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Good evening, dear friends!

DAY OF MINDFULNESS
Our next Day of Mindfulness Practice will be January 12 from 10:00 to 3:00 at the Meditation Hall (see Location on website). Please bring a bag lunch. ALL ARE WELCOME! Sitting, Walking, Eating, Sharing in mindfulness. Questions or for registration: wwsangha@gmail.com

THURSDAY EVENING PRACTICE
January 3: 5 Mindfulness Training Recitation Ceremony
January 10: Beginning Anew as an individual, family, and community practice
Other January and February dates: Dharma study and discussion based on Discourses on the Full Awareness of Breathing and the Four Establishments of Mindfulness. Find stillness of body, feelings, mind, and the objects of mind.

THICH NHAT HANH AND PLUM VILLAGE SANGHA
The North American tour for 2013 can be found at http://www.tnhtour.org/ Registration for the Canadian retreat in St. Catherine’s, Ontario (MINDFULNESS FOR EDUCATORS) is scheduled to begin in the middle of January.

Good evening, dear Sangha

TEA CEREMONY:
Please come to Sangha on Thursday, December 20, for a Tea Ceremony in the Plum Village tradition! Bring poetry, art, songs, stories something that has inspired your practice – your own or from someone else.

NEW YEAR’S EVE
Our New Year’s Eve practice with Mountain Rain Zen Community will begin at 7:00 on December 31st and carry through until midnight. You may arrive or leave at any time during the evening AT 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE HOUR (i.e. 6:50, 7:50, 8:50 etc.).

During each hour there will be a 40 minute period of sitting followed by 10 minutes of chanting for peace followed by 10 minutes walking. At midnight 108 bells will be sounded, followed by socializing

PLEASE let us know at wwsangha[at]gmail.com if and when you plan to attend so that we may choose together how Waves and Water will offer chants for peace. . . .

SETTLING IN THE MEDITATION HALL BEFORE 7:00
ENTERING OR LEAVING THE HALL DURING SITTING
During the last Caretaking Council meeting we reached consensus on the question of how to welcome those who are not able to be settled in the meditation hall by the sound of the bell at 7:00. Last Thursday, we offered the practice to the Sangha. Sangha members asked that we send the policy through a blog post so everyone is aware. We will also announce it each week for the next few gatherings. Here it is!

Please arrive by 6:50 in order to be settled on your mat in the meditation hall for the 7:00 bell. If you are not able to be settled in the meditation hall before the 7:00 bell, there will be chairs and mats just inside the door of meditation hall where you may practice until the end of the first sitting period (approximately 7:25). When the small bell sounds for standing before walking, you may walk to an empty zabuton (mat). Someone will be sitting near the door to help you find a place and, if necessary, a suitable cushion, chair or bench. Similarly, if you are not able to leave the kitchen to be settled by 7:00, please practice in the kitchen until the first period of walking.

Please do not enter the meditation hall from the kitchen or the entry way at any time during sitting meditation.

If you need to use the washroom or get a drink urgently during sitting meditation, please leave the hall mindfully and wait until the sitting period ends before re-entering the hall. Otherwise, you may leave during walking meditation to use the washroom or get a drink of water and then re-join the Sangha for the remainder of the walking period.

NORTH SHORE RETREAT WITH DHARMACARYA EILEEN KIERA
The North Shore Sangha is planning a non-residential retreat on the North Shore with Dharmacarya Eileen Kiera from Mountain Lamp Community on the weekend of April 6-8. We encourage everyone to hold those days in their calendar and to watch for more information. If you are interested in working with the North Shore Sangha to organize the retreat, please let them know: http://northshoremindfulness.wordpress.com/tag/north-shore-sangha/

Good afternoon!

This Thursday, November 15, the meditation hall will have only a few cushions and mats because Mountain Rain is using them for their residential retreat. There will be enough chairs for everyone but if you want a comfortable non-chair option you may want to bring your own mat and cushion! We will be learning the Plum Village Mindful Movements as we continue our study of the full awareness of breathing, the foundation of our meditation practice.

