Good afternoon dear friends –
Every day we have a little more darkness, a little less light. What a wonderful opportunity to let go of our stories about light and dark! I have a tendency, still, to consider increasing darkness a (potential) difficulty. Yet, my experience tells me that, although I most enjoy dawn and dusk, I would choose more darkness rather than more sunlight. Wherever we find ourselves on this dualistic spectrum, perhaps we can let all the stories go and simply take things as they come.
And we can begin with a sense of the “best” place to practice! Beginning October 24 we returned to our Zoom Sangha for the foreseeable future. Causes and conditions within the Caretaking Council and the Sangha body have led us to this decision. Please watch for blogposts that might offer opportunities for in-person practice with, for example, Days of Mindfulness.
And, did you know that Thich Nhat Hanh was 95 on October 11th? You can find a lovely message from the Plum Village Sangha concerning our beloved teacher at https://plumvillage.org/articles/message-for-thays-birthday/
To finish off October we have a presentation on The Eight Realizations of Great Beings this Sunday – October 24 – followed by a TEA CEREMONY on our fifth Sunday, October 31. This is going to be a real treat when we share the stories, poems, songs, photos, etc., that bring us joy! In particular, Susu will read a most wonderful children’s story.
In November, we will begin with a recitation of the Diversity Mindfulness Trainings with affinity discussion groups. We will continue through November with a closer look at what we mean by “volition” or intention, including the study and practice of the Discourse on the Four Nutriments
We have so many opportunities for practice in the next months – some of what are outlined below.
Our Sister Sangha in Calgary – Wild Rose Sangha – is hosting an online retreat November 12-14 with the theme Spacious as the Clear Blue Sky: Resting in Boundless Freedom. Dharma Teacher Alexa Singer-Telles from Redding, California will be leading the retreat. Please go to their website for more information: wildrosesangha.ca
Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet, a new book based on Thay’s Earth teachings, is out now. “Follow the deep meditations of the Diamond Sutra, encounter the inspiring energy of bodhisattvas, and explore Thay’s vision for applied, compassionate action and regenerative communities that can transform our world.” An afterword from Sister Chan Khong and commentary by Sister True Dedication.
What does it mean to become a Great Being? Brother Phap Hai shares the core messages of the Eight Realizations of Great Beings in this new book from Parallax Press. “If all other Buddhist sutras and commentaries were suddenly lost, with only this one Sutra remaining as a guide, it would still be possible for each one of us to fully comprehend the core insights of the Buddha on an experiential level. This is because it is a complete expression of the path as well as a practical manual for meditation.”
REMINDER: The Raft is a special bi-weekly series, assembled by the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation, Plum Village Monastery, Parallax Press, and the Plum Village App team to help keep you grounded and connected
