News and inspiration from Interbeing Sangha of Kingston

View this email in your browser

Interbeing Sangha of Kingston - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Vol. 2, Issue #22 - 18 January 2019

Interbeing Sangha

Weekly Meeting

Please join us for our next weekly gathering, taking place Sunday, January 20th for meditation and dharma sharing, 6:30pm at Unitarian Place (Kingston Unitarian Fellowship), 206 Concession Street. Marguerite Giles will be bell minding.

Sangha Building

"I can tell you as an elder brother that the noblest task is to build a happy Sangha. The Sangha is like a beautiful garden. You have to take care of each tree and bush in the garden. You have to understand the nature and the need of each tree and bush. You take a lot of time to help each member of the Sangha grow beautifully and happily. When the garden grows beautifully, you enjoy it a lot; when the Sangha is happy, you are well rewarded with happiness. When people come and visit the Sangha and they see the harmony and happiness, they will have faith in the Dharma. We don’t have to say anything; they just look at the Sangha and they have faith."

-- Thich Nhat Hanh

Sangha Care

Meeting this Sunday

We will have a Sangha Care Meeting this Sunday, January 20th, prior to our usual Sunday evening meeting, from 5:00 pm - 6:15 pm. Everyone is welcome, and encouraged to attend. We have several important matters to determine.

At this meeting we will confirm whether we will move forward with hosting a residential retreat in in Kingston, to take the place of the annual regional retreat. We need to build a strong team to begin planning the retreat in earnest if we are to move ahead. We have two possible venues (both tentatively held) for the weekend of May 9th-12th, 2019, including a beautiful residence with a private inner courtyard at Queen's University, and the Sisters of Providence Retreat Centre. Several key volunteer roles will need to be designated, including Lead Coordinator, Registrar, Treasurer, Venue Liaison, and Facilitator for Dharma Teachers. The talents and skills you contribute will help to build the wider sangha for Thay's movement. Thich Nhat Hanh teaches that the noblest task is sangha building. Working together to host a regional retreat will help make our practice available to many people, who can benefit from Thay's teachings, the experience of our fellowship, and the wisdom of the wonderful dharma teachers from Ottawa Pagoda Sangha and Kingston Sangha who are willing to share their insight on the path. Please consider attending this important meeting, and helping make this retreat possible.

Non-Discrimination

"My right hand can do many things that my left hand does not do. When I write, I always write with my right hand. When I use a bell, I use my right hand. Yet my right hand does not ever complain to the left hand saying, “Well I do everything and you do not seem to be very useful.” My right hand has the wisdom of non-discrimination. And my left hand does not suffer from the complex of inferiority. One day I was hanging a picture. I was not very mindful and I hit a finger on my left hand with the hammer. Immediately my right hand threw down the hammer and held my left hand gently. It did not tell the left hand, “You must remember that I have helped you and in future you have to do something to help me.” My left hand did not tell my right hand, “You have done me an injustice. You have made me suffer by hitting me with that hammer.” My left hand and right hand have the wisdom of non-discrimination. That is why my left hand and right hand live in perfect peace and harmony."

-- Thich Nhat Hanh

Newsletter Editor: Keith Gawronski-McNinch
Newsletter Assistant Editor: Susan Howlett
Social Media Editor: Cat London

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