Small Weekly Rainbow Sangha meetings continuing at Albuquerque Zen Center, with precautions

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The Rainbow Sangha has voted to continue to meet on Sundays at 5:00 p.m., while taking prudent precautions against transmitting the coronavirus.

Anyone with symptoms of illness is asked to stay home. Hand sanitizer, masks, and gloves are available to anyone who wishes, we do not shake hands or hug, doorknobs and faucet handles are wiped with disinfectant before meetings, and we will not have tea. The meetings are also small (under 10 people), because many members have chosen to stay home, and we will maintain a small size.

You are welcome to join us if you wish, while observing these precautions. We will keep you posted on further developments.

Rainbow Sangha for March 15 on The Diamond Sutra

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The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it. — Thay

Please join us at the Albuquerque Zen Center, 2300 Garfield Ave. SE, this Sunday at 5:00 p.m. as we read and discuss Thay’s translation of the Diamond Sutra. This is one of the most important sutras in Mahayana Buddhism and is recited often at Plum Village. It contains a number of major teachings, in a cryptic form. Please join us for herbal tea at 4:30 before the meeting.

In light of the coronavirus threat, we are encouraging everyone to take some prudent precautions.
If you don’t feel well, please stay home so as to avoid potentially exposing others.
We will practice our traditional bowing to one another, and minimize hand shaking.
Please wash hands frequently, and hand sanitizer will be available at meetings.
A mask will be provided for each person who wants one at the meeting.
Doorknobs will be wiped with sanitizing wipes, and teacups will be washed with soap after each use.
With these simple precautions we plan to minimize the risk of spreading germs.

Sangha meeting Feb. 2

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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.

Sangha meeting January 26

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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

Sangha meeting for Jan. 19

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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