Good morning dear friends
In gratitude again to all Sangha members who attended our Sunday Sangha to offer and to receive the words of Br Phap Ung, Susu, Thay, Louise, Sr Annabel, Alda, and the many present who spoke so deeply about their experiences with our beloved teacher and the monastic community. The on-line links of the talks and texts of the Guided Meditation, Contemplation and Song are included at the end of this blogpost.
We are looking for a Sangha member to help us with updating our website. It would also be helpful to have a 1 hour/week dana offering to continue updating resources based on our Sangha gatherings. Anyone with WordPress experience can contact Bethan through wwsangha@gmail.com.
This Sunday, January 30, we will continue offering our practice to Thay. We will also discuss some of the changes coming to our regular Sunday Sangha gatherings. These will include guided movement meditation after our first sitting meditation and offering tea meditation two by two in silence after our second sitting. We will also discuss outdoor walking meditation and safe social gathering during half-Days of Mindfulness. These changes arise from our earlier Survey results.
This Friday at 4:00 we can join Thay’s funeral ceremony from Tu Hieu Temple in Hue VN. Those of us who are still working at that hour may be able to get time off for the funeral.
There will also be ceremony from Deer Park Monastery from 3:30-5:00 live.
NOTE: Information on-line concerning dates and times can be confusing because of the time zone difference. If you go to the YouTube link it will most often tell you how many days/hours until the event is happening live.
We can also access past Ceremonies and monastic practice occurring this week.
For example, the Great Bell, Chanting and Silent Sitting from Deer Park:
For example, the Thich Nhat Hanh Memorial “Novice Ordination” from Day 4: Five novices (four monks and one nun) were ordained into the Plum Village monastic community today as we celebrate Thay’s continuation and legacy. Watch the novices receive the ten novice precepts, their monastic names and the ceremony where their hair is shaved.
Offering gratitude for Thay Plum Village asks that we post our memories of hearing Thay’s teachings, attending his retreats, or simply how his teachings and writings have impacted your life. https://plumvillage.org/gratitude-for-thich-nhat-hanh/
Thay’s words for us:
“Tomorrow, I will continue to be.
But you will have to be very attentive to see me.
I will be a flower, or a leaf.
I will be in these forms and I will say hello to you.
If you are attentive enough, you will recognise me,
and you may greet me.
I will be very happy.”
RESOURCES FROM 2022 01 23 Sangha gathering
Br Phap Ung 3: A Sacred Moment
https://plumvillage.org/memorial/
Thich Nhat Hanh – What happens when we die?
The sound quality is not perfect – in the background we will hear translation
Sr Annabel – How to practice during the ceremonies
https://plumvillage.org/memorial/
Guided meditation for first period of sitting (Susu)
Breathing in, I’m aware of my in-breath.
Breathing out, I’m aware of my out-breath.
In-breath; out-breath
Breathing in, I become aware of my whole body.
Breathing out, I smile to the miracle of being alive in this moment.
Aware of body, smiling to life
Breathing in, I invite Thay to sit with my back.
Breathing out, I invite Thay to breathe with my lungs.
Thay enjoying the sitting; Thay enjoying the breathing
Breathing in, I’m aware of my sadness.
Breathing out, I smile to my sadness with compassion.
Embracing sadness, smiling with compassion
Breathing in, I’m aware of my gratitude for Thay’s teaching.
Breathing out, I smile to my joy.
Feeling grateful, smiling
Breathing in, I’m aware of our sangha breathing together around the world.
Breathing out, I take refuge in the sangha, breathing together around the world.
Sangha breathing together; taking refuge in the sangha
The Contemplation of No Coming, No Going (Louise)
This body is not me.
I am not limited by this body.
I am life without boundaries.
I have never been born,
and I have never died.
Look at the ocean and the sky filled with stars,
manifestations from my wondrous true mind.
Since before time, I have been free.
Birth and death are only doors through which we pass,
sacred thresholds on our journey.
Birth and death are a game of hide-and-seek.
So laugh with me,
hold my hand,
let us say good-bye,
say good-bye, to meet again soon.
We meet today.
We will meet again tomorrow.
We will meet at the source every moment.
We meet each other in all forms of life.
No coming no going (practice song) Alda
No coming, no going
No after, no before
I hold you close to me
I release you to be free
I am in you and you are in me
Please subscribe to The Raft for ongoing information and resources.: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/the-raft
