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Days of Mindfulness

"To practice Mindfulness at all times in our daily lives... It's easy to say, but not so easy to do! That is why I suggest to all practitioners to try and set aside one day each week to devote entirely to the Practice This day can serve as a lever, helping us to establish the habit of living in Mindfulness."
To be a bud, sitting calmly on a stem,
To be a smile, taking part in this wonderful existence.
Stay still. No need to go anywhere.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

Boston Old Path Sangha holds a Day of Mindfulness periodically throughout the year. They generally meet on a Saturday or Sunday from 1-6 pm, at the Cambridge Buddhist Association, 75 Sparks Street, just north of Harvard Square in Cambridge. (map)


Upcoming:

Saturday, October 18: 8:00- 5:00 at Chua Vietnam (directions)
Day of Mindfulness for Sangha Nourishment and Visioning

Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Sangha,

We wish you peace and solidity, freedom and compassion. Since the spring BOPS planning meeting we have been meeting to organize a Day of Mindfulness for Sangha Nourishment and Visioning. We have three hamlets which practice at different times so we do not often get a chance to be together, share information, enjoy each other and look deeply at our practice and at our Sangha.

The day will focus on what is wonderful about BOPS as well as what areas can be developed or strengthened. The outcomes we hope to achieve are:

  • We will feel a greater sense of connection, nourishment and involvement with our sangha
  • We will each find our voice in the Sangha
  • Identification and deeper understanding of feelings that exist about our Sangha experience (warm spots, "tender" spots, joys, etc.)
  • Ideas for how we can strengthen our Sangha
  • Increased awareness of our financial status and responsibilities, as well as our governance and leadership process, to help inform our future vision
  • A collective vision of our ideal Sangha
  • Identification of next steps for nourishing the seeds of our vision

As a gift to our sangha, we'd like to give ourselves the time and space to work, practice and reflect deeply. Therefore we are planning to meet for a full day on Saturday, October 18, from 8:00- 5:00 at Chua Vietnam in Roslindale.

In order to focus and make the most of our day together, we ask that you respond briefly to the two following questions:

1) What is wonderful about our sangha?

2) What concerns me or needs more attention in our sangha?

To help facilitate this feedback process, we will soon provide index cards at each hamlet, and also accept responses by e-mail. If using the index cards, please take a few extra minutes at the beginning or end of the sitting to fill them out; if e-mail is preferable, please send to bopsvisioning@yahoo.com. In order to incorporate everyone's ideas into our Day of Mindfulness, please give us your responses by no later than September 1, We are determined to cultivate transparent, open communication in order to discover ways to nourish our practice and our sangha.

Please contact us with any questions, ideas, suggestions or ways you would like to participate or volunteer in this day. We have appreciated the opportunity to plan for this day and have been holding each of you in our hearts during the process. We hope you will be able to join us for this wonderful day of visioning together!

A deep bow, Pat Morris, Tom Sweetland, Mark Wylie, Debra Vinci


Days of Mindfulness are organized by Suzanne Hudson and Teddi Richman. Please contact either of them if you are interested in leading.