DECEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

BODHI DAY CELEBRATION: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9


NEW COURSE: OVERCOMING OBSTACLES TO CONCENTRATION
WITH SHAILA CATHERINE


MINDFUL PARENTING CLASS LED BY ROSE METRO
FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH 2-3:30 PM, BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER


COMMITTED PRACTICE CLASSES BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER--
NEW MEMBERS WELCOME


SUTTA STUDY GROUP LED BY PHIL JONES


REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEDITATION SESSIONS
SUNDAY MORNING 10:30 AM AND TUESDAY EVENINGS 7:30 PM


LOVINGKINDNESS GROUP LED BY TERRY WILSON
ON TUESDAY EVENINGS


CARING COMMITTEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE: DONATIONS FOR PUERTO RICO RELIEF AND LOAVES AND FISHES


OPEN MEDITATION SESSIONS SATURDAY AFTERNOON 3:30-5:00 PM

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

SCROLL AND READ BELOW FOR DETAILED INFORMATION
SEND QUESTIONS IF ANY TO SHOWMEDHARMA@GMAIL.COM

BODHI DAY

Bodhi Day Celebration Sunday December 9 at 10:30 AM

Date and Time: Bodhi Day Ceremony Sunday December 9, 10:30 am; Membership Meeting at about 11:30, immediately after the ceremony
Potluck after Membership Meeting 

Location: Show Me Dharma,  1600 West Broadway
Cost: Offered on a dana (donation) basis

Join us Sunday December 9 at 10:30 AM for our celebration of Bodhi Day,
a brief SMD membership meeting, and a potluck of finger foods afterward.

Bodhi Day is the commemoration of the Buddha's enlightenment. It is also the celebration of the capacity we all have to awaken to truth, peace, and compassion. At the ceremony, members of the Show Me Dharma Teachers Collective will lead the group in chanting the Buddhist refuges and precepts. We will have a brief meditation, and engage in a cording ceremony. Any member of the Show Me Dharma community, and their family and friends are invited.

Following the ceremony, we will have a brief membership meeting and all are welcome. The purpose of this meeting is to vote on new and renewing board of trustees members for Show Me Dharma.

We will then share fellowship and a potluck of finger foods. Please bring a favorite vegetarian snack to share.

All are welcome. Please join us and bring family and friends!

Bodhi Courses
with Shaila Catherine

Learn how to clear a path to the deep states of joy, peace, and tranquility that concentration practice provides. This course will give you fresh insights into the hindrances that impede your meditation and proven, powerful strategies for overcoming them.
 
CLICK HERE  to register. Don’t wait!
 
Course Dates: February 16 – April 20, 2019
Registration ends February 11.
You can participate from any time zone!
 
Many of us find that our meditation practices are disrupted by hindrances such as agitation, craving, irritation, or dullness. We practice diligently without making the kind of progress we’d like, simply because we don’t know how to work skillfully with these obstacles. This class can help change that!
 
CLICK HERE  to register, and for more information.
 
Also, help us spread the word about this exciting course by forwarding this email and/or  our Facebook post  to your friends.
 
Co-produced by Bodhi Courses and Insight Meditation South Bay


Our mailing address is:
Bodhi Courses
PO Box 490
Menlo Park, CA 94026




MINDFUL PARENTING CLASS
led by Rose Metro
First Sunday of Each Month 2:00-3:30 pm
began in September

Parenting is hard.
(Well, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done).

It’s even harder to parent mindfully—noticing your feelings and reactions, observing your words and actions, responding to your child’s needs, and being compassionate to everyone involved.


Date and Time: First Sunday of each month, September – May 2:00-3:30 pm
Location: Show Me Dharma
Text: We will read Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn's Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting
Cost: This class is offered on a dana (voluntary donation) basis.

Sliding scale onsite childcare is available!
Also feel free to keep little ones with you.

Please contact Rose at rose.metro@gmail.com if you are interested in joining or for more information.
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 Committed Practice Classes Resumed in September
New Members Welcome


The committed practice groups are an opportunity to bring the practice of insight meditation into all aspects of daily life. It is for those with several months' meditation experience. Participants register and commit to regular attendance of the meetings. 

