Virtually at the ADMC this week / May 3 - May 9
Dear Friends and ADMC Members,
We continue our commitment to our community. As you may be aware we have a collection barrel for Hunger First, in the lobby of our building. This is accessible during most weekdays. In addition to nonperishable food, we ask that you consider donating personal hygiene items as well: toilet paper, hand sanitizer, feminine products, soap, toothbrush/toothpaste etc. These items offer a small opportunity to relieve the suffering of the low income, no income and unhoused individuals in our area.
Thank you for your continued support and generosity.
Library/Meditation Room Hours
Going forward there will not be set hours for the library/meditation room. If you’d like to drop by please email library@dharma4et.org with some times you’d like to come by. Someone will respond to confirm that they can meet you.
Monday Evening → Western Buddhist Group
May 3rd 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Please NOTE this session will be meeting Virtually, NOT in person
We have begun reading and discussing together:
Living Kindness: The Buddha’s Ten Guiding Principles for a Blessed Life, by Donald Altman
Living Kindness—a book that was used at the United Nations to teach meditation and as required reading for a Buddhist Chaplaincy program—invites you to deeply experience and integrate the Buddha’s ten guiding principles for leading a blessed life. This week we will look at the second principle of Effort. Effort is one principle without which none of the others would be possible. In spiritual pursuits, what appears so easy is often very difficult. That is why effort is such an important tool.
https://www.amazon.com/Living-Kindness-Buddhas-Guiding-Principles/dp/0963916165/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=living+kindness&qid=1609709811&sr=8-2As always, we will read the book aloud and discuss as we go along. It will be helpful, but not necessary to have the book.
This week we will look at Principle 9: Equanimity (Upekkha Paramita)
“Upekkha Paramita, or the principle of equanimity, points the way toward approaching life’s ups and downs with a sense of balance, magnanimity, and neutrality. With equanimity, we are not aimlessly tossed about by every storm of pain or breeze of pleasure that blows through our lives.” ~ Donald Altman
All are welcome.
Zoom Info
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81067383839?pwd=N2xCZHM4TzZrcXpWNFEvNWpLdVpJdz09
- Meeting ID: 810 6738 3839
- Passcode: dharma4et
- One tap mobile
- +13126266799,,81067383839#,,,,,,0#,,756460438# US (Chicago)
- +16465588656,,81067383839#,,,,,,0#,,756460438# US (New York)
- Dial by your location
- +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
- +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Wednesday Morning → Western Buddhist Group
*May 5th 9:30 - 11:00 am
Please NOTE this session will be meeting Virtually, NOT in person
We will read and discuss the Lojong Slogan #42: Whatever of the two occurs, be patient.
“Whatever happens in your life, joyful or painful, do not be swept away be reactivity. Be patient with yourself and don’t lose you sense of perspective.” (Pema Chodron)
Zoom Info
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81067383839?pwd=N2xCZHM4TzZrcXpWNFEvNWpLdVpJdz09
- Meeting ID: 810 6738 3839
- Passcode: dharma4et
- One tap mobile
- +13126266799,,81067383839#,,,,,,0#,,756460438# US (Chicago)
- +16465588656,,81067383839#,,,,,,0#,,756460438# US (New York)
- Dial by your location
- +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
- +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Wednesday Evening → Cultivating Qualities of the Heart
May 5th 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Please NOTE this session will be meeting Virtually, NOT in person
Please join us this week as we continue to look at the Paramitas.
The Sanskrit word paramita means to cross over to the other shore. Paramita may also be translated as perfection, perfect realisation, or reaching beyond limitation.
Through the practice of these paramitas, we cross over the sea of suffering (samsara) to the shore of happiness and awakening (nirvana); we cross over from ignorance and delusion to enlightenment. Each of the paramitas is an enlightened quality of the heart.
This week: Equanimity
“The qualities of equanimity are revealed by the term tatramajjhattata,meaning “to stand in the middle of all this.” As a form of equanimity, this “being in the middle” refers to balance, to remaining centered in the middle of whatever is happening. This form of balance comes from some inner strength or stability. The strong presence of inner calm, well-being, confidence, vitality, or integrity can keep us upright, like ballast keeps a ship upright in strong winds.” (Gil Fronsdale)
- Resolution: Balanced in body, heart, and mind, may I be nonreactive to what arises and passes away.
- Mantra: May I become nonreactive to the unexpected changes of life. (Jean Smith, Life is a Spiritual Practice)
Then will continue in the next several weeks with the remaining ten perfections in the Theravada tradition which are (1) generosity (dāna), (2) morality (sīla), (3) renunciation (nekhamma), (4) insight (pañña), (5) energy (viriya), (6) patience (khanti), (7) truthfulness (sacca), (8) resolution (adhiṭṭhāna), (9) loving-kindness (metta), and (10) equanimity (upekkhā)
All are welcome.
Zoom Info
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81067383839?pwd=N2xCZHM4TzZrcXpWNFEvNWpLdVpJdz09
- Meeting ID: 810 6738 3839
- Passcode: dharma4et
- One tap mobile
- +13126266799,,81067383839#,,,,,,0#,,756460438# US (Chicago)
- +16465588656,,81067383839#,,,,,,0#,,756460438# US (New York)
- Dial by your location
- +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
- +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Thursday Evening → Mindful Recovery
May 6th 6:45pm
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.
Zoom Info
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8767685521?pwd=cUtIZXZaeENqS0FLT25LeGo3czNuQT09
- Meeting ID: 876 768 5521
- Password: 870697
- One tap mobile
- +16465588656,,8767685521#,,,,0#,,870697# US (New York)
- +13017158592,,8767685521#,,,,0#,,870697# US (Germantown)
- Dial by your location
- +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
- +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Sunday Afternoon → Zen Meditation
May 9th 3:30pm
Our weekly meeting focuses on Zen teachings and meditation. All are welcome - newcomers and experienced seekers.
NOTE 1: The Zen group will be gathering at 9am for the bell to ring at 9:30am for the rest of the winter.
NOTE 2: The Zen group is now meeting, socially distanced and with masks required, at an outdoor location (no Zoom). Andrew is emailing details out about these meetings. If you want to attend and haven’t seen an email from Andrew please email the center at mail@dharma4et.org and we will get you added!
To support our sangha, its members, and the community we have set up a food and supply donation container at the center.
Please consider practicing the paramita of generosity to strengthen our sangha community.
Donations of food and clothing collected at the center so far have been given to Hunger First in Kingsport, and much appreciated, especially since the weather just took a turn and temperatures dropped. We will continue to receive donations in the boxes we have provided at ADMC. Thank you so much for your generosity.
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!
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.
