The Secret of Transformation: A Day of Mindfulness
"The present moment
Contains past and future.
The secret of transformation
Is in the way we handle this very moment."
In our July 15, 2017 Day of Mindfulness, we will explore this 'Secret of Transformation,' with the Practices of Sitting and Walking Meditation, Dharma Sharing, Mindful Eating, Mindful Movements and more: all grounded in mindful breathing
"When we realize that afflictions are no other than enlightenment,
We can ride the waves of birth and death in peace"
Is this our experience right now?
Can this Teaching become a question to plant into the Storehouse Consciousness?
We will maintain Noble Silence***, supporting each other with our presence and practice.
There will be guided meditations and suggestions for working skillfully with whatever presents itself.
And there will also be silent meditations and Individual Practice time.
Beginners Welcome.
Chairs and Cushions provided.
Lunch is from 1:00-2:00pm: bring your own vegetarian lunch.
Please do not wear fragrances.
***Noble Silence means: we refrain from all talking and "chit-chat" except during Dharma Sharing. Thus
we support our Sangha Friends in their practice. And the 'outer silence' allows us to look more deeply into our own life. We allow the calmness and silence to penetrate our flesh and bones.
When: Saturday July 15, 10:00-4:30pm: come for all or part of the Day.
Where: The Riverside Church, #20-T, 91 Claremont Avenue, in Manhattan.
By Donation [Dana, Free-Will Donation, Generosity]: Donations mainly pay the rent to Riverside
Church and the CMNY also donates to the TNH fund.
David Flint will lead the Day. David is a Dharma Teacher in the Plum Village/Thich Nhat Hanh lineage, receiving Lamp Transmission from Thay in 2011. He practices with the Riverside and Queens Sangha.
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]
