White Heron Sangha Full Event Calendar

Meditation Instruction (23 Jun 2013)

Sun, 23 Jun 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Optional meditation instruction is held at 5:00pm on the second and fourth Sundays of each month.

"Thoreau's Buddhism" - talk by Steven Marx (23 Jun 2013)

Sun, 23 Jun 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Thoreau’s Buddhism

Talk by Steven Marx

Henry David Thoreau published the first American translation of Buddhist scriptures.

His own writings bring their teaching to life.

Sangha member Steven Marx is a Professor Emeritus of English at CalPoly.

Samatha (Concentration) Meditation Class Series - 4th Class (24 Jun 2013)

Mon, 24 Jun 2013 22:30:00 GMT

Samatha (Concentration) Meditation Class

June Kramer will be offering a class series on samatha (concentration) meditation. It will be held on the four Monday evenings in June, from 6:30 PM until 8 PM, at Crow’s End retreat center.

The series will focus primarily on developing a samatha practice. Each class will include instruction, questions, meditation, and also a short talk, with an accompanying reading.

Samatha meditation uses one object of attention to quiet the mind, and thereby lessen the relentlessness of discursive thought. Its ultimate purpose is insight into the nature of reality. Even in the beginning stages, however, there are many benefits, sometimes described as "purification of mind." In daily life, there is often an increased capacity to let go of distractions and attachments of all kinds, as well as increased calmness and openness of heart.

June practiced in the vipassana tradition for 30 years before doing her first concentration retreat in 2007. She has attended several other 2 week samatha retreats, and is in her second year of a mentoring group led by Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder. They were authorized to teach in this lineage by Pa Auk Sayadaw. You can read more about them and about this practice on their website, jhanasadvice.com.

You can email June at junekramer1@gmail.com if you are interested in the class, or if you have questions. It will be offered on a dana (donation) basis.

"Practice and the Three Characteristics" - talk by Rosemary Donnell (30 Jun 2013)

Sun, 30 Jun 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Practice and the Three Characteristics

A talk by Rosemary Donnell

In January of 2000, Nancy Hilyard and I graduated from Spirit Rock’s first Community Dharma Leader (CDL) program. Every year some of the graduates of that program get together for further teachings.

This year’s theme is ”Practice and the Three Characteristics.” We will have teachings from the three main Buddhist traditions: Blanche Hartman - Zen; Silvia Boorstein - Theravada [vipassana]; Gil Frondsdal - Zen & Theravada; Anam Thubten - Tibetan.

When I was working at the Poly Health Center, when one of us went to a medical conference we would try to distill out key nuggets (or "pearls") that might be helpful and report on them to our co-workers. I will try and do the same for our Sangha with pearls of wisdom from this conference. Please join me for what I hope will be some interesting perspectives on this important topic.

-Rosemary

Sharing the Dharma (07 Jul 2013)

Sun, 07 Jul 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Sharing The Dharma

Bring a short reading, favorite quotes,

poems, or a song to share.

Meditation Instruction (14 Jul 2013)

Sun, 14 Jul 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Optional meditation instruction is held at 5:00pm on the second and fourth Sundays of each month.

Talk by Michael Moran (14 Jul 2013)

Sun, 14 Jul 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Talk by Michael Moran

Board of Directors Meeting (21 Jul 2013)

Sun, 21 Jul 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Board of Directors quarterly meeting. 3pm at Unity.

Everyone is welcome.

“Choosing Happiness” - talk by Nancy Hilyard (21 Jul 2013)

Sun, 21 Jul 2013 22:00:00 GMT

“Choosing Happiness”

A talk by Nancy Hilyard

Dharma Songs: Bob and Wendy, Karoline Hausted and Mark Davis (28 Jul 2013)

Sun, 28 Jul 2013 22:00:00 GMT

An evening of dharma themed music by

Bob and Wendy

www.bobwendy.com

Karoline Hausted

http://www.blushmusicrecords.com/

and Mark Davis

http://www.reverbnation.com/markdavisandtheinklings

Recollective Awareness Meditation - Community Workshop (04 Aug 2013)

Sun, 04 Aug 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Recollective Awareness Meditation Community Workshop

Linda Modaro, of the Skillful Meditation Project, will be offering a Recollective Awareness Meditation Community Workshop on Sunday, August 4th from 10am to 2pm at Crow's End in San Luis Obispo.

The schedule for the day will include several meditation sittings, a dharma talk and group discussion, along with break out groups designed to give participants the opportunity to explore their meditation sittings with the teacher in a small group.

For more information about this approach to meditation, please contact Linda Modaro (linda@skillfulmeditation.org). Contact Mary Renard (slomary93401@gmail.com), if you would like to register for the workshop. Space is limited.

"Historical Causes and Conditions" - talk by Linda Modaro (04 Aug 2013)

Sun, 04 Aug 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Historical Causes and Conditions: How they Affect Current Meditation Practice

A talk by Linda Modaro

of the

Skillful Meditation Project

http://www.skillfulmeditation.org/

Note: all dana collected this evening will go to Skillful Meditation Project.

In the west, many of us come to Buddhism from other secular or religious backgrounds. These early conditions in our life, along with other causative factors, can influence what meditation practices we are drawn to and how we take up the tenets of Buddhism. Encountering the concepts of suffering, impermanence, the precepts, etc... can resonate deeply within us but we may not be so aware of how these intertwine, overlap and are flavored by where we came from. It is not uncommon for meditators to lose the source of how early values, beliefs and views have made their way into consciousness and are now habits of mind that just seem to make sense. Looking into our history of personal suffering is one thing but examining our "obviously correct" current ideas which are informed by historical causes and conditions, so much so that we favor and delight in them, can be much more challenging.

