[Dws-News] This week at the Lotus Room

[dws-updates at floridamindfulness.org]

Dear Friends,

Please join Dancing Waters Sangha at the Lotus Room on Thursday, February
14, 7:00 p.m., for a special Tea Ceremony of Love and Understanding. 
Thich Nhat Hanh and his practice community have, over the years, used the
tea ceremony as a way to bring the sangha together. Our tea ceremony will
be an opportunity to express our gratitude to our fellow sangha members
for their support in our mindfulness practice.  We will practice deep
listening and mindful speech as we did during our January discussions. 
You may wish to share something related to love and understanding on
Valentine’s Day, this day that celebrates love.

Here is an except from Thay’s book, Friends on the Path:

“Tea meditation is a time to be with the sangha in a joyful and serene
atmosphere.  Just to enjoy our tea together is enough.  Often in our daily
lives, when we are drink tea with a friend, we are not aware of the tea or
even of our friend sitting there.  Practicing tea meditation is to be
truly present with our tea and our friends.  We realize that we can dwell
happily in the present moment in spite of our sorrows and worries.  We sit
together relaxed, without having to say anything.  If we like, we can also
share a song, a story, a dance, or bring a musical instrument.  Tea
Ceremony is an opportunity for the Sangha to water the seeds of joy,
understanding, and love in each one of us.”

On Thursday, February 21, Fred will continue his commentary on the Seven
Verses of Mind Training. These teachings and practices deal with the "how
to" for transforming the aversive conditions of everyday life into the
basis for living an awakened life.

Please note that our next half day of Mindfulness will be February 24.

With metta,

Angie