As the moon slips from
Behind a cloud and shines,
So the master comes out
From behind ignorance and shines.
Swans rise and fly toward the sun.
What magic!
So do the pure conquer
The armies of illusion
And rise to fly.

~ The Buddha in the Dhammapada | quote courtesy of Daily Zen | www.dailyzen.com

The sound of peaceful music, the sound of terrible noise, are both clearly revealed as they are and nothing else. Nonetheless, we prefer the peacefulness and dislike the irritation of the noise. We try to control, to change things to how we want them. This can be done with a certain degree but cannot be done completely and eternally. If, on the other hand, we accept things as they are and see things as clearly revealed as they are, that acceptance itself is the first step toward unbreakable peacefulness.

~ Eido Tai Shimano

The Meditation Circle of Charleston gathers next 6 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 28 (and every Tuesday) at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Blvd., in Charleston, W.Va., across from the Kanawha River. Bring a meditation cushion or chairs are available. Newcomers to meditation are welcome and basic instruction is available. We begin 30 minutes of silent sitting meditation promptly at 6 p.m., followed by discussion and questions. We conclude the night with a 15-minute sitting. Come join the circle.

“Mandala: The Perfect Circle,” opening August 14 at Boston’s Rubin Museum of Art is the first of three  shows to explore how different cultures have pictured the universe. The exhibit features “The Mandala of Enlightened Speech,” an animation created by Cornell University’s Department of Computer Science that will help viewers better understand the three-dimensional structure of the mandala. (Doug notes: This took awhile to download completely onto my home computer, but is well worth the wait). The Rubin Museum site goes on to say:

“The mandala is a mysterious and sacred realm. Its most recurrent graphic form is circular in shape. While the word itself means both center and circumference, it is created by Buddhists as a model for contemplative visualization practice, thus becoming an aid to meditation which in turn enables the practitioner to attain a state of Enlightenment. This exhibition will explore the various manifestations of the mandala. While simultaneously explaining its symbolism it will describe the means by which it fulfills its function and demonstrate its correlation with our physical reality.

The Meditation Circle of Charleston practices breath and body-centered meditation in the Buddhist tradition. You need not be a self-identified Buddhist to benefit from meditation practice. We encourage everyone to seek out established teachers to deepen their practice. See the ‘About‘ page of  themeditationcircle.com for more, including a guide to other area sitting and yoga sessions. Feel free to forward this e-mail to interested friends.

When they discover the center of the universe
a lot of people will be disappointed to discover
they are not it.

~ B. Bailey

NOTE TO MEMBERS of the CIRCLE: Send prospective blogposts, tips, quotes, events and other news to douglas @hundredmountain.com.

SUBSCRIBE TO MEDITATION CIRCLE E-MAIL NOTICES: Click here
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS NEWS FEED: Click here
DIRECTIONS TO MEDITATION GROUP: Click here.

The MEDITATION CIRCLE of CHARLESTON (W.Va.)

> QUOTE/UNQUOTE: “Whenever we get angry we should realize that the strength we feel is not the strength of the charioteer. It is the strength of the runaway horse. We should immediately try to put the charioteer back in control. If we can do this, we are masters. If we cannot, we are slaves.

~ Ananda Pereira from “Escape to Reality: Buddhist Essays,” Wheel Publication No. 45/36

> NEXT MEETING: The Meditation Circle of Charleston gathers next from 6 to 7:15 p.m., Tuesday, July 7 (and each Tuesday) at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Blvd., in Charleston, W.Va. Bring a meditation cushion or chairs are available. Beginners welcome. Basic instruction in meditation is available 5:45 to 6 p.m., plus there is time for questions on sitting practice after the first meditation. We start sitting promptly at 6 p.m. The first round of 30 minutes is followed by questions or discussion, then we conclude with a shorter sitting of 15 minutes. Come join the circle!

> QUOTE/UNQUOTE: “The wisdom that shatters craving and release the mind from suffering is not some esoteric, fortuitous inspiration but the gradual, built-up, practical understanding of the experience that flies through the senses. Liberation is obtainable – so taught the Buddha. There is a means, a path available to all who will exert themselves properly. We have head of such a thing, have heard that it lasted down through the riotous, forgetful centuries and survives even now, powerful and free.

