New Mindfulness Retreat Sessions withThic h Nhat Hanh

A Twenty-One Day Retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh and the Sangha ofPlum Village June 1-21, 2000

Recorded live, these new audio sessions with Thich We shall learn to use the Buddha's eyes to see Nhat Hanh bring you the best highlights from his countless Buddha lands injus t one speck of dust— 1999 North American retreats. Five-day tape sets each Buddha surrounded by his or her Sangha, include dharma talks, mindfulness exercises, and giving the teaching on Ultimate Reality. We shall question-and-answer sessions with Thich Nhat Hanh. learn to use the feet of the Buddha to sit and walk in our own Buddha land and encounter the wonders of Touching the Joy ofLif e and Transforming Our Fear - life. We shall learn to look with the Buddha's eyes to Brownsville, Vermont. August 23-28, 1999. understand, to forgive, and to love, and to transform Five-day mindfulness retreat. our fear, anxiety, and despair. Ap. 19 hours/ 12 Cassettes/#TNRV-1 3/ $79.0 0 The retreat will take place in the beautiful setting Seven Miracles ofMindfulnes s - Santa Barbara, of Plum Village. The teaching of the Avatamsaka California. September 6-11, 1999.Five-da y mindfulness retreat. Sutra and the Prajnaparamita Sutra will also be Ap. 18 hours/ 11 Cassettes/ #TNRS-1 3/ $79.0 0 offered during the retreat. The Path ofPeac e - Oakland, California. September 18, 1999. Day ofmindfulnes s event. Information and Registration: Ap.4 hour s/ 3 Cassette s/ #TNRC- 4/ $28.0 0 Plum Village, LePe y 24240 Thenac, France Tel: (33)5.53.58.48.58; Fax: (33)5.53.57.34.43 The Future IsAvailabl e Now - Omega Institute, Email: [email protected] New York.Septembe r 26-October 1,1999 . Five-day mindfulness retreat. Ap. 18 hours/11 Cassettes/*TNRO-13/$79.00

Call orwrit e forcomplet e listingo faudi o sessions andtopics . 100% money-back guarantee onal lSound s True tapes.

TO ORDER, CALL SOUNDS TRUE 800-333-9185 / WWW.SOUNDSTRUE.COM Or send a check including $5 S&.H per order to: Sounds True / PO Box801 0/ Dept. MBN9A / Boulder, CO/ 80306 From the Editor CONTENTS fter you finish reading Thich Nhat Hanh's Dharma Issue2 5• Winte r200 0 Atalk, if you read nothing else in this issue, please read New Century Message From Thich Nhat Hanh 2 about the flooding in Vietnam (pages 7-10). People there Vietnam Update 6 desperately need our help, and it takes very little to do a lot. Vietnam is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an Meditation 11 average per capita annual income of approximately $300 Retreat Reports 19 U.S. The November flooding devastated eight provinces in China Trip 21 central Vietnam—the poorest part of this poor country and Social Action 24 the area where Thay's root temple is located. Sister Chan Khong and Sister Minh Tanh tell us of the monks' efforts to Daily Practice 26 bringrelie f topeople , and of Plum Village's donations to Family Practice 28 help. But the need is deep and available resources are New Developments 30 inadequate. As this issue heads to press in early December, Announcements 32 new flooding has begun, washing seeds away from thejust - planted fields and bringing more suffering. Imagine losing Letters 34 everything and then having no way to get food or fresh Sangha Directory 35 water, medical supplies, or even ablanke t for your children. Retreat Schedules 43 Many of us are blessed with material things, and with a governmental infrastructure capable of responding to natural disasters. I7teMindfuCness (Bett This fall, three hurricanes pummeled my home stateo f Journal ofthe International Order oflnterbeing North Carolina, flooding the entire eastern half of the state twice.Becaus e the rain fell on the headwaters of several rivers, the waters continued to rise for over two weeks. Editor: Leslie Carter Rawls Many people here lost everything they owned. But in this Production and Design: Lane Brafford Senior Advisor: SisterAnnabe lLait y nation of plenty, helicopters quickly airlifted food, fresh Proofreader: Mushim Ikeda-Nash water, blankets, and medicine to towns surrounded by Subscription Manager: Barbara Machtinger waters.Withi n a short time,peopl e on rooftops were Cover calligraphy by Thich Nhat Hanh. rescued, hospital patients were moved to safety, and Photos: Alexis Stein-cover; Courtesy of Plum Village-p. 3,6 , 7, 9, temporary housing was set up.Vietnam' s resources, both 11; Mark Stein-pp. 21,22 , 23,25 ;Vin h Nguyen-pp. 18,40 ; Allen public and private, are far less and cannot meet the need Sandler-p. 24; Yen Nguyen-p. 28;Mik e Livingston-p. 35; Frangoise there.Pleas e let us show our gratitude for the benefits of our Pottier-p. 36;Te d Sexauer-p. 37;Timar k Hamilton-p. 38;Eri c material wealth by sharing what we can with our brothers Arbiter-p. 39;Jac k Lawlor-p. 40; and Mai Nguyen-p. 42. and sisters who are in such desperate need. Art: Sandy Eastoak-p. 1;Svei n Myreng-pp. 14,26 , 27, 34; Hannah Rawls-p. 29;Michel e Benzamin-Masuda-back cover. I do hope that you read and enjoy the rest of The Published by the Community of Mindful Living, P.O. Box 7355, MindfulnessBell, an d that our efforts in bringing it to you Berkeley, CA 94707, USA; Tel: (510)527-3751; Fax: (510)525- enrich and nourish your practice. This issue contains 7129; [email protected], website: www.parallax.org important updates from Thich Nhat Hanh about unfolding events.I t also includes an account of the trip to China last Sut summer, experiences and teachings in the practice of missions meditation, reports from some retreats, and the entire Wewelcome art, photos, essays,poems, and articles about experiences Sangha Directory. inthe practice of mindfulness. As you can see, we are also experimenting with The Spring-Summer200 0Issu eTheme : Transformation throughPractic e Mindfulness Bell design, as we implement Thay's vision of Deadline for submissions: February 1 a magazine that serves the needs and shares the experiences Deadline for reserving advertising: February 15 of the worldwide mindfulness Sangha. We welcome your Summer-Fall 2000 Issue Theme: Practice in Difficult Circumstances Deadline for submissions: April 28 thoughts on the shape we are taking. And please remember Deadline for reserving advertising: May 12 we always welcome submissions about experience in the Submissions &advertising : Leslie Rawls, Editor practice, photographs, art, and issue theme suggestions. P.O. Box 38325,Charlotte , NC 28278 USA Alotu s for you, Phone/Fax: (704) 583-1279; [email protected] Subscription inquiries: Community of Mindful Living P.O. Box 7355,Berkeley , CA 94707, USA Tel: (510) 527-3751;Fax : (510) 525-7129; [email protected]. Leslie Rawls, Editor 1999-2000 Winter/The Mindfulness "Bell Talk

New Century Message From Tkick Nkat Hank

Tu Hieu Temple and Plum Village December 7, 1999

To All Venerable Monks, Nuns, Lay Men And aimed at transformation and healing. If we are able to Lay Women Of The Sangha In The Tu Hieu recognize these positive developments of wisdom Lineage, Inside And Outside Of Vietnam: and action, they will become abrigh t torch of enlightenment, capable of showing mankind the right Dear Friends, path to follow in the 21st century. Science and he Twentieth Century has been marred by technology can then be reoriented to help build ane w mass violence and enormous bloodshed. With way of life moving in the direction of alivin g insight, Tthe development of technology, humanity as expressed in terms of interconnectedness, now has the power to "conquer" Nature. We have interbeing, and non-self. even begun to intervene in the chemistry of life, If the 20th century was the century of humans adapting it to our own ends. At the same time, despite conquering Nature, the 21st century should be onei n new and faster ways to communicate, we have which we conquer the root causes of the suffering in become very lonely. Many have no spiritual beliefs. human beings—our fears, ego, hatred, greed, etc.I f With no spiritual ground, we live only with the desire the 20th century was characterized by individualism to satisfy our private pleasures. and consumption, the 21st century can be character­ We no longer believe in any ideology or faith, and ized by the insights of interbeing. In the 21st century, many proclaim that God is dead. Without an ideal humans can live together in true harmony with each and a direction for our lives, we have been uprooted other and with nature, as bees live together in their from our spiritual traditions, our ancestors, our bee hive or as cells live together in the same body, all family, and our society. Many of us, particularly in area l spirit of democracy and equality. Freedom young people, are heading towards a life of consump­ will no longer bejus t akin d of liberty for self- tion and self-destruction. destruction, or destruction of the environment, but the Ideological wars, AIDS,cancer , mental illness, kind of freedom that protects us from being over­ and alcohol and drug addiction have become major whelmed and carried away by craving, hatred, and burdens of this century. At the same time,progres s in pain. the fields of electronic and biological technology are The art of mindful living expressed in concrete creating new powers for mankind. In the 21st terms, as found in the Five Mindfulness Trainings, century, if humans cannot master themselves, these can be the way for all of us. The Trainings point us in new powers will lead us and other living beings to the right direction for the 21st century. Returning to mass destruction. one's root spiritual tradition, we can find and restore During the 20th century many seeds of wisdom the equivalent values and insights. This is a most have also sprouted. Science, especially physics and urgent task for us all. biology, has discovered the nature of I respectfully propose to all Venerable Monks, interconnectedness, interbeing, and non-self. The Nuns, and Lay people within our Tu Hieu lineage, in fields of psychology and sociology have discovered Vietnam and outside of Vietnam, to carefully reflect much of these same truths. We know that this is, upon the following recommendations, and to contrib­ because that is, and this is like this, because that is ute some part in helping to create the direction for like that. We know that we will live together or die mankind in the New Century: together, and that without understanding, love is 1.W e should continue to set up monasteries and impossible. practice centers.Thes e centers can organize re­ From these insights, many positive efforts have treats—one day, three days, seven days, twenty-one recently been made. Many of us have worked to take days, ninety days, etc.—for monastics and for lay care of the environment, to care for animals in a people, aimed at developing our capacity for transfor­ compassionate way, to reduce the consumption of mation and healing. Activities at these centers should meat, to abandon smoking and drinking alcohol, to cultivate understanding and compassion and teach the do social relief work in underdeveloped countries, to art of Sangha building. Temples and practice centers campaign for peace and human rights, to promote should embody a true spiritual life, and should be simple living and consumption of health food, and to places where young people can get in touch with their learn the practice of Buddhism as an art of living, spiritual roots. They should be centers where the

2 Ihe Mindfulness ^11/1999-2000 Winter practice of non-attachment to views according to the sion, and harmony, and not from consumption. We Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing can should see the happiness of the Sangha as our own be experienced. To cultivate tolerance according to happiness. these trainings will prevent our country and mankind 4. We should invest the time and energy of our from getting caught in future cycles of religious and daily life in the noble task of Sangha building. We ideological wars. should share material things that can be used collec­ 2. We should study and practice the Five Mind­ tively by the Sangha, such as houses, cars, television, fulness Trainings in the context of afamily , and computers, etc.W e should give up alcohol, drugs, establish our family as the basic unit for a larger and smoking. We should learn to live simply, so that Sangha. Practicing deep listening and mindful we may have more time to live our daily life deeply speech, we will create harmony and happiness, and and with freedom. Living simply, we become capable feel rooted in our own family. Each family should set of touching the wonders of life, of transformation and up ahom e altar for spiritual and blood ancestors. On healing, and of realizing our ideal of compassion in important days, the entire family should gather to the educational, cultural, spiritual, and social domains cultivate the awareness and appreciation of their roots of our lives. and origins, thus deepening their consciousness of The 21s t century is a green, beautiful hill with an these spiritual and blood ancestors. Accepting the immense space, having stars, moons, and all wonders stream of ancestors in our own beings, we draw on of life. Let us climb the hill of the next century, not their strengths and recognize their weakness, in order as separate individuals but as a Sangha. to transform generations of suffering. Each family Let us go together, hand in hand, with our should recognize the importance of having one spiritual and blood ancestors, and our children. Let us member of their family devote his or her life to the enjoy the climb together with our songs and our learning and practice of the Dharma, as a monastic or smiles, and allow each step to create freedom andjo y a lay person. The family should invest in, support, and peace. and encourage this family member. ishing you and your Sangha a wonderful 3. We should give up our lives of feverish Wcentury full of faith and happiness, consumption, and transfer all merits of action created by thoughts, speech, and work to the Sangha. Our Thich Nhat Hanh happiness should arise from understanding, compas­ Elder of the Tu Hieu Lineage

The Half-Moon Pond of the Root Temple

1999-2000 Winter/The Mindfulness 'Bell A Teacker Looking for His Disciple kyTkic k Nkat Hank

/ have been lookingfor you, mychild, Since the time when rivers and mountains still lay in obscurity. I was lookingfor you Whenyou were still ina deep sleep Although the conch had many times echoed inthe ten directions. Without leaving our ancient mountain, I looked at distant lands And recognizedyour footprints on so manydifferent paths. Whereare you going, my child? Therehave been times when themist has comeand enveloped the remote village, Butyou are still wandering infaraway lands. I have calledyour name with each breath, Confident that even thoughyou have lostyour way over there, Youwill finally find a way back to me. Sometimes I manifest myself righton thepath you aretreading Butyou still look at me as ifI were a stranger. Youcannot see the connection between us inour former lives, Youcannot remember the old vowyou made. Youhave not recognized me Because your mind iscaught up in imagesconcerning a distant future. Informer lifetimes, you have often takenmy handand wehave enjoyed walking together. Wehave sat togetherfor a long time at thefoot of oldpine trees. Wehave stood side by side insilence for hours, Listening to the sound of the wind softly callingus And looking upat the white cloudsfloating by. Youhave picked upand given tome the first redautumn leaf And I have takenyou throughforests deep insnow. But wherever wego, we always returnto ourancient mountain Tobe near to the moon and stars Toinvite the big bell every morning to sound, And help living beings to wake up. Wehave sat quietly on theAn Tumountain 1with the GreatBamboo Forest Master2 Alongside thefrangipani trees in blossom. Wehave taken boats out tosea to rescue theboat people as they drift. Wehave helped Master VanHanh 3 design the ThongLong capital. Wehave built together a thatched hermitage, And stretched out the net to rescue thenun TracTuyen 4 Whenthe sound of the rising tidewas deafening Onthe banks of the TienDuong River. Together we have opened the way and stepped into the immense space beyond space, After manyyears of working to tearasunder thenet of time. Wehave saved up the light of shooting stars And made ita torch helping those whowant togo home After decades of wandering indistant places. Butstill there havebeen times when the seeds of a vagabond in you havecome back to life. Youhave leftyour teacher,your brothersand sisters. Alone you go... I look atyou with compassion, Although I know that this isnot a trueseparation (Because I am already in each cellof your body) 4 "The Mindfulness

Translatedfro mth eVietnames e bySiste r Annabel Chan Due 1A hol ymountai n inNort hVietnam ,wher eth e Bamboo Forest meditationschoo lwa sestablished . 2Th e masterwh oestablishe dth e Bamboo Forest meditation school inth efourteent hcentury . 3Th e meditation master who inth eyea r 980, helpedstabiliz eth e politicalsituatio n inVietna m and preventth e Sungarm yfro m invadingth ecountry . 4A referenc et oth e poem"Kieu "b yth e poet Nguyen Du.Tra cTuye n isth e Dharma name of Kieuwho ,whe n shecoul dbea r hersufferin g nomore ,thre w herself intoth eTie n Duong River andwa s rescued byhe relde r sisteran dteache r inth e Dharma. 5A distric t inCentra lVietnam . 6Th e ancient capitalo fVietna m inBa c Ninhprovince . Itwa sa flourishin g Buddhistcente rfro mth e beginningo f theChristia nera . 7 Inth e hillsnea r Dalat,wher eth e author establishedth e Fragrant Palm Leaves Practice Center. 1999-2000 Winter/The Mindfulness

Floods Cover Central Vietnam by Sister Chan Khongf

p to seven feet of rain fell on Uparts of central Vietnam over three days in early November, creating widespread flooding and mountainous landslides. The devasta­ tion is tremendous. Reuters News Agency reports that at least 554 people have died. Over half the dead lived in Thua Thien Hue province; 467 alone lived in the imperial city of Hue, home of Thich Nhat Hanh's root temple, Tu Hieu. Government officials estimate that 900,000 of the province's 1.05 million residents were Home Damaged byth e Floods displaced. Highway One south of town is impassable due to flooding and landslides. have borrowed money from other projects to send The state radio reports that across seven provinces $20,000 toThua Thien—$10,000 to Quang Nam and 1,000,000home s were destroyed, 130,000 tonso f $10,00 0 to Da Nang and Quang Tri. As you can see, warehouse food was saturated and is likely torot , and we urgently need your help to bring a token of con­ 185,000 paddy fields were destroyed or damaged. cern to these desperate people. The Huong (Perfume) River overflowed its banks and For information about how you can help the relief created a new estuary by sweeping seventy homes efforts, please see page 10o f this issue. out to sea at Thuan An. Many homes are underwater; With deep thanks, we send you our best regards. others have collapsed under landslides. Vegetable May the energy of Compassion protect you and your fields, fish breeding ponds, schools, and health care beloved ones, and keep you safe and in good health. facilities have been destroyed. People have no electricity or gas. The cost of essentials, such as rice and kerosene, has skyrocketed. Medicines, food, and Letter fresh water are in critically short supply, as the risk of disease escalates. rrom Sister Minn Tann Our five monasteries—Tu Hieu, Dieu Nghiem, Long Tho Monastery Pho Quang, Chau Lam, and Long Tho—are located on the mountain and are safe. Monks and nuns are in Hue City, Vietnam a position to help the flood victims. They have rainwater, reserves of rice, wood for cooking, courage, and amin d of love. For four days and November 4, 1999 nights, they worked ceaselessly to cook rice, make fter four days and three nights lost in darkness, rice balls, and carry and distribute them in this most Awithout running water, electricity, or telephone difficult situation. They could easily die in the stormy lines, surrounded by fierce waters and cries for help, waters, but they have no fear. They know that they as we evoke the name of Avalokita, suddenly, the are thehelpin g hands of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. telephone rings and your voice is at the other end! We recently received the letter that follows, from How could that be? It must be amiracl e from the Sister Minh Tanh of Long Tho Monastery in Hue. Bodhisattva Avalokita who helped connect us with Hundreds of our brothers and sisters, helping hands the outside world. of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, are waiting for our Sister, you may already know that Thua Thien, help to be able to bring your love to the people who Quang Tri, and Quang Nam provinces now lie are lost in despair. Dear friends, with the greatest underwater. It is so frightening to see thousands of efforts Plum Village and Green Mountain Dharma houses sinking down into the immense waters. While Center can make, we could offer each family barely cooking rice (with wood because there is no electric­ five cents (twelve cents can buy apoun d of rice). We ity or gas), making rice balls, putting them into nylon

