Hello dedicated sangha friends,
Sending you warmth after the recent blessing of rain. It has been quite cold in the morning and night here and the turkeys make a lot of noises as they pass by. Yellow leaves carpet the wet forest floor. The fall-winter season seems like a natural time to quiet down the senses and go deeper into our practice.
Traditionally during the rainy season, since the time of the Buddha, the monastics dwell together in one place physically with limited outside trips with the intention of strengthening the practice, reflecting on what habit energy each person would like to focus and transform, and encouraging each other's growth on the spiritual path. T his inspiring talk from Brother Phap Dung opens our hearts to the spirit and possibilities of a rain retreat. It's a nourishing time to be with ourselves and among friends.
Plum Village has a suggested guidelines for lay friends to follow along including 6 sitting meditation, 6 mindful meals, 1 day of mindfulness,1 lazy day a week, watching a dharma talk and studying a sutra text together. This year we have a special treat that Deer Park monastery will be offering a weekly online Day of Mindfulness on Sunday and our sangha would like to support you with these periods of practice.
November 15 - February 14
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