Tuesday, August 6 at DBT

Thay writes in How to Relax, “You don’t need to set aside special time for resting and relaxing.  You don’t need a special pillow or fancy equipment.  You don’t need a whole hour.  In fact, now is a very good time to relax.”  When we are stressed, we are not only less happy and less productive, we make those around us unhappy as well.  We will ponder ways to relax and to use our practice to stop, relax, reduce tension, and come back to balance.

- Marge

Sunday, August 4 at UU

Sabina will facilitate

Tuesday, July 30 at DBT

Keith will facilitate.

Sunday, July 28 at UU

We will hold a "Shining the Light” ceremony for our sangha friend, Tree Whitney.  This is a part of her process of preparing to be ordained into the Plum Village’s Order of Interbeing during the upcoming retreat at Magnolia Grove Monastery.  This is a special occasion in the life of our sangha, and you are invited to bring a snack item, if you wish, to share after the gathering.  Please read this invitation to the event and the background on shining the light on someone’s practice.

Tuesday, July 23 at DBT

Tree will share about looking deeply into the reality of the Five Skandhas, also known as the five aggregates.

Sunday, July 21 at UU

Dear friends,

I look forward to sharing tea meditation this Sunday.  Tea meditation is a time to be with the Sangha in a joyful atmosphere, when we can share our happiness in being together.  Practicing tea meditation is to be truly present with our tea and our friends.  We can dwell happily in the present moment, despite our sorrows and worries.  During tea meditation we can water the seeds of happiness, joy, understanding, and love in each other.
Bowing and smiling,
Anita

Tuesday, July 16 at DBT

This Tuesday we will have the opportunity to study, practice and share about The Five Awarenesses. The heart of Thay’s teaching on continuation is contained in them. They are often a part of Plum Village wedding ceremonies and a great teaching for growing understanding, inclusiveness and harmony. As Thay says, Acceptance does not mean being passive or condoning injustice. Acceptance is to calm down and see the situation clearly. By living and practicing awareness we bring peace and joy to our lives and the lives of those around us.

We are aware that all generations of our ancestors and all future generations are present in us. (bell)

We are aware of the expectations that our ancestors, our children, and their children have of us. (bell)

We are aware that our joy, peace, freedom, and harmony are the joy peace, freedom, and harmony of our ancestors, our children, and their children. (bell)

We are aware that understanding is the very foundation of love. (bell)

We are aware that blaming and arguing can never help us and only create a wider gap between us; that only understanding, trust, and love can help us change and grow. (two bells)

Thanks,

Pete

Sunday, July 14 at UU

Steve will share about The Three Doors of Liberation: emptiness, signlessness, aimlessness

Tuesday, July 9 at DBT

Keith will share about how do we generate wellbeing.

Sunday, July 7 at UU

This Sunday I will facilitate on Right View from Thich Nhat Hanh’s book “The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy and Liberation.”  Right View is the first practice of the Noble Eightfold Path, and can lead to a deep understanding of the Four Noble Truths.  Our teacher, “Thay" says that at the base of our views are our perceptions and the Buddha advised us not to be fooled by what we perceive when he stated “Where there is perception, there is deception.”  Most of our perceptions are erroneous and therefore cause most of our suffering.  Until we see clearly, our wrong perceptions will prevent us from having right view.  Touching reality deeply and knowing what is going on inside and outside of ourselves is the way to liberate ourselves.  We water the seeds of right view when we practice mindful living.

In gratitude,
Tree