practicing mindfulness in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh
Sunday, December 31 at UU
Heather will facilitate the recitation the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings, including some of the ceremonial chanting (Incense Offering, Touching the Earth, Opening Verse, The Heart Sutra, The Three Refuges, Closing Verse) in the Plum Village tradition.
Sunday, December 24 @ UU
We'll meet in the room next door to our usual space to celebrate the present moment in beloved community. Loretta and Marge will facilitate, and we may share Buddha-ful carols.
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!
DECK THE HILLS WITH WILDFLOWERS (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!
Water seeds of 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 la laaaaa lala laa LAAAAA!
BREATHING IN (Silent Night)
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 don’t need more stuff
We have more than enough
I’M DREAMING OF A RAINY CHRISTMAS (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 gatha I recite
May your steps be peaceful and light
And your Buddha-nature shine so bright.
THE EIGHT DAYS OF PRACTICE (The 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!
Sixth day: Six paramitas
Seventh day: Seven factors of awakening
Eighth day: Noble Eightfold Path
On the next days of practice the Buddha gave to us: Ten directions, 51 mental formations, 283 monastic precepts, 84,000 dharma doors…
HERE WE COME TO MEDITATE (The Wassail Song)
Here we come to meditate,
Among dear friends so keen,
Here we come to concentrate
our minds to be serene
Peace and joy come to you,
and some loving kindness, too
May all beings be well and have a happy new year,
May all have a happy new year.
Dear brothers and dear sisters,
As we sit encircled here
Pray think of all beings,
Share the merit and good cheer
Peace and joy come to you,
and some loving kindness, too
May all beings be well and have a happy new year,
May all have a happy new year.
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS (The First Noel)
The first noble truth, the Buddha did say
It was certain that suffering is here or on it’s way
The second noble truth, is there is a path
for suffering to continue both day and night
There is suffering and a path to suffering
Buddha, how can we end suffering?
The third noble truth, we’re so happy to say
Is that suffering can have an ending today
The fourth noble truth, it gave great light
The Noble Eightfold Path; the way is right:
Right view, thought, speech, action, livelihood,
effort, mindfulness, concentration.
MINDFUL BELLS (Jingle Bells)
Dashing through our life
Ask the horses where we go
With suffering and strife
Tweeting all the way
But bells are inviting
us back into insight
What joy it brings to sit and sing
Here and now, tonight
Oh Mindful Bells, Mindful Bells
Breathing all the way
Thank you for reminding us
To stop and rest today
Now grounded and light
Let go while you’re young
Take the vows tonight
And chant a sutra song
Just have an open heart
With breathing and sitting
Like a snowball to your back
You’ll find Awakening!
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!
DECK THE HILLS WITH WILDFLOWERS (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!
Water seeds of 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 la laaaaa lala laa LAAAAA!
BREATHING IN (Silent Night)
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 don’t need more stuff
We have more than enough
I’M DREAMING OF A RAINY CHRISTMAS (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 gatha I recite
May your steps be peaceful and light
And your Buddha-nature shine so bright.
THE EIGHT DAYS OF PRACTICE (The 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!
Sixth day: Six paramitas
Seventh day: Seven factors of awakening
Eighth day: Noble Eightfold Path
On the next days of practice the Buddha gave to us: Ten directions, 51 mental formations, 283 monastic precepts, 84,000 dharma doors…
HERE WE COME TO MEDITATE (The Wassail Song)
Here we come to meditate,
Among dear friends so keen,
Here we come to concentrate
our minds to be serene
Peace and joy come to you,
and some loving kindness, too
May all beings be well and have a happy new year,
May all have a happy new year.
Dear brothers and dear sisters,
As we sit encircled here
Pray think of all beings,
Share the merit and good cheer
Peace and joy come to you,
and some loving kindness, too
May all beings be well and have a happy new year,
May all have a happy new year.
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS (The First Noel)
The first noble truth, the Buddha did say
It was certain that suffering is here or on it’s way
The second noble truth, is there is a path
for suffering to continue both day and night
There is suffering and a path to suffering
Buddha, how can we end suffering?
