OHMC Generosity and Interbeing

RESPONSE TO the COVID-19 CRISIS

Camille and Annie share how you can support yourself and others in this video.

You can watch this video, or read the video transcript below:

Dear Thay, Dear sangha,

During this pandemic, it’s more important than ever to lean into our practice and our sangha to navigate this crisis from a more mindful, compassionate place.

The true practice of generosity is like an act of kindness.  Our teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, says it actually serves the people who give as well as those who receive kindness.  He says “if you continue to give, you become richer and richer all the time, richer in terms of happiness and well-being”.

In the Five Mindfulness Trainings, “true practices of compassion and understanding”, we are again reminded to practice generosity.  The Second Mindfulness training “True Happiness” shares that my own happiness and suffering are not separate from the happiness and suffering of others.  

During this challenging and uncertain time, many people are suffering and many are greatly in need. When we are able and can share our time, energy, and resources with those in need, we can surely find happiness in the present moment. 

The term “interbeing” was coined Thay (Thich Nhat Hanh) to describe how, as he says, “Everything relies on everything else in the cosmos in order to manifest — whether a star, a cloud, a flower, a tree, or you and me.”

When we look deeply at the world with fresh eyes, we see that this is true and we know that we need to take care of ourselves in order to take care of others, and to take care of others in order to take good care of ourselves. This insight motivates us to find ways to care for all.

This is why, since coronavirus came to the US, a committee of our sangha has been meeting regularly to discuss how we can act skillfully to support the sangha and also the most vulnerable people who are suffering deeply right now. 

For now, we wanted to start with this email and share some ways we can support each other as individuals and as a sangha. 

We hope you will read our suggestions below and participate in whatever ways you can.

Care for YOURSELF

• Come to sangha. Click HERE for more info

• Take time to breathe every day.  Thich Nhat Hanh says “Find space in your day when you can practice mindful breathing and letting go of tension.”

• Watch or listen to dharma talks, given by Thay HERE or Valerie Brown HERE or Kaira Jewel Lingo HERE 

• Learn and transform together. Join a Making-Visible call or watch a previous session. Click HERE for more info

• Get rest.  As Thay says, “Stress accumulates in our body.  The way we eat, drink and live takes its toll on our well-being.  Lying down and bringing gentle awareness to our breath, we can realize rest and recovery for our physical body”.

• Attend days of mindfulness online with Anh-Huong and Thu Nguyen - HERE for more info

Care for each other in the sangha

• Get or Give Support. Are you struggling during this crisis? Is there something the sangha can do to support you? Is there something you can offer other sangha members? Please email Annie HERE or Camille HERE

• Join a quarantine support triad. To get started, enter your information HERE. We will pair you with one or two other people to connect with by phone or video on your own time and using your own equipment. Your triad can do meditation together, discuss mindfulness resources, share your experiences during this time, and offer deep listening for each other.

• Generate joy. The practice of cultivating joy and happiness is extra important during this time.  Sangha member Julie is offering chalk to use in decorating the sidewalk or street in front of your apartment or house.  She and her husband did this recently, which was a delight  for both them and their neighbors.  Julie may be able to deliver to you or meet you at a convenient location.  Email Julie HERE.

Care for Others

• Give a laptop to a DCPS student. Over half of our city’s kids are required to do “distance learning” - with no internet or devices at home. A mutual aid group is distributing devices to DC students who don’t have one. If you have a laptop (working devices as well as non-working devices are accepted!) Please click HERE to get started with your donation. Questions? Email Brittany HERE.

• Make masks for distribution.Sewcial Distancing DC is a Facebook group coordinating getting volunteers, sending them materials and directions, and picking up and dropping off finished masks, and then they distribute the masks to the homeless and refugee/immigrant communities in DC.

• Donate to Nueva Vida during the month of May. OHMC is launching a campaign to raise money for Nueva Vida during the month of May. You will be getting another email soon about our campaign to raise money for DC-area Latinx women navigating cancer and their families.

Take Civic action

• For equitable access to the internet: It’s estimated that at 50% or more of DCPS students don’t have internet or devices at home. Get connected to local activists, educators, and parents who are pushing for 21st century education by connecting with Digital Equity in DC Education.

• Learn about ways that our Buddhist practice intersects with social justice by visiting the Buddhist Peace Fellowship and taking a course or reading articles.

• Get involved in your local Mutual Aid groups (DC Mutual Aid here), or join forces with other people working to change inequitable systems. Empower DC also has a great list of resources here.

Questions or comments?

All are welcome to reach out to us.