This is the path that goes to the shore of no-birth and no-death
Thay teaches us that: “When we see there is already a precious jewel in our pocket,
We give up every attitude of craving or coveting. Seeing that we are lions, we do not long to nurse from a mother deer.
Seeing that we are the sun, we give up the candle’s habit of fearing the wind.
Seeing that life has no boundaries, we give up all imprisoning divisions.”
[Breathe! You are Alive, 3rd edition, Kindle location 841]
In our Day together, we share the Practices of Sitting and Walking Meditation, Total Relaxation, Dharma Sharing, Mindful Eating, Mindful Movements and more: all grounded in mindful breathing and noble silence.*** 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.
“Just as space is not produced, does not age, does not suffer death, does not pass out of existence, does not come into existence, cannot be forcibly handled, cannot be carried away by thieves, rests on nothing, is the pathway of birds, presents no obstacles, is endless,
– so also Nibbæna is not produced,
does not age, does not suffer death, does not pass out of existence, does not come into existence, cannot be forcibly handled, cannot be carried away by thieves, rests on nothing, is the pathway of the Noble, presents no obstacles, is endless.”
[From The Island, Ajahn Amaro]
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Date: June 15, 2019
At Riverside Church, 20-T [91 Claremont Avenue, NY, NY]
10:00am-4:30pm. Arrive beginning at 9.50am. [Come for all or part of the Day, at anytime.]
10:00-12:50pm: Sitting and Walking Meditation, Mindful Movements, Personal Practice Time.
1:00-1:50: Lunch. Eaten together in mindfulness and silence. [Bring your own vegetarian lunch.]
2:00-2:40: Total Relaxation.
2:50-3:20: Walking and Sitting Meditation
3:30-4:15: Dharma Sharing. Close the Day.
Beginners Welcome. Chairs and Cushions Provided.
Please do not wear fragrances.
Bring your own vegetarian lunch.
***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.
Teachings
The Buddha taught that [instructions to Bahiya].
"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."
“Before you can answer the question, “What will happen to me after I die?” you need to answer another question,
“What is happening to me in the present moment?”
Examining this question is the essence of meditation. If we don’t know how to look deeply to what is happening to us in the here and the now,
how can we know what will happen to us when we are dead?
I don’t care at all what happens to me when I die. That’s why I have a lot of time to care about what is happening to me in the here and the now. When I walk, I want to enjoy every step I take. I want freedom and peace and joy in every step. So joy and peace and lightness are what I produce in that moment. I have inherited it and I pass it on to other people.
If someone sees me walking this way and decides to walk mindfully for him or herself,
then I am reborn in him or in her right away—that’s my continuation.”
[Excerpted from “This Silence is Called Great Joy”]
