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August Schedule
Dalai Lama Article
Prayer Requests
Yoga in the Park
Shakespeare in the Park
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Greetings!

I'm running late with this week's email, but we are meeting tonight at 7:00 pm to summarize and complete the first stage of meditation on emptiness, the meditation on not-self. If you have a book, bring it. Bring your insights and questions for this stage as well.

Next week we begin with the Chittamatra / Yogacara / Mind-Only stage of meditation on emptiness - an important step into the Mahayana view which is often misunderstood. Things start becoming even more subtle! If you've been thinking of coming, now is a good time to start.

Email Archive  We are practicing complete transparency - All of these emails are available for viewing online in case you've missed any of them or in case anyone is curious what we're up to. Click the link above or go to the link on our Contact Us page online.
August Schedule

The calendar is always available for viewing on our website.

Friday, August 7, 7 pm
Watch DVD, Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness, Chittamatra School

Monday, August 10, 7 pm
Re-view video
 
Friday, August 14, 7 pm
Review Chittamatra School with material from the book

Friday, August 21, 7 pm
Watch DVD

Monday, August 24, 7 pm
Re-view video

Friday, August 28 - Off this week*

Friday, September 4 - Off this week*

* I'm going to the seventh year of Shedra (Philosophical School) and will be gone August 28-September 7. Anyone want to ride up and back with me?
Dalai Lama Article in Snow Lion
Dalai Lama
Questioning the Advice of the Guru, The Path to Enlightenment
Book Excerpt

Article Link at bottom

In the current issue of Snow Lion, the most prominent front page article is an excerpt by HH the Dalai Lama on questioning the advice of the guru. This is an important area that is subject to a lot of misunderstanding. This article helps place the issue in perspective and reminds us of Buddha's instruction to always keep reason and knowledge of Dharma as principal guidelines.

The foreward of the article says:

You should do everything your guru tells you to do, even if it seems strange, right? Wrong. According to HH the Dalai Lama every student is responsible for checking the guru's instructions against reason and dharma. The rationalizations that many students tell themselves in the face of odd guru behaviors-"It must be a teaching" or "It's crazy wisdom that you can't question" or "It's a test"-serve only to damage students who don't understand that even powerful teachers have personalities that sometimes have blind spots and make mistakes. H.H. the Dalai Lama speaks strongly on this topic in this excerpt adapted from The Path to Enlightenment.

Click here to read article

Ironically, this is the first book on Buddhism I ever picked up and read, 14 years ago. If he had said otherwise, I think I would have put the book back down. As Buddha said in what is known as the Four Reliances:

Rely on the Teaching, not the Teacher
Rely on the meaning, not the letter;
Rely on the definitive meaning, not the interpretable meaning;
Rely on wisdom, not on consciousness.

- Shakyamuni Buddha,
atuhpratisarana and the Samdhinirmocana Sutras


In other words, wisdom is the bottom line... never give up your wisdom mind, ever. We have to stay awake while waking up.
Prayer Requests

In Hospice at Home:
Tony Stanley, father of Nickie Stanley

Recently Passed:
Henry Joel Churchwell, father of Joel Churchwell
William Orsinger, Father of Janet McIntyre

Going through challenges:
Tamara & Lex Price - personal
Cynthia Capers - The anniversary of her son's accident was Monday
August 2 & 16th - Yoga in the Park
Donation-based Yoga
100% of Proceeds support the Sexual Assault Center

Yoga in the Park

August 2nd & 16th

Two opportunities to practice:
9:00 a.m. - Sevier Park (near the large parking area)
6:30 p.m. - Bicentennial Mall (near the amphitheater)

For more information, email raquel@zazeneast.com

As many of you know, our dharma sister Nickie Stanley works for the Sexual Assault Center, which does important work in our community. Here is an opportunity to benefit the center and enjoy a session of yoga at the same time.
Coming Fun Events

Shakespeare in the Park

Sometimes we just gotta have fun. One of our dharma brothers, Robert Marigza, is Operations Manager / Producer for the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, which has two events coming up at Centennial Park. Maybe we should plan a group outing! Interested? Email me.

The Taming of the Shrew
(performed by the Byron & Beth Smith Apprentice Company)
August 13 - 23, 2009

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)
(performed by local professional actors)
By Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield
August 27 - September 13, 2009

Thursdays through Sundays
and Labor Day Monday
At Centennial Park Bandshell
6:30PM Pre-show entertainment
7:30PM Show
Food & drink available on-site
$5 Suggested Donation
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Let's wake up!

With love,

Rita Frizzell
Luminous Mind

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