Community of Mindfulness New York Metro

Day of Mindfulness January 21, 2010: 10-4:30; Riverside Church, Room 430-MLK

2012-01-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

Beginning Anew

we will engage practices that will guide us in

Beginning Anew Saturday, January 21, 2012,

At The Riverside Church, Room 430 MLK

91 Claremont Avenue (Betw.120-122nd Sts, One Block West of Broadway)

***
We will enjoy Sitting and Walking Meditation, Eating Meditation, Deep
Relaxation & Dharma Sharing, Beginners Welcome.

Please do not wear fragrances.

You are invited to bring a veggie bag lunch and drink.
Please RSVP to marjoriem4@juno.com [It is okay to attend without RSVP]

[if you would like to help set up, and can arrive between 9-9:30, please note this in your rsvp.]

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Day of Mindfulness December 17, 2011, 10-4:30pm

2011-12-15T08:40:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

In our Day of Mindfulness, this Saturday December 17 at Riverside Church, room 430-MLK, we will explore ‘non-clinging,’ impermanence and emptiness. We will begin with stopping, calming and resting through mindfulness of breathing and of the body. Then, sitting with full body awareness, we will practice what Thay calls active concentration:

“In Active Concentration, the mind dwells on whatever is happening in the present moment, even as it changes.

A Silver Bird flies over the Autumn Lake.

When it has passed,

The lake’s surface does not try to hold on to the image of the bird.”

As the bird flies over the lake, its reflection is lucid. After it is gone, the lake reflects the clouds and the sky just as clearly. When we practice active concentration, we welcome whatever comes along….We just dwell in the present moment with all our being. Whatever comes, comes. When the object of our concentration has passed, our mind remains clear, like a calm lake.”

We will enjoy eating together in mindfulness, Dharma sharing, mindful movements and walking, singing, total relaxation and resting.

Chairs and cushions available. Beginners welcome. Bring a vegetarian lunch. Please do not wear fragrances. Attend the whole Day or any part of the Day.

10-4:30pm: At Riverside Church, Room, at 91 Claremont Avenue in Manhattan, in room 430-MLK [walk past security desk and turn left, walk across lobby to elevators and go to 4th floor.]

Schedule [may change]:

1. 10-10:10 mindful movements

2. 10:10-10:45 Sitting/Walking: breath awareness

3. 10:50-11:15-sitting: whole body/ease

11:20-11:30: walking: whole body/ease

4. 11:40-12:05: Sitting--Active concentration

5. 12:10-12:30 [If staying inside]: Walking meditation/mindful movement

6. 12:35-12:45: silent sitting.

7. 12:50-1:15-Dharma Sharing

OR if going outside for walking meditation

12:20-1pm: outdoor walking: mind is clear blue sky.

Lunch: 1:20-2:00

Total Relaxation: 2:10-2:50

3pm-3:10-walking meditation

3:15-3:45: Sit: active concentration

3:50-4:20: Dharma Sharing.

_______________________________________________________________________

Thich Nhat Hanh on meditation practice:

Mindfulness of Breathing

“Breathing in, I know I am breathing in. Breathing out, I know I am breathing out.”

“The object of mindfulness is your in-breath and your out-breath, and nothing else. Observe the reality of your in-breath all throughout its duration. Stay at one with your out-breath all the way through”

“You don’t need to make an effort to stop your thinking. Just by concentrating on your breathing one hundred percent, your thinking will quiet itself. You don’t need to force yourself to be mindful. Just enjoy your breathing.”

“A period of sitting meditation is time worth living. Don’t interfere with your breathing. Breathing takes place by itself. Just light the lamp of mindfulness and shine it on your breathing. Don’t modify, bend, or make your breathing the way you think it is supposed to be. If your in-breath is short, let it be short. If your out-breath is long, let it be long. Become aware of your in-breath and out-breath as they are….After a few minutes you will notice an improvement in the quality of your breathing, and a feeling of well-being will be born in you.”

Mindfulness of the Body and calming/ease

“Breathing in, I am aware of whole body. Breathing out, I am aware of my whole body.”

With this second subject, we embrace our body with mindfulness rather than just embracing our breathing…. We recognize the presence of our body and “return home” to be one with it…. If we do not come back to our home and care for it, who will? When we come home to it, our body breathes a sigh of relief and says, “She has come back at last.”

“Breathing in, I calm my whole body. Breathing out, I calm my whole body.”

“Now that we have observed and accepted our whole body, we can bring peace and calm to it.”

“If you practice this way for ten or twenty minutes, the flow of your breathing and of your bodily functions will become very calm, and your mind will feel quite released… It is like drinking a glass of cool lemonade on a hot day and feeling your body becoming cool inside. When you breathe in, the air enters your body and calms all the cells of your body. At the same time, each “cell” of your breathing becomes more peaceful and each “cell” of your mind also becomes more peaceful. The three are one, and each one is all three. This is the key to meditation. Breathing brings the sweet joy of meditation to you. It is food. If you are nourished by the sweet joy of meditation, you become joyful, fresh, and tolerant, and everyone around you will benefit from your joy.”

[Breathe! You Are Alive, by Thich Nhat Hanh. Pages 45, 49-50.]

“In Active Concentration, the mind dwells on whatever is happening in the present moment, even as it changes.

A Silver Bird flies over the Autumn Lake.

When it has passed,

The lake’s surface does not try to hold on to the image of the bird.”

The Buddha:

"Then, Bahiya, you should train yourself thus: In reference to the seen, there will be only the seen. In reference to the heard, only the heard. In reference to the sensed, only the sensed. In reference to the cognized, only the cognized. That is how you should train yourself.

When for you there will be only the seen in reference to the seen, only the heard in reference to the heard, only the sensed in reference to the sensed, only the cognized in reference to the cognized, then, Bahiya, there is no you in terms of that. When there is no you in terms of that, there is no you there. When there is no you there, you are neither here nor yonder nor between the two. This, just this, is the end of stress." [Bahiya Sutra, Thanissaro Bhikkhu, onwww.accesstoinight.org]

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Day of Mindfulness Nov 19: Creating Peace in Ourselves, Creating Peace in the World: When Turning Inward isn't Turning Away

2011-11-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday leads Day of Mindfulness November 19, 2011

Community of Mindfulness New York /Metro

Inspired by the Teachings and Practice of Thich Nhat Hanh

Invites us to practice together :

Day of Mindfulness

with Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday.

Saturday, November 19, 2011, 10a.m. to 4:30p.m. (Please Arrive by 9:45).

The Riverside Church

91 Claremont Avenue, 8-T (Betw. 120-122nd Sts, one block W of Broadway)

South Hall [first floor]

Creating Peace in Ourselves, Creating Peace in the World: When Turning Inward isn't Turning Away

Joanne Friday, leads retreats and workshops throughout New England. She received the Dharmacharya Lamp Transmission from her teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh in 2003.

Joanne considers the transmission of the Dharma to be the most wonderful gift she has received and her greatest joy is passing it on. It will be our joy to receive it on this day along with her beautiful presence and deep practice.

Donation and Dana Appreciated

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WakeUp: Meditation at Union Square and Concert at Gershwin Hotel: Nov 6, 2011

2011-11-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Here are two events our WakeUp Sangha is offering Sunday November 6: we are all invited.

Joe Reilly and The Plum Village Family

A Musical Concert for Peace and Harmony

When	Nov 06, 2011 from 07:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Where	Gershwin Hotel, 7 east 27th street, new york, ny 10016
Contact Name	nyc@wkup.org
Attendees	Everyone is encouraged to attend!

Join musicians and Sangha members Joe Reilly, Vera Kardos, Phap Linh, Phap Luu, Trai Nghiem, and friends as they share original songs inspired by the practice and teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. Appropriate for all ages, this music helps to build and strengthen diverse communities while watering seeds of joy, love, peace, and compassion in our collective consciousness. Hear some examples at: http://www.plumvillage.org/songs-for-the-practice.html

Hear some examples at: http://www.plumvillage.org/songs-for-the-practice.html

Sitting is Peace

Meditation Flashmob

4pm, Sunday November 6, Union Square [by George Washington Statue]

Join Buddhist Monks and Nuns [from Blue Cliff and Deer Park and Plum Village] and an ecletic mix of strangers for 30 minutes of sitting meditation, enjoying peace and togetherness.

__._,_.___

Sept 17 Day of Mindfulness; Month of Collective Practice: Peace, Healing and Reconciliation

2011-09-07T04:25:00.000-07:00

A Month of Collective Practice

Peace Healing and Reconciliation: An Invitation for September 2011

"There is no way to Peace,Peace is the Way" Thich Nhat Hanh

Our tradition offers many practices to help us meet life's challenges from a place of peace, compassion and joy... and not out of fear, violence, suffering or worry.

This month let us collectively plant seeds of peace, with our Sanghas and in our daily lives. We encourage local Sangha members and local Sanghas to explore peace, healing and reconciliation practices from our tradition in our personal and collective practice during this month.

September 17 InterSangha Day of Mindfulness

10-4:30pm

Riverside Church, 8-T, 91 Claremont Avenue, NY, NY

To support this intention, there will be an InterSangha Day of Mindfulness offered on Saturday September 17th, from 10 to 4:30, at The Riverside Church. The Day will focus on teachings, study and practices that have inspired our local teachers as they reflect on this month which holds the 10th Anniversary of September 11th.

To help support the collective energy please arrive on time, plan to stay for the whole day and bring a vegetarian lunch.

___________________________________________

Let us take this this month to strengthen our intention to plant seeds of peace and healing in our own hearts, the hearts of our families, communities, and society. May all our actions send peace, compassion, reconciliation and healing for the benefit of all Beings throughout space and time.

in peace

David, Jeanne, Marjorie and Dennis

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Thich Nhat Hanh in NYC

2011-08-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

Global Ethics for Our Future

Friday, October 14, 2011 • 7:00 p.m.

An Evening Dharma Talk

Saturday, October 15, 2011 • 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

A Day of Mindfulness

Omega Institute is pleased to present two opportunities to be in the presence of Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the most respected and recognized Zen masters of our time. Poet, peace activist, human rights advocate, and author of numerous best-selling books, including Peace Is Every Step, Being Peace, and Peaceful Action, Open Heart, Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the founders of

the “engaged Buddhism” movement, helping to bring personal and global peace to the world.

Friday, October 14, 2011 • 7:00 p.m.

An Evening Dharma Talk

Saturday, October 15, 2011 • 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

A Day of Mindfulness

Purchase Tickets at Ticketmaster, 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com

See www.eomega.org for more information

Day of Mindfulness August 20: Healing and Revealing

2011-07-31T10:18:00.000-07:00

Healing and Revealing: A Day of Mindfulness

August 20, 2011, 10-4:430

Riverside Church, 8-T

In this Day we will explore guided meditations that ‘heal and reveal.’ For example, the ‘Flower fresh’** meditation is both a meditation that can nourish and calm our body and mind and a meditation on interbeing. During the Day we will look again at interbeing through meditations using the elements: earth, water, fire, air, space, consciousness.

Thich Nhat Hanh says that “Breathing and Knowing that we are breathing is a basic practice….To practice conscious breathing is to open the door to stopping and looking deeply in order to enter the domain of concentration and insight.” This practice also includes guided meditations that use imagery: “the breathing carries the image and the image throws open the doors closed by our wrong perceptions.” [Blooming of the Lotus, pages 6-7.]

Everyone is welcome. Our Day includes sitting and walking meditations; mindful movements; eating together in silence and mindfulness; singing; total relaxation and our practice of deep listening and speaking [Dharma Sharing].

Chairs and cushions available. Lunch is around 1pm: bring a vegetarian lunch. Come for all or part of the Day. Please do not wear fragrances.

At Riverside Church, 8-T. 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd St., one block west of Broadway in Manhattan.

Facilitated by Ishmael Wallace and David Flint.

** The 'Flower Fresh' meditation is elaborated on in Touching Peace and in The Blooming of the Lotus, by Thich Nhat Hanh.

"Breathing In, I know I am breathing in.

Breathing out, I know I am breathing out.

In/Out

Breathing In, I see myself as a Flower.

Breathing Out, I feel fresh.

Flower/Fresh

Breathing In, I see myself as a mountain.

Breathing out, I feel solid.

Mountain/Solid

Breathing In, I see myself as still water,

Breathing out, I reflect things as they are.

Water/Reflecting

Breathing In, I see myself as space.

Breathing Out, I feel free.

Space/Free

Day of Mindfulness July 16, 2011

2011-07-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

Breathe! You are Alive: A Day of Mindfulness

July 16, 10-4:30pmAt Riverside Church, 8-T, 91 Claremont Avenue, Manhattan

Breathe and you know that you are alive.

Breathe and you know that all is helping you.

Breathe and you know that you are the world. Breathe and you know that the flower is breathing too.

Breathe for yourself and breathe for the world.
Breathe in compassion and breathe out the joy.

Breathe and be one with the air that you breathe.

Breathe and be one with the river that flows.

Breathe and be one with the earth that you tread.

Breathe and be one with the fire that glows.

Breathe and you break the thought of birth and death.

Breathe and you see impermanence is life.

Breathe for your joy to be steady and calm.

Breathe for your sorrow to flow away.

Breathe to renew every cell in your blood,.

Breathe to renew the depths of consciousness.

Breathe and you dwell in the here and now.

Breathe and all you touch is new and real.

[Written by Sister Annabel]

In this Day we will enjoy the meditation exercises proposed by the Buddha in the Full Awareness of Breathing Sutra [Anapanasati], as shared by Thay in Breathe! You are Alive, and The Blooming of a Lotus. Together we can stop,calm, rest and look deeply into impermanence, breath by breath. Several weeks ago the Rock Blossom Sangha hosted a Day of Mindfulness with this theme and we are inspired to continue exploring these practices.

Our Day will be simple: sitting and walking meditations, mindful movements, noble silence, total relaxation, time for Dharma Sharing, a song or two or three! We eat together in mindfulness and silence from about 1-2pm.

Everyone Welcome. No experience necessary. Come for all or part of the Day. Chairs and cushions available.Please do not wear fragrances.

At 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd Street, one block west of Broadway, Riverside Church, 8-T.

David Flint and Walter Lyons, of the Riverside and Morningstar Sanghas will facilitate.

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Day of Mindfulness June 18, Riverside Church

2011-06-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

Community of Mindfulness New York Metro

Inspired by the Teachings and Practice of Thich Nhat Hanh

www.communityofmindfulnessnewyorkmetro.blogspot.com

Dear Friends,

Saturday June 18 is our Day of Mindfulness at Riverside Church, room 8-T, from 10-4:30pm. Ishmael Wallace and Marjorie Markus of the Riverside Sangha will facilitate the Day.

"The Day will be an opportunity to spread out into majestic meditations from the Lotus and Flower Ornament Sutras in which visualization helps us savor interdependence. We will walk, sit, lie down, enjoy a meal together (bring a vegetarian lunch), and share our experiences, in such a way as to vividly experience our interconnection with all."

Chairs and cushions are available. No experience necessary. Please do not wear fragrances. Come for all or part of the Day.

At Riverside Church in Manhattan, 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd Street, one block west of Broadway.

Touching Reality: removing notions and concepts to embrace life's wonders: May 21 Day of Mindfulness

2011-05-12T04:33:00.000-07:00

Touching Reality: removing notions and concepts to embrace life's wonders.

Dear Friends,

Please Join us for a Day of Mindfulness May 21, 10am-4pm, at Riverside Church, room 8-T, 91 Claremont Avenue in Manhattan.

The theme of the Day is "Touching Reality: removing notions and concepts to embrace life's wonders." We will practice sitting and walking meditations, total relaxation, dharma sharing, and singing. We will also listen to a dharma talk on the Avatamsaka Sutra* by Thich Nhat Hanh. Everyone welcome--no prior 'experience' necessary.

The day will begin at 10:00 and end at 4:00. You are welcome to join us for any part of the day. Please arrive before 9:50 if you intend to start the day with us.

Please bring a vegetarian lunch. Our practice of mindful eating will take place between noon and 1:00 pm. Chairs and cushions are available.

"If you realize the importance of going beyond concepts of birth and death, self and other, inside and outside, you will be liberated from the desire to use reason to prove your understanding."

"Understanding interbeing can cure this illness (of superiority, inferiority and equality complexes) and establish perfect harmony between so-called self and so-called other."

- from Transformation At The Base by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Our Day will be facilitated by Nina Teng. Nina practices with the Morningstar, Riverside, Green Island and Rock Blossom Sanghas.

* The Avatamsaka Sutra is also known as the Flower Ornament Sutra. Thay addresses this Sutra inCultivating the Mind of Love and in other talks and writings. The Sutra focuses on the idea of universal connection and interpenetration - "the one is in the all, and the all is in the one".

