Nov 232018
 

Upaya Sangha of Tucson Winter-Spring 2019 Study Group
Older and Wiser: Classical Buddhist Teachings on Aging, Sickness, and Death

Mu Soeng, Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia, Andrew Olendzki
January through April, 2019

Participation will be profitable for dharma practitioners now into old age;it will be profitable for dharma practitioners who expect to arrive at old age;
it will be profitable for dharma practitioners, young or old, who wish to die well.

While Older and Wiser: Classical Buddhist Teachings on Aging, Sickness, and Death is easy reading, discussion of the material may not always give up easy answers.  The authors Mu Soeng, Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia, Andrew Olendzki, practice in the Korean Zen, Thai Forest (Theravada) and early Buddhist (Theravada) traditions, respectively.

The book is organized topically, with each author offering commentary and concludes with questions for readers’ contemplation.  We’ll be discussing such concerns as:

A shift in focus
using the opportunity that aging affords to turn towards spiritual goals

Reflections on one’s actions
distinguishing between the virtue of remorse and obstacle of regret

Pleasures
knowing diminished sensual pleasure and pleasure that is freedom from want

Mental fabrication
discerning the distinctions between pain and reactivity to pain

Clarity of mind
recognizing clarity that is independent of a weakened, decrepit or dying body

Letting loved ones go
offering uncomplicated care and companionship to dying loved ones

Taking one’s own life
thinking through the complex interplay of intention and transgression

Mourning
Enjoying liberation from within conditions rather than liberation from conditions

REQUIREMENTS:  A copy of Older and Wiser:  Classical Buddhist Teachings on Aging, Sickness, and Death; a computer and email address or a cooperative friend with same.

FEE: $10.00 (the cost of materials and TCMC space use contribution).  No one will be turned away due to inability to pay.

TO REGISTER: Mail a $10.00 check, made payable to Upaya Sangha, to Christine Johnson at 4145 N. Stone Ave., #102 Tucson, AZ 85705-8807.  Include, in addition to your name, your postal address, email address & telephone number.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER:  December 27, 2018

WHEN:  10:00 AM to 11:30 AM.  The 2nd and 4th Thursdays of Jan., Feb, Mar., Apr, of 2019

LOCATION: Tucson Community Meditation Center;  1231 E. Edison  Tucson, AZ.  The Center is one block S. of Grant and 2 houses W. of Mountain Ave.

PARKING:  It is important to the future of TCMC to observe mindful parking by not parking on the same block as the Center and by leaving an empty parking space in front of the homes on the neighboring blocks. Please reserve TCMC driveway parking for people who cannot walk far. Thank you.

CONTACT: Christine Johnson;  christine-johnson@cox.net;  520-207-8718

 

Nov 122018
 

Dear friends,

 

For those joining us this Saturday, November 17th, for our third Saturday of the month Upaya Sangha of Tucson meeting, we will meet from 10:00 am to noon, and our meeting will include brief sutra chanting, sitting meditation (Zazen), participant check-in, announcements, and a brief tea break. After this, Sensei Al will offer a dharma talk on “Practicing Zazen: On Opening the Hand of Thought.”

 

If this is your first time to join us, we meet at Tucson Community Meditation Center (TCMC), 1231 E. Edison St., one block south of Grant, just west of Mountain, on the north side of the street. We meet the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month. There are plenty of zafus (meditation cushions) and chairs.

 

Parking reminder: It’s important to the future of TCMC to observe mindful parking by not parking on the same block as the Center and by leaving an empty parking space in front of the homes on the neighboring blocks. Please reserve TCMC driveway parking for people who cannot walk far.

 

Please help us to accommodate our members who are chemically sensitive to fragrances or other scented products. Thank you for not wearing perfume, aftershave, or similar products.

 

Also, please don’t forget to regularly check the Community Page of this Sangha Website for new announcements.

 

Thanks.