Cultivating Joy Day of Mindfulness and "Wake Up" Open House

November 17: Cultivating Joy Day of Mindfulness

Community of Mindfulness New York /Metro

Inspired by the Teachings and Practice of Thich Nhat Hanh

Invites us to practice Cultivating Joy  together :

Day of Mindfulness

with Dharma Teacher John Bell

Saturday, November 17, 2012  10a.m. to 4:30p.m. (Please Arrive by 9:45)

. The Riverside Church, Assembly Hall, 91 Claremont Avenue ( 120-122nd Sts, one block W of Broadway)

                                                                           Cultivating Joy! 

 The Buddha started with relieving suffering, but the goal is true joy.  Among the hundreds of pathways to happiness, in this day of mindfulness we will focus on a few that intentionally incline the mind towards joy.  We will enjoy sitting and walking, singing and gratitude practice. We will explore ways of finding joy in difficult times, appreciating ourselves no matter what, and sitting with what ever arises--and therein lies liberation. The day will include healing silence and raucous interaction!

                                                                                           with  John Bell

John first met Thich Nhat Hanh in 1982, after which he began reading and attending retreats, became a member of the Order of Interbeing in 2001 and received “lamp transmission” as a dharma teacher in 2010.  John founded the Mountain Bell Sangha, near  Boston, in 1997, and it has  been going strong ever since. He has offered many Days of Mindfulness and retreats. John is particularly interested in combining “Mindfulness and Emotional Healing”. He says that It is a great gift to have found this practice and  he loves sharing it.

WAKE UP OPEN HOUSE 

An All-Ages, All Sanghas Gathering
With Dharma Teachers
Marjorie, David and Dennis

Sitting, Walking, Tea and Dharma Talk

December 1st 2012

Starting at 1:30 PM

Atmananda Yoga Center

67 Irving Place ( South Entrance) 2nd Floor

New York, NY 10003

http://wakeupnewyork.org/what-is-wake-up/

Day of Mindfulness: October 20, 2012

Dear Friends,

 

Please enjoy having 'nothing to do and nowhere to go' at this Saturday's Day of Mindfulness.  In our sitting and walking meditation, eating, dharma sharing  and mindful movements we will explore this 'nothing to do and nowhere to do.'  

 

Thay [Thich Nhat Hanh] says that:  "the businessless person is someone who doesn't run after enlightenment or grasp at anything, even if that thing is the Buddha.  This person has simply stopped.  She is no longer caught by anything, even theories or teachings....When we learn to stop and be truly alive in the present moment, we are in touch with what's going on in and around us.  We aren't carried away by the past, the future, our thinking, ideas, emotions, and projects...Insight can't be found in sutras, commentaries, or Dharma talks....This is like hoping to find fresh water in dry bones....

The person who has nothing to do is sovereign of herself.  She doesn't have to put on airs or leave any trace behind.  The true person is an active participant, engaged in her environment while remaining unoppressed by it.  Although all phenomena are going through the various appearances of birth, abiding, changing, and dying, the true person doesn't become a victim of sadness, happiness, love, or hate....In doing nothing, in simply stopping, we can live freely and true to ourselves and our liberation will contribute to the liberation of all beings"**

So the practice instructions will be simple: 'breathing in, I know I am breathing in [with nowhere to go] and breathing out I know I am breathing out [with nothing to do.]  And each of us will still have to find our own way: 'nothing to do and nowhere to go' in the middle of the experience of an unpleasant emotion of physical sensation or a daydream, or deep peace, or an agitated mind or a happy mind.  

Dry bones or fresh water?

 

Attend all or part of the Day: instructions are given and beginners are welcome.  Chairs and cushions available.  Please do not wear fragrances.  We eat lunch together in silence, so bring a vegetarian lunch for yourself.  Lunch is around 1:15-2:15pm.]

At the Wellness Center at Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue, Manhattan. [between 120-122nd Streets, one block west of Broadway.]

Schedule [subject to change]

Saturday October 20, 2012

9:45-10am  Arrive.

10-10:45: mindul movements, sitting meditation

10:45-11:00-Walking Meditation

11:00-11:30: Sitting Meditation

11:30-12:00: Walking Meditation, Mindful Movements

12:00-12:30-Sitting Meditation

12:30-1pm-Outdoor Walking [weather permitting]

1:15-2:15-Lunch/Rest

2:30-3pm: Total Relaxation

3:10-3:45--Walking and Sitting Meditation

3:45-4:30-Dharma Sharing/Close

The Day will be led by David Flint and Walter Lyons of the Riverside and Morningstar Sanghas.