1. Events and Announcements 2. Dharma School Series 3. Buddha Thought 4. Schedule Reminders 5. Dae Yen Sa Video 6. Volunteers
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS!
March Event this weekend!
Buddhist Practices for Practicing Christians presented by Sue Yen Sunim and Eduardo Barrios! This event is held at the Spiritual Life Center in West Hartford.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk150/Sheiladae/Brochures/practicing.jpg Link to the brochure above.
A Path of True Love http://s279.photobucket.com/albums/kk150/Sheiladae/2011%20February%20True%20Love/?albumview=slideshow Click the link to see photos from the True Love retreat day!
SpecialRequest
Please help Dae Yen Sa Temple!
The temple needs help from sangha members and friends to pay their tax bill. Please make a donation, no matter how small or large, to Dae Yen Sa. Your donations will be a great assistance!
Make checks to mail or bring to:
Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple 19 Kinsey Road New Hartford, CT 06057
Contact: Sue Yen Sunim
Wednesday evening dharma school!
This course is provided for free, donations in support of temple efforts are welcome and appreciated.
Chanting & Meditation 7 pm - 7:45 pm
Dae Yen Sa Dharma School 7:45 pm - 8:30 pm
Individuals of all paths and beliefs are welcome; the only requirement is an open heart and mind. Dharma study is free; donations supporting temple efforts are appreciated.
Last week we began our study of Pema Chodron's modern classic, Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living. Her book is a warmhearted guide to the powerful Tibetan Buddhist practice called "Tonglen," an engaged meditation for generating compassion for ourselves and others. The first class was a great introduction to the book and the subject, and the group shared beautifully in the teachings. All are invited to join at any time as we dig more deeply into the teachings and practices, and there's no obligation or expectation to attend all classes or even regularly; just come when you can!
Please come this Wednesday, February 16 at 7PM for meditation, tonglen practice, shared reading and discussion (plus a fruit party!).
We've covered the first four chapters Pema Chodron's book, Start Where You Are, but as the title suggests, anyone can join in at any time. Individuals of all paths and beliefs are invited and welcome to shareÂ\ the Buddha's wisdom. Please come at 7 PM on Wednesday, March 9 for meditation, shared reading and discussion.
This week is an especially good entry point because the first four chapters covered absolute truth and absolute bodhichitta, creating a theoretical foundation for the practical teachings on awakening compassion. That's what we're diving into this week: the messy stuff of our relative and personal world that tends to obscure reality. That messy stuff is called klesha, or poison, and there are three big ones in Buddhism: passion, aggression and ignorance (synonymously phrased as "craving, aversion and couldn't-care-less," or "greed, hatred and delusion," or "desire, ill-will and denial" -- you can take your pick, mix-and-match what works for you).
Chapter 5 is titled "Poison as Medicine," and Pema shows how the messy stuff that throws us off track is actually the seed material for awakening compassion -- for ourselves and everyone. If we can become aware of our attractions, antipathies and apathies, we can then touch and feel what's underneath: what Pema calls the "soft spot" that is our wounded heart. Touching the truth buried under the drama is bodhichitta in practice. That is, by acknowledging our poisons we use them as medicine for reaching and awakening our heart. Genuine compassion is waiting there in healing abundance, and we can begin to apply it with wisdom to our wounds and the wounds of those around us.
As a side note, "compassion" is formed from Latin roots meaning "to suffer with." The all-important word "with" is all about connection, so when we have compassion, we need to be connecting -- on a deep and meaningful level -- with ourselves and/or others. Compassion speaks with not so many words: we need to listen, watch, feel and just "be with" (and be okay with "being with") the unpleasantness. It is a deep, selfless and loving practice.
Please bring a friend or family member as the group and topic are suited to bringing us closer together -- in our humanity and our community. We are so fortunate to be able to share in this wisdom together. There is no cost to attend dharma study at Dae Yen Sa, but donations are appreciated more than ever in this time of increased need. Thank you for your fellowship, generosity and sharing the Path together!
Note: A few brand-new copies of the book are available at the temple for the same price you would pay at a major online bookseller (around $11), or used copies can be found at online booksellers for as little as $2 or less (plus shipping):
Please bring a friend or family member as the group and topic are suited to bringing us closer together -- in our humanity and our community. We are so fortunate to be able to share in this wisdom together.
Please also watch for email announcements for cancellations due to weather and enjoy your snow shoveling meditations.
Thanks and Namu!
Much Metta.
Buddhist Thought:
If we were to make a list of people we don't like--people we find obnoxious, threatening, or worthy of contempt--we would find out a lot about those aspects of ourselves that we can't face. If we were to come up with one word about each of the troublemakers in our lives, we would find ourselves with a list of descriptions of our own rejected qualities, which we project onto the outside world. In traditional teachings on lojong it is put another way: other people trigger the karma that we haven't worked out. They mirror us and give us the chance to befriend all of that ancient stuff that we carry around like a backpack full of granite boulders.
Wednesday Dharma School 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Meditation and Dharma Study
Saturday Temple Regular Schedule:
9:00 AM to 10:00 AM Yoga or Qi Gong 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
Dae Yen Sa offers retreat days throughout the year. Contact the temple to find out about upcoming retreat days, schedules, and activities for those days. Watch the newsletter for announcements!
Dae Yen Sa Video
Pema Chodron "Tong Lin"
Pema Chodron presents the Tong Lin meditation process.
Support your local temple and meditation center!
A special thanks goes out to volunteers and supporters of the temple!
There are many ways to support your temple including donations. If you have something special to contribute, please let us know!
Volunteer Your Skills!
Assistance with preparations 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. Thank you to all the people who make the wonderful experience at the temple possible for everyone!
Participate in beneficial shopping!
The temple now has available a selection of great merchandise! Please stop by to purchase a temple t-shirt or the favorite "WHO AM I?" koan t-shirt
Offer a talk or workshop!
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.
Buy a special book!
Aerim Kim,the author of this lovely book of poetry is a frequent visitor at Dae Yen Sa Temple. Her poetry style is free, fresh, heartfelt, and full of a joyful sparkle of emotion. The late Zen Master Seung Shang described Aerim's poetry as "zen poems".
The Kim's have supplied the temple with many copies of this book in order to help support the printing needs of the temple. Please contact Sue Yen Sunim to purchase copies of the book for your personal library. You can help build an important network! Please let the temple and the Kim's know of any valuable networking connections to continue keeping this wonderful book in the public's eyes and hearts!
Dae Yen Sa plans on binding several of their prayer books together into one volume for members to use during prayer and ceremonies.
Special Mentions!
A very special thanks goes out to Ms. Grace Kim of Blooming Ridgefield who provides many of the beautiful flower arrangements at the temple. Please visit her site at http://bloomingridgefield.com/ .
A big thank you to Eduardo and Aaron leading the Dharma talks on Wednesday night at Dae Yen Sa. Also thanks to Robin for the Thursday night Yoga class!
Please consider donating to the temple!
Your assistance, no matter what amount, is greatly appreciated!
Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple and Meditation Center is a non-profit religious organization serving the spiritual needs of a diverse and dedicated community of lay practitioners. We offer instruction and participation in Buddhist religion, meditation forms, devotional chanting and worship, dharma principles and practices, yoga and other relevant programs. We welcome all who seek enlightenment of mind and freedom from suffering caused by human greed, hatred and delusion.
Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple and Meditation Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) religious organization. Charitable contributions are tax exempt. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Namu,
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