The Sangha Dhamma Leaders will begin teaching from a new book, “The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation” by the renowned Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. Sangha members are invited to begin reading this book. Our Dhamma Leaders will give talks after every meditation session based on the book. Much metta to you.

Please join us for a brown bag picnic and meditation at Wesselman Park on Sunday October 17 from 5:00 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. Due to the ongoing pandemic, we will not be having the usual potluck, but please feel free to bring a brown bag dinner and drinks. 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 very much look forward to seeing you there!

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

Mindful Heart Buddha Sangha will be having its annual picnic on Sunday October 17 at Wesselman Park. Save that date. Details will be coming soon.

We plan to start offering some short, morning Zoom sitting sessions, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 10-10:20 a.m. or so to start. These will not include a dharma talk, but just silent sitting meditation and possibly some metta or other heart practices. Please contact Mollie Pharo, text 812-422-4075 or email mpharo51@hotmail.com, if you are interested. They are likely to start in September.

Our Aging Yogis discussion group is taking August off and starting up again the 3rd Tuesday of September at 3:30 p.m. We will probably still be on Zoom or at Wesselman Park rather than at the Sangha then, but that will be decided later. We would like to open the group up to more people – so to any age, since we are all Aging Yogis, not just us older people. The new title we will be discussing is The Book of Joy: Lasting happiness in a changing world, by the Dalai Lama and Bishop Desmond Tutu. Copies are available at the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library or in multiple formats from Penguin/Random House or numerous bookstores (we encourage you to purchase from someplace other than Amazon).

Please let Mollie Pharo know if you would like to be included in emails announcing where we will meet and including any Zoom links. Mollie can be contacted by text message at 812-422-4075 or email mpharo51@hotmail.com.

Beginning tomorrow, Thursday August 12, our Thursday meditations will no longer be via Zoom. Instead we will go back to having live meditations on both Thursdays and Sundays at 6 pm. Remember that masks are still required.There are masks available in case you forget yours. Come and join us for 40 minute silent meditation followed by a short Dhamma talk.

We are happy to announce that we will be reopening for meditations on Sunday evenings starting May 23rd at 6pm. For the foreseeable future, we will have in person meditations on Sundays and online sessions on Thursdays. We kindly ask for those who attend live sits to wear masks. We will have the hall spaced out and have purchased air purifiers for added safety.

On the 23rd, we will also be celebrating Vesak. Often referred to as Buddha Day, 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 and seeing you face to face again!

We regret to announce that our online retreat with Donald Rothberg has been cancelled. If you have registered, please email mindfulheart@gmail.com for a refund and for information.

AWAKENING THE HEART: PRACTICING THE “DIVINE ABODES” (Lovingkindness, Compassion, Joy, Equanimity) A weekend online Retreat with Donald Rothberg Friday April 23 – Sunday April 25

The Divine Abodes (Brahmaviharas) of lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, are the places of the open, awakened heart. In this online retreat, we will learn the formal practices for each of these four qualities, and offer guidance for bringing these practices into daily life. All of these practices strengthen self-confidence, self-acceptance, generosity of spirit, and steadiness of mind and heart, revealing our fundamental kindness. The retreat will be held in the context of silence, alternating sitting meditation and walking meditation. Core instructions in the different practices will be offered, along with short talks and discussion. 

Donald Rothberg, Ph.D., is a member of the Teachers Council at Spirit Rock in northern California. He has practiced Insight Meditation since 1976 and received training in Tibetan Dzogchen practice and the Hakomi approach to body-based psychotherapy.   

Formerly on the faculties of the University of Kentucky, Kenyon College, and Saybrook University, he has helped to guide training programs in socially engaged spirituality through the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Saybrook, and Spirit Rock.  Donald is the co-editor of Ken Wilber in Dialogue: Conversations with Leading Transpersonal Thinkers and is the author of The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World. 

Schedule: (all times Central):
Friday:
7:00-7:30 p.m. - Gathering and socializing on Zoom
7:30-9:00 p.m. - Short sitting meditation, Introduction, Discussion on Zoom
Saturday and Sunday:
10:00 - 11:15 a.m. - Short Talk, Guided Practice, Discussion on Zoom
11:15 -11:45 a.m. - Walking Practice or Home Practice
11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Guided Practice or Home Practice
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. - Lunch or Home Practice
2:00 - 3:15 p.m. - Talk, Guided Practice, Discussion on Zoom
3:15 - 3:45 p.m. - Walking Practice or Home Practice
3:30 - 5:00 p.m. - Guided Practice, Talk, Discussion on Zoom

Cost: $30 payable by check or by clicking the Donate button on our website www.mhbsangha.com. Make checks payable to Mindful Heart Buddha Sangha.

Registration: Click here to print the registration form. Mail completed registration form and Confidential Teacher Information form, and check, if applicable, to:

Rothberg Retreat
c/o Mindful Heart Buddha Sangha
Bradford Park Office Complex
600 N. Weinbach, Suite 220
Evansville, IN 47711

For more information, email tom.ballard.56@gmail.com

The Mindful Heart Buddha Sangha is pleased to have Donald Rothberg leading our spring 2021 virtual weekend retreat. The theme will be The Divine Abodes. The Divine Abodes (Brahmaviharas) of lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, are the places of the open, awakened heart. In this online retreat, on the foundation of mindfulness, we will learn the formal practices of lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. We will also offer guidance for bringing these practices into daily life, including in challenging situations. All of these practices strengthen clear seeing and wisdom, self-confidence, self-acceptance, generosity of spirit, steadiness of mind and heart, and skillful action, revealing our fundamental kindness and wisdom, in a culture in which heart and mind are often disconnected.

The retreat will be held in the context of silence, alternating sitting meditation and walking meditation. Core instructions in the different practices will be offered, along with short talks and discussion. The retreat will be offered via Zoom and will begin on Friday April 23rd @ 7:30 pm to 9 pm (short sit, introduction to weekend, discussion). It will continue on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am until 5 pm with talks, periods of guided practice, discussions, and home practice. Registration fee is $30. If interested, please contact Tom Ballard at tom.ballard.56@gmail.com.