News and inspiration from Interbeing Sangha of Kingston

View this email in your browser

Interbeing Sangha of Kingston - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Issue #23 - November 25th, 2017

Interbeing Sangha
of Kingston

Weekly Meeting

Our next weekly gathering takes place Sunday, November 26th, for meditation and dharma sharing, 6:30pm at Unitarian Place (Kingston Unitarian Fellowship), 206 Concession Street. Keith Gawronski-McNinch will be bell minding.

True Freedom

"Many are caught in their anger, hate and despair. They do not have freedom. They cannot get in touch with the fresh air, the blue sky and the fragrant rose. But if you practice compassion, capable of seeing and understanding their suffering, you will be motivated to say or to do something to help them suffer less. Compassion sets you free and you will be able to enjoy the blue sky, the fresh air and the fragrant rose. One day with compassion is more than 100 days without it. Enjoy breathing and walking every day!"

-- Thich Nhat Hanh, from his letter to Daniel, a prisoner on death row

Engaging Mindfully

Sangha Building in Prisons

Thay's teachings, using mindfulness to transform painful emotions and find peace, have been reaching prisoners who need them through programs and practitioners in our tradition who support and teach mindfulness, and build sanghas in prisons. In this Mindfulness Bell article by Nancy Lee Koschmann, the author shares how prisoners draw "immeasurable comfort and strength" from the small but committed prison sangha in which she volunteers at a maximum security men's prison in Syracuse, N.Y.

True Freedom is the name of the Prison Pen Pal Project led by Deer Park Monastery. connecting practitioners across the world to prisoners.There are additional resources for Prison Sangha Building on the Mindfulness Bell website (mostly from U.S. prisons - but could be adapted by sanghas anywhere with prison populations and a committment to Engaged Buddhism and social justice).

Sunday at KUF

Restorative Justice

This Sunday, November 26th at 10:30 am, KUF celebrates World Restorative Justice Week with three speakers from Kingston Community Chaplaincy (KCC) presenting Justice versus Incarceration: the Prisons in our Midst. Gordon Darrall will talk about his work with book clubs in prisons, Cathleen Getchell will speak on her work on the transition from prison to community, and Brian Hetherington will provide background on Restorative Justice.

Responding with Love

“Looking deeply, we find out that not only do we suffer but also the other person suffers deeply. Not only our group suffers but the other group also suffers. Once awareness is born, we know that punishment, violence and war are not the answer. The one who wants to punish is inhabited by violence. The one who endures the suffering of the other person is also inhabited by the energy of violence. Violence cannot be ended with violence. The Buddha said that responding to hatred with hatred can only increase hatred a thousandfold. Only by responding to hatred with compassion can we disintegrate hatred."

-- Thich Nhat Hanh, Creating True Peace

Our sangha has two teams helping to share leadership and facilitation of our meetings. Our Bell Minders Team are mindful facilitators for our weekly gatherings, as well as retreats, taking beautiful care of our friends in the practice including the bell. Our Sangha Care Team facilitates sangha care meetings, plans retreats, minds our library and resources, and coordinates outreach. If you are interested in helping with either or both, contact interbeingkingston@gmail.com for more information.

Facebook

Website

Instagram