Come and Join

 

 

 

Shin Retreat 2010

 

(August 6-8)

Summer Schedule & Location

 

During the summer months we will be gathering in the Woodhead Lounge, at the Exley Science Center. Click here for directions http://www.bffct.net/id9.html

 

06/27. 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.

 

07/04. Fourth of July. No Wesleyan Gathering.

 

07/11. What I Discovered about Buddhist Teachings.  The graduates of our Buddhism 101 class will reflect on what they learned, including the challenges and blessings of practice, during their 6 month walk on the Buddha's path of insight, compassion and faith.  This gathering is especially useful for those who want to know more about becoming a Buddhist. Also, There will be a small Affirmation Ceremony for the Buddhism 101 Course's graduates. Lead by Senpai.

 

07/16. Shakespeare Field Trip. Come along and attend our 3^rd annual field trip to an Art Farm performance of “As You Like It” at Middlesex Community College, Middletown. This outdoor event will start will music at 6 p.m. and the play will start at 7 p.m. We will be located in the center front. We will either have BFF t-shirts or some other buddhist identification to help you spot us. Let us know if you are attending. $20 donation to Art Farm at entrance.  Rain date 7/17. http://sites.google.com/a/art-farm.org/www/artfarmnews

 

07/18. Obon: The Buddhist Festival of the Dead. Special field trip to New York City (see below) to attend the Hatsubon & Obon morning service of the New York Buddhist Church on 331 Riverside Drive with lunch and a visit to the Ruben Museum of Himalayan Arts. We are looking for volunteers to carpool. Please email at amida@bffct.net. To learn more about this event, visit:

http://www.newyorkbuddhistchurch.org/calendar.html

No Wesleyan Gathering.

 

 07/24. One Day Pilgrimage Field Trip – Chuang Yen and Blue Cliff Monasteries, NY State.  We will be leaving Wethersfield area at 8:30 a.m. It take about 1.5 hours to get to Chuang Yen. There, we will have a guided tour of the monastery and then have a vegetarian lunch ($5). Bring a bag for plenty of free Buddhist books. From there we will go to Blue Cliff Monastery, which is Thich Nhat Hanh’s main monastery in North America. We have tour around there and visit the book store. Open to all friends and members.

 

07/25. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.  Learn to live in the present moment.  Do one thing at a time.  We will explore how these and several other techniques author Carlson recommends to keep the little things from taking over your life bear an uncanny resemblance to the Buddhist path of avoiding too much attachment and too much aversion and accepting reality as it is.  Presented by Kisen.

 

08/06 - 08. Shin Buddhist Retreat with Dr. Mark and Taitetsu Unno at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. We highly recommend this weekend retreat experience. This annual event explores the fundamentals of Shin and encourages participants to go deeply within themselves to touch their very ground of being. This is open to beginners - advanced buddhists including non-buddhists and new to buddhism. Limited enrollment. Sign up early. To learn more and register visit

http://www.dharma.org/bcbs

 

08/15. Faith, Hope and Compassion. Participants of the Shin retreat will reflect on and share their retreat weekend experience. Themes will cover faith and hope in Buddhism, being the object of compassion and awakening to peace and love.

 

08/29. The Secret of a Happier Home Life. This talk and discussion will explore the dimensions of Right Speech. Through mindful and gentle speech and listening, we can create better relationships with family co-workers and friends. Presented by Senpai.

 

 

End of Summer Schedule & Location

 

 

09/12. The Present Moment, Interdependence & Faith. Includes our annual Water Ceremony. Please bring a vial of water from a location visited during the summer months (it can be tap too that symbolizes the place) that represents an experience of either interconnectedness, deep gratitude or entrusting faith. All vials will be poured into a large vase that symbolizes the Oneness of Reality. Presented by Senpai.

 

09/19. Star Wars, Avatar and Buddhism. Is there any connection with the spiritual storylines of these Hollywood movies and the Buddhist teachings? What is the connection between the Force and the Mother Tree with Amida Buddha and the Primal Vow?  What about the Shaolin monks and the Jedis? More connections and implications will be explored in this multi-media presentation. This will be a continuation of Eli Williamson-Jones' dharma discussion in 2005. Presented by Eli Willianson-Jones.