Linda currently teaches for the Skillful Meditation Project and Santa Monica Acupuncture and Meditation. She holds groups in Santa Monica, San Diego, and San Luis Obispo and works with individual meditators via Skype/phone. Additionally she teaches public workshops, Continuing Education workshops for therapists, acupuncturists and nurses, and leads meditation retreats locally and nationally.

Meditation Instruction (11 Aug 2013)

Sun, 11 Aug 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Optional meditation instruction is held at 5:00pm on the second and fourth Sundays of each month.

“The Three Bodies of the Buddha" - talk by James Coleman (11 Aug 2013)

Sun, 11 Aug 2013 22:00:00 GMT

“The Three Bodies of the Buddha”

A talk by James Coleman

Round Table Discussion led by Rosemary Donnell (18 Aug 2013)

Sun, 18 Aug 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Round Table Discussion

led by Rosemary Donnell

White Heron Sangha Annual Picnic (25 Aug 2013)

Sun, 25 Aug 2013 20:00:00 GMT

White Heron Sangha Picnic

Sunday, August 25, 2013

The annual White Heron Sangha picnic will be held on August 25 at Meadow Park in San Luis Obispo from 4:00 – 6:30 PM. This year we are having a special ceremony to recognize sangha volunteers. The short program will be held in the building at Meadow Park adjacent to the picnic area, and will be followed by a delectable selection of desserts, iced coffee and tea.

The picnic is a pot luck/family/friends affair. Bring a main dish or salad to share - drinks and dessert will be provided. You may also want to bring your own plates and eating utensils, folding chairs, blankets to sit on, umbrellas, etc. We will be on the grass at Meadow Park near the parking area off South Street near the Unitarian Church.

As an added attraction, Devin Wallace will be leading participants in Qi Gong (energy building) exercises as folks arrive and gather for the picnic. We hope you will join us for this casual, fun event.

"Deepening into Presence," Weekend Retreat with Mary Grace Orr (28 Sep 2013)

Sat, 28 Sep 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Deepening into Presence

Weekend Retreat with Mary Grace Orr

Join teacher Mary Grace Orr and White Heron Sangha for two days of mindfulness practice, focusing on the many ways we can wake up in our daily lives, using the difficulties of our lives as our teachers. This day will be suitable for beginners and experienced meditators.

Mary Grace Orr has practiced vipassana since 1983. Prior to that, she followed other western contemplative practices. She worked as a therapist from 1977-1995 and was trained to teach vipassana by Jack Kornfield. Mary Grace was the founding teacher of Insight Santa Cruz and teaches retreats at Spirit Rock and throughout the United States. Currently Mary Grace lives with her husband on the Big Island of Hawai’i.

There will be opportunity to meet with the teacher to explore questions and practice. The retreat consists of periods of meditation instruction, silent meditation, walking meditation, group interviews and a dharma talk each day. Please take advantage of Mary Grace's generosity in coming here to be with us and providing the opportunity for guidance on our practice.

When:	Saturday, September 28, 2012, 9:30AM-4:30PM Sunday, September 29, 2012, 9:30AM-3:30PM
Where:	Morro Bay Veterans Building, 209 Surf St, Morro Bay 93442 (map)
Cost:	$40, which covers the expenses of the sangha in putting on the event, but does not include a payment to the teacher. Arrangements can be made if the fee is excessive for you. We encourage you to attend both days in order to appreciate fully the teachings. The teachings are offered freely. The retreat fee covers the retreat expenses; none of the event fee goes to the teacher. A dana (donation) basket will be available to help support the work of the teacher. We try to keep our fees at a minimum so that you can be truly generous with your donation to the teacher. You can donate to the teacher online here: dana or by check or cash at the retreat.
Registration:	You can register and pay online (through PayPal, including credit card) or at the door (cash or check only). Pre-registration is preferred but is not required. Online registration is not open at this time. Check back in August.

Bring your lunch. Tea and snacks will be provided. Bring a mat and cushion if you want to sit on the floor. Chairs will be available. For questions, contact Carole Maurer at camaurer@sbcglobal.net or 528-8018.

Board of Directors Meeting (20 Oct 2013)

Sun, 20 Oct 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Board of Directors quarterly meeting. 3pm at Unity.

Everyone is welcome.

4 Day Retreat with Jason Siff (22 Nov 2013)

Fri, 22 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT

4 Day Residential Meditation Retreat

sponsored by Skillful Meditation Project

Teacher	Jason Siff
Location	Dancing Deer, Templeton CA (San Luis Obispo County)
Dates	Friday, November 22 through Monday, November 25, 2013
Fees (Lodging & Food)	$350 for a single room $300 for a double room $150 Non-residential (Commuter)
For the Teachings	Dana
Inquiries	Mary Renard slomary93401@gmail.com 805-595-2413

Recollective Awareness Meditation is a flexible, gentle approach to Buddhist meditation that offers an authentic way to investigate your inner world. This retreat offers ways to become more aware of meditation experience, to increase discernment and exploration, and to examine various conceptual frameworks people bring to meditation. The emphasis is not so much what you do in meditation but what you experience in meditation. By recollecting meditation sittings, you awaken to the variety of experiences within meditation and naturally cultivate beneficial states of consciousness.

At this retreat there will be periods of sitting meditation, dharma talks and group discussion. New perspectives are discovered in small group and individual interviews facilitated by the teacher. Beginning and experienced meditators are welcome. Free time will be given for participants to walk, read and take time off.

https://www.skillfulmeditation.org/events/retreats/13-11-22-JS.html