Sangha meeting for March 19, 2023

Dear Thay, dear Sangha,

Please join us this Sunday from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., either in person or by Zoom. For security reasons the Zoom link is not posted on the website, but is available on request. We’ll be meeting at the Albuquerque Zen Center, 2300 Garfield Ave. SE. 

One of the Buddha’s most fundamental teachings is The Noble Eightfold Path. It’s the Fourth Noble Truth, and consists of Right View, Right Thought, Right Concentration, Right Mindfulness, Right Speech, Right Livelihood, Right Action and Right Effort. It is symbolized by the eight-spoked Wheel of Dharma. This Sunday we’ll be delving into what each of these means, and some of their inter-relationships. 

For now the weekly email announcements are also being posted on our website, www.quietmindsangha.org

The upcoming retreat is now full, with 40 registrants and all available rooms at the Norbertine Retreat Center booked.  

To maintain an atmosphere of reverence and tranquility in the Zendo we’ll be observing 10 minutes of Noble Silence before each meeting.

Dana (generosity) is one of the virtues cultivated in Buddhism. It is customary to offer Dana in appreciation for the benefits received and to support the Sangha. Dana can be financial and it can also be in other forms such as helping with setup or breakdown of meetings and days of mindfulness. 

If you’d like to be removed from this email list just let me know. 

With metta,

🙏🏼

Weekly Announcement for March 12, 2023 meeting

Please note time change to 5:00-6:30 p.m.

Dear Thay, dear Sangha,

The Sangha has voted to continue our seasonal meeting time changes, so please join us this Sunday from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., either in person or by Zoom (using the regular link – for security we don’t post Zoom links on the website). We’ll be meeting at the Albuquerque Zen Center, 2300 Garfield Ave. SE. 

We’ll be conducting the ceremony to recite the 14 Mindfulness Trainings. These are Thay’s beautiful expanded and modernized version of guidelines for living based on the Buddha’s precepts and the Noble Eightfold Path. If you’re on Zoom and need a copy, it’s available at the Plum Village website at https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings/

“Practicing the mindfulness trainings … helps us be more calm and concentrated, and brings more insight and enlightenment.” — Thay 

For Zoom participants, the new microphone seems to be working much better than the old one. You are encouraged to join the meeting early (before the Noble Silence) so we can make sure you can hear well. 

I’ve been debugging my email program, have had some success, and am hopeful that messages will go out properly now. Just in case I’ll also post a copy of this weekly announcement at our website, www.quietmindsangha.org

In a recent posting on this website please find a flyer and registration form with details of our upcoming retreat from the evening of Friday March 31 through noon on Sunday April 2. Attendance is limited to 40 participants. Currently 38 are registered (two spots are left) and all of the rooms have been rented. The deadline for receipt of registration for attendance has been extended to March 22. 

To maintain an atmosphere of reverence and tranquility in the Zendo we’ll be observing 10 minutes of Noble Silence before each meeting.

Dana (generosity) is one of the virtues cultivated in Buddhism. It is customary to offer Dana in appreciation for the benefits received and to support the Sangha. Dana can be financial and it can also be in other forms such as helping with setup or breakdown of meetings and days of mindfulness. 

If you’d like to be removed from this email list just let me know. 

With metta,

🙏🏼

Jon

Upcoming topics for Sangha meetings in 2022

(Note: MT = Mindfulness Trainings)

DateCommentsLeader(s)Topic
Oct 2BeeBeginning Anew
Oct 9Ruth & TheresaZen & The Art of Saving the Planet part 4
Oct 16Thay’s birthday Oct 11JonCelebrating Thay’s life and teachings
Oct 23DavidThe Four Immeasurables (Brahmaviharas)
Oct 30DOMKiwanis area at Elena Gallegos Open Space
Nov 6Time change for mtgsJon14 MT
Nov 13DavidWalking and longer (guided?) meditation
Nov 20JonTaoism and Zen
Nov 27NO MEETING
Dec 4BeeThe Heart Sutra
Dec 11AllBusiness meeting
Dec 18David5 MT
Dec 25NO MEETING

Tentative upcoming Sangha meeting topics April-July 2022 (subject to change)

DateCommentFacilitatorTopic
Apr 17BeeLonger meditation
Apr 24Earth Day 4/22JonHonoring Earth Day
May 1David5 MT
May 8Mother’s DayBee + 1
May 15DOMNO REGULAR MEETINGCarolino Open Space Area
May 22VesakDavidMaybe read on night of awakening from Old Path, White Clouds
May 29Memorial DayNO MEETING
Jun 5JonVideo – A Cloud Never Dies
Jun 12Ruth & Theresa“Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet” thru p. 78
Jun 19JonLonger meditation, talk about breathing, sitting & walking meditation
Jun 26Bee14 MT
Jul 3Dalai Lama BDay July 6DavidDalai Lama “Beyond Religion”
Jul 10Bee5 MT
Jul 17JonLoving Kindness & Tonglen practice
Jul 24David & KenGatha Writing
Jul 31JonLonger meditation