~ from “Longing for Certainty: Reflections on the Buddhist Life” by Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano. See longer excerpt here

> ABOUT: The Meditation Circle of Charleston (W.Va.) is a group for people interested in learning breath and body-centered meditation in the Buddhist tradition. You need not be a self-identified Buddhist to benefit from meditation practice. We welcome beginners who wish to learn Buddhist meditation or want to revive a sitting practice that has lagged.  We encourage everyone to seek out established teachers to deepen their practice. See the ‘About‘ page of our website – themeditationcircle.com – for more, including a map to our Charleston, W.Va., location. Please feel free to forward this e-mail to interested friends.

> NOTE TO MEMBERS: Send prospective blogposts, tips, quotes, events and other news for the Web site to douglas @hundredmountain.com.

SUBSCRIBE TO MEDITATION CIRCLE E-MAIL NOTICES: Click here
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS NEWS FEED: Click here
DIRECTIONS TO MEDITATION GROUP: Click here.

My best,
Douglas (on behalf of the Meditation Circle)

The MEDITATION CIRCLE of CHARLESTON (W.Va.)

> NEXT MEETING: The Meditation Circle gathers next 6 to 7:15 p.m., Tuesday, June 30 (and every Tuesday) at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Blvd., in Charleston, W.Va. Bring cushions or we have chairs available. Beginners are welcome. Basic instruction in meditation is available 5:45 to 6 p.m. or by arrangement. Come join the circle.

We sit in silent meditation for two rounds of sitting. The first round of 30 minutes is followed by questions or discussion, then we conclude that week’s circle with a shorter round of 15 or 20 minutes of sitting.

> QUOTE/UNQUOTE: In light of some recent notable deaths, a thought to ponder:

Even if, bright as a flash of lightning,
Death were to strike you today,
Be prepared to die without sorrow
Or regret, giving up attachment to
What you are leaving behind.
Without ever ceasing to recognize
The authentic view of the real,
Leave this life like the eagle
That soars into the blue sky.

~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991). See related post: ‘Is My Meditation Correct?”

> ABOUT: We are a support group for people interested in learning breath and body-centered meditation in the Buddhist tradition, but you need not be a self-identified Buddhist to benefit from meditation practice. We welcome beginners who wish to learn Buddhist meditation or want to revive a sitting practice that may have lagged. If you’re a lone sitter who may benefit from a sangha, come by. We encourage everyone to seek out established teachers to deepen their practice. See the ‘About‘ page of our website – themeditationcircle.com – for more on the Meditation Circle of Charleston, including a map to our Charleston, W.Va., location in the Unitarian Universalist Congregation buidling. Please feel free to forward this e-mail to interested friends

> NOTE TO CIRCLE MEMBERS: Send us prospective blogposts, tips, quotes, events and other news for the Web site at douglas @hundredmountain.com. And let me know if you have problems signing up for the Meditation Circle e-mail newsletter a our website. Some have reported it took many tries.

SUBSCRIBE TO MEDITATION CIRCLE E-MAIL NOTICES: Click here
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS NEWS FEED: Click here
DIRECTIONS TO MEDITATION GROUP: Click here.

My best,
Douglas (on behalf of the Meditation Circle)

The MEDITATION CIRCLE of CHARLESTON (W.Va.)

> HELP IS ON THE WAY: We could use help in pulling off the Thursday, June 25 musical benefit at UUC in Charleston, W.Va., from 7 to 10 p.m. E-mail offers of aid to  douglas [at] hundredmountain.com. This will be one of the coolest concerts in town next week and you’ll leave jazzed, uplifted and in tune with the cosmos. Kathleen is an amazing performer, quiet but intensely, beautifully and powerfully moving. Some spacey mood music will be provided beforehand by Casi Null, Albert Perrone and Douglas Imbrogno on guitar, hand-drum, digital effects and convivial feeling. Spread the word about the night to the four corners and the Six Directions…

> UPCOMING EVENT: Singer-songwriter KATHLEEN COFFEE of Princeton, W.Va., performs in a Meditation Circle of Charleston musical benefit, 7 to 10 p.m., Thursday, June 25 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Blvd., in Charleston, W.Va.  Admission is $5 though no one will be turned away for inability to pay. Sample Kathleen’s passionate, inspiring music at myspace.com/katcoffee. This will be a fine concert – children are welcome.  (And guitar players, take note of her offbeat alternate guitar tunings). Come out and help support the Meditation Circle. Click for more on this event.