6 The Mindfulness 'Bell/1393-2000 'Winter bags, and searching the way to bring them to the the house. Government canoes, already overwhelmed neediest people, we evoke the name of Avalokita with rescue work, have notbee n able to visit our area with tears in our eyes. Only afe w temples located on yet. They only arrived at Tunnel Bridge (Cau Lon), high lands are able to help—the Root Temple Tu then turned back to the city. Finally, early on the Hieu, Nunneries Dieu Nghiem and Pho Quang, and morning of November 4, monks from Tu Hieu my temple, Long Tho. arrived by canoe and we could rescue the three The monks at Tu Hieu Monastery brought out children. their whole year's supply of rice, and for the last On the third day of flooding, the monks in Tu three days, have been cooking for the hundreds of Hieu were able to hire a large canoe, bringing big sick people in the hospital, where there is no electric­ bags of rice balls and dried noodles to eight remote ity or running water, as well as for the many families areas where no government officers dare to come: sitting on their rooftops, waiting for help. Surrounded Quy Lai, Thuan Hoa, Tay Linh (Sister Nhu Minh's by water, people are still dying of hunger and thirst, area), Tay Loc, Cii Chanh (Sister Minh Tu's area), because the flood waters are polluted with coipses of Nam Hoa, and Bai Dau. The waters there are fierce humans and animals and much dirt and debris. and three government officers have drowned. Today, We in these temples are able to help, thanks to November 5, the monks visited and distributed food large reserves of rice,rainwate r we stored in big in Nam Hoa, Phu Hau, Van Cu, Co Lao, Huong Tra, containers, and a lot of wood logs around the Thiiy Bang, An Liiu (Phu Vang), Due Biiu, La Chu, temples. Monks cut banana trees and made rafts Huong Chii, Huong Vinh, Le Khe, Thanh Trung, around two square yards each, to carry big bags Thanh Nguyen, Kinh Doi, Long Ho, and Ngoc Ho. containing hundreds of small rice balls. They walked The Government is grateful and welcomes our in chest-deep water, pushing rafts of food to the areas activities, because we are of great help. By chance, in need. In some dangerous areas, crossing the fierce Tu Hieu temple was preparing to distribute $20,000 stream, we must choose the best swimmers. partly in cash and partly in food, to our 88 day-care Only 200 meters from our temple, we heard a centers. The distribution had not yet started when the loud noise. Three children caught on the roof of their flooding began. Thus, our friends were ready to help home were banging on a metal container to call for efficiently, as if the ancestors had prepared for us to help.Th e water almost reached the beams near the be ablet o help. Because, even if we have money in roof. We wept, but none of us dared to cross the the bank, the Vietcom Bank of Hue is still under the fierce, angry stream in front of our temple to reach waters!

Bringing Aid to Flood Victims

1999-2000 Winter/The Mindfulness 'Bett 7 Update on trie Floods November 10,199 9 food in many places, so they dug up and cooked the manioc roots in the temple. At 5:00 a.m., the monks cut down the banana trees to make rafts and carry the fter receiving the $20,000 U.S. (120,000 FF), cooked manioc to the flood victims. Other monks A the Root Temple and related temples were able stayed behind, and with the nuns from Dieu Nghiem to send many monks and nuns to help the flood Temple, cooked rice and made itint o small packages victims. The situation has become more difficult each to distribute. day. They leave the temples at 5:00 a.m. and returna t The monks divided into five groups. Group one midnight. The next morning at 5:00, they set out went to the upper part of the Bo River at Phong Son again. village; group two went to the upper source of the On November 2, the water rose very high in the Huong River at Huong Tho village; group three city region. The monks rescued one family on Dien brought food and water to the hospital, the mental Bien Phu Street. As the water rose even higher, they hospital, and the tuberculosis camp; group four took heard people calling for rescue from another house. food to the University area where hundreds of The water was flowing so fast, the current so strong, students were trapped on the upper floors of build­ that no one dared approach to help. Dharma teachers ings with no food or water; and group five success­ and monks finally swam to the house and removed fully searched for motor boats so help might reach the roof, rescuing seven people inside. the remote areas such as Tay Linh, Quy Lai, Thuan During the night of November 2 and the morning Hoa, Tay Loc, Cii Chanh, Nam H6a, and Bai Dau. of November 3, all electricity and water were cut off From November third through the sixth, using in Hue. The monks knew there was absolutely no banana rafts and two motorboats, 70 monks and 18

News irom the Flooded Pi rovmces QUANGNGA1 PROVINCE: This areaha s notbee n DANANG CITY & QUANG NAM PROVINCE: As affected asbadl y asothers ,bu t avalanches onth e of November 3, all roads were still underwater. The mountain road from Son Hat o SonTa y buried sixty DaBa c Bridgeha sbee n carried away byth ewaters . people.Fiv e wererescued . Asth erai n kept falling, Largerock shav e fallen along the mountain passo f hugerock s swept down in avalanches andlandslides . Hai Van making itimpassabl e from DaNan g cityt o Around 7,000house s areunderwate r andman y ThuaThie n province.Th e water hasrise n onemete r fishermen drowned. in thelowes t parts ofth e Plateau Ngu Hanh Son,an d QUANG TRIPROVINCE: DongHo atrai n stationi s seven meters in the districts Hoa Vang,Ta mKy , completely underwater. Five hundred busesar estuc k Dien Ban, Thanh Binh, Tuyen Phuoc,Da i Loc,Du y atth enort h end of QuangTr i bridge.A tleas t 60,000 Xuyen and QueSon . Thevillage s nearth e oceani n houses have collapsed. Hundreds ofthousand so f NuiThan h district are also five to six meters flood victims sito n theirroofs , waiting tob erescued . underwater- Four-hundred-thousand victims arestil l Thousands of themhav e been soaking inth e water for sitting on their roofs waiting for help.O n November four days and are hungry, exhausted, thirsty, and cold. 5,ou r team of social workers from theTa mChan h Somear enea r death; manypeopl e havedied .Al l nine groupan d Buddhist Youth Minh Tancam e back counties ofth eprovinc e areflooded . Thanks toyou r from arescu e trip tobrin g 300parcel s of food to generosity duringThay' s last tript oth e United States, help relieve 300familie s in Dai Locdistric t where wewer e ablet o send $10,000 to the Brothersan d waters are still immense and stormy.The y were Sisters working in the Understanding and Love wondering how theycoul d survive such aperilou s Programs at Quang Tri sponsored by PlumVillage . trip—with the helping hands of Avalokita. InHo a Van district, the water is seven meters high,an d HUECITY & THUA THIENPROVINCE: Thewors t 24,400 houses havebee n completely covered with counties affected byth e flood areQuan g Dien,Phon g water. Allth eric e storage houses of theprovinc e Dien, HuongTra , Phu Vang and Phu Loc andal l havebee n washed away, and thousands of headso f villages alongth e Perfume (Huong) River andB o livestock drowned. River. Aso f November 5, 1999,ten so f thousandso f families inthes e areas haveno t been ablet oconnec t QUANGBINH PROVINCE: More than 30,000 with theoutsid eworld .Mor e than 100,000 families houses are underwater. Theferryboat s havestoppe d still sito n theirroofs , waiting forhelp . working. InL e Thuy County, 24o f 27village sar e under thewaters ,wit h 18,300house s immersed.

The Mindfutness 'Bdf/1999-2000 Winter members of the Youth for Social Service continued enough. Sharing equally with everyone, they were to offer help from the mountains to the sea—in Thua able to give only three packages of instant noodles Thien, Van Cu, Co Lao, Huong Tra, Thuy Bang, An and one-fourth of apoun d of rice for each family. Xuan. Although the monks were only able to give so little, From November sixth to the tenth, as flood waters they gave their hearts, love, care, and energy, and that began to withdraw, monks from Tu Hieu Temple moved people so much. were able to rent trucks to carry people, food, and The monks worked very hard to help. In many blankets. To bring help, they drove on rough and places, they had to swim across the waters, wearing dangerous roads. In some places in Thua Thien only T-shirts and shorts. The people recognized them province, the floodwaters had not yet withdrawn as monks only because of their shaved heads. The enough to drive on the roads. The monks drove only monks were hungry too, and often unable to carry fivemile s toward the villages in this area, before the their heavy loads. But they tried to do their best to roads were cut off by flooding. They moved the help. supplies onto ferryboats, but after an hour's travel, In some places, such as An Xuan and Quang the water became too shallow for the boats to Dien, the floodwater has begun to withdraw slowly. continue. Carrying 50 kilo bags of rice and other Bloated corpses—human and animal—float every­ supplies strapped to their shoulders, the monks where and the stench is nauseating. Despite the continued on foot. They had to carry these heavy terrible risk of disease, people are unable to bury the loads three, five, or even seven kilometers to reach corpses, because the available ground is flooded. certain areas. If you are able to support these desperate efforts The monks had hoped to provide relief for 200 to help thousands of people, please send your families. Each was to receive 15package s of instant donation as soon as possible. noodles and ten kilos of rice. But when they arrived, With deep gratitude and appreciation for your they saw thousands of families starving. Considering tremendous work. May all the Buddhas and bodhisat- the urgency of the situation, the monks thought they tvas protect and support us all. Homage to Avalok- could give each family seven packages of instant iteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion. noodles and one kilo of rice, but when they counted SisterChan Khongcompiled this article from various all the families, they realized they did not have nearly reports receivedfrom themonks and nuns in Vietnam.

PLEASE HELP!

ince November 6, we have sent a total of $185,765 to help the victims of the flooding. But with so S many people in need, even this seemingly large amount is very little in the desert of suffering. On November 16,th e monks were able to give ahandfu l of rice and three packages of instant noodles to each family. On November 27,eac h family received sixteen kilograms of rice and around $4.00 U.S. The government could only afford to offer each family one package of instant noodles, and this only once, eight days after the flood. But even with these combined efforts, each family is in great need of our help. The price of food has risen dramatically. The price of rice increased from 20 cents per kilo to 30 cents per kilo; instant noodles went from seven cents per package to ten cents per package. Withjus t $10 U.S. you can help take care of afamil y for one month: • $1 buys fifteen packages of instant noodles • $6 buys 20 kilos of rice • $3 buys a blanket Please make your check or money order payable to "UBC Flood Victims" and mail to: Green Mountain Dharma Center, P.O. Box 182, Hartland-Four Corners, VT 05049 USA. We will send your donations to Hue, Da Nang, or Quang Tri within two days of receipt. All donations are tax-deductible. You may also call Tu Hieu (the Root Temple) in Vietnam and ask for Venerable Thich Thai Hoa or Sister Minh Tanh, treasurer of the Root Temple at (84)54- ManyPeopl e MustSta y inThei r CollapsedHomes , 824865 . NotWithou t Shelter, ButWithou t Livable Shelter.

1999-2000 Winter/The Mindfutness

n April 29, 1999, Federico Mayor, General Thay and aPlu m Village delegation of 182 ODirector of UNESCO, wrote to Prime Minister monastic and lay members representing sixteen Phan Van Khai of Vietnam requesting that the countries visited China last May for a teaching tour. government allow the publication and circulation of They were welcomed to offer retreats and public books and tapes by Thich Nhat Hanh in Vietnam, and talks throughout China. Not only were visiting grant permission for Thich Nhat Hanh to return to monastics welcome to stay in big monasteries such teach in Vietnam after 34 years of exile. Many other as Bai-lin and Gao Ming, but lay members were also people in Europe and America—including Senator warmly received. Thay's books, including OldPath Philippe Marini, Senator Bernard Dussaut, and WhiteClouds, were published in China prior to his Senator Jean Francois Poncet of France; President of arrival. Also ten Chinese monks are being sent by the the Commission of Foreign Affairs of the French Buddhist Association of China to Plum Village for National Assembly Jack Lang; President of the Swiss further training in engaged Buddhism.We believe Confederation Flavio Cotti; and Senator John that Vietnam should have little difficulty heading in McCain and Congressman Richard Boucher of the the same direction and offering a similar welcome. United States—have written to the government of Dear friends, we count on you to help with this Vietnam for the same purpose. We need our friends campaign, and we will be grateful for anything you tojoi n in the campaign so that Thay's teaching can do to make Thay's teaching available to his becomes available in his own country, and also so people. Thay can go back to visit his root temple (Tu Hieu in Sister Chan Khong has been a close associate of Hue, Vietnam) and offer direct teaching to his ThichNhat Hanh for over thirtyyears. She wasone people. If you could help by urging important people in your own country to write to the government of of the original six members of the Order oflnterbe- Vietnam, that will be very wonderful. We are asking ingand is the author of Learning True Love. for these specific things:

• Ten of Thay's books be allowed to be published (Abbot Thich Chi Mau of Thay's Root Temple wrote alette r to the Thich Chi Mau,Abbo t of Tu Hieu government asking this half ayea r ago, Temple, has requested permission to and renewed the request on July 4, 1999. publish the following books by Thich See box on this page.) Nhat Hanh. As Sister Chan Khong • Ten monks of the Root Temple be explains, his repeated requests have not authorized to come for further training in been answered by the Government of Plum Village. Vietnam. • Ten monastics of Plum Village be authorized to go to the Root Temple for 1.Monaster y Daily Chanting Book for the further training on traditional chanting. Year 2000 • A monastic and lay delegation from 2. TheMiracle of Mindfulness Plum Village led by Thich Nhat Hanh be 3. OldPath White Clouds allowed to go to Vietnam to offer public 4. Breathe! YouAre Alive: Sutra on theFull lectures and meditation retreats for a Awareness ofBreathing period of two months. 5. Daily Chanting Book for Lay People While the fourth project could take ayea r or more 6. Transformation andHealing: Sutra on to materialize, the first three projects can be realized the Four Establishments of Mindfulness right now. If the first three projects cannot be 7. Peace Is Every Step realized, it will be impossible for the fourth tob e 8. TheHeart of the Buddha's Teaching accepted. Therefore, for the time being, we would 9. Teachingson Love like to insist that the first three steps be taken immediately. 10. Stepping into Freedom:An Introduction toBuddhist Monastic Training