Requirements:  The committed practice groups require one of the following: either a) completion of the Introduction to Meditation Class and the Intermediate Meditation class; or b) three months of regular, preferably daily meditation practice, and a working knowledge of Buddhist concepts. It also implies your intention to practice daily, do the homework, and share your practice in class to the extent that you feel comfortable.

Cost:  Committed Practice Groups are offered on a dana 
(voluntary donation) basis.

Monday Morning Group  meets 8:00 am-9:30 am with Beth Shoyer and Joe McCormack. The class will resume September 17. 

We will be using the book  When Awareness Becomes Natural: A Guide to Cultivating Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Sayadaw U Tenjaniya. Here is a link to the book:


For more information, please Contact Joe McCormack at  metta41856@gmail.com   or Beth Shoyer at  beth.shoyer@gmail.com


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Thursday Evening Group  meets 7:00 pm-8:30 pm. The class will start on September 20.

The class will be led by Armine Alioto. In addition, we are honored to have SMD Teachers Collective Linda Pluschke and Phil Jones adding their insights into the dharma and the practice of mindfulness. 

We will be using  Mindfulness, A Practical Guide to Awakening by Joseph Goldstein   for the readings and practice for Fall 2018 and Spring 2019. We will have this time to thoughtfully progress through this profound Theravada teaching of the Buddha, which was handed down to us through the Satipatthana Sutta.   Explore the dharma of everyday life. Discover the happiness that is always within you.
 
Here is a link to the book:



For more information about the Thursday Evening Group: Please contact Armine Alioto at  ArmineAnnAlioto@gmail.com
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Monthly Sutta Study Course led by Phil Jones

New Sutta Study Course

The Sutta Study Course will begin a new session on Nov. 12 reading and discussing The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha

During each meeting we will begin with a short period of silent meditation, read out loud portions of the month's sutta readings, and explore questions or comments you may have about the text. The focus is both on understanding the teachings and on how they are relevant to your own life and practice.

The course will meet about once a month, beginning on Monday Nov. 12 from 7-9 p.m. Offered on a dana basis. Registration is required.

For more information or to register, contact Phil Jones, phil@silentmindopenheart.org .

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Regularly Scheduled Show Me Dharma Meditation Sessions

Show Me Dharma offers drop-in meditation sessions every Sunday morning 10:30 am and Tuesday evening 7:30 pm. All are welcome, even if you have never tried meditation before. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to meditate. No registration is required. We provide cushions and chairs. Each session offers meditation instruction, a 30-40 minute sit, dharma talk and discussion. These sessions are offered without charge. This service is supported by dana (donations) .

Sunday Morning at 10:30 am

December 2 Phil Jones
December 9 Bodhi Day Celebration at 10:30, potluck at noon
December 16 Linda Pluschke
December 23 Terry Furstenau
December 30 Armine Alioto


Tuesday Evening at 7:30 pm

December 4 Rose Metro
December 11 Beth Shoyer
December 18 Joe McCormack
December 25 No session
SMD LIBRARY COMMITTEE 
SMD Library Catalogue Is Now  Online

Our entire Library catalog is now available online. To look at the list of all 902 books currently available  online .  From Theravada to Zen, Vajrayana to Yoga and healthy eating to everything in between to eclectic spiritual is here for you to browse.  There are over 900 titles to spark your interest.You can access the on-line library by going to the Show Me Dharma website at  www.showmedharma.org  Click on Library and find Online Library Catalogue for searches by title or author.

Please note the following recent developments concerning our library.

