The regular Sunday meditation at 6 pm is canceled on Christmas Day. We will have the regular Sunday meditation at 6 pm on New Year’s Day. Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

We have weekly meditations on Sundays at 6 pm. These are silent 40 minute Vipassana style meditations followed by a short Dhamma talk and discussion. All are welcome, but we recommend that newcomers arrive 5 to 10 minutes early and ask to speak with the meditation leader. The leader will welcome you and give you some guidance. Please join us.

Mike Joest, our President of the Board, will be a guest speaker at Mindfulness Class on Saturday, October 29, at 1:00 pm. Mike will speak on Impermanence using the story of his personal life and struggles.

Please join us for a potluck picnic at Wesselman Park on Sunday October 23 from 4:30 pm until 8:00 pm. We will be in Shelter House #2 North….that’s the one that faces the tennis courts. All are welcome. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share and your own non-alcoholic drinks. The sangha will supply plates, napkins, cups, knives/forks/spoons, and water. At 6:00 pm we will build a fire in the fireplace and have a 40 minute sitting meditation. Bring lawn chairs to use for the meditation. We look forward to seeing you there!

Because of the picnic there will not be the usual meditation at the meditation hall.

We are having a six week mindfulness course from October 1st through November 5th. It  will be on Saturdays from 1pm to 2pm. It will be at our meditation hall, 600 N Weinbach Suite 220.  We will only have 12 participants in order to keep Covid protocols of distance (masks will be worn).  Please email Martha Reid, the leader, at Mj49reid@gmail.com to let her know you are interested, and if you have any questions. The cost is a donation of any size to the Sangha.

As a community, we are now reading a new book: It’s Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness by Sylvia Boorstein. This book is one of our founder Mary MacGregor’s favorites.

On May 22nd at 6:00 pm we will be celebrating Vesak. Often referred to as Buddha Day or Buddha’s Birthday, Vesak occurs on the first full moon of May. This holiday celebrates the life (the birth, awakening and death) of the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni Buddha).

The opportunity for individuals to take refuge and precepts will be offered. Taking refuge and precepts is a public ceremony that allows one to express their willingness and intent to work with the teachings and practices of the Buddha. Taking refuge means seeking comfort and inspiration in the “Three Jewels” of the Buddha (the physical embodiment and example of the teachings), the Dharma (the teachings on awakening and liberation), and the Sangha (the community of practitioners). The Five Precepts are areas of one’s life, behavior, and habits that have the potential to generate suffering or awakening with which one commits to work. These include working on refraining from killing and supporting life, respecting the property of others and refraining from stealing, being truthful and refraining from lying, regarding all beings with respect and dignity and refraining from objectifying others (especially through sensual misconduct), and working to maintain a clear mind and refrain from harming ourselves and others with intoxicants.

A common Vesak practice is to offer flowers, which are placed near the statue of the Buddha. Please feel free to bring flowers if you choose.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

The intention of Mindful Heart Buddha Sangha is to support individual growth to achieve freedom of the mind. We follow a Theravada tradition, practice primarily Vipassana Insight meditation, and welcome people of all spiritual paths.

Mindful Heart Buddha Sangha will be taking a break from Thursday evening meditation starting December 30th. This change is in response to low attendance on Thursdays. Sunday evening mediation will continue as usual.

There will be no regular meditation on Thanksgiving. We are grateful for you all. May you have peace and ease. Happy Thanksgiving.