June 2020 Newsletter

Dear Friends of Springs Mountain Sangha,
 
Our Winter into Spring practice period certainly became one unlike any before! A number of you have expressed a new appreciation of the way your practice has met this time with you, in you, for you and through you, showing up in smaller and larger ways—helping to sustain you when you are utterly overwhelmed; helping to steady you amid the ups and downs, the twists and turns of life in a time of pandemic; helping you notice how emotionally reactive you might sometimes be, and take a pause before acting on impulses; helping you listen more deeply than ever to friends, strangers and loved ones who are struggling, even when their views might radically differ from yours; helping you rest in the deep and wide unknowing of meditative awareness.   I am hearing also how the words of our sutras and services appear in the midst of the flow of things.  “All living beings are one seamless body, and pass quickly from dark to dark. We remember you….”  .  “…and Guanyin finds us on the dark and broken roads.”  “The way things are is mysterious and hard to see.” And “Your expression of the actual body is the harbor and the weir.”

SMS has actively met the challenges of sustaining sangha in this time by moving all of our offerings online, and by trying to stay well connected individually, as well.  We hope that you feel supported and encouraged, and less lonely, through your participation!

Over the coming months, we’ll be bringing in some additional opportunities, and we would very much like to hear from you what you may be wishing for, or wishing to offer!  You can write to us at info@smszen.org. 

One offering that I, as your resident teacher, will be making is the formation of a Refuge group.  We do this whenever a few people say more than once that they are deeply interested in our process of taking refuge in the Bodhisattva Way.  A booklet describing this process is available here: https://joansutherlanddharmaworks.org/Home/Practice_Resources/index.html (Taking Refuge in the Bodhisattva Way). When we form a refuge group, we begin a 12 to 14 part series of group studies of our vows and precepts. I’d like to begin this by mid-June.  If you have been feeling the pull of precepts study or of the process of taking refuge, please contact me at sembender@gmail.com.  I’ll give first preference to those most deeply engaged when setting the schedule for the meetings.  But anyone can join in the precepts study, whether you plan to take refuge formally or not.

We also plan to offer a couple of ceremonies that seem important as ritual practice in this time. The first will be a Jizo Ceremony during our community night on Monday, June 8.  Jizo is a bodhisattva (embodiment of awakening) known as protector of children and guide through the underworld.  The ceremony makes a space for individual and shared grieving and renewal of courage. More information on this will be coming soon.

My heart’s wish for you during this time is that you know yourself beloved in this life, and that you are well enough supported to know that you are an essential part of the deep transformation that is happening in and through us. May the warmth and greening of spring and the long days towards the solstice, the leafing out and blooming around us, refresh, heal and strengthen us.
 
Yours in the Dharma,
Sarah Bender

For our ongoing schedule please see our website at smszen.org 

Watch for new links for Zoom meetings to be sent out via email soon!

Zoom schedule has been designed to leave time for open conversation via Zoom after each of our scheduled meditations. 

MAY

Saturdays, 4 PM: May 30 Koan meditations, Sarah Bender, Roshi

June

Work In the Room

Work in the Room by telephone or Zoom can be arranged with Andrew Palmer, Sensei at alpalmer128@gmail.com or with Sarah Bender, Roshi at sembender@gmail.com. 

Recording 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.

~UPCOMING EVENTS~

Movie Night
Thursday, May 28th, 6:30 pm

Join us as we watch and discuss the 1988 animated classics by Studio Ghibli, as a two-part series on hope, survival, suffering, and identity. We are watching these movies one by one: Thursday 21 May was focused on “Grave of the Fireflies”. This Thursday, 28 May @ 630 PM we’ll discuss “My Neighbor Totoro” and the interplay between the two films. 

We’ll do the same logistic set-up as the previous movie night (watch separately and meet up via Zoom). A note of warning: these movies have very intense and depressing themes, particularly “Grave of the Fireflies”. However, combining these movies is a powerful, rewarding emotional experience and especially with each other to enjoy the difficult themes together. We’re looking forward to having you join the conversation!

