January 2021 Newsletter

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Solstice  Letter Winter 2020
from Sarah Bender
 
Dear Friends,

Woke at 3:45 this morning, 43 minutes after do-si-do
the moment where tilt away turns to tilting to,
a moment that is just a point
and so is imaginary, like everything else held
in the deep Samadhi of our tilty universe.
Perhaps we, too, are just extended points, really,
since here never stops being here and yet I grow older,
and I will die.

This morning at 7:20 there were already two people, tiny,
on top of Pulpit Rock, basking in the early  morning sunlight.
The night was a splendid celebration of night, the curl of moon,
Jupiter and Saturn darn near holding hands,
but here, the light! The rock under my boots on the hillside,
lit.

And early afternoon, stretching winter-tight joints on the terrace
with the sun not that high but high enough,
warm on our backs and faces,
the breeze cool and the stones still cold. Don’t forget they said, winter.

And sitting with my dear friend, his very breath his presence, head turned away
and big hand resting under covers. 
Resting. and here. Nothing else required but to rest, here.
“What about what does not move?” a student once asked.
“It just moved.”
 
And that’s a mystery.
And so we’ll see the sun rising a tad earlier, through a different notch
in the tree line, making a different patch on the floor,
rising higher and oh so oh so gradually warming everything
again, here.
It is still, here.
 
And here is where we meet each other, where we
help each other through a hard time
and celebrate that we can, that we can rest
and we can go on
and we can reach out.

Yours in the Dharma,

Sarah

December

Wednesday, December 23 – 8 PM: Candlelight Meditation
Monday, December 28 – 6:10 PM: Dharma Talk, Andrew Palmer Sensei
Wednesday, December 30 – 8 PM: Candlelight Meditation
Thursday, December 31 – 10:30 PM: New Year’s Eve Sit and Ceremony

January

Sundays, January3, 10, 17, 24, 31 – 8 PM: Candlelight MeditationWednesdays, January 6, 13, 20, 27- 7:30-9 PM: Open Source Koan Meditation, the Four Open Source Teachers 
Monday, January 4 – 6:10 PM: Sutra Service and Discussion
Saturdays, January 9, 16, 23, 30, February 6, 13 – 4-6 PM: Dharma Study Series, Sarah Bender, Roshi
Monday, January 11 – 6:10 PM: Precepts and Community Night
Monday, January 18 – 6:10 PM: Dharma Talk, Sarah Bender, Roshi
Monday, January 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Event
Tuesday, January 19 – 6:30 PM: Ecodharma Group
Monday, January 25 – 6:10 PM: Dharma Talk, Andrew Palmer Sensei

February

Saturdays, February 6, 13 – 4-6 PM: Dharma Study Series, Sarah Bender, Roshi
Thursdays, February 11, 18, 25, March 4: Intro to Zen ClassSunday, February 21: One day Retreat

March

Tuesday, March 9: Practice Period beginsTuesday, March 9 – Sunday March, 14: Open Source Meditation Retreat

Ongoing Meditation Schedule

Winter Solstice Ceremony

We joined together with Sarah Bender, Roshi, Andrew Palmer, Sensei, Megan Rundel, Sensei and Tenney Nathanson, Sensei in the zoom Open Source temple this evening, Monday, December 21 to celebrate the solstice in a ceremony adapted from our founding teacher, Joan Sutherland, Roshi. During this rich and beautiful ceremony, our teachers shared several poems which can be found here:

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
BY ROBERT FROST
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/42891/stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening

The Snow Man 
BY WALLACE STEVENS
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45235/the-snow-man-56d224a6d4e90

Frost
BY TENNEY NATHANSON

These must not think on to his dark bells
Wind and the frozen lake.
Think of sound’s sleep and the evening
Silences, snow and lovely, darkest miles.

