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| Buddhist Faith Fellowship at the Mansfield Freeman Center |
Buddhism is a life long education to learn how to realize our human potential by transforming
suffering into peace, joy and liberation.
Come and Join
Come
and practice with us on most Sunday mornings,
overlooking
a Zen garden at the inspirational
Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies,
Wesleyan University,
Middletown, Connecticut,
10 a.m. to 11:45 - 12 p.m.
Please arrive 10 minutes
early but if you are late,
feel free to join us. Dress informally and comfortably.
Open to all beginners and advanced seekers.
All new guests will receive a free gift book,
Living Meditation, Living Insight
by Dr. Thynn Thynn.
Sunday
morning activities are offered Free of Charge
but
a donation is greatly appreciated.
See
our calendar below.
e-mail
us
amida@bffct.net
or call us for more information
(860) 805-2078
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| Practice and live a happy life. |
New To Site
Buddhist Film Festival 2010 This year's Film Festival includes a new line
up of inspirational buddhist films. Start on Wed. Jan. 27, we will showcase Baraka and in Feb. the movie Little
Buddha. See below for details.
Support
The Earthquake Recovery Efforts in Haiti. The people of Haiti desperately need our assistance more than ever. Food, water,
shelter and first-aid supplies are the first priority. The rebuilding of the country will be neccesary. Please consider
donating to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and share hope and American goodwill. See below for more information or visit
http://clintonbushhaitifund.org/
Buddhist 12 Step Group.
Do you have an addiction? Drugs? Alcohol? Porn? Nicotine? Gambling? Eating? etc. To help you in your recovery, we have
created a new non-sectarian Buddhist 12 Step Group. This is the first in the state. Our 12 Step Group meets
on Mondays at 7:00 @ the First United Methodist Church in Middletown. See below for more information. For contact, and/or
join our e-mail list click buddha12step@hotmail.com
Our Newest Short Video. Take a look at our film, entitled BFF of Ct: Community, that deplicts our sangha, its members and varied
activiities.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdsdfkZnWZ0
BFF
of Ct's Facebook. Have you become a fan of our Facebook site? Be a fan and keep in touch with us and others. We
send out a newsletter and updates a couple of times a month. See Facebook web page for link.
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| Sunday Mornings at the BFF of Ct |
(Updated on January 16, 2010)
Winter Theme:
Touching Peace
& Discovering Faith
01/24. Beginning Anew. Start the New Year with a clean slate and hope. The Beginning Anew ceremony and practice is a powerful and
intensely moving experience. It allows the participants to look deeply within, to share their feelings about others or events, and
to let go of the obstacles to peace and harmony. There will be 4 main phases: 1) sharing appreciation, 2) sharing
regrets, 3) expressing hurt, 4) sharing a difficulty & asking for support. Sharing is purely voluntary. After each
phase, a short meditation and lovingkindness will be given the participants. Presented by Senpai.
01/31.
From Skirmishes to Jihads. Discover the Buddhist way to resolve conflict. What
is the approach that Buddhist takes to warfare? How do we wage inner and outer warfare? Is there such a thing as a just cause
to war? Can a Buddhist become a soldier? Explore the realms of applied Buddhist ethics. Excerpt readings from Buddhist Ethics by Damian Keown and Ocean by Kenneth Tanaka. Presented
by Daikan.
02/07.
Buddhism 101. What is the essence of Buddhism? Learn about the buddhist
view on the human condition, the Buddha, the path, the hope and liberation. There will be a short talk and plenty of
Q & A. to clear up your questions and confusion. Lead by Abhaya.
02/07.
Sound Healing Meditation: Every first Sunday of the month, we will meditate
with various forms of chanting. For February, we will play a Reiki Chant for 15 minutes. Reiki Chants uses "pioneering sound
healing work coupled with Kotodama, an ancient system of sound healing. These sounds manifest and encode the energy of the
Reiki Symbols for accelerated healing, as well as for deep meditation and relaxation. The sonic resonances created from these
sounds are particularly effective for enhancing all manner of healing and are also exceptional for deep relaxation and stress
reduction."