10 The Mindfulness

he first acto f the meditator ist og obac k to his orhe rbod y asth eobjec t of mindfulness. TBreath isth evehicl e with which weg obac k to ourbody . Thebreat h belongs toth ebody . Iti s a link between body and mind. Assoo n asyo ug obac k to your in-breath andout-breat h andbreath e mind­ fully, your mind comes home toyou r body and you are truly present in theher e andnow ,trul y alive. Then, make another step. During your in-breath, be aware of notonl y your in-breath, butals o of your body.Tha t isth emeanin g of the exercise givenb y the Buddha, "Breathing in,I a m aware of my body." During myin-breath , Ius eth eenerg y of mindfulness to embrace mybody , torecogniz e its presence.Th e Meditation and Healingf next exercise theBuddh a proposed is that youcal m your body. "Breathing in,I cal m mybody . Breathing ky Tkick Nkat Hank out,I smil e tom ybody. " These exercises canb e done sitting orlyin g down. Gobac k toyou r body, recognize it,embrac e it, andcal m it.You r body needs peace. There mayb etension , conflict, and war in your body, andyo u have tob ether e for your body. "Darling,I a mher e for you." And"darling " herei s my ownbody . First, youembrac e thebod y asa whole. Yo u smile toth ebody . Next youbegi n to focus your mindfulness onon epar t of your body, like your eyes. Then you focus on your nose, your tongue, your brain, your lungs, ands oo n until you come toth e soles of your feet. Scan your body with thebea mo f mindfulness. "Breathing in,I a m aware of my eyes. Breathing out,I smil e tom yeyes. "Th e meditator identifies each part ofhe rbody , recognizesit , embraces it,an d smiles toit .Whe n you arrive at a spot where there isa littl e bito f pain, you stay longer. You spend more time with that part of your body, embracing itan dsmilin g to it. Allowing your body tores t isver y important. Your body hasth ecapacit y of self-healing ifonl y you allow itt orestor e itself. Many ofu s have lostth e capacity torest . Wear evictim s of stress and tension. We learned that habit, andw ear en olonge r capable of resting.Tha t iswh yi ti s difficult for ourbod yt o restore itself. When ananima l in thefores t gets hurt, it goes toa quie t place andlie s down. Itdoe sno t think of eating, drinking, or anything until the wound ishealed . Weuse d tod othat , butw ehav e lost that kind of habit. Every time something iswron g inou r body, weworr y somuch , wege ta lo to f help, butw e don't allow ourbod y achanc e tores t andrecover . So this isa ver y important practice recommended byth e Buddha: bether e for your body, allow itt obe , and allow peace andharmon y tob erestore d in your body by mindful living, mindful resting, mindful eating and consuming. The second object ofyou r meditation isyou r feelings. Ineac h of us,ther e isa rive r where every drop of water isa feeling . Ifyo uar etrul y present, 1999-2000 Winter/The. Mindfulness "Bill 11 you'll be ablet oidentif y your feelings—pleasant, energy tosuppor tth eyoun g person. Youhel ptha t unpleasant, neutral, ormixed—an d look deeply into person tog o across the storm.Afte r afe w times thenatur eo f eachfeeling . Thati s meditation.Jus t practicing withyou rsupport , shewil l be ablet od oi t recognizing. Not tob e attachedt oa feeling , nott o try byherself . We may save alif e if we know howt o topus hi taway . This is very important. Simply practice andho w tohel pyoun g people practicelik e recognize eachfeelin g asi tarises ,whil ei ti sthere , that. anda si ti s dying down. Youdon' tfigh t yourfeeling , We should notwai tunti l theemotio n arisest o youjus tembrac e itlik e the sunshine embracingth e begin thepractice ,becaus e we will forget. Wehav e vegetation. tobegi nrigh tnow . TheBuddh agav e usthes e Inth emornin g whenth etulip s arestil l notopen , exercises: "Breathing in,I a mawar eo f my feeling. the sunlight embraces theflower. Eac hparticl eo fth e Breathing out,I smil e tom y feeling. Breathing in,I lightcontinue s topenetrat e theflower , andafte ron e amcalmin g my feeling. Breathing out,I a mcalmin g ortw ohours ,th etuli pwil l open.I nth e sameway , we myemotion. "I f we practice for afe w weeks,th e don'tinterven e orfigh t ourfeelings . Wegenerat eth e practice will become ahabit , andwhe n strong energy of mindfulness inorde rt orecogniz ean d emotion arises,w e will know how topractice .W e embrace the feeling. will remembert opractice . We should notb e afraido f ourfeeling s and During practice, we shouldloo k deeply intoth e emotions. Sometimes anemotio n canb ever y natureo f ouremotion , andidentif y thenutriment s powerful, like astorm .I tmake su s suffer alot .Bu t thathav ebrough ti tint ous .I ti s ourwa y ofconsum ­ we shouldremembe rtha ta nemotio n is onlya n ing andbein g intouc hwit hth eworl dtha tha s emotion.No t moretha na nemotion . Sometimes we brought thatstron gemotio n intous ,whethe ri ti sfea r thinktha tw e areonl y ouremotion . Thati sno t ordespai ro ranger .T o meditatei s toloo k deeply into correct. whati s there andunderstan dth e source, thedee p Some of us, especially young people, suffer so causes of it, thetru enatur eo f it.W e allhav egoo d much whenthe y areoverwhelme d by astron g seeds andba dseed s within us. Ifw e allow the bad emotion. Sometimes youngpeopl e tendt obeliev e seeds tob e watered every day,the nw ehav eth e thatth eonl y way to stopsufferin g is tokil lthem ­ desire, the anger,th etendenc y tohar mourselve san d selves.Whe nw e observe atre ei n astorm ,i f we otherpeopl e aroundus .I f we look deeply, weca n focus onth eto po f thetree ,w e feel alac ko f safety. identify thekin do f nutriments we ingesti nou rdail y Thetre eseem s fragile, unablet owithstan dth estorm . life. Nothing can survive withoutfood . Therei s so Buti f we focus onth etrun ko f thetree ,w e seeit s muchviolenc e inth ebodie s andconsciousnes s of firmness. We seetha tth etre ei s deeplyroote di nth e youngpeopl e today,becaus e theyconsume d somuc h soil andtha ti twil l withstandth estorm .Whe nw ear e violence inthei rdail y life. They don'tkno w how to overwhelmed by strongemotion , we shouldno t focus embrace, toloo k deeply andtransform . They don't onth eleve l of thebrai no rth eheart .W ehav et o know how tocu tof f thatsourc e of nutriment.The y bringou rattentio n downt oth eleve l of thenavel . continue toconsum e thepoison s of craving,hatred , Thisi s ourtrunk .W ekno w thatt osta yi nth e stormi s despair, andviolenc e in theirdail y life. Tomeditat e dangerous, so we go down andembrac eth etrunk . is tog obac k toth erive ro f feelings, identify every Wepractic e mindful breathing, andfocu s allou r feeling, calm them, andloo k deeply intothem ,i n attentiono nth eris e andfal l of theabdome ndurin g ordert ounderstan dthei rtru enatur ei nterm so f the stormo f strongemotion . Breathei nan dou t nutriments. deeply, andnouris h yourawarenes s thatemotio n is Inth eBuddhis t teaching, we hearo f thepractic e something thatcomes , stays awhile , andgoe s away. of thesi x paramitas,crossin g overt oth eothe rshore . And after ten,fifteen, o rtwent y minutes, thatstron g This is the shoreo f suffering, the shoreo f ill-being, emotion will go away. despair,fear , andanger . Idon' twan tt o stay onthi s Anemotio n is only anemotion , andyo uar emuc h shore.I wan tt ocros s overt oth eothe rshore ,th e moretha nyou remotion . Why doyo uhav e todi e shore of well-being, forgiveness, peace, and compas­ because of oneemotion ?W ehav e totel l theyoun g sion. Six kinds of boatsca ncarr ym efro mthi sshor e people that,an dw e have totrai nthe mt opractic e toth eothe rshore , the six paramitas. Andth esixt h breathing withus .Whe n ayoun g person is shakenb y one, thelas tone , is aboutunderstandin gprajna. Iti s a strongemotion , we mustinvit e himo rhe rt osi t prajna paramita, thekin do f understanding thatca n downwit hus .W eca nhol dhi shand .W eca ninvit e bringyo ut oth eothe rshore .Whe nyo upractic et o hert obreath ei nan dou twit hus ,focusin g our identify whati s there andloo k deeply intoth enatur e attention onth eris e andfal l of ourabdomens . of whati s there,yo u arepracticin gprajna paramita, "Darling, please breathe indeepl y andbreath eou t andth einsigh t you getwil l bringyo ut oth eothe r deeply, andfocu s yourattentio no nth eris e andfal l shore, the shore of liberation andwell-being . of yourabdomen. "An dyo u arechannelin gyou r

"Ihe MindfuCness Laity at all.I lived in thepractic e center, and every day the practice center penetrated me imperceptibly,jus t as when you walk in the mist and imperceptibly your efore I came toPlu m Village Iha d been practic­ clothes become wet. Our habit energies of sadness B ing in India with the Tibetans, a meditation and despair are strong and they do not vanish called tonglen. In this practice, when you breathe in, overnight. They gradually cease to manifest with so you take all the suffering of the world on yourself much strength, and they give more space to the seeds and when you breathe out, you breathe out all your ofjoy . joy for the sake of the world. I was ill while I was in One morning I sat on my bed to drink a cup of hot India. When Ifirs t became sick, my teachers told me water. That is sitting meditation, because while you that it would be very good to meditate in order to are sitting, you are mindful and concentrated. Outside breathe in all the suffering and breathe out all myjoy . you could still see the stars,bu t it was beginning to In fact, I did not have anyjo y tobreath e out. How­ grow light. Unintentionally Ibega n to experience my ever deeply I looked, Icoul d not find it. Although ignorance. I felt as if I were walking through veils of this meditation helped me concentrate on my breath­ mist. As I passed through one veil, I encountered ing and grow accustomed to bringing my mind back another. However Ikne w that the sun was there too, to my breath, the part about suffering andjo y was not although Icoul d not see it.Wisdo m and ignorance very useful. When I was well again, I met another were present together. I knew that awakening can teacher and explained my difficulty. He said, "Why happen at any moment, in any place. You only have do you bother to distinguish between suffering and to practice and awakening is there. Habit energies can joy? The two are the same."Tha t put me in a little be overcome now by the practice of being truly there more difficult place, because Idi d not really under­ in the present moment. At that moment I was stand what this meant. awakened about my ignorance. Ikne w and felt my When Icam e to Plum Village, Thay asked me, ignorance and wrong perceptions deeply. So awaken­ "What have you been practicing?"I said, "I've been ing was not the absence of ignorance, but awareness trying topractic e to seetha t suffering andjo y are the of the nature of ignorance. same thing."Tha y looked at me with compassion and said, "I think that you need to come back to yourself and nourish thejo y in yourself. Id o not think you he sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindful­ have enough happiness to do that kind of medita­ Tness includes some exercises on mindfulness of tion."The n every day,Tha y would ask me, "Are you the body. One exercise that helps us feel less lonely happy?"An d Iha d to look deeply to see whether I and cut off is the meditation on the four elements. In was happy. I saw that if I can't say "yes,"the n I am the Chinese version, there are six elements; in the not aver y happy person. Although the seedso f Pali, there arefour . Those elements are earth, water, happiness were in my consciousness, they had not fire, and air. (The Chinese version adds space and been watered for alon g time and therefore were not consciousness.) The Buddha says that all these manifesting. Thay said, "Please do the kind of elements are in your body; they are thebasi c con­ meditation that nourishes you, and when you are stituents of your body. And you should meditate first properly nourished withjo y and happiness, you will to see those different elements supporting your body. beabl et obreath e outyou rjo y and help other Then, you meditate to see those four elements people."I had to do that kind of meditation for three working to support life everywhere, notjus t your orfou r years.I concentrate d on nourishing the seeds body. Gradually, you see the oneness of your own ofjo y and happiness in myself. In my sitting and life and thelif e of everything around you, so that you walking meditation, I could not breathe in all the are not afraid to die.Yo u know that those elements suffering anymore,bu t I could breathe in the compas­ which support this littlebod y support all others' sion of my teacher and myself for my own suffering. bodies and somehow, there isn't such athin g as death When Ifel t nourished by my teacher's compassion because the elements continue to support life any­ and my compassion for myself, Icoul d breathe out way.Thi s is aver y beautiful meditation. joy. You begin by saying, "Breathing in, I see the I practiced mouth yoga diligently. Mouth yoga is earth element in me."Certai n things in you are more thepractic e of the half smile.I made myself smile solid than liquid—your bones, nails, tendons, every half hour, whether there was anything to smile

1999-2000 (Winter/The Mindfulness Belt 13 excrement, flesh. Here you can see the earth element. If you touch with your mindfulness everything in Acceptance your body that isquit e firm, then you are touching by Patrecia Lenore the earth element in you. And then, breathing out, "I smile to the earth element in me." Next, "Breathing in, I see the water element in me."An d everything have fibromyalgia, a close relative of chronic liquid in your body is the water element in you—your Ifatigue syndrome. I am always in pain, all over my urine, your blood, your saliva, your perspiration. body, sometimes low-grade, sometimes acute. When There is a lot of water in every part of your body. the pain is acute, it feels like my body is on fire and You are seventy percent water. And then, you see the my bones are being scraped. I also have fatigue. water element outside of you—the rain, the sea—and Again, sometimes it is low-grade, sometimes so acute you feel the oneness of all life. that it is difficult to breathe or eat. Although I cannot You may decide, "Today Iwil ljus t do the always prevent orpredic t acute attacks of pain or meditation on the earth element." And throughout the fatigue, Ihav e learned alo t about how to manage my day, you are aware of the earth element in you and life so it is less likely that I will reach the acute stage. the earth element all around you. You base your Meditation is one of my most valuable tools. concentration on the earth element for the whole day. Meditation helps me notice the subtle signs ofa Another day, you can meditate on the water element. possible flare-up. As Thay says about strong feelings When you're walking, you feel the water in your in Peace Is Every Step, the first step is to be aware.I f body and the water around you. Focusing on the air I'm aware of my body's signals, Ica n see, hear, or element, you see that the air in your body and the air feel the signs of weakness and pain. After the initial outside are one. Of course the air is another thing awareness, Iusuall y have to work on accepting what which loves us and which is so essential for our lives. my body is telling me. This is not always easy. In When we get caught up in worrying about unneces­ fact, it usually isn't. Like most people, I want to sary things, we can always look up and see that the finish what I'm doing, whether it is work or pleasure. air is there allowing us to breathe, and we know that It's difficult to stop. But if Ica n concentrate on the there is nothing to worry about. Especially if we're in fact that stopping and resting is being loving to a beautiful place where the air is good, we can feel myself, rather than focusing on the feelings of supported by the air outside of us as we feel it disappointment and deprivation, then Ica n allow coming into our lungs. myself to rest. Sometimes this means simply observ­ ing my breath with my eyes closed. Sometimes I am able to listen to quiet music. If Icatc h the signals soon enough, I might have the strength to talk toa f I were to write out of my experience the recipe friend or read a book. Often the most difficult part is for nourishing happiness, Ishoul d write: I watching my mind being scared and projecting that I To nourish happiness, smile often; will always feel this way. I try to remember that walk and breathe in mindfulness many times everything changes, even pain. And when I can't every day in order to touch the present moment remember that very well, Ical l a friend to remind me. deeply; have akin d teacher and spiritual friends living with you or near you so that you can visit them often; read or listen to beautiful and meaningful teachings which you can put into practice straight away; and have the beauty of nature, its sights and sounds, penetrate you daily. On October 4, 1999 SisterAnnabel, True Virtue, was installed asAbbess of GreenMountain Dharma Center inHartland-Four Corners,Vermont.

14 "The, Mindfulness 'Bell/1999-2000 Winter I need to work on accepting my limitations within this illness and asking for help.Recently , I was Open Heart Posture caring for my grandchildren while my daughter and by Margfaret Kirscnner her husband moved into their new house. I wanted to help pack and carry things,bu t after afe w minutes, was not able to continue because of thepai n and e sat facing Een—Eileen Kiera—our mindful fatigue. Immediately, thoughts about my deceased Wness teacher atIndianola , in a serene camp­ mother arose. She was almost always ill, and, I am ground on the shores of Puget Sound, Washington. sorry to say, my brothers and sisters and Ifel t very She was giving us agift , she said, as she instructed us critical of her a lot of the time.No w Ihav e alo t more on how to sit or stand: slight pelvic tilt, sternum lifted compassion for her. I also had a lot of self-pitying as if pulled gently upward by a string, allowing the thoughts. When that happens, I'm learning to gently shoulders tores t slightly back and downward. turn my mind to what I can do.I n this case, Ire ­ Familiar intructions given by yoga teachers, physical minded myself that perhaps my quiet presence was therapists. Iha d often used them myself as I trained calming to those who were packing and moving, and chronic pain patients to relax at the hospital where I thathelpin g keep my grandchildren happy was work. Yet I had ahar d time with them personally— enough. Without my meditation practice of looking reminding myself to alter the chronic slump in my deeply, I would not have known how sad I felt about back each time I sat to meditate. Sitting upright was my limitations or that I needed to gently change my tiring and I would catch myself humped over again focus to what I was able todo . and again.The n I heard Een's words, "Lifting your At the wonderful retreat in Santa Barbara this fall, sternum opens your heart." I noticed it was easy to assist the staff in finding help "Of course I want my heart open," I thought as I for the differently-abled, but difficult topu t myself in raised my ribcage and let my shoulders slip back. For that category. An amusing thing happened. I helped the first time,I ha d found apositio n that felt comfort­ find an alternate space for morning meditation for able and relaxing. My mind opened as an awareness those unable to walk on the beach, never dreaming I shot through me:I had been protecting my heart since would be one of those people. But on Monday my divorce. Iha d been curling up to protect my soft morning, Ifoun d myself in that very space, because underbelly—like any animal would do.I realized that the ocean air was too cold for me.Ther e were only a I did not need to do that any longer. few of us, but each morning Iha d the pleasure of I maintained the open heart posture during sitting SisterJina' s gentle and "solid like a mountain" throughout our weeklong retreat, and have been able presence, leading us in meditation and mindful to continue the posture since. "My heart is open" has movements. Her presence brought me and the others become amantra . To my greatjoy , Ifin d myself joy and peace.Wha t a treat! being more spontaneous, having a more open attitude Here is a meditation verse I composed to help toward others, giving more gifts of smiles or time or remind me that it's okay to ask for help. material things.Tha t the open heart posture lifts my spirit and changes my behavior is only tob e expected Breathing in,I scan my body; when we remember that body, mind, and spirit are Breathing out,I smile gently tomy body. one.Bu t it has been my often successful habit to use Breathing in,I scan mymind; my mind to change my body. When Iremembe r that I Breathing out,I smile gently tomy mind. am one with the universe, Ifin d it natural that the Breathing in,I feel tiredness (or pain); universe reflects an open heart posture towards me: a Breathing out, I open tomy tiredness. chance meeting with an acquaintance who says he Breathing in,I see I need assistance; considers me his friend, or being introduced to Breathing out, Iask for help,knowing it helps someone who admires my "caring face." Small but others too. meaningful events that nourish my open heart. Breathing in,I accept others' assistance; Lifting my ribcage Breathing out,I feel gratitude. Ifeel my heart opening. I offer this verse in loving gratitude to Thay and My whole body smiles. allth e wonderful teachers that Ihav e encountered in Margaret Kirschner, Mutual Support of the Heart, myriad forms—people, animals, plants and minerals. livesand practices inBend, Oregon. PatreciaLenore, Flower of True Virtue, practices withthe Communityof Mindfulness/New York Metro.

