Security:

Please know that for security reasons, we will be locking the entrance door to the rink house at the start time.

Time:

We ask that everyone please arrive 5-10 minutes early, maintaining noble silence upon arrival.

We practice Noble Silence upon arrival until Dharma sharing. This helps to support our collective practice, so that we may enjoy our breathing together, as we settle onto our cushions and maintain a meditative space to begin on time.

Housekeeping:

Please remove footwear upon arrival and place them on the shoe mat inside the entrance.

Wet and heavy coats may be hung on the coat hooks inside the etrance.

Devices:

Please remember to turn off all devices.

We are grateful for your support with keeping our meditation cushion areas device-free.

Parking:

There is free parking available in a small parking lot below the rink house & next to the skating rink (about 8 spaces).

There is also free parking available in the larger parking lot by the main Community Hall (yellow building). This is the best option for those with reduced mobility, as the sidewalk is level and connects from the parking lot around the community hall to the rink house.

Late arrivals:

If you arrive late, after the first sitting meditation period has commenced, please enter and get settled quietly.

You are invited to join the remainder of the first period of sitting meditation on a chair straight ahead, by the windows.

After joining the first walking meditation period, you are welcome to find an unoccupied cushion or chair nearer to the altar.

It is also helpful if you can please let us know in advance when you know that you will be late.

Entering & Exiting the Meditation Hall:

We ask that you please maintain mindful attention as you enter and exit the meditation hall at any time, so as to support the collective mindful energy of the sangha.

You are invited to wait until Walking Meditation to mindfully exit and re-enter the meditation hall for any reason or to use the washroom.

However, please know that you are welcome to take good care and to step away from the meditation area at any time, to tend to urgent needs (ie. if you require urgent use of the washroom or if you find yourself outside of your window of tolerance or overwhelmed).

Leaving early:

Because it’s important to maintain the security of the studio, please let our Greeter know if you need to leave early, so that we can ensure the door is locked behind you.

Attire:

We recommend comfortable attire, so as to allow flexibility for sitting meditation and walking.

The invitation is to please dress with modesty, with chest, arms and legs (above the knees) covered.

Please bring:

A meditation cushion, bench and/or props to support a comfortably seated posture.

*Note we also have cushions (zafus/ zabutons) and chairs available for use.

Other recommended practice items:

A blanket, poncho or shawl

Dana:

Offerings of financial generosity are welcome, to help sustain the sangha’s operational and administrative costs, such as: practice space rental, website, and print materials etc..

There is a basket for in-person cash or cheque offerings or dana can also be received through our Dana Page, Paypal or via e-transfer to goingasariverpp@gmail.com

All forms of offerings of generosity are welcome with gratitude, including offerings of service. For more info on the Practice of Generosity click here.

Masking:

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.

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PRACTICE SCHEDULE

Although there can be some variation, a typical evening of practice follows this schedule:

Guided sitting meditation (20 mins)

Walking meditation (10 mins)

Silent sitting meditation (20 mins)

Walking meditation (10 mins)

Dharma talk/ video/ reading/ practice (20-30 mins)

Dharma Sharing (20-30 mins)

Closing/ Dedication of Practice (5 mins)

The entire evening is a rare opportunity to practice bringing mindful attention to every moment - and to enjoy it! The invitation is to enjoy and be nourished by your breathing, sitting, walking, listening, speaking, and every present moment of transition in between as well.

Noble Silence:

We are all invited to maintain noble silence upon arrival (from 6:15pm until Dharma Sharing), so as to support the sangha’s collective practice.

In the Plum Village Tradition, Noble Silence does not mean that we are not allowed to talk. It means that we don’t have to talk, we have no obligation to talk during that period.

Silence becomes Noble when it is an Inner Silence. The mind is calm and at ease.

When our mind is busy, our body is also busy and we tend to do things noisily. We like to regard our body as a door leading to Inner Silence. Therefore we practice being aware of the sounds we make when we move around. This has a wonderful effect: our bodily actions become very quiet and our mind becomes calm.

The Mindfulness Bell:

Whenever we hear the sound of a bell, whether it is the outside bell or the telephone or the chiming of the clock, we take it as an opportunity to practice Noble Silence. We return to our breathing. We feel the air moving in and out of our body.

We become aware of the temperature of the air and the substance of the air as it moves in and out through our nostrils. With the practice of stopping and listening to the sound of the bell we go a little bit in the direction of Inner Silence.

By connecting with the physical sensations of our breathing and our body, we can return to the present moment and open up to being nourished by it.

Bowing in Gassho:

When we bring our palms together in gassho, we are bringing our mind and our body together. When we bow in gassho, we are offering the gift of our beautiful presence like a lotus flower.

Before entering and leaving the meditation hall, we stop and bow in gassho, to offer the gift of our presence, in gratitude to the hall, as one of the precious conditions that supports our Practice.

Before being seated on our cushion, we first stop and bow in gassho, to offer our presence to the cushion- in gratitude to it as another precious element that supports our practice.

We also offer a bow and lotus to signal to the community when we have words to share and to offer gratitude for the sangha’s deep listening.

Thank you for sharing your practice with us!

More on Info about The Practice