The BSBC Group was started in September and will resume in October. We meet from 7:00 till 9:00 on the third Tuesday of each month. The current book selection is “The Craving Mind” by Judson Brewer. A signup sheet will be available at the Monday night meeting, or you can register via email to e_telep@yahoo.com. Please list your phone number and email address when registering. The location of the first meeting, which will be in Yardley Borough, will be sent to all registrants before the meeting.
The Book Group gives us an opportunity not only to deepen our practice, but to get to know other Sangha attendees in an informal, unstructured setting. New members are welcome.”
Our Eight Week Study : GOING FOR REFUGE TO THE THREE JEWELS, Led by Padmadharini of the Triratna Buddhist Order will continue.
Week Four: The Founder and his quest
The Buddha is not just a static image. He is the centre of a story which tells us a great deal about the spiritual quest. The traditional biography of the Buddha is full of incidents that have a deep symbolic meaning. Some may be historically accurate. Others may be mythology. But this hardly matters. What is certain is that the traditional story brings a number of fundamental truths to life in a concrete and vivid way. This week we will look at the story of the Buddha’s life, bringing out the significance of two episodes with a particular symbolic significance for us –the Four Sights, and the Going Forth.
This course required previous registration for participation. Please speak to one of the Sangha members if you would like more info, or would be considering participation or call Moira Kowalczyk, program chair, at 908-894-4854 directly . She will be happy to discuss options/concerns directly.
During this year some board / committee members have left for various reasons and the sangha is in need of people to step up to ensure we have a thriving sangha for years to come. If you are interested in volunteering your time for the sangha please let us know. Either in person or via email. @ bsbc19067@yahoo.com
The communications committee needs volunteers to help with tasks such as draft newsletters, post on social media, promote sangha events, manage the website, create content for the website, etc.. If you can commit some time to any of these tasks, please Contact Eugene @ bsbc19067@yahoo.com Thank you.
Current BSBC Board Members Phil Brown – Immediate Past President & Advisor. Professionally, Phil is a senior consultant for the National School Climate Center, and serves on a number of education-related non-profit boards devoted to improving school culture and climate. He is also a Fellow of the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University following retirement from a career working for the New Jersey Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. He is co-editor of the Handbook of Prosocial Education (2012).
Dave Mermelstein – Co-President
Dave is a professional stage technician at the State Theatre Regional Arts Center in New Brunswick, NJ. He is proud to be a member of Local 21 of IATSE, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. He first came to the BSBC in early 2010, and is happy to give back to the sangha in the role of Co-President this year.
Joe Beck – Co-President; Communications Committee
After many years of dabbling in meditation and the Dharma, Joe came to a few BSBC Monday night sessions in 2013. Then sometime in 2014 he began to attend regularly and has never looked back. There is a Sanskrit phrase “ehi, paśya” meaning come, see. The Buddha didn’t want anyone to follow blindly based on what he found. He invites us all to put his teachings to the test and come see for themselves. Our spirit is such a personal thing and must be investigated individually. There are certainly maps out there but it does require a good deal of self navigation. Eventually each of us realizes through sangha, books, retreats, teachers, etc how to progress along the path
Rika Barrett – Treasurer; Co-Chair Outreach & Service Committee
Members At Large and Their Service Committees:
Edna Telep – Book Club Coordinator & Introductory Meditation Trainer
Diana Collenelli – Children’s Program; Outreach & Service Committee
Marc Kerachsky – Communications Committee
Louise Wiley – Maintains Library
K.C. Focht – Co-Chair Communications Committee
Marilyn Picciotti – Outreach & Service Committee,
Collections for Homeless and Pet Shelters
Janet Weathers – Program Committee
Bill Regan – Outreach & Service Committee,
the “Muffin Man” who delivers muffins every week to the Homeless shelter.
Any member can become a board member and get involved. Let the president or vice president know if you would like to join the board and one of the committees.
“Access to Insight” Favorites
Pema Chödrön teaches us “sending and taking,” an ancient Buddhist practice to awaken compassion. With each in-breath, we take in others’ pain. With each out-breath, we send them relief. https://www.lionsroar.com/how-to-practice-tonglen/
Help the sangha with setup/cleanup
The Monday nights is done with the help of volunteers. We need you. Please volunteer (follow this easy guide if you need help with signing up )
* Note: You can lead service, but must be a member (Click to see info about being a member) Thank You!
We Need Donations Every Week
We collect and deliver donations to the Emergency Homeless Shelter. They are always in need of non perishable food items, paper products, and gift cards. However check out their Wish List if you want to give them what they really need.
We also collect for the local pet shelter. They need pet food and pet supplies (doesn't need to be new).
Please drop off your donation in a box in the lobby and consider signing up to deliver the donation to the shelter.
Send us your ideas for the next newsletter
If you have something to share with the rest of the sangha please email your news to Susan at bsbc19067@yahoo.com and we will be sure to include it
