Community of Mindfulness New York Metro
Inspired by the Teachings and Practice of Thich Nhat Hanh
Dear Friends,
Please enjoy having 'nothing to do and nowhere to go' at this
Saturday's Day of Mindfulness. In our sitting and walking meditation,
eating, dharma sharing and mindful movements we will explore this
'nothing to do and nowhere to do.'
Thay [Thich Nhat Hanh] says that: "the businessless person is
someone who doesn't run after enlightenment or grasp at anything, even
if that thing is the Buddha. This person has simply stopped. She is no
longer caught by anything, even theories or teachings....When we learn
to stop and be truly alive in the present moment, we are in touch with
what's going on in and around us. We aren't carried away by the past,
the future, our thinking, ideas, emotions, and projects...Insight can't
be found in sutras, commentaries, or Dharma talks....This is like hoping
to find fresh water in dry bones....
The person who has nothing to do is sovereign of herself. She
doesn't have to put on airs or leave any trace behind. The true person
is an active participant, engaged in her environment while remaining
unoppressed by it. Although all phenomena are going through the various
appearances of birth, abiding, changing, and dying, the true person
doesn't become a victim of sadness, happiness, love, or hate....In doing
nothing, in simply stopping, we can live freely and true to ourselves
and our liberation will contribute to the liberation of all beings"**
So the practice instructions will be simple: 'breathing in, I
know I am breathing in [with nowhere to go] and breathing out I know I
am breathing out [with nothing to do.] And each of us will still have
to find our own way: 'nothing to do and nowhere to go' in the middle of
the experience of an unpleasant emotion of physical sensation or a
daydream, or deep peace, or an agitated mind or a happy mind.
Dry bones or fresh water?
Attend all or part of the Day: instructions are given and beginners
are welcome. Chairs and cushions available. Please do not wear
fragrances. We eat lunch together in silence, so bring a vegetarian
lunch for yourself. Lunch is around 1:15-2:15pm.]
At the Wellness Center at Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue,
Manhattan. [between 120-122nd Streets, one block west of Broadway.]
Schedule [subject to change]
Saturday October 20, 2012
9:45-10am Arrive.
10-10:45: mindul movements, sitting meditation
10:45-11:00-Walking Meditation
11:00-11:30: Sitting Meditation
11:30-12:00: Walking Meditation, Mindful Movements
12:00-12:30-Sitting Meditation
12:30-1pm-Outdoor Walking [weather permitting]
1:15-2:15-Lunch/Rest
2:30-3pm: Total Relaxation
3:10-3:45--Walking and Sitting Meditation
3:45-4:30-Dharma Sharing/Close
The Day will be led by David Flint and Walter Lyons of the Riverside and Morningstar Sanghas.
AND REMEMBER OUR NOVEMBER 17 DAY OF MINDFULNESS
Community of Mindfulness New York /Metro
Inspired by the Teachings and Practice of Thich Nhat Hanh
Invites us to practice Cultivating Joy together :
Day of Mindfulness
with Dharma Teacher John Bell
Saturday, November 17, 2012, 10a.m. to 4:30p.m. (Please Arrive by 9:45)
. The Riverside Church, Assembly Hall, 91 Claremont Avenue ( 120-122nd Sts, one block W of Broadway
Cultivat
The
Buddha started with relieving suffering, but the goal is true joy.
Among the hundreds of pathways to happiness, in this day of mindfulness
we will focus on a few that intentionally incline the mind towards joy.
We will enjoy sitting and walking, singing and gratitude practice. We
will explore ways of finding joy in difficult times, appreciating
ourselves no matter what, and sitting with what ever arises--and therein
lies liberation. The day will include healing silence and raucous
interaction!
John first met
Thich Nhat Hanh in 1982, after which he began reading and attending
retreats, became a member of the Order of Interbeing in 2001 and
received “lamp transmission” as a dharma teacher in 2010. John founded
the Mountain Bell Sangha, near Boston, in 1997, and it has been going strong ever since. He has offered many Days of Mindfulness and retreats. John is particularly
interested in combining “Mindfulness and Emotional Healing”. He says
that It is a great gift to have found this practice and he loves sharing it.
Current work in the wider world:
John is vice president of YouthBuild USA, an international non-profit
that guides the development of YouthBuild programs that do education,
construction training, and leadership with low-income young people in
273 communities across the U.S., and 56 programs in 15 other countries.
He and his wife started the first YouthBuild 34 years ago. He has
presented ,at a conference for Western Socially Engaged Buddhists, about
YouthBuild as an example of applied practice. For more information
about his work see www.youthbuild.org. John's writings on various topics can also be found on www.beginwithin.info.
Please bring a veggie lunch and please refrain from wearing fragrances
The Riverside Church, Assembly Hall, 91 Claremont Avenue ( 120-122nd Sts, one block W of Broadway)