02/14 Embrace Life-As-It-Is: Impermanence, Death
and Rebirth. Come and honor the Buddhist festival of Nirvana Day – Nehan-e that commemorates the passing of the historical Buddha over 2,500 years ago with story,
discussion and song. The discussion will explore change and our aversion to this reality, life and death as one reality, and
the hope of rebirth in the Pure Land using the life and death of the historical
Buddha as an example.
02/14.
World Sound Healing Day 2010: Every year on this date, at 12 noon (eastern time), people around the world join together to chant love and appreciation to Mother Earth.
The chant is the simple sound of “Ah” and lasts for 5 minutes. The “Ah” is a universal sound that
when projected as a collective practice with focus and intention is powerful & therapeutic. Join us and send a sonic
valentine to Earth and project your intention of love and healing to Earth and to yourself. This special event will take place
after our Sunday gathering at 12 noon. You are welcome to stay and participate in this transformational practice.
02/21. Did Buddha Ever Have "A Case of the Mondays"?
A discussion about “Work and Buddhism” In this discussion we will explore work as an integral part of our
spiritual path rather than a barrier to it. We will focus on how to remain mindful during times of stress on the
job as well as how to recognize opportunities in our employment for gratitude, meditation, and transformation.
This discussion will be based on the book entitled Work as a Spiritual Practice
by Lewis Richmond. Presented by Jinshu.
02/21.
Mantra Healing Circle. This therapeutic tool addresses your personal needs
and concerns through the power of sound vibrations. Starts at 12:15 p.m. Includes some sitting meditation. Open to all. Free.
Lead by Myo-on.
02/28. The
Path of Water. How does great compassion smooth our rough edges?
How are we lead to peace and harmony? This talk will explore water as a metaphor to describe the dynamic working of
Amida Buddha in our lives? Presented by Senpai.
03/07.
Mindful Loving: 10 Practices for Creating Deeper Connections. Most relationships
are unsuccessful because they are ego based. Learning how to create a spiritual relationship can lead to our own happiness
and to better our connections with others. Mindful loving not only works for our romantic relationships but can help any relationship
in our lives. Presented by Myo-on.
03/14. In the Name of Love. Explore how the Great Compassion (Amida Buddha) comes forth into the world transforming anxiety,
strife and fear into the sustance of enlightenment. Metaphors from American history will be used to explain the Primal
Vow and how it can be seen as our spiritual Emancipation Proclamation. Presented by Senpai.
03/24.
Balance: The White Path through Fire and Water. Using the Parable
of the White Path by Shan-tao various ways of maintaining balance and entrusting will be discussed. How can we use faith
and shinjin to negotiate our foolishness, ignorance and passion? Presented by Dojin.
03/24. Rededication Day.This is a Shin Observance Day called Higan, meaning "Other
Shore." It corresponds to the Spring Equinox. On this day, there is a harmony of light and darkness, and we rededicate
ourselves to the Buddha's teachings in order to realize harmony and awakening within our lives.
04/04. Flower Festival. Celebrate the birth of the historical birth 2,500 years ago in Lumbini Garden. A
statue of the baby buddha will be on the altar. This special gathing is great for families and newcomers. Includes ceremonial
washing of the baby buddha, the retelling of the birth story, chanting and song, prayer, and a discussion on the
significance of the Buddha and his teachings in our lives. In addition,
this will be the 9th anniversary of our community. Special words will be given to honor the sangha and its evolution over
the years. Presented by Senpai.
04/11.
The Poetry of Life. Presented by Senpai
04/18. Euthanasia
and Suicide. What is the approach that Buddhist takes to
these controversial issues? Is it ever ethical to commit suicide? Is euthansasia a "sin"? Explore the realms of applied Buddhist
ethics. Excerpt readings from Buddhist Ethics by Damian Keown and Ocean by Kenneth Tanaka. Presented by Daikan.
04/25.
Letters to and from the Buddha Within: Journaling as a Spiritual Practice.
Explore writing as a form of mindfulness meditation. Consider how journaling takes
"the raw material of daily life and [transforms] it into wisdom, peace, and joy". Sangha members can share their current
writing habits and state their intentions to begin, resume, or enhance their journaling practice. Excepts from: Mindful
Recovery: A Spiritual Path to Healing From Addiction written by Thomas Bien, Ph.D. & Beverly Bien, M.Ed. Presented
by Jinshu.
