2010 March Announcements

2010 March Announcements Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple and Meditation Center Third Eye The characteristics of physical harmony and beauty of a Great Being and are described in Story of the Life of Buddha Shakyamuni. The spot just above the eyebrows marks the third eye, symbolizing enlightenment and the all-seeing wisdom of the Buddha. Contents: 1. Events and Announcements 2. Dharma School Series 3. Buddha Thought 4. Volunteer! 5. Saturday Schedule Reminder 6. Dae Yen Sa Video Events and Announcements Next retreat day is March 6th, 2010. Make an escape from your everyday routine and attend a Dae Yen Sa Temple, one-day retreat. Come practice Qi chong or Yoga, meditate, chant, walk, rest and enjoy a delicious vegetarian meal with sangha friends. Regroup, recenter, renew with a one-day retreat 9AM to 10AM Qi Chong or Yoga 10AM to 10:20 AM Tea Break 10:20 AM to 11AM Silent Meditation 11AM to 11:10AM Walking Meditation 11:10 AM to 11:30AM Chanting 11:30 AM to 12:30PM Lunch 12:30 PM to 1:30PM Chanting 1:30PM to 2:30PM Discussion 2:30PM to 3:30PM Yoga or Qi Chong 3:30PM to 4:00PMÂ Silent Meditation and Review of the Day You may stay for the day or join in and leave at the time convenient to you. For more information please call Sue Yen Sunim at the temple numbers. The temple email is updated. To make sure Dae Yen Sa can email you successfully, please add the new email daeyensatemple@gmail.com to your address book. Remember to check your spam folder if an email you are expecting does not arrive. For those wishing to receive regular email announcements, please send your email address with a brief request to be added to the list. 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 03/03/10: The Dhammapada, Chapter 21 - Miscellaneous For those with Books please read Chapter 20: Miscellaneous For those without books please read Chapter 20: Miscellany The happiness that life's external pleasures can offer us is not necessarily bad, but always transient, compared with the happiness we feel when we are living intentionally contemplating on Buddha(awakening), Dharma (truth), Sangha (interbeing). One writer says that the opening verse of Chapter 21 Miscellaneous, gives us a snapshot of the entire theme of the Dhammapada, which is essentially, to Let Go. We let go of our little attachments, so we can expand our awareness and live lives of freedom and peace. We are also instructed to let go of some big attachments and wrong views. Verses 5 and 6 give us hard imagery, with phrases like, "Slain Mother and Father" and "destroy a Country". It reminds me of the teaching of Jesus, If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." LUKE 14:26 Both Buddha and Jesus use strong images to wake us up from complacency and make us think. Neither is saying not to love, but rather to practice a loving detachment. The Buddha instructs that we should strive to rid ourselves of; craving, conceit, views based on either eternalism or nihilism, attachment to the senses or sense objects, especially those closest to us. The instruction and practice is continual and concentrated effort on contemplating on the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. To contemplate, is to take a long, loving look at the real. Isn't this what we strive for in meditation? To glimpse our true nature, to take a long, loving look at the real me, the real you? When we are attached or even weighed down by life's great TO DO list there is no time or space for contemplation. That's why it is important, as Buddha reminds us, to enter into solitude, to take some time alone. When was the last time you were able to retreat for an hour, a day, a weekend by yourself? Maybe it is time to schedule time for yourself now to reclaim your contemplative space. When I was a child my parents had this wooden wall hanging that had pocket-like compartments where they would put their bills. The last pocket had scripty type printed on dark wood that spelled "Miscellaneous". To me as a child it was a foreign word, and one I could hardly say! Usually this pocket was overflowing with little papers and receipts a visual accounting of the STUFF of life. Our practice is about letting go of all those little extra attachments and expectations that have been stuffed into the "Miscellaneous" pocket of our heart/mind. It's about focusing on what is essential, simplifying our lives and becoming freer. Maybe it's time for a spring cleaning?! Namu Nobody is condemned in Buddhism, for greatness is latent even in the seemingly lowliest, just as lotuses spring from muddy ponds. Invite someone new to experience the warmth of the sangha. Buddha Thought 5 Ways to Start your Day Like a Buddhist Monk Excerpt from THE DAILY MIND 5. Do your learning: If you are studying or learning a new skill the early morning is the best time to do it. The monks will usually do their personal practice and then have breakfast. After breakfast they will do recitation and memorization as they know that their mind’s are the freshest at the start of the day. This is a very good piece of information for university students and/or people who struggle to retain important information. Try learning it in the morning. 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. Sati Meditation Recently, a small group from Dae Yen Sa enjoyed a field trip to Chuang Yen Temple in Carmel, NY. We participated in a retreat day, where we 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 our intention to make Sati meditation sessions available at DaeYen Sa. If any member who participated in our 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. Calling all TV Techies! The temple is seeking a volunteer(s) to help us find or purchase 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 energy 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! ONE OF OUR MEMBER'S, DAVE, IS PERFORMING THERE THIS WEEK! 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. Nonviolent Communication, Sympathy vs. Empathy Here Joe presents sympathy vs. empathy This clip introduces communication habits and speaks about why fix it mode, storytelling, and shutting down block successful communication and outcomes in personal and business relationships. 19 Kinsey Road New Hartford, CT 06057 Telephone: (860) 489-3254 Cell: (860) 459-6255 Fax: (860) 489-5760 daeyensatemple@gmail.com Donations greatly appreciated! VISIT DAE YEN SA ON FACEBOOK!