TALK TO ME!

Down there on the right, in my navigation tool bar, is a comment box. It would be great if you would offer your feedback to the podcast so we can have a conversation among ourselves.

CAPTAIN AMERICA

This Sunday we will have a short commemoration service for Steve Rogers (Captian America). By now we all know of his demise. With his passing we mourn not only for him but for a part of each one of us. During this period of Lent it seems appropriate to start a discussion of reincarnation.

SUNDAY, MARCH 11

We will be meeting on this Sunday the 11th for tea and meditation. We will also meet on March 18 and 25. We hope to have a Day Long Meditation Retreat toward the end of April on a Saturday. Let Brian know if you are interested in the Saturday retreat.

HOW TO "CHILL" THE BUDDHIST WAY

In our fast-paced society, where there is so much pressure to perform and succeed, spending time each day meditating or "chilling" can be extremely important. The mind is amazingly powerful, but when it gets overwhelmed, it can do very little. Meditation helps us to relax and focus the mind. These qualities of relaxation and focus can help you in sports, in studying, and in dealing with your parents.

In meditation practice, we can access the great powers inside each of us. We need less to build or create these powers than discover them by looking inside our own mind, bodies, and hearts. No special experience or knowledge is needed to meditate, only the curiosity and willingness to look within.

Here are a few pointers to follow if you'd like to give meditation a try.

ONE-DAY RETREAT IN WATERBURY ON FEBRUARY 25

"Entering the River of Life"
One-day Retreat
Sunday, February 25 at
Hale House, Grandview Street, Waterbury, Connecticut

We will hold our regular meditation from 9:30 to 11 a.m. (Those who wish to participate in the morning meditation but cannot stay for the full retreat are welcome to come.)

Then we will break for a simple lunch followed by dharma talks, more meditations, and then a time time during which we will together process our day. We will finish around 4:30 p.m.

Let me know if you can make it!

BRIAN'S WEEKLY THOUGHTS ON BUDDHISM, LIFE, AND OTHER CATASTROPHES

I'll be updating my podcast every week. Stay tuned for my thoughts on Buddhism, life, and other catastrophes!

DON'T BE AFRAID THAT YOUR LIFE WILL END

My friend Ric Browne sent me this, and I thought I'd pass it along.

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

Don't be afraid that your life will end,
be afraid that it will never begin.

BRIAN'S DHARMA TALK ON JACK BAUER

MEDITATION GROUP TO MEET JANUARY 28

We'll meet again at Hale House this Sunday, January 28, and next Sunday, February 4, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. or so. Please feel free to come early. These items are listed on the calendar, which you can reach by clicking on the link in the navigation toolbar on the right. Please also feel free to sign the guestbook and to sign up for regular updates by adding your email address to the Blogarithm box.

Please also comment on any of the posts here. Simply click on the word Comments below the post and add your two cents. If you're not a blogger, sign in as anyonymous and the click publish when you're done. You can always add your name to your message.

SUNDAY DHARMA TALK -- "PREVIOUSLY ON 24 -- JACK BAUER IS BODHISATTVA JIZO"

This Sunday, January 21, we will talk about the series '24' and how Jack Bauer lives the life of a Bodhisattva.