On July 13, 2017 I gave a Dharma talk at our STO Annual Conference on the eight precept: "Do not Spare the Dharma Assets. " In the presentation I offered two things. First my thoughts on the origin, meaning and use of the vow and second providing a mind-map of my talk. Note you can save the MindMap as a PDF and enlarge it for better reading
In many ways a MindMap is a free form model of thinking, a kind of free flowing consciousness frozen in time. So for the giving freely of the Dharma is providing a offering or teisho (teaching) on Buddha-Dharma or the how The Buddha taught to see beyond the surface of our temporal experience into the essence of the universe-impermanence and interconnectedness.
So now for the readers chance to see what she/he sees. I am asking those who wish to participate to review the mind-map above and send me an Email (sensei@falmouthsotozensangha.net)
about what they understand it to mean. Don't worry no grading, just my gratitude for a mindful effort-have fun! At our Tuesday night service I'll ask those present to do the same.
A pointer, think of the items as fingers pointing to your awareness of the interconnected co-arising of the talk arriving at your understanding of sharing the Dharma assets...
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Dharma Talk for Tuesday August 1, 2017 is "MindMap as Skillful Means," Dokusan will be offered, and we will also bless a new icon for the Zendo that I bought at the 40th Anniversary auction when in Atlanta.
As continued outreach in the Falmouth community, I will be working on a "Connectivity and Relationships" as a central feature of a group discussion fellowship on remaining sober and not using, as a path to address alcohol and drug abuse. More about this as it unfolds
DATES SENSEI IS AWAY: Sangha Services will be lead by different members who have taken Jukai.
In November I will be away on a 30 day Priest's Ango or teaching sesshin, but will Skype in Dharma Talks...
November 7, 14, 21 and 28
December 5
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. 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.
2. 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>.
3. Meditation is also held each TUESDAY at 10:00AM at the Falmouth Senior Center.
4. 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.
5. 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)
6. 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...