Monday, May 31, 2021

May 31, 2021

 

In honor of Memorial Day, 2021


May all sentient beings who have 
served in war,
died in war,
suffered in war
be honored on this day.

May all sentient beings who have
lost their families in war,
their homes  and livelihoods,
their place of birth and connection
be honored on this day.

May we remember and honor them, 
carrying them in our hearts 
throughout space and time.



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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • John Witter, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who died on May 11, 2021
    • Shanti, Steven and Selora Lane's dog who died on May 2, 2021
    • Shirley Snell, Merrill Snell's mother, who died on April 23, 2021
    • Kenny Merrill, Misha's cousin, who died from ALS on March 20, 2021
    • Lally Hass, Kathleen Dickey's aunt, who died 3/7/2021  
    • Jesse Schouboe, dear friend of GJ Scove, who died on 2/27/21 in a car crash
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Dainuri Rott who has been operated on for a brain tumor
    • Fritz Hartog, Sue Jensen's brother in law, who is recuperating
    • Les Kaye, who has begun another round of chemotherapy
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke
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Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
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Friday, May 14, 2021

May 14, 2021

 From Zen Master Dogen Zenji's Fukanzazengi  


Who would take wasteful delight in the spark from the flintstone? Besides, form and substance are like the dew on the grass, destiny like the dart of lightning - emptied in an instant, vanished in a flash. Please, honored followers of Zen, long accustomed to groping for the elephant, do not be suspicious of the true dragon. 

Submitted by Sylvia Hawley




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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Shanti, Steven and Selora Lane's dog who died on May 2, 2021
    • Shirley Snell, Merrill Snell's mother, who died on April 23, 2021
    • Kenny Merrill, Misha's cousin, who died from ALS on March 20, 2021
    • Lally Hass, Kathleen Dickey's aunt, who died 3/7/2021  
    • Jesse Schouboe, dear friend of GJ Scove, who died on 2/27/21 in a car crash
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Fritz Hartog, Sue Jensen's brother in law, who had surgery today and is in ICU
    • John Hass, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who has entered hospice
    • Les Kaye, who has begun another round of chemotherapy
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke
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Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Sunday, May 9, 2021

May 9, 2021

Happy Mother's Day!

Buddhist tradition and folklore is full of divine maternal figures who offer compassion, loving care, and protection, from the radiant wisdom mother Prajnaparamita, to the Earth Mother goddess Prithvi, to Tara, the Mother of all Buddhas.

There's a Tibetan teaching that recognizes all beings as having been a mother in a previous lifetime.  The teaching also asks us to contemplate the kindness of our own mother or whomever it was that took care of us when we were young.  What would it look like to bring this wisdom into our lives today?

This Mother's Day, we're celebrating the sacred role of the mother in Buddhist teachings as well as the mother features in our own lives--however difficult or imperfect our relationships with them might be.  May we honor those who gave us life, knowing that there is no one right way to be a mother.

From Tricylce Magazine, submitted by Bill Clopton

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Shanti, Steven and Selora Lane's dog who died on May 2, 2021
    • Shirley Snell, Merrill Snell's mother, who died on April 23, 2021
    • Kenny Merrill, Misha's cousin, who died from ALS on March 20, 2021
    • Lally Hass, Kathleen Dickey's aunt, who died 3/7/2021  
    • Jesse Schouboe, dear friend of GJ Scove, who died on 2/27/21 in a car crash
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Fritz Hartog, Sue Jensen's brother in law, who had surgery today and is in ICU
    • John Hass, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who has entered hospice
    • Les Kaye, who has begun another round of chemotherapy
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke
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Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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Tuesday, May 4, 2021

May 4, 2021

Mahapajapati Opens the Door

Mahapajapati was the aunt and foster mother of the buddha and a queen of the Shakyas.  Many women turned to her for counsel when their husbands and sons left home to join the Buddha's order.  She was the first to ask the Buddha if women could also ordain.

The Buddha replied, "Don't set your heart on this."  She asked two more times and received the same answer.  She departed in tears.

Later Mahapajapati and five hundred other women cut off their hair, put on saffron-colored robes, and walked barefoot for hundreds of miles to where the Buddha was teaching.  Weeping, they stood outside the gates. Andanda saw them there and asked Mahapajapati, "Why are you crying/"

"Because the Buddha does not permit women to ordain."

Ananda went to the Buddha and said, "Your aunt is standing outside with swollen feet, covered with dust, crying because you do not permit women to ordain.  It would be good, Lord, if women had permission to ordain." 

The Buddha replied, "Enough, Ananda.  Don't set your heart on this." Ananda asked two more times to no avail.  Then he asked, "Are women able, Lord, to realize the full fruits of the the way, even arahantship?"

"Yes, Ananda, they are."

"Since women are able to realize perfection, and Mahapajapati was so kind to you--caring for you and suckling you at her own breast--surely it would be good if women were allowed to ordain." The Buddha relented, and the sangha of women was born.

From "The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty Five Centuries of Awakened Women" (Edited by Florence Caplow and Susan Moon)

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please offer bows in honor of:
    • Shanti, Steven and Selora Lane's dog who died on May 2, 2021
    • Shirley Snell, Merrill Snell's mother, who died on April 23, 2021
  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Kenny Merrill, Misha's cousin, who died from ALS on March 20, 2021
    • Lally Hass, Kathleen Dickey's aunt, who died 3/7/2021  
    • Jesse Schouboe, dear friend of GJ Scove, who died on 2/27/21 in a car crash
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Marya Shahinian, who has had two outpatient surgeries and is recovering
    • Fritz Hartog, Sue Jensen's brother in law, who had surgery today and is in ICU
    • John Hass, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who has entered hospice
    • Les Kaye, who has begun another round of chemotherapy
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is recovering after finishing a successful round of chemotherapy...his tumors are gone!  
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery from a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________


Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:
_____________________________________________________________________
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