Good afternoon dear friends –
There are snow drops everywhere! Bringing the joy of spring and warmth and caring for all beings – the animals, plants and minerals…. Every Thursday evening we have more light. Over the next weeks, regular Sangha practitioners can watch time change by noticing the degree of light left when we begin and how long it lasts. In the end, it will be light from beginning to end – and then it won’t!
THIS WEEK AND BEYOND
Our Thursday evenings in March almost always include an hour of sitting and walking meditation, followed by tea. An opportunity for sustained concentration and mindfulness as we change postures.
Last week, March 2, we recited the 5 Mindfulness Trainings – both our current version and the version Thay put forward from the time of the Buddha and includes in Old Path White Clouds
This week, March 9: Alan will engage us with the Dharma through Practice Songs
This Saturday, March 11: DAY OF MINDFULNESS Please join us from 10:00 to 3:00 for sitting, walking, Sutra Service, walking, sitting. Please bring a bag lunch for a formal meal (tea provided). After lunch we will practice Deep Relaxation. Please bring your favourite book in the Plum Village tradition and we will share paragraphs and Dharma discussion. After sitting and walking, we will leave refreshed, renewed.
Next week, March 16: Bethan will introduce the first of the Eight Realizations – impermanence – and we will practice with the phrase: “political regimes are subject to fall”
March 23: Catherine will talk about how her environmental engaged practice is supported by the Dharma. There will be a short reading and Dharma discussion.
The FIFTH Thursday, March 30: Waves and Water Sangha practices with a Tea Ceremony where we share songs, dance, poems, stories – Please bring your instruments! We’ll bring the cookies!
EARTH HOLDER SANGHA
Our Earth Holder Sangha has a new website: earthholder.org. There are Calls-to-Action, videos, teachings and news. As time passes, there will be many more additions.
ARISE SANGHA
Our ARISE Sangha: Awakening Through Race, Intersectionality and Social Equity has a website at https://pvracialequity.wordpress.com/ Please consider looking deeply at their work.
