August 9, 2020

 The Buddhist Fourth Precept

Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech 

and the inability to listen to others,

I vow to cultivate loving speech and deep listening 

in order to bring joy and happiness 

to others and relieve others of their suffering.  

Knowing that words can create happiness 

of suffering, I vow to learn to speak truthfully, 

with words that inspire self-confidence, joy, and hope. 

I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain 

and not to criticize or condemn things of which I am not sure. 

I will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord, 

or that can cause the family or the community to break.  

I will make all efforts to reconcile and 

resolve all conflicts, however small. 

 

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Our ZHS on-line schedule:  

• Mondays: 7-8:30pm - zazen, short service, lecture/discussion
• Tuesdays-Fridays: 5:30-6:10pm - zazen, offering of merit/bows
• Saturdays: 8:00-10:15am - zazen, short service, tea, discussion/study
• For more information:  www.zenheartsangha.org) 

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Special bows for today: 

• Please offer bows for Ofelia mendez, Jorge Luis Mendez, Lazara and her mother, relatives of Lilliana Mendez-Soto who have contracted COVID
• Please offer bows for John Lewis, civil rights leader, who died on July 17th
• Please offer bows for Gail Boreman Bird, Stephen' Boremans sister, who died on June 27th at age 75
• Please offer bows for Harada Sekkei Roshi who died on June 20th at age 93
• Please offer bows for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and others who have died from police brutality
• Please offer bows for Dottie Kelly, Misha's family member, who died of lung disease on May 20th
• Please continue to offer bows of well-being for:   
• Sherril Miller, Shannon's aunt, who has a broken humerus
• Brent DeNardo, Aaron's brother, who has contracted COVID
• Rev. Les Kaye, Misha’s Zen teacher, who is recovering at home undergoing chemotherapy

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Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:

• Zen Heart Sangha website: resources about COVID-19: www.zenheartsangha.org
• From our dharma friends, Diane and Wing: Dismantling the master's house:  https://www.lionsroar.com/dismantling-the-masters-house/amp/
• From our dharma sister, Misha:  incredible graphics and information about COVID-19  https://informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/covid-19-coronavirus-infographic-datapack/
• From our dharma brother, Bill:  Buddhism in women's prisons:   https://tricycle.org/magazine/buddhism-in-womens-prisons/

• From our dharma sister, Nancy:  Spirituality and interconnectedness through time   https://www.brainpickings.org/2018/04/19/lynn-margulis-talking-on-the-water/
• From our dharma sister, Camille: an important commentary on race, riots and society to help us understand from Trevor Noah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4amCfVbA_c
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Many thanks to those of you who are sending me articles to share, links to helpful information, and for making comments…it is a gift beyond measure. Please know that you can either leave a comment on the blog itself, or send something directly to me and I will be happy to paste it in.