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Common Ground Meditation Center
Greetings Everyone,

We're happy to welcome Chas DiCapua back to Common Ground for a Guest Talk on Friday: Patience and Perseverance, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Chas and Rebecca Bradshaw lead a retreat through Twin Cities Vipassana Collective every February. Wishing them good practice this week.

On Saturday, Mark Nunberg is leading a Daylong Retreat that still has space. Don't underestimate the benefit of retreating from responsibilities and complexity for even a short period. In a quiet setting, with a simple schedule of sitting and walking meditation, practicing noble silence, the mind naturally begins to quiet down. A quiet, serene mind is capable of seeing clearly in a way that is often not available during our busy lives. Clear seeing or insight uproots the confusion behind the cycles of stress and suffering.
 
There is still plenty of room in the Spring Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation course with Mark Nunberg, which begins Tuesday, March 5th, 7:30-9:00pm and runs for 6 weeks. More info and registration here

Lastly, a heads up that registration will open this Friday for our April residential retreat for women, feminine-identified, and non-binary people, led by Shelly Graf and Jean Haley, assisted by Stacy McClendon. We'll send out an email on Friday with the link to register. Registrations received in the first 10 days will be entered in the lottery.

Wishing you peace and connection,

Gabe Keller-Flores, Office Manager
and Mary Beth McRaith, Office Volunteer
 
Upcoming Programs
(Click on the hyperlinked program titles for more information and registration. You can also visit our online calendar here for complete program information.)

Weekly Practice Groups

  • Sundays, 10:30-11:45 a.m.
  • Sundays, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
  • Wednesdays, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Led by Mark Nunberg, Guiding Teacher, except on the following dates:
  • Sunday, March 3, 10:30-11:45 a.m. with Ruth King and Mark Nunberg: Racial Healing and Non-Harming *registration required*
  • Wednesday, March 20, 7:30-9:00 p.m. with Shelly Graff
***
Guest Teacher Talk with Chas DiCapua: Patience & Perseverance
Friday, February 22, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Guest Teacher Talk with Ruth King: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out.
At Hamline University's Anderson Center
Friday, March 1, 7:00-9:00 p.m. with social hour beginning at 6:30 p.m. and reception from 9:00-9:45 p.m.
Co-sponsored with Hamline University and Clouds and Water Zen Center.

Dharma Flicks: Minding the Gap, Directed by Bing Liu
Saturday, March 2, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Expanding Mindfulness Skills for Spiritually Grounded Protests with Kaia Svien, Ethan Nuss, and Tom McSteen
Sunday, March 3, 12:30-3:45 p.m.

Gentle Yoga and Deep Relaxation with Nancy Boler
Sunday, March 3rd, 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Course with Mark Nunberg
Six Tuesdays, March 5 - April 9, 7:30-9:00pm

Lovingkindness Practice Group with Shelly Graf
Friday, March 8th, 7:00-8:30pm
This program usually occurs on the first friday of the month, but was rescheduled this month to accommodate Ruth King's visit.

Writing as a Practice of Freedom with Shannon Gibney and Arleta Little
Sunday, March 10, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Community Conversation for Those Who Embody Masculinity on Sexism and Sexual Misconduct, facilitated by Louis Alemayehu, Gabe Keller-Flores, Mark Nunberg, Omkar Sawardekar, and Malik Watkins.
Sunday, March 24, 1:00-3:30 p.m.

Buddhist Studies Course: Understanding the Wholesome and Unwholesome Roots in our Heart
Four Mondays, March 25 - April 15, 7:30 -9:00 p.m.
Optional Sitting Period 7:00-7:30 p.m.
The Buddhist Studies Program is designed for people who have attended three or more mindfulness retreats (of any length) and have a commitment to daily meditation practice. 

Mindful Self-Compassion with Jean Haley & Jane Rauenhorst
Eight Wednesdays, April 3 – May 22, 1:30-4:00 p.m. & Half-day Retreat, Saturday May 11, 1:30-5:00 p.m.

Upcoming Retreats

Daylong Retreat with Mark Nunberg
Saturday, February 23, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Mindfulness and Recovery Retreat with Anita R
Sunday, February 24th, 1:00-5:00pm

Lovingkindness Retreat with Ajahn Jotipalo
Saturday, March 9, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Madison Insight Meditation Group Non-Residential Retreat (limited residential spots available) led by Mark Nunberg: The Middle Way: Seeing Clearly, Relating Wisely, and Releasing the Heart.
March 8-10, 2019 at Holy Wisdom Monastery in Middleton, Wisconsin
For more information or to register visit the above link.

Daylong Retreat with Mark Nunberg
Saturday, March 23, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Community News

Mender Needed
We are looking for someone with some sewing skills to sew up a leaky cushion. Please contact gabe@commongroundmeditation.org if you can help, thanks!

The Teen Meditation Group is on hiatus
We're gathering email addresses from interested teens and once we have a sizable group we will reach out to find a schedule that works for everyone. Interested teens can email gabe@commongroundmeditation.org.

Arrow River Forest Hermitage looking for steward
Arrow River Forest Hermitage (near Thunder Bay, Ontario, about a six hour drive from Minneapolis) where Ajahn Punadhammo lives, is looking for a steward starting in the summer. They need someone who could take charge of the kitchen (cooking, meal planning), driving and shopping. Interested folks can contact Ajahn directly: arfh@xplornet.com.

Interested in teaching meditation to inmates?
Volunteers are needed to help facilitate meditation sessions at three prison facilities and also at the
Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) in Minneapolis. If you are interested in joining the team of volunteers
or would like more details about the prison volunteer opportunities, please contact Jennie at
jennie.ross@comcast.net or for the JDC volunteer program contact Jeff at jeffroehl@outlook.com.

There is also a separate Prison Dharma volunteering opportunity in Red Wing:
It happens on the second Saturday of each month (occasionally rescheduled) at 10 AM, although there's usually a pre-meeting at a coffee shop to plan the session. Those served are usually 16-18 year old males, although there's a few adult males at the red wing facility and we've very rarely worked with them instead. Because there's some variability, a volunteer needs to be comfortable with texting (or calling), as email is often too slow. A volunteer pays for a background study (currently $50) and there's a training session which is mandatory buy not required before starting.
Jim's contact info (in preferred order):
Mobile/text: 651-235-5623
jim.przybelski@gmail.com
Land line: 651-385-5970
 
Saydaw U Tejaniya Quote of the Week
If you are struggling and the mind is feeling dull, then a way to investigate is to drop one word or a short simple question into the mind, with no expectations of an answer, all the while maintaining awareness.
 

All Common Ground programs are offered free of charge in the spirit of generosity. There is a donation bowl and credit card reader in the lobby or an online tool available on our website if you would like to support the center and the teachers. The center is completely dependent on your gifts. Volunteering is also a wonderful way to support the center; let us know if you are interested. For more information on the practice of generosity, programs, the current newsletter and calendar, please go to Common Ground's website.
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