May this letter finds you peaceful and with much happiness. These last few days have been filled with new changes at Magnolia Grove Monastery. The Sangha is applying the Winter Retreat schedule already even though the retreat does not start until November 19, 2010. This is one of the ways for all of us to be better prepared for the Winter Retreat. With kind help from number of dedicated lay friends, we now have two stairs outside for the new building. The stairs were made with much love and joy and it is our hope to continue to nourish the love and the joy daily with our mindful steps. The sound of chainsaw is going nonstop these last few days. We are in the process of clearing the woods and getting ready to start building a hut for our Teacher. The colorful leaves are there to help us enjoying the wonders of life and “listening” to the chainsaw calling us back to our true home.
As mentioned above, quite numbers of changes are currently taking place at Magnolia Grove Monastery, especially for this Winter Retreat. One of the changes we happily share with you is there will be live Dharma talk given by the residential monastics at least once a month and also a session of Questions and Answers with the monastics on Sundays, Day of Mindfulness. We would like to share with you the upcoming events at Magnolia Grove Monastery:
• This upcoming Sunday November 21, 2010, Sister Tuc Nghiem & Brother Phap Nha are giving the Dharma talk in Vietnamese, English translation will be available. • Thursday November 25, 2010 is also a day of mindfulness and there will be a Thanksgiving celebration for us all to take time expressing our gratitude to the people we love, to the land and to numerous living beings. The day starts at 9:00am with walking meditation and ends around 4:00pm with sharing. • On Sunday November 28, 2010 is also another Day of Mindfulness & the Dharma talk will be given by Sister Hy Nghiem in Vietnamese, English translation will be available. This day is a continuation of Thursday November 25, 2010. We are aware number of our friends will not be able to join us for Thanksgiving Day. Therefore, we extend the Thanksgiving Celebration to Sunday for those who cannot come on Thursday. o Below is the schedule for the Days of Mindfulness: 9:00am- walking meditation 10:00am – Dharma talk 11:30am- Dharma sharing (November 21) / the recitation of the Five Mindfulness Trainings (November 28) 12:30pm- Formal lunch 2:30pm- Special Be-In (sharing time) (Thursday 11/25 & Sunday 11/28)
We warmly invite you to join us for these joyful days as a way to continue nourishing the wholesome seeds in each one of us and to walk on the path of mindful living together as a spiritual family.
If you plan to come, please contact us so that we can best prepare for your visit. We look forward to seeing you. May your heart be filled with happiness, peace and love.
A lotus for you, A Buddha to be,
The Brothers & Sisters of Magnolia Grove Monastery
123 Towles Rd. Batesville, MS. 38606 (662) 578-2077
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