*New Developments*
We have identified a number of books that have not been checked out recently and are offering these books to sangha members on a dana basis. So, please do peruse these adoptable books. They are located on the table in the office/ cushion area of Show Me Dharma. Remaining books will be relocated at the end of May.
Even the act of selecting a book is a form of generosity, and any Dana given will help support Show Me Dharma financial obligations, which is greatly appreciated. 
New Book Acquisitions
With loving gratitude for the dharma, the library committee would like the sangha to know about several new book acquisitions that have been added to the shelves. Come and see.
Please Consider Volunterin g
The Library Committee is looking for those who would like to serve to help maintain our abundant offerings of written wisdom. If you are available for this, your help would be greatly appreciated.
3 new books on Diversity  
*The Way of Tenderness, Awakening Through Race, Sexuality, & Gender by Zenju Earthlyn Manuel *Radical Dharma, Talking Race, Love, and Liberation by Rev. angel Kyodo williams *Awakening Together, The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity and Community by Larry Yang
2 new books in the Theravada tradition
*Compassion and Emptiness, In Early Buddhist Meditation by Analyo
*Mindfully Facing Disease and Death, Compassionate Advice from Early Buddhist Texts by Analyo

Library Policies 
  1. Not all books listed are immediately available for borrowing as some of them may already have been borrowed by other library patrons.
  2. SOME books are strictly in-house reference books and should only be used while at Show Me Dharma unless you obtain permission from a teacher to borrow them. These books are located on the shelves labeled "Primary Sources'. 
  3. If you see a book you would like to borrow but it is already checked out just leave your contact information on the form provided on the check-out shelf and when the book is returned you will be contacted by the Library Committee to let you know it is available.

Request for Library Donations
As always, we continue to welcome book donations. If there is a book you think would be a good addition to the library, please let someone on the Library committee know about it.You may contact Armine Alioto at  dc4q13aa@gmail.com  with any questions about the library.
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OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN SHOW ME DHARMA


Members of Show Me Dharma, 
if you are feeling called to serve the sangha, there are openings to be greeter at the Saturday Open Sit.Each Saturday we offer a safe haven to do seated practice from 3:30 - 5 p.m.

Show Me Dharma follows the teachings of the Buddha from the Theravada school. Meditation and concentration are vital elements in the way to enlightenment.Self-liberation is attained through one's own efforts. 
What a generous and joy filled offering for all who seek tranquility and insight.
A simple training session is provided.

Please contact Susan Schabilion at sschabilion@yahoo.com
with Saturday Open Sit in the subject line, if interested,
or call (573) 815-0352


Other SMD Opportunities

There are a number of ways to get involved in the workings of Show Me Dharma. Show Me Dharma has a number of committees, covering aspects of the organization including managing the SMD library, organizing our retreats, handling membership, treasurer tasks and fundraising, providing support for sangha members when needs arise, and outreach to the community. 




If anyone is interested in helping with social media promotion (includes Facebook &Twitter), please send an email to  showmedharma@gmail.com





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SMD CARING COMMITTEE

The Show Me Dharma Caring Committee was organized to provide wise and kind support for and service to members of Show Me Dharma community, the Columbia community at large, and in response to suffering in the world. We are in the process of planning several exciting projects, and as we proceed, we are seeking your participation. Here are some of the projects we are developing, both currently and in the future. Please see our activities below: 

Puerto Rico Relief and Rebuilding Support :  180 families benefited from our successful fundraiser last December. Lamps were distributed to families in the following areas: Maracaibo, Vieques, Las Marias  Añasco and Aguado. People have been asking for more since the rebuilding of the electrical grid in the country has still not reached mountainous regions of the country (where over 300,000 people are without power). We have been given a special discount by the Luci Solar lamp company (Lamps for $10 instead of $20-22 each). If you would like to contribute $10 to sponsor a solar lamp, please place your donation in the basket at Show-me Dharma, or go to our website  https://showmedharma.org/donate-online-for-puerto-rico/  

Once we receive all the funds, we will purchase the lamps and panels and send them directly to a community organization in Puerto Rico.

Holiday Cards to support Puerto Rico:
Show Me Dharma has developed relationship of solidarity with two communities in Puerto Rico that were devastated by Hurricane Maria. 
Last fall we sent over 200 solar lamps that were distributed among people in different communities by an organization called Centro La Paz in Rincon, Puerto Rico, and this year we held a fundraiser that raised $500 to support Centro de Desarrollo Educativo Politico y Cultural in Caguas Puerto Rico. Both of these organizations are dedicated to helping Puerto Rico rebuild based on a new grassroots model of sustainable development. Thus, our support is not simply an aid, it is helping build a sustainable future for two communities on an island that has long suffered exploitation of its people and resources by colonial powers (principally the U.S.).