The third noble truth, we’re so happy to say
Is that suffering can have an ending today
The fourth noble truth, it gave great light
The Noble Eightfold Path; the way is right:
Right view, thought, speech, action, livelihood,
effort, mindfulness, concentration.
MINDFUL BELLS (Jingle Bells)
Dashing through our life
Ask the horses where we go
With suffering and strife
Tweeting all the way
But bells are inviting
us back into insight
What joy it brings to sit and sing
Here and now, tonight
Oh Mindful Bells, Mindful Bells
Breathing all the way
Thank you for reminding us
To stop and rest today
Now grounded and light
Let go while you’re young
Take the vows tonight
And chant a sutra song
Just have an open heart
With breathing and sitting
Like a snowball to your back
You’ll find Awakening!
Oh Mindful Bells, Mindful Bells
Breathing all the way
Thank you for reminding us
To stop and rest today
Breathing all the way
Thank you for reminding us
To stop and rest today
adapted by Laura Hunter & Heather Weightman
Sunday, December 17 at UU
Dear Sangha,
As we ride the emotional roller-coaster of our political and environmental climate, it can become very easy to be swept away by anxiety, despair, fear and anger. Thay has guided us to come back to the island within to take refuge during this ongoing storm that we call life so we can become stable and hence increasingly skillful in a time where it is very needed. To do so, we will discuss the Four Kinds of Nutriments and how they relate to the Fifth Mindfulness Training.
As we ride the emotional roller-coaster of our political and environmental climate, it can become very easy to be swept away by anxiety, despair, fear and anger. Thay has guided us to come back to the island within to take refuge during this ongoing storm that we call life so we can become stable and hence increasingly skillful in a time where it is very needed. To do so, we will discuss the Four Kinds of Nutriments and how they relate to the Fifth Mindfulness Training.
Until then, may your breath anchor you in the gift that is this present moment.
Nick
Nick
Visit Wake Up SD's website for more singing meditation resources.
Tuesday, December 19 at DBT
Dear Sangha,
I’m a story teller, a teller of what has been called “The Great Story,” the story of the birth and evolution of the universe, according to our best science, and how we humans fit into it.
We are alive at a time when the story of what it means to be human is changing radically. Many of us are lost because the story we have been organized around for hundreds, if not thousands, of years no longer serves us and is no longer believable. The story of the industrial revolution, that nature is here to exploit for our human purposes, as resource and dumping ground, has brought us to the edge of extinction, of ourselves and most other forms of life. We need a new story and we need a story shared by all of humanity, because our challenges now are global, including global warming, species extinction, and habitat destruction. Fortunately, the science based story of the birth and evolution of the universe is the product of the whole world, and can serve as a unifying story.
A story of what it means to be human and a practice to embody that story is a powerful combination. Our tradition encompasses both but I think it is much stronger on practice than on story. We are alive at a time when our story is going through a dramatic change and I think it is valuable to reflect on the story we are leaving and the new story that is emerging. This transition has been called the movement “From Empire to Earth Community” and “The Great Turning.” We’ll explore this changing story and how we can practice with it to bring it home and make it our own story.
I look forward to practicing with you,
Keith
True Enlightenment Garden
I’m a story teller, a teller of what has been called “The Great Story,” the story of the birth and evolution of the universe, according to our best science, and how we humans fit into it.
We are alive at a time when the story of what it means to be human is changing radically. Many of us are lost because the story we have been organized around for hundreds, if not thousands, of years no longer serves us and is no longer believable. The story of the industrial revolution, that nature is here to exploit for our human purposes, as resource and dumping ground, has brought us to the edge of extinction, of ourselves and most other forms of life. We need a new story and we need a story shared by all of humanity, because our challenges now are global, including global warming, species extinction, and habitat destruction. Fortunately, the science based story of the birth and evolution of the universe is the product of the whole world, and can serve as a unifying story.
A story of what it means to be human and a practice to embody that story is a powerful combination. Our tradition encompasses both but I think it is much stronger on practice than on story. We are alive at a time when our story is going through a dramatic change and I think it is valuable to reflect on the story we are leaving and the new story that is emerging. This transition has been called the movement “From Empire to Earth Community” and “The Great Turning.” We’ll explore this changing story and how we can practice with it to bring it home and make it our own story.