> NEXT MEETING: The Meditation Circle gathers next 6 to 7:15 p.m., Tuesday, June 16 (and every Tuesday) at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Blvd., in Charleston, W.Va. Bring cushions or chairs are available. Beginners are welcome with basic instruction in meditation available 5:45 to 6 p.m. or by arrangement. Come join the circle.

Robin Wilson will facilitate the group the next couple weeks as we continue to try out some change ups in the group’s routines. We now sit in silent meditation for two rounds of sitting. The first and longer round of 30 minutes is followed by questions and discussion, then we conclude the session with a shorter round of 15 to 20 minutes of sitting. Let us know your thoughts on these and other changes, plus any questions about meditation practice in general.

Extended discussions are certainly still welcome and last week we never got around to the second sitting after a lively back-and-forth that followed a question from Jan on ‘How do you go about finding a teacher?’ Retreats are a good place to check teachers out. Here are the remaining 2009 retreats at the Bhavana Forest Monastery in Hampshire County, W.Va., including two ‘Introduction to Meditation Retreats,’ from Aug. 13 to 16 and Nov. 5 to 8.

How DO you go about finding spiritual teachers? Share your thoughts and tales at our next meeting or in the comments section of this blog below.

> MONEY MATTERS: The Meditation Circle is seeking a person who got a grade of B or higher in math in school and might be able to oversee donations to the group and help manage our account at a Charleston bank. I myself got a ‘D’ in Modern Algebra from Mrs. Bollenbacher at Forest Park High School.

> QUOTE/UNQUOTE: “You make yourself and others suffer just as much when you take offense as when you give offense.” ~ Ken Keyes, Jr.

> ABOUT: The Meditation Circle of Charleston (W.Va.) is a support group for people interested in learning breath and body-centered meditation in the Buddhist tradition. You need not be a self-identified Buddhist to benefit from meditation. We welcome beginners who wish to learn Buddhist meditation or want to revive a sitting practice that has lagged. If you’re a lone sitter who may benefit from a sangha, come by. We encourage everyone to seek out established teachers to deepen their practice. See the ‘About‘ page of our website – themeditationcircle.com – for more, including a map to our Charleston, W.Va., location in the Unitarian Universalist Congregation building. Please forward this e-mail to interested friends

> NOTE TO CIRCLE MEMBERS: I encourage everyone to subscribe to the Meditation Circle blog to receive e-mails of our posts. Send prospective blogposts, tips, quotes, events and other meditation and yoga-related news to douglas [at] hundredmountain.com. Let me know if you have problems signing up for the Meditation Circle e-mail newsletter a our website. Some have reported it took many tries.

SUBSCRIBE TO MEDITATION CIRCLE E-MAIL NOTICES: Click here
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS NEWS FEED: Click here
DIRECTIONS TO MEDITATION GROUP: Click here.

With metta,
Douglas (on behalf of the Meditation Circle)

The MEDITATION CIRCLE of CHARLESTON (W.Va.)

> NEXT MEETING: The Meditation Circle gathers next 6 to 7:15 p.m., Tuesday, June 30 (and every Tuesday) at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Blvd., in Charleston, W.Va. Bring cushions or we have chairs available. Beginners are welcome. Basic instruction in meditation is available 5:45 to 6 p.m. or by arrangement. Come join the circle.

We sit in silent meditation for two rounds of sitting. The first round of 30 minutes is followed by  questions or discussion, then we conclude that week’s circle with a shorter round of 15 or 20 minutes of sitting.

