Death, strawberries, and stuff

We had a good discussion of life, death, clinging, transition, self, non-self.... and other things on Sunday, while enjoying the sweet strawberries & cookies that Sally brought. Ryan read a selection from No Death, No Fear, by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Next week, Jeremiah is providing a reading and Dianne promises to bake cookies.

Here are a few photos of the garden, which is growing quite happily in the back.

Sangha meeting

This Sunday we sat while the rain steadily drummed on the roof. By the time we rose to stroll around, the rain had abated, gently falling still. The reading of the day was on pages 252-255 of Food for the Heart by Ajahn Chah. Here's a link to the Google book. A synopsis of the work can also be read here. The selection read on Sunday was from the chapter Samma Samadhi: Detachment Within Activity.

When were talking afterward, someone asked me if I could recommend any books on Buddhism. There are quite a few to choose from, of course. Some of my favorite authors currently writing are Pema Chödrön, Thich Nhat Hanh, and the Dalai Lama. Other favorites include the late D.T. Suzuki, Jack Kornfield, and Sharon Salzberg.

That said - I often will just wander in the library and pick out books I haven't read, unknown authors.

Next week, Terrence agreed to provide the reading for the Dharma talk. Laura said she will bring some sort of snacks.

Please come by and sit with us at 1 p.m. if you wish.

Interview

The Huffington Post has a short & very non-sectarian interview with Thich Nhat Hanh. I think this approach is good. I am a Buddhist, but I also believe that the truths of life do not need to be named & are quite perceptible if we just stop to look inside ourselves.