I look forward to practicing with you,
Keith
True Enlightenment Garden
Sunday, December 10 @ UU
Pete will offer “The Four Sangha Vows” developed by Dharma Teacher Lyn Fine. In the midst of conflict and confusion in the world and in ourselves, the Five and Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings continue to be a source of inspiration and encouragement to us. The Four Sangha Vows are an additional tool and helpful reminders for opening and deepening our Sangha friendships.
Tuesday, December 12 @ DBT
Marge will share on “Dwelling Happily in the Present Moment.”
Standing Meditation
Practicing this standing posture allows us to bring mindfulness of the present moment into our daily lives. We can do it almost anywhere — standing in line, at the crosswalk, and in elevators. When you’re about to meet someone, especially someone who you might be nervous to see (such as a boss who is giving you an evaluation), meditate and clear your mind so you can give them your complete calm and undivided attention.
Standing Meditation
Practicing this standing posture allows us to bring mindfulness of the present moment into our daily lives. We can do it almost anywhere — standing in line, at the crosswalk, and in elevators. When you’re about to meet someone, especially someone who you might be nervous to see (such as a boss who is giving you an evaluation), meditate and clear your mind so you can give them your complete calm and undivided attention.
Stand gracefully, relaxedly with your legs shoulder width apart, feet parallel.Repeat this a few times, until you feel a little bit more peace.
Close your eyes or look softly at the floor or ground in front of you. If you feel unsteady on your feet with your eyes closed, gently hold onto something solid nearby to steady you.
Let your arms hang at your sides, relax your neck and shoulders. You may also want to loosen your knees and any other parts of your body where there is tension.
Let your attention rest for a few moments on the sensations at the base of your feet (at the point of contact with the ground) and on the crown of your head.
Move back and forth with weight on one foot, then the other. Then move forward so that more of the weight is on your toes and balls of your feet. Rock gently backwards, shifting the weight to your heels. Find the position where you feel most centered on your feet.
On the inhalation, sense your breath rising into your feet, through your body, and out through the crown of your head.
On the exhalation, sense your breath moving from your head, down through your body and out through your feet into the ground.
Keep the sensations along your spine in mind. You may notice a soft straightening on the in-breath.
You can visualize the breath in any way that you want, as a ray of light or stream of water, or simply just experience the sensations.
adapted from Still Mind
Sunday, December 3 @ UU
Thay has a great teaching for us to keep us from getting caught in our views, "Are you sure? Are you really sure? Are you really really absolutely sure?" Another teaching given to us by the Buddha to help with our views is his Thundering Silence (the title of one of Thay's books on this topic). This Sunday we will dive into the Sutra: The Discourse on Knowing the Better Way to Catch a Snake. Near the end of his life, the Buddha declared, “during forty-five years, I have not said a word” to encourage his students to avoid being caught by words or ideas. Thich Nhat Hanh calls this “the thundering silence of a Buddha.” Essentially, the teaching is to help guide us to make sure that we really are understanding the Buddha's teachings properly, so that we don't get bit by grabbing the snake in the wrong way.
-Nick
-Nick
Sunday, November 26 @ UU
Karen will facilitate the recitation the Five Mindfulness Trainings, which may include some of the ceremonial chanting (Incense Offering, Touching the Earth, Opening Verse, The Heart Sutra, The Three Refuges, Closing Verse) in the Plum Village tradition.
Sunday, November 19 at UU
Dear Friends,
Thay has spoken often about the 5 Skandhas, the five elements of our being, which I recently heard him clarify as being: Body, Feelings, Perceptions, Mental Formations and Store Consciousness. These are the fundamentals of Buddhist psychology, and Thay has said we should use them everyday to take inventory of our territory. He has said we are sovereigns over our territory, King or Queen, and we need to know what is going on in our territory, and take care of the wellbeing of these constituents of our being.
This Sunday we’ll explore these domains and how we can practice with them to bring about wellbeing for ourselves, our community, and our world.
