A beautiful sunny evening at Collyers where we enjoyed a guided meditation using the image of a tree, roots grounded in the earth, branches lifting to the sky, to centre awareness on our bodies. After walking meditation and silent sitting, we read a passage on Mindfulness by Larry Rosenberg then listened and shared thoughts and feelings on this practice in our daily lives.
Our guided meditation Sunday evening took us on a listening journey through the sounds of our breathing and bodies then into the wider sounds around us and beyond. After walking meditation and silent sitting, we shared a short reading by Krishnamurti on the Art of Listening and took the opportunity to put this into practice in group discussion.
The guided meditation led us through our bodies helping us to relax into ourselves and gently explore our experiences of our bodies. After indoor walking meditation we enjoyed the evening chant together and settled into the evenings silence. After tea a reading from Thays book ‘The Path of Emancipation’ showed us the wisdom of identifying and releasing our cows, those parts of our lives that on closer inspection, are barriers to trur happiness. Whether your cow is wanting another motorbike, ideas of who you are or constantly setting goals, it was a salient reminder to check in with what we fill our lives with, and let go of those elements that rob us of our peace and freedom, however shiny they may appear!
As always, wonderful to be together on the path 
Please note there is no evening meeting on 22nd April as we are joining Pebbles Sangha in Brighton for their Day of Mindfulness. Please contact John if you would like to share lifts.
After Thays wonderful retreat, the Sangha met, both old and new. The guided meditation stayed with the first four contemplations on breath and body. After walking and a silent sitting we shared the reading from Pema Chodrons book The Places that Scare You. She encouraged us to develop our capacity of steadfastness and stay with our Practice, even when we feel like running out of the room. The Dharma discussion was rich both in numbers and what was shared. A wonderful evening with our numbers swelled after recent retreats, a real sense of being nourished by the energy and wisdom of the group.
Thay and many monastics joined the national Sangha in Nottingham for a 5 day retreat over Easter. Thays talks helped us to deeply understand Interbeing with simple clarity, and to live in a more skilfull and harmonious way. The subjects ranged from the Noble Eightfold Path, the 3 Doors of Liberation and how we can apply the 16 contemplations on the Full Awareness of Breathing in practical ways to our daily lives.
We all shared in the Ordination ceremony of new Order of Interbeing members, and both adults and children taking the 5 Mindfulness Trainings and Two Promises. Also, Beginning Anew was offered one evening as a way to communicate our feelings to others where there have been difficulties. The practices of Flower Watering, expressing hurts, regrets and asking for the other persons help in the future are a simple and deeply moving way to restore communication and love.
With Sangha walking meditation and Dharma discussion groups there was a deep richness in the shared practice.
Following this retreat there will be a number of Meditation Days in the Sussex Sanghas based in Horsham, Brighton and Lewes to continue our Sangha building and to support our practice together. Horsham Day of Mindfulness is on 20th May, details of the other days to be posted.
Dear Friends, due to the national retreat in Nottingham we will not be meeting this Sunday. Next meeting will be the 15th April.
We began with the evening chant followed by a guided meditation on the first four meditations in the Discourse on Full Awareness of the Breath. Awareness of breathing led to following the breath. Awareness of the whole body leading to Calming the whole body. A wonderful guide to the practice of Shamatha. This was reflecting in our reading of how Shamatha ( stopping ) is needed to experience Vispassana ( Insight ). Like two hands washing eachother, both are needed. We will continue with this Discourse next week moving from the body to our feelings.
The Dharma sharing reflected on our experiences of the meditation and also how our habit energies are often stronger than our volition. The practice of stopping can help us to see this cycle and begin to take care of ourselves, calming, resting and healing.
After checking in together, the guided meditation concentrated on the first section of the discourse on full awareness of breathing. We began by establishing our posture, making a physical intention to be present. We then followed the following guidance:
Breathing in I know I am breathing in, Breathing out I know I am breathing out.
Breathing in I follow my in breath, breathing out I follow my outbreath
Such simple instructions are often only used as a way to prepare for meditation. By making this the focus our meditation, we became more intimate with our breath, simply enjoying the wonderful gift of life, through each breath. This then continued as we practiced walking and silent meditation together.
The reading was on invoking the Bodhisattvas names, then reciting the Three Refuges and Sharing the Merit. Dharma sharing of how we experienced the meditations and flowers in the room ended a lovely evening of Sangha practice.
We began with the Three Earth Touchings, connecting with our ancesters & descendents, all living beings and how we are part of a stream of life. Walking meditation and a silent sitting followed. The reading was the discourse of the Eight Realisations of the Geat Beings. Sound, practical advice on living a happy and free life.