1999-2000 Winter/The Mindfulness "Belt 15 Meditation and the Tnreexold Trainings by Jack Lawlor

ur local Sangha consists of people from all The Buddha taught that consistent practice takes us Owalks of life, and many ethnic and religious beyond the periodic experience ofjo y to the consis­ backgrounds and age groups.Whe n we host apotluc k tent experience of happiness, which covers us from meal, the diversity of backgrounds and tastes is plain head to foot like arobe , or agoo d Midwestern to see—and delicious to enjoy! For almost nine overcoat! years—each of the nearly 500 times we have con­ Insigfnt-Prajna vened—we have regularly enjoyed one particularly good, spiritual meal: sitting and walking meditation Many people aspire to insight and understanding. together. While many practices help establish mind­ Insight meditation is intentionally more inclusive. We fulness and bring us together as a Sangha, meditation remain centered in the breath while continuously is perhaps the most important. We offer periodic aware of one other phenomenon—a sensation in the instruction in meditation, and "veterans" aswel l as body, afeeling , a thought, or our surroundings. For newcomers thrive on it. example, following the breath is afor m of meditating People sometimes ask Thay how we might make on thebody . We are not sitting in the high-tech our meditation practice "deeper." On occasion, he control tower of our mind observing what our low- reframes the question to ask how we might make it tech body is doing. We are the breathing. It's the more "genuine,"i n a way that liberates us from difference between watching your hand rub the compulsive behavior, enabling us toloo k and listen surface of the carpet and focusing your attention into deeply, understand, love, and act appropriately. the sensation at your fingertips. Our attention Thay's approach to meditation isbased on the penetrates and merges with what is observed. Once Buddha's twoprimar y texts on meditation: Sutra on centered in the breath, we have the capacity to merge theFull Awareness ofBreathing and Sutra onthe ourbar e attention in this way into the rest of our Four Establishments ofMindfulness. Thay discusses body, our feelings, and the world around us.W e have these sutras inBreathe! YouAre Alive andTransfor­ a calm, direct experience of the fluid, impermanent mation and Healing. A genuine approach to incorpo­ and interrelated nature of all that exists.Thi s is the rating meditation into our lives can be understood in experience of Zen Master Yamada Mumon: terms of the traditional Threefold Trainings in Is the moon I? Oram I the moon? Buddhism: concentration (samadhi), insight (prajna), I cannot tell. and the Mindfulness Trainings (sila). Thisautumn moon isso clear, so quiet. ConcentratioTi-Samadhi The experience goes beyond notions and concepts, opening the way to understanding, compassion, and Conscious breathing is an exercise in concentra­ the ability to love and to serve.Tha y explains that tion. This simple practice can mend the aching "seeing and loving always go together. Seeing and dispersion we often feel—a dissonance between what loving are one. Shallow understanding accompanies our body is doing and what our mind is doing, as well shallow compassion. Great understanding goes with asbetwee n our spiritual aspirations and behavior. We great compassion." follow thebreath , and if athough t orfeelin g arises, The practice of conscious breathing thus devel­ we recognize it, accept it, smile to it, and gently let it ops agentle , fluid concentration. Not rigid concentra­ go. We return to thebreath . The Sutra on theFour tion, but one that is alive and at ease.Th e practice of Establishments ofMindfulness describes how this insight, in turn, deepens our concentration and breaks simple practice can sometimes result in the experi­ through the bonds of conceptual thought and our ence ofjoy . Ibeliev e that thisjo y arises,i n part, from tendencies tojudg e and categorize, as we experience experiencing that we are more than our emotions and firsthand the myriad causes and conditions of this thoughts, that these emotions and thoughts have impermanent world. Thepractice s of concentration causes and conditions that are impermanent, and that (samadhi) and of insight (prajna) are not competing we have the ability, the freedom, tob e responsive to schools of meditation. They complement each other them rather than reactive. A verse from Tsuchiya and take us along the path tounderstandin g together, Fumiaki puts it this way: like the right and left wings of a bird. At long last my heart calms down as eveningcomes, Many newcomers want to leap immediately into And in the Four Directions I hearfresh springs. deep, profound insights on impermanence and

16 The Mindfulness Sanghas can kayak, Ica njourne y through the reeds to a beautiful develop ways to make this possible. glacial lake and not see many turtles, frogs, or fish. The interaction of the Threefold Trainings is They are there,bu t I miss them because my own beautifully affirmed in the insight verse of Lieu "mud" hasn't settled. Iconsistentl y find that sitting Quan, aVietnames e Zen master who lived during the and walking meditation before Iembar k guarantees time of George Washington and founded the school thepresenc e of wildlife. Rooted in conscious of Zen in which we now practice: breathing, practicing drifting boat meditation, I discover a rich world along the reedy banks—beneath The Great Wayof Reality me, above me, surrounding me.M y practice of deep is ourTrue Natures pure ocean. looking enhances conscious breathing, and my sense Thesource ofMind penetrates everywhere. of self and other dissolves into sheer seeing, sheer From theroots ofvirtue springs thepractice of listening, sheer being. compassion. Minarulness Trainings—Si/a Precepts, concentration, and insight— The simple practice of conscious breathing can thenature and function ofall three are one. become our good friend during aretreat , where we Thefruit oftranscendent wisdom areisolate d from many temptations that feed our can be realizedby beingwonderfully together. habit energy. But when we return home, our cravings Maintain and transmit thewonderful principle and desires can easily be stimulated once again. It is in order to revealthe true teaching! morechallengin g to practice simple conscious breathing, much less insight meditation, when we Forthe Realization of True Emptiness to be possible, return home. That is why the Third Learning in Wisdom andAction must go together. Buddhism—the Mindfulness Trainings—and Dharma TeacherJack Lawlor, True Direction, consistent Sangha practice are so important. practices withLakeside Buddha Sangha in Evanston, The Mindfulness Trainings are lifelong teachers Illinois and leads retreats in the midwestern United in the art of stopping—samatha. We must stop States.

1999-2000 Winter/The MindfuCness

hakyamuni Buddha taught that the next Buddha will be called Maitreya—the Buddha of Love. When we S practice maitri meditation, we water the seeds of this future Buddha in ourselves and strengthen our ability to love. It is the perfect antidote for resentment, hate, and anger. It has been especially useful to me in reconcil­ ing conflicts and creating stability in difficult situations.Maitri meditation helps me be more open, and enables me to act and react positively to others—from my parents (though no longer alive) to friends and partners in private and business life. The nine verses are: May Ibe peaceful, happy, and light inbody and spirit. MayI be safe andfree from injury. MayI be free from anger, afflictions,fear, and anxiety. MayI learn to look at myself with the eyesof understandingand love. MayI be able to recognize and touch theseeds ofjoy and happiness in myself. MayI learn to identify and see thesources ofanger, craving, and delusion inmyself MayI know how to nourish theseeds ofjoy inmyself every day. MayI live fresh, solid,and free. MayI be free from attachment andaversion, butnot be indifferent. We first direct the verses to ourselves. As long as we cannot accept ourselves as we are—including our capacity to transform unwholesome qualities—our loving relationships with others will also be awry. Next, we direct our meditation to aperso n we love, then to aperso n for whom we experience neutral feelings, and finally to aperso n with whom we experience difficulties. When webegi n the meditation with "May I" or "May he/she" it is not apiou s wish, but rather our earnest intention to master this ability and this state, to practice and to wish this also for other persons in our meditation. The unfolding of maitri begins first in thoughts, then as internal attitude which includes feelings and sensations, and finally it develops into apur e "being" without differentiating between you and I, friend and foe. Practicing this way, we begin to better understand the object of our meditation—ourselves or another person. Maitri will then permeate our thoughts, words, and deeds more and more strongly, and the Buddha Maitreya will become a loving reality within us. Amoghavajra Karl Schmied, TrueDharma Eye, isthe Dharma teacher of the Community ofMindful Livingin the Munich area, and one of the threeDharma teachersof Haus Maitreya in Hohenau.

18 The. Mindfulness 'Be.tt/1999-2000 WinUr Retreat Reports

Sangfha Building at the Calirornia Events by Caleb Cusbingf

ur Sangha has often thought about participating Our Sangha is processing the names and helping Oin a special project that would reflect our care organize new Sanghas. We called the 436 people and understanding. I'd silently wondered who would from our area, let them know what Sanghas exist, and come forth first and commit. To my surprise, it was that new hosts will call later. We've invited the new the Sangha as awhole. hosts to practice periods where we sit, walk, offer As we practiced together, our stability,joy , and guided meditations, and share our experiences. We gratitude grew, and so did our numbers. As a regular encourage co-hosting, and provide each host with a host, Iexpresse d concern that my sitting room list of people in their area and suggestions about couldn't accommodate more than the 25 who came scheduling the first gathering. We also expect to visit regularly. Looking with Sangha eyes, we recognized the new Sanghas in small groups. that we enjoy newcomers and we were all newcomers We're providing other tangible support: lists of once. We remembered how we struggled to practice local Sanghas, courtesy of the Bay Area Mindfulness alone, and how the open door brought us together. Community; a roster of local Tiep Hien members; We discussed dividing, relocating, and adding some of Thay's books; reprinted Plum Village sessions, but settled on amoratoriu m on newcomers. ChantingBooks; and an invitation to register with the However, we also determined to help new practitio­ Bay Area Mindfulness Community so as to be visible ners connect to existing Sanghas and build new ones. to others and receive information about upcoming And so, our project sprouted. events. We notified all northern California Order Twenty-two of us attended Thich Nhat Hanh's members and Sanghas in Thay's tradition to expect Santa Barbara retreat. With Jack Lawlor, we orga­ inquiries. For Sanghas beyond our area, we gave lists nized aSangha-buildin g meeting, at the end of which of their locals who signed up, and confirmed that the people exchanged names and addresses and sched­ Sanghas were interested and available to welcome the uled first meetings of home Sanghas. We also newcomers or to help them connect with other distributed Sangha listings, some Sangha profiles Sanghas. from TheMindfulness Bell, and an excerpt from Jack The Dharma is attractive to lay people, because it Lawlor's SanghaBuilding book. can be realized in a deeply personal way. The Buddha A short time later, Thay led a Day of Mindfulness reminds us in the Kalama Sutta: in Oakland. We printed more of the materials, and It isfine to have doubt. Do not believe in designed a sign-up program for people interested in somethingjust becausepeople think highly of it, local Sanghas. At long tables organized by cities and or because ithas comefrom tradition, or because regions,w e offered sign-up sheets with the heading it isfound inscriptures. Consider whether it goes "I am interested injoinin g or starting a local medita­ againstyour judgment, whether itcould cause tion group in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh." Each harm, whether itis condemned by wise people, sheet had spaces for contact information, and a andabove all, whetherput intopractice itwould column to indicate if people could host a group. We bring about destruction andpain. Anything that also provided lots of pencils. A few days later, we youjudge to bebeautiful, accords with your used the same techniques atThay' s lecture in judgment, isappreciated by wisepeople, and Berkeley. Between the two events, 678 people signed onceput intopractice will bring aboutjoy and up. One out of eight volunteered to host a Sangha. happiness, can beaccepted andput into practice. People signing up tended tob e either relieved and Lay Sanghas model this teaching well. Organized joyful, or quiet and thoughtful. At the end of the to be responsive, accessible, and pragmatic, they are Oakland event, two older women came by, clutching grass-roots, organic, and fulfilling. "We make the handbags and dressed in hand-knit white cardigans. way by walking." Or as my Dharma brother Glen They asked if there were any practice groups in observes, "We're laying the track as we go, and the Stockton, an old farm town in the heart of train's right behind us." California's central valley. Idirecte d them to the "other areas" sign-up, and they read the top page, Caleb Cushing, True Original Commitment, is an noting one Stockton registrant. They turned the page, architect andpractices with the Pot Luck Sangha in reading silently until one crowed, "Look! Melody's Oakland,California. on the list, too!"The y both signed up,joyfully . As they walked off, arm in arm, Ihear d one say, "I can't waitt o get home and call Melody!" 1999-2000 Winter/The MintCfuhtess 'BdC 19 With Thay in England through adefensiv e wall and opened up to actually enjoy sharing (a first for me).I had , I think, negoti­ by Rosamond Richardson ated apassag e to the island of my soul and had no need toclos e aphysica l door between me and others. hay once wrote apoe m called "Froglessness," My breath was aperfec t refuge if I needed one. That Tabout afrog' s tendency, when put on aplate , to evening's meditation was deeper and more peaceful jump off again and again. My frogness was doing than before. well when I arrived at Wymondham College in The following morning, Brother Michael led a Norfolk for a five day retreat last spring. It wasm y guided meditation on seeing ourselves and our first experience in Thich Nhat Hanh's presence, parents as five-year olds in order to heal and recon­ although Iha d read several of hisbooks , heard tapes, cile, and then to transform our relationships. I found and been on two Sangha retreats.Th e frog was it profoundly moving, and allowed the tears to run destined to have an interesting time. freely. One section hit an incredibly painful spot, but At first, Ifel t overwhelmed by the nearly 500 by allowing the pain to release, Iheale d aver y old people, uncomfortable at sharing aroom , and misunderstanding. This was appropriate preparation underwhelmed by my surroundings. The bath and for Thay's Dharma talk, where he reminded us of our shower on the landing did not work. Ifel t homesick. interconnectedness to our ancestors. He went deeper People did not respond to smiles. But thefoo d was into the Heart of Understanding, clarifying it with excellent, served with grace and sweetness by the such crystalline simplicity that it was easy to absorb. college staff; the spring weather was perfect; and the My admiration for him as a teacher, let alone asa college grounds were beautiful. human being, was increasing by the minute.Th e way By day five, all my negative seeds had been he related interbeing to quantum physics was supplanted by spring flowers ofjo y and understand­ masterly. Taking the now axiomatic "waves are ing. And the frog had calmed down. How did this particles, particles are waves"h e turned to write happen? "wavicles" on the board. Non-duality with a smile. My turning point was Thay's second Dharma talk When Thay addressed the children each morning, when I experienced Thay as an embodiment of the child in me received those teachings vividly. wisdom and compassion. With his elegant lacing of Watching the children absorb the atmosphere and the humour, I was spellbound. Thay taught that mindful­ teachings was deeply touching. On the last day, they ness can arouse us from the unconscious statei n sang a song and presented Thay with a card of The which we choose to live. He told wonderful stories Buddha Within, drawn and signed by them all.I was illustrating how suffering often results from wrong moved to happy tears. perception, and how we frequently find what we "You are already what you want to become," seek in unexpected places.Th e frog began to relax Thay said. What arelie f to let go, and simply be. and listen. "When you sit," he said, "just smile and be yourself. It was the start of abeautifu l day. After aquie t To meditate is not to achieve, but to be.Ther e is no yoga practise I soaked in abath (yes, the plumbers attainment. Only then is stopping possible."I n had called!) and absorbed the richness of the answer to a question about the butterfly mind, he said teaching. After lunch, Sister Chan Khong led Total to love the butterfly, to embrace it with the practice Relaxation. In nearly twenty years of yoga, Iha d of breathing. Me and my frog, we were beginning to never experienced going so deep. Her beautiful do the same thing. singing took me to aplac e Ididn' t know was in me. The last morning I walked alone around the park The session seemed to untie every knot and iron after aquie t meditation in the chapel and absorbed every crease, right to my core. theprimrose s under the great beech tree.A s I walked That afternoon, the monks and nuns offered a towards the sheltered pond a green woodpecker flew "Question and Answer" session. Several people out of the thicket and went to drink. I walked past asked aboutjoy , pointing out the lack of its manifes­ waving poplars shimmering in the early sunshine and tation around the campus. From then on, we gave felt at one.Th e retreat had reconnected me not only ourselves permission to smile, to feel cheerful, and with thejo y of life (which comes fairly naturally toa above all to enjoy the practice. The atmosphere frog), but also to its sheer beauty. What a wonderful changed and everyone became more relaxed. gift. The path ofjo y and understanding was no longer Later that day, someone told me a single room just words, it was a living reality. had become available. I went to see it and wandered Rosamond Richardson practices with theCambridge back to my room to pack, but on entering realised Sangha. She isan author and ayoga teacher. that I no longer needed solitariness. Iha d moved

