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MIDDLETOWN

CALENDAR

04/14. Let It RAIN. Learn about being in the now, letting go and practicing love. Inspired by Tara Brach's new book True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart, this talk will speak about the guided reflection she calls "RAIN" which stand for: Recognize what is happening, Allow life to be just as it is; Investigate inner experience with kindness, Non-identification. This talk will be presented by Jinshu.

04/21. The Tibetan Book of the Dead - This talk will explore the symbols of Amida and the Pure Land in this classic text.  We will discuss how those symbols and the book's message can be used to deepen one's 'true entrusting' and explore the Shin concept of 'deep hearing'. Presented by Abhaya.

04/28. Number One Fool. The discussion will explore the essence of boundless compassion and all- inclusiveness from the teachings of Taitetsu Unno from this Tricycle magazine article.  “Buddhism is the path of supreme optimism, for one of its basic tenets is that no human life or experience is to be wasted or forgotten, but all should be transformed into a source of wisdom and compassionate living. This is the connotation of the classical statement that sums up the goal of Buddhist life: ‘Transform delusion into Enlightenment.’ On the everyday level of experience, Shin Buddhists speak of this transformation as “bits of rubble turn into gold. Presented by Daishin Senpai.

05/05. A Guide to Daily Practice & Observances. This how-to-do talk and discussion will look into the day to day religious and spiritual activities, and holidays of Shin Buddhism, as engaged by our community members. It takes an easy step by step approach on the meaning of Going for Refuge, prayer, meditation, chants, affirmations in order to experience the Shin life of faith, understanding and compassion. Presented by Daishin Senpai.

05/12.  Do Dishes, Rake Leaves – And Don’t Forget the Endless Loads of Laundry. Inspired by a Shambhala Sun magazine article by Karen Maezen Miller, this talk/discussion will look into how daily chores and domestic work can become practical forms of meditation. She says, “When we cultivate nondistracted awareness as a formal practice we call it meditation. When we cultivate it in our home life, we call it the laundry, the kitchen, the yard.” Presented by Daishin Senpai.

05/19.  One Day Mindfulness Retreat - Our 11^th annual one day Buddhist retreat (sesshin) will take place at the beautiful Dae Yen Sa Temple in New Hartford from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. The theme is This Present Moment which underscores presence and the profound sense of gratitude and interconnectedness. Our sesshin includes: basic sitting meditation instruction and practice, walking meditation, voice and eating meditation, noble silence, discussions, qiqong, and a delicious Korean vegetarian lunch. This retreat will be lead by Dharma Teacher Daikan. Registration is open from April 1 - May 12. Register via the New England Institute of Buddhist Studies.  Beginners and the most advanced are welcomed.

05/19. Q & A on What Shin Buddhist Believe? at the Mansfield Freeman Center Dharma Talk . While some members and friends will be at our Mindfulness Retreat, our community will continue to provide practice and discussion for those not attending at 10 a.m. at our regular Sunday morning location with Rev. Daishin Senpai.

05/26. Memorial Sunday Picnic - No Sunday morning gathering but our 11th annual potluck Memorial Day Weekend/Wisteria Festival Picnic will take place at Veteran's Memorial Park from 1:00 - 4 p.m.. Wisteria Festival celebrates the birth of Shinran Shonin, the founder and foremost teacher of Shin Buddhism, over 750 years ago in Japan. All members and friends and their guests are invited to attended. *** Buddhism 101 Winter class will be meeting at the Field from 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. under the pavillion.

06/02. The Lotus Effect. The discussion will focus on answering the question "Who am I" from the Buddhist perspective. We will examine our desire to define our essential "self".  We will discuss how the concept of impermanence can help to liberate us from this craving to cultivate a specific identity.  Inspired by the book The Lotus Effect: Shedding Suffering and Rediscovering your Essential Self by Pavel Somov. Presented by Jinshu.

06/09. Mindful Shopping and Consuming. A look into how to apply Buddhism into the shopping experience. How can we be socially conscious and practice mindfulness at the moment when we are deciding whether to buy something.  This talk will explore how to look at consumerism and its impact on ourselves and the Earth, and offer tips on how to make the best choice based on your buddhist values. Presented by Daishin Senpai.

06/16. The Path of Gratitude. The essence of Shin’s central practice, the nembutsu, is not to attain enlightenment but to express the awareness of gratitude for all that we have received. This talk will look into what is the Shin teaching of Other Power? What is the grateful life? Why are we grateful to the Primal Vow? Presented by Daishin Senpai.

06/23. Renewal of the Heart - a Summer Solstice Practice -Celebrate the wonderful of life with light, balance and renewal by chanting the seven chakras and reflecting on a very buddhist words with time-lapse photography of a benedictine monk, David Steindl-Rast on nature, beauty and by grateful everyday. Presented by Senpai Daishin.