______________________________________________________________________

May 20-22, 2011 New York Sanghas Weekend Retreat at Blue Cliff Monastery

Two Days of Mindfulness: April 16 2011

2011-04-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

Community of Mindfulness New York Metro

Inspired by the Teachings and Practice of Thich Nhat Hanh

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April 16 Day of Mindfulness at Riverside Church10:00-4:30,8-T

The Three Dharma Seals: Impermanence, Not-Self; Nirvana

Please join us for our April 16 Day of Mindfulness. We enjoy being wonderfully together, supporting each other by our presence and our practice. The Day includes sitting and walking meditation, mindful movements; singing; dharma sharing; eating together in mindfulness and more--all grounded in our awareness of each in-breath and each out-breath.

In this Day off Mindfulness we will explore 'The Three Dharma Seals of Impermanence, Not-Self and Nirvana. Our 'familiar' practices of being present with the breath/the body/the mind become the vehicle for looking deeply into impermanence, not-self and nirvana. Lunch is around 1:00-2pm-bring your own vegetarian lunch.

Chairs and cushions available. No prior experience necessary. Please do not wear fragrances. Room 8-T, Riverside Church at 91 Claremont Avenue in Manhattan. Facilitated by David Flint.

Here are several related teachings from the Buddha and Thich Nhat Hanh:

“What do you think, bhikkhus, is material form permanent or impermanent?”“Impermanent, venerable sir.”“Is that which is impermanent satisfying or unsatisfying?”“Unsatisfying, venerable sir.”“Is that which is impermanent, unsatisfying and subject to changefit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, this is what Iam, this is my self.’“No, venerable sir.” [The Island: An Anthology of the Buddha's Teachings on Nibbana, Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, page 89]

"Then, Bahiya, you should train yourself thus: In reference to the seen, there will be only the seen. In reference to the heard, only the heard. In reference to the sensed, only the sensed. In reference to the cognized, only the cognized. That is how you should train yourself. When for you there will be only the seen in reference to the seen, only the heard in reference to the heard, only the sensed in reference to the sensed, only the cognized in reference to the cognized, then, Bahiya, there is no you in terms of that. When there is no you in terms of that, there is no you there. When there is no you there, you are neither here nor yonder nor between the two. This, just this, is the end of stress." [Bahiya Sutta, Translated by Thanissaro Bhikku, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/]

"Having nothing, clinging to nothing; that is the Island, there is no other; that is Nibbana, I tell you, the total ending of ageing and death." [The Island, page 5]

Thich Nhat Hanh

"Every authentic teaching of the Buddha must bear Three Dharma Seals: impermanence, non-self and nirvana. The first Dharma Seal is impermanence. Nothing remains the same for two consecutive minutes.... The second Dharma seal is non-self. If you believe in a permanent self...a separate independent self, your belief cannot be described as Buddhist. Impermanence is from the point of view of time, non-self is from the point of view of space. The third Dharma Seal is nirvana, which means "extinction," the extinction of afflictions and notions.... We try to grasp the world of our projections and we suffer. Nirvana, the extinction of all afflictions, represents the birth of freedom

We may be tempted to say that because things are impermanent, there is suffering. But the Buddha encouraged us to look again…. How can we transform our suffering if things are not impermanent? …. If suffer, it is not because things are impermanent. It is because you believe things are permanent. When a flower dies, you don’t suffer much because you understand that flowers are impermanent. But you cannot the impermanence of your beloved one, and you suffer deeply when she passes away. If you look deeply into impermanence, you will do your best to make her happy right now.

When we take a step on the green earth, we are aware that we are made of air, sunshine, minerals and water, that we are a child of earth and sky, linked to all other beings, both animate and inanimate. This is the practice of non-self.” [Cultivating the Mind of Love, 51-3]

"We should not think that letting go means letting go of everything. We do not let go of reality. We let go of all our wrong perceptions about reality. If we cannot let go our our wrong ideas, we cannot enter the world of reality." [Breath! You are Alive, 2ndedition, page 74.]

__________________________________

Enjoy a Day of MindfulnessWith Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday

Removing Obstacles to our Happiness

Saturday, April 16th, 2011, 10:00am to 4:00pm

Waterbury, CT.

St. Margaret’s HallChase Collegiate School565 Chase ParkwayWaterbury, CT 06708 Please go to http://www.chasecollegiate.org/For directions* Please park in lower school parking Lot- Please proceed to Middle School-Bldg. 1 onmap

“The amount of happiness that you have depends on the amount offreedom that you have in your heart.” [Thich Nhat Hanh from Taming the Tiger Within. ]

Joanne Friday is a Dharma teacher in the tradition of venerable Thich Nhat Hanh She is an insightful worker for peace. In the Buddhist tradition we practiceDana - financial support - to show our gratitude.

♦ The day will include sitting meditation, walking meditation, a dharma talk, discussion,and questions and answers.♦ Chairs will be provided. You are welcome to bring pillows or benches for sittingmeditation.♦We will provide tea, snacks and a vegetarian lunch.

Questions: Contact Judith at 203.264.7807 Judithestevens@Charter.net orCelia Landman at 203.525.8527, CMLLLC@Yahoo.com(Please do not contact Chase Collegiate School) Please send this form and $20.00 check by April 10th payable to Judith Stevens Please mail to D. Petrochka, 370 Quaker Farms Rd. Oxford, CT 06478Name:_________________________Email:_________________________________Street:_______________________ Phone:________________________________City/ST/Zip:_________________________FoodAllergies_______________ Volunteers Needed - Check Here if you are willing to help ___

2011-03-20T16:23:00.000-07:00

Lamp Transmission!

2011 Feb 21-Lamp transmission -Plum Village

In our tradition the Great Ordination Ceremonies

begin after the annual winter retreat.

This year is particularly auspicious for those of us in the Northeast because Four long-time OI members and Sangha builders have been invited to receive Lamp at Plum Village for ordination as teachers. This includes Green Island Sangha'sJeanne Marie Anselmo, Rock Blossom Sangha's Dennis Bohn and Riverside Sangha's Marjorie Markus and David Flint.

Thay offering Incense with the High venerables

Elder nuns paying respect to the Buddha and the ancestors

Chân Tuệ Quán

True insight looking

Marjorie Markus

Quản đại trí tuệ quán Hạnh nguyện Quan Âm xưa Hiểu thương là sự nghiệp Thành tựu pháp chân thừa.

Chân Bản Thiện

True Good Nature

David Flint Đường về thấy lại bản nguyên Bàn tay thiện hữu trợ duyên vững bền Tăng thân tìm lối đi lên Nguyện xưa ân trả nghĩa đền đẹp sao

Chân An Sơn

True mountain of peace

(Dennis Bohn)

Năm tháng an cư trên đất Tịnh Ngắm nhìn sơn thủy cảnh thần tiên Nắng xuân về lại trên quê cũ Hạt giống đầy gieo thửa phước điền.

Months and years residing in the Pure Land Observing and enjoying the heavenly scenery of Mountains and rivers The Spring sunshine has come back to the old path The Seeds has been fully sown all over the fertile land

Chân Bảo Thủ

Jeanne Marie Anselmo

Tam Bảo nương về mỗi bước chân An ban thủ hộ cả thân tâm Chùa xưa trên đỉnh non mây trắng Trăng sáng hiên ngoài hiện pháp thân.

8 new Dharma teachers: Sr Thang Nghiem, Marjorie Marcus,Phap Tap,David Flint, Dennis Bohn,GlenSchneider, Br Phap Vu, Jeanne Anselmo

Day of Mindfulness March 19, 2011 at Riverside Church

2011-03-10T05:29:00.000-08:00

RIVERSIDE SANGHA

DAY OF MINDFULNESS

SAT, MARCH 19, 2011

10:00am-4:00 PM

HEALING THE PAST IN THE PRESENT

Our past is with us, but it need not limit us. Thich Nhat Hanh offers us a generous range of techniques with which to re-frame our actions to live joyfully in the present.

Please join us for a day of healing, using silent, guided and walking meditations, relevant readings, Touching the Earth, deep conscious sharing and journaling–all designed to help us look at our past with compassion and new eyes of understanding.

We will also have a potluck vegetarian lunch. Bring something for yourself, and, if you like, something to share. To support your healing, you might want to bring a food which has strong associations with your past–a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? green jello with marsh mellows? Oreo cookies?

Facilitated by David Ostwald and Birgitte Moyer-Vinding.

Chairs and cushions available. Please do not wear fragrances.

In room 8-T, Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd Street, one block west of Broadway in Manhattan.

Dharma Teacher Cheri Maples leads January 22nd Day of Mindfulness

2011-01-02T10:02:00.000-08:00

Our Meditation Practice

A Day of Mindfulness with Cheri Maples
Saturday January 22, 2011 9:45AM - 4PM
Veatch House Ballroom
Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock
48 Shelter Rock Road, Manhasset, NY 11030
For Travel Directions and Train Pickup please see below
Free Will Donation (Generosity Practice/Dana) to the Teacher

Cheri Maples is a dharma teacher in the lineage of Thich Nhat Hanh, keynote speaker, and organizational consultant and trainer. For 25 years she worked in the criminal justice system as an Assistant Attorney General in the Wisconsin Department of Justice, head of Probation and Parole for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and as a police officer with the City of Madison Police Department, earning the rank of Captain of Personnel and Training.
She has also worked as a lawyer and social worker. She has experience in conflict resolution working with strong emotions, and promoting restorative justice. Many know Cheri from Thay's retreat which focused on the criminal justice system and was the basis for his book Keeping the Peace.
For more information see www.mindfulnessandjustice.org.
If you plan to attend, please RSVP to grnislandsangha@gmail.com
BYO Veggie Lunch - Please bring a vegetarian lunch. Tea and hot water will be available.
BYO Cushion - Please bring cushions if you'd like; chairs will be available.
For directions to UUC at Shelter Rock please see their website - http://www.uucsr.org/find.asp.
We will be meeting in the Veatch House Ballroom.
Easy Parking - After entering the driveway from Shelter Rock Road, take the first right turn and follow the signs to the Veatch House Parking.
For wheelchair access follow signs for Administration and Delivery for Veatch House, park in the courtyard, enter the building and take the elevator to first floor to the Ballroom.
Long Island Rail Road Service:
The 8:19AM train from Penn Station arrives in Manhasset at 8:58. If you would like to be picked up at the Manhasset station, please send an email to grnislandsangha@gmail.com.
In case of snow, please check our website for updates - http://greenislandsangha.blogspot.com/
Cheri's visit is co sponsored by your local Sanghas:
Green Island Sangha [Long Island]
Quiet Harbor Sangha [Westchester]
Riverside Sangha [Manhattan]
Rock Blossom Sangha [Brooklyn]
Morning Star Sangha [Queens]

Many bodies...One Heart: A Day of Mindfulness January 15 at Riverside Church, 10:00am-4pm, Room 8-T

Dear Friends,

Our monthly Day of Mindfulness is this Saturday January 15.*** We are very happy that Dennis Bohn, Jeanne Anselmo, Marjorie Markus and David Flint [me] will co-facilitate. All four have practiced in Sangha for many years [15-20] in our Sanghas. And, as some have heard, all four have been invited to Plum Village in February to be ordained as 'Dharma Teachers [or Dharmacaryas] by Thich Nhat Hanh, in the Lamp Transmission ceremony.

This Invitation has been extended to the four of us . We are asked to be a 'Sangha Body' and not just four individuals.

Our Senior Dharma Teacher Ahn- Huong has shared with us:

"Please do not think that the title Dharma Teacher will put you in a different position in your Sangha. It only helps you to become a truer brother or sister of your Sangha....you have an opportunity to feel more safe and more relaxed because you are now truer to yourself and to your community."

Our Day together is an opportunity for all of us to be truer to ourselves and a help and support to each other.

At Riverside Church, Room 8-T, 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd street, one block west of Broadway. Chairs and Cushions Available. Bring a vegetarian lunch-lunch is around 1-2pm. Please do not wear fragrances. Everyone welcome.

Take care,David Flint, Jeanne Anselmo, Dennis Bohn, Marjorie Markus

December 18: 2 Days of Mindfulness: Manhattan and Brooklyn

2010-12-02T21:25:00.000-08:00

The Community of Mindfulness New York Metro

inspired by the teachings and practice of Thich Nhat Hanh

www.communityofmindfulnessnewyorkmetro.blogspot.com

18 D e c e m b e r 2 010

D a y O f M i n d f u l n e s s

"The Gift of Peace"

Give yourself a gift this holiday season, and join us for a Day of Mindfulness on Saturday, December 18. In this very busy and sometimes challenging time of year, we are reminded that when we practice love and compassion for ourselves, we generate peace in ourselves. When we are peaceful, we are able to offer the gift of peace to others.

Together we will hear a beautiful Dharma talk by our teacher, Thay, and practice sitting and walking meditation, mindful eating, deep relaxation, and compassionate listening. Going mindfully as a Sangha, we will nourish and support one another on the path of peace.

PROGRAM

10:00 welcome remarks

10:05 sitting meditation

10:30 indoor walking meditation

10:45 Thay's Dharma talk

11:50 sitting meditation

12:20 mindful movement

12:30 mindful lunch

1:15 walking meditation

2:00 total relaxation

2:50 tea ceremony

3:45 Dharma sharing

4:30 closing

We will enjoy

NOBLE SILENCE

for the entire day unless otherwise instructed

Chairs and cushions available. Bring a vegetarian lunch. Please do not wear fragrances. Beginners Welcome.

At Riverside Church, room 8-T, 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd Street, one block west of Broadway.

Facilitated by Nina Teng and Anne Woods. Nina practices with the Morningstar, Riverside and Green Island Sanghas. Anne practices with the Quiet Harbor Sangha and is currently spending two weeks at Blue Cliff Monastery.

email to cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive announcements.

Rock Blossom Sangha invites you to a Day of Mindfulness on Saturday, December 18 from 10am-4pm at Dance Theatre Etcetera (480 Van Brunt Street) in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

While some details are still being worked out, the day will likely include sitting and walking meditation, readings from Thay and outside the tradition, dharma sharing, deep relaxation, mindful movements or light yoga, some songs, and more. We ask that everyone bring a veggie lunch and please refrain from wearing strong fragrances.

Practitioners from all area Sanghas are welcome. Please RSVP to Joey at joeyschmit34@gmail.com

Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

A bow,
Joey

Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday leads Nov 20 Day of Mindfulness

2010-10-18T10:51:00.000-07:00

Community of Mindfulness New York /Metro

Inspired by the Teachings and Practice of Thich Nhat Hanh

Invites you to practice at a Day of Mindfulness facilitated by our dear friend and Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday, on Saturday, November 20, 2010, 10am to 4:30 (Please Arrive by 9:45). At The Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue, 8-T (Between 120-122nd Sts, one block W of Broadway

Joanne Friday, leads retreats and workshops throughout New England. She received the Dharmacharya Lamp Transmission from her teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh in 2003.

Joanne considers the transmission of the dharma to be the most wonderful gift she has received and her greatest joy is passing passing it on. It will be our joy to receive it on this day with her beautiful presence and deep practice.

Joanne welcomes emails with our questions about practice so that she may address what is in to our hearts. email to : Itsfriday@aol.com

Donation and Dana Appreciated.

Please bring a veggie bag lunch and a cushion if convenient.

We will enjoy a Dharma Talk, sitting and walking meditation, Dharma sharing, and have time for questions and responses about our practice .

Please RSVP to DavidRflint@gmail.com This helps us to arrange the space...and if you would like to help set up, please let david know .

email cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive announcements

Oct 16 Day of Mindfulness is part of Meditate NYC at Judson Memorial Church

2010-10-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

Our October 16th Day of Mindfulness Will NOT be at the
Riverside Church (*this month only)***
***
We will all be Co-
Creating This Day of Mindfulness
as our Community Supports *"Meditate NYC"*, October 16th, 12- 4 pm
at the Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Sq South Please see
www.MeditateNYC.org for more information.

We will be welcoming Monks and Nuns from Blue Cliff Monastery who will be
among the many presenters at this event.
There may also be an opportunity for outdoor walking meditation in
Wahington Square Park with our monastic brothers and sisters.
Please bring a bag veggie lunch with something extra to share with our
monastic friends.

Mindful service: We need volunteers to sit at a Sangha information table
in shifts. Please let me know your availability from 12-1: 1-2: 2-3:
or 3-4. Also we need 2 volunteers to help at the entrance & be
available for most of the day. If you can volunteer for anyof the above
please respond to this email marjorieM4@juno.com

This will be an opportunity to practice :

Mindful speech and deep listening to those who stop by our table.
Mindful Walking: Either formal walking meditation and/or being aware of
our walking throughout our time at the Judson.
This will help benefit all of us at the event.
Mindful Eating: This may happen with friends in the park.
Mindful Sitting Meditation: There will be many diverse opportunities to
do sitting meditation throughout the day.
Deep Relaxation: We can explore our own way to do this
Mindful Transitions: Maintaining our awareness when going from one
activity to the next.

