May 15, 2015
A NOTE FROM SARAH BENDER
Dear SMS,
As I see it, a practice community is a pretty amazing organic being: a collection of individuals, each embodying a universe, coming together to support each other in the project of living full, generous human lives. Coming together, and becoming an event of our own: awakening in progress through each of the ways we share the Buddha Way, this gorgeous, ancient tradition that only really exists as we live it onward.
So here’s how it looks this week.
Sunday, May 17 Koan Meditation and Conversation
3:00 to 5:00 PM 7528 Jenkin Place
You are welcome to come, even if you’ve missed every single one until now.
Check it out! Find out what koan meditation and conversation might be like for you.
If you’d like the koans in advance, let me know at sembender@gmail.com
Monday at Shove Chapel
5:15 Dharma conversation with Andrew Palmer
We are basing our conversations on Acequias and Gates
6:10 Meditation, followed by a talk by Sarah Bender
Topic: Buddha Nature
People have been asking questions about this term lately. What’s the big idea?
I think of our dedication saying, “Buddha Nature pervades the whole universe, existing right here, now. The wind blows, waves fall on the shore, and Guanyin finds us in the dark and broken roads.”
You might notice that Buddha Nature as it’s spoken of here is more of a how it is than a what it is : as in “Awake Nature is the nature of everything—it is how everything is.” I’ll talk about this, and we’ll hear from each other about our experience.
When I drop my responsibility for keeping everything under control…..in fact, if I just drop everything for a bit, and let it roll along on its own, what’s that really like?
A suggestion: if it interests you, you might try meditating with those words from the dedication, and see what happens.
Wednesday morning at Shove Chapel
6:30 to 7:30 AM Very simple silent meditation
Usually a small group. If you are finding it hard to start your regular meditation practice, or to sustain it, or if you just enjoy sharing a companionable silence, come on down. It’s sweet.
Saturday morning at Shove Chapel
6:30 to 8:30 Ditto.
And you can come for any half-hour period, coming or going during walking meditation. It’s a very effective way to let go of the week, hit the re-set button so to speak, and let yourself sink into meditation a bit longer. Often some of us have breakfast afterward, so it can also be a nice way to get to know the community a bit.