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The International Plum Village Community of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh appealed to President Biden in a letter October 19, 2023. The letter urged the US to call for peace and to support compassion for all civilians, and military as well, on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, The letter was authored and signed by the Senior Elder monk and the Senior Elder nun of the Tradition in continuation of the peacemaking practices of Thich Nhat Hanh. The letter includes a 2-page appeal to President Biden plus a 2-page Invitation To Sit Together for Peace. The full 20 page communication, found here, includes meditations, practices for Peace and Dharma Talks that were given at retreats on October 13, 2023 and also an Open Letter Calling for Peace from April 2022 at the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
 On April 26, 2023, Harvard 's Chan School for Public Health launched and dedicated its Thich Nhat Hanh Center for Mindfulness with a powerful Symposium. Thay, as his students refer to Thich Nhat Hanh, was the driving force behind introducing Mindfulness to the West in the 1970's and since. Monastics from Plum Village in France and other North American monasteries joined leaders and teachers from Harvard and many others like the well-known Mindfulness teacher Jon Kabatt-Zinn. Very Exciting ! And a great day for Public Health.
Enjoy this article from the Harvard Gazette: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/04/harvard-chan-school-opens-thich-nhat-hanh-center-for-mindfulness/  Every Lunar New Year, Thich Nhat Hanh would help his students ground themselves in their practice by offering a couplet of gathas for the next 12 months. These gathas have become known as the Parallel Verses. This wonderful practice - like all of Thay's teachings - continues in 2023. We are all continuing Thay in the world.
The 2023 Parallel Verses are particularly rich, especially in these times of many crises across the planet from climate destruction to war and political division. We can find Peace, and Be Peace, in every step. Even in the face of much suffering, both personal and societal, we can find Freedom and offer Freedom, with just our smile. We are free to choose which seeds we water -seeds of despair and pain, or seeds of joy and gratitude. We stop, breathe in, and recognize all the gifts we have already in our lives. We already have all we need to be happy. May we choose Peace and choose Freedom, in every moment. To download a wallpaper image of these verses, click here, and then right-click to "Save Image". Enjoy ! _(())_  Bill and Cheryl Hawthorne, and George Hoguet, were pleased to attend and represent our Sangha, on Sunday July 31st, at the dedication of a wonderful Peace Pole erected by the Rotary Club of Monroeville. The project was the vision of SOm Sharma, former head of that Rotary, and a leader in Pittsburgh's Interfaith Community. On behalf of the Rotary, which raised more than $15,000 for the monument, Mr. Sharma had invited members of many spiritual and ethnic communities to attend. The words, "May Peace Prevail" are found on the pole in 40 different languages. The Monastics from Pittsburgh's Buddhist Meditation Center (Thai), which is located in Monroeville, spoke briefly and chanted a Metta meditation in Thai. The fellowship there was as bright as the sunshine. The 12-foot high, stainless steel Peace Pole will last 400 years, and joins several thousand others now in more than 200 countries worldwide. Allegheny County Executive, Mr. Rich Fitzgerald spoke with pride at having this centerpiece in the County, and offered an official Declaration. The Pole is the center of what will become a Peace Garden at the Monroeville Community Park West. After the dedication, a Monroeville police officer invited Bill & Cheryl to consider using one of the pavilions in the park, closest to the Peace Pole, for an outdoor gathering of our community. Bill, Cheryl and George will be promoting a Day of Mindfulness there in September with walking mindfulness around the Peace Pole, which is at the center of a large labyrinth. Stay Tuned! 
 In 1966, Thich Nhat Hanh met with Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. They spoke about the war in Vietnam, and also about their shared vision of uniting all people through non-violence, and through the building of the "Beloved Community" (Dr. King's words), or as the Sangha of All Nations, as Thich Nhat Hanh would say. In these turbulent times of division and of a further hardening in the institutions of Systemic Racism, this conversation from the 1960's feels as urgent as ever.
Please enjoy this important, October 21, 2020 conversation, between Plum Village Dharma Teacher, Kenley Neufeld, and Kazu Haga of the East Point Peace Academy. Mr. Haga's new book is Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm. Beloved Community: Kingian Nonviolence and the Plum Village Tradition https://vimeo.com/470842696  A free Day of Mindfulness has been set for October 4, 2020 with Dharmacharya Kaira Jewel Lingo. The event theme, Touching Peace Now, is so appropriate for this challenging moment in our nation and in the world. Indeed, the half-day of practice is being coordinated by Sanghas in the US, Ireland and in the United Kingdom. More information is available on the event flyer, which includes a detailed biography of this marvelous Teacher: oct_4_2020_day_of_mindfulness_flyer.pdf
Please join us! You can directly register here. A ZOOM login link will be sent to registrants on October 2nd.  On October 2nd, Thich Nhat Hanh, celebrated his 92nd birthday; referred to in our community as our Continuation Day . Despite still suffering some debilitation from a major stroke in 2014, Thay (meaning Beloved Teacher), is active and sharing his teachings with every smile, and with a radiance that rivals the Sun.
Students of Thay's teachings submitted hundreds of photographs from all over the globe to wish him a Happy Continuation Day. A wonderful 3- minute video containing a select 92 photos, was created by the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation. Please enjoy the video and some additional information about Thich Nhat Hanh's current health condition from the Plum Village website. May we all continue being Thay's teachings of Peace in the world. _(l)_  Ready. Set. Glow!
Our facility is scheduled and waiting; our Dharma Teacher and other presenters are finalizing their offerings; our fantastic Vegan Caterer from last year is adding more veggies (at your request), and all we need now ... is YOU! Please join us in discovering our capacity, both individually and as a sangha, to respond to Life with Joy and Happiness even in the midst of challenging times. Click on this flyer image to learn more and to easily Register online. Hoping to see you there! |
