Monday, September 2, we will meet online.
Dear Friends,
This week we will meet Monday evening, 9.2, from 7-8:30PM EDT online, Wednesday morning, Sept 7th, from 7-8AM EDT in person at our meditation space (3812 Northampton Street NW), and Friday, Sept 9th, 12-1PM EDT online.
On Monday night, Marie will facilitate, and we will explore the practice of nourishing joy and happiness.
She shares: When last we gathered, we finished reading our summer’s book, Fragrant Palm Leaves by Thich Nhat Hanh. Over the weeks, several people shared how they felt moved and inspired by Thay’s insights and actions both in this book and in others.
One of the teachings that resonates with me is the power of nourishing joy and how this practice can strengthen our ability to hold difficult emotions and to engage mindfully in the face of suffering.
With summer behind us, fall beckoning, and the bevy of intentions, actions, and emotions this change of season can bring, I feel like a “shot of Thay in action” (if you’ll pardon the expression) might be helpful. So, on Monday night we’ll watch part of a Dharma talk about Nourishing Joy and Happiness (from 1:58 - 10:50) and then have time to share from our lived experience of nourishing joy & how that affects us.
We can explore practical questions such as:
To what extent do you nourish joy? How?
What gets in the way of nourishing joy and what do you do when this happens?
Have there been times when nourishing happiness has built your capacity to turn towards more difficult emotions and/or to engage in mindful action? How did this feel?
And, as always, you are welcome to bring other questions and/or aspects of your practice to sangha.
I look forward to being together in our cozy Zoom room on Monday night.
Warmly,
Marie