Good afternoon dear friends
Warm and sunny. Cold and rainy. Stillness, breezes and strong wind. We are living a season of rapid transitions. There is war. There is greed, hatred and ignorance. There is a also peace and happiness, love and compassion. This month we will practice with all that is in our hearts, in our families, our communities and the world.
This evening we will have a Ceremony for the Recitation of the Five Mindfulness Trainings. We will include an additional Mindfulness Training for Peace on Earth sent to us from Plum Village by Elder Nun Thich Nu Chan Khong and Elder Monk Thich Chan Phap An.
Next week, we will read together their open letter calling for peace and watch A Cloud Never Dies, a biographical documentary of our beloved teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. The documentary, released this week, focuses on Thay’s spiritual development in the context of war and his courageous path of engaged action.
In our third week, we will explore the Discourse on Happiness and engage in Dharma discussion concerning the tensions that may arise when we cannot touch deep happiness at this time of turmoil. In our fourth week, we will read together a Mindfulness Training developed by a senior Dharma Teacher for April Fool’s day. We will take that Training seriously and look deeply into the small and sometimes silly things that bring us joy in our daily lives.
Five Mindfulness Training Transmission
We will be offering a Five Mindfulness Training Transmission over Zoom within the next four months. If you are interested in receiving – or renewing – the Trainings, please let us know as soon as possible. (wwsangha@gmail.com) We will also offer a Zoom session for those who have questions about receiving the Trainings. This will include an outline of the Ceremony itself. If you do not regularly attend monthly recitations with Waves and Water Sangha or another Plum Village Sangha it is recommended that you attend this meeting.
Wake Up Sangha
A new member of Waves and Water Sangha is interested in developing a local Wake Up Sangha for practitioners 18-35 years of age. A description of Wake Up is below. Please respond with interest to the following Discord link: https://discord.gg/PJB3gVfYUU ”
Wake Up is an active global community of young mindfulness practitioners, aged 18-35, inspired by the teachings of Zen Master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh. We come together to practice mindfulness in order to take care of ourselves, nourish happiness and contribute to building a healthier and a more compassionate society. (https://plumvillage.org/about/wake-up-young-practitioners/)
Mindful Climbing Retreat – Bainbridge Island – May 24-29
When our body and mind are one we develop concentration and the capacity to heal and transform ourselves. Rock climbing encourages our mind to be fully present in our body—our muscles, tendons, and movement. In this six-day retreat, from May 24—29, 2022, led by Brother Phap Luu, a monastic Dharma teacher in the Plum Village tradition from Deer Park Monastery, and Michele Lang of Insight Climbing & Movement, we will enjoy sessions of mindful climbing indoors, mindful walking in the beautiful temperate rain forests of Bainbridge Island, Washington, and mindfulness of breathing, eating, resting along with Dharma talks and circle sharing. In this way, uniting body and mind through awareness of physical movement, our physiological state, and our thinking and intentionality, we develop our capacity to be aware of our suffering and transform it into happiness and joy. https://deerparkmonastery.org/event/mindful-climbing-retreat/
Readings suggested for International Women’s Day – March 8th
Female Buddhas: A Revolution for Nuns in the Plum Village https://plumvillage.org/articles/female-buddhas-a-revolution-for-nuns-in-the-plum-village-tradition/
The Life and Teachings of Sister Chan Khong https://www.lionsroar.com/path-of-peace-the-life-and-teachings-of-sister-chan-khong-may-2012/