Let This Darkness Be a Bell Tower
BY RANIER MARIA RILKE
https://onbeing.org/poetry/let-this-darkness-be-a-bell-tower/

New Open Source Email List

If you’d like to join the info/discussion group for Open Source (which Megan Rundel recently set up) just email the address below with your name and email address.

opensourcezen+subscribe@groups.io

A favorite poem of John Harder’s:

Upcoming Events

New Year’s Eve Sit and Ceremony

Thursday, December 31, 10:30 PM to 12:30 AM 

Get together on Zoom
for meditation, reflection, bells, snacks and celebration
to welcome 2021!

2021 Calendar

The Springs Mountain Sangha Steering Committee has generated our 2021 calendar which can be found here. There’s a lot of exciting things planned for next year! Mark your calendars for the retreats, we are hoping to be able to gather in person for our Fall Retreat, October 18-24 and are planning more in person physically distanced things as the warmer weather arrives.

Candlelight Meditation – Sundays, starting in January

Our weekly candlelight meditation is moving to a new evening. Starting in January, this sit will be on Sundays rather than Wednesdays. The time will remain the same 8-8:30 PM. 

Open Source January Koan Meditation

Begins Wednesday, January 6th

Dharma Study Series 

with Sarah Bender, Roshi
Saturdays, 4 PM MST, Jan. 9,16,23,30 and Feb 6, 13

We’ll be anchoring our study in David Hinton’s new exploration, China Root: Taoism, Ch’an, and Original Zen

MLK Stories and Event

The Springs Mountain Sangha along with partners from the MLK 2021 Planning Committee are seeking submissions of written personal reflections for the 2021 MLK Day Community Events on January 18, 2021. This year’s theme is “Community Out of Chaos: Change Now!”

These writings should be a personal accounting of:

• an experience you’ve had with racial difference; or,
• an interaction or action you’ve taken that moves us one step closer to overcoming systemic injustice or intolerance based in race or ethnicity.

We are seeking and will consider personal, original and authentic experiences; submissions that incite or encourage violence or use explicit language will not be considered.

Submissions should be no more than 250 words and can be anonymous if the author states that desire in their request for consideration. However, the committee must have contact information to connect back with the author.

Submissions need to be received by 2p.m. on December 15, 2020 to be considered.
Chosen submissions will be uploaded to the MLK 2021 Facebook Event page and other online platforms for continued community access. A select few submissions may also be read during the event by the author or by one of the planning committee’s designee. These shared experiences will then become springboards for future “Community Out of Chaos: Change NOW!” community dialogues throughout the year.

Please submit your story to and direct any questions to: mlk2021communityengagementsubcommittee@cctigers.onmicrosoft.com

Ecodharma Group

Tuesday, January 19th, 6:30 PM
Contact Debbie Stavish gardenmail@msn.com

Did you know that “tree” and “art” are the same word to the indigenous people of Costa Rica? “The tree is what connects earth with sky and the artist fulfills the same function. That link cannot be separated,” says musician and rainforest preservation activist Manuel Obregón. Watch his performance of “Symbiosis” and journey into what gives us the symbiotic life we live together with our forests. Go to 26:10 on this YouTube clip at the 23rd session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO)

Join us at SMS Ecodharma where we bear witness and take action in this great turning in time. We are guided by The Three Pure Vows: we vow not to do harm, to do good, and to do good for others.  We discover that racial & earth justice are interwoven.  Liberation, individual & group action, listening, and shared inquiry all help us to skillfully take action for sustainability and just living. We walk our heart-urged path with the question, “How is my work helping my liberation and how is my liberation helping to free all beings?” There is nothing to prove. We trust in our companioning and the dharma’s guidance.  

If you’d like to be on our SMS Ecodharma group email and receive our monthly newsletters, please email Debbie: gardenmail@msn.com

Introduction to Zen Practice

Thursdays, Feb 11, 18, 25 and March 4
6:30 – 8 PM

Several people have joined us over the past several months, and you are invited to join to learn more about our Zen practice. This is a wonderful opportunity to ask questions and meet with fellow sangha-mates to explore and deepen your own practice. All are welcome to join! This series is timed to coincide with the February 1-day retreat on Sunday, February 21st.

