The Four Brahma-Viharas, or the Four Divine Abodes of the Heart

Posted on August 4, 2019 by Buddhist Sangha

For our next series starting August 5th, we will be exploring The Four Brahma-Viharas, or the Four Divine Abodes of the Heart.

Here’s a link to a page at dhammawiki.com for a quick look at these four abodes: https://dhammawiki.com/index.php/4_Brahma_Viharas

At our first discussion, we will be reading and considering part of an article by Thanissaro Bhikku on how the Four Brahma-Viharas relate to aspects of Karma, so we will get to explore together parts of what Karma means, as well. Click to read the first part of the article that we will read together

Head-and-Heart-Together-Part-1Download

Our second discussion we will read and discuss part two of the article Head and Heart Together by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Head-and-Heart-Together-Part-2Download

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Gathas from Plum Vilage

Posted on July 18, 2019 by Buddhist Sangha

Waking Up
Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me.
I vow to live fully in each moment
and to look at all beings with the eyes of compassion.

Brushing Your Teeth
Brushing my teeth and rinsing my mouth,
I vow to speak purely and lovingly.
When my mouth is fragrant with right speech,
a flower blooms in the garden of my heart.

Walking Meditation
The mind can go in a thousand directions.
But on this beautiful path, I walk in peace.
With each step, a gentle wind blows.
With each step, a flower blooms.

Watering the Plants 
Don’t think that you are cut off, dear plant. 
This water comes to you from the Earth and sky 
You and I have been together 
since beginningless time.

Smiling at Your Anger 
Breathing in, I know anger makes me ugly,
Breathing out, I do not want to be controlled by anger.
Breathing in, I know I must take care of myself,
Breathing out, I know loving kindness is the only answer.  

Sitting Meditation
Breathing in, I know I am breathing in. (In)
Breathing out, I know I am breathing out. (Out)
Breathing in, I feel my breath becoming deep. (Deep)
Breathing out, I feel my breath becoming slow. (Slow)
Breathing in, I calm my body and my mind. (Calm)
Breathing out, my body and my mind are at ease. (Ease)
Breathing in, I smile. (Smile)
Breathing out, I release all tension in my body and mind. (Release)
Breathing in, I dwell in the present moment. (Present Moment)
Breathing out, I know this is a wonderful moment. (Wonderful Moment)

Driving a Car
Before starting the car
I know where I am going.
The car and I are one.
If the car goes fast, I go fast.

Washing the Dishes
Washing the dishes
is like bathing a baby Buddha.
The profane is the sacred.
Everyday mind is Buddha’s mind.

Talking on the Telephone
Words can travel thousands of miles.
May my words create mutual understanding and love.
May they be as beautiful as gems,
as lovely as flowers.

Sitting or Walking Meditation
I have arrived,
I am home
In the here,
In the now.
I am solid,
I am free.
In the ultimate
I dwell.

Drinking Tea
This cup of tea in my two hands,
mindfulness held perfectly.
My mind and body dwell in
the very here and now.
Laying in Bed
Resting in the ultimate dimension,
using snowy mountains as a pillow
and beautiful pink clouds as blankets.
Nothing is lacking.

Reference:
https://plumvillage.org/
http://www.willowbranch.org/gathas
https://snowflower.org/resources/how-to-meditate/


Waking-Up-Gathas.pdfDownload

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Mindfull or Mind Full?

Posted on May 23, 2019 by Buddhist Sangha

Notice how pedaling the exercise bike starts the display & when you stop, it turns off after a few seconds?

Similarly meditation powers up your mindfulness muscle so you enjoy the benefits throughout the day. When you stop returning to the practice it stops working just like the exercise bike … 

Meditation practice is very important – it allows Direct Access to the present moment (this moment is the only moment you have now) All the benefits of meditation stem from practice coming back to this moment

There are many meditation techniques / mind trainings out there – you may find yourself “shopping around” and that’s fine – just pick one that appeals to you and practice diligently – but resist the urge to give up on the method in luau of other methods you hear and read about. Really give it a good heartfelt try (4-6 weeks at least) – try to deepen your practice with it. 

