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*Christmas Eve celebrations at NhapLuu (24th December)
commences at 4.00pm for those who are able to be there early, with a Dharma talk,
a shared mindful meal, and some community sharing time.
There'll be an exchange of gifts under the tree in the Meditation Hall, and
Carols, at 9.00 pm. Everyone please bring one wrapped gift.
*NewYears Eve, at Nhap Luu, ( December 31st)
follows a similar format to the above, with starting time in the afternoon also,
except that the Meditation Hall Ceremony commences at 11.30 pm.
You are welcome to come at the time that you can manage, on either occasion.
Also, of course, you are welcome to stay the night at Nhap luu.
* Let's make it a festive time!
24th Dec 2012
16:00 Gathering at Meditation Hall
Sitting Meditation
Dharma Talk
18:00 Happy Dinner
19:30 Be-in
Sharing of Carol Songs
Gifts Exchange
21:00 Enjoy the Peace & Goodnight
31st Dec 2012
16:00 Gathering at Meditation Hall
Sitting Meditation
Dharma Talk
18:00 Happy Dinner
20:00 Walking Meditation
21:00 Total Relaxation
23:30 Sitting Meditation
00:00 Begin the New Year's Ceremony
00:30 Be Joyful, Goodnight & Good Morning
(Below extracted from an email from Plum village:)
Dear Sanghas throughout the World,
Our loving Mother Earth is still there for us, right beneath our two feet. She is a miracle, a jewel in the cosmos, refreshing and healing. She has shown unlimited patience throughout human history and an uncanny ability to transform just about anything with equanimity and acceptance. She is now calling us for help. She is suffering from our human activities based on our craving, discrimination, fear, and despair.
The Gift of Practice - This holiday
season, we have a chance to express our love and care for Mother Earth
by the way we care for our self, our family and our environment. We can
practice mindfulness to care for our inner environment, our feelings and
our emotions so that we do not lose ourself in worries about the future
or regrets about the past, or lose ourself with our feelings and
thinking in the present moment. We practice in such a way that we are
peaceful, free and happy right in the here and now. We can practice to
be more relaxed in our body and mind as we drive our car to work, or
cook for our family, or play with our friends, or even rest when we
return home. We can look deeply into our relationships with our loved
ones, with our environment, our neighborhood, and our workplace and find
skillful ways to care, to renew and to improve them. Care is a
priceless gift.
Having Enough – Concretely
this Holiday Season, we invite you to make an effort to find ways that
you can give a gift that does not require you to spend a lot of money or
even any at all. The greatest gift is, of course, our
practice, our true presence, our understanding and love. The giving of
this gift will require more effort, more creativity, and deeper looking
into your beloved. You can make something. You can surprise him or her
with a message that has been waiting for so long. “Dear Father, I know
you are there and I am happy.” “My son, I am here for you completely.”
“My dear, I am sorry; let us begin a new chapter.” “Dear Mother Earth, I
take refuge in you and bow down deeply.” A reminder, a memory, a simple
attention with skillfulness in expression can touch and transform.
Understanding and compassion cannot be bought.
This is an invitation to all practitioners throughout the world to join us this Season for a silent resistance – to the mass pressure to consume, to the forces that cause us to run away from ourself in forgetfulness.
Let us change the way we spend our Holiday Season this winter. Let us
show our care for the planet in concrete ways. Let us say to Mother
Earth that She can have trust in us. And please share this with the
larger community by writing about your priceless gift: your gift of practice; your gift of transformation.
Breathe & Smile,
The Sisters at Nhap luu.
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At the 'Pure Land In Every Step' retreat (see last archive page) a beautiful new bell was erected. Phuoc sounded the bell for the first time at Nhap Luu. Photo below is of everyone who helped to install it, in its temporary ad hoc structure. It was a wonderful moment to see and hear.
