TAO MEETING
The next meeting of the Tao Group is Monday the 13th of July. All are welcome.

JOIN US FOR A SILENT RETREAT


RETREAT
February 27, 28 & March 1
(6 p.m. Friday until 1 p.m. Sunday)
This silent retreat will take place in a beautifully restored 18th Century farmhouse with 16 bedrooms on the Campus of Wisdom House, an Interfaith Spiritual Retreat Center
In Litchfield, Connecticut
Brian Vaugh, a Buddhist Monk and Vice Abbot of the New Hartford Meditation Center will lead the retreat.
All participants will have a private room and enjoy excellent vegetarian meals.
For More information Call Brian at 203 558 3641 or email at
bvaugh@wtbyhosp.org

RETREAT: February 27, 28 & March 1


RETREAT
February 27, 28 & March 1
(6 p.m. Friday until 1 p.m. Sunday)
This silent retreat will take place in a beautifully restored 18th Century farmhouse with 16 bedrooms on the Campus of Wisdom House, an Interfaith Spiritual Retreat Center
In Litchfield, Connecticut
Brian Vaugh, a Buddhist Monk and Vice Abbot of the New Hartford Meditation Center will lead the retreat.
All participants will have a private room and enjoy excellent vegetarian meals.
For More information Call Brian at 203 558 3641 or email at
bvaugh@wtbyhosp.org

THE FACTS OF LIFE: EGOLESSNESS

IMG 5563

Egolessness means that the fixed idea that we had about ourselves as solid and separate from each other is painfully limiting. That we take ourselves so seriously, that we are so absurdly important in our own minds, is a problem. Self-importance is like a prison for us, limiting us to the world of our likes and dislikes. We end up bored to death with ourselves and our world. We end up very dissatisfied.

We have two alternatives: either we take everything to be sure and real, or we don't. Either we accept our fixed versions of reality or we begin to challenge them. In Buddha's opinion, to train in stain open and curious--to train in dissolving the barriers that we erect between ourselves and the world--is the best use of our human lives. (From Comfortable with Uncertainty by Pema Chodron)

JOURNEY OF THE WARRIOR-BODHISATTVA

On the journey of the warrior-bodhisattva, the path goes down, not up, as if the mountain pointed toward the earth instead of the sky. Instead of transcending the suffering of all creatures, we move toward turbulence and doubt however we can. We explore the reality and unpredictability of insecurity and pain, and we try not to push it away. If it takes years, if it takes lifetimes, we let it be as it is. At our own pace, without speed or aggression, we move down and down and down. With us move millions of others, our companions in awakening from fear. At the bottom, we discover water, the healing water of bodhichitta. Bodhichitta is our heart--our wounded, softened heart. Right down there in the thick of things, we discover the love that will not die. This love is bodhichitta. It is gentle and warm, it is clear and sharp, it is open and spacious. The awakened heart of bodhichitta is the basic goodness of all beings. (From Comfortable with Uncertainty by Pema Chodron)

"THEODORE"--A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

"GOD BLESS AMERICA" MEANS WHAT, AGAIN?


These are my thoughts on the words "God Bless America." What do they mean to you? How do you feel when you hear them over and over again during a political campaign? What could they mean?

WHY DON'T WE SAY PLEASE?

WHY DO BUDDHISTS CARE ABOUT CELL PHONES?

I hope you'll watch these brief videos and let me know what you think about people who drive with cell phones. In the first one, I offer my thoughts.


In this one, Paul asks me a few questions about why I see things this way. (We had a little background noise when we made this one, so you might want to turn your speakers up for this one.)

Now, what do you think? Please leave your thoughts in a comment.

BATMAN THE BODHISATTVA