Monthly Newsletter

January 2017

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Ongoing Events

 

Newcomer Orientation: 2nd Monday of the month, CC Shove Chapel, Dharma Hall upstairs at 5:45 pm to meet anyone who would like some orientation to meditation, to our tradition, or to our sangha and customs.
5:15 Dharma Study and Discussion before Monday’s meditation, with Sarah Bender Sensei:  Shove Chapel Downstairs, from the north entrance. Dharma discussion for January will focus on readings from (and about) the Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra, which we recite every Monday.   Selections will be provided, and will be sent out ahead of each meeting. Anyone is welcome to join in, whether or not you have read the selection for the week. If you’d like to be on a mailing list to receive readings in advance, send a note to Sarah at sembender@gmail.com .
Dharma Talks:
January 16 Sarah Bender, Sensei
January 23 Andrew Palmer, Sensei

Work in the Room: Saturday morning, January 21st 6:30 to 8:30 AM with Sarah Bender, Sensei Individual meetings with a teacher, which we call “Work in the room,” are opportunities to sit face to face and take up what is most alive for you.For a Saturday morning conversation, you’ll have up to 20 minutes. You’ll go downstairs and the teacher will be waiting there for a private conversation.

This is a chance to ask questions about your meditation practice, to ask for instruction, to explore an experience you’ve had, to investigate how your practice looks as it gets up off the cushion and travels through your day and night…..to wake up to this very life of your own.

You don’t have to have formed an individual student-teacher commitment to do this. Everyone is welcome.

This said, it is also possible to form an individual student-teacher relationship, and these can be very powerful in nourishing our practice. Ask a teacher if you’d like to know more about this.

To schedule an appointment for January 21st, please contact  Sarah Bender (sembender@gmail.com)

You can also make an appointment to meet with
Andrew (alpsensei@gmail.com) or
Sarah (sembender@gmail.com)  at another time.

Steering Committee Meeting:  Thurs. Jan. 5th,  5:30 -7:30 pm at Liz Cramer’s house 533 Crystal Hills Blvd, Manitou Springs.  Steering committee meetings are open to the entire sangha. Contact: Robert King kingrh5722@gmail.com
 

Buddhism and the 12 Steps 
 For more information contact:
Jacque Minehart  jqminehart@yahoo.com

JANUARY

  Simple Sit: SMS and Bodhimind Center January 1
Where: The Woman’s Club at CC
When: 10:00-2:30
Lunch: 12:00-12:30 Bag lunch in silence
All are welcome, full or part time. No registration required.

In case of severe weather –
Call or text for news of cancellation
anytime during the morning of January 1st.
J.Vitkus
719-453-7737

Sutra Study for January and February
The Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra

During January and February we’ll be spending time with
the Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra.  We recite this sutra together every Monday evening.  It can be a very good friend and a powerful ally.  It’s also a top contender for the “Wait, what?” Award.

So, this month we’ll be reciting different translations on Monday evenings, and focusing on this sutra in our 5:15 discussions before meditation.

In addition, Sarah Bender is offering a five-session series to linger with the sutra in some depth.

Sundays, 3:00 to 5:00 PM  Jan. 8 and 22, Feb. 12 and 26
At Creek Bend Zendo, 7528 Jenkin Place
And with a session led by Jerry Shifrin on  Feb. 5.
To register, please contact Sarah at   sembender@gmail.com .

Zen Threads talk by John Wise

  as part of the morning meditation meeting. Discussion may continue at Wooglin’s Deli after the talk. Saturday, January 7, 8:00 AM
Introduction to Zen Class
Sarah Bender will be offering an Introduction to Zen class at Shove Chapel on four Thursday evenings, 7:00 to 8:30 PM :  Jan. 26, Feb. 2 and 9, Feb. 23.  More information on this class in our next newsletter.
Journey Without Maps:
The Story of Psyche & Eros
SMS January Integrative Retreat

Teacher: Sarah Bender, Sensei

A weekend retreat to spend time with the myth of Psyche and Eros
and to explore its relevance for this time.
We will move in and out of meditation and conversation,
and will also bring in practices of sleep and dream.
Vegetarian lunches included.
When:
Friday, January 27 to Sunday, January 29, 2017
Where:
Franciscan Retreat Center, Colorado Springs
Cost:
$150 Full-time registration only
Registration deadline: January 20, 2017
$25 Late registration fee applies, if space available Financial assistance is available.719-633-5925
Steve Milligan,  steve_milligan08@comcast.net.
Registrar

Wayfaring Mind Talk By Jerod Herniak
MONDAY JAN. 29

Opportunities for Engagement

In the wider community (not sponsored by SMS)

Registration is now open for  Desert Rain’s “Desert Sunrise Retreat” in Tucson March 1 – 5, 2017.  Please visit
http://www.desertrainzen.org/residential-retreats.html and click on “Retreat Brochure and Registration Form.” This year, the retreat will be held at the Redemptorist Renewal Center at Picture Rocks: http://desertrenewal.org/ .