2009 October Announcements

2009 October Announcements Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple and Meditation Center Roses from the Memory Ceremony. Contents: 1. Field Trip Completed! Evening Candle Light Celebration. 2. Dharma School Series 3. Buddha Thought 4. Volunteer! 5. Saturday Schedule Reminder 6. Dae Yen Sa Video FIELD TRIP TO CHUANG YEN MONASTERY! Recently, a small group from Dae Yen Sa enjoyed a field trip to Chuang Yen Temple in Carmel, NY. The group participated in a retreat day, where they learned a new form of meditation practice called Sati. In Sati Meditation the practitioner uses mindful movements of the hands to bring about greater awareness.This practice was introduced by Luangpor Teean Jittasubho (1911-1988) of Thailand and taught to us by Dr. Dwight Chien. It is the temple's intention to make Sati meditation sessions available at DaeYen Sa. If any member who participated in the Sati retreat in NY is interested in leading Sati meditation please see Eduardo. For those wishing to experience the Sati retreat day at Chuang Yen, the next session is December 12, 2009. Email Edwardo eduardobarrios@optonline.net for more information or for a copy of the pdf with more sati meditation information. Evening Candlelight Walking Meditation and Chanting for an End to Violence In November, Dae Yen Sa is planning an evening of mindful walking and chanting for peace within us and within the world. This evening service will take place in the Main Hall that will be lit by (battery operated) candles. As part of the service we are asking Sangha members, friends and guests to offer a short written or impromtu prayer for peace. This special evening promises to be beautiful and powerful Keep posted for upcoming information regarding this event. The Dharma School Series Chanting & Meditation 7 pm - 7:30 pm Dae Yen Sa Dharma School & Tea 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm 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 requirement is an open mind and open heart. Study Topic for Wednesday, October 14, 2009: STUDY TOPIC: Dhammapada This coming Wednesday is the beginning of the 26 week study of the Dhammapada. Books will be provided with a suggested $5 donation. This study will be practiced in the meditative recitation style similar to our Shantideva experience. The first session is this Wednesday evening 10/14 beginning at 7pm. A separate and more detailed email will be coming to you before then. All members are invited to participate. The winters are always shorter when studying together! Let's embark on this Dhammapada journey and see where it takes us. Invite someone new to experience the warmth of the sangha. There are many, many wonderful translations of the Dhammapada, such as the Dhammapada translation by Eknath Easwaran and also the pocket version Dhammapada by Amida Maitreya. We will be using a Dhammapda text translated from the Indian Pali by Narada Thera. It is a bit more traditional in style. However an incredible feature of this text is that it provides commentary and short stories for each verse. Dae Yen Sa has placed an order for copies and will provide you with a book in the next couple of weeks. The suggested donation is $5.00. We will make photocopies of chapters available for those presently without books. And of course we will also share with one another. For those with books please read Chapter 1: The Twin Verses For those without books please read Chapter 1: The Twin Verses, at the link below, or your own transalations. http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/damapada.pdf On The Dhammapada: What would you think if I told you that the seeds of Buddha Wisdom are already within you? And what if I took that even farther and told you that you are already enlightened, but maybe you don't know it, or see it, or conceive it. Many of us might say, "Well this can't be, that's why I'm here... to get enlightened." But we don't "get" enlightenment, rather, through study and practice, we get out of our own way and discover the truth of who we are. As we prepare ourselves to enter into the study of this text, it is important to be aware of the obstacles we might unknowingly place in front of us and to come to the teachings with open hearts and minds. This sacred text is all about helping us let go and shed what may be keeping us in the prison of samara. we've spent years building up our insecurities and protective shells, The Dhammapada is our call to liberation. It is more than likely that throughout this 26-week study you will encounter a word, phrase, a sound, a smile that touches your deepest heart — the heart of Enlightenment within you. Dhamma is the Pali Indian word for, teaching, saying, truth, virtue, righteousness and so-forth. Pada is the word for section, parts, portion or way. Maybe we could think of it as the Way of Wisdom or the Path of Wisdom. It has been said that if all of the thousands