Vesak Day 2010

For St. Louis-area Buddhists and other spiritual seekers the Sunday closest to the first full moon in May is set aside each year as Vesak Day, a day to celebrate the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha.

Sponsored by the Buddhist Council of Greater St. Louis, this year’s Vesak Day celebration will be held on Sunday, May 16th, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., amid the rolling hills and panoramic vistas of the Mid-America Buddhist Association (MABA) monastery in Augusta, Missouri.  The event is free and open to the public.

On this year’s day-long slate of activities (see schedule below), are Dharma talks, entertainment, a full children's program, a special guest speaker (Rev Shohaku Okumura, Founding Teacher of Sanshin Zen Comunity in Bloomington, Indiana), as well as various ethnic foods from the St. Louis Buddhist community.

Schedule of Events

9:30 AM - Arrival and parking

10:00 - 10:15 AM - Opening Ceremony, led by the Monastics

10:15 - 10:45 AM - Bathing Buddha Rite, led by the Monastics

10:45 – 11:45 AM - Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation by Dr. Rosan Yoshida, Missouri Zen Center 

(Children’s program: Origami, Storytelling, making Korean Lotus lantern and PrayerBeads, etc.)

11:45 – 1:00 PM - Vegetarian Lunch & Entertainment, Music by John Goldstein et al

1:00 – 1:30 PM - Walking Meditation to the Guan Yin Pavilion

1:30 – 3:30 PM “Unity & Diversity in Buddhism” Rev. Okumura, with Q & A

3:30  PM  - Dedication of Merit  & Closing Ceremony

Directions:  From St. Louis, take Hwy 40 (I-64) approx. 1 mile past the Missouri River bridge to Hwy 94.  Take Hwy 94 west approx 25 miles to Schindler Road on the outskirts Augusta.  Look for the MABA road signs.  

           

For more information contact: email or call Don Sloane 314-576-4900

San Francisco Pilgrimage–Tour Details

San Francisco Buddhist Pilgrimage

September 30, 2010 – October 4, 2010

The Monastics at MABA (www.maba-usa.org) will be leading us on a great adventure to visit many of the Buddhist Monasteries and Centers located around the San Francisco Bay Area. We welcome you to join us. Below is the proposed agenda:

·      Thursday, Sept. 30^th: Arrival Day

·      Friday, Oct. 1^st: Morning spent at San Francisco Zen Center, afternoon at Asian Art Museum private tour, evening class with Emily Hs at Tse Chen Ling

·      Saturday, Oct. 2^nd: Morning spent at Green Gulch, afternoon at Spirit Rock, early evening drive to Ukiah CA

·      Sunday, Oct. 3^rd: Morning at City of 10,000 Buddhas, afternoon at Abhayagiri Monastery, early evening drive back to San Francisco

·      Monday, Oct. 4^th: Departure Day

We are planning to stay at one of the hotels near the San Francisco Wharf, either Mariott-Fisherman’s Wharf or the Hilton (depending on rates) on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 30^th and October 1^st, going to the Ukiah CA hotel (TBD) on Saturday, October 2^nd, then back to the Fisherman’s Wharf for Sunday night, October 3^rd. 

Individuals may reserve hotel rooms and flights on their own using a discount travel site (Travelocity, Expedia, etc.) or may inquire about possible group rates.

Cost for the tour itself is $350 (not including flights/hotels) for those booking their own flight/hotel.  The tour cost covers the ground transportation (but not including to and from to airport unless you will be taking our rental van) during the entire stay, lunch at various restaurants, and visiting/tour fees at each center. Hotels will likely include breakfast, so only dinner will be up to each individual.

The total for those interested in arranging a group rate will be determined once intentions are made. Just to give an estimate based on current flights (from St. Louis) and hotel rates, the total for the trip (including the tour cost) would be around $1108 per person for double occupancy and $1608 per person for single occupancy with flight from St Louis to SF.  The cost per family would also be less per person.  If you are traveling from another city, we will have some travel agency help available so that you can also take advantage of the hotel group rates.   

Important Deadlines:

June 15^th: Deadline to R.S.V.P. for the trip. Space is limited. When reserving your spot also state whether you are booking your own flight/hotel, or if you wish to “go in” with the group. (Total price for this option will be known shortly after this deadline.)

June 30^th: Deadline for payment for group rate, $350 if booking own flight/hotel, group rate total TBD

Please contact us at tour@maba-usa.org.no later than May 15^th if planning to attend.