We have several simple methods on our website buddhistsangha.com/how-to-meditate and at our library at 65 N Main Street Yardley PA –Join us Monday evenings 7pm -9pm – more info is at buddhistsangha.com website

We also publish links and other places to visit in our area buddhistsangha.com/links

Mindful or Mind Full Download as pdf Document Download
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Dr. Rebecca Li on Why do we practice? Why do we sit? 4/29/19

Posted on April 10, 2019 by Buddhist Sangha

We are pleased that Dr. Rebecca Li will be with us again on Monday, April 29, for guided meditation and teachings.

Rebecca will explore with us the topic “Why do we practice? Why do we sit?” With these questions in mind, we will probe our own motivations for practice, what we might expect from our practice, and what the path of practice means to us. 

Why do YOU practice?

Please consider asking yourself this question, and be ready to share and learn that night. 


Dr. Rebecca Li, a Dharma heir in the Dharma Drum lineage of Chan Master Sheng Yen, started practicing meditation in 1995. She began her teacher’s training with Master Sheng Yen in 1999 to become a Dharma and meditation instructor. Later on, she trained with John Crook and Simon Child to lead intensive retreats and received full Dharma transmission from Simon Child in 2016.  Currently, she leads Chan retreats, teaches meditation and Dharma classes, and gives public lectures in North America and the U.K.  Her talks and writings can be found at www.rebeccali.org.  She is the founder and guiding teacher of Chan Dharma Community and a sociology professor at The College of New Jersey, where she also serves as faculty director of the Alan Dawley Center for the Study of Social Justice.

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Dr. Lucinda Green visits sangha to present the Enlightenment Deck

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Buddhist Sangha

Dr. Lucinda Green will be with us via skype on Monday April 8th to teach us the Enlightenment Deck

A Pathway to Freedom  ( Learn the Dharma.      Study the Dharma.      Keep your practice fresh and lively. )

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Lucinda Green, Ph.D. will lead Meditation Retreat in Bucks County on “CULTIVATING CONCENTRATION & INSIGHT” 4/27/19

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Buddhist Sangha

Lucinda Green, Ph.D. will lead Meditation Retreat in Bucks County on “CULTIVATING CONCENTRATION & INSIGHT” in a historic Quaker meetinghouse in Bucks County, Pennsylvania – The Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County, a community open to all levels of interest in meditation and Buddhism, will be sponsoring a one day retreat on Saturday, April 27th, 2019 from 9 AM-3 PM at the Makefield Friends Meeting House located at 877 Dolington Road in Newtown, PA. 

The weekend meditation retreat theme will be “CULTIVATING CONCENTRATION & INSIGHT” Learn techniques to develop deeper concentration including insight practice. The day of practice will be spent in noble silence including periods of instruction, sitting, walking, meditation and Q &A.  The day will proceed with a combination of silence, Meditation, instruction and direct experience.  There is a suggested donation of $15. All are welcome despite ability to donate.   For those wishing to delve deeper with Lucinda, private sessions will be available on the following day, April 28. The sessions will be at a tranquil private setting nearby in historic home situated on 80 acres with walking paths and bench lined streams available for contemplative integration. Contact: green.lucinda@gmail.com for information & scheduling.

If you want to get a glimpse of Lucinda Green in action be sure to attend the Buddhist Sangha at the Yardley Friends Meetinghouse for a Skype presentation featuring Dr. Green on Monday, April 8th. She will focus on her “Enlightenment Deck” to lead and inspire Dharma engagement and group discussion.  The 80 card deck provides brief explanations of Buddhist terms accessible to anyone as well as delightful corresponding images. Meditation will begin at 7pm. Presentation will start at 8 p.m.