of Buddhists scriptures and sacred texts were to be lost, the practitioner would need nothing more than The Dhammapada. The Dhammapada is a collection of Buddha's teachings, compiled by his disciples three months after the his death. The text is pithy and poetic. Each chapter's descriptive label helps us to remember the nature of its content. The text itself is a roadmap that helps orient us in a better direction. By studying together we will be journeying to a place of new awareness, understanding and liberation from the prison of our own self delusion to the vast open sky of peace and equanimity. By swimming in this text we will be saturating ourselves in the wisdom of truth and joining with the Buddha's disciples and great saints like Shantideva! Woohoo!! On Our Practice: Dharma study will continue on Wednesday evenings. As with our Shantideva study we will begin with a 30-minute period of chanting and silent mantra meditation and then proceed to practicing mindful recitation, with each person reading one verse at a time. We will study one chapter per week for the next 26 weeks. A brief Dharma reflection will be given with a period Sangha sharing and reflection, delicious tea and closing chant(s). In Closing: It is a true privilege to not only be graced with such a beautiful temple, but also for the opportunity to study wisdom together in the Sangha. Our study together will be like a warm fire around which we gather during the coming fall/winter months. We encourage all Sangha members to invite those who may be seeking peace, community and warmth to come in to Dae Yen Sa from out of the cold. Namu. Ah, happily do we live without hate amongst the hateful; amidst hateful men we dwell unhating. ---Dhammapada, CH. 15, V. 1 Thinking of all and wishing peace and light. NAMU! Buddha Thought Buddha walks into a pizzeria and says, "Make me one with everything." ---Old Buddha joke by unknown author. Volunteer Requests Assistance with preparation for special events, weekends and teaching nights is always greatly appreciated. This includes assistance in the kitchen, setting up, taking down and any other donation of talent or effort that can assist the temple. You are always greatly appreciated! The temple does have some special requests from time to time as well. Calling all TV Techies! The temple is seeking a volunteer(s) to help us find orpurchase a big screen TV for the Main Temple that we could also connect to a computer. There are so many great teachings and wisdom available in multimedia now that would add to study experiences. In addition the temple is considering offering occasional "movie nights" for families. Maybe our first Movie night could be "MULAN" in honor of dear little Sasha! Of course, we are also seeking donations for the purchase of the TV, or, of a TV itself. Thank you in advance for your kindness in achieving this goal for the benefit of the sangha. Please see Su Yen Sunim to help with this endeavor. Lending Library The East gives us thousands upon thousands of Buddhist sacred texts. And here in the West we have access to many books and articles from teachers like Jack Kornfield, Pema Chodron and other well-known teachers. It is our goal to begin a small lending library of Buddhist texts that would be open to Sangha members. The idea has been approved by Su Yen Sunim and Master, so we'll keep you posted on the logistics. In the meantime consider donating your books of wisdom to the temple. Make it a practice in letting go! Talks and Workshops While we have the Wisdom of the Triple Gem we also recognize the network of members and friends with wisdom to share with Dae Yen Sa. If you, or anyone you know, has an interest in presenting a workshop/lecture/training that is relevant and appropriate to Buddhist principles and practice, please speak with Eduardo. At present, the Temple does not have funds for lecturers. Any presentation would be considered a donation would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance. SPECIAL MENTION! Nirvana Juice Bar, Torrington One of our Sangha members, Rosie, invites us to visit her juice bar in Downtown Torrington. Rosie offers many wonderful health and enrgy drinks and foods as well as aromatic incenses and products sangha members would appreciate. In addition Rosie hosts guest lectures and open mike nights. Visit her website for more information and then visit her store for some "chill" time. http://nirvanahealthbar.com/ Nirvana is a healthy, fun and informative place to visit! 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 The first Saturday of each month, Dae Yen Sa has a retreat day with a revised schedule. Call or contact the temple for the schedule and activities for that day. Master Dae San chanting for the Memory Ceremony. 19 Kinsey Road New Hartford, CT 06057 Telephone: (860) 489-3254 Cell: (860) 459-6255 Fax: (860) 489-5760 Donations greatly appreciated! VISIT DAE YEN SA ON FACEBOOK!