We can come for the amount of time we are able, but we hope that many of us can enjoy the whole day together at this unique Day of

Mindfulness, as we serve, meditate and just be. Often folks ponder at

the end of a retreat, " This has been so beneficial but how do i maintain this mindful state when i get home? " With the support of Sangha we can practice together , on Oct 16th, crossing the bridge from formal settings to every day life. Oh Yes, please remember to bring your Beginner's Mind!

*MeditateNYC is sponsored by the Buddhist Council of NYC, of which CMNY

is a member. Many Buddhist Sanghas participate and other meditative

practices will also be represented." more info at:www.MeditateNYC.org

*We will resume our Days of Mindfulness at The Riverside Church on
November 20th. We are grateful that our dear friend and Dharma Teacher
Joanne Friday has generously accepted our invitation to facilitate that
day...so mark your calander! ... more info will follow.

Voluntary Simplicity Discussion Group: begins Oct 20

2010-10-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

Sangha member Lily Zwyns is offering a *Voluntary Simplicity *discussion
group, which is described below.

Lily Zwyns invites you to a free biweekly (for 3
months only) discussion group on Voluntary Simplicity. *
*The Voluntary Simplicity group is a way to practice Thich Nhat Hanh's mindfulness trainings on leading a simple, happy life & mindful consumption.
* *Change can happen one conversation at a time!*

*We will meet at Rutgers Church, 236 W. 73rd St.(w. of B'way), Manhattan, starting Wednesday, Oct. 20, 7 - 8:45 p.m. *The meeting will be in Rm.
202

The group will meet 2 Wednesdays each month through Jan.
5, 2011, 7 - 8:45 p.m [Nov. 3 & 17 & Dec. 1 & 15.] We will use varied
readings compiled by the Northwest Earth Institute. The optional book fee
is $20.

Members will rotate roles of facilitating & convening. If the group wishes, we can structure the gathering differently to focus on the particular needs of the group.

Lily Zwyns, convener, 212-362-7991 or zwyns@yahoo.com, is a member of the Order of Interbeing & a facilitator of the weekly Thursday 12:30 p.m.
mindfulness & meditation group also at Rutgers Church. Lily practices in Thich Nhat Hanh's tradition at Riverside & Morning Star sanghas.

Some of the likely topics are: the Practice of Simplicity, Living More with Less, Your Money or your Life, Do you Have the Time?, How Much is Enough?, Swimming against the Tide

To register: Contact Diane Nicole at diane@rutgerschurch.com or
212-877-2761.

Contact Lily, 212-362-7991 or zwyns@yahoo.com if you have questions.
Smiles to all for practicing mindfulness together.

Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday leads November 20 Day of Mindfulness

2010-10-11T11:14:00.000-07:00

Joanne Friday will lead our November 20, 2010 Day of Mindfulness at Riverside Church. More information after October 16.

At 91 Claremont Avenue, 10-4:30pm.

September 18 Day of Mindfulness

2010-09-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

The Five Remembrances:

A Day of Mindfulness September 18, at Riverside Church

91 Claremont Avenue, Room 8-T

10—4:30pm

"I am of the nature to grow old.

There is no way to escape growing old.

I am of the nature to have ill-health

There is no way to escape having ill-health.

I am of the nature to die.

There is no way to escape death.

All that is dear to me and everyone that I love is of the nature to change

There is no way to escape being separated from them.

I inherit the results of my actions of body, speech and mind.

My actions are my continuation."

[From Plum Village Chanting Book, page 52.]

The Five Remembrances will be the focus of our mindfulness meditation practice on this day. Thich Nhat Hanh says: “In principle, we all know that we cannot avoid growing old, falling sick, dying, and being separated from these we love, but we do not want to give our attention these things. We do not want to be in touch with the anxiety and the fear….The Buddha himself taught the exercise and advised his followers to practice it every day….When we begin to practice conscious breathing, mindfulness is lit up within us. In that gentle light, if we simply acknowledge the presence of our fears and smile to them as we would smile to an old friend, quite naturally they will lose some of their energy.”

[Blooming of the Lotus, pages 67-9.]

Looking deeply into the Five Remembrances can also heighten our motivation to practice and “helps us to live the present moment in a joyous, calm, and awakened way.” [Page 69, Blooming of the Lotus.]

Our Day includes Sitting and Walking Meditation; mindful movements; Dharma Sharing; a Thich Nhat Hanh Dharma Talk; mindful eating; a Total Relaxation meditation after lunch and more.

Nina Teng and David Flint will facilitate the Day. Chairs and cushions available. We lunch together around 1-2:15. Bring a vegetarian lunch. Beginners welcome.

At Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue, room 8-T, between 120-122^nd Street, one block west of Broadway.

_______________________

Lessons in Emptiness

Formerly glowing cheeks and pink lips,

today cold ashes and white bones.

Position, renown though unsurpassed,

they are but part of a long dream,

However rich and noble you are,

You are no less impermanent.

Jealousy, pride, and self-clinging,

But self is always empty.

Great strength, ability, and success,

but in them is no final truth.

Since the four elements come apart,

Why discriminate old from young?

Crevices erode even mountains,

More quickly the hero is dead.

Black hair has hardly grown on our head,

When suddenly it has turned white.

Our well-wisher has just departed,

A mourner arrives on our death.

This six-foot skeleton of dry bones—

With what effort it seeks riches.

This wrapping of skin containing blood

Suffers year after year just because o attachment.

[From Breathe! You are Alive, page 71.]

email to cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive email announcements.

Day of Mindfulness Aug 21,2010, 10-4:30pm, at Riverside Church

2010-08-15T13:14:00.000-07:00

Community of Mindfulness New York Metro

Inspired by the Teaching and Practice of Thich Nhat Hanh

email to cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive announcements

Dear Friends,

This Saturday August 21 we will have our Day of Mindfulness, 10-4:30pm at Riverside Church, room 8-T.

During our Day together we will focus on Mindfulness of the Body: cultivating relaxation, ease and joy in the body; developing concentration; and practicing guided meditations looking into the interbeing and impermanent nature of the body.

We will practice mindful movements: the ten mindful movements in our tradition, walking meditation and other mindful movements that promote ease and well-being. These practices can also nourish our sitting meditation.

Several teachings from the Buddha and Thay on mindfulness of the body are below.

The Day begins at 10am and continues until 4:30. We eat together from 1-2pm: bring a vegetarian lunch. Our practice of slow and mindful eating-in silence-can be very enjoyable and powerful.

Everyone is welcome. Chairs and cushions available. Please do not wear fragrances. Come for all or part of the Day.

This Saturday David Flint will facilitate the Day.

At Riverside Church, room 8-T, 91 Claremont Avenue in Manhattan.

_______________________________________________________

Mindfulness of the Body

"I tell you, friend, that it isn't possible by traveling to know or see or reach a far end of the cosmos where one doesn't take birth, age, die, pass away, or reappear. But at the same time, I tell you that there is no making an end of suffering & stress without reaching the end of the cosmos. Yet it is just within this fathom-long body, with its perception & intellect, that I declare that there is the cosmos, the origination of the cosmos, the cessation of the cosmos, and the path of practice leading to the cessation of the cosmos."

[From 'Body Contemplation: A Study Guide, Section 1, Ed. Thanissaro Bhikkhu, at www.accesstoinsight.org]

_________________________________________________

"Further Bhikkus [Monks], a practitioner is aware of body as body, when, thanks to having put aside the Five Desires, a feeling of bliss arises during his concentration and saturates every part of his body....a practitioner who is aware of body as body, feels the joy which arises during concentration saturate every part of his body.' [Transformation and Healing, p. 64-65.]

_____________________________

"We recognize the presence of our body and return home to be one with it....If we do not come back to our home and care for it, who will? When we come home to it, our body breaths a sigh of relief and says "she has come back at last!....

The hairs on your head may seem ordinary, but each hair is an ambassador of truth. Please receive the credentials of your hair.

[From Breath! You are Alive, pages 45, 47-8, 1996]

Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday Sunday July 25 at Rock Blossom Sangha

2010-07-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

Sunday July 25, 3-8:00pm Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday will lead an afternoon and evening gathering at the Rock BlossomSangha.

There will be sitting meditation, walking meditation, a Dharma talk, and other practices. We will begin at 3:00 PM promptly; people are encouraged to arrive by 2:45 so that we may make the most of our time with our teacher. At approximately 5:30 we will enjoy a mindful meal together, so please bring a vegetarian meal or snack.

If unable to be present for the afternoon, you are also welcome to join us at 6:30, which is our normal gathering time.

Please email Dennis, dbohn@pipeline.com if you have a question you would like Joann to address. Dennis will pass it on to Joanne.

Address: Church of Gethsemane, 1012 8th Avenue, Brooklyn [basement entrance]. F train to 7th Avenue or 2 or 3 trains to Grand Army Plaza and walk South on 8th Avenue for about 15 minutes.

email cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive email announcements.

Day of Mindfulness July 17, 2010

2010-07-05T16:37:00.000-07:00

Day of Mindfulness July 17, 10-4:30pm, at Riverside Church, room 8-T

Cultivating a spirit of "aimlessness*" in our practice will be the theme of this Day, facilitated by Walter and Tasha of the Morningstar Sangha [Queens].** The Day includes sitting and walking meditation, eating together in mindfulness, readings, Dharma Sharing practice, singing and more-all rooted in the practice of awareness of breathing. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Lunch is around 1-2:15: bring your own vegetarian food. Cushions and chairs available. Please do not wear fragrances.

_____________________________

*For more on aimlessness see: Chapter 19 in The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings; Chapter 9 in Cultivating the Mind of Love and Nothing to Do, Nowhere to Go.

At Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue, one block west of Broadway, between 120-122nd St.

May 15 Day of Mindfulness

2010-05-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,
Ishmael Wallace will lead the May 15 Day of Mindfulness at Riverside Church. The Day includes sitting and walking meditation, eating together in mindfulness; deep listening and mindful speaking; singing and more.

The theme for the Day is "Breaking free from society's molds" and Ishmael will share readings from Thich Nhat Hanh's book 'Fragrant Palm Leaves.' [Fragrant Palm Leaves is a book of selections from Thay's diaries.]

Bring a vegetarian lunch [lunch is around 1-2:15pm]. Chairs and cushions available. Beginners welcome. Please do not wear fragrances.

AT Riverside Church, 91, room 8-T, 91 Claremont Avenue, one block west of Broadway, between 120-122nd Street.
10-4:30pm.

2010-05-09T12:10:00.000-07:00

The Soul of the Practice :
Peace, Compassion and Understanding
Urban Retreat for People of Color
with the monastic community of Blue Cliff Monastery, Pine Bush, NY

“We are not noble by our race,
but by our way of thinking, acting and speaking.
Nobility comes from our thoughts
that have understanding and compassion.
We are noble by our way of life.”
- Thich Nhat Hanh, speaking on the Four Noble Truths during the Colors of
Compassion Retreat, Deer Park Monastery, Escondido, CA, March 27, 2004

22 M A Y 2010 PROGRAM
At New York Insight Meditation Center
9:00 ‐ 10:00 registration
10:00 ‐ 10:15 welcome remarks
10:15 ‐ 10:45 guided sitting meditation
10:45 ‐ 11:00 mindful movements
11:00 ‐ 11:45 Dharma talk by Blue Cliff Monastery monastic member
12:00 ‐ 12:45 outdoor walking meditation
1:00 ‐ 1:30 mindful lunch
1:45 ‐ 2:30 guided deep relaxation
2:30 ‐ 3:30 Q and A
3:30 ‐ 4:15 Dharma sharing circle
4:15 ‐ 4:30 closing remarks
RSVP to Nina at ncteng@gmail.com
Participants are encouraged to bring their own vegetarian lunch. The suggested donation for the day is $15.

Dana/generosity for the monastic community will also be welcome and appreciated.

[For more information see below]

This People of Color retreat, in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, is the first one in New York City. It is for people of Native‐American, African, Latino/a, Asian/Pacific Islander, Caribbean and Middle Eastern ancestry. The retreat offers an opportunity in the midst of an urban setting to practice and enjoy the art of mindfulness and peaceful living. We will learn to recognize and embrace our pain in transformative ways, find peace within ourselves, and foster stronger sisterhood and brotherhood in our communities.

We will also learn to stop, rest, and touch the source of wisdom, compassion and healing within ourselves, so that we can renew our relationships and bring peace and understanding to our world. Through the practice of mindfulness, we can nourish happiness, gratitude, good communication and

serenity in ourselves and others.

There will be sitting, walking, eating meditations, mindful movement,

mindful group discussion, deep relaxation, and a dharma talk by a monastic member of Blue Cliff Monastery.

Some questions that we will explore:

• How can we cultivate a centered life in an urban environment?

• How can we, as People of Color, live with faith, joy, creativity and compassion?

• How can mindfulness enhance our ability to relate to others?

Day of MIndfulness April 17, 2010

2010-04-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

Offering Joy each morning, Relieving pain each Afternoon: A Day of Mindfulness, April 17, 10-4:30pm.

At Riverside Church, 8-T (91 Claremont Avenue)

Thay's Year of the Tiger gatha 'Offering Joy each morning, Relieving pain each Afternoon'* will guide our practices of Sitting and Walking Meditation today. We eat together in silence and mindfulness around 1-2:15.
Faciliated by Walter Lyons and Nina Teng.
Chairs and cushions available. Please do not wear fragrances. Everyone welcome. [Bring a vegetarian lunch.]
Join us in room 8-T at Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd St., one block west of Broadway.
*Thay=Thich Nhat Hanh.

May 22 People of Color Urban Retreat

2010-02-10T14:50:00.000-08:00

P E O P L E O F C O L O R

New York City Urban Retreat

in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

with the monastic community of Blue Cliff Monastery

Saturday 22 May 2010

9:00 am to 4:30 pm

NY Insight Meditation Center

28 West 27th Street

New York City 10001

The Soul of the Practice :

Peace, Compassion and Understanding

communities.

serenity in ourselves and others.

There will be sitting, walking, eating meditations, mindful movement,

mindful group discussion, deep relaxation, and a dharma talk by a monastic member of Blue Cliff Monastery.

Some questions that we will explore:

• How can we cultivate a centered life in an urban environment?

• How can we, as People of Color, live with faith, joy, creativity and compassion?

• How can mindfulness enhance our ability to relate to others?

Participants are encouraged to bring their own vegetarian lunch. The suggested donation for the day is $15.

Dana/generosity for the monastic community will also be welcome and appreciated.

RSVP to Nina at ncteng@gmail.com

___________________________________

New York Insight Meditation Center: http://nyimc.org/index.php/site/location/

Blue Cliff Monastery: www.bluecliffmonastery.org [Pine Bush, NY]

Deer Park Monastery: www.deerparkmonastery.org [Escondido, CA]

Thich Nhat Hanh offers Bat Nha Koan

2010-01-25T10:52:00.000-08:00

Thay [Thich Nhat Hanh] has offered a new meditation practice: the Bat Nha Koan. We are invited to look deeply into this.
http://j.mp/8WHNq2.

Day of Mindfulness March 20, 2010

2010-01-25T10:43:00.000-08:00

FLOW LIKE A RIVER:A DAY OF MINDFULNESS

Sponsored by the Community of Mindfulness New York Metro in Collaboration with Mindful Peace Building*

Saturday, March 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Riverside Church, Room 8-T 91 Claremont Avenue, NY, NY

Water flows over these hands.May I use them skillfully,To preserve our precious planet.--Thich Nhat Hanh

We will take time to put aside our daily activities, nourish ourselves, and explore bringing mindfulness and awareness of our interbeing with water into our lives. On this day, which coincides with World Water Day, we will practice sitting meditation and walking meditation by the river. We will share stories, poems and reminiscences about waters we have loved, share a vegetarian lunch, practice deep relaxation, touching the earth, and dharma sharing.

Please bring stories, poems, or reminiscences about water as well as something vegetarian for lunch and a blanket for deep relaxation. Facilitated by David Ostwald (True Path of Equanimity) and Birgitte Moyer-Vinding (True Path of Light). David and Birgitte practice with the Riverside Sangha , the Sunday Morning Sangha, which they founded in 2006, and with Lyn Fine in Berkeley, CA. Please feel free to come for all or part of the day. If you have questions, please call David or Birgitte at (212) 645-0834.
* Mindful Peace Building was founded by Dharma Teacher and CMNY co-founder Lyn Fine. For more information, see http://www.mindfulpeacebuilding.org/.

Saturday February 20: Day of Mindfulness, 10-4:30pm

Being Wonderfully Together supporting each other in our mindfulness practice. Sitting and Walking Meditation, Mindful Movements, Singing, Eating Meditation, Dharma Sharing.

