2012 May Announcements

2012 May Announcements Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple and Meditation Center Korean vegetarian food served at the temple. Contents: 1. Events and Announcements 2. Buddha Thought 3. Schedule Reminders 4. Dae Yen Sa Video 5. Volunteers EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS! Buddha's Birthday Announcement Join in Dae Yen Sa Temple's celebration of Buddha's Birthday!  Click this link to print copies of the brochure and link to share with your friends! Wednesday Dharma Study Announcement! Beginning April 4, we will read and discuss Shantideva's The Way of the Bodhisattva. Words do not convey how precious this teaching is. Our Sangha studied it a few years ago and it remains one of the most remembered and cherished topics we've shared. It bears revisiting. The Way of the Bodhisattva is profoundly concise, beautiful poetry that captures the essence of the Bodhisattva Ideal. Its verses are easy to grasp yet so pregnant with meaning that one cannot avoid being inspired to deep contemplation and selfless intention. Please obtain a copy before then as we will do shared readings. The version we'll use is: The Way of the Bodhisattva (Shambhala Library) [Hardcover] by Shantideva and translated by the Padmakara Translation Group ISBN 978-1590306147 The hardcover version is available at Amazon for under $13:[The paperback version will save you 52 cents, or more if you buy it used. With metta, Bo Kyung (Aaron) Anita's Memory Ceremony A fond farewell and a memory for Anita on her journey.  See the photos here. Day of Mindfulness Retreats! Every First Saturday of the month, 9am-5pm Give yourself time to rest and reflect. Life can get busy and stressful. It's so easy for each of us to lose perspective as we juggle it all. That's why it's so important to make time specifically for you. A mindful-ness retreat allows you to unplug from distractions and recharge your spiritual batteries. All are welcomed. Full-day retreat donation is $45, which includes vegetarian lunch and tea. FREE for Seniors and Students. Saturday Dates:  5/5/12, 6/2/12, 7/7/12, 8/4/12, 9/1/12, 10/6/12, 11/3/12, 12/1/12. 5/5/12 retreat brochure here! 9-10:00 am...Yoga/Qi Gong 10:15...Tea Break and Introduction 10:15-11...Meditation Session 11-11:45...Recitation & Chanting 12-1pm...Vegetarian Lunch 1-1:45...Walking Meditation 2-3:15...Dharma Talk/ Recitation/Q&a 3:30-4:30...Yoga/Qi Gong and/or Group Activity 4:30-5:00 Meditation, Closing Recitation Sutra of Loving-Kindness and Om Amoga chant Temple merchandise is now available including the WHO ARE YOU t-shirt! BUDDHIST THOUGHT: Excerpt From: Korean Buddhism Korean Temple Food   In Korean Buddhist Temples, monks and nuns have a special diet. They do not eat any meat or fish as they are considered to be foods which cannot be eaten in temples as they are considered to be intoxicants – the only animal product considered acceptable is milk. In addition, monks and nuns do not eat five vegetables which are called ‘hot’ in flavor. These are: green onions, onions, garlic, leeks, a wild rocambole. The Mahaparnirvana Sutra (The Book of the Great Decease) mentions that the taking of meat and fish cuts the seed of compassion; the Lankavatara Sutra explains that birds and animals might be the reincarnation of our parents, siblings and friends from previous lives. Also these ‘intoxicants’ disturb our senses and so do not help us on the path to wisdom, resulting in wrong actions and many mistakes. These are the main reasons for the prohibitions. In addition, in the Surangama Sutra it is said that these five ‘hot’ flavored vegetables, when fresh, affect our thinking and lead us to obscene thoughts, and when cooked they stimulate our anger. All of these are obstacles that deter us from practice. At first glance, temple food seems to be the same as other vegetarian food, for only vegetables are used – excluding garlic and onions and so on. The main difference with other vegetarian food is that temple food is considered an important means for encouraging spiritual practice, and thus it differs from ordinary vegetarian food. What do the practitioners have for their meals? The Ekottaragama Sutra says. “ All rules in the world begin from the taking of food. Beings do not exist without food.” In another sutra the Buddha explains, “ Food is medicine.” This is the truly correct attitude that we should have when we see food and partake of it in temple life. There the food is not taken for the pleasure of the taste or the desire to eat, but for sustaining the body with the necessary but minimal nutrition and quantity in order to gain the best results in practice. Read more at this link and see the weekly recipe! SCHEDULE REMINDERS! 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 ArirangTV Korean Temple Cooking 1 The secret of Korean temple cooking popularity is in its eco-friendly and traditional recipes. Recently, a temple of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism opens the restaurant for temple cooking. All the recipes are based on Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, but its color and shape has been upgraded even for non-believers to enjoy its taste. Arirang Today will listen to the Buddhist nun, Dae-an, who has been putting an effort to achieve the internationalization of Korean cuisine in temple cooking. May our family, friends and other loved ones travel well knowing they are always in our hearts. VOLUNTEERS! Thanks for supporting your local temple and meditation center! There are many ways to support your temple including donations. If you have something special to contribute, please let us know! Please volunteer your skills. Offer a talk or workshop, 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! There are many reasons to visit the temple! Here are just a few: 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. Your shopping benefits the temple! 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 generously 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. Please consider donating to the temple! Your assistance, no matter what amount, is greatly appreciated! 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! Mission Statement: 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.