[StPete-news] Wednesdays in March & An Invitation to Hear Teachings in Tampa

[mindfulnessinfo at verizon.net]

Greetings to all of you who have been joining us to meditate with Fred on Wednesdays at Yoga Moves.... 

First, just a reminder that we will be having our gatherings next month on March 7 and March 21.

Below you will find a letter sent from Angie with Dancing Waters Sangha in Tampa.  This is a very special opportunity.
.................................................................

Dear Friends,
 
We are very much looking forward to the arrival of Stephen and Martine Batchelor next week.  Many of you are planning to attend the retreat with the Batchelors the weekend of March 2-4.  The following additional opportunities to hear them teach are available to our wider Tampa Bay Buddhist community: 
Martine will be giving a dharma talk at the Lotus Room next Thursday evening, March 1.  The topic of her talk will be "Breaking Free of Habits:  A Buddhist Approach."  The talk will be given in the larger yoga room at the Lotus Room.  There is no charge for this event, but dana for the Batchelors and the Lotus Room, which continues to so generously offer us space for practice, would be very much appreciated. 
For those not attending the retreat, Stephen has graciously extended an open invitation to attend his seminars at the Franciscan Center on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The schedule is as follows: 
     Friday:  Seminar starts at 11:00 am and ends at noon.  You should enter the Center between 10:45 and 10:55, as the retreatants will be walking at that time.  
     Saturday:  Seminar starts at 10:00 am and ends at 11:00 am.  Enter the Center between 9:35 and 9:55. 
     Sunday:  Seminar starts at 9:45 am and ends at 10:45 am.  Enter the Center between 9:30 and 9:40.
Because this is a silent retreat, we ask that you adhere strictly to this schedule so as to not disturb the retreatants, and please observe silence at all times once inside the Center.  Park on the street and enter the Center through the front door at the designated times, walking straight down the hall to the meditation hall, which will be on your left (if we are still sitting when you enter, please wait silently until we break to walk).  Either bring a cushion and sit in the back/side of the room behind the retreatants, or use one of the chairs that should be set up.  When Stephen's talks are complete, we'll be commencing more walking meditation so please depart quietly at that point.  Stephen will be conducting a discussion group in the afternoon but we are limiting that discussion to the retreatants. 
 
There is no charge for sitting in on Stephen's seminars, but we do ask that you consider sharing whatever dana you can to support the Batchelors' teachings.  There will be a dana basket just outside the meditation hall for this purpose. 
 
This is a very special opportunity for all of us to enrich our practices with these wonderful teachers.  I look forward to seeing you soon.
 
With metta,
 
Angie