Good afternoon dear Sangha!
What a wonderful autumn we are having – full of sunshine, crisp evening air and many practice opportunities! Please contact us at wwsangha[at]gmail.com if you have questions about any of the information below or if you would like to register for any of the Waves and Water Sangha events.
First, there is information about upcoming events. Then, there is information about our fall and winter practice periods and books we will be using to support our practice. We will continue to have Mindfulness Training Recitations once a month – and every second month (starting October 4) there will be a panel of Sangha members to present their experience with the Trainings as a way to begin our Dharma discussion. We will also be scheduling days of practice on the second and fourth Saturday of each month.
Monday, September 17, members of the different Vancouver Sanghas will have the opportunity to practice with the Plum Village Monks and Nuns at St. James Church (303 Cordova St. E.). There are chairs available or you may want to bring a cushion or bench. Please arrive by 6:20.
Thursday, September 20, some of the Monks and Nuns will practice with the Waves and Sangha at 2016 Wall Street. Everyone is welcome! Please arrive by 6:50.
Saturday, September 29, Waves and Water welcomes everyone to a Day of Mindfulness that will begin at the Mountain View Cemetery at 10:00 where we will have sitting and walking meditation at the fountain until 12:00. Then, we will move to a Sangha member’s home for a silent brown bag lunch – and access to washrooms! Following lunch we will have a Sutra Service and Dharma study based on the Discourse on the Eight Realizations of Great Beings. The Day will finish at 3:00 with optional training for bells and chants until 4:00. Please register for the day by contacting wwsangha[at]gmail.com
Thursday, October 4, Waves and Water encourages attendance at our regular gathering to support our friends who are speaking on the first Five Mindfulness Trainings panel!
Saturday, October 13, Waves and Water Sangha welcomes everyone to a Day of Mindfulness that will include sitting and walking meditation, eating meditation, Sutra Service and Dharma Discussion focusing on every day practices such as brushing our teeth, doing the dishes, waiting for the bus, working on our computer, meeting friends. How do we nourish our Mindfulness and our practice of the Mindfulness Trainings? How do we distract ourselves?
Saturday, October 27, Waves and Water Sangha welcomes everyone to a Day of Mindfulness that will include sitting and walking meditation, eating meditation, Sutra Service and Dharma Study focusing on the Discourse on Putting an End to Anger.
Sunday, October 28, a possible Vancouver Sanghas event focusing on children’s practice! Please look out for more information and contact wwsangha[at]gmail.com if you would like to be involved (without or without children, godchildren, nieces, nephews, grandchildren!)
BOOKS FOR FALL AND WINTER PRACTICE PERIOD
We have developed a nourishing fall and winter practice period schedule! Although it is not essential to have the following books, you may want to find a Sangha buddy to share with or contact Banyen Books to order a copy. They may have a few copies already in stock.
September and October
THE HEART SUTRA September and October
Nhat Hanh, Thich. (1988). The heart of understanding: Commentaries on the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra. Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press. (54 pages)
An audio recording of the chant can be found at http://wavesandwater.org/site/resources/heart-of-perfect-understanding-chant/
November and December
THE DISCOURSE ON THE FULL AWARENESS OF BREATHING
Nhat Hanh, Thich. (1996). Breathe! You are alive: Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing. Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press. (103 pages)
January and February
THE DISCOURSE ON THE FOUR ESTABLISHMENTS OF MINDFULNESS
Nhat Hanh, Thich. (2006). Transformation and healing: Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness. Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press
March
THE SEVEN FACTORS OF AWAKENING
Nhat Hanh, Thich. (1998). Chapter 26: The Seven Factors of Awakening. In The heart of the Buddha’s teachings: Transforming suffering into peace, joy, and liberation (pp. 200-205). Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press