"The Mindfulness (BeCC/1999-2000 Winter Chinma JlnJ p

Returning to Our Spiritual Roots by Mitcnell Ratner and Jerry Braza

arly in the morning we leave our Beijing hotel on with palms together, often saying "Amitofo, Efive deluxe buses: 150 of us from 16countries , Amitofo," "Homage to Amitaba Buddha." Many traveling with Thich Nhat Hanh and 30 monks and hand us prayer bead bracelets and pictures of nuns from Plum Village and the Green Mountain Buddhas.Late r we learn that the proper etiquette is Dharma Center. The major urban arteries are for us to place our palms together in a lotus and keep crowded with new cars, bicycles, and tricycles walking mindfully, as Thay does when he enters a hauling goods and people. Commercial buildings on Dharma hall, but in this first temple visit, we try to the major boulevard display billboards for Western return every smile, every bow, and yet keep moving. products such as Pepsi Cola and Marlboro cigarettes. Some minutes later we catch up with the head of Thirty minutes later, the buses turn into an older the procession. Thay and the monastics are met by neighborhood where they barely have room to the abbot and monks of this temple. Together they maneuver in the narrow streets. Branches scrape our enter a large Buddha hall and stand in front of three windows. huge gilded Buddhas, the Buddhas of the past, The buses stop, and as we were instructed, the present, and future. We file in behind the monks. monastics disembark first. We put on our ao trangs, Some of the Chinese lay people come behind us. the long grey temple robes traditionally worn in Others stand in the courtyard or crowd the doors, Vietnam. Tiep Hien members put their brown coats attempting to get abette r view.Th e abbot, represent­ on over their ao trangs.W e pass through the temple ing the Buddhist Association of China, greets us gates and enter the compound of the Ling Guang warmly, noting that it is the first time the association Temple. The city buildings and noise push their way has sponsored avisitin g delegation from 16 coun­ to the gates of this compound, but the guardian tries. Thay then leads the delegation in touching the figures, huge incense burners, trees, courtyards, and earth three times, honoring the buddhas and the temple halls inside evoke adifferen t world. We move abbot. The abbot, Thay explains, represents not only through courtyards and shrine rooms. Thay and the the Buddhists of today's China but also all the monks walk ahead; we form alon g procession teachers from many generations: "We are here in behind. On both sides of us are lay people who have China because Buddhism has been treasured and come to greet us and hearTha y speak. They bow nurtured here for twenty centuries. The Buddhist culture in China is like refreshing water that lies deep in the Earth. The world suffers. If we practice deeply, weca n make the water of Buddhism available to others." So began May 15, 1999, our first full day of a journey to honor the Chinese roots of the Buddhist tradition that we have learned through the teachings and presence of Thich Nhat Hanh. During the next twenty days, we traveled from Beijing south to Guangzhou, visiting temples, monasteries, monastic training institutes, and historical sites in ten cities. Along the way we were deeply inspired by a sense of reverence from just being where fabled events occurred. We walked in Nan Jing, where in 225 A.D. the Vietnamese-trained monk Tang Hoi brought Buddhism toth e Wu Empire and ordained the first Buddhist monks in China. We visited the Guangxio Temple in Guangzhou established by the legendary Bodhidharma, who brought the Dharma to the Emperor of the Liang dynasty in 525 A.D. and established the line of Chinese Patriarchs. In the mountains east of Guangzhou, we walked the ground of Nan Hua Temple, established in the seventh Entering the Buddha Hall century by Hui-Neng, the Sixth Patriarch, the of the Rebuilt Gao Ming Temple 1999-2000 'Winter/The Mindfulness 'Bett enlightened kitchen worker who received the Fifth emotional challenges of traveling in China with a Patriarch's bowl and robe and was then forced to flee large group. Often we returned to Thay's counsel, south. "When one is not grateful, one suffers." When we Four hours by bus from Beijing we stayed three were mindful, each step,eac h meal, and each nights in Bai Lin Temple, established in the ninth encounter offered an opportunity to be grateful. century by Chao-Chou, one of the many Dharma Although Thay gave numerous Dharma talks, for descendants of the Sixth Patriarch, whose insight many of us the most memorable teachings came lives on in numerous Zen teaching stories. when we were with Thay in an airport lounge or A short bus ride from the Bai Lin Temple isth e encountered him late at night in the shadows of a Big Buddha Temple where Lin Chi taught. A monastery courtyard. He was always modeling the contemporary of Chao-Chou, he grounded Ch'an practice for us, silently encouraging us to slow down Buddhism in appreciation of daily life: "The miracle and enjoy this very moment. is not to walk on water, it is to walk on this earth." In addition to deepening our knowledge and Sister Chan Khong noted that for us, as students of practice, the pilgrimage was an opportunity to share Thich Nhat Hanh, Lin Chi is our spiritual "Grandfa­ the Plum Village practice with Chinese practitioners. ther Monk." The Lin Chi lineage was brought to Knowledge of Thay's teaching is slowly growing in Vietnam in the 12th century and Thich Nhat Hanh is China—a Chinese translation of OldPath, White of the 42nd generation of Dharma teachers in this Cloudswa s published to coincide with our visit. tradition. When the abbots of the temples and monasteries Our longest stay was six nights at the Gao Ming introduced Thay or thanked him, they often acknowl­ Ch'an Monastery, situated on the Grand Canal,a n edged his rare ability to translate Buddhist insights hour's drive from the city of Yang Zhou. For several into clear images and practical actions that modern centuries, Gao Ming has been acente r for the women and men can understand and follow. Thay preservation and transmission of Ch'an Buddhism. frequently returned to the theme of making the During the Cultural Revolution it was essentially practicejoyful , especially in his talks to young destroyed. The monks were scattered and the main Chinese monastics. buildings were converted to a silk weaving factory. In At Bai Lin and Gao Ming Monasteries, wejoine d the 1980s, after the Cultural Revolution, the monks with the monks in their Ch'an practice, which was were able to reclaim their land and in the past fifteen diiferent from Plum Village practice. We sato n years they have rebuilt and rejuvenated the monas­ elevated benches, facing Buddha statues in the tery. Much of the financial support comes from the middle of the meditation hall. Even in warm weather, overseas Chinese Buddhist community, many of whose teachers were trained at Gao Ming. Although we traveled and visited historic sites, our visit was not simply a tour. It was a pilgrimage and acultura l exchange. The tone was set the first night when Thay explained that we were in China not as individuals, but as a family, as a Sangha, a traveling community of practitioners. Our practice would be the Plum Village practice of maintaining a mindful state of being in all of our activities, sup­ ported by our conscious breathing, mindful eating, and mindful walking. "Whether we walk in a railroad station, Buddhist temple, or on the Great Wall, our practice is the same. We walk with mindfulness." During ourjourney , the lessons came in many forms. Sangha building began even before the trip. Via the internet, participants helped each other prepare for the trip and shared information, concerns, and encouragement. In response to the unrest caused by the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Thay said not to worry. "Our Chinese ancestors will protect us as we practice peacefully and joyfully together." Along the way, the teachings of compas­ Walking atBar-Li n Temple, sion and love helped us face the physical and Where Chao-Chou Taught

22 The 'Mindfulness (BetC/1999-2000 Winter a heartfelt bow, or simple guidance. Collectively, we were brought to grateful tears when it was announced during our leave-taking banquet at Gao Ming Monastery that the staff who cleaned our rooms, prepared our meals, served us, and cleaned up afterwards were all volunteers who had given up their vacation time and left their families to make our stay comfortable. When Master De Lin gave us a tour of Gao Ming's new Buddha hall, much of which he himself had designed, he mentioned that behind the Buddha was abas-relie f of Kwan Yin, the Bodhisattva of Nine of the 18 Bodhisattvas compassion, relieving many beings of their suffering. Seen inMos t Chinese Temples He then suggested that perhaps the best way to the monks tightly wrapped blankets around their legs, relieve suffering in the world is to become friends. In to hold in spiritual energy. A sitting was forty to sixty many ways, he was summing up ourjourney . As a minutes (traditionally, one incense stick). Walking traveling sangha we had lived and practiced together meditation was fast to very fast. In Bai Lin, the and become closer as friends. And as communities of walking paths in the meditation hall were arranged in Buddhist practice from Plum Village and from the concentric circles—the inner circle being for the temples, monasteries, and training institutes of China, speediest, the outer for the slow walkers, usually the we had shared from our hearts, learned from each ill and old. In Gao Ming, there was no option, we all other, and established bonds of respect and friend­ walked fast. The fast pace was intended to assist one ship. in concentrating on walking rather than the thoughts Mitchell Ratner, TrueMirror of Wisdom, practices that arise. with the WashingtonMindfulness Community and the The underlying orientation to the meditation Still WaterMindfulness Practice Center in Takoma practice was also different. In Plum Village, practitio­ Park,Maryland. Jerry Braza, True Great Response, ners are encouraged to be ever mindful of their breath practices with theRiver Sangha inSalem, Oregon. and develop insight into the interrelated nature of life. Chinese monks in the Ch'an tradition usually work with akoan , especially the practice of always asking themselves "Who is?" "Who is sitting? Who is eating? Who is walking? Who is invoking the Buddha's name?" As both Thay and the abbots of the monasteries pointed out, however, the differences are outer forms only. They share a common essence established by the Buddha in India, by the Chinese Patriarchs, and by Lin Chi, to whom the abbots and Thay all trace their Dharma heritage. During an informal conversation, someone mentioned to Thay that it was too bad certain high monks were not able to hear his Dharma talk. Thay replied that it didn't matter, they didn't need to hear the talks. If we practiced well, all they needed to do was look at us.Thi s was true of both the visitors and the hosts. Communication, respect, and admiration flowed both ways, even when no words could be exchanged. Many in our group were especially taken by the kindness, dignified bearing, and bright smile of Master De Lin, the 85-year-old abbot of Gao Ming Monastery. Thay said of him: "His heart is full of compassion, and yet he is very firm." Throughout the trip, we were touched by the simple generosities offered by Chinese monastics and Planting aCypres s Tree lay people: a smile, apicture , awaitin g bowl of fruit, at Gao Ming Temple

1999-2000 'Winter/The Mindfu.li Social Action

The Happy Sparrow School presently serves 70 Compassionate Action children between the ages of three and six years old. by Allen Sandler They attend the school without cost. These children come from poor families in the villages surrounding Thay's Root Temple, Tu Hieu. Before Happy ast spring, the Mindfulness Community of Sparrow School opened, some of these young LHampton Roads raised funds sothat , following children had to tend their family's livestock or help the retreat with Thay in China, a Sangha representa­ sell produce raised by their family. As Anh-Huong tive could become personally involved in a service said at the onset of our fundraising effort, our school project in Vietnam. The project would be sponsored can provide its little sprouts good soil in which to by the Sangha. We consulted with Anh-Huong grow. Our Sangha has sent Sister Minh Tanh $90 Nguyen, whofounde d the Committee for the Relief each month to pay the salaries of two teachers and of Poor Children in Vietnam (CRPCV) in 1980. She two cooks at the school. helped us identify a school that had been only In cooperation with CRPCV, our Sangha is now partially completed due to lack of funds. Another raising funds to build and operate a school for $8,000 was needed to finish construction and children with severe disabilities in Hue. This school purchase equipment and supplies.Th e unfinished will serve6 1 school, which we children living in later named "Happy WL the vicinity of Sparrow School," Thay's Root was in a beautiful Temple, who have wooded area in the disabilities such as outskirts of Hue only severe mental a few hundred retardation, meters from Thay's cerebral palsy, and Root Temple, Tu epilepsy, and who Hieu. are not now After our brief attending school. but successful Of the 500,000 fundraising effort, I children with headed for China intellectual with $8,000 in disabilities in traveler's checks in Happy Sparrow School Vietnam, only my pack, and about 400 attend following the China retreat, traveled to Vietnam. My school. We anticipate that our school will eventually contact in Hue was Sister Minh Tanh, abbess of Long serve children with severe disabilities throughout Tho Pagoda. Sister Minh Tanh has been a nun for 37 Hue city, and may serve as a model for other pro­ years, and was one of the early members of Thay's grams in Vietnam. Through the efforts of our Swiss School of Youth for Social Service. She continues to Dharma brother and cosponsor of this project, Ha coordinate the social service projects in the Hue area, Vinh Tho, we recently received a grant from the Lord funded by Plum Village and other philanthropic Michelham Foundation in Geneva, which will cover groups. She is a wonderful cook, agraciou s hostess, one-half the cost of building this school and operat­ and ongoing source of inspiration! While having tea ing it for three years. We now must raise the other with her after touring the school site, Ilearne d that needed funds. during the Vietnam War (they call it the American You or your Sangha may wish to support these or War), a group of citizens from Hue were buried alive other service projects in Vietnam. Vietnam is sucha one night by the Viet Cong near the site of this poor country and there are so many needs. Asmal l school. Sister Minh Tanh heard the sound of shovels amount of money can accomplish so much! and muffled cries from her room in the nearby nunnery, but could do nothing to help. During the Allen Sandler, True Original Tranquility, is engaged three-week occupation of Hue by the North during in research and teacher training in the area ofsevere theTe t Offensive in 1968, approximately 3,000 disabilities at OldDominion University inNorfolk, civilians, including Buddhist monks, were executed. Virginia.If you oryour Sangha is interested in We are hopeful that our school can help bring peace getting involved in the schoolfor children withsevere back to that soil. disabilities or other service projects inVietnam,

24 Thi MirtdjuCness'Bett/1999-2000 Winter Buddhaverse Prisons by Samuel DuBois & tne Mountain View Correctional Facility Sangfna

risons are often compared to monasteries—one is baking, aesthetic grounds, ecological awareness, and Pgiven limited choices, allowed few personal cottage industries. Perhaps such apriso n could even possessions, subject to rigid schedules, offered bland become apubli c temple or retreat center in fifteen or food, and required to work, but with time to meditate, twenty years. walk, and study. Inmates often laugh at this analogy. Our national Sanghas are full of people with Our environment is more like a loud, rowdy, gam­ experience and practice that could mean a lifetime of bling parlor, whorehouse, and TV bar—an abusive, difference to inmates in abuddhavers e prison and intrusive, hostile program teaching hate, violence, would have an immeasurable positive effect on the and mistrust; a competitive combat event with much lives that the inmates touch, during and after their yelling and pain. Perhaps there are elements of both incarceration. Prisoners who choose to participate scenarios in prison. Either way, prison can be a clear would be clearly informed of the objectives, expecta­ bell of mindfulness. With Buddhist teaching, demon­ tions, and schedules.The y would be interviewed and stration, and Sangha encouragement, prisons could be advised that noncooperation will result in their return powerful practice centers. To be sure, prisons are full to state facilities. The programs could involve a of relentless teachers. But the probability is slim that, number of stages, beginning with three to six months without intervention, prisons will become the houses in close groups for training and intensive practice, of healing that they need to and could so easily and progressing into more open activities requiring become. more individual responsibility. In the process, Here in Mountain View, we strive to create a inmates could construct and maintain much of the "buddhaverse," as described by Robert Thurman in facilities and programs. If the program is well InnerRevolution (Riverhead Books 1998). A buddha­ planned, carefully recruited, and managed properly, verse is an environment (universe) where we train there should be few, if any, serious problems. our mindfulness and other factors of awakening— Of course, there are alo t of ifs and many ques­ investigating Dharmas, energy,joy , ease, concentra­ tions, including those regarding security. How would tion, and letting go—and where we engage in we deal with fences, pepper spray, and locks? But we activities directed toward practicing understanding must understand that our country's prison system is a and developing enlightenment. If we failure. We can see clearly the many could create buddhaverse prisons, how negative results. We should look wonderful it would be for our society deeply and honestly at the short and and for the many inmates who ac­ long-term possibilities of a knowledge that they have caused much buddhaverse prison. suffering in themselves and others, and We invite others to investigate this who sincerely wish to change. Interest­ vision with us. Perhaps together we ingly, the current political climate in can build arealisti c model. Please the United States may be ripe for this share your opinions, questions, and ideal. suggestions. Prisoners, please write our With Presidential candidate local Sangha contact, Pat Tompkins, Governor George Bush pushing to RR1, Box 140D, Bakersville, NC funnel monies into "faith-based 28705. Others, please write Samuel prisons,"Buddhist s in America may be DuBois, DOC# 0112717, P.O. Box in apositio n to fill a very real need. 629, Spruce Pine, NC 28777. This undertaking would involve a lot of Samuel DuBois, Courageous Under­ work, time,problems , red tape, and standing ofthe Source, isan inmate in responsibility. Abuddhavers e prison is Mountain View Correctional Facility possible, however, if we are willing to inSpruce Pine,North Carolina, which invest, plan, support, and/or work there. is runby a private company on behalf Imagine an open-to-the public, educa­ of thestate. Its management and pro­ tion, training, practice and retreat center grams are similar to those of state-run with prisoners and other residents. One prisons. Their Sangha isable tomeet that incorporates subsistence gardening, five times each month.

1999-2000 Winter/The Mindfutness

Hanging Out with Impatience by Barbara Casey

hese days Ia m walking steadily with my old After all, I'm retired from a full-time job and live in T friend impatience. The more Ige t to know my the mountains with the trees and the clouds, who ancestors, the more seeds of anger and impatience I have their own slow sense of timing. But when I find. My grandfather, Papa, had a"terribl e temper," realize that Nonie and Papa, Mom and Dad, and as my father put it. And Iremembe r Nonie,m y numerous other ancestors are pushing, pushing, mother's mother,janglin g her keys in her hand every pushing me to cross things off my "to do"list , Ica n time we drove her home from dinner at our house. relax and have compassion for all of us. This ism y Usually one of us would reach over and cover her practice: to welcome and greet my impatient self and hand and smile, since the song of her impatience was all the ancestors. This practice has taught me to invite driving the rest of us crazy—possibly being abi t too them all to walk with me and to sit in silence, holding close to our own feelings. If you put your water glass the energy of impatience gently, like a precious down at my mom's house, it will be in the dish­ jewel. Looking deeply into its heart to find the pure washer before you can reach for the next swallow. love of life that is its essence. Probably neither of my parents has ever been late for As Thay says, "Life is too short to do things an appointment, so religious was the practice of being quickly." on time. Barbara Casey, True Spiritual. Communication,was And then, I married Robert thirteen years ago. ordained into the Order ofInterbeing inSanta Robert is slow, methodical, calm, laid-back—a kapha Barbara on September 9,1999. type in the Ayurvedic system. He always seems to havejus t what anyone might need in the backpack he carries around, but there is a price: every time we get out of the car to do an errand, the many items in the backpack—hat, sunglasses, lip balm, water, and many others—must be inventoried and possibly transferred to his fanny pack. Then the window screen goes up on the windshield, all windows are closed, and changing shoes takes place. By this time, I am out of the car, down the street, and in the store or restaurant, having already picked out what to purchase. Of course, I've forgotten my water,jacket , and lip balm, but hey! I'm ready for the next event. Robert usually takes about twice as long as Id o to make a simple meal, but his has an unmistakable gourmet flair. He's braised the veggies in sun-dried tomato stock or caramelized the onions for 20 minutes over slow heat. And he is the king of mindful eating. He eats one forkful at atime , putting down the implement between each bit, stopping the process entirely to talk and sometimes even, to listen. You get the idea. I've been partnered with a bodhisattva, if not of mindfulness, at least of slowness, which is a good first step. Some­ times it drives me crazy. So I spend a lot of time at the edge of my own momentum, hearing the gears grind and not wanting to downshift. When I let go and simply slow down, my peace returns and my heart opens. When it'sjus t mejumpin g around in arush , none of it makes sense.

