Sangha member Cat London volunteers with Loving Hands Kingston, helping provide supplies and food to the most vulnerable members of our community, including people transitioning out of shelters and homelessness and those who are currently unhoused. The Loving Hands Lunch Time Meal Team cooks and bakes for people who need food. The volunteer time expectation is every second week to provide either lunches (they can be sandwiches and other simple options) OR baked goods for one of two groups (the outreach group is 30 and the integrated hub group is 35). So, even baking 30 muffins every second week would make a huge difference to the team, which is currently short-handed, with many meal slots going unfilled.

In addition, Loving Hands is currently seeking the following items for community members:
*men’s pajama bottoms and sweatpants in size S, M, L and XL.
* polident tablets
* depends size Medium
* man’s winter coat size 5X
* winter boots for men sizes 11 and larger up to size 14
* winter hats, gloves and socks
* winter boots for women sizes 8 and 9
* hand and foot warmers
* individual snacks
* individual beverages ( juice, instant coffee, hot chocolate and pop )
* tents and tarps
* sleeping bags and heavy blankets
You can learn more about Loving Hands on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LovingHandsKingston, where they share their updated lists of needs. If you are interested in learning more about the Loving Hands Lunch Time Meal Team by emailing Cat at whencatisaway@yahoo.ca.

Dear friends of Thay,

How excited we are to tell you about a new book project, Walking with Thay, in which students of Thich Nhat Hanh share their journeys of transformation as a result of following Thay’s teachings. The book will be a compilation of first-person short stories of how we were touched, moved, and inspired by Thay.

Walking with Thay is a celebration of Thay’s life and a celebration of our lives with him as our beloved teacher. May this book further the bond of Thay’s students around the world, and may it also inspire potential new students on this path of joy and love.

Best of all, the Walking with Thay book project is also a fundraiser. All proceeds after expenses will be donated to the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation.

We invite you to be part of this exciting project in the following ways:

1) Submit your story for consideration.
2) Spread the word and build momentum! Pass this email on to other students of Thay.

How to decide to submit a story

Reflect on these questions:

• Were you lost or searching and the teachings of Thay were your answer?
• How did Thay’s teachings liberate you? Bring you joy, freedom, peace, or something else that inspired you?
• How did his teachings bring you something beautiful that was previously missing?
• At what point did you know that Thay was your teacher? Describe that experience.
• Was something going on in your life for which Thay’s teachings provided a turning point or offered a different path? Tell that story.

More information about how to submit a story:

• Please send a Word document or Google Doc of no more than 500 words. This book will be printed in English, so all submissions should be in English. We will select a range of stories that capture various perspectives and experiences to create a poignant volume. If your story is selected, we will send back comments for revision. You will be required to resubmit the story by the resubmission date for inclusion in the book.
• Initial submission deadline: 5 pm (ET) August 30, 2019
• Submit your story to walkingwiththay@gmail.com

About the editors:

Jeanine Cogan, Ph.D., is a long time student of Thich Nhat Hanh who fell in love with the teachings in 1996 and is committed to introducing mindfulness and meditation to others. She is known among her students as warm, lighthearted, and grounded. As a former academic, Jeanine edited two books as well as professional journals and is thrilled to bring this editorial success to the Walking with Thay book project.

Mary Hillebrand has studied and practiced in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh since 2001, participating in sanghas in Washington, D.C., and Madison, Wisconsin. In her current role as a high school teacher, Mary enjoys teaching mindfulness to her students and sharing her practice with other educators. She also brings 10 years of technical experience to the Walking with Thay book project from her first career as a magazine editor and writer.

In gratitude and peace,
Mary and Jeanine

walkingwiththay@gmail.com

Wonderful news from our friends at Ottawa Pagoda Sangha…

Dear Friends:

The Ottawa Pagoda Sangha has the pleasure of inviting you to a special Day of Mindfulness with Sister Ocean (Hai An) on Sunday November 25th, 2018 at the Richelieu-Vanier Centre, 300 Des Pères-Blancs Avenue, Ottawa. As you may recall, we have enjoyed hosting Sister Ocean during recent retreats with the Monastics of Blue Cliff Monestary and during a wonderful Day of Mindfulness in November of 2017.

