Day of Mindful Reflection in Nature - October 2, 2021 - Join Us!
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"Be the monarch of your life, and sign a decree to exile suffering and call back from all points of the universe the power of birds and flowers, the vitality of youth. The whole universe will smile when your eyes smile."
Thich Nhat Hanh A genuine smile is a powerful tool for Peace; it disarms those who are angry and who feel threatened. It says, "Hello, friend, you are safe with me". Such a smile arises from a peaceful heart, one that is at ease. October 2nd is a day for smile-building; a Day of Mindful Reflection in the healing arms of Mother Nature. It is an opportunity for deep, personal reflection while in the company of good friends who are also a great refuge for us. Our event is headquartered at Pavilion #1 in beautiful Monroeville Community Park West. The parking area is adjacent the Pavilion, located right off of Baseball Boulevard (map) . The day includes readings and teachings; meditations and music; a Peace Walk and Sitting at the newly-dedicated Peace Pole; and a "Forest Bathing" experience* in a more wooded section led by 2 Certified Guides who are members of our Sangha. And yet, with all of this, the day will be very spacious and open, allowing for time alone, journaling or whatever is most healing. A vegetarian Potluck dinner will follow. * For those participating remotely, or those at the Park who are not able to participate in the Forest Bathing, an alternate online program is being developed. Our Day of Mindful Reflection is FREE, and open to sangha members, family and friends. Please Register (here) as we need to know how many will be attending for purposes of setting up safe social distancing in the Pavilion. Dana (donations) will be gratefully accepted, with all funds used to pay for space rental and materials. |
What to Bring & the Potluck: Please bring your own meditation cushions and/or a fold-up chair for activities outside of the Pavilion. Although we will meet after any morning dew should be gone, the ground could still be damp, so a covering may be useful. Other suggestions include: personal water bottle; bug spray; a sweater or jacket (avg temp = 62 degrees); a small journal & pen, and a personal cloth napkin for dinner. Tennis shoes or walking boots are also strongly suggested. We will have water and hot tea (and cups). If you are willing to share a dish for the potluck, we can heat/reheat on the grill. We will also have compostable paper products and flatware plus some coolers for colder items.
COVID Policy
We adhere to the most recent CDC and Pennsylvania Health Department guidelines for all of our social gatherings. Allegheny County is presently within the CDC’s “High” Transmissions category for new cases per day of COVID virus, but neither agency yet requires masks be worn outdoors. Due to the transmission ability of the Delta variant, we will practice social distancing, and recommend wearing a mask during those times when maintaining 6 feet of distance might not be possible.
We encourage our members and friends to continue to make choices that support our individual and collective safety and well-being. Our October 2nd event will be accessible via Zoom, so if you live at a distance; are feeling sick; have a fever or believe you may have been exposed to someone with the coronavirus; or if you don’t feel safe attending even outdoors, please join us remotely. Hoping to see you In-Person or Online.
COVID Policy
We adhere to the most recent CDC and Pennsylvania Health Department guidelines for all of our social gatherings. Allegheny County is presently within the CDC’s “High” Transmissions category for new cases per day of COVID virus, but neither agency yet requires masks be worn outdoors. Due to the transmission ability of the Delta variant, we will practice social distancing, and recommend wearing a mask during those times when maintaining 6 feet of distance might not be possible.
We encourage our members and friends to continue to make choices that support our individual and collective safety and well-being. Our October 2nd event will be accessible via Zoom, so if you live at a distance; are feeling sick; have a fever or believe you may have been exposed to someone with the coronavirus; or if you don’t feel safe attending even outdoors, please join us remotely. Hoping to see you In-Person or Online.