The 'Mindfulness

1999-2000 "Winter/The Mindfulness

Balancing Matthew was with us now, and I tried to stay mindful by Pegfgfy Denial of that fact in the present moment. But the moment also included the court battle, and I was deeply afraid. Each day I'd alternate between feeling that or about ayear , my husband and Iwer e involved this practice does not work and feeling that Idon' t do Fwith our son's biological family in a major legal it right. Yet each day I returned to mindfulness. Iha d battle over adoption, custody, and other aspects of nothing else to lean on. My husband encouraged me, Matthew's daily life. After living in six different and Ireminde d myself that practice has always homes, Matthew moved in with us almost five years worked in the past. ago. His maternal grandparents, who rarely visited I see now that the practice was working all along. him, had most of the legal control over his life. It was keeping me calm and present. A lot of the In these circumstances, I've been more dependent time, the present moment was very difficult. It wasn't on practice, while at the same time, it hasbee n more that I wasn't present; Ijus t didn't like it. However, by difficult for me to practice. I had to return to the most staying calm and present those many months, I was elementary practices, especially when my fear of able to practice Right Speech and Right Action so as Matthew's being taken away was highest. While not to make aba d situation worse. I was also able to meditating, Icoul d follow my breathing using the seize an opportunity to change the situation. words "in" and "out," but not a more complex gatha. After one court session, I saw an opportunity to Some days all Icoul d do was recite the three refuges, meet Matthew's birthmother, Linda. Iha d to makea and Ineede d to recite them almost all day long to split-second decision. Because of my daily practice,I keep a minimum of calm in my life. Idi d almost no saw the opportunity and knew how to use it.W e had work. I wasn't able to write. Iha d difficulty seeing been kept away from Linda by her parents, and Iwa s other people. unaware of how much she wanted to talk to me. Almost every day, it seemed as if the practice was When he was three, Matthew was taken from her not working. The pain did not go away. Istaye d calm because of criminal abuse and neglect. She had not as long as I kept my focus on practice, but once Ile t taken advantage of her right to visit him in seven my mind wander, Iimmediatel y lost my calm. I years. For about forty minutes, I was able to listen thought about Sister Chan Khong's recommendation deeply to Linda. And Ihel d her for a long time after in her book, Learning TrueLove, to stay mindful of that. I was able to let her know that Idi d notjudg e each task. I tried to be aware of what Iwa s doing. "I her for what she did to Matthew. 1 was able to assure am chopping vegetables." "I am washing dishes." "I her that we would take care of him, and to let her am putting my son to bed." Iwa s deeply aware that know how deeply grateful we are to her for bringing him into the world. Without the practices of deep listening, deep looking, and deep holding, Icoul d not have been there with her. And Icoul d not have helped her turn this situation around. Two weeks later we met in court again. Linda told thejudg e that she no longer wanted to fight the situation. She said that she had been very angry, thinking that we were taking Matthew from her, but now she understood that this was in Matthew's best interest. She talked about her love for him and the deep pain in her life. She said she understands that Matthew wants to be adopted and that she wants to be able to give this to him. Later, I told Matthew what she had said. Now he feels differently about her. In time, when they meet again, it will be possible for them to heal their wounds. Peggy Denial, TrueSpiritual Wonder,practices with herfamily and the Sonoma County Sangha in northern California. Matthew and Other Children Enjoy Walking Meditation with Thay

28 The Mindfulness

"Calmyourself," / mutter, "these areonly little I turn. kids." On theedge ofclass a child sits, eyes clouded, face But theirnever-ending touchesdrive my nerve tight, lipspulled. endings tothe edge ofsanity. Sosoon? I walk over, thechild shrinks into himself. "Teacher, teacher, doyou likemy picture?" The GreatSource in pain. "Teacher, teacher, I catched theball three "You arebeautiful, special,"I whisperin passing, times." "Vmglad you're here." "Teacher, teacher, listento the song I know." Oh, that I couldbe open andcompassionate allday J look down long. noses taking thebreath oflife, That I didn'tslip, mouthsexcited with theformation ofwords, wasn'tshort, skinluminescent with newness neverused a sharp voice. haircarefully braided, hairstraggly and But thechildren help. brittle, "Teacher, teacher," theysay, eyesall shades, large andluminous, deep and andthe mindfulness bell rings again. dark, clearblue, hazel,gray, brown, black, open. "Teacher, teacher, I cutgood with myscissors, Handsholding a picture — don'tI?" "Special,for you teacher." "Teacher, teacher, please tiemy shoe." thevoice soft as milkweed about tofly offon the "Teacher, teacher, I likeyou." wind. Diane L. Ste. Marie Seattle,Washington , USA

1999-2000 Winter/Ihe Mindfutness "Bed 29 New Developments

International Mindrumess Network A Message rrom Thick Nnat Hann November 2, 1999 Plum Village, France

Sharingth ePractic e The Five Mindfulness Trainings are also powerful Twelve years ago, at aretrea t in Montreal, alad y tools for Sangha-building. The Five Trainings are the told me after the first session of walking meditation most concrete expression of the practice. They are the practice, "Thay, it is wonderful to walk this way. I basis for individual and collective transformation and have never felt relaxed and happy like this before healing. Everyone in the Sangha should be encour­ when I walked. Would you allow me to share this aged to receive the Five Trainings and bring them practice of mindful walking with my friends at into his or her daily life. On Days of Mindfulness and home?" Ilooke d at her and smiled: "Why not?" in mindfulness retreats, it is beneficial to recite the It is wonderful to share your practice with others, Five Trainings and to organize Dharma discussion to when the practice brings youjo y and well-being. We deepen our understanding of the Trainings and to should be able to share the Dharma, and by doing so, help us know how to apply them better. we build a Sangha, acommunit y of practice. When True practice can bring a lot of relief andjo y and we have a Sangha, we have arefuge , and many others nourishment. Suppose your Sangha has fifteen will also profit from that Sangha. Sharing the practice members and you would like to call it by aname , like can be a greatjoy . It helps other people. And it helps Lotus Seeds Sangha. You may like to use a letterhead us. Naturally we want to learn more, and to practice with the following: more in order to be able to share more. Lotus Seeds Sangha The Meaning of "Lamp Transmission" A Community of Mindful Living The Dharma can be transmitted continuously in Address each moment of the day. By practicing, the teachers Phone Number/Fax/Email and the sisters and brothers in the Dharma are already Communities of Mindful Living Network transmitting the Dharma every minute of their life. There will soon be thousands of Communities of Very often the Dharma is transmitted without verbal Mindful Living like yours in many countries, and expressions. We do not need an "authorization" to people who live in your area may find you andjoi n share the Dharma. The "Lamp Transmission" Cere­ your Sangha through the Internet or through The mony performed in Plum Village is not an authoriza­ Mindfulness Bell magazine. Whatcharacterizes a tion to teach the Dharma; it is only anencourage­ Community ofMindful Living or a Mindfulness ment, a support, and an empowerment. Practice Center is thepractice of theFive Mindful­ Sangha-Building ness Trainings. We cannot call our community a Community of Mindful Living or a Mindfulness If you havejoine d in one or more retreats of Practice Center if we do not live according to the mindfulness practice, you may like to organize and Five Mindfulness Trainings. lead aDa y of Mindfulness or a small retreat by yourselves or with other experienced practitioners in TheMindfulness Bell magazine will continue to order to share the Dharma, and to practice with be a great support for Sangha-building, sharing others. And you may like to receive further training information about the practice and the worldwide or attend other retreats of mindfulness to learn more, Sangha. to improve the quality of your practice and your skills From time to time you may like to co-organize a in organizing and leading a retreat. larger retreat with other Communities of Mindful Living in your region. You may like to invite a Organizing a retreat and practicing with others is Dharma Teacher through the Communities of a wonderful way to build a Sangha. Sangha-building Mindful Living Network, because there is now a is the noblest thing for us to do. Everyone needs a Coordinating Council of the Communities of Mindful Sangha to continue and get support for his/her Living. The Council has an office in Albany, Califor­ practice. Without a Sangha, one can abandon one's nia, and you can contact the office in order to seek practice after afe w months of practicing alone. The help with planning, materials, training, information, Sangha is like aboa t carrying us and preventing us teachers, and other matters. from sinking into the river of suffering, because the We have opened a new Dharma door called a Sangha contains also the Buddha and the Dharma. Mindfulness Practice Center to introduce the practice 30 The Mindfulness

1999-2000 Winter/The MindfuCness

Passages Southern California Dharma Center Married: Linda Buckley, True Spiritual Fulfillment, and At the request of thousands of practitioners living in the Jeff Robertson were married on October 18, 1999i n western United States, Thay and the Sangha decided to Hamakua, Hawai'i. establish apermanen t monastery and retreat center in southern California. During Thay's United States retreats New Book by Thich Nhat Hanh this fall, we announced our hope to obtain aforme r youth Thich Nhat Hanh's new book, Going Home: Jesusand camp in San Diego County. Since the retreats, however, the Buddha as Brothers, was recently published by Riverhead county has withdrawn the property from the market— Books, a division of Penguin Putnam, Inc., New York. The perhaps only until February 2000. Meanwhile, we will book is a collection of Christmas Dharma talks given by continue to look for anotherbeautiful property south of Los Thay during the winter retreats in 1995, 1996, and 1997. Angeles, in the area of Orange County and San Diego County. We anticipate a cost of approximately $2.5 million. Poetry Book When property is located and repairs to the facilities are In March, Parallax Press published Plum. Poems, acollec ­ complete, Plum Village will send a Sangha of twelve monks tion of mindful poems and short articles by Dharma teacher and twelve nuns to practice there permanently. Several lots Svein Myreng. of land will be located nearby for those who would like to live near the monastery. Buying alo t for your home would Parallax Press Publishers Outlet also help purchase and support the Center. Parallax Press invites you to visit our offices and practice Please help build a 21st century for our younger genera­ center in Albany (North Berkeley), California. Our tion by making this center areality . You could pledge$5 , publisher's outlet offers acomplet e assortment of books and $10, $20,o r more each month for the next 36 months, or tapes by Thich Nhat Hanh and other authors on Buddhism, donate whatever you can afford. All donations are tax- mindfulness, and related topics. Stop by to browse, enjoy a deductible. Checks should be make payable to Unified cup of tea, and observe our efforts to practice mindfulness in Buddhist Church and sent to Green Mountain Dharma the workplace at 850 Talbot Avenue, Albany, California. Center at the address below. Please contact us for details on We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to donating shares of stock. 5:00 p.m. For information about the progress of the Southern We wish all readers of TheMindfulness Bell a happy and California Dharma Center, please contact us at Green peaceful holiday season. Mountain Dharma Center, P.O. Box 182, Hartland-Four Corners, Vermont, 05049 USA; phone:(802)436-l 103, Parallax Press Needs Vehicle fax:(802)436-1101; Email: [email protected]. You Parallax Press is looking for a used van or pickup truck to can also visit our website at http://www.plumvillage.org. transport books and passengers. Should be in good running condition. Please contact Travis at(510)525-0101 .

TheAwakening Heart Sanghapresents ' Inth e Footstepso fth e Buddha. A WEEKEND OF Pilgrimage with Shantum Seth in India and Nepal i "With each step and breath the Buddha MINDFULNESS WITH comes alive. Shantum's balance of ^5 knowledge, insight, and humor brings S SISTER ANNABEL joy to those journeying with him in the ^^5^^ footsteps of the Buddha." Thich Nhat Hanh /"*""" Sister Annabel True Virtue will bring us Thay's 16day s in Dec- Jan; 20 days in Feb. teachings for the new millennia, including the ForInformatio n& Free Brochure Practice of Metta Meditation Shantum Seth, 309-B. Sectorl5A, Noida, India 201301 February 25-27, 2000 Boulder, CO Tel: 91-11-9153-2641 Tel/fax: 91-11-9152-1520 E-mail: [email protected] For more information Write:Aur aWright ,53 2S.E . Ankeny St,Portland ,Orego n9721 4 Phone: (303)447-3046 ,ex t2 or call: 503-335-0794 Fax 503- 288-1558 E-mail:[email protected] t V Askfo rvideo . y

32 The Mindfulness rBett/1999-2000 "Winter NewOrde r Members Awar mwelcom et oou r new Brothersan dSister s inth e Order of Interbeing!

AnneMari eAccacio , TrueLovin g KindnessMin d Nguyen HuuXuong , TrueBrigh tLam p LauraAlderdice , TrueSpiritua l Communion Nguyen HuuNguyen , TrueJoyfu l Loving Kindness CarleneBagnall , TrueVie w ofJo y Nguyen KhoaDie u Dung, TrueHapp yJo y PamelaBerger ,Tru eShinin g Mountain Nguyen Ngo Due Luan,Tru eBrigh tTreasur e JustinBrown ,Tru eMountai no fJo y Nguyen PhucHung , TrueJoyfu l Reflecting LindaBuckley , TrueSpiritua l Fulfillment Nguyen TanTho ,Tru eBrigh t Openness BuiThan hVu ,Tru eLovin g Kindness Strength Nguyen Thi Hai,Tru eBrigh tMirro r SheilaCanal ,Tru eSpiritua l Understanding Nguyen ThiMin hChau ,Tru eJoyfu l Peace KimCare y Nguyen ThiNguye t Ngan, TrueJoyfu l Action BarbaraCasey , TrueSpiritua l Communication NguyenTh iTuye t Nga, TruePeacefu l Fearlessness DangVa nThanh ,Tru eBrigh tPat h NguyenT uHien ,Tru eJoyfu l Looking Deeply Peggy Denial, TrueSpiritua l Wonder Nguyen VanHoi , TrueJoyfu l Diligence DorotheaDerickson-Midgett , TrueActio n ofJo y Nguyen VanThong ,Tru eLovin g KindnessEar s LauraDerr ,Tru eGarde no fJo y Nguyen XuanHao ,Tru eJoyfu l Strength Douglas Dineen,Tru eAbod e ofJo y PaulNorton , Boundless Attentive Caring (ordainedb yJac k DinhTh iTuye tHoa ,Tru eJoyfu l Compassion Lawlor) Muriel Dionne, VraiJoi ePaisibl e ThichN uNh uThuy , TrueSuc hWate r DuongTh i AnhPhuong ,Tru eBrigh tLotu s Patrick Olczyk, TrueN o Name DuongTh iMy , TrueGrea t Inclusiveness ClaudioPaparese , Vrai Entrainement dePai x DoanHung ,Tru eJoyfu l Light Polly Raye,Tru eSpiritua l Goodness RalphDougherty , TruePeacefu l Brook Stephen Rose, TrueSpiritua lLa w JoanneFriday ,Tru eGif t ofJo y Brandy Sacks,Tru eSpiritua l Contemplation Simone Giusti, VraiBont e Paisible Gitanjali Seth,Tru eSpiritua l Harmony Wolf-Dieter Goedecke Susan Singh,Tru eSpiritua l Shining CaraHarzhei m LindaSkinner ,Tru e Spiritual Virtue Cliff Heegel, TrueSpiritua l Mindfulness Trainings Meg Stacey HoVa nQuyen ,Tru eBrigh t Understanding LindaStewart ,Tru eSpiritua l Love HuynhVa nAn ,Tru eJoyfu l Virtue Michelle Tae,Tru eSpiritua l Peace Leslie K. Inman,Tru eGrea t Earth Truong Hoa,Tru eBrigh t Direction LeB aVinh ,Tru eMar ko fHarmon y TruongTh i AnhPhuong , TrueBrigh t Manifestation LeThu cQuang ,Tru eInstrumenta l Harmony Vo MinhThe ,Tru eBrigh tHearin g LeVa nDinh ,Tru eNatura lHarmon y Vo ThanhTan ,Tru eBrigh t Goodness LamVa nNam ,Tru eJoyfu l Abode JeremyWilso n Ginny Keegan,Tru eFores to fJo y TranLu c Ha,Tru eJoyfu l Song RichardKossow , TrueSpiritua l Fruition TruongXua nLan ,Tru eBrigh tGroun d AssiaLazar ,Vra i Lamped ePai x Vivien Yetta Sunlight Therese-Rose MarieHelbick-White , TrueOrigina lLan d BarbaraZaring ,Tru eSpiritua l Light LyTai ,Tru eJoyfu l Wonder Note:Some new Order membershave not yet received their OrlinMautcheu ,Tru eMirro ro fJo y Dharma namesand therefore, none is listed. Order mem­ RobertaMarks ,Tru ePeacefu l Dharma bers whoare ordained by ThichNhat Hanh or inhis name haveDharma names with theword True.Order members SusanMcCarthy , TrueSpiritua l Practice ordainedby Dharmateachers whohave been authorized by MaryMullaney , TrueLan do fJo y Thdy to transmitthe Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings have NguyenAnhTuyet , VraiMerit e Paisible namesreflecting their ordination teacher.