There is no charge but Registration is mandatory. CLICK ON THE LINK TO OPEN THE EVENTBRITE REGISTRATION PAGE:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/call-me-by-my-true-names-embodying-interbeing-registration-52424295479

Call me By My True Names: Embodying Interbeing

Call me by my True Names by Master Thich Nhat Hanh is perhaps his most famous poem. It has moved many hearts and helped to change minds as it touches the depth and breadth of Buddhist wisdom. In this Day of Mindfulness, we will look at ways to practice with the essence of this poem in daily life in order to embody interbeing, a core teaching in the Plum Village tradition. We also look at common barriers to interbeing through the often mis-understood teaching called The Three Complexes of Inferiority, Superiority and Equality.

The Day of Mindfulness will include sitting meditation, walking meditation, eating meditation, a Dharma Talk and some participatory exercises with a time for group reflection. Please bring a journal for a short writing exercise and wear clothes that are comfortable to move and sit in.

You can read the full poem here:
Call me By My True Names

Tea and snacks will be offered by the sangha. Please bring your own lunch.

Arrival at 9.30 / Departure at 3.30 – 4.00

For more information on the centre and the location please go to https://ottawa.ca/en/residents/facilities/richelieu-vanier-community-centre

What to bring:
Meditation cushion, (some will be provided)
Yoga mat or blanket
Clothes and shoes for walking outside
Lunch
Mug for tea

Cost
There is no fee for the Day of Mindfulness, but we encourage you to provide a dana to support the work of Sister Ocean.

Please join us in welcoming Sister Ocean for a memorable day of mindfulness!

QUESTIONS? Contact Catherine Cody: ccody2521@gmail.com

“My name is Nancy Guest. I have been a kindergarten teacher in northern Manitoba for 32 years. I plan to stay in Kingston this summer from the second week of July until the end of the third week of August. I’m looking for a room in a house to rent, preferably with just one other female (or a married couple). I have some environmental allergies. I can’t live with cats, but I am very dog friendly. I prefer a vegan diet. I would buy my own food and would need some space in the refrigerator. I enjoy reading and I’m good at entertaining myself, but I would also enjoy being shown the sights of Kingston if my landlord was interested in that. I am prepared to pay $1000 (or more, depending on the accommodation offered) for the summer rental.

If you are interested in talking further, please call my friend Madelyn, who is a member of the Interbeing Sangha community.”

NOTE: See Seeds of Insight for contact information

Sangha member Carlyn Brown shares the following opportunity: to Celebrate 17 years in business, Wellington Acupuncture & Massage would like to give back to the community by holding it’s 13th annual fundraiser. On Tuesday June 5th, 2018, 10:30am – 5:30pm, they will offer 20 minute sessions of Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, Reflexology and mini herbal medicine consulations/herbal tea tasting for a minimum donation of $10 (only one spot per person). 100% of proceeds go to Roots and Wings, a grassroots community group that works towards making space for racialized girls in Kingston (for more information please visit their facebook page @rootsandwingsktown). For more information about this offer, and to book an appointment, call 613-541-0321.

My name is Ville Junttila. I’m doing a study about the challenges of meditation practice for the school of psychology at University College Dublin (UCD) in Ireland, and I would humbly like to ask for your help. Your friend was kind enough to forward this message to you. The intention of this study is to grow our collective understanding of people’s difficulties with meditation practice and of the conditions that contribute to them.
I am looking for meditation practitioners who are willing to complete a short online questionnaire (around 25 minutes). This makes up one half of the study, the other of which involves interviews with meditation practitioners at Plum Village monastery in France. Here is a link to the questionnaire: http://ucdpsychology.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1TB7U31eclgOcUl. (Clicking the link will present some more detailed information about the study). If you decide to help, I hope that it will be a useful opportunity for you to reflect on your practice. If you have any questions about the study, please contact Ville Junttila at ville.junttila@ucdconnect.ie. Thank you for your consideration.