This holiday season we invite you to make a donation for this good cause (either online or in person) and take as many holiday cards as you would like to give to your friends and family this December. The cards are on a table in the meditation hall. 

Thank you for your support of our Caring Committee's fundraisers.

You can make a  one time payment  using  Paypal


~Caya Tanski-French, Chair of Caring Committee. Board , Show Me Dharma


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SATURDAY AFTERNOON
OPEN MEDITATION SESSIONS    
WEEKLY FROM 3:30-5:00 PM






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We Appreciate Your Generosity
The work of Show Me Dharma is made possible by the generosity of our supporters. The teachings have been kept alive for over 2,500 years thanks to those who have voluntarily given so that others might benefit.

While there is never a charge for participating in SMD, for those able to give monetarily, donations are gratefully accepted. Donations are used to pay our rent and utilities, offer our guests tea, support our teachers, offer retreats by guest teachers, and reach out to the community.

Please Note the Following Change to Online Giving


The board of trustees is sincerely grateful for the financial contributions made by our members and friends to support our mission: make insight meditation available to mid-Missouri. At this time, Show Me Dharma enjoys financial stability. To make contributions, please place your check or cash in the basket at the sangha, mail a check to:
Treasurer @ Show Me Dharma

or make a donation  online through PayPal .
--Valerie Bader, Treasurer, SMD




USE THIS LINK BELOW FOR ONLINE DANA/GIVING (DONATIONS)
OTHER PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES

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Householder Retreat Multi-Day Non-Residential Retreat
Taught by  Robert Brumet
Fall 2018
Kansas City, MO
Dates and specific location to be determined
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To ensure everyone has a safe and wholesome retreat, we ask each retreatant to honor The Five Precepts throughout the retreat. 
For more information,  contact us  or call Carl Wingo at 573-449-1307.
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CHANTING INTO MEDITATION 
EVERY THIRD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

 

Chanting into meditation  is based on the yogic practice of raising energy and quickly stopping. The mantras chanted carry a vibration that shifts the consciousness into a broader perspective, as well as releasing the places of holding around the heart. We chant for an extended period, then stop to experience the energy in stillness. Everyone is welcome to enjoy this experience and this community of committed practitioners.

TIBETAN CHANTING GROUP
led by by Carla Campbell

Date and Time: Sundays 4:00 pm-5:30 pm
Location: Show Me Dharma

The Tibetan Chanting Group discusses the use of mindful sound (i.e., mantras), in Tibetan Buddhist mind training. The group learns various modes of chanting common mantras such as those of Green Tara (OM TARA TAM SOHA) and Avalokite (OM MANI PEMAY HUM), the female and male symbols of compassion and loving kindness.

Additionally the Tibetan practice group is offering a beginning class in classical Tibetan on Wednesday at 11 am. All are welcome. Currently the group is working on pronouncing the alphabet correctly (as Tibetan is a tonal language), recognizing, naming and writing the various letters, and formulating simple syllables.


Bishop William Green, who began the group and led it at its inception, has relocated. With Bishop Green's relocating, Carla Campbell will coordinate with group in the future. Bishop Green will continue to be a teaching resource for the group on an intermittent basis. Bishop Green is a bishop in the African Orthodox Church. He also is an inter-denominational chaplain, has studied Buddhism with the Dalai Lama, and is a published scholar on religion in the southern black community. For more information, call 601-316-7614
HEARTWOOD RETREAT CENTER

The Heartwood Retreat Center, located in Hendersonville, North Carolina, offers retreats in a variety of Buddhist and other spiritual traditions. There are self-retreats as noted below, as well as retreats led by Venerable Pannavati and others. For a listing of retreat opportunities, please visit 

HW provides a charming and comfortable space for study, contemplation and intensive practice  without imposing a rigid format.  You have the support and guidance of our teachers, and access to the weekly offerings  (there's something for you to participate in every day...from yoga to meditation to Qigong!). 
Close to Ashville, NC, Pisgah and Dupont Forests, you are invited to visit Heartwood and  explore what makes the Smoky Mountains the ideal location for your next retreat.
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