenment Garden
Our practice is designed to help us enter reality deeply, with openness, mindfulness and concentration to generate the ultimate fruit of our practice, insight and wellbeing. Buddhism is the practice of salvation through insight, through our own direct experience of awakening. Our practice aims at ultimate knowing which is the intuition of inter-being. The idea of inter-being is not too difficult to understand. Everything is made of everything else in the cosmos and the cosmos as a whole, including the source of the cosmos. It is not too difficult to understand the flower is made of sunshine, rain, clouds, ocean, soil, water, etc. It takes a whole universe to produce a flower and the same is true of us. We can understand this. But to have our experience of ourselves and our world transformed so that this becomes how we experience ourselves and our world, that takes skillful practice, and that is our practice. Enlightenment is the direct intuition of wholeness, the direct “grokking” of reality, unfettered by concepts. It is to be able to maintain this mode of experience as we go through all our activities, not being caught by ideas or pulled out of our absorption in the wholeness of being by fears, worries, memories or anticipations. It is simple, this practice of mindfulness of the present moment in its wholeness and unfolding particulars, but it requires training and practice to overcome deeply ingrained habits of thought and reaction. That is why we need a community of fellow practitioners (Sangha) and a practice (Dharma). It doesn’t just happen. Fortunately we have a great Dharma Teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay), a beautiful Maha-Sangha of monastics and lay practitioners around the world and a thriving, wonderful, local Sangha, the Open Heart Sangha, to share the adventure of a lifetime with. How wonderful!
I look forward to being with you and facilitating our Sangha this Sunday. I will share with you a beautiful teaching from Thay, which he gave at the 21-day retreat last June, on the structure of our mind and how we can do our part to help our mind to generate deep joy, happiness and insight. In the process we will also generate love and compassion to transform the suffering of ourselves, other people, other creatures and the whole earth, who is our mother, our body and our home.
Smiling,
Keith
Universal Emptiness of the HeartTrue Enlightenment Garden
Sunday, February 22
This Sunday Karen will facilitate the Recitation of the Five Mindfulness Trainings.
Sunday, February 2
Pete will facilitate this Sunday:Mindfulness is always mindfulness of something. This week we will discuss “appropriate attention.”
Sunday, January 25
This Sunday Marge will facilitate sangha and we will recite the 5
Mindfulness Trainings. As preparation for Sunday’s gathering, if you
have time, please read through the 5MTs and consider which one
speaks most to you this week. Then, as you go about your daily life
between now and Sunday, see how you can practice with that one to make
it more a part of your life. We’ll have a little bit longer Dharma
sharing time so people may share how we are integrating the 5
Mindfulness Trainings into our daily life.
Sunday, January 11
Dear Sangha,
We come together as a Sangha
to heal and transform ourselves and our world, and to awaken to the
reality that these are one and the same. We practice together because it
is delightful, pleasurable and powerful, and because we can do
infinitely more together than alone. Together we generate the energy of
mindfulness in our individual and in our collective consciousness, and
we cultivate the mind of love. We deepen our experience of being alive,
look deeply and generate joy, happiness and awakening. Even the Buddha,
even Thay need a Sangha in order to fulfill their human potential. I
look forward to facilitating this Sunday
and to being with you as we train our minds in the fine art of enjoying
the miracle which is our life and the many wonders of our selves and
our world. As we practice we transform the suffering in ourselves and in
our world into the wellbeing which is the ultimate goal of our
practice.
You are invited to come 10 minutes before 4:00, get settled and be fully ready to savor the sound of the mindfulness bell which we will enjoy at 4:00.
Please breathe mindfully, relax your body, smile and enjoy your amazing life.
Keith
Sunday, January 4
Happy New Year! This Sunday we can practice Beginning Anew Year facilitated by Pete.
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