One-Day Retreat

Sunday, February 21

Save the date for this one day retreat on February 21. This is a great time to take a day to join Springs Mountain Sangha in retreat, helpful as a first retreat experience as well as for ongoing practitioners.

 Open Source Meditation Retreat

with Sarah Bender, Roshi, Andrew Palmer, Sensei, Megan Rundel, Sensei, and Tenney Nathanson, Sensei March 9-14, online

Save the dates

Practice Period 

Practice Period is a specific time we set aside each year to deepen our practice. This year, we have a committee already beginning to design ways to support us during this period. Practice period begins with our Open Source Retreat on March 9th and ends with our Integrative retreat on April 20 – May 2. More details to follow in future emails. 

Newcomer’s Orientation

Newcomer’s orientation is offered by request. This is a brief introduction to our meditation sessions and forms, which we pre-covid had offered on Community Night on the second Monday of the month. Please contact Kelly McFarland at s.kelly.HLS@gmail.com if you are interested in this orientation.

Recordings of Talks

Did you know that you can listen to previously recorded talks online? Sarah Bender, Roshi’s talks are available here. This link also includes talks she has given through Pacific Zen Institute. Andrew Palmer, Sensei’s talks are available here.

Newsletter Additions?

Do you have artwork, a poem or a volunteer story to share in our newsletter? If so, please send them to Kelly McFarland at s.Kelly.HLS@gmail.com.

Many Arms of Guanyin

Thanks to those of you who donated & participated in our coats/sweaters and pet beds/supplies December drive. 

COVID-19 has exacerbated the food insecurity which one in four Americans have suffered at some point in their lives. Pets have indirectly suffered due to unemployment and financial crises abound. Consider learning more about the following local outreach groups :

• Colorado Springs Food Rescue: 
  • http://www.coloradospringsfoodrescue.org/
• Westside Cares:
  • https://westsidecares.org
• San Luis Valley Animal Welfare:
  • https://www.slvaws.org
• Colorado Springs Humane Society:
  • https://www.hsppr.org
•  Family Promise Shelter of Colorado Springs:
  • https://familypromise.org/

Wellness Committee 

Our sangha’s wellness committee is headed by Linda Hodges, who updates the committee regularly on needs of particular members so that we can reach out to each other when needed!

If you could use a boost of any sort, or if you’d like to be available to respond when the need arises, please contact Linda at hikerhodges@gmail.com.

Volunteer with SMS 

Are you interested in volunteering to help with a specific project within the sangha? Do you have a particular skill or enthusiasm for something that might be helpful? Would you like to help out, but not sure how? SMS truly values and depends on the many efforts given freely by the sangha to the sangha. This is dana and is so much appreciated. If you have questions or want to help, please contact Kelly McFarland S.Kelly.HLS@gmail.com

About Dana

During these times when we cannot meet in person, you can donate to Springs Mountain Sangha through our PayPal account. You can get to the SMS PayPal link on the SMS web site at:

https://www.smszen.org/supportsms/ 

We depend on the generosity of our members to support the work of our sangha.

 If you want to make a donation to Sarah Bender specifically, for example, dana for classes, group meetings or work on the phone (suggested donations for these are $10 per class, or $20 for a 20 min. individual meeting)  you can do this by sending a check directly to her.

 Sarah Bender
7528 Jenkin Place
Colorado Springs, CO 80919

Support for Cloud Dragon

An easy way to support Cloud Dragon, the Joan Sutherland Dharma WorksAmazon shoppers, sign in at smile.amazon.com and choose Cloud Dragon Dharma Works as the charity you would like 0.5% of your purchases to go to. It costs you nothing extra. We’re grateful for your generosity. 

 See also Joan Sutherland’s Patreon site, 
https://www.patreon.com/posts/do-you-trust-yr-31567633

This is another good way to support Joan’s work and receive fresh teachings from her.