> QUOTE/UNQUOTE: In light of some recent notable deaths, a thought to ponder:

Even if, bright as a flash of lightning,
Death were to strike you today,
Be prepared to die without sorrow
Or regret, giving up attachment to
What you are leaving behind.
Without ever ceasing to recognize
The authentic view of the real,
Leave this life like the eagle
That soars into the blue sky.

~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991)
> ABOUT: We are a support group for people interested in learning breath and body-centered meditation in the Buddhist tradition, but you need not be a self-identified Buddhist to benefit from meditation practice. We welcome beginners who wish to learn Buddhist meditation or want to revive a sitting practice that may have lagged. If you’re a lone sitter who may benefit from a sangha, come by. We encourage everyone to seek out established teachers to deepen their practice. See the ‘About‘ page of our website – themeditationcircle.com – for more on the Meditation Circle of Charleston, including a map to our Charleston, W.Va., location in the Unitarian Universalist Congregation buidling. Please feel free to forward this e-mail to interested friends

> NOTE TO CIRCLE MEMBERS: Send us prospective blogposts, tips, quotes, events and other news for the Web site at douglas @hundredmountain.com. And let me know if you have problems signing up for the Meditation Circle e-mail newsletter a our website. Some have reported it took many tries.

SUBSCRIBE TO MEDITATION CIRCLE E-MAIL NOTICES: Click here
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS NEWS FEED: Click here
DIRECTIONS TO MEDITATION GROUP: Click here.

My best,
Douglas (on behalf of the Meditation Circle)

Click flyer to enlarge and printout.

Singer-songwriter KATHLEEN COFFEE of Princeton, W.Va., is featured in an evening of inspiring music, performance and discussion from 7 to 10 p.m., Thursday, June 25 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation building, 520 Kanawha Blvd., Charleston, W.Va. The evening is a fundraiser for the MEDITATION CIRCLE of CHARLESTON, to thank UUC for its generosity in hosting the group’s weekly meditation circle 6 p.m. each Tuesday. The group also hosts visiting meditation teachers and area meditation retreats. Admission is $5, but no one will be turned away because of cost.

Donations in support of the circle’s activities are welcome by those who cannot attend through checks made out to: ‘The Meditation Circle of Charleston.’ All proceeds benefit the offering of meditation events and support in the region. For more on the group, see themeditationcircle.com.

The evening marks the debut of an occasional performance and coffeehouse series at UUC, showcasing some of Appalachia’s finest rising performers along with original music theater and performance art.

The next evening on Friday, June 26, catch Coffee and other performers at Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., in Charleston in ‘THE CLEMENTINES SONG CIRCLE.’ The music runs 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and admission is free. Styles will range from contemporary songwriter and traditional folk, to world music and ambient soundscapes. Other performers include Lori McKinney, Robert Blankenship and Albert Perrone (of Option 22), Casi Null, Douglas Imbrogno and maybe some people who wander in off the street. Like you.

KATHLEEN COFFEE is an indigo child and Cherokee Indian from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Athens, W.Va.  She sings for the good, the peace and the truth. She sings to heal. Offstage, Kathleen teaches songwriting, inspiration, voice and performance workshops for all ages and genres.

She’s a founding member of a collective of artists in Princeton, W.Va., known as The Riff Raff Players based out of The Room Upstairs, and has performed in such shows as Annie, Wizard of Oz, Godspell, Camelot, Smoke on the Mountain, and, most recently, Songs for a New World.

Kathleen performs for non-profits and other organizations involved with revolutionary change in the world to procure creativity and peace. She likes to sing on front porches with the crickets and birds. She likes a good cup of coffee. Hear her music at: myspace.com/katcoffee.

Charlotte Pritt, who has hosted past Meditation Circle sessions at her Better Balance office in Charleston, W.Va., passes on word of the following event in West Virginia, coming up soon and featuring a renowned Indian teacher. Her e-mail notes: “People from all over the world are flying into West Virginia to experience this retreat, and I want those of us who are close enough to drive to Moundsville to have the opportunity to experience this as well. My fear is that someone will say, ‘Why didn’t someone tell me?  I have been praying for something like this.'”