1999-2000 Winter/The Mindfulness "Bed 33 Letters

Letterst oTh e Mindfulness

The Spring issue of TheMindfulness Bell, dedicated to Sangha Dynamics, prompted me to write and share an endeavor that has enriched our Sangha family. Several months ago, I read Learning TrueLove by Sister Chan Khong, and was totally moved by the work she does.I decided to write her at the address in the back of the book to find out how Icoul d sponsor achil d or student. Herre ­ sponse was arepor t which she had prepared for her various supporters. From this report I learned that $5.00 U.S.pe r month buys rice for a poor orphaned child, atoddle r staying for lunch in the local day care, ahandicappe d person, an elderly person, or a young college or university student. Ten U.S. dollars a month provides a young person over the age of fifteen with vocational training. When I realized how much could be done with so little, Idecide d to share the Ienjoye d the latest issue of TheMindfulness Bell very information with my Sangha. They were equally enthused, much. The contributions on Sangha practice reverberate and we decided to prepare a donation box to set out each with lots of common issues. Ia m pleased to see the greater week when we meet. Now we look forward to emptying the Sangha finally entering a new phase of practice—touching box at the end of each month, and writing a check for our and dealing with real difficulties. Nothing beats "Sangha extended family in Vietnam. eyes." In July, four of my Sangha family visited the Green Khanh Le Van Mountain Dharma Center in Vermont. There they learned of Sydney, Australia Sister Chan Hy Nghiem's recent trip to Vietnam and saw videos of food and packages being delivered to the poor. I have aconcer n about TheMindfulness Bell. The last They saw the excitement and appreciation of those we help few issues have read to me sort of like "how-to" manuals for and returned to Sangha filled with gratitude and further mindfulness practice. I'm sure they are useful when every­ resolve. They also shared with us a sponsorship program one is trying to figure out how to "make Sanghas work," but emanating from the Dharma Center. This program makes it I miss very much the old style where there seemed tob e possible to sponsor a specific child, toddler, student, many more articles by individuals simply sharing their handicapped, or elderly person forjus t $60 (U.S.) per year, practice in a great variety of situations. I find those articles and to be in touch directly with that person. A sponsor form so inspiring, so vital, and so enlivening. The variety wasa and information about this program can be obtained from big part of vitality of the mix. the UBC Relief Committee, Attn.: Sister Chan Hy Nghiem, Perhaps Thay's notion of a magazine will be the inspira­ P.O. Box 182, Hartland-Four Corners, VT 05049, USA. tion we need to really express the very dynamic mix of Our Sangha family has benefitted both individually and democratic and elder-oriented [elements] in our governing collectively by developing our compassion through the and decision-making. Ihop e in our publishing practices as understanding that other people's suffering is greater than well, we will honor the creative forces of the individual as our own. Perhaps other Sanghas would also benefit from he approaches the living mystery of life with awareness and sharing in this way. conscience. Marian Gable Katharine Cook Elberson, Pennsylvania, USA California, USA

Thank you so much for the helpful magazine. I find Thank you for the beautiful work you do for us all in Thay's Dharma talks especially helpful. It is important to producing TheMindfulness Bell. We will be using much of read how others are integrating mindfulness practice into the most recent edition [Sangha Dynamics, issue no. 24] for their lives. Reading TheMindfulness Bell is like tapping into a Sangha-building retreat here in Adelaide. May you be well the larger Sangha. loved. Lynda Schaller Peter Hawkins Gay Mills, Wisconsin, USA Adelaide, Australia

34 The Mindfulness 'BeCC/1999-2000 Winter Sangfha Directory

Sanghas are listed by region, then Belgium Germany alphabetically by country or state, and then Leven in Aandacht, Belgie Gemeinschaft fiir achtsames Leben in Berlin bypostal code. This list and the Retreat Odette Bauweleers Thomas Schmidt Schedules ofThich Nhat Hanh and Order of Van Schoonbekestraat 39, 2018 Antwerpen Muskauerstr. 50, 10997 Berlin Interbeing Dharma Teachers are kept current Tel: (32)3-2572598; Fax: (32)3-2185085 Tel: (49)30-611 25 33 on the CML web site: www.parallax.org. Please send updates or additions to Leslie Centre Zen La Montagne Buddhistische Gesellschaft Hamburg e.V Rawls, P.O.Box 38325, Charlotte, NC 14 Montagne de Bueren-4000 Liege Rolf Dohrmann 28278, USA; phone/fax: (704)583-1279; (32)4-221-0918 Beisserstr. 23, 22337 Hamburg LCRawls @aol. com. Au Zendo de l'Harmonie Paisible 19 rue de Grance-4000 Liege AUSTRALASIA (32)4-223-45-68 Australia Lotus Buds Sangha/Khanh and Dan Le Van Denmark 43 Osprey Drive, Illawong, NSW 2234 Copenhagen Sangha/Else Marie Kjerkegaard Tel: (61)2-9543-7823;Fax: (61)2-9543-7136 Bredgade47 1, 1260 Copenhagen K dan_le_van@ hotma i1 .co m Tel: (45)33.15.95.14; Fax: (45)33.15.95.10 [email protected] Interbeing Sangha of Perth/Donna Wood Tel: (61)8-9381-9172 Peace Is Every Step Sangha (Fred Er Vejen) Anne Sandholt Mudita Sangha/Peter Hawkins Miinehojen 31,310 0 Hornbaek 31 Braeside Road, Stirling 5152 (45)49 71 93 95 Tel:(61)8-8370 8590; Fax:(61)8-8232-6255 [email protected] France Michel and Genevieve Walzer India Moulin de Rantiol Sangham (New Delhi)/Shantum Seth 07200 St. Michel de Boulogne 309 B Sector 15A; Noida, UP 201301 Tel: (91)11-91511633; (91)11-91512162 Ramon Pin [email protected] 26 bis Av Biacobi, 06300 Nice (33)4-9389-0674 Israel Maple Forest Monastery, Vermont Jerusalem Sangha/Yael Avnon Christine and Jerome Treiber 7a Hakarkom St., Ein Ganim. Jerusalem La Nouvelle Aurore, 306 rte des Virettes 06140 Tourette sur Loup; (33)4-9359-3073 Tel: (972)2.6525790 Achtsamkeit in Oldenburg e. V [email protected] Christine Sarazin/50 rue de la Charite Manfred Folkers Western Galilee Sangha/ Paul Shalom Treat 69002 Lyon Devrientstr. 8, 26121 Oldenburg Tel: (49)441 88 500 40 24/10 Keren Hayesod Street, Nahariya Phillipe Ruer, 28 rue du Dr Malabouche Tel: (972)4.9511244; Fax: (972)4.9927517 34660 Cournonterral Das Spirituelle Zentrum/Stadt-Raum Koln [email protected] Werner Heidenreich Daniel Milles Moltkestr. 79, 50674. Koln Tel Aviv Sangha/Jacqui Peleg 8 rue Crebillon, 4th floor; 94300 Vincennes (972)3.6913098; [email protected] (49)221-562-5804; Fax: (49)221-562-5806 Tel: (33)1.43.28.09.11 [email protected] Japan Fax: (33)1.47.73.09.11 www.StadtRaum.de Bamboo Sangha/ Hisayo Ikeda Jerome Boisgillot; (33)42.72.59.28 Tel: (81)7-4376-8062 Zen-Klausen in der Eifel Paris Judith Bossert & Adelheid Meutes-Wilsing Odawara Sangha/Keisuke Shimada Vincennes: Huffertsheck 1 117 Uchiyama Minami Ashigara Kanagawa Hao Bach Thai, 98 Avenue de Paris 54619 Lautzerath/Leidenborn Tel/Fax: (81)465-73-0831 Chatenay-Malabry;Tel:(33)46.60.20.90 Tel: (49)6.559-467; Fax: (49)6.559-1342 Sazanami Sangha/Leah Matsui Le Moulin de Picaud Ecrire Waldhaus Am Laacher See/Paul Koppler 862-0975 Japan Anne-Marie Ascencio, 21 rue Camerone Heimschule 1,5664 5 Nickenich Kumamoto Shi, Shinyashiki 3-12-8-202 13140 Mramas; (33)4-9050-2131 Tel: (49)2.636-3344; Fax: (49)2.636-2259 Tel:(81)96-362-6812 Gemeinschaft fiir bewuBtes Leben Marianne Coulin New Zealand 40 rue Boecklin, 67000 Strasbourg Manfred Hell/Innerer Ring 2 Long White Cloud Sangha/Kees Lodder (33)3-88-31-27-84; Fax: (33)3-88-31-48-25 63468 Bruchkobel; Tel: (49)6.181-72571 695 New North Rd., Mt. Albert, Auckland Tel: (64)9-810-9775; Fax: (64)9-846-0975 Claire Pennamen Stuttgarter Sangha/Elke Ehrler-Berg Lupinenwea 10, D-71665 Vaihingen/Enz 80 Ave. Jean Chaubert Bat Tel. privat: (49)7.042-12246 Joyful Heart Sangha/Shalom 81500 Toulouse c/o Wairua Marie, R.D. 1Coromande l Tel/Fax: (49)7.147-90053 Tel: (64)7-866-7427; Fax: (64)7-866-8214 Plum Village Sangha Freiburg/Margrit Irgang Joyful @xtra.co.nz 13 Martineau, 33580 Dieulivol (33)5.56.61.66.88; Fax: (33)5.56.61.61.51 KaiserhausstrauBe 20a. 79872 Bernau EUROPE Tel: (49)7.675.1051;Fax : (49)7.675.1766 Austria St. Etienne/Yannick Guimpied (33)77388499 Maitreya-Fonds e.V. InterSein-Sangha Wien/Dieter Strehly Petra Piischel-Holzschuher Wiesingerstr. 6/6, 1010 Wien Amida Retreat Centre SandstraBe 21, 80335 Munchen Tel: (43)2235-42790; Fax: (43)2235-43263 (see Amida in UK for address) (40)89.52.10.21 [email protected] Tel: (33)48.60.70.19 [email protected] [email protected]

1999-2000 Winter/The Mindfulness Sati-Sangha Uberlingen/Bodensee Sangha of Trieste/Marcello and Leda Scrignar Tel: (44)1751.477.246 Tel:(39)40-421615 Iris Nowak and Ulrich Scharpf Martin Pitt Zur Schleife 8, 88662 Uberlingen Amici di Thay (Thay's Friends) 42 Hangingroyd Road, Hebden Bridge Tel: (49)7.551.7953; Fax: (49)7.551.7964 Roberto Del Mastio West Yorkshire HX7 6AH Bodensee Sangha/Claudia Wieland via A.Giacomini 12,5013 2 Firenze Tel: (44)1422.842.804 Tel: (39)55-578812 Uberlingerstr. 23, 88682 Salem-Tiifingen Mike Bell, 69 Cambridge Road Tel/Fax: (49)7.55.3596 Norway Oakington, Cambridge CB4 5BG Haus Maitreya Sangha of Floating Clouds (Drivende Skyer) Tel: (44)1223.233.200; [email protected] Unterkashof 2 1/3, 94545 Hohenau Bj0rn Petter Hemes Monradsgt. IE, 0577 Oslo Brighton Sangha/Dave Tester (49)8558-920252 18A Hove Park Villas, Hove [email protected] Tel: (47)22.68.73.67; Fax: (47)22.99.53.14 [email protected] East Sussex BN3 6HG Holland Tel: (44)1273.703.469; Fax: (44)1273.777.723 Eveline Beumkes, van Walbeeckstraat 35C Svein Myreng, Mellomb0lgen 26,1157 Oslo [email protected] Tel: (47)22.28.44.08; [email protected] 1058 CH Amsterdam; Tel: (31)20-616-4943 White Clouds Sangha/Duncan Liddle Sunflower Sangha/Anneke Brinkerink Mountain Sangha (Fjell Sangha)/Jem Wilson 13Yor k Ave., Ashley Down Dorpsweg 8, 1711 RJ Hensbroek 3560 Hemseda; Tel/Fax: (47)32.06.06.20 Bristol BS7 9LH; (44)117.951.259 1 Tel: (31)2.2645.2499; Fax: (31)2-2645-3590 Sangha Snow Crystal/Xuan-Thoi Lam Amida Trust/Caroline and David Brazier Gertje Hutschemaekers Hoietun 135,471 0 Mosby 53 Grosvenor Place, Jesmond Alkmaar; Tel: (31)7.2561.6289 (47)381 19051 Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 2RD Tel: (44)191.281.5592 Zen Group for Mindful Living Sangha Chan Tarn (Vietnamese-speaking) [email protected] Noud de Haas, Weezenhof 6455 Hoietun 135,471 0 Mosby 6536 AW Nijmegen; Tel: (31)24.3444953 (47)381 19051 Amida Trust Group/Janette Blakemore 39 Dickinson Square, Croxley Green Italy Poland Hertfordshire WD3 3EY www.geocities.com/~interessere Mindfulness Sangha Tel: (44)192.377.0406; [email protected] Tanna Jakubowicz-Mount Rome Sangha/Tiziana Faggiani Czerniakowska 36/80, 00-714 Warszawa Edinburgh Interbeing Sangha/Ani Lodro via Frangipane 27, 00184 Roma Tel/Fax: (48)22.40.06.58 Catcune Steading, Fushiebridge, EH23 4RN Tel:(39)6-6784469 (44)1875 823 741 Russia Mario Cistulli, Via Livraghi 2, 00152 Roma Moscow Sangha/Boris Orion LATIN AMERICA Tel: (39)6-5819026 Novogireevskaya Street 14-2-34 Guatemala 111401 Moscow; Tel: (7)095.304.4562 Antigua Sangha Elena Cerruti, via Tripoli 182 Fax: 209-3841 (B. Orion, c/o G. di Feo) 10100 Torino; Tel: (39)11-3295184 Mary Thompson c/o Conexion Boris Labkovsky 4a Calle Oriente #14, Antigua Sergio and Alessandra Zaccone Yan Rainis Boulevard, 24-2-240 Tel/Fax: (502)201-4251 via S.Ilario 4, 16031 Bogliasco (Genova) Moscow 123373;Tel : (7)095.949.8671 Tel :(39) 10-3472159 Dominican Republic Spain Community of the Inner Sun La Porta del Dharma and Essere Pace Octavio Feliciano, Atocha 16 Nicholas Crespo Deanna Malago, via Tertulliano 30 Madrid; Tel: (34)91 369 01 50 Gustavo Meja-Ricart Street #71 20137 Milano, Tel: (39)2-5457915 Caromang II Building, Apartment #204 Alberto Annicchiarico Present Moment Ecumenical Sangha Barcelona Piantini, Santo Domingo; (809)562-2803 via A. Saffi, 23, 20123 Milano Ena Linares; Tel: (34)93-414-7551 Tel: (39)2-48024302; [email protected]

36 "The Mindfulness ^11/1999-2000 -Winter Brazil Singing Bird Sangha/Julia Graf Still Water Sangha/Peggy Rowe Middle Path Sangha/Claudio Miklos 1130 N. Norton Avenue 2028 Chapala Street Rua Silvestre Rocha, 28/103 Niteroi Tucson, AZ 85719; (520)318-0989 Santa Barbara, CA 93105 Rio de Janeiro 24220-170 [email protected] Tel: (805)563-3618; Fax: (805)563-3718 Tel: (21)711-6895; [email protected] [email protected] Arkansas Little Rock Ecumenical Buddhist Society White Heron Sangha/Rosemary Donnell NORTH AMERICA Becky Kilmer, 321 Fountain Street P.O. Box 870, Morro Bay, CA 93443 Canada Little Rock, AR 72205; (501)372-6633 (805)772-4580;www.thegrid.net/whiteheron Community of Mindful Living-Bow Valley [email protected] Sangha/Mary Dumka Monterey Peninsula Sangha California 518"2nd Street, Canmore, AB T1W 2K5 Nancy Melton, P.O. Box 131 Santa Monica Sangha (403)678-2034; [email protected] Pacific Grove, CA 93950; (831)647-9155 Penelope Thompson and Lee Lipp Palo Alto Friends Mindfulness Sangha Mindfulness Community of Victoria (310)392-1796 Susan Murphy; 2043 El Sereno Avenue Jean McKinley Ordinary Dharma Los Altos, CA 94024; (650)969-3452 #410-909 Pendergast Street Caitriona Reed and Michele Benzamin [email protected] Victoria, BC V8V 2W7 1001b Colorado, Santa Monica. CA 90401 (250)384-9003; [email protected] (310)394-6653 San Francisco Mindfulness Community Avi Magidoff Mill Hill Mindfulness Society Orange Blossom Sangha/Charlie Miles 3538A 17th St., San Francisco, CA94110 Phil N. Rossner 731 Mount Whitney Circle (415)252-8452; [email protected] 2550 Wentwich Road Corona, CA 91719 Victoria, BC V9B 3N4; (250)478-7098 (909)279-4026; [email protected] Richmond District/Denise Berguez [email protected] (415)751-0579 http://www.islandnet.com/~pnr/millhill.htm Crown City Sangha/Tom Scoble 127 South Olive Avenue, #1 Bernal Heights/Andrew Kang-Bartlett Mindfulness Practice Centre of Vancouver Alhambra, CA 91801; (626)308-7446 (415)821-3289 3750 West 13th Avenue [email protected] Vancouver, V6R2S6, B.C. Duboce Triangle/Karen Van Dine (604)228-8486; Fax: (604)228-8476 Manzanita Village (415)346-3923 [email protected] Caitriona Reed and Michele Benzamin Leon Pyle P.O. Box 67, Warner Springs, CA 92086 Toronto Zen Meditation Group 3559 South Silver Springs Road Tel/Fax: (760)782-9223; [email protected] Lafayette, CA 94549 (Vietnamese speaking) www.ordinarydharma.org Tim Nguyen, Tel: (416)463-4241 Tel: (925)283-7271; Fax: (925)283-9026 205 Monarch Park Avenue Annie Hamrick [email protected] Toronto, ON M4J 4R9 San Diego, CA 92103; (619)465-3950 Mindfulness, Diversity, and Social Change Mindfulness Practice Community San Diego Sangha, Wat Lao Monastery Sangha (Oakland)/Rosa Zubizarreta of Toronto/David Frank Dick Baldwin, (619)561-8384 (510)534-6302; [email protected] (416)658-1698; [email protected] Pot Luck Sangha/J. Caleb Cushing http://www.gncom.com/urban Compassionate Heart Sangha/Paul Williams Solana Beach and Encinitas 5995 Chabolyn Terrace Ottawa Sangha/Vinh D. Nguyen (760)753-1815 Oakland, CA 94618; (510)654-2456 12Coupal , Vanier. ON KIL6A1 [email protected] Fragrant Earth Sangha (613)747-9096; [email protected] SpiritPoint Sangha/Ruth Kornhauser 2625 Alcatraz Avenue, Box 404 Rideout Sangha and Mindfulness Practice Centre 2220 Conway Drive, Escondido, CA 92026 Berkeley, CA 94705; (510)982-0444 Ian Prattis, 1252 Rideout Circle (760)745-6506; rkorn@ inetworld.ne t [email protected] Ottawa K2C 2X7; [email protected] Laguna Beach Sangha/Greg Smith Community of Mindful Living Maple Village/Chan Huy 639 Pearl Street. Laguna Beach, CA 92651 850 Talbot Avenue. Albany, CA 94706 9089 Richmond, Brossard, PQ J4X 2S1 (949)494-4734: [email protected] (510)527-3751; Fax: (510)525-7129 (514)591-8726; Fax: (450)466-8958 http://here-and-now.Org/IMSOC/awarenes.s.html [email protected] maplevil @plumvillage.org Yukon Mindfulness Center/Karl Dittmar P.O. Box 4812, Whitehorse Yukon, Canada Y1A4N6; (867)667-2213 [email protected] USA Alaska Anchorage Zen Community Elizabeth McNeill 3852 Caravelle Drive Anchorage, AK 99502; (907)566-0143 www.alaska.net/~zen/zen @alaska.net The Mindfulness Center of Southeast Alaska/Linda Buckley 1401 Fritz Cover, Juneau, AK 99801 (907)789-0140 Arizona Desert Cactus Sangha/Marcie Colpas Veterans of War and Peace during 1997 Santa Barbara retreat 5437 East Pinchot Avenue Phoenix. AZ 85018; (602)952-0915 1999-2000 Winter/The Mindfulness

