Hi, <<First Name>>. I hope that you are finding both ease and time on your cushion as we usher in August. I have recently heard others share that they are experiencing a lack of motivation or inspiration, sometimes in relation to their practice, sometimes in their work, and sometimes it appears to be more of a general feeling of malaise. Admittedly, I've felt this way myself off and on for several months. A friend recently reminded me that practicing mindfulness helps us to to see things arise and dissipate and can help bring about a lighter heart, or equanimity.
Shaila Catherine, American Buddhist meditation teacher, reminds us: Equanimity has the capacity to embrace extremes without getting thrown off balance. Equanimity takes interest in whatever is occurring simply because it is occurring. Equanimity does not include the aversive states of indifference, boredom, coldness, or hesitation. It is an expression of calm, radiant balance that takes whatever comes in stride.
Schedule Update: After reviewing survey responses last month, SEBC will be reducing virtual meditation to the first 2 Wednesdays of the month, and the 3rd Sunday of each month we will practice together in person. The Zoom meeting link and additional information on the in-person 3rd Sunday session can be found below. The Zoom meeting link will be the same for both virtual August sessions.
In this month's newsletter you'll find links to online events, resources, and additional information about SEBC. More resources can be found on our website and Facebook.
We at SEBC affirm our commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and interconnection. If you'd like to chat, have ideas for the community, want to help, etc., please let us know - we'd love to hear from you! And if you haven't joined us in a while (or ever), we'd love to see you (feel free to attend meetings as regularly or as infrequently as you'd like)! May we stand stronger as Beloved Community through our Dharma practice and understanding, and in our larger society as a whole. Let's keep the Dharma wheel turning!
Much metta,
Your friends at SEBC |
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Meditation Schedule (Virtual and In-Person)
The Zoom link for both August sessions is below. Please note, when joining the meeting, you may need to manually enter the meeting ID and password – the direct link sometimes creates issues. Our recommendation is to have the video on whenever possible, to allow a greater degree of connection during the meetings. The in-person meeting will not include a meal at this time. OPEN TO ALL & FREE TO ATTEND!!
* Virtual: Wednesday, August 4th, 7 - 8pm
* Virtual: Wednesday, August 11th, 7 - 8pm
* In Person: Sunday, August 15th, 4 - 5pm Creighton Park, North Augusta, bring a chair/cushion/yoga mat
Same link (ID/password) for both August sessions:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85650736284?pwd=d25NYWZYckRnbUdZbDg2YWtWb0Judz09
Meeting ID: 856 5073 6284
Passcode: 293525
- To dial with phone by your location, find your local number here.
- Click here for information on how to join a Zoom meeting.
ALL levels of meditators are welcome to attend, including those with no previous experience; however, we encourage people to “bring your own practice.” We're a practice group of fellow travelers, not teachers.
Note: Click here for more info on our Wednesday meditation sessions. |
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Other Online Events & Resources
* Socially Engaged Buddhism (SEBC) - "We encourage you to visit our resource list on Socially Engaged Buddhism and we invite your participation, perspectives, and solidarity, as together we undertake the hard work necessary for transformation."
* Dharma Seed - "an online resource dedicated to making the Buddhist teachings of Insight Meditation and associated practices available to all. Our intention is to be a support for meditation teachers, their communities, students and meditation practitioners, and to provide access to the teachings to those who might not otherwise have access to them."
* Southern Dharma Retreat Center, Hot Springs, NC - "For more than 40 years, Southern Dharma Retreat Center (SDRC) has offered affordable, teacher-led retreats with a unifying thread of meditation, contemplation, and silence. SDRC continues its tradition of excellence as the preeminent meditation retreat center in the southeast and is historically ranked top 10 nationally."
* Atlanta Buddhism.org - "Due to the Coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19), all people are encouraged to stay home whenever possible, and help stop the spread. We have compiled this list of groups that are now meeting virtually."
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Monthly Article: Bodhichitta: The Excellence of Awakened Heart
– "...we can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us kinder and more open to what scares us. We always have this choice."
– "...it is only bodhichitta that heals, that bodhichitta is capable of transforming the hardest of hearts and the most prejudiced and fearful minds."
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