I look forward to being with you,
Keith
Thay has spoken often about the 5 Skandhas, the five elements of our being, which I recently heard him clarify as being: Body, Feelings, Perceptions, Mental Formations and Store Consciousness. These are the fundamentals of Buddhist psychology, and Thay has said we should use them everyday to take inventory of our territory. He has said we are sovereigns over our territory, King or Queen, and we need to know what is going on in our territory, and take care of the wellbeing of these constituents of our being.
This Sunday we’ll explore these domains and how we can practice with them to bring about wellbeing for ourselves, our community, and our world.
I look forward to being with you,
Keith
Sunday, November 12 at UU
Contemplating Limitless Life – Thay teaches us that we have 8 different types of bodies and are not limited to our physical body. Marge will explore some of these and how we inter-are with our ancestors and the whole cosmos. These teachings allow us to see that birth and death are just part of the continuum of existence, and we need not fear “dying.”
Sunday, November 5 at UU
Heather will facilitate on the Five Remembrances, impermanence and interbeing:
I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old.The Five Remembrances Chant
I am of the nature to have ill-health. There is no way to escape having ill-health.
I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.
All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.
My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand.
Tuesday, November 7 at DBT
With the Zen eye we see that everything has spiritual value. How we engage with afflictions is the craft of practice. This theme for Tuesday is "The Healing We Took Birth For": practicing with fear, grief, shame and other strong emotions. We hope you can join us.
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pete
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pete
Sunday, October 29 at UU
Nick will facilitate the recitation the Five Mindfulness Trainings, which may include some of the ceremonial chanting (Incense Offering, Touching the Earth, Opening Verse, The Heart Sutra, The Three Refuges, Closing Verse) in the Plum Village tradition.
The UU Church is having a large event and the parking lot is likely to fill up early. The church may have parking passes to park in the UCSD Medical Center parking structure.
The UU Church is having a large event and the parking lot is likely to fill up early. The church may have parking passes to park in the UCSD Medical Center parking structure.
Tuesday, October 31 at DBT
Dear Sangha,
I look forward to being with you,
Keith
We have had some interesting questions brought up at Sangha. One is,
What does it mean when we say, as we do in guided meditation and in song, “In the ultimate I dwell?”Another is,
How do I practice in order to experience what Thay teaches as a definition of Nirvana, our experience of the world without concepts.These seem like fruitful areas for our exploration and that’s what I’ll facilitate our doing this Tuesday.
I look forward to being with you,
Keith
Sunday, October 22 at UU
Karen will share from The Sun My Heart on beauty.
This Sunday, the First Unitarian Universalist Church is having a large event. The parking lot is likely to fill up fairly early. The church may have parking passes to park in the UCSD Medical Center parking structure.
This Sunday, the First Unitarian Universalist Church is having a large event. The parking lot is likely to fill up fairly early. The church may have parking passes to park in the UCSD Medical Center parking structure.
Sunday, October 8 at UU
Dmitry will facilitate on waking up and waking down: using body awareness as a path for freedom.
Tuesday, October 3 at DBT
Pete will continue with the Four Establishments of Mindfulness and share about Appropriate Attention and the 3rd Establishment of Mindfulness as topic.
For further reading, Thay has authored a wonderful book, “Transformation and Healing: Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness.”
For further reading, Thay has authored a wonderful book, “Transformation and Healing: Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness.”
Sunday, October 1 at UU
Dave will share two meditations: the first on the meaning of the bell and the second on being refreshed by images in nature.
Tuesday, September 26 @ DBT
Heather will share about the theme of the monsatics' tour, Awakening Together: Healing the Ancestral Heart.
Coming Home to our Ancestors with Sister Dang Nghiem (2017-09-13, Deer Park Monastery)
Sunday, September 24 @ UU
Heather will facilitate the recitation the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings, including some of the ceremonial chanting (Incense Offering, Touching the Earth, Opening Verse, The Heart Sutra, The Three Refuges, Closing Verse) in the Plum Village tradition.
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Sunday, September 10 at UU - Shining the Light
During our Sangha meeting, Pete and Marge will facilitate a "Shining the Light” ceremony for our Sangha sister, Stephanie Steiner. This is a part of her process of preparing to be ordained into the Order of Interbeing during the upcoming retreat at Deer Park. Please read this invitation and this information for shining the light on Stephanie’s practice.
