The Buddha is inviting us to come home to ourselves. This is the Buddha within, the seeds of awakening and compassion that are always within us.
Autumn is here, and we are slowly making our descent into cooler, crisper, and quieter days, inviting us be fully in touch and embrace the changes within us, and the changes in nature around us.
We will deeply explore one of the Buddha’s most foundational teachings, the Anapanasati Sutra, or the Discourse on the Full Awareness of Breathing. Anapana means breath or breathing, and sati means mindful awareness. Throughout his life, Thich Nhat Hanh taught this teaching again and again, to empower his students with this practice. The teaching uses 16 steps of breathing, broken into four categories:
Body (Breath, awareness of the body, relaxing the body)
Feelings / emotions (cultivating joyful / contented states of mind, & embracing difficult ones)
Mental states (gladdening, concentrating, calming the mind)
Objects of mind / Dharmas (focusing on impermance, letting go, etc.)
The point of this practice is not to cultivate perfection, but rather, to use the Buddha’s guidance to support us in experiencing more peace, joy, compassion, and insights in our practice, and within our daily lives.
Our day will also include a tea ceremony, a hallmark practice of our Plum Village tradition.
About “The Roots of Buddhism” Series
Our “Roots of Buddhism” is our new series at Greatwoods Zen in which every two months, we dive more deeply into the Buddha’s original teachings. These are not merely intellectual or philosophical explorations; rather, we inquire and discover how these teachings apply to the most important questions and situations of our every day lives and practice.
As a complement to the joyous and social nature of our community, these days of mindfulness will be practiced in noble silence, where we will have an opportunity to touch the deeper threads of our practice individually and collectively. Have you ever experienced a whole day of silence in community? It is a real treat, a retreat!
Lunch
Please bring: lunch for yourself, and a little something to share with others (if you want).
Cost:
Scholarships are available. No one will ever be turned away due to financial obstacles.
(Our registration page will allow you to pay whatever you choose)
Supporter Rate: $75
Sustainer Rate: $55
Supported Rate: $35
Registration
Please register in advance.
