October, 2007 – Mindfulness Community of Milwaukee – Newsletter & Events
The Mindfulness Community of Milwaukee is a spiritual community dedicated to the creation of a mindful culture fostering lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. We study and practice teachings from Buddhism and other traditions in order to nurture individuals, families, society, and a healthy planet.
We are located at 2126 E. Locust St., Milwaukee, WI 53211 (corner of Maryland)
414-962-8678, milwmindful@hotmail.com, www.milwaukeemindfulness.com/
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General practice schedule
* Sunday mornings 10 – 11 am: sitting and walking meditation
11 – 12 noon: readings and discussion
* 5th Sunday: Tea ceremony and mindful cleaning practice at center
* 3rd Sunday: The Hermit’s Well program for children, led by Paul Norton, Babara Ley, and Pat Holland. Please bring the kids at 10 am for a two-hour on-site supervised program of games, songs, arts and crafts, stories, snacks, mindfulness exercises, and other activities
* Wednesday evenings, 7 – 8:30 pm: sitting and walking meditation, readings and discussion.
1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 6 – 6:45 pm: Free drop-in meditation instruction.
* Mon and Wed mornings, 6:30 – 7 am: sitting and walking meditation
* Yoga sessions: Julianna and Ken Kipp (961-1787, www.yogaspace.us):
Fri, 9:15 – 10:45 and Sun., 2:30 – 4:00.
Sylvie Horvath: See information posted at Center
* Thursday mornings, 7:30 – 9 am: Spirit-Mind-Body Study Group of Columbia/St. Mary’s Hospital. Half-hour of meditation, presentation by group members, and discussion. All are welcome.
Sunday mornings in …
October: Sutra study: Our Appointment with Life by Thich Nhat Hanh. We will read this translation and commentary of the ancient sutra entitled “The Better Way to Live Alone,” which explores the stability of mind arising from dwelling in the present moment.
November: Building Sangha. Reading Friends on the Path, ed. by Lawlor and Thich Nhat Hanh, we will examine ways to strengthen and support our community, based on Buddhist principles and practice.
December:: Health and Mindfulness. We will discuss the links between mindfulness practice and our embodied state in sickness and in health.
Special announcements:
* If you are interested in adding music, song, or chants to your practice at the Center, please contact Beth Herbert at the Wednesday evening sangha meetings.
* A survey to assess the needs, desires, and interests of people attending the Center will be distributed in October. Please send your ideas for survey questions to Chris Rutter: c.rutter@sbcglobal.net
* We would like to offer child care every Sunday. Volunteers are needed to commit to one Sunday per month. Please contact Paul Norton at the Center if you are interested!
Upcoming events and classes
(for information or to register, call 414-962-8678)
Sunday, 7 October, 2007: Annual business meeting of the Mindfulness Community of Milwaukee. Meditation from 9 to 10 am. Meeting from 10 to 12 noon (at latest).
Friday to Sunday, 12 – 14 October, 2007. Regional Day of Mindfulness, sponsored by the Snowflower Sangha (the Thich Nhat Hanh-related community in Madison, WI). Held at Bethel Horizons Retreat Center in Dodgeville, and led by Jack Lawlor, regional dharma teacher. Flyers available at Center; please contact as soon as possible regarding open places.
Tuesday evenings, 2 October to 20 November, 2007, 6:30 to 8:30 pm: Mindfulness in Everyday Life. Paul Norton’s on-going course teaches mindfulness-based stress reduction and the first steps on the Buddhist path. Open to new and experienced meditators, this course covers basic practices such as sitting and walking meditation and mindfulness in everyday life. $125 for the entire course, $15 for individual “drop-in” sessions, includes a book and two CDs of guided meditation. Scholarships available.
Saturday, 3 November, 2007. Day of Mindfulness at Lake Country Unitarian Universalist Church, W299 N5595 Grace Drive, Hartland WI 53029. Paul Norton will lead this day featuring meditation, mindful walking and eating, dharma talks, and small-group discussion. For more information or to register, contact Paul Norton at the center.
Sunday, 9 December 2007: 12 noon to 1 pm. Meeting of the Practice Committee. Stay after Sunday morning sangha to share your ideas about upcoming themes, classes, etc. at the Center. The first agenda item is determining the themes for Sundays in January, February, and March. Inform Paul Brodwin at the Center of other agenda items before meeting.
Tuesday, 1 January, 2008. Celebration of Peace, sponsored the Buddhist Peace Fellowship of Milwaukee (an combined organization of several different local Buddhist centers). Details to follow
Thursday to Saturday, 24 – 26 January, 2008, 11 am to 5 pm. In-Town Meditation Retreat. No charge. Deepen your mindfulness practice with longer periods of sitting and walking meditation at the Center. Come any day for as long or as short as you wish. Flyers available at Center and on website.
Upcoming in January 2008: Buddhist approaches to death and dying, taught by Tom Kopka. Details to follow.
To learn more about the Mindfulness Community of Milwaukee, please visit our meditation and discussion sessions on Sundays and Wednesdays, or check out our website at http://www.milwaukeemindfulness.com/
For national sangha events with Thich Nhat Hanh,
visit the Plum Village web-site, http://www.plumvillage.org/index.htm