05/02. topic
to be announced. Presented by Jiko.
05/09. topic to be announced. Mother's Day
05/16. Loving-Kindness- the Path of the Foolish
Bodhisattva. This talk and
discussion will examine compassion looking at why should we care? How able are we to care? How can we let go of outcomes?
It will draw from buddhist prayer and the insights from in the Tannisho, the words of Shinran Shonin, the founder and foremost
teacher of Shin Buddhism, Presented by Shoju.
05/16. Mantra Healing Circle. This therapeutic tool addresses your personal needs and concerns
through the power of sound vibrations. Starts at 12:15 p.m. Includes some sitting meditation. Open to all. Free. Lead by Myo-on.
05/23.
Something You Forgot...Along the Way. This talk and discussion will present
heart-warming stories that will explore life's basic truths, and spiritual and psychological insights. They will inspire
you to look deeply within yourself and stir the aspiration to seek your inner potential of wisdom and compassion. Readings
from the book with the same title of this talk, written by Kentetsu Takamori. Presented by Senpai.
05/30. Annual Wisteria
Festival/Memorial Day Picnic. No Wesleyan Gathering.
06/06.
Buddhist Poetry: What Words Can't Describe. Poetry can be a
vehicle to express our faith and spiritual experience. Also, it can arouse faith and inspire others to follow the Way of the
Buddha. We will read poems by members of the Sangha and other Buddhist writers such as Thich Nhat Hahn and the Shin Myokonins
as a basis of discussion of the deep meaning our practice brings to our lives Presented by Dojin.
06/13. Mindfulness Retreat - Topic: Presence & Overcoming Craving.
Lead by Senpai with special guest Darren Littlejohn, author of The 12 Step Buddhist. More information is forthcoming.
Registration starts in April. This retreat will take place in New Hartford. No Weslesyan Gathering.
06/20.
Sharing a Big Belly Laugh with Buddha: How Humor Can Improve Our Practice. Discover
how humor can help us keep all aspects of our lives and practice in perspective. Discuss the "curse" of seriousness and benefits
of viewing our ego as a clown. Also, with any luck, we will share a few laughs together. Excerpts from It's Up to You:
The Practice of Self-Reflection on the Buddhist Path by Dzigar Kongtrul. Presented by Jinshu.
06/27.
topic to be announced. Presented by Senpai.
07/04.
Fourth of July. No Wesleyan Gathering.
07/11. to be announced.
Also, Graduation for Buddhism 101 Course. Presented by Senpai.
07/18. Obon: The Buddhist Festival
of the Dead. Event details are forthcoming.
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| Donate to Haiti Relief |
Donate to Earthquake Recovery
Support The Earthquake Recovery Efforts in Haiti. The people of Haiti desperately need our assistance more than ever. Food, water, shelter
and first-aid supplies are the first priority. The rebuilding of the country will be necessary. Please consider donating
to the Clinton Bush
Haiti Fund and share hope and American goodwill.
We recommend the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund for two important reasons. First, due to their presidential
status and humanitarian reputations they will make sure your donations will get to those in need. They claim 99% of the donation
will go to the survivors. Secondly, they will work to provide immediate relief and long-term support to earthquake survivors.
Visit http://clintonbushhaitifund.org/ and make a donation. Thank you.
Buddhist Film Festival 2010
The Buddhist Film Festival of Connecticut 2010 will show two movies this winter: Baraka
on January 27 and Little Buddha on February 24. Both showing will be at 7:00 p.m. The Buddhist
Film Festival explores Buddhist teachings and culture. It is open to the general public free of charge.
All movies are offered to the larger community at the Buttonwood
Tree Performing Arts and Cultural Center at 605 Main Street, Middletown, Connecticut.
http://www.buttonwood.org/cgi/calendar.pl.
There is plenty of free street
parking.
