Monday, July 27, we will meet in person.
Go to calendar for our schedule
Address for OHMC meditation space:
3812 Northampton St. NW, Washington DC 20015
Please arrive a few minutes early so we can invite the bell on time. You may also arrive 15 minutes early to practice working meditation by helping us set up cushions.
Hello Sangha Friends,
This week, we will meet Monday evening, July 27, from 7-8:30PM ET in person at our meditation space (3812 Northampton Street NW); Wednesday morning, July 29, from 7-8AM ET online; and Friday, July 31, 12-1PM ET online.
This week, Ellen will guide our meditation. Ellen shares:
This Monday we’ll gather in person to read and discuss the Second Mindfulness Training, “True Happiness” (full text below). It’s a very inspirational teaching – one that seems so simple, and yet is so deep and complex.
I thought it would be interesting to connect this training to Thay’s book we are reading this summer At Home in the World. It was wonderful to find so many little gems included in a number of the short pieces that reference happiness. Here are a few (which you can read to get the full context for these excerpts):
“Sleeping in sleeping bags on planks of wood did not prevent us from being happy.” (Enjoy Your Sleeping Bag)
“Usually, it only takes a few minutes to drink a cup of tea, but in taking time to be truly present for one another like this, we nourish mutual understanding and happiness.” (Lotus Tea)
“But raking these leaves is not simply to have a clear path to jog or walk along; raking leaves is just to enjoy raking leaves. So I hold the rake in such a way that makes me feel happy, peaceful, and solid during the whole time of raking.” (Raking Leaves)
“Don’t miss the opportunities you have to sit down, without having to worry or think about doing anything. Lay down your burdens, your worries and projects. Just sit and feel that you are alive. Sit with your son, your daughter, your partner, your friend. That’s enough to be happy.” (A Palm tree in My Garden)
The last one of these really hit me. Some months ago I facilitated a session on joy; we thought about what blocks joy for some of us and what brings joy. Thay’s teachings from this old book that speak to happiness enrich the second mindfulness training.
I look forward to discussing the training with you. Perhaps you found things in At Home in the World or another book of Thay's that give insight into happiness for others and for ourselves.
Ellen
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.