Swami Vidyadhishananda Giri, recipient of “The Great Ordained Teacher” award/decree given by the Indian Government for exceptional knowledge of Sanskrit and the Vedic heritage, will be offering some of the highest spiritual teachings from June 4-9, 2009 in the New Vrindavan Golden Temple, near Moundsville, West Virginia.

Although Swami Vidyadhishananda Giri has been teaching at International retreats for more than a decade, this is the first time he will be offering this body of teachings.  There are only 200 spaces set aside and devotees from all over the world will be attending. The SāmkhyaTriveni Retreat (mostly silent) is an opportunity to explore the subtler aspects of philosophy, meditation and spirituality.

COST: The cost of the retreat, including meals and lodging for 5 nights, is $395 if registration is completed before May 29th and $450 after that date.

HOW TO SIGN-UP: Registration is open to the first 200 participants. To pre-register and tentatively reserve your spot, please email self.fellowship@yahoo.com with your full name, address, phone number and email. You will be emailed a Registration form to fill out and mail back with a check. Unfortunately, the organizers are unable to accept credit cards at this time, but will let you know if this becomes possible.

ACCOMMODATIONS: All rooms in the main lodge and cottages at New Vrindavan are shared. Private bedrooms are not available on-site. Those participants who absolutely need a private room can book hotel accommodation in Wheeling, WV (15 minutes from retreat site), upon approval by His Holiness. Please note that staying off-site will not change the registration donation.

In a letter about the retreat, the Swami writes in part:

Essential principles of creation, sustenance and dissolution through mutation, latency and cognition along with the deeper inquiries about God and consciousness will be explored. What is the conscious entity? Are we evolving? Is our self-awareness eternal? Have we always been around? If we are many how are we all one? Does God have a mind? Are there many overlords for multiple universes? Where is the place for love? Is the path of love connected with service to God? These are some of the inquiries waiting to be resolved.

P.S. Here is an article about the Swami from the Santa Barbara Independent.

P.S.S. Click here for some photos of the must-see “Palace of Gold” in northern West Virginia where the retreat takes place.

The MEDITATION CIRCLE of CHARLESTON (W.Va.)
http://hundredmountain.com

NEXT MEETING: The Meditation Circle gathers next 6 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 26 (and every Tuesday) at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Blvd., in Charleston, W.Va. Bring cushions or we have chairs available. Beginners welcome with basic instruction in meditation available. Come join the circle.

> THOUGHT for the DAY

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

~ Dalai Lama

> ABOUT:

See the ‘About‘ page of our website – themeditationcircle.com – for more on the Meditation Circle of Charleston, including a map to our Charleston, W.Va., location in the Unitarian Universalist Congregation there. We begin each meeting with a short session of simple yoga, followed by a 30-minute sitting, then discussion. Please feel free to forward this e-mail to interested friends.

> BEGINNERS WELCOME:

We welcome beginners who wish to learn Buddhist meditation or who want to revive a sitting practice that may have lagged. If you’re a lone sitter who may benefit from a supportive group to deepen your practice, drop by. We encourage all to seek out established teachers to deepen their practice.

> NOTE TO MEMBERS:

Send us prospective blogposts, tips, quotes, events and other news for the Web site at douglas @hundredmountain.com. And let me know at this e-mail if you have problems signing up for the Meditation Circle e-mail newsletter a our website. Some have reported it took many tries.

SUBSCRIBE TO MEDITATION CIRCLE E-MAIL NOTICES: Click here
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS NEWS FEED: Click here
DIRECTIONS TO MEDITATION GROUP: Click here.

My best,
Douglas (on behalf of the Meditation Circle)

In becoming a person of merit,
Though you perform no lofty deeds
If you are able to shake off worldly mindedness,
You will become one of the
Renowned for that alone.
In pursuing studies,
Though you make no increase in ingenuity,
If you are able to decrease
The externals that afflict the heart,
You will cross over to the land
Of the sages for that alone.

