Dear Open Door Sangha, There are many great opportunities to meditate and learn coming up. Here is a list by date and some other announcements.
1. May 18: Free public talk and discussion by Tsoknyi Rinpoche
OPEN HEART, OPEN MIND
Friday, May 18, 7 pm
Unity Church
227 E Arrellaga St., Santa Barbara
Most of us yearn for a life free of fear, pain, insecurity, and doubt. We long for peace, for the ability to love and be loved openly and freely, and the confidence and clarity to meet the various challenges we face in our daily lives. One of the most beloved of the contemporary generation of Tibetan Buddhist meditation masters and a teacher to many of the Spirit Rock teachers of members of the Open Door Sangha, Tsoknyi Rinpoche explains that such a life is not only possible: it’s our birthright. Within each of us resides a spark of unparalleled brilliance, an unlimited capacity for warmth, openness, and courage, which Rinpoche identifies as “essence love.”
More information at: http://www.snowcrest.net/ksnow/events.htm
2. May 19-20: Non-residential week end workshop
“Not Self” in the Brain -
Rick Hanson, Ph.D
Hosted by White Heron Sangha
Morro Bay Vets’ Hall, 209 Surf St, Morro Bay 93442
Cost:$40.00 register at http://www.whiteheronsangha.org
We all experience having a particular identity which helps us navigate in the world – but that very sense of self is also a great source of suffering, as we cling to its wants and react to how others treat it. The Buddha taught that not-self was one of the three fundamental characteristics of existence, alongside impermanence and suffering – but what he actually meant by that has been the subject of much discussion ever since. In this workshop, we will examine the apparent “self” – and its release – in light of Buddhism, evolution, and modern brain science; these perspectives inform each other, and together they offer powerfully practical tools for deconstructing the apparent self.
3. May 23 (Wed): Free Public Talk by Meditation Teacher Shantum Seth
More Information Coming Soon. Please Hold the Date
Hosted by Open Door Sangha
4. June 8-10: Public Talk and Week End Meditation Retreat
with Spirit Rock Teacher Howard Cohn
More information soon. Please hold the date.
Hosted by Open Door Sangha
5. Aug 2-5: Residential retreat in Santa Barbara with Ventura Insight teacher Susan Pembroke
Awakening: Living with Ease and Joy
August 2,3,4,5
La Casa de Maria, Santa Barbara
Commuters welcome
http://www.insightventura.net/retreats.htm
During this four-day retreat, we will explore what it means to “awaken,” to live in freedom, ease, and peace, supported by love, and extending this love to all we meet. How do we do this? This will be the theme for this lovely, long summer weekend. We will begin with examining how we trip over ourselves and make life complicated and difficult, how we create separation and discontent. We will practice making a conscious choice to do life differently, to embrace each moment the way we would greet a dear friend not seen for many years.
6. Alliance for Bhkkunhis looking for treasurer.
The Board of the Alliance for Bhikkhunis (AfB) is searching for a Treasurer.
Ideally, the candidate should be grounded in Theravada Buddhism and care deeply about efforts to protect the Bhikkhuni Sangha revival worldwide. This individual should also reside in California, have accounting or bookkeeping experience as well as knowledge of Excel and other software programs, and be available to attend Board meetings via conference calls.
The incumbent’s responsibilities include: recording donations and depositing them by appropriate means; reporting new donors’ addresses to the Secretary; making payments as authorized by the Board; reviewing and reconciling monthly bank statements; reviewing periodic reports from income sources such as PayPal and FirstGiving; maintaining complete income and expense records; presenting a report on these records at each Board meeting; taking steps necessary to ensure the timely filing of state and federal taxes; and providing other financial reports as requested by the Board.
If interested, please contact AfB’s Vice President, Carol Annable at carolannable@bhikkhuni.net
7. Dharma Lending Library - A number of Sangha members have donated dharma books for lending. The library is in the small Chapel at the Unity Church where the Monday and Tuesday night sitting groups meet. Please feel free to borrow, read, and return books on an honor system. Book donations welcome.
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