Dear Friends,

Please join us this coming Sunday from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Albuquerque Zen Center. If you’d like to come a little early and socialize, herbal tea is always available starting at 4:30.

Our topic will be the Lunar New Year (Tet) and some sayings and practices from Plum Village to go along with the new year. We’ll do a Loving Kindness meditation written by Thay, and will talk about releasing our cows.

Please be thinking of an aspiration you have for the new year, and a fetter to be released.

Dear Friends,
We hope you can join us this coming Sunday when we will have an opportunity to recite the 5 Mindfulness Trainings. About 2600 years ago, the Buddha offered these guidelines to his lay students to help them live peaceful, wholesome, and happy lives.

As you know, the foundation of each of these trainings is mindfulness. With mindfulness, we are aware of what is going on in our bodies, our feelings, our minds, and the world. By practicing with 5 Mindfulness Trainings we are able to avoid doing harm to ourselves and others. Mindfulness protects us, our families, and our society, and ensures a safe and happy present and a safe and happy future. We will look deeply at the First Mindfulness Training “Reverence for Life.”

Remember that we now meet on Sunday afternoons from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at the Albuquerque Zen Center, 2300 Garfield Ave SE.

Sitting here in this moment, protected by the Sangha,
my happiness is clear and alive.
What a great fortune to have been born a human,
to encounter the Dharma,
to be in harmony with others,
and to water the Mind of Love
in this beautiful garden of practice.

Go with joy among the sorrows of the world
as we practice for a future to be possible.

enjoy your stopping – breathing – smiling

Jose

Dear Sangha,

There’s a slight change this week – I’m switching with Jose who will do the 5 Mindfulness Trainings on January 26.

This coming Sunday I’m going to tell you about my Dharma Toolbox. This is perhaps one of the most important things I have and in fact we all have them. My toolbox has been invaluable over the years and in fact I’ve used it so much I may need a bigger one. So, come prepared to reactivate your toolbox if you don’t use it too much or to look at your practice in a new practical way. We are trying to work to transform our suffering and my toolbox is what allows me to do exactly that.

Come a little early for tea and it will be great to see you next Sunday.

Discussing the Dharma in the ultimate dimension,
we look at each other and smile.
You are me, don’t you see?
Speaking and listening, we are one.

With a smile,

David