Tuesday, September 5
Pete will facilitate:
The Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness has been called one of the buddha’s most fundamental teaching and foundation of all mindfulness practice. This week we will review the first: "mindfulness of body" and explore the second: "mindfulness of feelings." Thay has authored a wonderful book on this Sutra called “Transformation and Healing: Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness.” It’s a book to live and practice with, highly recommended.
Sunday, September 3
Marge will explore aimlessness and using the practice to “recover” from feeling like we always need to do more or achieve more to be worthy.
Sunday, August 27 at UU
Heather will facilitate the recitation of the Five Mindfulness Trainings, including some of the ceremonial chanting (Incense Offering, Touching the Earth, Opening Verse, The Heart Sutra, The Three Refuges, Closing Verse) in the Plum Village tradition.
Tuesday, August 22 at DBT
Pete will facilitate on “Does Practice Make Perfect?” and offer a short teaching on "The Two Truths” and non self.
Tuesday, August 15 at DBT
Heather & Harry will facilitate on mindful eating and the Five Contemplations.
Sunday, August 6 at UU
Karen will facilitate on "Taking care of the apple tree in your yard" from The Sun My Heart.
Tuesday, August 1 at DBT
Keith will explore the most fundamental basis of our practice:
Thich Nhat Hanh said he only taught two things, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. I think they are worthy of our attention.
Sunday, July 30 at UU
Pete will facilitate the recitation of the Five Mindfulness Trainings and give a a short talk on practicing with the First Establishment of Mindfulness: mindfulness of body.
Tuesday, July 25 at DBT
Pete will facilitate on the topic of "Engaged Mindfulness,” practicing with Gathas and Coming Home with every breath.
Sunday, July 23 at UU
Dear Sangha,
We have just finished the last chapter of The Sun My Heart, an amazing book, which I highly recommend, if you have not read it, even if you have. I can understand why Brother Phap Hai considers it his favorite of many, many books he has read of Thay’s. We will review some of the powerful insights presented to us in the book so we have some simple yet profound practices to make the best use of it.
I look forward to being with you next Sunday.
Keith
Watch Brother Phap Hai's fun and engaging webinar discussion, including a guided meditation, dharma talk and Q&A session.
Sunday, July 16 at UU
If you would like to read along with the Sangha, you can find this book at parallax.org and reflection materials on the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation website.
Tuesday, July 11 at DBT
At our first Tuesday practice at the Dharma Bum Temple, Karen and Heather will facilitate on a basic guided meditation:
In. Out.
Deep. Slow.
Calm. Ease.
Smile. Release.
Present moment. Wonderful moment.
In. Out.
Deep. Slow.
Calm. Ease.
Smile. Release.
Present moment. Wonderful moment.
Sunday, July 9 at UU
In June and July, our Sunday practice focuses on Thay's The Sun My Heart. This Sunday, Keith will facilitate chapter 4:
If you would like to read along with the Sangha, you can find this book at parallax.org and reflection materials on the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation website.
Dear Sangha,
Chapter 4 of The Sun My Heart: Reflections on Mindfulness, Concentration and Insight, Cutting the Net of Birth and Death, plunges us into the heart and depths of our practice, taking us as far, as deep and as loving, as we’re prepared to go. I’ll do my best to share how I practice with it’s key teachings and how we can use it to deepen and enrich our experience of being alive and empower ourselves to serve our world with more joy and more wonderful effects.
I look forward to being with you this Sunday.
Please breathe mindfully and practice being present and happy. The world needs your smiles.
With affection,
Keith
If you would like to read along with the Sangha, you can find this book at parallax.org and reflection materials on the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation website.
Sunday, July 2
In June and July, our Sunday practice focuses on Thay's The Sun My Heart. This Sunday, Marge will facilitate chapter 3.
If you would like to read along with the Sangha, you can find this book at parallax.org and reflection materials on the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation website.
If you would like to read along with the Sangha, you can find this book at parallax.org and reflection materials on the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation website.
