[Dws-News] Letter from the Practice Council

[DWS Updates]

Dear Sangha Friends,

 

The Practice Council (formerly known as the Steering Committee) for the 
St. Petersburg and Tampa Communities of Mindfulness has been meeting for 
a year now and we want to take this opportunity to share with the Tampa 
Sangha some of the topics we have been discussing and also to ask for 
your input and ideas on several issues. If you have comments, 
suggestions or feedback on any of the issues discussed below, please 
email them to Diane at dslpowell at gmail.com. We will also be discussing 
these topics at the Tampa sangha meeting on August 7, but we welcome 
your feedback prior to this meeting and especially from those who may 
not be able to attend on August 7.

*_
_*

*_Practice Council Membership_*

The Practice Council was established to plan and implement sangha 
activities.  It meets every few months, usually on Saturday mornings. We 
would like to expand the Council by adding additional members, including 
people who are newer to the sangha.

 

    * *If you would be interested in serving on the Practice Council or
      have questions about serving on the Council, please let us know 
      in a reply to this email or by talking with one of the current
      active members (Angie, Chris,  Jacqulyn, John, Diane, Wes).*

 

*_Meeting Topics and Formats_*

Since the beginning of the year, Fred has been teaching twice a month at 
the Tampa sangha. On the nights Fred is not teaching we have been 
offering teachings and discussion on some of the basic tenets of 
Buddhism lead by sangha members. In addition, we have set aside one 
meeting a month for recitation of the Five Mindfulness Trainings and a 
guided meditation.

 

    * *We would like to know if these presentations/activities have been
      helpful to you. Do you have suggestions for making them more
      helpful or for other subjects, formats, practices, activities?*

* *

*_Meeting Hosting_*

There are a number of tasks that need to be accomplished at each 
meeting---setting up the cushions and altar, preparing tea, greeting 
newcomers, clean-up, and taking the cups home to wash. In the past 
members have signed up for hosting, however, we would like to try a more 
informal approach, in the spirit of "Be mindful of what needs to be done 
and just do it."  If you want to help but are not sure what needs to be 
done, feel free to ask. We invite everyone to contribute and pitch in to 
ensure these tasks get done.

 

*_Community-Building_*

In the spirit of fostering a greater sense of community within the 
sangha, we would like to offer opportunities for sangha members to get 
together informally. Suggestions include quarterly potluck dinners in 
member's homes; tea gatherings; walking meditation in parks; hikes; and 
gatherings to do mindfulness trainings recitation, the earth touchings 
and other practices. **

* *

    * *We would like to know which of these activities would be of
      interest to you, any ideas you have for other types of activities,
      and whether you would be interested in helping host or organize an
      activity.*

 

*_Fostering our Practice_*

FCM has been discussing ways the sanghas could provide support to newer 
members who are in the beginning stages of establishing their practice. 
Suggestions include:

 

     Offering a series of classes on the basics of meditation, Buddhism 
and mindfulness practice

 

      Offering intensives lead by more experienced members of the 
sangha. These intensives would be time-limited periods--usually about 3 
months--during which participants commit to sitting each day, doing 
certain readings, meeting together periodically to discuss their 
practice, and receiving guidance and support from an experienced 
practitioner through regular phone calls.

 

      "Dharma Friend" practice in which newer members are paired with a 
more experienced member who provides support and guidance through 
regular contacts (phone, email, meeting).

 

    * *We would like to know which of these activities would be of
      interest to you and if you have other suggestions for ways the
      sangha can be of support to newer members.*

 

*_Name Change_*

Several months ago the decision was made to change the name of the Tampa 
sangha to Tampa Community of Mindfulness. This will bring us into 
alignment with the other sanghas affiliated with the Florida Community 
of Mindfulness.

 

*_Bell_**_ Fund_*

We would like to purchase a large bell for the Tampa sangha, and are 
starting a dedicated dana fund for this purpose. Large bells typically 
cost $1200-$1400, so we will just keep collecting funds until we have 
enough!  If you would like to contribute to this fund, there will be a 
separate dana basket at the Lotus Room marked for these contributions. 
Checks can be made out to Florida Community of Mindfulness, with the 
notation "Tampa Bell Fund."

 

Thank you to all of you.  Each of you contribute to the growth and 
evolution of our sangha community through your efforts to develop your 
own practice, your efforts to support each other in the practice, and 
your efforts to support our community of practice.

 

In the Dharma,

Sangha Practice Council

 

 

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