On Saturday, November 24, there will be a Sangha Potluck Gathering hosted by SuSu close to 12th Avenue and Main Street, at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend – please reply to wwsangha@gmail.com if you are planning to come and we will send you the address. Jennifer has offered to make a big pot of soup, so you can bring something vegetarian that will go with that!

More details on our New Year’s Eve practice with Mountain Rain will be coming soon!

DAYS OF MINDFULNESS THE 2nd SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH
Beginning January 12, Waves and Water Sangha invites all practitioners interested in the Plum Village tradition to a Day of Mindfulness (10:00-4:00) at the Meditation Hall. We will gather on the second Saturday of each month: January 12, February 9, March 9, April 13, May 11, June 8. Please mark your calendars and offer yourselves this refuge of a day of practice every month! You may attend for part of the day and there will be an opportunity for an early supper together following our practice together.

As the days become shorter and deep darkness comes to our particular place on this earth we have several opportunities for practice.

Waves and Water Sangha will host a Day of Mindfulness at the Mountain Rain Meditation Hall on Saturday, October 27, from 10:00 to 3:00. We will study the teaching on the Five Ways of Putting an End to Anger with the accompanying recitation “Mastering Anger.” We will learn to chant together the Gatha on Impermanence. Please arrive by 9:50 and bring a bag lunch for our formal meal. If you plan to attend, or if you have any questions, please contact wwsangha@gmail.com

You will find the location and a map on the website at http://wavesandwater.org/site/location/

This Thursday, October 25, will be our final evening for studying the Heart of Perfect Understanding. We will begin our study and practice of the Discourse on the Full Awareness of Breathing in November.

There will be a Day of Mindfulness for Children (2-9 years old), with their grown-ups, on Sunday, October 28, from 10:30 to noon at Kim Boivin’s home. Please contact Kim at 778-773-1702 or riveroftheheart@yahoo.ca for more information and the address.

On New Year’s Eve, Waves and Water Sangha will join with Mountain Rain Zen Centre and other local Sanghas to celebrate in a multi-tradition Ceremony with 108 bells. Our practice will take place early in the evening with the possibility of socializing to follow!

Please note that the North Shore Mindfulness Sangha has moved to St. Stephen’s Church, 885 – 22 Avenue in West Vancouver. They meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 and all are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Waves and Water Sangha holds ORIENTATION for new practitioners and anyone else interested in, or having questions about, Sangha practice on the last Thursday of each month at 6:00. This is also an opportunity to receive feedback on sitting posture and options for comfortable practice!

With smiles and best wishes for a lovely week, Bethan

Dear Friends,
We are sorry to announce that due to health and various other reasons, Waves and Water Sangha is cancelling our Day of Mindfulness scheduled for Saturday, Sept 29. We apologize for any inconvenience. A blog post will be sent out as soon as we are able to schedule another one.
May you have a joyful day.
susu, on behalf of Waves and Water Sangha

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

Dear friends –

We just completed a wonderful weekend retreat celebrating the one-year anniversary of the 2011 Vancouver retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh and the Plum Village monastics. Now, Waves and Water Sangha will celebrate our SANGHA CONTINUATION DAY with an informal tea ceremony on Thursday, August 23. Please bring poems, stories, songs — or simply your silent, smiling practice!

If you check our website at www.wavesandwater.org you will see that there are many practice opportunities in Vancouver and at Mountain Lamp this fall.

PLUM VILLAGE monastics will be here for a retreat at Rivendale (which is full) then for a Day of Mindfulness with the Vietnamese community (Sunday, September 9); a public talk and book signing at Banyen Books (Tuesday, September 11, 6:30); a non-residential retreat at the Centre for Peace (Thursday September 13 to Saturday, September 15: Contact ourbowenhome [at] yahoo.com); and a GATHERING FOR GREATER VANCOUVER SANGHAS at St. James Church 303 Cordova St. E. (Monday, September 17, 6:30).

