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Be-in with the young people
A three-month retreat has concluded with about 240 monks and nuns practicing alongside lay people. Moving forward, Sunday morning Dharma talks in English will address real difficulties of our time concerning individual, family, and community life, as well as daily life, the workplace, and school. Listeners are invited to contribute topics by dropping written suggestions into the donation box or the bell of mindfulness. These talks will be offered by Dharma teachers Sister Annabel Laity (Chân Đức), a scholar and translator who is the abbess of Green Mountain Dharma Center, and Brother Pháp Dung, a former architect and the abbot of Deer Park who focuses on youth and family practices.
Monastic practice for young people and families emphasizes friendship, space, and acceptance rather than trying to fix anyone. During family retreats, parents practice non-parenting by breathing to recognize and smile at the parent seed when it arises. The basic tool for handling boredom, irritation, self-judgment, and peer pressure is following the breath at the nostrils, observing the cool inbreath and the warm, damp outbreath to calm and relax the body and mind.
To bridge communication gaps across different ages and cultures, one must first feel connected in oneself through mindful breathing or walking before reaching out to others. When verbal communication is difficult, the Meditation on Loving-Kindness is practiced to understand others and enter the garden of their heart. This meditation involves wishing three specific things, first for oneself and then for another person:
- To be happy and peaceful in body and spirit.
- To be safe and free from accident.
- To be free from anger, craving, and confusion.
Part of the following collection
Winter Retreat - The Record of Master Linji