Jan. 27: 7:00 p.m. Baraka, 1992
http://www.spiritofbaraka.com/baraka
Feb. 24. 7:00 p.m. Little Buddha, 1993, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci starting Keanu Reeves and Bridget Fonda. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Buddha
What is the Buddhist Film
Festival of Connecticut? It showcases cinemagraphic works that explore the Buddhist religious experience or take on Buddhist
spiritual themes. All viewings are free of charge and are part of the our New England Institute of Buddhist Studies'
(NEIBS) Buddhist Film Course. One does not need to be a NEIBS student to attend. It is open to the general
public. http://dharmaquest.bffct.net/
The Film Festival 2010 Calendar
Baraka - January
Little Buddha - February
Visitor – March.
This 2009 film did not get nearly enough attention- even though Richard Jenkins received Best Actor nomination for his performance.
The theme of film is "just connect". It is a beautiful story of what can happen when lives intersect and people are
willing and able to drop their story lines- and "just connect."
Nobody Loves Me - April
Cherry Blossoms –
May. This film is directed by Doris Dorrie, a German Buddhist film maker- who also directed How to Cook Your Life. It takes
place in Japan during very special cherry
blossom season. It deals with life/death with Buddhist concepts subtly interwoven.
We hope you can attend and lend support to our sangha and Buddhist culture.
Please spread the word and bring some friends too.
Our
Buddhist 12 Step Group
Open to buddhists and non-buddhists
Looking to be addiction or craving free?
Are your seeking to be sober, clean and free? We have established the first Buddhist 12 Step Group for addiction recovery
in the State of Connecticut. You do not have to be a Buddhist to participate or benefit from our 12 Step
Group. This non-sectarian group meets on Monday evenings at 7 – 8:30 @ the First
United Methodist Church,
24 Old Church Street, Middletown.
Our 12 Step Group applies Buddhist principles to recovery. The 12 Step Buddhist
by Darren Littlejohn is our Group’s guiding book. For newcomers, the inspirational A Teaching A Day is given free. Other
suggested books are One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the 12 Steps by Kevin Griffin, Mindful Recovery by Thomas Bien, and
The Zen of Recovery by Mel Ash.
If you are interested in participating
or are looking for more information about our Buddhist 12 Step Group or joining our 12 Step e-mailing list, contact us at
buddha12step@hotmail.com
To read more about this unique 12 Step
Group visit
http://buddhistfaith.tripod.com/project/id14.html
OUR BUDDHIST CHAPTERS WORLD-WIDE
To visit our Chapter/Practice
Groups’ web sites
visit our Connecticut &World Wide Chapters page
Ongoing. The East
Alabama Buddhist Fellowship in Alabama gathers
on a regular basis. Hosted by Practice Leader Mr. Chris Marbutt.
Ongoing.
The Sarasota Buddhist Fellowship in Florida gathers on a regular basis. Hosted by former Connecticut
member and now Practice Leader Ms. Geena Tomlinson.
Ongoing. Grupo Budista de Benito Juárez meets
once a month in Benito Juárez, Argentina with meditation
and nembutsu. This
group's Practice Leader is Sebastián Calo.
Ongoing. Grupo Budista de Córdoba meets
once a month in Córdoba Argentina with meditation and nembutsu. This
group's Practice Leader is Rodrigo Pedraza
Cécere.
Ongoing.
Brevard County Buddhist Fellowship
(BCBF) serves Titusville, Cape Canaveral, Satellite Beach, Merritt Island and
more. This active and growing community has three sanghas.
Ongoing. Southington
Buddhist Fellowship gathers on the first Friday of the month, serving Southington, Chershire,
Wolcott, Waterbury and Meriden Buddhists and Friends. Hosted by Bob W.
Ongoing. Social Action Project. Our active Buddhist human and environmental advocacy group meets regularly
with field trips and activities. It host our 12 Step Buddhist Group that seeks recovery from all sorts of craving and
addictions. Get involved! Visit web site.
Ongoing.
Albuquerque Buddhist Fellowship Group. Meets
on most Sunday mornings at the First Unitarian Church
in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Hosted by BFF Practice Leader Dug Corpolongo. Visit web site.
Ongoing. Northern Ontario Buddhists. Meets in Massey, Ontario.
Hosted by S. Dreaver. Visit this Canadian Buddhist
web site for more information.
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