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Greetings and Namaste!
The Buddha said:
Our life is
shaped
by our mind; we
become what we think. Suffering follows an evil
thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that
draw it.
Our life is shaped by our mind;
we
become what we think. Joy follows a pure thought
like a shadow that never leaves.
"He was
angry with me, attacked me, defeated me, robbed
me" - those who dwell on such thoughts will never be
free from hatred.
"He was angry with me,
attacked me, defeated me, robbed me" - those who
do not dwell on such thoughts will surely be
free from hatred.
For hatred can never put
an end to hatred; love alone can. This is an
unalterable law. People forget that their lives will
end soon. For those who remember, quarrels cease.
Dhammapada
Eknath Easwaran, trans.
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Abiding In Stillness
Out of the stillness the gong sounded, dissolving
back into stillness even as it marked the end of the
sitting meditation and the beginning of the walking
meditation. Thus the silent weekend retreat in
August
progressed, hour by hour from Saturday through
Sunday. During the weekend the
stillness and quiet moved to the foreground
while the mind dissolved again and again, thought by
thought.
Buddha
said, "Better than a hundred years of ignorance is
one day spent in reflection. Better than a hundred
years of idleness is one day spent in determination.
Better to live one day wondering how all things arise
and pass away." Such wisdom guided the retreat. At
the end of it people remarked that they felt a greater
spaciousness and quietness of mind. People also
noticed how much effort it takes to truly have the
mind be silent for even a few moments! It goes after
every sound, sensation, thought, feeling, image and
on and on! As the stillness and spaciousness open
through the deepening silence, this delicious subtle
joy arises
like a soft glow accompanying the bare awareness
illuminating everything. Who can resist going back to
that stillness over and over again! That's where
even striving and effort, meditation and non-
meditation dissolve and freedom prevails.
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Programs and Announcements
September-November 2006
We're happy to announce a new website for offering
information and support to those interested in
Kundalini and the powerful transformative processes
She engenders: www.kundalin
isupport.org. It has answers to frequently
asked questions and invites sharings from readers of
their Kundalini
experiences. We're grateful for the selfless service,
the seva, offered by Roxi Benoit who created the
website, and Dorothy
Walters who shared her some of her wisdom as
part of the
answers to the questions.
New and
experienced meditators are all welcome to
our programs. We have a regular Tuesday evening
meditation and chanting group in Bedford, NY that
includes
instruction and discussions as well as meditation.
Courses and weekend
retreats are
also offered to develop and deepen your meditative
practices.
September
13th The
Power Of Meditation Enhances Health and Healing
Lecture by Lawrence at Gilda's Club, White Plains,
NY; 7 pm
September 23rd
Rhode Island, WARL 1320am Radio interview;
Saturday 11am-Noon, Steve Donofrio Show;
streaming live
www.1320thedrive.com
Oct. 12-Nov.
9th Cultivating Wellbeing Course - 5
Thursday evenings with Drs. Michael Finkelstein,
Susan Rubin and Lawrence Edwards. SunRaven,
Bedford, NY www.sunraven.org Course info. at:
www.thesoulsjourney.com/events.html
October 22 The Science and Art of
Meditation Northeast Regional Biofeedback
Society Meeting presentation, Sunday afternoon,
Rutgers Univ. For more info: www.nrbs.org
November 10-12
Mysteries of the Divine Feminine and Kundalini
Empowerment Retreat Friday eve
through Sun. afternoon, Anam Cara, Bedford, NY.
Includes lectures, guided
meditations, chanting and most importantly, the
sacred and ancient Kundalini empowerment diksha.
Pre-registration is
necessary for courses and retreats.
Find out more....
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Anam Cara, Inc. is a 501 (C) 3, non-profit
educational organization dedicated to teaching
meditative practices. Our non-denominational
programs are open to all.
Thank you for
the many ways you have shown
support for Anam Cara, Inc. In the fall we will
celebrate the
5th anniversary of the Anam Cara weekly meditation
satsang. Because of you the years of serving to
support people's meditation practices continue to
mount. Anam Cara means "friend of the soul" and
you've made it possible for us to continue fulfilling our
mission in that regard. I am deeply grateful. With
great respect and love, I thank you.
Sincerely,
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