At Riverside Church, Room 8-T, 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd St., one block West of Broadway.

Being on retreat is a Treat!

Email cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive announcements.

Day of Mindfulness January 16, 2010: 10-2:30pm, Community Meeting 2:45-4:30

2010-01-05T09:16:00.000-08:00

Saturday January 16: Day of Mindfulness, 10-2:30,

Day of Mindfulness and CMNY Community Meeting

This SaturdayJanuary 16, 2010

The Riverside Church, Room 8T, 91 Claremont Ave(betw. 120-121, 1 block West of Broadway)

DOM: 10 am to 2:30

Meeting: 2:45-4:30

We will Begin Anew, this 2010, by honoring our Ancestors and reconnecting with our True Selves. Please bring an ancestral photo or memento for our communal altar. Please arrive promptly to support the energy of the day.

Together we will enjoy a short ceremony that will include sitting, monastic chanting and touching the earth. Our day together will also include walking meditation, Dharma sharing and deep relaxation. Bring your own veggie bag lunch for eating meditation and please refrain from wearing fragrances.

**********************************************************************

Please RSVP for Day of Mindfulness and/ or Community Meeting, thank you,

marjoriem4@juno.com

Community Meeting:

Proposed Agenda Items [not necessarily the order of discussion]: Your ideas
Report of Networking Comittee
Report on Board of Directors of CMNY-possible new members; resignations.
Discussion about possible CMNY fund raiser for Bat Nha Monastics
Report of the response to the CMNY fund raising letter sent out last month.
Continuation of visioning/ brainstorming for CMNY

You are welcome to attend the meeting if you were unable to attend the Day of Mindfulness earlier, but please be prompt so we can begin together as one organism.

he Riverside Church, Room 8T, 91 Claremont Ave(betw. 120-121, 1 block West of Broadway)

Community Meeting Minutes of November 21, 2009

2010-01-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

Community Meeting Minutes:
The Community of Mindfulness/ NY Metro (CMNY)
November 21, 2009
Facilitator: Karen
Note Taker: Bernadette ( Bernadette, Karen, Marjorie and David coordinated this final version)

Participants: there were 14 participants, representing 8 different local Sanghas: Cedar Knoll, Joyful Sounding, Morning Star, Quiet Harbor, Quiet Mountain, Riverside, Rock Blossom and Rutgers.

Agenda:
Review of Community of Mindfulness/ New York Metro (CMNY) and January Elections (David)

Report from Networking Group (Bernadette)

Treasury Report and Financial Aspect of Events ( Marjorie)

Sharing

Closing

Discussion and Proposals:

Review of CMNY and January Elections ( David)

In the 1990's, a Sangha had been practicing regularly under the leadership and guidance of Lynn Fine, who now lives in California and is a Dharma teacher. Around 1996, there came a need to establish a decision making process to help the Sangha make decisions about activities, such as how organize a retreat, how to offer scholarship money, where and how much we should donate.

From these meetings, the process of "Deciding to Decide" evolved. This is a decision making process based consensus and is informed by the practice of the Mindfulness Trainings. Many of those involved in these early meetings continue to practice and use "Deciding to Decide" with their current local Sanghas. ( You can read this document which is copied at the end of these minutes.)

The experience the Sangha had in establishing these guidelines led to discussions about the Sangha becoming incorporated as a non-profit 501c corporation. The Sangha worked together and we became incorporated in 1999. This required the establishment of bylaws, a board with elected officers carrying specific responsibilities, and other procedural requirements necessary to be non-profit 501c3 in NYS. This was all accomplished and is an expression of the Mindfulness Trainings within our organization.

The CMNY, Inc. is not responsible for directing the various Sangha Groups/meetings. It is presently responsible for the monthly Days of Mindfulness at The Riverside Church; represents our Practice/Sangha on the Buddhist Council of New York and coordinates participation at the Meditate NYC yearly event and maintains 2 CMNY websites. It has in the past raised money for a public school charity and for scholarships to Sangha retreats for practitioners. CMNY has also been a vehicle for working with our monastics at Blue Cliff and with Thay's tours, retreats (example. Sangha Building Table participation), etc.

The 501c3 status has been maintained over the years. David Flint can provide anyone with a copy of the bylaws or other information about the Community of Mindfulness/ NYMetro as a 501c3.

Over the years energy and interest in the CMNY non-profit corporation did diminish, although energy for practice in our Sangha meetings expanded and blossomed. Now with the presence of Blue Cliff, and Thay's events at the Beacon and the recent retreats, there has been renewed energy and "more interest in connecting to each other". Therefore, discussion about CMNY is experiencing renewed interest. There have been 3 community meetings this year and the next meeting is scheduled for January 16, 2010 at 2:45 pm, at the Riverside Church following a shortened Day of Mindfulness.
***

Report on the Networking Group( Bernadette)

The Networking group is a discussion forum via conference phone, open to anyone who wishes to participate to discuss how our Sanghas can share and communicate. There have been three conference calls. The phone call happens just like a dharma discussion drawing on Dharma discussion guidelines. The benefit of conference call is the ease: you don't have to travel anywhere and members from different Sangha's can communicate. Participants on one call were from Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan and Westchester. Discussion is open, and we practice mindful speech. This is a forum to share ideas about inter Sangha communication, as we foster communication between us in the process. Ideas that have been shared include Facebook, a newsletter, the role of Blue Cliff in relation to Sanghas. The next call is scheduled for Jan 11, 2010 at 8:30 pm. All are welcome to join in! Just make this free call: 218-862-6420 and then enter code 786-789 when prompted.

***
Treasury Report and Financial Aspect of Events (Marjorie)

Beacon Events

Total cost to the CMNY for the Beacon Events was $1309.( Boxed lunches for 70 monastics; gatha cards; food for monastics where they were lodged, ribbons to support monastics of Bat Nha on walking meditation with Thay, transportation and printing costs).
Of these costs $660 have been generously donated. Of the remaining $649, CMNY has already paid out $143. There remains $506 to be reimbursed.

"Meditate NY", (November 8, 2009 )
Total Costs: $148. CMNY sent a $100 contribution to Blue Cliff Monastery to express our gratitude and to help pay the travel expenses for the monastics who participated in the "Meditate NY” event. Misc expenses, paid out $28. $20 of this was generously donated.

Current Treasury has $500.

Proposal: Marjorie proposed sending an e-mail for Fundraising to pay outstanding bills and to create a cushion for future expenses. All agreed and there was no opposition to the proposal. Karen and Ken offered to assist Marjorie in creating the Fund Raising e-mail.

***
Sharing:

There was a go-round of questions: confusion about CMNY's relation to local Sanghas, a question about the organization's purpose; need to reflect on the monastics and their position since they are "living and breathing" the teachings and practice; question of how or does the structure serve the community; Decision by Consensus and Deciding to Decide seem to be very deep practices and valuable; what are ways we can explore going deeper into these various questions; what kind of being together do we want. If we weren't making the effort, these gatherings and this discussion would not be happening.

***
Closing:

Karen suggested that when questions and comments were made re central and/or decentralized structure , that we " hold this in a larger context where both can be possible and of value - rather than thinking it had to be one or the other". She encouraged us to "continue to move in the direction that draws you"
***

Next Meeting: January 16 at The Riverside Church, 2:45-4:30 pm; following the Day of Mindfulness( 10am-2:30 pm).

Respectfully submitted by,
Bernadette, with editing and the Sangha eyes of David, Karen and Marjorie

************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Decision Making “Deciding To Decide”

Introductory Awareness

1. We consider ourselves part of an international Sangha inspired by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. All decisions will be made in the sprit of the Charter of the Order of Interbeing.

2. In our proposals for process and structure in the Community of Mindfulness/NY Metro, we consistently return to the spirit of the teachings:
Part of the process of decision-making involves letting go of attachment and preferences.

The process of how we respond when we feel that a decision didn’t go “our way" and our relationship to the mental formations arising from such situations is precisely one of the points of our sangha practice together.

The spirit of Beginning Anew be built into the planning meeting process as part of the culture, for example, at the end of each planning meeting, we give time for “flower-watering.”

A short quote from Thich Nhat Hanh or “Evoking the Bodhisattvas’ Names” may be read at the beginning of each planning meeting to set the tone.

3. Everyone attending planning meetings will be provided with a short working definition of consensus.

Process

Given that a range of disagreement is possible in the consensus model: a) an individual or individuals may express disagreement with a proposal and then stand aside so that the rest of the group may move ahead; b) an individual or individuals may wish to be noted in the minutes as disagreeing with the proposal, and then stand aside so that the rest of the group may move ahead with the proposal; c) an individual or individuals may take a principled position opposed to a decision and refuse to stand aside. In this case, the group may not proceed with the matter until consensus is reached. Discussion on the issue may, and probably will, continue.

Any individual who wishes to attend a Planning Committee meeting is welcome to attend and participate. However, in order that decisions will be blocked only by people with a significant commitment to the community and by people who are well-informed about the issues under discussion, there shall be two prerequisites for a person to block a decision. The person who wishes to stand in the way of a decision must : a) have practiced for at least one year with one of the sanghas affiliated with the larger CMNY/ Metro sangha, and b) have been present at a minimum of two of the past four planning meetings.

Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday Tuesday Dec 15

2009-12-06T12:50:00.001-08:00

Tuesday December 15, 7-9pm: Our weekly Tuesday meeting will be led by Joanne Friday. Joanne received the Dharmacharya Lamp Transmission from her teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, in 2003. Joanne considers the transmission of the Dharma to be the most wonderful gift she has received and her greatest joy is passing passing it on.

We will enjoy sitting together and have the opportunity to ask questions about our practice/life.

At Riverside Church, Assembly Hall [A level], 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd St.

_________________________

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December 19 Day of Mindfulness

2009-12-06T12:40:00.000-08:00

December 19: Day of Mindfulness at Riverside Church, Room 8-T

10am-4:30pm

We will celebrate Winter Solstice and Christmas with Thay's dharma talk on "the gift of non-fear" and on "no birth, no death."

And there will be a tea ceremony. Our Tea Ceremony includes a period of silent sharing together of tea and a snack. And then anyone who wants can share a song or play a musical instrument, offer a poem, a dance, etc.

In the Tea Ceremony we enjoy being together: the combination of silence and ceremony with letting go and having fun is quite pleasing.

As always, we will develop our Mindfulness of Breathing and practice sitting and walking meditation.

Those interested in attending the Day can send their RSVP to Nina Teng, at nteng@earthlink.net and also let Nina know if you can help with the tea ceremony.

Here is the schedule of the Day [subject to change]:

10:00 welcome
10:05 sitting meditation
10:30 indoor walking meditation
10:45 Thay's dharma talk
11:50 Mindful movement
12:00 sitting meditation
12:30 mindful lunch
1:15 walking meditation
2:00 total relaxation
2:50 tea ceremony
3:45 dharma sharing
4:30 closing

RSVP to Nina Teng, at nteng@earthlink.net and also let Nina know if you can help with the tea ceremony.

Facilitated by Nina Teng and Walter Lyons. Chairs and cushions available. Bring a vegetarian lunch. Please do not wear fragrances.

At 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd Street, one block west of Broadway.

_______________

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Nov 21 Day of Mindfulness and Community Meeting

2009-11-09T06:07:00.000-08:00

Community of Mindfulness New York Metro

1/2 Day of Mindfulness

November 21, Riverside Church, 10-2:30room 10-T.

Being joyfully together sharing the practices of Sitting and walking meditation; mindful eating; dharma sharing; singing and more-all grounded in the our awareness of breathing in and breathing out.

Chairs and cushions available. Bring a vegetarian lunch. Beginners welcome.

Facilitated by David and Marjorie: davidrflint@gmail.com

Community Meeting

3-4:30pm: We continue our practice of mindfulness into a community meeting. practitioners from our different meetings will share ideas and visions for the larger community.

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Day of Mindfulness with Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday October 17

2009-09-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

Day of Mindfulness

October 17:10-4:30pm, at Riverside Church, room 10-T

Joanne Friday will lead this Day. Joanne is ordained as a Teacher by Thich Nhat Hanh and will offer a Dharma Talk, and respond to questions. And there is Sitting and walking meditation, eating mindfully, singing, and more. Bring a vegetarian lunch for yourself.

Chairs and cushions available.

At 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd Street, one block west of Broadway.

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Day of Mindfulness and Community Meeting, Sept 12 at Riverside Church

2009-08-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

Breathe Slowly, Breathe Deeply

A Day of Mindfulness September 12,

10-2:30pm

At Riverside Church, 8-T.

Facilitated by Nina Teng and Walter Lyons, of the Morningstar and Riverside Sanghas.

Followed by a Community Meeting, 3-5:00pm, same location.

At Riverside Church, 8-T, at 91 Claremont Avenue, beetween 120-122nd Street, one block west of Broadway

[Please note that this September Day of Mindfulness is on the 2nd, not the 3rd Saturday of the month.]

October 17: Day of Mindfulness with Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday

10-4:30pm

Room 10-T at Riverside Church

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Day of Mindfulness August 15, 10-4:30pm, Riverside Church

2009-08-10T03:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Our August Day of Mindfulness is Saturday August 15, 10-4:30pm, at Riverside Church, room 8-T. The Day will be led by Ishmael, of the Riverside Sangha, and Walter, who practices with the Morningstar Sangha and Riverside Sangha [Queens and Manhattan.]

There is a Day of Mindfulness this Saturday, August 15, 10-4:30pm, at Riverside Church, room 8-T. The Day will be facilitated by Ishmael Wallace and Walter Lyons. Ishmael practices with the Riverside Sangha and Walter with the Morningstar Sangha [Queens] and the Riverside Sangha.

Over and over Thay [Thich Nhat Hanh] instructs us to practice mindfulness of breathing and this will be a focus of the Day: in sitting, walking, eating, dharma sharing and so on. Sometimes we may be calming and resting in the breath; sometimes the breath is supporting us in staying present with a difficult feeling or in looking deeply. Or we may look into the impermanent and interbeing nature of the breath [and 'the breather'].

The Day includes sitting and walking meditation; eating together in mindfulness; dharma sharing; walking outside [weather permitting]; mindful movements and more.

Chairs and cushions available; bring a vegetarian lunch for yourself; please do not wear fragrances.

Beginners Welcome.

Riverside Church is between 120-122nd St. at 91 Claremont Avenue, one block west of Broadway. Contact ishmael.wallace@gmail.com with any questions.

___________________

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2 Days of Mindfulness July 18 2009

2009-07-06T16:44:00.000-07:00

Community of Mindfulness New York Metro

Inspired by the Teachings and Practice of Thich Nhat Hanh

Day of Mindfulness, Saturday July 18 10-4:30pm.

at Riverside Church, 8-T, 91 Claremont Avenue, Manhattan

The Theme for this Day of Mindfulness is integrating Mindfulness practice into every day life – focusing especially on deep listening. "We have to listen and to touch the positive things within us and around us to get nourished and to transform"--- Thich Nhat Hanh.

Facilitated by Judy Weaver and Susan Hoff who practice with Mindfulness by the Shore in Neptune, NJ.

Schedule for the Day

10 – 10:15 – arrive and welcome

10:15 – 11:00 – Sitting and walking meditation

11:15 – 12:00 – Dharma Talk by Thay (audio)

12:00 noon – 2:00pm – Dharma sharing, Walking meditation (outside if weather permits), Lunch

2:00 – 2:45 – Deep relaxation2:45 – gentle mindful movements

3:00 – 3:45 – A Sangha exercise reflecting on deep listening as a mindfulness practice.

4:00 – 4:30 – Dharma sharing and Closing

Chairs and cushions available. Please bring a vegetarian lunch. Please do not wear fragrances.

[One block west of Broadway, between 120-122nd St. 1 train to 116th St/Broadway. M104, M5 buses to 120th/Broadway or 120th Riverside Drive. Street parking usually available, or church parking lot at 120th, between Claremont/Riverside.]

_____________________________________

Day of Mindfulness with the Rock Blossom Sangha [Brooklyn]

12-6pm

Dance Theatre Etcetera

480 Van Brunt Street, Ste 203
Brooklyn, NY 11231

Dance Theatre Etcetera (DTE) is located above Fairway Market in Red Hook. Entry to DTE is on the East end of the building (Buzzer #3). For directions, visit the Fairway website at http://www.fairwaymarket.com/location_and_hours.html

A tentative outline for the day includes sitting, walking, and a guided meditatoin.

Please RSVP to Joey Schmit at mailto:jschmit%40stern.nyu.edu

______________________________________

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Thich Nhat Hanh at Beacon Theater Oct 9 and 10, 2009

2009-05-10T09:58:00.001-07:00

Thich Nhat Hanh at Beacon Theater in NYC, and USA Tour
Thich Nhat Hanh USA Tour information atwww.tnhtour.org For the October 9 talk and October 10 Day of Mindfulness, at the Beacon Theatre in Manhatan.

