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Dear Friend
Happy New Year!
At this time when we celebrate new beginnings, right after having celebrated the return of Light, the birth of the Divine into the world and revelations of the Divine in countless ways, now is an auspicious moment for contemplating and truly remembering why we are here, what our purpose is, what we can do with this precious human life.
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What if?
What if you took birth
to know radical freedom
Instead of constantly chafing
against the bonds of limitation?
What if you took birth
to know radical freedom
from self-centered wants and needs,
To be carried by cascades of love
along a river of ecstasy
with nothing to do but
shout to the parched, thirsty souls
standing on the river banks
"Jump! Jump in! Jump in!
You can be free of suffering!"
What if you took birth
to know radical freedom and boundless love
instead of wandering lost in the desert
maze of anger and fear?
What if you took birth
to know radical freedom
Empowered to unfailingly choose
the Way of compassion,
kindness and agapé?
What if you took birth
to know radical freedom
As taught by one fully awake -
a Buddha,
One who has gone beyond -
a tathagata,
A Christ
who taught the Way -
Do unto others as you would have them
do unto you,
Who taught the sutras of selflessness,
compassion, kindness and boundless,
joyous Love,
Who awakens you to why you took birth -
To rejoice every moment
bathing in the sea of unconditional love,
To selflessly serve,
buoyed by uplifting currents
in the ocean of delight!
Having left behind
the conditioned mind,
Knowing radical freedom,
You are Buddha
You are Christ
You are Karuna
You are Kwan Yin
Gaté, gaté, paragaté, parasamgaté, bodhi swaha!
Kalidas
May we serve the One with all the love and joy we are capable of!
Happy New Year!
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NEW Meditation Programs & Courses
Anam Cara Meditation Foundation
Everyone is welcome to our non-denominational meditation programs. No experience is necessary.
2nd & 4th Thursday Evening Meditation - 7:15pm
We have started our regular meditation programs at our new location: 2 Byram Brook Place, Armonk, NY 10504. Every second and fourth Thursday of the month, 7:15-8:30pm, open meditation session - all are welcome. No registration needed.
Katonah, NY Monthly Meditation Sessions
Saturday Jan. 4th and Feb. 1, 2014: 7-8:45 pm
Fee: by donation. Suggested donation: $20
All donations are tax deductible.
Location: Katonah Yoga is generously hosting us.
39 Main Street, Bedford Hills, NY 10507
Everyone is welcome!
Buddhist Widsom Treasures I for Non-Buddhists!
5 week course starting Wed. 1/15, 7:15-8:45pm, Anam Cara, Armonk. Fee: $145 for 7.5 hours
The Buddhist tradition offers great insights into the workings of the mind and how we can be free not only of the mind, but of all suffering. One doesn't have to be a Buddhist to gain the tremendous benefits from the wisdom that this ancient tradition offers. Priests, nuns, rabbis, ministers, scientists, business leaders and people from all walks of life have found the teachings of the Buddha enhanced their everyday lives and their spiritual practices.
During this course we will explore the foundational teachings and practices that Buddha offered, including mindfulness meditation, vipassana and cultivating boundless compassion.
For more information please visit our Events page (click here)
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Thank you all
for your notes of appreciation for our
newsletter. It's great to hear from you!
Everyone has
the heart to be a true friend of the soul, an
"Anam
Cara." By embodying that ideal we
may serve to help
others to find love and compassion within
themselves and the world.
Our highest nature is always
manifest in
relationship - to all other beings, to the
environment, in relation to our own body and
mind. Becoming mindful of the quality of our
relationships
allows us to learn where the light shines and
where it
needs to shine more. The ideal of Anam
Cara is to
continuously endeavor to expand the depth
and the
inclusiveness of the loving kindness we bring
into
every relationship, every moment, every breath.
If
you have any
suggestions, comments or sharings, for our
newsletter please don't
hesitate to e-mail me and I'll do my best to
respond.
TheAnam Cara Meditation
Foundation is a 501
(C) 3,
non-profit
educational organization dedicated to
teaching
meditative practices. Our non-
denominational
programs are open to all. There are free
meditation instructions and downloadable
audio files of guided meditations on the
meditation page of our website.
Thank you for the many ways you have shown
support for Anam Cara . Because
of your gifts we can offer free programs and
instruction to thousands of people. If you
would like to
make a tax deductible donation please send it to the
address listed below or go to our website
where you
can make a secure online donation.
A special thank you to our generous supporters who give donations and make regular pledged donations.
Click HERE.
That link will also bring you to our links
with Sounds True and purchasing gifts and
products from them will help support
Anam
Cara..
I look forward to welcoming you
in person to our programs.
With
all my
appreciation and love,
I thank you all.
May all beings know complete freedom from suffering and may all our actions reflect only wisdom, compassion, patience and love.
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