Please join us for a Memorial Ceremony for Mike Joest, the President of our Board of Directors, who passed away on Wednesday July 12 after a long struggle with a rare form of pancreatic cancer. The ceremony will be on Sunday July 23 at 6 pm. The ceremony will include some chanting and a short meditation, and will be followed by tea and cookies. Please bring a stem of flowers as an offering.

Here is a link to Mike’s obituary: https://www.boonefuneralhome.net/obituary/Michael-Joest?fbclid=IwAR34im80ZEpYi99iefY1qerrhnDBIkh7KP7oymL9xb7y1_55_zZpwxYW-r0#obituary

If you wish, you may make a donation to the American Cancer Society in Mike’s memory at this link: https://www.cancer.org/donate/memorial-giving.html

The ceremony will be in place of our regular Sunday meditation.

Vesak, often referred to as Buddha Day, occurs on the first full moon of May. This holiday celebrates the life (the birth, awakening, and death) of the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni Buddha). Please join us on Sunday May 21st, 5:30 PM to celebrate this important event.

The evening will begin at 5:30 PM with a potluck dinner. Bring a vegetarian dish or treat to share. Water and tea will be provided. Please join us even if you cannot bring food, as there is always enough to share. Following the meal there will be a short sitting period followed by a discussion of the Buddha’s awakening.

The evening also offers the opportunity for individuals to take refuge and precepts. 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. Those who take precepts will receive a commemorative certificate. If you have questions about taking refuge and precepts, please contact Rev. Ryongwan Karuna (nirvanasamurai@aol.com) or talk with him at an upcoming weekly sitting. Those who have taken the precepts before but who would like to do so again please let him know so that he can prepare certificates.

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!

We will be having our regular meditation on Easter Sunday at 6 pm.

Mindful Heart Buddha Sangha will be having our annual Potluck and Fundraiser for Buddhist Global Relief on Sunday March 19th at 5 pm. Buddhist Global Relief is an international aid organization founded by the renowned translator of Buddhist texts, Bhikkhu Bhodhi. It provides training and food aid aimed at helping people to rise out of poverty. The Potluck and Fundraiser will begin at 5 pm. Bring a vegetarian dish or treat to share. The fundraiser will feature a silent auction with a number of handmade crafts and other items. All proceeds will go to Buddhist Global Relief. Donations to BGR will also be accepted at the event and can be made on our online donation link. If you would like to donate an item for the silent auction, please reach out to one of the board members at mindfulheart@gmail.com or bring it in to the Sangha. Your help is greatly appreciated.

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More information for the Buddhist Global Relief can be found here:
https://www.buddhistglobalrelief.org

Mindful Heart Buddha Sangha will be holding its Annual Meeting and Potluck on Sunday, February 19, at 5 pm in the Meditation Hall. We will eat at 5, and at 6 there will be a short sitting meditation followed by the State of the Sangha talk and the introduction of the new Board of Directors. If you can, please bring a vegetarian dish, snack, or dessert to share. Water and hot tea will be provided. Come and join us!

Join us for a day of practice!Mindful Heart Buddha Sangha is hosting a one-day insight meditation retreat on Saturday, January 21, 2023. The day begins at 8 AM and ends at 4 PM. It will include sitting and walking meditation and Dharma talks. Space is limited, so please RSVP to mindfulheart@gmail.com. There is no cost to attend the retreat. Dana offerings will be accepted. Please bring a sack lunch. Water, cushions, benches, and chairs will be available, but you are welcome to bring your own as well. Again, space is limited, so please RSVP (and send any questions) to mindfulheart@gmail.com.

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.