Thich Nhat Hanh at Beacon in NYC, and USA Tour

2009-03-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

Thich Nhat Hanh USA Tour information at www.tnhtour.org For the October 9 talk and October 10 Day of Mindfulness, at the Beacon Theatre in Manhatan,

http://www.eomega.org/omega/workshops/c79c4e846136393831fd901fcd4c52 0c/

What is Engaged Buddhism

2009-03-22T07:36:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

"What is Engaged Buddhism" is the topic of this year's Buddhist Forum, on Saturday March 28, sponsored by the Buddhist Council of New York.** There will be presenters from different Sanghas, including ours, questions and small group discussion, along with lunch. We are all invited,

The teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh will be represented by a Monastic from Blue Cliff and one of our NYC lay practitioners. We expect several or more Monks and Nuns from Blue Cliff to attend. What: Buddhist Council of New York, Annual Buddhist Forum, 2009 “What is Engaged Buddhism”

Date: Saturday, March 28th, 2009
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm (note: registration with light breakfast will begin at 9:30am and lunch will be served at 11:30am)
Location: Still Mind Zendo, 37 West 17th Street, 6th floor, New York, New York (between 5th and 6th Avenues)

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David, at davidrflint@gmail.com for more information.

Days of Mindfulness April, March 2009

2009-03-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

Day of Mindfulness April 18: Our Roots and Our Place in the World

Dear Friends,

Our April Day of Mindfulness is this Saturday, April 18, 10-4:30, in room 8-T at Riverside Church. Ishmael Wallace and Walter Lyons will facilitate. Ishmael practices with with the Riverside Sangha, and Walter with the Morningstar Sangha [Queens] and the Riverside Sangha.

The poet T. S. Elliot wrote that "April is the cruelest month, breeding/ Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing/ Memory and desire, stirring/ Dull roots with spring rain..."

The Day will include practicing the Earth Touchings* and exploring the question of 'our roots and our place in the world,' engaging with the above words of T. S. Elliot.

We will also practice Total Relaxation.

As always, and right now, conscious breathing is the heart of our practice.

Chairs and cushions available. Bring your own vegetarian lunch. Please do not wear fragrances.

At 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd Street, one block west of Broadway. Walk past security desk and go to elevators on the right. Room 8-T

Take care,

David Flint

*The Earth Touchings are found in the Plum Village Chanting Book, and in the book Touching the Earth

Day of Mindfulness Saturday March 21, 10-4:30, Riverside Church

Meditating on the changing of the seasons and the vernal equinox will be our entry into interbeing and non-duality. And we will absorb the "Dharma Rain" of a talk by Thay. So lets enjoy a Day of Mindfulness together.

The practice of Conscious Breathing and the presence of our friends on the path support each of us, and strengthen our mindfulness and concentration.

Schedule for the Day

10-10:15--arrive and settle in

10:15-11 Sitting and walking meditation

11-11:50; Dharma Talk

Noon-2pm: Walking meditation [outside if weather permits];Dharma Sharing; Lunch

2-2:30 Mindful Movements

2:30-3:15pm: Sitting and walking meditation

3:20-4pm: Singing/5 Mindfulness Trainings

4-4:30: Dharma Sharing/Close

Chairs and cushions available. Bring a vegetarian lunch. Please do not wear fragrances.

Facilitated by Nina Teng David Flint. Nina practices with the Morningstar Sangha [Queens] and Riverside Sangha [Riverside Church and Rutgers Church meetings.] David practices with the Riverside Sangha.

Room 8-T, Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue, one block west of Broadway, between 120-122nd Street.

_________________________________________________

Sunday March 22: Celebrate World Water Day: David Ostwald and Birgitte Moyer offer a mindful observation of World Water Day. 11-4:30pm, West Village apartment overlooking the Hudson.

Bring: vegetarian lunch and reflect on how water is a part of it, and was used to grow, process and prepare it. Bring your questions, concerns, information about water availability, economics, sustainability, sanitation and so on. We will do some practices incorporating these.

Schedule: 11:00-Sitting and walking meditation; 12:30-Vegetarian Pot Luck Lunch; 1:45-Water, The World and Us: 3:45-Brief Meditation; 4-Sangha Sharing; 4:30-Close.

Call 212-6450834; email dostwald.att.net for address. David and Birgitte practice with the Riverside Sangha and also in California with Dharma Teacher Lyn Fine.

Sangha Celebration of Lunar New Year

2009-01-30T18:27:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

Chinese New Year always brings back warm and joyful memories of my childhood. Celebrating Tet with the four-fold sangha at Blue Cliff Monastery this past weekend inspired me to extend the festivities in my house. [four-fold Sangha means monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen]

Please join me and my husband for a vegetarian dinner on Saturday Feb 7 from 6 to 10 pm. Please bring a beverage, a singing voice, a musical instrument, your mindful self ....... or whatever you wish to share.

Looking foward to celebrating together

In peace
Nina

RSVP
nteng@earthlink.net

Location:
Address - 3994 44th Street, Sunnyside NY 11104
Phone - 718 7865462

Subway - take the 7 train to 46th/Bliss Street. Walk towards Manhattan
(west) on the north side of Queens Boulevard. Turn right on 44th
Street and continue for 2.5 blocks (past Skillman Ave) and cross over
to the other side of the street. Our house is on the left of the first
mews/courtyard.

Bus - take the Q32 from Penn Station on 32nd St or along Madison Ave
and 59th St. Get off at the 44th St stop and cross over to the other
side of Queens Boulevard. Walk down 44th St for 2.5 blocks (past
Skillman Ave) and cross over to the other aide of the street. Our
house is on the left of the first mews/courtyard.

Day of Mindfulness March 21, 2009

2009-01-12T07:50:00.000-08:00

Community of Mindfulness New York Metro

Inspired by the Teachings and Practice of Thich Nhat Hanh

In this New Year, we will Begin Anew by engaging in stopping, resting and looking deeply. Our 'teacher' and guide will be the Full Awareness of Breathing Sutra. [Thay has said that he felt 'like the happiest person on earth' when he found this teaching.]
We will practice somewhat in the 'classical' manner, following the order of the meditations: the breath and body; feelings; mind states; impermanence and interbeing.

10am-4:30pm: lunch is around 1:15-2:15. We eat together in silence: bring a vegetarian lunch.
Cushions and chairs available.

In room 630-MLK, at Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd Street, one block west of Broadway.

Faciliated by David Flint, davidrflint@gmail.com

See the 'Ongoing Events' link for weekly meetings.

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Welcome to the Community of Mindfulness 2010

2009-01-05T22:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Community of Mindfulness New York Metro. The Community of Mindfulness/NY Metro [CMNY] is inspired by the teachings and practice of Vietnamese Zen Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh. The CMNY is part of a network of national and international sanghas [communities]: a “fourfold community” of laywomen and laymen, nuns and monks. Thich Nhat Hanh’s monastic training and retreat centers are Plum Village, France, Blue Cliff Monastery in New York [www.bluecliffmonastery.org], the Deer Park Dharma Center, Escondido, California and in Vietnam.

To practice in community is a great gift. As a community of mindfulness we support each other in cultivating mindfulness and the capacity to embody and offer love in our daily lives: for ourselves, our families, friends and co-workers, and for the well-being of our society and our planet. Our practice has included weekly and biweekly meditation groups, days of mindfulness and weekend retreats, affinity groups for people with common interests, study groups, community sings, socially engaged practice and the practice of organizing and making decisions in a mindful and harmonious way. All of our activities and gatherings are grounded in the practices of conscious breathing and silent sitting and walking meditation. Beginners are welcome.

CMNY affinity groups have included the Being with Children Group, Touching Our Root Traditions, Being With Illness and Healing, and Socially Engaged Practice. Individuals have offered mindfulness practice with women and staff of an alternative to incarceration program, at a program for people suffering from mental illness, at centers for homeless people, at workplaces, schools, at the Open Center, at Columbia University and through the arts.

See 'Ongoing Meetings' link and 'Upcoming Events' link for listing of meetings. _______________________________________

“When we are in a Sangha [community], we are like a drop of water in a river. We allow the Sangha to hold us and transport us. Don’t be like a drop of oil in the river, not mixing with the other drops of water—that way you arrive nowhere. Allow yourself to be transported by the Sangha so that your pain, sorrow, and suffering are recognized and embraced. You have to trust the Sangha. Imagine you are a drop of water that would like to go to the ocean. If you go alone, you might evaporate, but if you allow yourself to be embraced and transported by the Sangha, then you will get there. You suffer only when you are a separate drop of water. Please remember this.” [Thich Nhat Hanh in Peace Begins Here, pages 42-3]

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Thich Nhat Hanh

2008-12-15T21:43:00.000-08:00

Day of Mindfulness, Holiday Potluck on December 20

2008-12-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

Community of Mindfulness New York Metro

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Day of Mindfulness December 20
10-4:15pm
Lily Zwyns will guide us in deepening our understanding and practice of compassionate communication using the way of Non-Violent Communication [NVC]. We will begin our Day with sitting and walking meditations, and maintain our practice of breath awareness throughout the Day.

Schedule: 10am-11:10-Sitting and walking meditation
11:15-12:30 [more or less]: NVC exercises
12: 40-1:15-Walking outside, or walking and sitting inside, depending on weather.
1:20-2:30: Lunch/Rest
2:30-4:15: Mindful Movements [Lily Z];

Five MindfulnessTrainings/Dharma Sharing/Close

The room gets cold: dress in layers so you can be comfortable.

Chairs and cushions available. Bring a vegetarian lunch. Please do not wear fragrances.

In room 630-MLK, at Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd St., one block west of Broadway. Led by Lily Zwyns and David Flint.

Saturday December 20th we will have a Sangha Holiday Potluck with lots of singing and hanging out and the occasional bell ringing and quiet moments too. Bring yourself and bring bells, a musical instrument, and vegetarian food/non-alcoholic drinks to share--most important is your presence.
Time: 6-10pm

Location: Home of Marleenee Tamarong, 230 Riverside Drive, 3-M [95th Street at Riverside Drive, 1,2 or 3 train to 96th St./Broadway].

Take care,

David Flint

Day of Mindfulness August 16 2008

2008-08-09T06:07:00.000-07:00

August 16 is a Day of Mindfulness, at Riverside Church, room 630-MLK,10-4pm.

The Day includes sitting and walking meditation, eating together in mindfulness, Dharma sharing, reciting the Five Mindfulness Trainings, singing and more. Bring your own vegetarian lunch. Lunch is around 1:15-2:30. Chairs and cushions available.

Beginners welcome. Please do not wear fragrances. At 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd Street, one block west of Broadway.

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Breath! You are Alive. Day of Mindfulness July 19 2008

2008-07-16T05:15:00.000-07:00

Day of Mindfulness, July 19, 10-4:30

We have a Day of Mindfulness this Saturday, 10-4:30pm, at Riverside Church in Manhattan. Our practices include sitting and walking meditation, Dharma sharing, singing, mindful movements, eating together and more.

This Saturday we will be guided by Thay's book Breath! You are Alive, which presents the Full Awareness of Breathing Sutra [Anapanasati] of the Buddha. Our meditation practice will begin with a focus on stopping and calming and ease through awareness of breathing and then of the whole body. We will then look into the impermanent and interbeing nature of the body and mind. Our intention is to maintain contact with each in-breath and each out-breath.

Lunch is from 1:15-2:15-- Bring a vegetarian lunch. Chairs and cushions available. Please do not wear fragrances.

I will facilitate the Day.

At 91 Claremont Avenue, room 630-MLK, in Riverside Church. The church is one block west of Broadway between 120-122nd St. [1 train to 116 Street]. Walk past the security desk, turn left and walk across lobby and take elevator to sixth floor.

Take care,

David Flint

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Day of Mindfulness June 21, June 22 Dharma Teacher at Queens Sangha

2008-06-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

The Community of Mindfulness Inspired by the Teachings and Practice of Thich Nhat Hanh invites you to enjoy a Day of Mindfulness Solstice Saturday June 21, 2008 , at Riverside Church, 19-T. 10-4:oopm

"Solstice" is derived from two Latin words: "sol" meaning sun, and "sistere," to cause to stand still. This is because, as the summer solstice approaches, the noonday sun rises higher and higher in the sky on each successive day. On the day of the solstice, it rises an imperceptible amount, compared to the day before. In this sense, it "stands still." (googled)At this Day of Mindfulness let's stand and sit together as the sun of mindfulness rises, sharing the stillness of the moment.

Please arrive a bit before 10 am so that we may begin together enjoying sitting meditation, walking meditation- in and out doors- Five Mindfulness Trainings, mindful eating (outdoor picnic, weather permitting), deep relaxation, Dharma sharing, singing ... -

Please bring your own vegetarian bag lunch Please, refrain from wearing fragrances to protect those with environmental allergies.

___________________________________

Sunday, June 22nd, 4:30-6:30

Our good Friend and Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday will join the Morning Star Sangha (Sunnyside, Queens Sangha Meeting) this Sunday, June 22, 4:30-6:30pm. Please arrive on time, between 4:15-4:25. [Address is below]

There may be time to 'hang out' and socialize after the meeting too.

Joanne offers a strong and joyful presence, love of sharing Thay's teachings and direct guidance in how to apply the practice to our lives.

She will also address some sangha questions around the 'aspirant mentoring process' and what it means to be a member of the Order of Interbeing. [The 'brown jackets' at retreats are lay members of the Order of Interbeing.] Please join us for this special event.

At Walter's home: 48-19 44th Street, Queens, second floor

From Manhattan: Please take the #7 train to the 46th/bliss stop. Exit the station on the west stairway {stairway closest to Manhattan}. Walk two blocks west {toward Manhattan} on Queens Blvd.

You will come to 44th st. Turn LEFT {south} onto 44TH ST and continue for two blocks. After 1 block you will come to a 6 way intersection of Greenpoint Avenue, 47th Avenue and 44th St. After 2 blocks you will arrive at 48th avenue. On the southeast corner of 48th avenue you will see a small church. Continue past the church on 44th st. 48-19 will be the second house on the left after the church. Please press the top doorbell for the 2nd floor apartment

"The Path of Practice," and Sitting and Walking Meditation

2008-05-06T05:28:00.000-07:00

The Path of Practice by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Meditating on the nature of interdependence
Can transform delusion into enlightenment.
Samsara and suchness are not two.
They are one and the same.

Even while blooming, the flower is already in the compost,
And the compost is already in the flower.
Flower and compost are not two.
Delusion and enlightenment inter-are.

Don't run away from birth and death.
Just look deeply into your mental formations.
When the true nature of interdependence is seen,
The truth of interbeing is realized.

Practice conscious breathing
To Water the seeds of Awakening.
Right view is a flower
Blooming in the field of mind consciousness.

When sunlight shines,
It helps all vegetation grow.
When mindfulness shines,
It transforms all mental formations

We recognize internal knots and latent tendencies
So we can transform them.
When our habit energies dissipate,
Transformation at the base is there.

The present moment Contains past and future.
The secret of transformation Is in the way we handle this very moment.
Transformation takes place In our daily life.
To make the work of transformation easy, Practice with a Sangha

Nothing is born, nothing dies.
Nothing to hold onto, nothing to release.
Samsara is nirvana. There is nothing to attain.

When we realize that afflictions are no other than enlightenment,
We can ride the waves of birth and death in peace,
Traveling in the boat of compassion on the ocean of delusion,
Smiling the smile of non-fear."

[From Transformation at the Base]

Mindfulness Meditation: Walking and Sitting

WALKING MEDITATION
“Your Steps are Most Important: What activity is most important in your life? To pass an exam, get a car or a house, or get a promotion in your career? There are so many people who have passed exams, who have bought cars and houses, who have gotten promotions, but still find themselves without peace of mind, without joy, and without happiness.

The most important thing in life is to find this treasure, and then to share it with other people and with all beings. In order to have peace and joy, you must succeed in having peace within each of your steps. Your steps are the most important thing. They decide everything.”

“Your half-smile and your peaceful steps are bright and shining pearls. They are beautiful but they are separate. The breath is the string that brings them together into a necklace, without a single gap between them. Be conscious of your breath and your walking meditation will be truly fruitful.”

“Walk more slowly than you usually do, but not too slowly, while breathing normally. Do not try to control your breathing. Walk along this way for a few minutes. Then notice how many steps you take as your lungs fill and how many steps you take as they empty. In this way, your attention includes both breath and steps. You are mindful of both….Your half-smile brings calmness and delight to your steps and your breath….After a few hours of serious practice, you will find that the four of them—the breath, the counting, the steps, and the half-smile—blend together in a marvelous balance of mindfulness. This is equanimity, created by the practice of walking meditation. The four elements of breathing, counting, stepping, and the half-smile become one.” [From A Guide to Walking Meditation, by Thich Nhat Hanh.].

