Upcoming Chuang Yen monastery visit, 4/29/2007

Yoga friends,

On Sunday, April 29, we are taking our class to
Chuang Yen Monastery to join the morning
meditation service. We are leaving at 8:00 am
from 17 Main St, in Mt Kisco and plan a ride/share
arrangement with whomever wishes to come.
Bring a friend!

The monastery is located about 50 minutes away,
right on Route 301, two miles east of the exit
from the Taconic Parkway, in Kent, Putnam county.
The monastery is also open on weekends for the
general public to visit so there is the option to
walk around the naturally wooded setting, over
short trails, past ponds with bridges and tour the
Great Buddha Hall with the largest indoor Buddha
in the western hemisphere.

Meditation service consists of approx. 30 minutes
of sitting, either on benches along the wall or on
cushions on the carpeted floor, inside the second
large Buddha hall. There is a 10 minute, very slow
walking meditation. A bell chimes, meditation ends
and the host monk gives a short talk. Everyone is
invited and no prior experience is required. The
Buddha hall is unheated, dress accordingly with
warm socks.
See last year's April blog for thoughts on what
to do during meditation.

For those who like to stay, afterwards is a good time
to visit the grounds or join the dharma talk held for
an hour following the meditation. At 12 noon, there
is a vegetarian lunch for $5 donation, in the large
cafeteria building. There is no requirement to stay
for any activity and no other fee.

Call John at 589-0964 for other details or show up.

sincerity and appreciation cont'd

yoga friends,

hatha yoga is body yoga.
my hatha yogi experience seems to require a physical understanding of
what is spiritual. perhaps a lack of faith is a sign of the times,
nevertheless, i would like to hold this spirit in my hand.

sincerity is expressed as physically doing something with intention.
this combination of mind and body, intentional action, defines yoga
and also describes the buddhist practice of "mindfullness".
being present.
experience gains us awareness which encourages appreciation.
appreciation is the neuro-feedback able to recognize what's happening.
hatha yogis let appreciation be the mirror that reflects the spirit.
(from "sincerity and appreciation:
the 2 pronged path to liberation",
new age yogi press)

there is yoga class this easter sunday, 10:30am
let's see if we can wipe the fog from the mirror.

namaste, :)ohn