In the reading/studying phase of our efforts we may open curiosity-pattern recognition in Buckminster Fuller terms. This opening is a spark of energy. Intuitively charged we surf the awareness of insight.

Robert Atkins-roshi spoke of Virya as having three parts. The first is character as in Sila, a sense of clear appropriate direction. Second, molding or taking responsibility for our practice and third, emergence of Bodhicitta (a spontaneous wish to attain enlightenment motivated by great compassion for all sentient beings), the encompassing of the other as interconnected (https://www.thoughtco.com/virya-paramita-perfection-of-energy-449709). Here one will see the interdependence of of other key concepts in our Practice. For example Right Effort, Right Concentration, Attachment and Desire come to mind. I think Virya is akin to to awe or having a burst of Wow. This carried gently by us, radiates or oozes effort and concentration not in a demanding (addicted) way as in must have at any cost to others (desire) but the red-hot-ball-of lead-in-the-belly propulsion.

I like the legend of what the five ascetics beheld as their friend approached, here was a person not recognized at first because of a bright or light quality (what we might call an inner-glow) that foretold the story he would share. If indeed we are slow and sleepy in our delusion then a "Buddha" would seem energized- so be IT. Thus a diligence is established as we do this because we are this and this does such.

Here I think we become our practice, not a hair's breath of difference, we face the moment within a spot of light that penetrates the surface into the core, the essence impermanence and interconnectivity of the universe-very refreshing...

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Jacquline-ni will be hosting a picnic for our Sangha and friends on JULY 8. Details will be coming next week. PLEASE EMAIL JACQULINE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AND TO LET HER KNOW YOU WILL JOIN US... jacqueline Lee <jackiejane@comcast.net>

• May 30 service will be on The Six Perfections and the third Prajna-Virya or Energy/Diligence

• Dokusan will be offered...

Our Beach sitting on the Bike-Path at Oyster Pond and Surf Drive has begun, from 6:30AM until 7:00AM then we all go to PIE-IN-THE SKY in Woods Hole for coffee.

1. During May, we will explore The Six Perfections, or paramitas that are guides for Mahayana Buddhist practice. They are virtues to be cultivated to strengthen practice and bring one to enlightenment. The Six Perfections describe the true nature of an enlightened being, which, in Mahayana practice, is to say they are our own true buddha-nature. If they don't seem to be our true nature, it is because the perfections are obscured by our delusion, anger, greed, and fear. By cultivating these perfections, we bring this true nature into expression. For an excellent overview go to: https://www.thoughtco.com/the-six-perfections-449611

2. Like String for Beads, is a compilation of my Dharma talks, notes, poems and Facebook comments I have produced over the last five years. Special thanks to Enjitsu-san Chris Charyk for pulling the pieces together in this book! There will be copies available every Tuesday night, or let me know if you want me to mail you a copy. The book is $15 per copy.

3. Visit our new library named for Diane “Yugen” Tucker. The cart was a donation to the Sangha by Kyoshin Elin Kinney as Dana for her Jukai on November 5, 2016…many bows! The books will be added over the next few weeks and Kyoshin-ni has agreed to be our Librarian. A donation of $1 is recommend to check out books and magazines for up to three weeks. It really is a cute cart drop-by and see it soon. Oh, we wheel it out each Tuesdays and for zazenkai and sesshin, or if you would like to see if we have a book you want, get in touch with Elin <elinkinney@gmail.com>.

4. Meditation is also held each TUESDAY at 10:00AM at the Falmouth Senior Center.

5. Last night the Buddhist Book Bunch met and finished discussing Being Upright which we found to be practical and inspirational. Look for a copy in our rolling yellow library. (Thanks Phil!) At the meeting, Sensei announced our summer book. Remember that the Falmouth Soto Zen Buddhist Book Bunch does not hold meetings from June to August and we will resume our monthly meetings in September.

6. Over the summer, we invite you to read, The Fruitful Darkness by Joan Halifax. Grove Press describes the book published originally in 1993 as: Buddhist teacher and anthropologist Joan Halifax Roshi delves into "the fruitful darkness” --the shadow side of being, found in the root truths of Native religions, the fecundity of nature, and the stillness of meditation. In this highly personal and insightful odyssey of the heart and mind, she encounters Tibetan Buddhist meditators, Mexican shamans, and Native American elders, among others. In rapt prose, she recounts her explorations--from Japanese Zen meditation to hallucinogenic plants, from the Dogon people of Mali to the Mayan rain forest, all the while creating "an adventure of the spirit and a feast of wisdom old and new” (Peter Matthiessen). Halifax believes that deep ecology (which attempts to fuse environmental awareness with spiritual values) works in tandem with Buddhism and shamanism to discover "the interconnectedness of all life,” and to regain life’s sacredness.We will discuss The Fruitful Darkness at our meeting on September 24th from 6:30-8:00 at 41 Carol Avenue in East Falmouth.Gassho~Koin-ni (Sue)

7. Our Zendo is open at 6:30PM (good time for newcomers to get aquatinted) at the UUFF, 840 Sandwich Road, for our weekly service which starts at 7:00PM. Also feel free to stay afterwards to chat and or ask questions...