Dear friends –

We have been practicing “Taking refuge” in all its many forms over the last few months. Today, I received the e-newsletter from Mountain Lamp in Washington State and the front page article was an excerpt from a Dharma talk delivered during the recent three-week retreat. I have included information about Mountain Lamp Community at the end of the excerpt and you may want to contact them to become part of their e-mail list.

Bethan, smiling

Mountain Lamp was conceived as a place of refuge where people come to touch the stillness of nature, and to rest in their body and mind. At Mountain Lamp, we find a place to stop in our bodies. We sit still and pay attention to our breath. We sit still and pay attention to the rising mountains. We sit still and see the ever-changing clouds. We sit still so that we can hear the hermit thrush singing. The stability of place, of sitting still, becomes a reflection of our mind, and we learn to embrace that refuge that is always within us.

When we have touched refuge, we can stay stable and solid in the center of whatever is happening. Our mind might be saying right or wrong, our mind might be saying “I want to be here” or “I want to be there” but we come right to the center where the thrush is singing, the mountains rising, our breath breathing.

When the Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree, it is said he was tempted three times by Mara. The first watch of the night, Mara tempted him with lust, desire and wanting in the form of beautiful dancing girls. He smiled at the beautiful dancing girls and came back to his breath and body quietly resting beneath the sheltering branches. He was totally undisturbed, not chasing after anything, and also not pushing anything away. He didn’t see the women as evil temptresses or as objects of desire, but remained unmoved at his core.

At the second watch Mara tempted him with repulsion and disgust. Shakyamuni saw thousands of snakes writhing, biting each other and bloodied, but he was able to look into the heart of what was in front of him without being repelled by the sight.

In the third watch of the night Mara tempted him with self-doubt, and the Buddha reached down and touched the earth. He looked at Mara and said, “I sit here with the purest intention to see through all dualities, and the earth is my witness that I am here as goodness and light.” Mara was defeated and slunk away. The earth was the Buddha’s witness and refuge.

When the morning star rose in the East, the Buddha looked up at the star and immediately knew all beings as none other than himself. All things were reflected in his being, and he reflected all things. He saw into his True Self, One that continues endlessly, even in our day. It is our True Self, as well. Our grandfather in the dharma, Yamada Roshi, called it empty/oneness and drew a large circle in the air when he spoke these words. The circle he drew contained all things. Nothing was left out. All the dualities, all perceptions, all the places our mind gets caught are contained there. Suffering and enlightenment are contained there, and right and wrong are contained as well. The lotus flower and the mud only exist because they are both here together.

It is here that we find our True Home, our true place of refuge. We go to places of refuge to find within the stillness of our heart and mind, our True Refuge is always here, wherever we go. We find it with the great earth, the rising mountains, the drifting clouds and the song of the thrush. It is as close as our body, our breath.

– Excerpt from a Dharma talk, Spring 2012

Mountain Lamp Community

PO Box 512

Deming, Washington 98244

360-592-0600

www.mountainlamp.org

ml-info@mountainlamp.org

Dear friends

This video of events from the 21-day retreat at Plum Village has been posted through the link below. It is lovely! There is also a video of the first Dharma talk offered by Thay in the 21-day retreat.

21 day retreat celebrations:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8nN0kHBCu4&feature=youtu.be

talk by Thay:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB_n1gXuB3g&feature=related

If there is anyone in the Sangha who can help us by downloading YouTube video so we can play them during Sangha gatherings please let us know at wwsangha[at]gmail.com

Enjoy!

Dear Friends

We are passing along a notice of an upcoming retreat opportunity sent out by our dharma brother Dzung Vo.  Apologies for cross-posting…

The retreat is on the theme of “Cooking and Nourishment,” and will be facilitated by Brother Phap Hai (from Deer Park Monastery), and resident dharma teachers Eileen Kiera and Jack Duffy. It should be a lot of fun.

The dates are Aug 29 – Sep 2. Location is Mountain Lamp community, a lovely small practice centre near Bellingham, Washington, about two hour drive from Vancouver.

Please visit www.mountainlamp.org for details.  For questions or more information, please contact Tracey Pickup directly (the caretaker of Mountain Lamp): ml-info[at] mountainlamp.org, 360-592-0600.