06/30. The Meaning of Life.  This dharma talk is based on a quote from Alfred Bloom's book, Strategies for Modern Living, "For Shinran and his followers, the meaning of life is not in struggling against an uncertain destiny, but in living with gratitude for the compassion that sustains our being." What is the meaning of life according to Shin? Why is living in thankfulness so essential in Shin life and practice? Presented by Shoju.

07/07. Desire - if one of the goals of Buddhism is to be set free from desire, why should I desire to achieve shinjin?  Or desire to be a good person?  Or desire to practice Buddhism at all? What is the Shin Buddhist perspective on this issue? In this talk we discuss desire - the unskillful and the skillful kinds! Presented by Abhaya.

07/14. Buddhism 101: Starting from the Beginning - 1. "We are what we think. With our thoughts, we make the world", so says Verse One - Line One of the Dhammapada. The Dhammapada is a collection of teachings of the Buddha- believed to have been written down in Ceylon in the 1st century before the Common Era. The Dhammapada became the principal source of scripture for Buddhists in Ceylon and Southeast Asia and is the oldest Buddhist scripture. Presented by Shoshin.

07/21. Gotami and the Magic City: What is it to  embrace impermanence and death? How can we recognize our obstacles to spiritual growth? This talk will look into the Buddhist path through three classic parables: the Mustard Seed  The Magic City, The Blind Men and the Elephant. Presented by Daishin Senpai.

07/28. Sharing Reverence for Life - What do Shin Buddhists hold sacred? How do we express, nurture, and live with reverence? From Becoming Buddhist,Becoming Buddhas, Liberating All Beings by Rev. Gregory G. Gibbs. Presented by Shoju.

08/04. Limits of Compassion. Amida is the Buddha of infinite life and light, of boundless wisdom and compassion.   But in our limited human life, we face limits to our compassion and in our wisdom to be compassionate to both ourselves and others.  This talk will utilize personal examples and the essays of Gregory Gibbs and other Buddhist writers to explore ways our Shin practice illuminates the working of great compassion in our lives. By Dojin and B. Rarey.

08/09-11. SHIN BUDDHIST RETREAT - This annual  and unique event in North America and perhaps in the Western world. Perhaps only by traveling to Japan can one partake in such deeply Shin spiritual experience.

This retreat will take place on August 9 -11 at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies (BCBS), Barre, Ma, from Friday 7:30 p.m. – Sunday 2 p.m. It will explore the deeper dimensions of Shin Buddhism and looks into how the Shin teachings may be applied in everyday life. Also, it surveys Shin’s larger philosophical and cultural contexts, taking up the core issues, dissolving dualistic boundaries, and ultimately assists the participants in realizing the oneness of reality (Pure Land).

08/18. Boundless Grace. How is it that lost, despair and confusion can be transformed in the substance of purpose, love and understanding? What is the shadow? What is the Primal Vow of Grace? How can we experience faith, hope and salvation? Participants of the previous weekend Shin retreat will reflect on and share their retreat experience. Presented by Daishin Senpai.

08/25. River of Fire, a Lost Child and the Abyss: What is the Shin path? What is it to be a Buddhist? This talk will look into the Buddhist path through five classic parables: A Man Hides in a Well, The Burning House, A Diver, A Lost Son, and River of Fire, River of Water. Presented by Daishin Senpai.

09/01. No gathering. Labor Day Weekend.

09/08. Water of Infinite Life and Light. Our very spiritual annual Water Ceremony witnesses the Shin experience of interdependence, faith and gratitude. Please bring a vial of water from a location visited during the summer months (it can be tap too that symbolizes the place) that represents an experience of either interconnectedness, deep gratitude or entrusting faith. All vials will be poured into a large vase that symbolizes the Oneness of Reality. Participants may share their spiritual experiences. Members, friends and guests are invited to participate. Presented by Daishin Senpai.

Connecticut Buddhist Film Festival

"Learn about the Buddha'ss teachings through film"

Our 4^th annual Connecticut Buddhist Film Festival returns on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 in Middletown and will run for five months through May 15, 2013. We will showcase 5 cinemagraphic works that explore the Buddhist spiritual experience or that take on Buddhist themes. This Buddhist Film Series is a free of charge educational program of the New England Institute for Buddhist Studies (NEIBS) for its students and to the general public.

Pre-show Social: Connect with others who are interested in the film content or religious/spiritual themes. The social will be from 6:30 – 7 p.m. It is always a friendly crowd. Refreshments will be served.

Show Time: 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Discussion: There is always a short lively discussion after the films. We know it’s a work night so if you cannot stick around for it, that is ok.

Location: Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts and Cultural Center, 605 Main Street, Middletown.