Sunday, June 18
In June and July, each Sunday practice we will focus on a chapter of Thay's The Sun My Heart. This Sunday, Karen will facilitate chapter 2.
If you would like to read along with the Sangha, you can find this book at parallax.org and reflection materials on the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation website.
If you would like to read along with the Sangha, you can find this book at parallax.org and reflection materials on the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation website.
Sunday, June 11
In June and July, each Sunday practice we will focus on a chapter of Thay's The Sun My Heart. This Sunday, Keith will facilitate chapter 1.
If you would like to read along with the Sangha, you can find this book at parallax.org and reflection materials on the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation website.
If you would like to read along with the Sangha, you can find this book at parallax.org and reflection materials on the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation website.
Sunday, June 4
In June and July, each Sunday practice we will focus on a chapter of Thay's The Sun My Heart. It was written as a sequel to Miracle of Mindfulness and contains the journey, on the path of everyday practice, from mindfulness to insight in an informational, conversational manner.
This Sunday, we will start with the introduction.
If you would like to read along with the Sangha, you can find this book at parallax.org and reflection materials on the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation website.
This Sunday, we will start with the introduction.
If you would like to read along with the Sangha, you can find this book at parallax.org and reflection materials on the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation website.
Sunday, May 21
Dear Sangha,
As I prepare to facilitate this Sunday I’m thinking about our relationship to Mother Earth. Cultural historian Thomas Berry said that every era has its great work. 10,000 to 20,000 years ago the great work of humankind was settling down, transitioning from being hunter gatherers to settled humans developing agriculture and villages. 5,000 years ago it was the development of great civilizations, 300 years ago it was the development of the modern industrial age and today it is transitioning from a destructive relationship to Earth to a mutually enhancing relationship between humanity and the other species that constitute the earth community and the earth community as a whole. Our teacher has spent a lot of his teaching in recent decades focused on Mother Earth, global warming, species extinction, devastation of the ecosystems upon which all life depends and the starvation of children and other forms of injustice. His strategy has been to help us to fall in love with Mother Earth, to receive fully the blessings of our life in the life-giving womb of Earth. It is our love for Earth, our gratitude, our capacity to savor and to be joyful and happy as a result of interbeing with such a beautiful and magnificent being as Earth that will transform our way of living such that Earth might once again thrive and all might benefit. Our practice is to fully discover our interbeing with all beings, with Earth, with the whole cosmos and even the source of the cosmos, so that we might thrive and we might be a source of transformation for the whole earth community. It is essential that we are happy and grateful for this alone will attract and seduce others into a healthier and more beneficial way of living. Let us practice together to evoke this happiness and connectedness and cultivate a Sangha rich with wellbeing and the desire to help all beings fulfill their potential to transform and be a source of transformation for others.
Here is the recording I made at Sangha of the 16 Breathing Practices meditation.
Smiling to you,
Keith
As I prepare to facilitate this Sunday I’m thinking about our relationship to Mother Earth. Cultural historian Thomas Berry said that every era has its great work. 10,000 to 20,000 years ago the great work of humankind was settling down, transitioning from being hunter gatherers to settled humans developing agriculture and villages. 5,000 years ago it was the development of great civilizations, 300 years ago it was the development of the modern industrial age and today it is transitioning from a destructive relationship to Earth to a mutually enhancing relationship between humanity and the other species that constitute the earth community and the earth community as a whole. Our teacher has spent a lot of his teaching in recent decades focused on Mother Earth, global warming, species extinction, devastation of the ecosystems upon which all life depends and the starvation of children and other forms of injustice. His strategy has been to help us to fall in love with Mother Earth, to receive fully the blessings of our life in the life-giving womb of Earth. It is our love for Earth, our gratitude, our capacity to savor and to be joyful and happy as a result of interbeing with such a beautiful and magnificent being as Earth that will transform our way of living such that Earth might once again thrive and all might benefit. Our practice is to fully discover our interbeing with all beings, with Earth, with the whole cosmos and even the source of the cosmos, so that we might thrive and we might be a source of transformation for the whole earth community. It is essential that we are happy and grateful for this alone will attract and seduce others into a healthier and more beneficial way of living. Let us practice together to evoke this happiness and connectedness and cultivate a Sangha rich with wellbeing and the desire to help all beings fulfill their potential to transform and be a source of transformation for others.