Lucinda Green, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and founder of Rocky Mountain Insight in Colorado Springs, Colorado where she teaches Buddhist Dharma and trains in Vipassana meditation. She is a pioneer in the fields of mind/body integrative psychotherapy, complementary medicine and spiritual growth.  For more information, contact: bsbc19067@yahoo.com

About Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County

The Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County is a community (sangha) that practices Buddhism, provides meditation instruction and community service in a manner consistent with the teachings of the Buddha. The Sangha is open to everyone who wishes to learn about meditation and/or Buddhism. To learn more, please visit www.buddhistsangha.com or contact: bsbc19067@yahoo.com

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Mindfulness in Daily Living (MIDL) by Stephen Proctor starting March 2019

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Buddhist Sangha

March / April Stephen Proctor
Mindfulness in Daily Living (MIDL) will be joining us via Skype to teach a 4 week series: 

3/11 Eightfold Path: Right View and Right Intention.
3/18 Mindfulness Immersed within Body.
3/25 The Five Hindrances as a Meditation Object.
4/1 Vedana: Breaking the Cycle of Reaction.

Stephen has dedicated his life to the practice of understanding the mind, reducing suffering and had created a systematic training method for practicing and developing the Satipatthana path to full maturity within daily life.  http://www.meditationintheshire.com.au/

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Visiting Teacher – Enjoying the Mindfulness of Breathing with Singhashri

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Buddhist Sangha

Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, meme and text

Join us Monday 2/4 7-9 with visiting teacher Singhashri as we cultivate deeper states of absorption through mindfulness of breathing, opening the heart and inviting in the resultant fruits including joy, integrity, peace and contentment

A teacher with the Triranta Buddhist Community, second generation American currently living in the UK. Read more about her and read/listen to her teachings https://www.radicalembrace.org

From Singhashri’s website: “Any radical act must get down to the root of things, which often lies below the surface, is hidden from view, taken for granted, yet is ultimately essential for existence. The radical embrace calls us to face and draw in near, as near as we can get, the very crux of the matter, the rub of our existence. We may have spent our whole life, up until now, running from our pain, ignoring our vulnerability, hiding from our own shadow. The radical embrace is about waking up, not only to the shadow, but to the deep, transformative power inherent there.”

FB link https://www.facebook.com/events/346284596100687/

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Eight Verses for Training the Mind

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Buddhist Sangha

Eight Verses for Training the Mind, Kadampa Geshe Langri Tangpa (1054 -1123)

By thinking of all sentient beings as even better than the wish-granting gem for accomplishing the highest aim, may I always consider them precious.

Wherever I go, with whomever I go, may I see myself as less than all others, and from the depth of my heart, may I consider them supremely precious.

May I examine my mind in all actions, and as soon as a negative state occurs, since it endangers myself and others, may I firmly face and avert it.

When I see beings of a negative disposition or those oppressed by negativity or pain, may I, as if finding a treasure, consider them precious, for they are rarely met.

Whenever others, due to their jealousy, revile and treat me in other unjust ways, may I accept this defeat myself, and offer the victory to others.

When someone whom I have helped, or in whom I have placed great hope, harms me with great injustice, may I see him as a sacred friend.

In short, may I offer both directly and indirectly all joy and benefit to all beings, my mothers,and may I myself secretly take on all of their hurt and suffering.

May they not be defiled by the concepts of the eight mundane concerns,and aware that all things are illusory, may they, ungrasping, be free from bondage.

Transcribed from: Chenrezig Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia, Daily Prayers

Venerable Lama Losang Samten, Spiritual Director

Print version: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/ac1f24_d63c0bf8779f4d868c98dfa7201f3559.pdf

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Please read this when I’m buried – Thich Nhat Hanh

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Buddhist Sangha

This is from Thich Nhat Hanh. It is a beautiful homage to the earth. I’ve decided to leave instruction that this please be read when I’m buried:

“The earth has been there for a long time. She is mother to all of us. She knows everything. The Buddha asked the earth to be his witness by touching her with his hand when he had some doubt and fear before his awakening. The earth appeared to him as a beautiful mother. In her arms she carried flowers and fruit, birds and butterflies, and many different animals, and offered them to the Buddha. The Buddha’s doubts and fears instantly disappeared.

“Whenever you feel unhappy, come to the earth and ask for her help. Touch her deeply, the way the Buddha did. Suddenly, you too will see the earth with all her flowers and fruit, trees and birds, animals and all the living beings that she has produced. All these things she offers to you. You have more opportunities to be happy than you ever thought. The earth shows her love to you and her patience. The earth is very patient. She sees you suffer, she helps you, and she protects you. When we die, she takes us back into her arms.”

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