Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I am committed to practicing generosity in my thinking, speaking, and acting. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others; and I will share my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need. I will practice looking deeply to see that the happiness and suffering of others are not separate from my own happiness and suffering; that true happiness is not possible without understanding and compassion; and that running after wealth, fame, power and sensual pleasures can bring much suffering and despair. I am aware that happiness depends on my mental attitude and not on external conditions, and that I can live happily in the present moment simply by remembering that I already have more than enough conditions to be happy. I am committed to practicing Right Livelihood so that I can help reduce the suffering of living beings on Earth and stop contributing to climate change.
practicing mindfulness in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh
Sunday, April 5 online
Steve will share about the Second Mindfulness Training, True Happiness:
Sunday, March 29 online
Loretta will facilitate the recitation of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings.
We will be offering online Sangha until conditions ripen for us to meet again in person.
Join Zoom Meeting online
Or dial in by phone: 669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 371 714 540
We will be offering online Sangha until conditions ripen for us to meet again in person.
Join Zoom Meeting online
Or dial in by phone: 669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 371 714 540
Sunday, March 22 online
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/371714540 Meeting ID: 371 714 540
Phone dial in: +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 371 714 540
Find your local number: https://us04web.zoom.us/u/fvR9rYap9
Dear Friends,
This Sunday I will be facilitating our now on-line Sangha. We are offering a Chapter of Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay)’s book, The Art of Living, as a theme for each of the next 7 months. The first three chapters are named after the Three Doors of Liberation: Emptiness, Signlessness and Aimlessness. The last 4 chapters are the last 4 of the 16 Breathing Practices taken from Thay’s book, Breathe, You Are Alive: The Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing. March’s theme is Emptiness. Facilitators are free to use the theme or not, so it doesn’t impose a restriction on anyone, but offers ideas and structure to those who enjoy using it.
Thay said that if you understand one teaching deeply you understand all the teachings. Each point in the direction of deep “looking,” and to the awakening that comes from looking deeply. The teachings are in words, but the insight is a transformation of our whole being, our whole way of experiencing reality, including ourselves. Chapter 1 is titled, EMPTINESS, THE WONDER OF INTERBEING. Emptiness is shorthand for empty of a separate self, and to “grok” this fully is to experience the deep meaning of Thay’s teaching’s “the self is made entirely of non-self elements,” and “we are empty of a separate self, but we are filled with the entire cosmos.” The great benefit of this teaching is the liberation from the suffering we create for ourselves and others when we have the delusion that we are a separate self and that other beings in the world are separate selves, and the great liberation to be free and open to the flowing nature of all realities. With the insight Interbeing we dwell in the Ultimate, and we know it.
When we transcend our illusion of separateness, we are free to dwell as the whole cosmos and to enjoy the spontaneous energies happening in us and around us in our very beautiful world. We’ll explore and practice with this enlightening mode of being.
I look forward to being with you.
Smiling,
Keith
Universal Emptiness of the Heart
True Enlightenment Garden
Phone dial in: +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 371 714 540
Find your local number: https://us04web.zoom.us/u/fvR9rYap9
Dear Friends,
This Sunday I will be facilitating our now on-line Sangha. We are offering a Chapter of Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay)’s book, The Art of Living, as a theme for each of the next 7 months. The first three chapters are named after the Three Doors of Liberation: Emptiness, Signlessness and Aimlessness. The last 4 chapters are the last 4 of the 16 Breathing Practices taken from Thay’s book, Breathe, You Are Alive: The Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing. March’s theme is Emptiness. Facilitators are free to use the theme or not, so it doesn’t impose a restriction on anyone, but offers ideas and structure to those who enjoy using it.
Thay said that if you understand one teaching deeply you understand all the teachings. Each point in the direction of deep “looking,” and to the awakening that comes from looking deeply. The teachings are in words, but the insight is a transformation of our whole being, our whole way of experiencing reality, including ourselves. Chapter 1 is titled, EMPTINESS, THE WONDER OF INTERBEING. Emptiness is shorthand for empty of a separate self, and to “grok” this fully is to experience the deep meaning of Thay’s teaching’s “the self is made entirely of non-self elements,” and “we are empty of a separate self, but we are filled with the entire cosmos.” The great benefit of this teaching is the liberation from the suffering we create for ourselves and others when we have the delusion that we are a separate self and that other beings in the world are separate selves, and the great liberation to be free and open to the flowing nature of all realities. With the insight Interbeing we dwell in the Ultimate, and we know it.
When we transcend our illusion of separateness, we are free to dwell as the whole cosmos and to enjoy the spontaneous energies happening in us and around us in our very beautiful world. We’ll explore and practice with this enlightening mode of being.
