2009 August Announcements

Dae Yen Sa

International Buddhist Temple

and Meditation Center

19 Kinsey Road, New Hartford, CT 06057

Telephone: (860) 489-3254

Cell: (860) 459-6255

Fax: (860) 489-5760

Wednesday Temple Regular Schedule:

7:00-7:30 PM Chanting, Meditation, Tea

7:30-8:30 PM Dae Yen Sa Dharma School

We welcome individuals of all paths and understandings to participate in weekly gatherings consisting of meditation, meditative reading and review along with group reflection on Buddhist principles and practices or Dharma. The only reqirement for the class is an open mind and open heart!

Study Topic for Wednesday 8/19/09:

Chapter 9 - Wisdom

Way of the Bodhisattva by 8th Century Master, Shantideva (This well-known and loved text focuses on the cultivation and enhancement of Bodhicitta-a quality of completely open, or completely awakened heart and mind.)

First, the topic of Wisdom that Shantideva is revealing in this chapter is that of Emptiness, or Shunyata in Tibetan. Emptiness is the essential teaching found in the Heart Sutra, expounded by the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, (Kwan Seum Posal in Korean). We are familiar with this sutra that says, "emptiness is form and form is emptiness", but what exactly does this mean? It is important to begin the study with a reflection on the Two Truths; the Relative and the Ultimate, or also described as, the rational and suprarational. In Buddhist thought Relative Truth represents the nature of things as they seem to appear, arising from conception, theories and rational thought, etc. Ultimate Truth arises from an understanding of phenomena as it truly is - beyond conceptual identification and thought. Paradoxically, to cultivate bodhicitta is to meditate on these two truths in order to transcend both.

This is the core of Bodhicitta. What do you think of Emptiness?

Relative and Ultimate,
These two truths are declared to be.
The Ultimate is not within reach of intellect,
for intellect is said to be Relative.WOB,chapter 9,verse 2

and

When something and its nonexistence
Both are absent from before the mind,
No other option does the latter have:
It comes to perfect rest from objects free.

WOB,chapter 9,verse 34

---

Saturday Temple Regular Schedule:

9:00 AM to 10:00 AM Yoga

10:00 AM to 10:20 AM Tea Break

10:20 AM to 11:00 AM Silent Meditation

11:00 AM to 11:10 AM Walking Meditation

11:10 AM to 11:30 AM Chanting

11:30 AM to 12:30 PM Korean Vegetarian Lunch

---

Visit the temple to see many examples of Korean spiritual art!

Join DAE YEN SA on Facebook!
Donations are always appreciated.