MINDFULNESS AND SITTING MEDITATION

Sitting Posture: “Sit or lie down in a way that allows your body to rest. Sitting, your head and spine form a straight line. Relax all your muscles. Find a way of sitting that allows you to sit for at least 20 minutes without becoming too stiff or tired. As soon as you sit down, pay attention to your breath. Then notice your posture, a little bit everywhere. Relax the muscles in your face. If you are angry or worried, those muscles will be tense. Smile lightly, and you will relax hundreds of muscles in your face. Then notice your shoulders, and let go of the tension there. Don’t try too hard. Just breathe mindfully, and scan your whole body.”

Mindfulness of Breathing: “Breathing in, I know I am breathing in. Breathing out, I know I am breathing out.”“The object of mindfulness is your in-breath and your out-breath, and nothing else. Observe the reality of your in-breath all throughout its duration. Stay at one with your out-breath all the way through”“You don’t need to make an effort to stop your thinking. Just by concentrating on your breathing one hundred percent, your thinking will quiet itself. You don’t need to force yourself to be mindful. Just enjoy your breathing.”

“A period of sitting meditation is time worth living. Don’t interfere with your breathing. Breathing takes place by itself. Just light the lamp of mindfulness and shine it on your breathing. Don’t modify, bend, or make your breathing the way you think it is supposed to be. If your in-breath is short, let it be short. If your out-breath is long, let it be long. Become aware of your in-breath and out-breath as they are….After a few minutes you will notice an improvement in the quality of your breathing, and a feeling of well-being will be born in you.”Mindfulness and Concentration“Mindfulness makes our eyes, our heart, our non-toothache, the moon, and the trees deep and beautiful. And when we touch our suffering with mindfulness, we begin to transform it. Mindfulness is like a mother holding her baby in her arms and caring for her baby’s pain. When our pain is held by mindfulness it loses some of its strength….Mindfulness recognizes what is there, and concentration allows you to be deeply present with whatever it is. Concentration is the ground of happiness. If you live twenty-four hours a day in mindfulness and concentration, one day is a lot.”

Quotations from Thich Nhat Hanh, in The Mindfulness Bell, Issue 23, pages 1,4.

Day of Mindfulness March 15 and other events

2008-03-05T19:44:00.000-08:00

Below is a listing of some upcoming and ongoing Sangha meetings. The events listed are all 'inspired by the teachings and practice' of Thich Nhat Hanh and self-identity as part of the 'Thich Nhat Hanh tradition.' They are interconnected with each other, and include experienced practitioners who share responsibiliity for facilitating. All practice in the same way, and each has its own flavor.

Ongoing Meetings:
Manhattan:

Tuesday Night 7-9:30pm, Room #630, Riverside Church [91 Claremont Avenue].

Thursday Afternoon: 12:30-2pm, Rutgers Presbyterian Church, Daniel Russell Room

Days of Mindfulness: Next Day is May 17, 10-4:30, at Riverside Church, as above.

Brooklyn: Sundays, 6:30pm - 8:30pm, in basement of the Church of Gethsemane, 1012 8th Avenue. [F train to 7th Avenue] See http://www.rockblossom.org/

Queens: Second and Fourth Sunday of the month, 4:30-6:30pm. At Walter's home: 48-19 44th street, apt 2, Sunnyside, Queens, Contact person is Tasha, sukhadesign@yahoo.com Please take the #7 train to the 46th/bliss stop. Exit the station on the west stairway {stairway closest to Manhattan}. Walk two blocks west {toward Manhattan} on Queens Blvd. You will come to 44th st. Turn LEFT {south} onto 44TH ST and continue for two blocks. After 1 block you will come to a 6 way intersection of Greenpoint Avenue, 47th Avenue and 44th St. After 2 blocks you will arrive at 48th avenue. On the southeast corner of 48th avenue you will see a small church. Continue past the church on 44th st. 48-19 will be the second house on the left after the church. Please press the top doorbell for the 2nd floor apartment. * It takes ONLY 15 minutes from Grand Central to Sunnyside, Queens!

Queens Study Group: first Thursday of the month. Contact Tasha as above, same address as above.

For Rockland County and Westchester see 'north of nyc'label and also http://www.buddingflower.org/ for mid-Hudson valley.
___________________________________________

A Valentine from the Buddha: February 16 2008

2008-02-08T14:52:00.001-08:00

Day of Mindfulness February 16, 10am-4pm.

Receive a Valentine from the Buddha.

At, the Riverside Church, room 630 MLK-wing. At 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd St., one block west of Broadway. Lunch is around 1-2pm: bring your own vegetarian lunch. Please do not wear fragrances. Beginners welcome. Chairs and cushions available.
Marjorie, marjoriem4@juno.com .

New Year' Eve Celebration; Tuesday Dec 25 and Jan 1 no meeting at Riverside Church

2007-12-07T21:27:00.000-08:00

Email cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive announcements.

New Year's Eve Potluck and Celebration Monday December 31, 8:30-midnight: at the home of Marleenee Tamarong, 230 Riverside Drive, 3-M, at 95th Street/Riverside Drive in Manhattan. marleeneet@yahoo.com. Come and go as you please. Bring yourself and vegetarian food/non-alcohol drinks to share. At 11:15 we will have a sitting and ceremony, and then a bell ringing at midnight. Bring bells.

Dec 25 and Jan 1: No Tuesday Night Meditation at Riverside Church. Meetings resume on Tuesday January 8, 7-9:30pm.

November 17 Day of Mindfulness: Let the Buddha Breathe

2007-11-13T14:23:00.000-08:00

Days of Mindfulness: the third Saturdy of the month, at Riverside Church, in room 630-MLK or 19-T, 10-4:30pm.

Day of Mindfulness December 15: 'Holiday Stopping.'

Day of Mindfulness: November 17, 10-4pm. Riverside Church, 19-T

"Let the Buddha Breathe...the emptiness of self" is the theme of our November 17 Day of Mindfulness, 10-4pm, at Riverside Church, room 19-T. We will listen to a talk by Thich Nhat Hanh, from the October retreat at the Blue Cliff Monastery, on this theme. And we will enjoy Sister Chan Khong [on CD] leading us in total relaxation.

Join us for sitting and walking meditation, singing, eating together in mindfulness, the Five Mindfulness Trainings and more.

Bring a vegetarian lunch. Lunch is around 1-2:15. Please do not wear fragrances. Chairs and cushions available.

91 Claremont Avenue is between 120-122nd Street, one block west of Broadway. #1 train to 116th/Broadway, or m104 or m5 buses to 120th/Broadway or 120th Riverside Drive.

email cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive announcements.

2007-10-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

Day of Mindfulness Saturday October 20th, 10-4:30pm, at Riverside Church
Room 630-room may change and signs will be posted.
At 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd St., one block west of Broadway.

Sitting and walking meditation, mindful eating, singing, Five Mindfulness Trainings, Dharma Sharing.
We will also listen to part of a Dharma talk given by Thich Nhat Hanh at the recent Blue Cliff retreat.
Come for all or part of the Day. Bring your own vegetarian lunch. Lunch is around 1:15-2:30.
Chairs and cushions available.
Fragrance free.
Facilitated by Marjorie Markus and David Flint.

New Sangha meetings in Sunnyside, Queens: 1rst and 3rd Sunday of the month, 4:30-6pm, nteng@earthlink.net
Next meeting is October 21.
39-94 44th Street (between Skillman and 39th Ave)
Sunnyside NY 11104
718 786 5462
Train: take #7 train to 46th/Bliss St. station. Go downstairs and cross Queens Boulevard to its north side (opposite from the Sunnyside arch), then turn right onto 44th Street, continue for 2 1/2 blocks (past 43rd Ave and Skillman Ave). There's a driveway on the other side of the street and then a courtyard/mews - the house is in the first mews.

Day of Mindfulness September 15: Calming the Fearful Mind: A Day of Beginning Anew

2007-09-13T18:54:00.000-07:00

Community of Mindfulness New York Metro
Inspired by the Teachings and Practice of Thich Nhat Hanh
invites you to enjoy
a Day of Mindfulness
This Saturday
September 15
10-4:oopm
Riverside Church, 19-T.

" Calming The Fearful Mind-
A day of Beginning Anew"

Facilitated by Marjorie, marjoriem4@juno.com

[At 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd St., one block west of Broadway. Bring a vegetarian lunch. Lunch is around 1-2:15. Sitting and walking meditation, listen to Dharma Talk from Stonehill Retreat on Beginning Anew practice. No prior experience necessary. Come for all or part of the Day.

email cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive email announcements.

Queens Walking Meditation Sunday 10am, August 5

2007-08-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

Walking Together

Time: 10am, Location: Park, located at 40th Road and Prince Street, Flushing.

The current plan is for it to go for roughly 1 hour, with sitting meditation, walking meditation and a Dharma reading & Sharing.

The exact location of the park is a half block off (west of Main Street) right next the the LIRR station and one block from the Subway (last stop of the 7 Train, the Roosevelt/main st exit). There is a nice, mostly quiet, somewhat secluded grass spot just past the second basketball court, to the left of the playground. i know it might sound confusing, but the park is small, trust me you will find it easily.

RSVP to jeff@1sangha.com

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July 15 Peace is Every Step DVD, July 21 Morning of Mindfulness, 10-1pm

2007-07-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

'Peace is Every Step' DVD Viewing
Sunday July 15, 2:30-5:30pm

We will watch this DVD about Thich Nhat Hanh's life
and then have Dharma Sharing, and then snacks and tea.
Nina Teng will host the meeting.
Please RSVP to Nina 718-786-5462, nteng@earthlink.net.

39-94 44th Street (between Skillman and 39th Ave)
Sunnyside NY 11104
718 786 5462
Train: take #7 train to 46th/Bliss St. station. Go downstairs and cross Queens Boulevard to its north side (opposite from the Sunnyside arch), then turn right onto 44th Street, continue for 2 1/2 blocks (past 43rd Ave and Skillman Ave). There's a driveway on the other side of the street and then a courtyard/mews - the house is in the first mews.

Bus: take the Q32 (it runs from Penn Station up Madison and east on 59th Street across the Queensborough Bridge) to 44th Street stop. Go across Queens Boulevard, walk down 44th Street past 43rd Ave and Skillman Ave. The house is in the first mews after the driveway on the left side of the street.

Morning of Mindfulness, Saturday July 21, 10-1:00pm
at Riverside Church, #630 [Please Note: the day ends at 1pm.]
Come for all or part of the Day. Sitting and walking meditation, singing, Dharma Sharing, and being joyfully together.

At 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd St., one block west of Broadway
[Facilitated by Marjorie Markus and David Flint]

See www.communityofmindfulnessnewyorkmetro.blogspot.com ;
email cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive announcements

Day of Mindfulness June 16 2007

2007-06-10T18:08:00.000-07:00

Saturday June 16: Day of Mindfulness at Riverside Church, 10-4:15pm

The Day includes sitting and walking meditation, mindful discussion, eating with awareness, mindful movements, singing, reciting the Five Mindfulness Trainings. Beginners welcome.

Tasha Chuang and David Flint will facilitate the Day.

Come for all or part of the Day.

Bring a vegetarian lunch. Lunch is from 1:15-2:15. Chairs and cushions available. Fragrance free.

At 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd St., one block west of Broadway.
Room 630 [But check at Security Desk].

Email cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive announcements.

Day of Mindfulness May 19, May 20 Listen to Dharma Talk

2007-05-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

Saturday May 19: Day of Mindfulness at Riverside Church, 10-4:30pm
The Day includes sitting and walking meditation, mindful discussion, eating with awareness, mindful movements, singing, reciting the Five Mindfulness Trainings.
Come for all or part of the Day.
Bring a vegetarian lunch. Chairs and cushions available. Fragrance free.
At 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd St., one block west of Broadway.
Room 19-T

Sunday May 20, 2-4:30 pm. We will Listen to Thich Nhat Hanh dharma talk
and then have Dharma Sharing and then snacks and tea.
Nina Teng will host the meeting. Please RSVP to Nina 718-786-5462, nteng@earthlink.net.

39-94 44th Street (between Skillman and 39th Ave)
Sunnyside NY 11104
718 786 5462
Train: take #7 train to 46th/Bliss St. station. Go downstairs and cross Queens Boulevard to its north side (opposite from the Sunnyside arch), then turn right onto 44th Street, continue for 2 1/2 blocks (past 43rd Ave and Skillman Ave). There's a driveway on the other side of the street and then a courtyard/mews - the house is in the first mews.

Bus: take the Q32 (it runs from Penn Station up Madison and east on 59th Street across the Queensborough Bridge) to 44th Street stop. Go across Queens Boulevard, walk down 44th Street past 43rd Ave and Skillman Ave. The house is in the first mews after the driveway on the left side of the street.

April 21 Morning of Mindfulness: 10am -1pm at Riverside Church

2007-04-06T09:22:00.000-07:00

Our April 21 Day of Mindfulness will be a 'morning of mindfulness,' from 10-1pm. At Riverside Church, room 19-T, at 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd St., one block west of Broadway.

Faciliated by Meg Dellenbaugh and Tasha Chang. The teachings of non-self and the practice of the Three Touchings of the Earth will be a focus of the morning. Please arrive on time as stay for the whole time, if possible. Chairs and cushions available. Beginners welcome. Fragrance free.

Email to cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive announcements of events in New York City area, and of Thich Nhat Hanh related retreats.

"The secret of transformation Is in the way we handle this very moment.

2007-03-04T10:48:00.000-08:00

Day of Mindfulness March 17
10-4:30,
Riverside Church,19T.
Marjorie Markus will facilitate. At 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd St.one block west of Broadway. Come for all or part of the Day.

"The secret of transformation
Is in the way we handle this very moment."
Day of Mindfulness March 24 with Budding Flower Sangha,
10-4pm
David Flint will lead the Day.
See end of this post for the teaching that will be the focus of our Day together.
In New Paltz at Reformed Church of New Paltz, 92 Huguenot St.
See www.buddingflower.org for directions to church. If you would like to come up from NYC let me know, davidrflint@gmail.com.

Teaching for March 24 Day of Mindfulness:
"The Path of Practice
Meditating on the nature of interdependence
Can transform delusion into enlightenment.
Samsara and suchness are not two.
They are one and the same.

Even while blooming, the flower is already in the compost,
And the compost is already in the flower.
Flower and compost are not two.
Delusion and enlightenment inter-are.

Don't run away from birth and death.
Just look deeply into your mental formations.
When the true nature of interdependence is seen,
The truth of interbeing is realized.

Practice conscious breathing
To Water the seeds of Awakening.
Right view is a flower
Blooming in the field of mind consciousness.

When sunlight shines,
It helps all vegetation grow.
When mindfulness shines,
It transforms all mental formations

We recognize internal knots and latent tendencies
So we can transform them.
When our habit energies dissipate,
Transformation at the base is there.

The present moment
Contains past and future.
The secret of transformation
Is in the way we handle this very moment.

Transformation takes place
In our daily life.
To make the work of transformation easy,
Practice with a Sangha

Nothing is born, nothing dies.
Nothing to hold onto, nothing to release.
Samsara is nirvana.
There is nothing to attain.

When we realize that afflictions are no other than enlightenment,
We can ride the waves of birth and death in peace,
Traveling in the boat of compassion on the ocean of delusion,
Smiling the smile of non-fear. "

[From Transformation at the Base, Thich Nhat Hanh]

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Mindfulness Practices: Five Mindfulness Trainings, Shining Light, Generosity

2007-02-22T19:46:00.000-08:00

The Five Mindfulness Trainings

The First Mindfulness Training
Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.

The Second Mindfulness Training
Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I am committed to cultivating loving kindness and learning ways to work for the well being of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I will practice generosity by sharing my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in real need. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others. I will respect the property of others, but I will prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.

The Third Mindfulness Training
Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I am committed to cultivating responsibility and learning ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society. I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without love and a long-term commitment. To preserve the happiness of myself and others, I am determined to respect my commitments and the commitments of others. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct.

The Fourth Mindfulness Training
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivating loving speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and relieve others of their suffering. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I am determined to speak truthfully, with words that inspire self-confidence, joy, and hope. I will not spread news that I do not know to be certain and will not criticize or condemn things of which I am not sure. I will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord, or that can cause the family or community to break. I am determined to make all efforts to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.