I look forward to being with you.
Smiling,
Keith
Universal Emptiness of the Heart
True Enlightenment Garden
Tuesday, March 17 online
Anita will facilitate
We will be offering online Sangha until conditions ripen for us to meet again in person.
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/977541976
We will be offering online Sangha until conditions ripen for us to meet again in person.
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/977541976
Or dial in by phone: +1 669 900 6833 US +1 253 215 8782 US +1 301 715 8592 US Meeting ID: 977 541 976
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abG98Bb7m7
The technology is easy to use but here are a few instructions if you are unfamiliar with it:
- Download the Zoom app on whatever device you plan to use. Zoom is functional on phone, iPad, laptop or computer. https://zoom.us/download
- For those who are tech challenged Keith is willing to offer assistance as needed.
- Please log in early, especially if this is new for you. The online meeting room for our Sangha will be available 30 minutes before normal start time. When you click the link you will be guided through a brief setup process to allow access to your microphone and camera.
- If you are unable to log in via the Zoom app using the link or have difficulty with the setup process, you have the option to call Keith for support or log in by phone. You won't be able to see us and we can't see you, but we will know you are there. To do that, use the dial-in info listed.
- We suggest you find a quiet location to log in to help our collective energy of mindfulness and encourage your focused attention.
- Upon entering the Zoom sangha, your microphone will be muted. Please do not unmute yourself, until invited to do so during dharma sharing. This will help to avoid any background noises, etc. from interfering with sitting meditation, etc. During dharma sharing, please be mindful to mute yourself once you are done sharing.
Sunday, March 15 - online
Dear Friends,
We will be offering online Sangha until conditions ripen for us to meet again in person. Online gatherings will be a bit shorter from 4:00-5:30PM since we will not be practicing walking meditation together.
The online meeting room will be available at 3:30. **If this is your first time using the Zoom platform, please log in 10-15 minutes early to get set up on your computer or phone.**
The Zoom platform we will use for our virtual sangha is an easy platform that lets us connect and see one another via the camera on our computer, phone or other device. To access the Zoom session, you will need to complete a brief set-up process if this is your first time using the platform. Please allow a few extra minutes for this if you are a new Zoom user. When you click on the link below you should be guided through the process on your desktop or laptop computer. There is also a Zoom app available for phones/tablets if you prefer.
Upon entering the Zoom sangha, your microphone will be muted. Please do not unmute yourself, until invited to do so during dharma sharing. This will help to avoid any background noises, etc. from interfering with sitting meditation, etc. During dharma sharing, please be mindful to mute yourself once you are done sharing.
If anyone cannot access the session via the link below or has difficulty with the setup process, you have the option to call in by phone (you won't be able to see us and we can't see you, but we will know you are there :)) - to do that, use the dial-in number and passcode also listed below.
We will likely be using the same log in information for the Sunday Sangha in the coming weeks, unless I need to make a change in the way the meetings are set up, so please keep this handy.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/371714540 Meeting ID: 371 714 540
Dial in: +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 371 714 540
We will be offering online Sangha until conditions ripen for us to meet again in person. Online gatherings will be a bit shorter from 4:00-5:30PM since we will not be practicing walking meditation together.
The online meeting room will be available at 3:30. **If this is your first time using the Zoom platform, please log in 10-15 minutes early to get set up on your computer or phone.**
The Zoom platform we will use for our virtual sangha is an easy platform that lets us connect and see one another via the camera on our computer, phone or other device. To access the Zoom session, you will need to complete a brief set-up process if this is your first time using the platform. Please allow a few extra minutes for this if you are a new Zoom user. When you click on the link below you should be guided through the process on your desktop or laptop computer. There is also a Zoom app available for phones/tablets if you prefer.
Upon entering the Zoom sangha, your microphone will be muted. Please do not unmute yourself, until invited to do so during dharma sharing. This will help to avoid any background noises, etc. from interfering with sitting meditation, etc. During dharma sharing, please be mindful to mute yourself once you are done sharing.
If anyone cannot access the session via the link below or has difficulty with the setup process, you have the option to call in by phone (you won't be able to see us and we can't see you, but we will know you are there :)) - to do that, use the dial-in number and passcode also listed below.
We will likely be using the same log in information for the Sunday Sangha in the coming weeks, unless I need to make a change in the way the meetings are set up, so please keep this handy.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/371714540 Meeting ID: 371 714 540
Dial in: +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 371 714 540
Find your local number: https://us04web.zoom.us/u/fvR9rYap9
This is a terrific practice opportunity for us. There is no better time than now to practice mindfulness of body. Be with your breath and practice mindfulness of touch, aware of how often you may want to touch your face, what surfaces you make contact with in the world, and where your body is. We do not stay home because we are afraid of getting the virus. We practice this as an act of loving service and compassion to reduce the number of vectors to transmit the virus, to help protect those who may be most vulnerable.
