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NEWSLETTER
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DECEMBER, 2015 |
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Happy December greetings to all.
It has been 38 years since we have seen a full moon on Christmas day, and it won't happen again until 2034. .....making it all the more special.
Even though Christmas is traditionally a celebration referring to Jesus Christ, and Christianity, it truly originated to celebrate a message of love, nurturing, and healing.
Christ, as Buddha taught compassion for all living things, and that we should practice living in a way that lessens not only our own suffering, but the suffering of all.
The real teaching of Jesus, and Buddha, was that there is a Divine spark that dwells within each of us.
Peace on Earth, and good will to all.
Wishing you all a lovely, peaceful Christmas.
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DONATIONS (MEMBERSHIPS) 2016
A time to renew & support Sakyadhita Canada
Welcome 2016 !!
Many thanks for your support, and it is now time to renew your Sakyadhita Canada membership for the upcoming year (2016) CLICK HERE
Please take an active part in Sakyadhita Canada. Volunteers are most welcomed and SC would appreciate your ideas, suggestions and talents - we would be happy to hear from you! Please contact: info@sakyadhitacanada.org
Check out the website: www.sakyadhitacanada.org. There are some excellent articles in the Resources section, and pictures from the 2015 International conference in Indonesia.
Stay in touch through the Sakyadhita Canada net letter, which is emailed to members & supporters on a regular basis.
Keep current with SC on Face book - updated daily.
Find out about Buddhist women (and men) in Canada: what are their traditions, forms of practice, needs and concerns. Your generosity and kindness will help to nurture and encourage Dhamma (the teachings of the Buddha) in our day-to-day lives.
Through SC we share the goodness of our practice and hope it brings blessings to everyone. Thank you for your kindness & generosity. Wishing you blessings of radiant joy & peace in your hearts . |
"The Buddha, "One gone thus enters into
and resides in the Divine Residences of
Loving Friendliness, Compassion, Equanimity and Sympathetic Joy."
This year, Christmas and Poya, the monthly Buddhist full moon holy day, are on the same day. It is a very good time to seriously reflect on what is happening in the world and on how both Christians and Buddhists can respond to it. There are many calls to enter into and reside in the not divine residence of fear. Extremists, some politicians, and some news outlets, all seem to have an agenda that agitates for an emotional response that takes us far, far away from the goals of our practices. Christ's ideal of Love and Brotherhood, and the Buddha's injunction to work towards removing all hatred from our minds, by their very nature, call to us to move away from the urge to respond in any way that condemns those calling us to fear. Both ask us to combat this call through cultivating Loving Kindness and Compassion with Equanimity; to recognize that all unenlightened beings are stuck in the same samsara, the same unsatisfactory state of being. Those of us who have less darkness have the opportunity to shed light onto the darkness of those who are deeper into suffering.
Christ, asked us not to hide our light under a basket and the Buddha was very clear about how we are to respond to others hostility. In MN 21; the Simile of the Saw. The Buddha said, "They may address you with a mind of good-will or with inner hate. In any event, you should train yourselves: 'Our minds will be unaffected and we will say no evil words. We will remain sympathetic to that person's welfare, with a mind of good will, and with no inner hate. We will keep pervading him with an awareness imbued with good will and, beginning with him, we will keep pervading the all-encompassing world with an awareness imbued with good will equal to a cat skin bag - abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.' That's how you should train yourselves.
"Practitioners, even if bandits were to carve you up savagely, limb by limb, with a two-handled saw, he among you who let his heart get angered even at that would not be doing my bidding. Even then you should train yourselves: 'Our minds will be unaffected and we will say no evil words. We will remain sympathetic, with a mind of good will, and with no inner hate. We will keep pervading these people with an awareness imbued with good will and, beginning with them, we will keep pervading the all-encompassing world with an awareness imbued with good will - abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.' That's how you should train yourselves."
It serves us well to reflect on the fact that both Christ and Buddha taught a way of life, a practice, they did not establish religions --- their followers did. Never did they say that the practices that they taught were only to be applied to those who followed their teaching. On the contrary, letting the light of Loving Kindness shine, shines in all directions, to all people of all faiths. Shine On !!!
Sãrani
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To view more pictures, please visit our web site...
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Home is the Way
A Christmas message from Thầy
(Thich Nhat Hanh)
Home in the Present Moment
The other day, Thầy was reflecting on what message to send to his friends and students abroad so that they can practice, so that they can be like Jesus or be like the Buddha. Thầy then wrote this calligraphy: "
There is no way home, Home is the way."
The means and the ends are not two separate things.
There is no way to return to our home. Our home is the way. Once we take a step on that path home, we are home right in that moment. This is true to the practice.
There is no way to happiness, Happiness is the way. Every breath and every step has the capacity to bring us right back to our true home. Right in the here and now.
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About Us
If you are interested in more information regarding Sakyadhita Canada, or would be interested in contributing to our newsletter please go to : i
nfo@sakyadhitacanada.org
or you can also access our website at
Thank-you
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