I am expressing interest in the San Francisco Buddhist Pilgrimage.  My name is:

Name____________________________________  Date _______________________

Email ____________________________________ Phone ______________________

Departure City _________________________ self-booking: ____  group booking ____

Spring Beginner's Retreat April 17th

Spring Retreat at MABA

Saturday, April 17, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Mid-America Buddhist Association Monastery

via Hwy. 94 and Schindler Rd. – a secluded and tranquil setting in Augusta, MO

www.maba-usa.org for directions and information

Mindfulness and the

Three Divisions of the Eightfold Path

Last year our Beginner’s Retreats focused on Mindfulness and the Four Noble Truths.  This year we will be looking more deeply into the fourth truth, the Eightfold Path for the cessation of suffering.  There are three divisions of this Path:  Sila (non-harmfulness), Samadhi (concentration), and Panna (wisdom).

This retreat is especially designed for beginners but is also open to more experienced meditators.  We all benefit from renewing our practice, and, as Suzuki Roshi said, Zen is cultivating our “Beginner’s Mind.”

This one day mini-retreat will allow us to investigate the connection between mindfulness sitting practice and the Eightfold Path, the foundation of Buddhist practice.  Each Dharma talk will also include a time for questions and answers and some discussion.  There will also be short breaks between the sessions.   Periods of Noble Silence will be observed.   

Schedule:

8:15  Arrival

8:30  Dharma talk on Mindfulness and the Three Divisions of the Eightfold Path

Overview of the Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, and the Three Divisions

9:10  Instructions for Beginning Meditation Practice

    9:30    Sitting Meditation

    10:00  Walking Meditation

10:20  Dharma talk on Mindfulness and the Three Divisions of the Eightfold Path

           The First Division—Sila: Right Speech, Action, and Livelihood Xiankuan Don

    10:55  Sitting Meditation

    11:25  Walking Meditation

***********11:45 am to 1:15 pm  Vegetarian Lunch and clean-up***********

1:20  Dharma talk on and the Three Divisions of the Eightfold Path

         The Second Division—Samadhi: Right Effort, Mindfulness, and Concentration

            Xianzhi Katty

    2:00  Sitting Meditation

    2:30  Walking Meditation

2:50  Dharma talk on Mindfulness and the Three Divisions of the Eightfold Path

         The Third Division – Panna: Wisdom:  Right View and Right Intention

Master Jiru

    3:30  Sitting Meditation – first half focus on the gong

4:00    Dedication of Merit and Closing

4:05-4:30  Clean up of Meditation Hall

Pre-Registration is required.  Please contact Xiankuan Don atdonshushu@yahoo.com to pre-register.  There are no overnight provisions for this Retreat.

As always, teachings are free and open to the public.  Donations to MABA are welcome

On Breathing

It's like the negative space in a painting. except that it's in motion.

I notice the leaves rustling, but not the breeze itself.

I'm not sure there is any breath.

only breathing.


               ––from a student in Chicago

Concentrate!

The meditation experiment worked. This morning I gave an extra concentrated effort on the breath and was fine - 5 minutes flew by. As soon as I allowed internal "chatter" to enter the picture, the back immediately began to feel discomfort. So in my case "concentrate on the breath" means "CONCENTRATE ... on the breath!"

                                     ––Anonymous Student, Chicago Mind & Body Center

Kankakee afternoon class - reading on the Eightfold Path

For those wishing to explore the eighfold path at home in preparation for the afternoon class (dare we call it homework?), Bhikkhu Bodhi's thorough analysis is recommended. There is an online version as well as a print version.

Appropriate Behaviors

Criteria for Determining Appropriate Behavior



Use these criteria, in sequence, for making decisions:

1. Do no harm, then if possible
2. Be of benefit
3. If you can’t be of benefit, so nothing
4. Be morally upright: No killing, no stealing, no lying, no misuse of sexuality, no recreational drugs
5. Meditate
6. Develop wisdom

Always Use Right Speech

Only speak when it will improve the silence

1. Only speak when conditions suggest you should speak
2. Only speak when you have something to say that will be of benefit
3. Always speak in ways that can be heard
4. Only say it once
5. Never go on the battlefield; being of benefit isn’t about winning

Wrong speech:
Harsh or angry words
Falsehoods
Gossip and small talk
Sarcasm
Belittling others to raise your own status

Three Poisons and Their Antidotes

Poison: Greed, Antidote: Generosity
Poison: Anger, Antidote: Patience
Poison: Delusion, Antidote: Wisdom

Default Mind-States (Who We Really Are)

Generosity
Compassion and Lovingkindness
Patience
Humility and Modesty
Moral Restraint
Equanimity
Right Speech
Truthfulness
Dependability
Regret and Distaste