If you would like to send general feedback or share a reflection about your experience of past teachings or discussions, you may email us at bsbc19067@yahoo.com. Your feedback is private and will not be shared publicly without your express written permission. Thank you.
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Your mind is like a piece of land planted with many different kinds of seeds: seeds of joy, peace, mindfulness, understanding, and love; seeds of craving, anger, fear, hate, and forgetfulness. These wholesome and unwholesome seeds are always there, sleeping in the soil of your mind. The quality of your life depends on the seeds you water. If you plant tomato seeds in your gardens, tomatoes will grow. Just so, if you water a seed of peace in your mind, peace will grow. When the seeds of happiness in you are watered, you will become happy. When the seed of anger in you is watered, you will become angry. The seeds that are watered frequently are those that will grow strong. – Thich Nhat Hanh
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Dear friends of BSBC:
The Five Precepts are the basis of Buddhist morality. The first precept is to avoid killing or harming living beings. (http://buddhanet.net/e-learning/qanda04.htm)
We ask you to consider and to view the following links, and to follow your conscience when deciding:
2) If you would like to sign a public petition accompanying the Buddhist Statement on the Separation of Families Letter, please do so here: https://chn.ge/2JP3XHy
3) Listen to the children's voices who have been separated from their parents at the border: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoncXfYBAVI
4) And also please consider reviewing the following background history of this terrible situation: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/was-law-separate-families-passed-1997/
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Upcoming 2018 Retreat Info
7/27/2018 - 7/29/2018 Rhinebeck, NY (Omega) Radical Acceptance - Pathway of Emotional Healing & Spiritual Freedom - Tara Brach shows you how to discover a sanctuary of wisdom and peace in your own awakened heart in this weekend meditation retreat. More https://www.eomega.org/workshops/radical-acceptance-1
8/10/18 (Fri, 6 pm) to 8/12/18 (Sun, 3 pm) Beginner’s Mind Retreat—If you are relatively new to the practice, this is a good first retreat although many experienced practitioners find the variety of practice activities helpful. Besides sitting, walking, moving and eating meditation, we will also be practicing in workshops ranging from the Art of Seeing to the Art of Communication to learn about how to bring our practice into daily life. $220 (scholarships available; no prior retreat experience needed) www.dharmadrumretreat.org
10/5/18 (Fri, 6 pm) to 10/10/18 (Wed, 10 am) Western Zen Retreat—Within the context of Chan meditation, participants will make use of a question to penetrate the mind to gain a deeper understanding of our habitual tendencies and patterns of thoughts and insights into the working of our mind. I will be co-leading this retreat with Simon Child and Fiona Nuttall from the UK. This retreat has limited spaces as each participant will receive lots of individual instructions in private interviews. Suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners. $350 (scholarships available; no prior retreat experience needed) www.dharmadrumretreat.org
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." - Mahatma Gandhi
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News from PBMG...
Dear Friends of the Princeton Buddhist Meditation Group--
It's almost July--happy Interdependence Day! Please remember that it's not too late to add your name to the waiting list for Anam Thubten's Princeton visit (August 10-12). And please remember, too: If you signed up but your plans to attend have changed, please notify Kathie at atrinfo@princetonbuddhist.org so that she can notify others who are on the waiting list.
Another note: On Thursdays in July, we have sitting and DVDs, with a new book starting in August--The Fragrance of Emptiness, Anam Thubten's new book on the Heart Sutra. The book will be available at a slight discount at our Thursday night meetings, with first dibs given to those working with the book on Thursday nights. If you just can't wait until mid-July to get your copy, check out the Dharmata Foundation's online bookstore to order your own.
More detail about this month's PBMG activities:
First Saturday Sitting is set for Saturday, July 7, (9:00 am to noon). We'll practice sitting and walking meditation throughout the morning--feel free to come and go at any time. Please note: there will be no practice interviews at July's First Saturday.
Then, from noon to 1pm, we take a lunch break, followed by a repeat screening of Celebration of Life, a DVD teaching by Anam Thubten, around 1:00pm.
Thursday night sitting (30 mins) and discussion: First, a reminder: ThisThursday evening, June 28, there will be the regular sitting, followed by a screening of Brilliant Moon, a 2010 film about Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, whose commentary on the Hundred Verses we have been studying (see trailer here).
Then, for the remainder of the month, we will mix it up as follows:
?Thursday, July 5: Sitting/walking meditation
Thursday, July 12: A classic Anam Thubten DVD, See the Shadows, Find the Infinite
Thursday, July 19: Sitting with a brief intro to the Heart Sutra for those who aren't familiar with it (books may be available this night, if they ship on time)
Thursday, July 26: Another great Anam Thubten blast from the past, Suffering Is Illusory
This month's Intro to Meditation takes place on the third Sunday, July 15,from 11:15 to noon. Everyone is welcome--whether new, new-ish, or just ready for a refresher.
On Sunday, July 29, from 11:15 to noon, we will do the practice of the Bodhisattva Chenrezig, who represents the essence of our own compassion. If you're not familiar with this practice, you're still welcome--we'll give a quick intro!
Also on Sunday, July 29, we'll screen a new DVD teaching from Anam Thubten during the regular 12:30 session, with a brief sitting beforehand and some time afterward for discussion.
Gratitude
Thanks to all of you for your commitment to practice, your kindness to each other, your dedication to bringing what you learn on the cushion into your whole life, and your willingness to pitch in, in so many ways, to help make everyone comfortable and welcome.
It's about to get warmer as we head into midsummer. If you find yourself a little hot under the collar, remember there's always cool shade and lots of space in every breath, every moment. See you soon!
Yours in the Dharma--
Beverly
How to get involved and support the sangha
If you have suggestions or comments to share with us, please email us at bsbc19067@yahoo.com. Your feedback is private and will not be shared publicly without your express written permission. We rely on your feedback to assist us with programming and planning for the sangha and events.
We hold board meetings regularly that are open to all who wish to attend. If you would like to attend a board meeting, please email us for information, or see one of our board members for details. If you would like to join as a board member, please ask us how.
We need your help! Yes - YOU :) Preparing the meeting place for meditation and discussion on Mondays takes effort and helping hands. The more hands, the less work! If you can come at 6:30pm, someone will show you what to do. The work itself is simple--but it needs to be done. We are deeply grateful for your support, thank you!
