Buddha Birthday Celebration

We all enjoyed our first outside walking mediation of the year last Saturday . The garden is bursting forth with beautiful flowers and young green sprouts an amazing time of year to experience ; along with the warmth of the sunny weather. We can look forward to the Buddha Birthday celebration next week. We will have a Ceremony made for this occasion found in the Chanting and Recitation Book compiled by Thich Nhat Hanh - along with a Dharma teaching with Dr.Cheryl Fraser , followed by a vegetarian Pot Luck lunch. Kelly will also be available to teach Yoga at 9:30 if you would like to come early for these great classes !
 
I would like to send an invitation out to all of you that would like to visit Chan Nguyen Monastery May 26 – 27 to celebrate the Buddha birthday celebration with them. We will take 7:45 am sailing from Duke PointSaturday morning May 26 and will return on the 5:45 pm home on Sunday May 26th. As we will stay the night please plan to bring a sleeping bag / sleeping mat if you like and personal items for the night stay. You are sure to enjoy the wonderful Vietnamese food that is provided for your stay. A Donation would be an acceptable practice. If you could please email me at susanjwilson@shaw.ca if you would like to come as I will need to make arrangements for transportation from the Tsawwassen terminal to the Monastery.
 
Last weeks reading was from the Chanting and Recitation Book compiled by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Five Remembrances
( These five remembrances help us to identify and look deeply at the seeds of fear, They can be recited daily , read aloud as a guided meditation, or used as a silent meditation be individual practitioners.)
 
I am of the nature to grow old.
There is no way to escape growing old.
 
(Bell)
 
I am of the nature to have ill-health.
There is no way to escape having ill-health.
 
(Bell)
 
I am of the nature to die.
There is no way to escape death.
 
(Bell)
 
All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change
There is no way to escape being separated from them.
 
(Bell)
 
I inherit the results of my actions in body,speech, and mind.
My actions are the ground on which I stand.
 
(Two Bells )
 

Coming Events :
- May 12 – 10:00am -Buddha’s Birthday celebration / dharma teaching with Dr. Cheryl Fraser
Vegetarian Pot luck Lunch
- May 26 –27 Visit to Chan Nguyen Monastery
 

Community Events:
(Please do not contact me for community events)
 
- Retreat with Dr. Cheryl Fraser July 27 –31
To register you can go to there web sighthttp://www.dharmafellowship.org/hermitage/retreats.htm
there is a registration form that you will fill out and send it by mail.
This retreat is held at the Hermitage on Denman Island
 
- Sangha Practice at 5- 6:30 p.m. Mondays At 40 Kennedy St.,
Dharma Books on Wednesdays from 7-8:30(same address as above) 
Maggy.MacDonald@viu.ca