14 Mindfulness Trainings

A reminder: Our quarterly recitation of the 14 Mindfulness Trainings will be on Saturday, March 5
at the Unitarian Universalist Community Church in Augusta. All are welcome.
Our schedule:
9:30 arrival, settling in
9:50 begin meditation
10 - 11 recitation ceremony
11 - 12:30 Dharma sharing
12:30 - 1:30 pot luck lunch
1 - 2 after/during end of lunch - conversation about our Maine Sanghas
          ideas: coordination & sharing of our DOM/retreat plans, recitation dates, issues in individual/wider sangha?

If you plan to join us, please RSVP to peacefulheartsangha@gmail.com, so that we know how many people to plan for.
Our gathering is open to all who would like to deepen their practice.
Our next recitation will be on June 4.

A lotus to you,
a Buddha to be,

Pebble for your pocket meditation

Being that I'm somewhat of a rock hound I was drawn to this meditation.  A wonderful practice for children and adults alike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXJs9bdcnXw

Thay has written a book for children titled A Pebble for Your Pocket.  What a wonderful way to introduce the practice to children and get them into nature.

Here's a pebble for you!

Discourse on Love

Sr. The Nghiem who lives at Blue Cliff in New York sings this version of the discourse on love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdtnOo7XZts&feature=related

From the Plum Village web site:

“He or she who wants to attain peace should practice being upright, humble, and capable of using loving speech.

He or she will know how to live simply and happily, with senses calmed, without being covetous and carried away by the emotions of the majority. Let him or her not do anything that will be disapproved of by the wise ones.

“(And this is what he or she contemplates:)

“May everyone be happy and safe, and may all hearts be filled with joy.

“May all beings live in security and in peace — beings who are frail or strong, tall or short, big or small, invisible or visible, near or faraway, already born, or yet to be born. May all of them dwell in perfect tranquility.

“Let no one do harm to anyone. Let no one put the life of anyone in danger. Let no one, out of anger or ill will, wish anyone any harm.

“Just as a mother loves and protects her only child at the risk of her ownlife, cultivate boundless love to offer to all living beings in the entire cosmos. Let our boundless love pervade the whole universe, above, below, and across. Our love will know no obstacles. Our heart will be absolutely free from hatred and enmity. Whether standing or walking, sitting or lying, as long as we are awake, we should maintain this mindfulness of love in our own heart. This is the noblest way of living.

“Free from wrong views, greed, and sensual desires, living in beauty and realizing Perfect Understanding, those who practice boundless love will certainly transcend birth and death.”

Etena sacca vajjena sotthi te hotu sabbada. [repreat three times]

[By the firm determination of this truth, may you ever be well.]
http://www.plumvillage.org/practice/discourses/54-discourse-on-love.html