Community Plum Mountain Buddhist
May2015 Newsletter
Weekly Schedule: Daily 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Service with short recitation and half hour seated meditation, at 516 W. Cushing in Aberdeen. Our regular sangha meeting is each Tuesday evening from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. We do some movement and sitting meditation, with plenty of guidance for newcomers. Thay Kobai or a senior student gives a short talk on Buddhist principles followed by Q&A and discussion.
End of April Events
28 April, Tuesday: Community Meditation, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. We do some simple movement and seated meditation, followed by a short talk and sandwich making for "Lunch Under the Bridge," tomorrow. Other details above.
29 April, Wednesday: Lunch Under the Bridge Meet at 10 a.m. St. Andrew's Episcopal kitchen.
30 April, Thursday: Thay Kobai on Coffee Talk, 9:10 a.m. 1450AM or 100.5FM
May Events
1 to 3 May: Shorebird Festival, Hoquiam, WA Link at: www.shorebirdfestival.com
2 May: Sesshin, Open Gate ZC, Olympia Link at:www.boundlessmindzen.org
4 May Full Moon O
5 May, Tuesday: Community Meditation & Dedication of Lady Altar, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. A special inter-faith evening to dedicate our new Lady Altar, including Kannon, Our Lady of Guadalupe and others. People of any or no faith are welcome. Special guests will include women clergy from the Grays Harbor Area. Finger foods and sparkling drinks provided.
9 May, Saturday: Buddha Day Clallam Bay Corrections Center
10 May, Sunday: Mothers' Day
10 May, Sunday: Prayer & Meditation Study Group, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. at 516 W. Cushing St. Aberdeen. A study group for those in recovery. We do a check-in, then meditate for 15 - 25 minutes, then read from and discuss our current text. We are beginning with the title Untethered Soul: A Journey Beyond Self by Michael A. Singer. People of any or no faith are welcome. No prior meditation experience is necessary.
12 May, Tuesday: Community Meditation, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. We do some simple movement and seated meditation, followed by a short talk by a senior student and a Q&A discussion. People of any or no faith are welcome.
16 May, Saturday: Mindfulness in the Kitchen, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Montesano Community Education at Montesano High School Home Economics Room. $11 fee. Register with MCE at: http://montecomm.blogspot.com/
17 May Sunday: New Moon ?
17 May Sunday: Prayer & Meditation Study Group, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. at 516 W. Cushing St. Aberdeen. A study group for those in recovery. We do a check-in, then meditate for 15 - 25 minutes, then read from and discuss our current text, which is: Untethered Soul: A Journey Beyond Self by Michael A. Singer. People of any or no faith are welcome. No prior meditation experience is necessary.
19 May, Inter-Faith Works Planning meeting, Olympia
19 May, Tuesday: Community Meditation, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. We do some simple movement and seated meditation, followed by a short talk by Thay Kobai and a Q&A discussion. People of any or no faith are welcome. Check with Thay Kobai if you have questions.
24 May, Sunday: Prayer & Meditation Study Group, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. at 516 W. Cushing St. Aberdeen. A study group for those in recovery. We do a check-in, then meditate for 15 - 25 minutes, then read from and discuss our current text, which is: Untethered Soul: A Journey Beyond Self by Michael A. Singer. People of any or no faith are welcome. No prior meditation experience is necessary.
26 May, Tuesday: Community Meditation, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. We do some simple movement and seated meditation, followed by a short talk by Thay Kobai and a Q&A discussion. People of any or no faith are welcome. Check with Thay Kobai if you have questions.
Future Events
5 June, Friday: Meditation for People Who Think They Can't Meditate. Montesano Library, Noon to 1:30 p.m. Register MCE $5.
30 June, Saturday: Summer Expo, Raymond, 11:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Some Dharma:
The illusion of self is so deep and so unshakeable that only persistent practice can break through. That's why the P?li word virya is often used to refer to this effort. It means "heroic" or manly. It's where we get our word "virile." Because of this emphasis on sustained effort, the meditation schools (Ch'an, Zen, Tien etc.) can seem very severe. To lead the spiritual life, the life of the Noble Ones, the historical Buddha recommended three things: Renunciation, Restraint and Seclusion.
American Buddhists rebel against all three recommendations. We're not about to renounce our BMWs or our trophy antiques or redwood decks. I've even read the complaints of lay Buddhist teachers about not being supported at a level they want to be accustomed to. To me, taking up the Dharma means taking up the practice of renunciation. You eat whatever is put in your bowl.
Nor, as Americans, are we schooled in restraint. We know we have the right to believe or say or do anything we want, including carrying our guns to defend the property we allegedly own. Others tote spray paint cans to decorate boxcars or abandoned buildings.
Seclusion we kind of know about. We can go on vacation or to a spa. Or we can go backpacking and take wildlife photos. Alternatively, we can sign up for a retreat at an "Insight" center and have a comfy few days of semi-silence and excellent vegetarian food. But of course that eats up valuable vacation time.
We are living in a dual world of rich and poor. Some of us are powerful, wealthy, and connected and others of us are not. Yet if the traditions and methods of Buddhism are to survive intact, there has to be a sangha of renunciants - a group of people willing to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to the Way. That's why this month I particularly celebrate the ordination of Chris Richards as a monastic in our Tien Tu tradition of Buddhism. It is a brave thing to do and it takes a lot of virya. His Dharma name is Ven. Tam Hy, which means "Joy in the Happiness of Others".
We are happy to be a member of the Northwest Dharma Association
and encourage you to consider joining.
We are also affiliated with Open Gate Zen Center in Olympia. For information on their programs go to www.boundlessmindzen.org.
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