Washing your hands can be a brilliant mindfulness experience. Here is a gatha you may want to practice with as you turn on the water:
Water flows from high in the mountains.
Water runs deep in the Earth
Miraculously, water comes to us,
and sustains all life.
Enjoy each line with either an in-breath or out-breath. The miracle of running water, self care, safety and compassion for others are all available in that moment.
Pete
This is a terrific practice opportunity for us. There is no better time than now to practice mindfulness of body. Be with your breath and practice mindfulness of touch, aware of how often you may want to touch your face, what surfaces you make contact with in the world, and where your body is. We do not stay home because we are afraid of getting the virus. We practice this as an act of loving service and compassion to reduce the number of vectors to transmit the virus, to help protect those who may be most vulnerable.
Washing your hands can be a brilliant mindfulness experience. Here is a gatha you may want to practice with as you turn on the water:
Water flows from high in the mountains.
Water runs deep in the Earth
Miraculously, water comes to us,
and sustains all life.
Enjoy each line with either an in-breath or out-breath. The miracle of running water, self care, safety and compassion for others are all available in that moment.
- We will also be setting up online meetings for the Tuesday Sangha as well. Stay tuned
Pete
OHS InterBeing and Social Distancing
Dear Friends,
Looking deeply the OHS Care Taking Council has decided to suspend our regular Tuesday and Sunday gatherings through the end of the month. We are hoping to set up virtual meetings and will let you know as those plans manifest. We believe this is Right Action and ask for your compassion in doing so.
Deer Park Monastery decided to close through the end of April. Please read their beautiful love letter announcing this and why.
Dharma Bum Temple has also decided to close their doors through the end of the month.
While we usually think of Sangha as a way to grow community and the mind of love, the practice of “non meeting” can do the same. We are not feeding fear - we are growing our collective energy of love and compassion by doing what we can to flatten the curve of disease transmission and protect those who may be vulnerable. Let us continue to practice connecting from the heart. In the words of Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky:
“Every hand that we don’t shake must become a phone call that we place. Every embrace that we avoid must become a verbal expression of warmth and concern. Every inch and every foot that we physically place between ourselves and another, must become a thought as to how we might be of help to that other, should the need arise.”
May we continue to practice beautifully together,
Your Care Taking Council
Looking deeply the OHS Care Taking Council has decided to suspend our regular Tuesday and Sunday gatherings through the end of the month. We are hoping to set up virtual meetings and will let you know as those plans manifest. We believe this is Right Action and ask for your compassion in doing so.
Deer Park Monastery decided to close through the end of April. Please read their beautiful love letter announcing this and why.
Dharma Bum Temple has also decided to close their doors through the end of the month.
While we usually think of Sangha as a way to grow community and the mind of love, the practice of “non meeting” can do the same. We are not feeding fear - we are growing our collective energy of love and compassion by doing what we can to flatten the curve of disease transmission and protect those who may be vulnerable. Let us continue to practice connecting from the heart. In the words of Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky:
“Every hand that we don’t shake must become a phone call that we place. Every embrace that we avoid must become a verbal expression of warmth and concern. Every inch and every foot that we physically place between ourselves and another, must become a thought as to how we might be of help to that other, should the need arise.”
May we continue to practice beautifully together,
Your Care Taking Council
Sunday, March 8 at UU
Dear Friends,
This month we are working with the theme from the first chapter of Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay)’s wonderful book, The Art of Living, emptiness. Emptiness goes with Interbeing and no separate self and with Thay’s quote, “We are empty of a separate self, and filled with the entire cosmos.” It brings us to that great koan, "Show me your original face, before your grandparents were born." To know we are empty of a separate self is to be free of tension and fear and to effortlessly inter-be with all that is. We will practice together to realize this wonderful state of mind.
I look forward to being with you,
Keith
Universal Emptiness of the Heart
This month we are working with the theme from the first chapter of Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay)’s wonderful book, The Art of Living, emptiness. Emptiness goes with Interbeing and no separate self and with Thay’s quote, “We are empty of a separate self, and filled with the entire cosmos.” It brings us to that great koan, "Show me your original face, before your grandparents were born." To know we are empty of a separate self is to be free of tension and fear and to effortlessly inter-be with all that is. We will practice together to realize this wonderful state of mind.
I look forward to being with you,
Keith
Universal Emptiness of the Heart
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