Here is the recording I made at Sangha of the 16 Breathing Practices meditation.
Smiling to you,
Keith
Sunday, May 7
Dear friends,
This Sunday we will continue to practice with the theme of the OHS retreat this weekend:
This Sunday we will continue to practice with the theme of the OHS retreat this weekend:
Opening Our Hearts to the Sangha and to the World
Here are some invitations to practice:
Heather
Awakened Stream of the Heart
- As I open my heart to the sangha, I want you to know…
- How do I use this practice to respond to the world using my heart?
- How may I care for myself as I try to lessen the suffering in a world divided in many ways?
- How may I come from my heart as I interact with people who think or behave very differently than I do?
Heather
Awakened Stream of the Heart
Sunday, April 30
Marge will facilitate the recitation of the Five Mindfulness Trainings.
She suggests spending extra time contemplating and practicing with one of the Five Trainings this week, and then sharing your experiences, if desired, during the Dharma sharing time.
Sunday, April 16
Dear friends,
Please join me this Easter Sunday as I read "The Sutra on Happiness" on such a happy day as Easter. We will walk together and have time for sitting and reflections on how the Buddha's teachings are meaningful in our daily life.
In gratitude,
Tree
Sunday, April 9
Dear beautiful Sangha,
We just finished the Order of Interbeing retreat at Deer Park and this is a great opportunity for those of us who went to share some of the post-retreat vibes 😀. The name of the retreat was Turning Outward with Inward Stability, so that will also be our topic for this Sunday. I look forward to seeing you there and then 😊
-Nick
We just finished the Order of Interbeing retreat at Deer Park and this is a great opportunity for those of us who went to share some of the post-retreat vibes 😀. The name of the retreat was Turning Outward with Inward Stability, so that will also be our topic for this Sunday. I look forward to seeing you there and then 😊
-Nick
Sunday, April 2
Karen will facilitate reciting the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings, including some of the ceremonial chanting (Incense Offering, Touching the Earth, Opening Verse, The Three Refuges, Closing Verse) in the Plum Village tradition.
Sunday, March 26: Dharma Talk by Heather Lyn Mann
Heather Lyn Mann will offer a Dharma talk and guided meditation. She has recently published a wonderful book, Ocean of Insight, a combination of her adventures and Buddhist teachings.
We'll then meet for dinner at a local restaurant.
If you'd like to hear from her, check out this recent webinar.
A bit about Heather. . .
Spiritual ecologist Heather Lyn Mann is a practitioner of Buddhism, sailing, and mindful advocacy. She founded and led the not-for-profit Center for Resilient Cities--an organization mobilizing inner-city residents to restore natural beauty and function in damaged neighborhood landscapes. In 2007, together with her husband and cat, Mann set sail on a six-year, 15,000-nautical-mile ocean voyage. Today, Mann facilitates the Care-taking Council of the newly formed Earth Holder Sangha in the Plum Village tradition, she is on faculty at Charleston's Sophia Institute, and she offers retreats and workshops on Mindful Advocacy for Personal and Community Resilience.
We'll then meet for dinner at a local restaurant.
If you'd like to hear from her, check out this recent webinar.
A bit about Heather. . .
Spiritual ecologist Heather Lyn Mann is a practitioner of Buddhism, sailing, and mindful advocacy. She founded and led the not-for-profit Center for Resilient Cities--an organization mobilizing inner-city residents to restore natural beauty and function in damaged neighborhood landscapes. In 2007, together with her husband and cat, Mann set sail on a six-year, 15,000-nautical-mile ocean voyage. Today, Mann facilitates the Care-taking Council of the newly formed Earth Holder Sangha in the Plum Village tradition, she is on faculty at Charleston's Sophia Institute, and she offers retreats and workshops on Mindful Advocacy for Personal and Community Resilience.
Learn more at HeatherLynMann.com, @HeatherLynMann, or facebook.com/HeatherLynMann
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