Dear Thay, Dear Sangha,

You may remember that we dedicated the month of May to the practice of generosity, and we are deeply moved by all that unfolded. We explored generosity through a prism of topics shared on Monday nights, we practiced generosity both individually and as a community, by becoming a Second Body with the women helped by Nueva Vida, and we observed and shared how this practice affected us.

Thank you! Your generosity has made a difference in this world, whether you shared from your heart at sangha and/or shared from your wallet to support the women of Nueva Vida. Your practice rippled into the world in ways that matter.

Together, we raised awareness about Nueva Vida and formed a relationship that had an impact on the individuals in both organizations.  We were generous!  43 sangha members contributed funds, and several committed substantial time to get this initiative going.  Altogether, we raised $4,000, which includes direct donations to Nueva Vida, contributions to OHMC, and OHMC’s matching gift of $500. WOW!

Nueva Vida created a short video to thank us.

The end of May doesn't mean the end of our relationship with Nueva Vida. We have created a bond with the women they serve and we will continue to be their Second Body. Now that we have become aware of what these women have to deal with and in what kind of unequal conditions, we will remember them and find ways to continue helping them in the future. Please continue to share information about the work of Nueva Vida with your contacts, and take them into account on your donation plans. 

 Based on your sharings during our dharma discussions, it feels like our sangha is keen to build on this experience of practicing generosity with groups outside of OHMC.  We will form a small group to explore how to do this. Please contact Adriana, Marie, and/or Camille if you would like to be part of this group.  

Reflecting on our practice in May and how our world and this country are, at this very moment, the importance of interbeing and of generosity is palpable. As Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us:

"Practicing generosity means to act in a way that will help equalize the difference between the wealthy and the impoverished. Whatever we do to ease human suffering and create social justice can be considered practicing generosity." 

May your practice be strong and your heart be full of peace.

With a bow of gratitude,

Adriana, Andy, Annie, Brigitte, Camille, Julie, Marie, Sandra (OHMC Board and OHMC’s Inclusivity Team)