Monday, March 24 , we will meet in person.
Go to calendar for our schedule
Address for OHMC meditation space:
3812 Northampton St. NW, Washington DC 20015
Please arrive a few minutes early so we can invite the bell on time. You may also arrive 15 minutes early to practice working meditation by helping us set up cushions.
Dear friends,
This week, we will meet Monday evening, March 24, from 7-8:30PM EDT in person at our meditation space (3812 Northampton Street NW); Wednesday morning, March 26, from 7-8AM EDT online; and Friday, March 28, from 12-1PM EDT in person & online (hybrid).
Camille will facilitate this Monday. Camille shares:
We welcome you to our Monday night in-person sangha, where tonight we share our once-a-month tradition of reciting the Five Mindfulness Trainings, created by Thich Nhat Hanh to help us cultivate and deepen our mindfulness practice. This month we practice the Third Mindfulness Training, “True Love.” However, instead of focusing on the traditional training, we will explore the “Contemplation of the Third Mindfulness Training: Cherishment as True Love,” which comes from the ARISE Sangha (Awakening through Race, Intersectionality, and Social Equity). Please note that the ARISE trainings are not meant to replace the Five Mindfulness Trainings, but they are an important offering in support of bringing peace, compassion, and understanding in these difficult times. See the texts for both Third Trainings below.
The ARISE Training
“Contemplation of The Third Mindfulness Training: Cherishment as True Love”
Aware of the suffering caused by discrimination and oppression, I vow to understand its roots within my consciousness and my body and the collective body of the sangha and larger society. I vow to recognize the ways in which I have benefitted or not benefitted explicitly or implicitly from systems and structures that foster discrimination and injustice. I am aware of the legacy of violence, especially unlawful police violence, perpetrated against Black people, indigenous people, people of color, differently abled people, people of various gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation, and others who are marginalized. I acknowledge the lived experience of all people to deepen my capacity for understanding and for greater compassionate action.
I am aware that narrowly constructed, prevalent interpretations of intimate relationships constrain how we cherish each other in our expression of love, leaving many further isolated and alienated. I am committed to looking tenderly at my suffering, knowing that I am not separate from others and that the seeds of suffering contain the seeds of joy. I am not afraid of bold love that fosters justice and belonging and tender love that seeks peace and connection. I cherish myself and my suffering without discrimination. I cherish this body and mind as an act of healing for myself and for others. I cherish this breath. I cherish this moment. I cherish the liberation of all beings guided by the wisdom and solidity of the sangha. This is my path of true love.
The Plum Village Training
“The Third Mindfulness Training: True Love”
Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I am committed to cultivating responsibility and learning ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society. Knowing that sexual desire is not love, and that sexual activity motivated by craving always harms myself as well as others, I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without mutual consent, true love, and a deep, long-term commitment. I resolve to find spiritual support for the integrity of my relationship from family members, friends, and sangha with whom there is support and trust. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct. Seeing that body and mind are interrelated, I am committed to learn appropriate ways to take care of my sexual energy and to cultivate the four basic elements of true love – loving kindness, compassion, joy, and inclusiveness – for the greater happiness of myself and others. Recognizing the diversity of human experience, I am committed not to discriminate against any form of gender identity or sexual orientation. Practicing true love, we know that we will continue beautifully into the future.
With all the suffering that is happening in our country and in the world, I am reminded daily of the interconnectedness of our lives. In practicing with the ARISE training, I am reminded that I am not separate from others, and while I experience the suffering of others, I can unmindfully cause more suffering without even knowing it. This can lead to a feeling of despair and sadness. Furthermore, while I want to nurture love and kindness to all, I can often be so overwhelmed by the violence, discrimination, and hate in our world that I can fall short of seeing how I am part of it, and then I can retreat and hope for it all to just go away.
In these times of despair, I am reminded of the Plum Village training on True Love, in which Thay shares that “true love helps you and the other person suffer less.” He says if we can "generate a feeling of joy and happiness in ourselves, that is true love, and if we can generate the feeling of joy and happiness in helping the other person generate feeling joy and happiness, that is loving kindness." In bell hooks’ book All About Love: New Visions, she says, "When we are loving, we openly and honestly express care, affection, respect, commitment, and trust" to others.
In my daily mindfulness practice of these trainings, meditation, singing, and movement, I am more able to be in the present moment by holding myself with loving arms and an open heart. With cherishment and love for myself, I can find more space, courage, and trust to act out of love and compassion for others.
I invite you to join us on Monday night to share whatever is in your heart on the trainings or whatever experiences you would like to share.
Here are some questions you might like to consider:
How does true love show up for you during these challenging times?
How do you bring love and cherishment to yourselves and your suffering?
I look forward to seeing you on Monday night.
In love and light,
Camille
“Contemplation of The Third Mindfulness Training: Cherishment as True Love
Aware of the suffering caused by discrimination and oppression, I vow to understand its roots within my consciousness and my body and the collective body of the sangha and larger society. I vow to recognize the ways in which I have benefitted or not-benefitted explicitly or implicitly from systems and structures that foster discrimination and injustice. I am aware of the legacy of violence, especially unlawful police violence, perpetrated against Black people, indigenous people, people of color, differently abled people, people of various gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation, and others who are marginalized. I acknowledge the lived experience of all people to deepen my capacity for understanding and for greater compassionate action.
I am aware that narrowly constructed, prevalent interpretations of intimate relationships constrain how we cherish each other in our expression of love, leaving many further isolated and alienated. I am committed to looking tenderly at my suffering, knowing that I am not separate from others and that the seeds of suffering contain the seeds of joy. I am not afraid of bold love that fosters justice and belonging and tender love that seeks peace and connection. I cherish myself and my suffering without discrimination. I cherish this body and mind as an act of healing for myself and for others. I cherish this breath. I cherish this moment. I cherish the liberation of all beings guided by the wisdom and solidity of the sangha. This is my path of true love.”
The Plum Village Training:
“The Third Mindfulness Training: True Love
Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I am committed to cultivating responsibility and learning ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society. Knowing that sexual desire is not love, and that sexual activity motivated by craving always harms myself as well as others, I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without mutual consent, true love, and a deep, long-term commitment. I resolve to find spiritual support for the integrity of my relationship from family members, friends, and sangha with whom there is support and trust. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct. Seeing that body and mind are interrelated, I am committed to learn appropriate ways to take care of my sexual energy and to cultivate the four basic elements of true love – loving kindness, compassion, joy, and inclusiveness – for the greater happiness of myself and others. Recognizing the diversity of human experience, I am committed not to discriminate against any form of gender identity or sexual orientation. Practicing true love, we know that we will continue beautifully into the future.”