A message from Ottawa Pagoda Sangha:

Hello dear friends,

We are so happy to announce that our spring 2018 retreat at the Galilee Centre will soon be open for registration. We are so thrilled that we are able to offer a three night retreat which will create a more spacious retreat in which to deepen your experience of the practice. We are hoping many of you can join us. So please mark your calendars for May 10-13. The retreat will begin on Thursday evening this year instead of Friday evening. The extra time to really sink into the retreat practices, as well as to walk by the river and in the lovely old growth forest at Galilee, will feel really worth it.

We will send another message as soon as we have all the retreat registration details finalized.

If you have early questions, email: pagodasangha@gmail.com

You have received this email because you attended a retreat hosted by Pagoda Sangha Ottawa in 2017. If you wish not to receive further emails please let us know.

with metta

A CHRISTMAS CAROL…Sunday Dec. 17 , 7:00-9:00pm

Attend a dramatic reading of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.
Sunday December 17, 2017, 7-9pm, The Spire, 82 Sydenham Street
By donation to support the justice ministries of Sydenham St. United Church and St. James Anglican church. It is a lovely tradition to be part of this classic and inspiring Christmas story. The gothic-feeling sanctuary will be lit in candle light and some of the other readers are professional actors and really fantastic. There will be tasty snacks too.

THE LONGEST NIGHT…Wednesday Dec. 20, 6:00-7:30pm
Calliope Collective invites you to participate in a spectacle of wonderment on the eve of Winter Solstice on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee in Kingston/Katarokwi. Douglas Fluhrer Park, on the river. Enjoy the magic and warmth of Winter during the longest night of the year and join us for a theatrical celebration of light which honours earth-based traditions. We will light a fire in the park at 6pm, share hot apple cider, and prepare for the arrival of the Oak and Holly Kings at 7pm! This event has been made possible thanks to the generous support of visitkingston.ca

HOLIDAY NIGHT MARKET — MEMORIAL MARKET…Thursday Dec. 21, 4-8pm

Fresh Produce. Hand Crafts. Hot + Prepared Foods. Gifts. Apparel. Free Parking. Meat. Accessories. Coffee. Baked Goods. Art. James, Jellies, Preserves. Song. Skating. Etc. Inside the barn at the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market! 303 York Street, Kingston. Details at http://www.memorialcentrefarmersmarket.ca/event/holiday-market-2/

WINTER SOLSTICE GATHERING IN SKELETON PARK…Thursday Dec. 21, 5pm

December 21st is Winter Solstice — the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year. It signifies the return of light and with it, life. Please join us on:
Thursday December 21st
Skeleton Park at 5:00 pm
for our annual Winter Solstice Gathering. Bring a mug, as warm apple cider will be provided, and a lantern if you have one. We are pleased to have Wendy Luella Perkins to lead us in a seasonal sing-song. If you have a song you would like to share, bring it along as well. Hope to see you all there as we honour the spirit of the season!

The Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA) is launching the practice of Forest Therapy Walks in Kingston and to the surrounding communities. The practice of Forest Therapy was recently founded through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides, based in California. The founders of this mindful, healing and connective practice were inspired by the Japanese practice of “Shinrin-yoku” which translates as “forest bathing”. Research has indicated that spending time in nature not only strengthens human immune response and reduces stress, but also makes us more creative, mindful, and content in our lives. The beauty of Forest Therapy is that it connects humans and nature, so that both benefit from the renewed relationship.

Interbeing Sangha of Kingston member Stana Luxford Oddie, CRCA Senior Conservation Educator, invites you to two public walks, planned to introduce the program in Kingston. One will take place on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. A second will take place Saturday, Nov. 4 from 1 to 3:30 p.m., with both taking place at the Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area. The cost is $20 per person.

For more information about group, private or retreat walks here is a link to our website that has detailed information: www.crca.ca/foresttherapy

Download a news release about the new program here:
http://interbeingkingston.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/NewsRelease-ForestTherapyWalks.pdf