Continuing Thây
Dear friends,
January 22 officially rang in the Year of the Cat according to Vietnamese astrology! This same day also marked the one-year anniversary of the passing of Thây.
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for a beautiful memorial practice dedicated to Thây last week. For those who were unable to join in person, please enjoy the attached photo and following excerpt from a reading by Thây that we shared:
I have a disciple in Vietnam who wants to build a stupa for my ashes when I die. He and others want to put a plaque with the words, “Here lies my beloved teacher.” I told them not to waste the temple land.
“Do not put me in a small pot and put me in there” I said. “I don’t want to continue like that. It would be better to scatter the ashes outside to help the trees to grow.”
I suggested that, if they still insist on building a stupa, they have the plaque say, “I am not in here.” But in case people don’t get it, they could add a second plaque, “I am not out there either.” If still people don’t understand, then you can write on the third and last plaque, “I may be found in your way of breathing and walking.”
We look forward to the coming weeks and months, as we continue to enjoy our breathing and walking together, as a continuation of Thây and his dream of building a Beloved Community.
Here is this month’s practice program:
Feb. 3
Recitation of the 5 Mindfulness Trainings
Feb 10
Watering seeds | Continuing to explore Nutriment and how everything that arises within us is fed in some way - from the perspective of Buddhist Psychology.
Feb 17
Watering Seeds of Joy | A Plum Village Practice Song for intergenerational reconciliation and transformation
Feb 24
The Five Earth Touchings | A Plum Village practice that invites us to celebrate the wholesome and transform what needs to be transformed - as we contemplate what has been transmitted to us by our blood ancestors and spiritual ancestors.
Please take a moment to review this Practice Orientation Guide, which outlines what you need to know about practising with the sangha in person.
Please arrive 5-10 minutes early and note that for security reasons, we lock the doors at 7pm. If you arrive late, please enjoy your breathing in the hall until we can come to welcome you into the meditation hall (around 7:25pm).
Masking is optional but recommended if you have symptoms or have had a recent exposure. We invite you to please stay home if you are not feeling well.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
With blessings and bows,
Alda, on behalf of the Caretaking Council
Upcoming Events:
Friendship Practice with Soto Zen Sangha
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
7:00 p.m. 8:15 p.m.
Rocky Mountain Zen is kindly inviting Going As A River Sangha to join in a special evening of practice with special guest, Rev. Gyokei Yokoyama from the Japanese Soto Zen Tradition.
Rev. Gyokei is Abbot of Sozenji Temple, Secretary of Soto Zen Buddhism’s North American Office.
Please register to attend
Day of Mindfulness & Calligraphy
Sunday, March 26, 2023
10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m.
Parkallen Community League Hall
Come and join us for a Day of Mindfulness and exploration of the art and practice of calligraphy.
It will be a special opportunity for extended period of practice to water the deep roots of your practice.
More details to be announced.
Would you like us to notify you with updates?
Save the Dates:
National Residential Retreat (with 8 Plum Village monastics)
May 5-8
Toronto, ON
Registration info TBA
Expression of interest form: https://bit.ly/2023PublicRetreat
Regional Residential Retreat (with Plum Village lay Dharma Teacher)
May 26-28
Canmore, AB
Registration info TBA
Would you like us to notify you with updates?
Upcoming International Events:
In-person retreats -
https://plumvillage.org/retreats/retreats-calendar/
Online events –
https://plumvillage.org/live/
