Monday, December 22, we will meet online.
Dear friends,
This week, we will meet Monday evening, December 22, from 7-8:30PM ET online; Wednesday morning, December 24, from 7-8AM ET in person at our meditation space (3812 Northampton Street NW); and Friday, December 26, 12-1PM ET online.
Magda will facilitate . Magda shares:
In Plum Village, the Buddhist monastic community in France founded by Thich Nhat Hanh, there is regular singing and chanting at sangha gatherings. At Plum Village retreat centers throughout the United States and other countries, music is often at the heart of the tradition to share the practice and warm the heart. Like gathas, singing helps us return to the present moment and truly practice mindfulness.
In celebration of the Second Mindfulness Training (see below), True Happiness, I would like to share a Monday night facilitation I shared several years ago. It was how singing brought much joy and happiness to me, and others, particularly during times of suffering. In remembering and reflecting back on that write-up, it brought a smile to my face, and I wanted to share part of that write-up with you.
“When I was thinking about facilitating for our Monday night sangha gathering, and trying to reflect on what was present for me and what teaching I might share with you, I remembered a morning last week that had a heartwarming effect on me. I share a weekly morning mindfulness/yoga practice with homeless men at a soup kitchen, and after our sitting meditation and mindful movements, I decided to share a song with them. The song was a Plum Village song, “When I Rise.” We have often sung at our gatherings, but for some reason, on that particular morning, it had a calmer and more joyful, and healing effect on all of us. There were just four of us that morning, and we all had tears in our eyes, tears of joy and of easing our suffering. We shared hugs and kisses; it was lovely. As Thay says, singing and chanting can ‘nourish our collective joy’ and spread happiness. I certainly felt it that day.”
I no longer share this practice with the men due to limitations at the soup kitchen, but I remember our gatherings fondly. However, I have found other opportunities to share the practice with the women’s program at the same soup kitchen, and together we sing and meditate, share our time and energy, and notice what is alive for us in our daily lives. This has become a true practice of generosity, where we take time to listen, understand, and really hear what one another shares without judgment. Our happiness and suffering are not separate.
My parents are elderly and quite sickly; my mom has dementia, and both parents are suffering with numerous physical challenges. Communication can sometimes be very difficult, and hard to know what to do or even how to act. However, in thinking about the Second Mindfulness Training, one of the ways I share my time and energy with them is by singing. My mom is often confused, but the act of singing songs with her and playing music that she remembers takes her out of her confusion. It has been a wonderful practice that brings a smile to her face. She is quite present and happy at those times. I have even shared some Plum Village songs with her.—I notice when I am feeling stressed, I often hum Plum Village songs.
Perhaps on Monday night, we can sing and share some songs together after our sitting meditation and reading the Five Mindfulness Trainings. Singing is a way to weave mindfulness into our daily lives and activities. We can enjoy the collective energy of the community and show generosity just by our deep listening to one another with songs and sharings that support our practice.
Below is a link to a Plum Village playlist you might enjoy. You may recognize many that we sing at our OHMC sangha:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obDspQjDUCo&t=200s
I invite you to join online Monday night and reflect on how your thinking, speaking, acting, and perhaps singing may nourish and support your practice to help ease suffering and create more joy and happiness.
I look forward to seeing you online on Monday night.
In love and light,
Camille
The Second Mindfulness Training:
True Happiness
Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I am committed to practicing generosity in my thinking, speaking, and acting. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others, and I will share my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need. I will practice looking deeply to see that the happiness and suffering of others are not separate from my own happiness and suffering; that true happiness is not possible without understanding and compassion; and that running after wealth, fame, power, and sensual pleasures can bring much suffering and despair. I am aware that happiness depends on my mental attitude and not on external conditions, and that I can live happily in the present moment simply by remembering that I already have more than enough conditions to be happy. I am committed to practicing Right Livelihood so that I can help reduce the suffering of living beings on Earth and stop contributing to climate change.