The Fifth Mindfulness Training
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I am committed to cultivating good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming. I will ingest only items that preserve peace, well-being, and joy in my body, in my consciousness, and in the collective e body and consciousness of my family and society. I am determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicant or to ingest foods or other items that contain toxins, such as certain TV programs, magazines, books, films, and conversations. I am aware that to damage my body or my consciousness with these poisons is to betray my ancestors, my parents, my society, and future generations. I will work to transform violence, fear, anger, and confusion in myself and in society by practicing a diet for myself and for society. I understand that a proper diet is crucial for self-transformation and for the transformation of society.

Ways of Practicing the Five Mindfulness Trainings and Cultivating Mindfulness

“ I would like to offer some exercises that can help us use the Five Precepts [AKA Mindfulness Trainings] to cultivate and strengthen mindfulness. It is best to choose one of these exercises and work with it meticulously for a week. Then examine the results and choose another for a subsequent week. These practices can help us understand and find ways to work with each precept.

Refraining from killing: reverence for life. Undertake for one week to purposefully bring no harm in thought, word or deed to any living creature. Particularly, become aware of any living beings in your world (people, animals, even plants_ whom you ignore, and cultivate a sense of care and reverence for them too.

Refraining from stealing: care with material goods. Undertake for one week to act on every single thought of generosity that arises spontaneously in your heart.

Refraining from sexual misconduct: conscious sexuality. Undertake for one week to observe mindfully how often sexual feelings arise in your consciousness. Each time, note what particular mind states you find associated with them, such as love, tension, compulsion, caring, loneliness, desire for communication, greed, pleasure, aggression, and so forth.

Refraining from false speech: speech from the heart. Undertake for one week not go gossip (positively or negatively) or speak about anyone you know who is not present with you (any third party).

Refraining from intoxicants to the point of heedlessness. Undertake for one week or one month to refrain from all intoxicants and addictive substances (such as wine, marijuana, even cigarettes and/or caffeine if you wish). Observe the impulses to use these, and become aware of what is going on in the heart and mind at the time of these impulses.

_________________________________________________________________

SHINING THE LIGHT

It is very precious to have someone show us how our practice is going. When a friend shines light on our practice we benefit greatly, because we have many wrong perceptions that can keep us in a prison of self-pride. That is why when we are offered guidance; we can make progress very quickly.

Find a friend, a sister or a brother in the practice whose way of looking at you is different from your way of looking at yourself. Then ask them with all your heart: “Please be compassionate to me. Please shine light on me, and help me and guide me in my practice.” Its’ important that you ask them with all your sincerity, because sometimes we are proud or angry and the other person doesn’t dare tell us the truth.....

If you choose just one person, you might pick someone who you think would just say positive things about you....The more people who shine light on your practice, the more light there will be in that darkest place of your suffering.

Listen carefully to what the people say who shine light on your practice. It doesn’t matter whether you agree or disagree with them; pay attention to everything exactly as they say it. It takes time to look deeply into what they have said. Perhaps those people have seen something you haven’t been able to see about yourself.... Each person you ask will have some wrong perceptions, that is true. But the guidance you receive will make your understanding of yourself more correct, and the fruit of your practice will be greater.

If you are the person who shines light on a friend’s practice, use all of your wisdom and understanding. Avoid manifesting irritation or blame as you offer advice, and deliver your words with care, love and insight. Find the good qualities, and the precious things in that person, and remind them of the positive elements that are available to them.

Then you talk about their weaknesses and their negative tendencies. You do your best to look clearly into the suffering and obstructions of that person..... Why can’t that person be happy? Maybe they have a habit energy from the past that does not allow them to enjoy the present moment. Maybe that habit energy is one of being too hasty. Perhaps they received that tendency from their grandparents. That is not their fault. You don’t blame anyone—you don’t take all the responsibility on yourself or put all the responsibility on the other person.... So no blaming and no punishing, because these things are not helpful. You only need to look deeply, and that will give you compassion....

If the other person has obstructions and internal formations, you ask yourself, “how have I contributed to this?”.... Then ask yourself, “How have I contributed to making that person freer and happier?”.... If you see that you have not helped them much, you promise yourself that from now on you will be more positive in helping that person....

Take refuge in each other. Support each other. That is a method of practice.
[Excerpts from ‘Shining the Light,’ in Friends on the Path, pages 294-5.]

No Strings Attached
The Buddha's Culture of Generosity
by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
© 2009
“How can I ever repay you for your teaching?”

Good meditation teachers often hear this question from their students, and the best answer I know for it is one that my teacher, Ajaan Fuang, gave every time:
“By being intent on practicing.”
Each time he gave this answer,

I was struck by how noble and gracious it was. And it wasn't just a formality. He never tried to find opportunities to pressure his students for donations. Even when our monastery was poor, he never acted poor, never tried to take advantage of their gratitude and trust. This was a refreshing change from some of my previous experiences with run-of-the-mill village and city monks who were quick to drop hints about their need for donations from even stray or casual visitors.

Eventually I learned that Ajaan Fuang's behavior is common throughout the Forest Tradition. It's based on a passage in the Pali Canon where the Buddha on his deathbed states that the highest homage to him is not material homage, but the homage of practicing the Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma. In other words, the best way to repay a teacher is to take the Dhamma to heart and to practice it in a way that fulfills his or her compassionate purpose in teaching it. I was proud to be part of a tradition where the inner wealth of this noble idea was actually lived — where, as Ajaan Fuang often put it, we weren't reduced to hirelings, and the act of teaching the Dhamma was purely a gift.

So I was saddened when, on my return to America, I had my first encounters with the dana talk: the talk on giving and generosity that often comes at the end of a retreat. The context of the talk — and often the content — makes clear that it's not a disinterested exercise. It's aimed at generating gifts for the teacher or the organization sponsoring the retreat, and it places the burden of responsibility on the retreatants to ensure that future retreats can occur. The language of the talk is often smooth and encouraging, but when contrasted with Ajaan Fuang's answer, I found the sheer fact of the talk ill-mannered and demeaning. If the organizers and teachers really trusted the retreatants' good-heartedness, they wouldn't be giving the talk at all. To make matters worse, the typical dana talk — along with its companion, the meditation-center fundraising letter — often cites the example of how monks and nuns are supported in Asia as justification for how dana is treated here in the West. But they're taking as their example the worst of the monks, and not the best.

I understand the reasoning behind the talk. Lay teachers here aspire to the ideal of teaching for free, but they still need to eat. And, unlike the monastics of Asia, they don't have a long-standing tradition of dana to fall back on. So the dana talk was devised as a means for establishing a culture of dana in a Western context. But as so often is the case when new customs are devised for Western Buddhism, the question is whether the dana talk skillfully translates Buddhist principles into the Western context or seriously distorts them. The best way to answer this question is to take a close look at those principles in their original context.

It's well known that dana lies at the beginning of Buddhist practice. Dana, quite literally, has kept the Dhamma alive. If it weren't for the Indian tradition of giving to mendicants, the Buddha would never have had the opportunity to explore and find the path to Awakening. The monastic sangha wouldn't have had the time and opportunity to follow his way. Dana is the first teaching in the graduated discourse: the list of topics the Buddha used to lead listeners step-by-step to an appreciation of the four noble truths, and often from there to their own first taste of Awakening. When stating the basic principles of karma, he would begin with the statement, “There is what is given.”

What's less well known is that in making this statement, the Buddha was not dealing in obvious truths or generic platitudes, for the topic of giving was actually controversial in his time. For centuries, the brahmans of India had been extolling the virtue of giving — as long as the gifts were given to them. Not only that, gifts to brahmans were obligatory. People of other castes, if they didn't concede to the brahmans' demands for gifts, were neglecting their most essential social duty. By ignoring their duties in the present life, such people and their relatives would suffer hardship both now and after death.

As might be expected, this attitude produced a backlash. Several of the samana, or contemplative, movements of the Buddha's time countered the brahmans' claims by asserting that there was no virtue in giving at all. Their arguments fell into two camps. One camp claimed that giving carried no virtue because there was no afterlife. A person was nothing more than physical elements that, at death, returned to their respective spheres. That was it. Giving thus provided no long-term results. The other camp stated that there was no such thing as giving, for everything in the universe has been determined by fate. If a donor gives something to another person, it's not really a gift, for the donor has no choice or free will in the matter. Fate was simply working itself out.

So when the Buddha, in his introduction to the teaching on karma, began by saying that there is what is given, he was repudiating both camps. Giving does give results both now and on into the future, and it is the result of the donor's free choice. However, in contrast to the brahmans, the Buddha took the principle of freedom one step further. When asked where a gift should be given, he stated simply, “Wherever the mind feels inspired.” In other words — aside from repaying one's debt to one's parents — there is no obligation to give. This means that the choice to give is an act of true freedom, and thus the perfect place to start the path to total release.

This is why the Buddha adopted dana as the context for practicing and teaching the Dhamma. But — to maintain the twin principles of freedom and fruitfulness in giving — he created a culture of dana that embodied particularly Buddhist ideals. To begin with, he defined dana not simply as material gifts. The practice of the precepts, he said, was also a type of dana — the gift of universal safety, protecting all beings from the harm of one's unskillful actions — as was the act of teaching the Dhamma. This meant that lavish giving was not just the prerogative of the rich. Secondly, he formulated a code of conduct to produce an attitude toward giving that would benefit both the donors and the recipients, keeping the practice of giving both fruitful and free.
We tend not to associate codes of conduct with the word “freedom,” but that's because we forget that freedom, too, needs protection, especially from the attitude that wants to be free in its choices but feels insecure when others are free in theirs. The Buddha's codes of conduct are voluntary — he never coerced anyone into practicing his teachings — but once they are adopted, they require the cooperation of both sides to keep them effective and strong.
These codes are best understood in terms of the six factors that the Buddha said exemplified the ideal gift:
“The donor, before giving, is glad; while giving, his/her mind is inspired; and after giving, is gratified. These are the three factors of the donor…
“The recipients are free of passion or are practicing for the subduing of passion; free of aversion or practicing for the subduing of aversion; and free of delusion or practicing for the subduing of delusion. These are the three factors of the recipients.”
— AN 6.37

Although this passage seems to suggest that each side is responsible only for the factors on its side, the Buddha's larger etiquette for generosity shows that the responsibility for all six factors — and in particular, the three factors of the donor — is shared. And this shared responsibility flourishes best in an atmosphere of mutual trust.

For the donors, this means that if they want to feel glad, inspired, and gratified at their gift, they should not see the gift as payment for personal services rendered by individual monks or nuns. That would turn the gift into wages, and deprive it of its emotional power. Instead, they'd be wise to look for trustworthy recipients: people who are training — or have trained — their minds to be cleaned and undefiled. They should also give their gift in a respectful way so that the act of giving will reinforce the gladness that inspired it, and will inspire the recipient to value their gift.

The responsibilities of the recipients, however, are even more stringent. To ensure that the donor feels glad before giving, monks and nuns are forbidden from pressuring the donor in any way. Except when ill or in situations where the donor has invited them to ask, they cannot ask for anything beyond the barest emergency necessities. They are not even allowed to give hints about what they'd like to receive. When asked where a prospective gift should be given, they are told to follow the Buddha's example and say, “Give wherever your gift would be used, or would be well-cared for, or would last long, or wherever your mind feels inspired.” This conveys a sense of trust in the donor's discernment — which in itself is a gift that gladdens the donor's mind.

To ensure that a donor feels inspired while giving a gift, the monks and nuns are enjoined to receive gifts attentively and with an attitude of respect. To ensure that the donor feels gratified afterward, they should live frugally, care for the gift, and make sure it is used in an appropriate way. In other words, they should show that the donor's trust in them is well placed. And of course they must work on subduing their greed, anger, and delusion. In fact, this is a primary motivation for trying to attain arahantship: so that the gifts given to one will bear the donors great fruit.

By sharing these responsibilities in an atmosphere of trust, both sides protect the freedom of the donor. They also foster the conditions that will enable not only the practice of generosity but also the entire practice of Dhamma to flourish and grow.

The principles of freedom and fruitfulness also govern the code the Buddha formulated specifically for protecting the gift of Dhamma. Here again, the responsibilities are shared. To ensure that the teacher is glad, inspired, and gratified in teaching, the listeners are advised to listen with respect, to try to understand the teaching, and — once they're convinced that it's genuinely wise — to sincerely put it into practice so as to gain the desired results. Like a monk or nun receiving a material gift, the recipient of the gift of Dhamma has the simple responsibility of treating the gift well.

The teacher, meanwhile, must make sure not to regard the act of teaching as a repayment of a debt. After all, monks and nuns repay their debt to their lay donors by trying to rid their minds of greed, aversion, and delusion. They are in no way obligated to teach, which means that the act of teaching is a gift free and clear. In addition, the Buddha insisted that the Dhamma be taught without expectation of material reward. When he was once offered a “teacher's fee” for his teaching, he refused to accept it and told the donor to throw it away. He also established the precedent that when a monastic teaches the rewards of generosity, the teaching is given after a gift has been given, not before, so that the stain of hinting won't sully what's said.

All of these principles assume a high level of nobility and restraint on both sides of the equation, which is why people tried to find ways around them even while the Buddha was alive. The origin stories to the monastic discipline — the tales portraying the misbehavior that led the Buddha to formulate rules for the monks and nuns — often tell of monastics whose gift of Dhamma came with strings attached, and of lay people who gladly pulled those strings to get what they wanted out of the monastics: personal favors served with an ingratiating smile. The Buddha's steady persistence in formulating rules to cut these strings shows how determined he was that the principle of Dhamma as a genuinely free gift not be an idle ideal. He wanted it to influence the way people actually behaved.

He never gave an extended explanation of why the act of teaching should always be a gift, but he did state in general terms that when his code of conduct became corrupt over time, that would corrupt the Dhamma as well. And in the case of the etiquette of generosity, this principle has been borne out frequently throughout Buddhist history.

A primary example is recorded in the Apadanas, which scholars believe were added to the Canon after King Asoka's time. The Apadanas discuss the rewards of giving in a way that shows how eager the monks composing them were to receive lavish gifts. They promise that even a small gift will bear fruit as guaranteed arahantship many eons in the future, and that the path from now to then will always be filled with pleasure and prestige. Attainments of special distinction, though, require special donations. Some of these donations bear a symbolic resemblance to the desired distinction — a gift of lighted lamps, for instance, presages clairvoyance — but the preferred gift of distinction was a week's worth of lavish meals for an entire monastery, or at least for the monks who teach.

It's obvious that the monks who composed the Apadanas were giving free rein to their greed, and were eager to tell their listeners what their listeners wanted to hear. The fact that these texts were recorded for posterity shows that the listeners, in fact, were pleased. Thus the teachers and their students, acting in collusion, skewed the culture of dana in the direction of their defilements. In so doing they distorted the Dhamma as well. If gift-giving guarantees Awakening, it supplants the noble eightfold path with the one-fold path of the gift. If the road to Awakening is always prestigious and joyful, the concept of right effort disappears. Yet once these ideas were introduced into the Buddhist tradition, they gained the stamp of authority and have affected Buddhist practice ever since.

Throughout Buddhist Asia, people tend to give gifts with an eye to their symbolic promise of future reward; and the list of gifts extolled in the Apadanas reads like a catalog of the gifts placed on altars throughout Buddhist Asia even today.

Which goes to show that once the culture of dana gets distorted, it can distort the practice of Dhamma as a whole for many centuries. So if we're serious about bringing the culture of dana to the West, we should be very careful to ensure that our efforts honor the principles that make dana a genuinely Buddhist practice. This means no longer using the tactics of modern fundraising to encourage generosity among retreatants or Buddhists in general. It also means rethinking the dana talk, for on many counts it fails the test.

In pressuring retreatants to give to teachers, it doesn't lead to gladness before giving, and instead sounds like a plea for a tip at the end of a meal. The frequent efforts to pull on the retreatants' heartstrings as a path to their purse strings betray a lack of trust in their thoughtfulness and leave a bad taste. And the entire way dana is handled for teachers doesn't escape the fact that it's payment for services rendered. Whether teachers think about this consciously or not, it pressures them subtly to tell their listeners what they think their listeners want to hear. The Dhamma can't help but suffer as a result.

The ideal solution would be to provide a framework whereby serious Dhamma practitioners could be supported whether or not they taught. That way, the act of teaching would be a genuine gift. In the meantime, though, a step in the direction of a genuine culture of dana would be to declare a moratorium on all dana talks at the end of retreats, and on references to the Buddhist tradition of dana in fundraising appeals, so as to give the word time to recover its dignity.

On retreats, dana could be discussed in a general way, in the context of the many Dhamma talks given on how best to integrate Dhamma practice in daily life. At the end of the retreat, a basket could be left out for donations, with a note that the teacher hasn't been paid to teach the retreat. That's all. No appeals for mercy. No flashcards. Sensitive retreatants will be able to put two and two together, and will feel glad, inspired, and gratified that they were trusted to do the math for themselves.
See also: The Economy of Gifts, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

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Five Mindfulness Trainings Recitation March 4, 2007

2007-02-19T17:42:00.000-08:00

Sunday March 4: 2:30-4:30 pm.