Some primer questions to shape the conversation: what is hope for the characters? What do you share with the characters? What themes or lessons can be applied during these times of suffering? 

Both movies can be found for free on YouTube if you search the movie titles and (FULL MOVIE); however, higher quality versions and options to choose between dubbed or subbed versions can be found on Amazon and other streaming sites.

For additional information including the Zoom meeting link, please contact Jeff Wagner at jjusafa23@gmail.com.

Ecodharma Group

Tuesday, June 16th, 6:30 PM

All are welcome for conversation and information. In these meetings, we provide a place to speak about how our particular Zen practices are at work in our actions. We notice different types of action arising- forthright, passive, and sometimes resting in order to once again act. We have discovered that the power of simply sharing, and deeply listening, mysteriously creates action– “do your work , then step back.” Tao Te Ching.

In this meeting, David Cockrell will speak about Green New Deal policy, significant to climate and social issues.

We will also discuss the film, Paris to Pittsburgh. A discussion guide is included for climate crisis actions that can be taken locally. Please bring what jumps out for you, as well as actions already coming forth for you. Link to pdf to explore what actions you can do in your community: 
https://www.bbhub.io/dotorg/sites/36/2019/03/ParisToPittsburgh-DiscussionGuide.pdf

Contact Debbie Stavish at gardenmail@msn.com for the Zoom meeting link

Save the date: 2020 Fall Retreat at Pueblo Mountain Park!

Looking ahead, we have scheduled a full 5-day residential retreat at Pueblo Mountain Park for October 14-18, 2020.  We are hopeful that the virus threat will have sufficiently diminished by then that we can meet in person and sit together in that lovely setting where we held our multi-sangha retreat last June.  More about that later. To see the list of upcoming retreats, check out the SMS web site.

~Many Arms of Guanyin~

One of our beloved sangha members, Zac Chapman, is the executive director of Colorado Springs Food Rescue (CSFR). He recently shared with us that one of the biggest needs that CSFR has currently is nitrile food service grade gloves. Information regarding donations to CSFR can be found on their website here.  Recently, Jeff Wagner, another cherished sangha member volunteered for CSFR and wrote the following to share with us:. Thanks Jeff!

While running food to various homes and apartments from Colorado Springs Food Rescue (CSFR), I was overwhelmed with how beautiful the world can be. I was lucky to get a volunteer shift with CSFR, an awesome local group that redistributes food from supermarkets/restaurants/farms to those in need. Everyone still was a little reserved initially when I brought the food and some even told me: “put the food down by the door and back away slowly!” But even with those that didn’t want to be disturbed, I noticed a calm appreciation and excitement to receive the help, as if I were a younger proto-Santa Claus delivering packages of fresh care and support. There were some that didn’t want to overstay my presence but I kindly reassured them I am extremely happy to help. As such, their nervousness or social politeness satiated, they blossomed forth with smiles, laughter, and rich personal stories of the past. I even got to meet legendary Baseball Hall-of-Famer who played on the Springs’s Brown Bombers 65 years ago! COVID has been hard on us all and even when we interact, it still seems like the messy and socially ambiguous interactions that happened prior; however, it seems more rewarding to engage others with patience, listening, and mutual respect as these social situations are few and far between. If you are financially able, please consider donating to CSFR!

Springs Mountain Sangha Mask Projects

Treasured sangha member, Liz Cramer supported the Dharma Relief project by making numerous calls to Colorado hospitals. This project was also supported by several other Buddhist organizations (including Lion’s Roar, Buddhadharma, PZI, Shambhala Publications, the Pema Chodron Foundation) and raised money to supply American hospitals with boxes of 2000 FDA approved type 2 surgical masks. 160 hospitals requested the PPE and for now,  the Project is on hold as they have reached the limit of supplies. 

At our local level we also have individuals making masks. The patterns online are numerous. One local organization accepting mask donations is One Nation Walking Together, and they can be contacted at 719-329-0251 for information regarding how to donate masks.

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/

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.