Here's what's happening this week at ADMC

Monday March 25 7:00 - 8:30pm	Western Buddhist Group - We will be reading and discussing Why Buddhism Is True by Robert Wright.
Wednesday March 27 9:30 - 11am	Western Buddhist Group - (formerly Holston Valley Sangha) - Will now be meeting at ADMC in Johnson City. This week we will begin a study and practice of Lojong. The lojong teachings are organized around seven points that contain fifty-nine slogans that remind us how we can use our difficulties and problems as the raw material to awaken our hearts and uncontrived compassion. For the next couple of weeks we will begin an introduction to the practice, and will eventually take a different slogan each week to consider in depth. Our core text will be The Intelligent Heart: A Guide to the Compassionalte Life by Dzigar Kongtrul, but we will us many other texts and audio recordings to enrich our understanding. You may purchase the book, but it is not necessary as we will read it together during our session. Using addiitonal resources, we will spend one more week with Slogan #1: First train in the preliminaries. Maintain an awareness of this precious human life. Be aware of the reality that life ends; death come for everyone (Impermanence) Recall that whatever you do, whether virtuous or not, has a result; what goes around comes around (Karma). Contemplate that as long as you are too focused on self-importance and too caught up in thinking about how you are good or bad, you will suffer. Obsessing about getting what you want and avoiding what you don't want does not result in happiness.
Wednesday March 27 6:30 - 7:30pm	Cultivating Qualities of the Heart Before we begin our in depth look at the Paramitas (Perfetions), this week we will go into the "Foundations for Happiness" according to Jean Smith's book Life Is Spiritual Practice: Achieving Happiness with the Ten Perfections with the first consideration being "Suffering as the Beginning of Happiness." How can we turn our worst moments into opportunities.
Thursday March 28 7 - 8pm	Mindful Recovery - Anyone recovering from any type of addiction, including alcoholism and drug addiction, is invited to attend this group. The group can serve as an alternative to, or an addition to, traditional 12-step recovery meetings. Respecting the sensitivities of others, please refrain from using heavy fragrances when you attend. For more information contact us .
Sunday March 31 10am - 12pm	Zen Meditation - Our weekly meeting focuses on Zen meditation techniques and teachings. We welcome newcomers; you do not need to be an experienced meditator to learn about Zen. Our typical Sunday schedule is as follows: 10:00 Welcome and introduction for new attendees 10:30 Zazen, followed by kinhin (walking meditation), followed by another period of zazen 11:15ish Dharma talk (a reading and/or discussion) 11:30ish Tea and social time For further information about our weekly meeting contact zen@dharma4et.org. If you are new to Zen, a good description of how we sit for zazen can be found at https://www.rzc.org/get-started-zen/how-to-sit/. We have zafu (cushions) and zabatons (mats) at the zendo for your use. Many books recommended by our facilitators can be found at the Zen section of our Amazon Store.

News

Holston Valley Sangha (Wednesday morning session that used to meet at UU Church) will now be meeting at ADMC in Johnson City.
See the website's embedded Twitter feed for last minute schedule changes and notices. Follow us on Twitter @AppDharma.
Visit our Summer Poetry page for a different perspective on practice.
Please shop at our Store to help support Appalachian Dharma!

Socks for the Homeless

Spreading kindness and joy with a simple gift

Help keep someone warm this winter with something as simple as a new pair of socks.
Please donate ONLY new men's white cotton crew socks. The homeless can usually get donated clothes and food but rarely do people donate socks. Socks are the number one needed clothing item according to a recent national survey.
Donations will be gratefully accepted through the winter and maybe beyond.

Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness.

Special Notes

Lama Gursam's visit to Appalachian Dharma on May 1, 2015, to speak about the meaning of Om Mani Padme Hum as well as compassion and meditation in everyday life has been preserved in this video.

Appalachian Dharma & Meditation Center's Chairperson was on WETS, 89.5 FM, Thursday, July 28 and Sunday, July 1, 2012. To hear the podcast, go to: religionforlife.podomatic.com/entry/2012-07-03T07_00_00-07_00 or visit the interviewer's Religion For Life web site at www.religionforlife.com.

The vision of the Appalachian Dharma & Meditation Center is to facilitate a community of Buddhist practice that fosters the integration of wisdom and compassion. Our aim, as individuals and as a community, is to cultivate insight into the nature of mind and reality and overcome ego-orientated ways of being. We are a nonsectarian Buddhist center that offers weekly programs in Zen and Western Buddhism.

Appalachian Dharma & Meditation Center is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.