Sitting meditation, reciting the Five Mindfulness Trainings, Dharma Discussion. Tea and snacks afterwards.

Bayside, Queens 35-29 204th street, second floor**don't ring the bell (its for the first floor, we don't have one) just come in and go up the stairs.Please RSVP ( mailto:jeff%401sangha.com ) to confirm you will be coming.

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Monasteries, Other Resources

2007-01-28T20:20:00.000-08:00

Thich Nhat Hanh Links, New York Sangha Links
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http://www.rockblossom.org/ for Brooklyn meetings
http://www.buddingflower.org/ for mid-Hudson Valley Sangha

Blue Cliff Monastery, Pine Bush, New York,

www.bluecliffmonastery.org

Magnolia Village Monastery
123 Towles Rd.
Batesville, MS 38606
E-mail: office@magnoliavillage.org
Website: http://www.magnoliavillage.org (this is a NEW web site address)
Telephone: (662) 578-2077

http://www.plumvillage.org for Plum Village Monastery/Retreat Center in France.

http://www.deerparkmonastery.org for Deer Park Monastery, Escondido, CA.

http://www.parallax.org for Parallax Press, publisher books by Thich Nhat Hanh and related books.

http://www.mindfulnessbell.org for Mindfulness Bell magazine, and USA Sangha [Community] Listings.

Mindfulness Meditation: Walking and Sitting

2007-01-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

COMMUNITY OF MINDFULNESS/NY METRO
Inspired by the teachings and practice of Thich Nhat Hanh

WALKING MEDITATION
“Your Steps are Most Important: What activity is most important in your life? To pass an exam, get a car or a house, or get a promotion in your career? There are so many people who have passed exams, who have bought cars and houses, who have gotten promotions, but still find themselves without peace of mind, without joy, and without happiness. The most important thing in life is to find this treasure, and then to share it with other people and with all beings. In order to have peace and joy, you must succeed in having peace within each of your steps. Your steps are the most important thing. They decide everything.”
“Your half-smile and your peaceful steps are bright and shining pearls. They are beautiful but they are separate. The breath is the string that brings them together into a necklace, without a single gap between them. Be conscious of your breath and your walking meditation will be truly fruitful.”
“Walk more slowly than you usually do, but not too slowly, while breathing normally. Do not try to control your breathing. Walk along this way for a few minutes. Then notice how many steps you take as your lungs fill and how many steps you take as they empty. In this way, your attention includes both breath and steps. You are mindful of both….Your half-smile brings calmness and delight to your steps and your breath….After a few hours of serious practice, you will find that the four of them—the breath, the counting, the steps, and the half-smile—blend together in a marvelous balance of mindfulness. This is equanimity, created by the practice of walking meditation. The four elements of breathing, counting, stepping, and the half-smile become one.”
[From A Guide to Walking Meditation, by Thich Nhat Hanh.]
.

MINDFULNESS AND SITTING MEDITATION
Sitting Posture
“Sit or lie down in a way that allows your body to rest. Sitting, your head and spine form a straight line. Relax all your muscles. Find a way of sitting that allows you to sit for at least 20 minutes without becoming too stiff or tired. As soon as you sit down, pay attention to your breath. Then notice your posture, a little bit everywhere. Relax the muscles in your face. If you are angry or worried, those muscles will be tense. Smile lightly, and you will relax hundreds of muscles in your face. Then notice your shoulders, and let go of the tension there. Don’t try too hard. Just breathe mindfully, and scan your whole body.”
Mindfulness of Breathing
“Breathing in, I know I am breathing in. Breathing out, I know I am breathing out.”
“The object of mindfulness is your in-breath and your out-breath, and nothing else. Observe the reality of your in-breath all throughout its duration. Stay at one with your out-breath all the way through”
“You don’t need to make an effort to stop your thinking. Just by concentrating on your breathing one hundred percent, your thinking will quiet itself. You don’t need to force yourself to be mindful. Just enjoy your breathing.”
“A period of sitting meditation is time worth living. Don’t interfere with your breathing. Breathing takes place by itself. Just light the lamp of mindfulness and shine it on your breathing. Don’t modify, bend, or make your breathing the way you think it is supposed to be. If your in-breath is short, let it be short. If your out-breath is long, let it be long. Become aware of your in-breath and out-breath as they are….After a few minutes you will notice an improvement in the quality of your breathing, and a feeling of well-being will be born in you.”
Mindfulness and Concentration
“Mindfulness makes our eyes, our heart, our non-toothache, the moon, and the trees deep and beautiful. And when we touch our suffering with mindfulness, we begin to transform it. Mindfulness is like a mother holding her baby in her arms and caring for her baby’s pain. When our pain is held by mindfulness it loses some of its strength….
Mindfulness recognizes what is there, and concentration allows you to be deeply present with whatever it is. Concentration is the ground of happiness. If you live twenty-four hours a day in mindfulness and concentration, one day is a lot.”
Quotations from Thich Nhat Hanh, in The Mindfulness Bell, Issue 23, pages 1,4.

Thich Nhat Hanh

2007-01-28T20:13:00.000-08:00

Thich Nhat Hanh
"Breathing In I calm, Breathing Out I smile
Dwelling in the present moment I know it is a wonderful moment"
"We must be aware of the real problems of the world. Then, with mindfulness, we will know what to do and what not to do."

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Zen master, poet, peace activist, and the author of many books.Thich Nhat Hanh "embodies the art of mindful living". He was born in Vietnam in 1926, and left home as a teen of 16 to become a Zen monk. He founded the School of Youth for Social Services, Van Hanh Buddhist University and the Tiep Hien Order (Order of Interbeing), in Vietnam. He has taught at Columbia University, Princeton University and the Sorbonne, was Chair of the Vietnamese Buddhist Peace Delegation to the Paris Peace Talks, and was nominated by Martin Luther King Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize. He was exiled from Vietnam in 1966, because of his peace work. He now lives in a monastic community in southwestern France called Plum Village, where he teaches, writes, gardens, and leads retreats around the world.

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Upcoming Events

2007-01-28T19:33:00.000-08:00

Community of Mindfulness New York Metro

Inspired by the Teachings and Practice of Thich Nhat Hanh

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Morning of Mindfulness

February 17, 10-1:30 pm.

at Riverside Church, 19-T, at 91 Claremont Avenue, between 20-122nd St., one block west of Broadway. Please attend the whole morning and arrrive on time. Sitting and walking meditation, Five Mindfulness Trainings Meditation, Dharma Sharing. Please Note: this is a half-day of mindfulness ending at 1:30pm. No Lunch. Marjorie Markus will facilitate, marjoriem4@juno.com.

Thich Nhat Hanh Dharma Talk and discussion
Sunday January 28, 3-6pm
We are invited to listen to a Thich Nhat Hanh Dharma Talk, given in June 2006 at the three week retreat. We will begin with sitting and walking meditation, watch the talk on DVD and then have Dharma Sharing. Nina Teng will host the meeting. Please RSVP to Nina 718-786-5462.

Sangha meetings in NYC area: 2011

2007-01-28T19:16:00.000-08:00

Community of Mindfulness New York Metro
Inspired by the Teachings and Practice of Thich Nhat Hanh

email cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive announcements.

Meetings
Manhattan
Riverside Sangha
Tuesdays 7-9:00 pm, Riverside Church, Wellness Center. At 91 Claremont Avenue, between 120-122nd St., one block west of Broadway. [We are listed as Mindfulness Meditation on Church calendar.] Contact David, davidrflint@gmail.com , or Marjorie, Marjoriem4@juno.com.

Day of Mindfulness: 10-4:30pm, at Riverside Church, same location as Tuesday Meeting above. in room 8-T, 3rd Saturday of each month.

Brooklyn: Rock Blossom Sangha: Sunday 6:30-8:30 pm. Church of Gethsemane, 1012 8th Avenue. See http://www.rockblossom.org/.

Queens: Morning Star Sangha Meeting: Second and Fourth Sunday of the month, 4:30-6:30pm. At Walter's home: 48-19 44th street, apt 2, Sunnyside, Queens, Contact Walter, wllfh@aol.com

Please take the #7 train to the 46th/bliss stop. Exit the station on the west stairway {stairway closest to Manhattan}. Walk two blocks west {toward Manhattan} on Queens Blvd. You will come to 44th st. Turn LEFT {south} onto 44TH ST and continue for two blocks. After 1 block you will come to a 6 way intersection of Greenpoint Avenue, 47th Avenue and 44th St. After 2 blocks you will arrive at 48th avenue. On the southeast corner of 48th avenue you will see a small church. Continue past the church on 44th st. 48-19 will be the second house on the left after the church. Please press the top doorbell for the 2nd floor apartment. * It takes ONLY 15 minutes from Grand Central to Sunnyside, Queens!

Study Group: first Thursday of the month. Contact Walter as above, same address as above.valley.___________________________________________

Long Island: Green Island Sangha: see www.greenislandsangha.blogspot.com

Westchester:

Quiet Mountain Women's Sangha: in Westchester.
Located just north of New York City, meets first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
Contact: Meryl Bovard (914-834-0624) or Merylbovard@aol.com
Barbara Lewin (914-966-3627) or barbaralewin@mac.com

Mt. Kisco: 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month: 8:15-10:15am. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 236 S. Bedford Road (Route 172), Mt. Kisco NY, 10549Mindfulness Meditation in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Contact Jan Weiss, janweiss@optonline.net, or 914-763-2015.

Cedar Knolls Sangha, Bronxville, NY Saturday mornings. Contact George Chen, nbdtc@aol.com, 914 337-6388

Quiet Harbor Sangha: meets the second and fourth Thursday evenings of the month, at 7:00 p.m., at Wainwright House in Rye (260 Stuyvesant Ave., Rye 10580; 914-967-6080). Contact Anne Woods, AWoodsEsq@aol.com, or Gregg, greggstephenhill@yahoo.com.

Rockland County
Piermont: River Sangha, Thursday mornings: Heidi, 845-365-3778.

Nanuet, The Gentle Mountain Sangha

Sunday Mornings, 9:30-11:30 at the home of Judy Myerson, Nanuet, NY: Contact Ivette Lenard, ivettelenard@gmail.com 845 3584094 orJudy Myerson jmyerson1@optonline.net , 845-627-1575.

Budding Flower Sangha in the Mid-Hudson Valley: http://www.buddingflower.org/, Jamie at jamierusek@aol.com. Weekly Meetings and monthly Days of Mindfulness.

Woodstock: Mondays, noon-1:30pm, patriciabrescia74@yahoo.com, or call Patricia, 845.679.7587. At Namste Yoga, Route 212. Also, for Catskill Mountain Sangha information contact Patricia.

New Jersey:

Sun of Awareness Sangha, Brian Gill, Jersey City, 917-232-5669 mailto:917-232-5669inthemask@aol.com

Mindfulness by the Shore, Judy at jsweave9@aol.com, Unity Church, 3508 Asbury Ave. Neptune, NJ 07753 Meeting times: The 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Franklin Lakes, N.J.: Jack Lohr, 730 Franklin Lake Road, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 (201)891-0511; http://www.practicecommunityatfranklinlakes./

See also http://www.iamhome.org/ for more New Jersey listings.

Connecticut

Fairfield County; Sangha Contact: Nanette Greene, nangreene@sbcglobal.net, 203-615-3894, Meets the 2nd Tues of each month, 6:30-8:30PM at Christ & Holy Trinity Church, Westport, CT 06880, Round Chapel.

Earth Holder Sangha, Judith Stevens, 203-264-7807. Tuesdays, 7pm. On Route 84, between Danbury and Waterbury. Call for directions.

________________________________
Contact David, davidrflint@gmail.com or 917-543-6485 for more information, and if any of above information is not accurate. To receive email announcements send blank email to cmnymetro-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

See http://www.iamhome.org/for USA Sangha listings.

Community of Mindfulness New York Metro

Day of Mindfulness January 21, 2010: 10-4:30; Riverside Church, Room 430-MLK

Day of Mindfulness December 17, 2011, 10-4:30pm

Thich Nhat Hanh on meditation practice:

Mindfulness of Breathing

Day of Mindfulness Nov 19: Creating Peace in Ourselves, Creating Peace in the World: When Turning Inward isn't Turning Away

Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday leads Day of Mindfulness November 19, 2011

WakeUp: Meditation at Union Square and Concert at Gershwin Hotel: Nov 6, 2011

Sept 17 Day of Mindfulness; Month of Collective Practice: Peace, Healing and Reconciliation

Thich Nhat Hanh in NYC

Day of Mindfulness August 20: Healing and Revealing

Day of Mindfulness July 16, 2011

Day of Mindfulness June 18, Riverside Church

Touching Reality: removing notions and concepts to embrace life's wonders: May 21 Day of Mindfulness

May 20-22, 2011 New York Sanghas Weekend Retreat at Blue Cliff Monastery

Two Days of Mindfulness: April 16 2011

Lamp Transmission!

Day of Mindfulness March 19, 2011 at Riverside Church

Dharma Teacher Cheri Maples leads January 22nd Day of Mindfulness

December 18: 2 Days of Mindfulness: Manhattan and Brooklyn

Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday leads Nov 20 Day of Mindfulness

Oct 16 Day of Mindfulness is part of Meditate NYC at Judson Memorial Church

Voluntary Simplicity Discussion Group: begins Oct 20

Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday leads November 20 Day of Mindfulness

September 18 Day of Mindfulness

Day of Mindfulness Aug 21,2010, 10-4:30pm, at Riverside Church

Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday Sunday July 25 at Rock Blossom Sangha

Day of Mindfulness July 17, 2010

May 15 Day of Mindfulness

Day of MIndfulness April 17, 2010

May 22 People of Color Urban Retreat

Thich Nhat Hanh offers Bat Nha Koan

Day of Mindfulness March 20, 2010

Day of Mindfulness January 16, 2010: 10-2:30pm, Community Meeting 2:45-4:30

Community Meeting Minutes of November 21, 2009

Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday Tuesday Dec 15

December 19 Day of Mindfulness

Nov 21 Day of Mindfulness and Community Meeting

Day of Mindfulness with Dharma Teacher Joanne Friday October 17

Day of Mindfulness and Community Meeting, Sept 12 at Riverside Church

Day of Mindfulness August 15, 10-4:30pm, Riverside Church

2 Days of Mindfulness July 18 2009

Thich Nhat Hanh at Beacon Theater Oct 9 and 10, 2009

Thich Nhat Hanh at Beacon Theater in NYC, and USA Tour

Thich Nhat Hanh USA Tour information atwww.tnhtour.org For the October 9 talk and October 10 Day of Mindfulness, at the Beacon Theatre in Manhatan.

Thich Nhat Hanh at Beacon in NYC, and USA Tour

Thich Nhat Hanh USA Tour information at www.tnhtour.org For the October 9 talk and October 10 Day of Mindfulness, at the Beacon Theatre in Manhatan,

http://www.eomega.org/omega/workshops/c79c4e846136393831fd901fcd4c520c/

What is Engaged Buddhism

Days of Mindfulness April, March 2009

Day of Mindfulness April 18: Our Roots and Our Place in the World

Sangha Celebration of Lunar New Year

Day of Mindfulness March 21, 2009

Welcome to the Community of Mindfulness 2010

Thich Nhat Hanh

Day of Mindfulness, Holiday Potluck on December 20

Day of Mindfulness August 16 2008

Breath! You are Alive. Day of Mindfulness July 19 2008

Day of Mindfulness June 21, June 22 Dharma Teacher at Queens Sangha

"The Path of Practice," and Sitting and Walking Meditation

Day of Mindfulness March 15 and other events

A Valentine from the Buddha: February 16 2008

New Year' Eve Celebration; Tuesday Dec 25 and Jan 1 no meeting at Riverside Church

November 17 Day of Mindfulness: Let the Buddha Breathe

Day of Mindfulness September 15: Calming the Fearful Mind: A Day of Beginning Anew

Queens Walking Meditation Sunday 10am, August 5

July 15 Peace is Every Step DVD, July 21 Morning of Mindfulness, 10-1pm

Day of Mindfulness June 16 2007

Day of Mindfulness May 19, May 20 Listen to Dharma Talk

April 21 Morning of Mindfulness: 10am -1pm at Riverside Church

"The secret of transformation Is in the way we handle this very moment.

Mindfulness Practices: Five Mindfulness Trainings, Shining Light, Generosity

Five Mindfulness Trainings Recitation March 4, 2007

Monasteries, Other Resources

Mindfulness Meditation: Walking and Sitting

Thich Nhat Hanh

Upcoming Events

Sangha meetings in NYC area: 2011

http://www.eomega.org/omega/workshops/c79c4e846136393831fd901fcd4c52 0c/