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