VESAK DAY CELEBRATION
Thursday, May 23rd at 5:30 pm
Vegetarian Potluck Dinner
SIMC Sangha House, 248 D St.
Vesak is an observation of the birth, enlightenment, and death (parinirvana) of the historical Buddha. Vesak is held on the first full moon day of Vesakha (May).
For Buddhists, Vesak is a major holy day to be marked by a rededication to the dharma and the Eightfold Path. Monks and nuns meditate and chant the ancient rules of their orders. Laypeople bring flowers and offerings to the temples, where they may also meditate and listen to talks. If you are moved to bring some flowers that would be great.
Please join us for this inaugural SIMC event. It should be lots of fun!
SAVE THE DATE
A Daylong Retreat: The Gradual Training
Teacher: Aruna Dhammadhira
Sunday, July 21, 9am-4pm
SIMC Sangha House
248 D St, Salida
"The Gradual Training" is the Buddha's curriculum that leads to full liberation of the heart. This retreat will help you understand how the various practices of the Dhamma fit together and support progress on the path of awakening. Aruna will be exploring this topic during the retreat, including sharing some sutta readings from Pali texts. The retreat includes Dharma talks, silent meditation, walking mediation, and a Q&A period. More details and registration information will be sent to you at the end of May.
SIMC LIBRARY NEWS
Check it out!
Our library is open before and after our Tuesday and Sunday sits, 12:00
noon and 5:00 pm, respectively, along with other arranged times. Browse,
read or check out a book. To check out a book, simply fill out the slip on the
round wooden table and put it in the wooden box on the table. We do the
rest. Returning your item – put your book in the basket that says “Returns”
just inside the double doors. Again, we do the rest!
This Month's Book Highlights:
A Heart as Wide as the World: Living with Mindfulness, Wisdom and
Compassion by Sharon Salzberg. A long-time, renowned meditation teacher
reveals how our own happiness can be found in our capacity to open our
hearts to others and to the world as a whole. This strength can help us face
whatever lands in our lives.
After the Ecstasy, the Laundry by Jack Kornfield. Through moving stories
and traditional tales, we learn how the enlightened heart navigates the real
world of family relationships, emotional pain, work, sickness and loss.
Suggestions?
If you have a title you'd like to see in our library, just fill out the suggestion form
attached to the wooden box on the round table (and then
put it inside the box.) The library is YOUR library. Please help us build it.
(Its current richness is due to the generosity of other sangha members.)
A Gentle Reminder
Do you have a book checked out from our library that is l-o-n-g overdue?
(Our suggested borrow time is one month from the check out date.) We
hope you are enjoying reading the book, however, please be mindful that
other sangha members might like to read it, too. Should you need help
returning any books, please feel free to contact us.
- Chris O'Connor and Jackie Mart, Library Managers
MAY MEDITATION MONTH CONTINUES
Join us for May Meditation Mornings. This will be an Open Sitting and Walking Practice
Monday-Friday, 6-7:30am throughout the month of May. Come to sit and walk for a few minutes or for the whole time. We hope to see you there! Meet at the Sangha House with Denise and Janie. 248 D Street
For questions, please email us at: Salidasangha@gmail.com
NEW THURSDAY MEDITATION
Beginning in May, a new weekly meditation was added at Noon on Thursdays. It is a very simple format with someone to ring the bell at the beginning and end of a half-hour sit without any discussion time. If you are interested in being a bell ringer please reply to this email. We look forward to having you join us!
With joyful wishes to all,
Your SIMC Board, Carla, Denise, Kym, Paul, Roberta
