Sunday, January 1

Loretta will facilitate reciting the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings, including some of the ceremonial chanting (Incense Offering, Touching the Earth, Opening Verse, The Heart of Perfect Understanding, The Three Refuges, Closing Verse) in the Plum Village tradition.


Sunday, December 25

Karen will facilitate, including sing-along carols for a Buddha-ful Christmas (courtesy of Laura Hunter)!

Remember that the Buddha is also known as ‘The monk who likes to sing.’ 
--Thich Nhat Hanh

LET IT GO (sung to the tune of Let it Snow) 
Oh the world can be so frightful
But my breath is so delightful, 
We don’t need a place to go, (so) 
Let It Go! Let It Go! Let It Go! 

We've got to stop global warming 
And keep the bees a-swarming 
When you crave stuff you should know (you can) 
Let It Go! Let It Go! Let It Go! 

Sometimes when we get off-course 
If we get down about memories past 
And we might start to feel remorse (We can) 
Listen to a Deer Park podcast

Even though it’s not a-snowing 
Our good seeds we’ll keep a-hoeing 
So compassion and love can grow 
Let It Go! Let It Go! Let It Go! 

BREATHING IN (sung to the tune of Silent Night) 
Blue Cliff Monastery photo by Phap Hai
Breathing in Breathing out 
Feel the air Go in and out 
Now’s the time for relaxing 
Nourish your calm abiding 
You don’t have to go far 
Breathe and be where you are 

Breathing in Breathing out 
Deep and Slow No need to pout 
Smiling lightly is good for your face 
It will fill you with cosmic grace 
Sangha will let you be 
Smile and you will be free 

Breathing in Breathing out 
Feel the space Slow your pace 
We don’t need to grasp and grab 
We’ll be content with what we have 
We have more than enough 
We don’t need more stuff. 

DECK THE HILLS WITH WILDFLOWERS (sung to the tune of Deck the Halls) 
Deck the hills with wildflowers   Fa la la la la la la la la! 
Water them until it showers   Fa la la la la la la la la! 
Native plants they love to live here   Fa la la la la la la la la!
Smiling to us they bring us cheer   Fa la la la la la la la la!

In the garden we see Phap Hy   Fa la la la la la la la la!
Boddhisattva of oak trees   Fa la la la la la la la la!
Growing live oaks may take 10 years   Fa la la la la la la la la!
When we’re gone they will still be here   Fa la la la la la la la la!

Plants are our continuation   Fa la la la la la la la la!
Help with Deer Park’s Vegetation   Fa la la la la la la la la!
Deer Park Plants, they never complain   Fa la la la la la la la la!
They get fulfilled with Dharma Rain   Fa la la laaaaa lala laa LAAAAA!

I’M DREAMING OF A RAINY CHRISTMAS (sung to the tune of White Christmas) 
I’m dreaming of a rainy Christmas 
So all the plants can drink and grow 
Where the oak trees glisten 
And monkey-flowers listen 
To hear Coyote Families howl 

I’m dreaming of a rainy Christmas 
With every mantra I recite 
May your steps be peaceful and light 
And your buddha nature shine so bright. 

THE EIGHT DAYS OF PRACTICE (sung to the tune of 12 Days of Christmas)
On the first day of practice the Buddha gave to us: the insight of interbeing!
On the second day of practice the Buddha gave to us: two promises, and the insight of interbeing! 
Third day: Three precious jewels 
Fourth day: Four noble truths
Fifth day: Five –mind—ful--trainings! (slower)
Sixth day: Six paramitas
Seventh day: Seven factors of awakening 
Eighth day: Eight Fold path
On the next days of practice the Buddha gave to us: Ten directions, 51 mental formations, 283 monastic precepts, 84,000 dharma doors, 8-fold path, 7 etc…


Sunday, December 18

This week we will have a chance to study and discuss The Discourse on the Eight Realizations of the Great Beings, an ancient Buddhist text recited regularly in Plum Village practice centers all over the world. I’ve been finding it wonderful nourishment and medicine these days.

Hope to see you there,

Pete





Sunday, December 11

As we near the winter solstice, Heather will share about the Nine Meditations on Death and the Five Remembrances from Thay Phap Hai's Nothing To It.