38 "The Mindfulness

Still Water Mindfulness Practice Center Mitchell Ratner 6814 Westmoreland Avenue TakomaPark, MD20912 (301)270-8353 [email protected] Fresh Breeze Mindfulness Sangha Carol Fegan, 26 W. Susquehanna Avenue Towson, MD 21204 (410)583-7798; Fax: (410)323-9078 [email protected] ATexa s Retreat

1999-2000 Winter/The MindfuCness 'BdC 39 Heartland Community of Mindful Living Bethany Freshnock; c/o The American Buddhist Center at Unity Temple 707 W.47t h St., Kansas City, MO 64112 (913)642-1205; [email protected] Montana Open Circle Sangha/David Cooper 634 University Street, Helena, MT 59601 (406)442-4344; [email protected] Open Way Sangha/Michel Colville 1440 Harrison, Missoula, MT 59802 (406)543-6443; [email protected] Nebraska Honey Locust Sangha/Mike McMahon 3317 Lafayette Ave., Omaha, NE 68131 (402)558-3112 A Retreat in Wisconsin Nevada Lotus in the Desert Sangha/John Lanzillotta Open Heart Sangha/Stephen Rose Stone River Sangha (Albany) 9400 Aspen Glow Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89134 Box 4534, Taos, NM 87571 Dan Sedia & Lori Leonardi, (518)475-9468 (702)228-7631; [email protected] (505)758-1290; Fax:(505)758-8323 roselaw@ laplaza.taos.nm.u s Budding Flower Sangha/Patricia Hunt-Perry Dharma Zephyr Sangha/Kathy Schwerin 121 Wells Road 3585 Ormsby Lane, Carson City, NV 89704 New York Newburgh, NY 12550; (914)561-0995 (775)849-3668; Fax: (775)882-4980 Community of Mindfulness/ New York Metro Rhinebeck Zen Center/Bill Del Conte New Hampshire 10-14 East Market St.. 2d Floor Peggy Cappy and Ferris Urbanowski P.O. Box 61,Planetariu m Station New York, NY 10024; (212)501-2652 P.O. Box 595, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 10Rout e 101 (914)757-3211; [email protected] West Peterborough, NH 03458 Our community is composed of the following (508)856-3755 groups: Jane Leifer, 161 Caroline St. [email protected] Manhattan /Upper West Side Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Tuesday Night Sitting Group & Monthly Day (518)587-5806 New Jersey of Mindfulness: Buddhist Sangha of South Jersey David Flint (212)666-4104 Jayne Demakos Walt Lyons Study Group: 5801 Route 414, Valois, NY 12888 164 Cheyenne Trail, Marjorie Markus (212)787-1473 (607)277-5685; [email protected] Medford Lakes, NJ 08055 Being with Children: (609)953-9215; [email protected] Susan Speiler (212)877-0355 Chua Tu Hieu Buddhist Cultural Center Being with Illness and Healing: Tam Hoi Ai, 647 Fillmore Avenue Island Refuge Sangha/Jules Hirsch Ruth Lamborn (212)265-7774 Buffalo, NY 14225; (716)891-4594 6 Ross Drive E., Brigantine, NJ 08203 Monthly Guided Meditation: http://community.webtv.net/nalonzo/buddhism Tel/Fax: (609)266-8281; [email protected] Amy Krantz (212)873-3142 Blooming Lilac Sangha/Laura Seligman Melissa Bailey Manhattan-Downtown 135 Brentwood Drive, Penfield, NY 14526 37 Hillside Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08540 Wednesday Night Meditation (716)586-6739; [email protected] (609)924-8128; [email protected] Nancy Rudolph (212)989-0392 Phyllis Joyner (212)260-9111 Three Hills Sangha, Ithaca, NY Central New Jersey Sangha Bronx Joe: (607)273-5563; Beth: (607)277-3645 Amy Rhett LaMotte Touching Our Roots: 37 Maple Street, Princeton, NJ 08542 Muriel Shookhoff (718)543-2892 North Carolina (609)924-4506; Fax:(609)924-7477 Brooklyn Raleigh Mindfulness Meditation Group Patrecia Lenore (718)499-5104 Gail O'Brien New Mexico Queens UUFR, 3313 Wade Avenue Mindful Heart Sangha/Lorena Monda Ruth Klein (718)897-4746 Raleigh, NC 27607 166 Camino de San Francisco Long Island (919)833-4027; [email protected] Placitas, NM 87043; (505)867-8623 Tonia Leon-Hysko (516)427-9790 lorenamon@ aol.co m Eno River Buddhist Community/ Miriam O'Mahoney (516)763-2824 Kim Warren Rainbow Sangha/David Percival Judy Davis 4907 Garrett Road, Durham, NC 27704 707 Richmond Dr., S.E. 49 Florence Drive, Chappaqua, NY 10514 (919)220-0321; [email protected] Albuquerque, NM 87106 (914)238-8296 (505)266-9042; [email protected] Salisbury Community of Mindfulness Westchester, Rockland, and Fairfield Alice Parada, 1002 Wellington Hills Cir. Open Way Sangha Counties Mindfulness Group Salisbury, NC 28147; (704)633-6399 Cynthia Jurs and Hugh Wheir Sally and Eric Taylor Route 4, Box 60B, Santa Fe, NM 87501 Charlotte Community of Mindfulness 98 Narragansett Ave., Ossining, NY 10562 (505)982-3846; Fax: (505)982-9481 Bill Chu, 9201 University City Blvd. (914)762-9097 Charlotte, NC 28223 Upaya Foundation/Joan Halifax Sleepy Hollow Sangha/Annegret Wolf Rice (704)547-4568; [email protected] 1404 Cerro Gordo Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87501 265 Hunter Ave., Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591 http://www.coe. uncc.edu./~billchu/sangha. (505)986-8518; Fax: (505)986-8528 (914)631-2658; [email protected] [email protected] Coastal Dharma Center/Trent Smith 2032 Albert Circle, Wilmington, NC 28403 (910)799-3648; Fax: (910)395-8379 [email protected] 40 TheMindfulness

42 TheMindfulness IBett/1999-2000 cWinUr Retreat Scnedules

Retreats LedbyThic h Nhat Hanh

NOVEMBER 21-FEBRUARY 21, 2000 SEPTEMBER 17-23, 2000 Plum Village, France Ascutney Mountain Resort, Brownsville, Vermont Winter Retreat Mindfulness Retreat 13Martineau, 33580 Dieulivol, France led partly by Thich Nhat Hanh Tel: (33)5-56-61-66-88; Fax: (33)5-56-61-61-51 and partly by monastic and lay Dharma teachers Email: [email protected] from Plum Village and North America GreenMountain Dharma Center EASTER 2000 Tel: (802)436-1103; Fax:(802) 436-1101 Holland Email: [email protected] Mindfulness Retreat 3 Martineau, 33580 Dieulivol, France OCTOBER 17, 2000 Tel: (33)5-56-61-66-88; Fax: (33)5-56-61-61-51 Paris, France Email:[email protected] Public Lecture 13 Martineau, 33580 Dieulivol, France JUNE 1-21,200 0 Tel: (33)5-56-61-66-88; Fax: (33)5-56-61-61-51 Plum Village, France Email:info @plum village, org The Eye of the Buddha 21-day Retreat OCTOBER 19,2000 13Martineau, 33580 Dieulivol, France London, England Tel: (33)5-56-61-66-88; Fax: (33)5-56-61-61-51 Public Lecture Email: [email protected] London Sangha/Mai Nguyen Tel/Fax: (44)181-459-0245 JUNE 27-29, 2000 Berlin, Germany OCTOBER 21, 2000 Mindfulness Retreat Munich, Germany 13Martineau, 33580 Dieulivol, France Public Lecture Tel: (33)5-56-61-66-88; Fax: (33)5-56-61-61-51 Munich Sangha/Karl Schmied Email:info@ plumvillage.org Tel: (49)8028-2024; Fax: (49)8028-2120 JULY 15-AUGUST 12,200 0 OCTOBER 24,200 0 Plum Village, France Amsterdam, Holland Summer Opening Public Lecture 13Martineau, 33580 Dieulivol, France Amsterdam Sangha/Eveline Beumkes Tel: (33)5-56-61-66-88; Fax: (33)5-56-61-61-51 Tel: (31)206-16-4943 Email:info ©plum village, org OCTOBER 26,200 0 LATE AUGUST 2000 Rome, Italy California Public Lecture Vietnamese Retreat Rome Sangha/Roherto Mander Nu HongBuddhistYouth Tel: (39)6-855-8901 Tel/Fax:(714)841-7044 Email: [email protected] EARLY SEPTEMBER 2000 Retreats Ledb yOrde ro f California Interbeing DharmaTeacher s English Retreat Community ofMindful Living P.O. Box7355, Berkeley, California, 94707, USA DECEMBER Tel: (510)527-3751; Fax: (510)525-7129 3-5 Charles Town, West Virginia, USA Email: [email protected] Retreat withAnh-Huon g and Thu Nguyen(301-681-1036) 4 Naples, Florida, USA SEPTEMBER 2000 Day ofMindfulnes s with Fred Eppsteiner(941-566-1769) San Francisco BayArea , California, USA 5-12 Camp Indianola, Washington, USA Public Lecture Retreat with Sister Jina orEilee n Kiera (360-379-0873) Community ofMindful Living 6 Naples, Florida, USA P.O. Box7355, Berkeley, California, 94707, USA Day ofMindfulnes s with Fred Eppsteiner(941-566-1769) Tel: (510)527-3751; Fax:(510)525-7129 6-13 Hohenau, Germany Email: [email protected] Retreat with Karl Schmied (49-8558-920252)

1999-2000 Winter/The Mindfutness

44 The MndfuCness

Retreat with Therese Fitzgerald (404-653-0526) 4"BELL , 14-16 Ashland, Oregon, USA CUSHION Retreat with Eileen Kiera (541-482-8467) & STRIKER $65 14-16 Basel, Switzerland Public talk by Marcel Geisser (41-61-272-03-43) 13-16 Hot Springs, North Carolina, USA Retreat with Arnie Kotler and Therese Fitzgerald (828-622-7112) 15 Gmund, Germany Day of Mindfulness with Karl Schmied (49-08028-9281) 15-16 New York City, New York, USA Retreat withAnh-Huon g andTh u Nguyen(212-787-1473) 16 Montreal, Canada Day of Mindfulness with Chan Huy (514-591-8726) 19-24 Hohenau, Germany Sittinganyone ? Retreat with Karl and Helga Riedl (49-8558-920434) SamadhiCushio nsale ssuppor tth eretreatant sa tKarm eChblin gBuddhis t 20-23 Hot Springs, North Carolina, USA Centerher ei nNorther nVermont . Our100 % cottoncushion sar esew nan d Retreat for experienced practitioners with Arnie Kotler hand-tufted by local residents. Ourqualit yi sguaranteed .W e alsooffe r a and Therese Fitzgerald (828-622-7112) BuckwheatHul lZaf uan dKneelin gBenches . 21-25 Sydney, Australia Toorde ro rreceiv eou rbrochur ecal l Retreat led by the monks and nuns of Plum Village l-800-331"775lFax to80 2633-2387 . (61-02-9543-7823) International calls80 2 633-4440. Credit card orders shipped 20-24 Wolfhaden, Switzerland promptly.Visi tu sat : www.samadhicushions.com Easter Retreat with Marcel Geisser (41-71-888-35-39) 22 Fairfax, Virginia, USA SAMADHICUSHION S• DEPTMB , RRl, BOX1 • BARNET, VT0582 1 Day of Mindfulness with Anh-Huong and Thu Nguyen (703-938-1377) Includes holy days reflect­ 24-29 Wolfhaden, Switzerland THE ing the non-patriarchal Intensive Retreat with Marcel Geisser (41-71-888-35-39) mystical God-Goddess MYSTIC'S roots of Christianity (Wis­ dom Tradition), Judaism MAY (Kabbalism),Isla m (Sufism), 4 Basel, Switzerland Wheel& Buddhism (Tantra/Zen). OF THE Public talk with Marcel Geisser (41-71-888-35-39) Also includes Nature-based holy days from ancient 4-7 Hohenau, Germany Goddess-God religions of: Retreat with Karl and Helga Riedl (49-8558-920434) © Europe (e.g.,Ol d Greek, ear Old Celtic & Old Teutonic) 5-7 Charles Town, West Virginia, USA 8 the Middle East (e.g.,Ol d Retreat with Anh-Huong andTh u Nguyen (703-938-1377) An Eco-Egalitarian Sumerian &Ol d Canaanite- 5-7 Piano, Illinois, USA Creation Spirituality Hebrew) ©Afric a (e.g.,Ol d Egyptian & Yoruba) © Retreat with Jack Lawlor (708-482-7765) Calendar Meso-America (e.g., Aztec 6 Naples, Florida, USA & Incan) © North America (e.g., Iroquois, Navajo & Day of Mindfulness with Fred Eppsteiner(941-566-1769) Zuni) ® Asia (Hinduism, 13 Fairfax, Virginia, USA TheMystic's Wheelof the Year Taoism &Shinto) . Day of Mindfulness with Anh-Huong and Thu Nguyen is a multifaith wall calendar Also features: © lunar & solarcycles ,eclipses ,visibl e (703-938-1377) including contemporary and planets &meteo r showers ® 13 Kapa'au, Hawaii, USA days focused on teachers/ activists/milestones in Day of Mindfulness withArni e Kotler and Therese ancient Nature-based/Earth- mysticism & the feminist, Fitzgerald (808-889-0615) human rights, environmen­ centered spiritualities—both talist & peace movements 18-21 Swan Lake, Montana, USA © monthly meditations Western and Eastern! (Deity aspects, seasonal, Retreat with Eileen Kiera (406-543-6443) Nature, psychological, 19-21 Munich, Germany Creation Spirituality path& It features Buddhist holidays Kabbalah) ©meditation s for Vesakh Festival with Karl Schmied (49-08028-9281) the lunar cycle © art as 24 Winterthur, Switzerland and teachings with emphasis meditation © empowering meditations © simple active Public talk by Marcel Geisser (41-52-203-84-41) on engaged Buddhism. offerings to help the envi­ 25-28 Hohenau, Germany ronment & further social justice © Creation Spiritu­ Retreat with Karl Schmied and Karl and Helga Riedl $12.00eac h (plus$ 2 postage/packaging) ality primer © photos of (49-8558-920434) Page Two, Inc., Box 77167, Washington, sacred icons from many traditions printed in deep 25-28 Eisenbuch, Germany DC 20013, (800) 821-6604. Visa/MC. blue ink on cloudy blue sky Retreat with Marcel Geisser and (Wholesalerate sfo r5 o rmor e calendars.) linenpaper .(8.5"xll "spiral ) Fumon Nakagawa Roshi (49-8670-98-68-20)

1999-2000 Winter/The Mindfulness

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