– Hung Ying-ming

~ Quote courtesy of www.dailyzen.com

Back-porch, Buddha-head, bicycle mirror self-portrait still life on a snowy day in the hills of West Virginia. Winter 2008. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

Robin Wilson passes along word of this meditation retreat in the region:

The Mid-Atlantic Vipassana Network is hosting a retreat with Shinzen Young from May 22 – 31, 2009, outside of Richmond, VA. As a religious scholar and ordained monk at Mt. Koya, Japan, Shinzen is a westerner with decades of knowledge and experience in Buddhism and many other contemplative traditions.  He leads retreats throughout the U.S. and Canada and is involved in the growing interface between meditation and neuroscience.  Shinzen brings a scientific rigor to his system of mindfulness meditation that is very accessible to the western mind.

For more information on Shinzen and this retreat (including scholarship information), please visit www.shinzen.org and click on “Shinzen’s Retreats” or click on this link for a pdf file of the retreat registration form. Or you may call Nancy Elizabeth Nimmich at 301-334-4445.

The MEDITATION CIRCLE of CHARLESTON (W.Va.)
http://hundredmountain.com

Please note: Doug will not be at Tuesday’s meeting as I have a rehearsal for the “West Virginia: Words and Music” show later this month at the Clay Center’s Walker Theater. Any volunteer meeting facilitator candidates for this Tuesday?

> NEXT MEETING: THE Meditation Circle gathers next 6 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 5 (and every Tuesday) at the Unitarian Universalist Congregration, 520 Kanawha Blvd., in Charleston, W.Va. Bring cushions or we have chairs available. We sometimes undertake a few minutes of light yoga before sitting for 30 minutes. Beginners welcome with basic instruction in meditation available. Come join the circle.

> THOUGHT for the DAY

I explain to you matters
Pertaining to enlightenment,
But don’t try to keep
Your mind on them.
Just turn to the ocean
Of your own essence
And develop practical accord with its nature.

– Yangshan (quote courtesy of www.dailyzen.com)

> TOPICS:

We’re currently considering Right Concentration as part of an ongoing look at the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path. What are examples from your own life of wholesome and unwholesome concentration? Why should it make a difference? What blocks concentration from coming into focus?

Right Concentration: The eighth principle of the path, right concentration, refers to the development of a mental force that occurs in natural consciousness, although at a relatively low level of intensity, namely concentration. Concentration in this context is described as one-pointedness of mind, meaning a state where all mental faculties are unified and directed onto one particular object.

Right concentration for the purpose of the eightfold path means wholesome concentration, i.e. concentration on wholesome thoughts and actions. The Buddhist method of choice to develop right concentration is through the practice of meditation. The meditating mind focuses on a selected object. It first directs itself onto it, then sustains concentration, and finally intensifies concentration step by step. Through this practice it becomes natural to apply elevated levels concentration also in everyday situations.

Click here for more on the Noble Eightfold Path, from the website we are using to help stir our discussions.

> ABOUT:

See the ‘About‘ page of our website – themeditationcircle.com – for more on the Meditation Circle of Charleston, including a map to our Charleston, W.Va., location in the Unitarian Universalist Congregation there. We begin each meeting with a short session of simple yoga, followed by a 30-minute sitting, then discussion. Please feel free to forward this e-mail to interested friends.

> BEGINNERS WELCOME:

We welcome beginners who wish to learn Buddhist meditation or who want to revive a sitting practice that may have lagged. If you’re a lone sitter who may benefit from a supportive group to deepen your practice, drop by. We encourage all to seek out established teachers to deepen their practice.

> NOTE TO MEMBERS:

Send us prospective blogposts, tips, quotes, events and other news for the Web site at douglas @hundredmountain.com. And let me know at this e-mail if you have problems signing up for the Meditation Circle e-mail newsletter a our website. Some have reported it took many tries.

SUBSCRIBE TO MEDITATION CIRCLE E-MAIL NOTICES: Click here
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS NEWS FEED: Click here
DIRECTIONS TO MEDITATION GROUP: Click here.

My best,
Douglas (on behalf of the Meditation Circle)

Follow the truth of the Way.
Reflect on it.
Make it your own.
Live it.
It will always sustain you.
Do not turn away what is given you,
Nor reach out for what is given to others,
Lest you disturb your quietness.

– Buddha in the Dhammapada
(quote courtesy of www.dailyzen.com)