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Meetingbrook Dogen & Francis Hermitage
Schola Gratiae et Contemplationis
(A School of Gratefulness and Contemplation)
Saturday Mindfulness Retreat
This monthly 3rd Saturday
Mindfulness Retreat (6:00am-2:30pm at the hermitage on Barnestown Road)
engages us in contemplative monastic study
and practice with silence & stillness, ora
et labora (prayer & work), collation & recollection.
.
Schedule for the 8.5 hours
The day is one of silent mindfulness practice consisting of sitting, walking, working, reading, eating, and ending with final circle comments.
There are three periods of (40-10-40) sitting-walking-sitting, two periods of eating, one period of work, one for lengthier walk, and two readings -- one with reflective conversation.
· Sitting
-- 6:00am-6:40am
· Walking
-- 10 minutes
· Sitting
-- 6:50am-7:30am
·
· Optional
chanting 15 minutes
· Collation & Recollection:
30 minutes breakfast* & reading
·
· Sitting
-- 8:15am-8:55am
· Walking
-- 10 minutes
· Sitting
-- 9:05am-9:45am
·
· Work
period, 9:50am-10:50am, 60 minutes
· Walking
period, 11:00am-11:45am, 45 minutes
· Lunch**
-- 11:45am - 12:30pm, 45 minutes. (With table reading, silence, response)
·
· Sitting
-- 12:30pm- 1:10pm
· Walking
-- 10 minutes
· Sitting
-- 1:20pm - 2:00pm
·
· Final
Circle Conversation -- 2:00pm-2:30pm
· Words
on Kindness, Metta*** Recitation
· Words
on Love, The most important one is this**** Recitation
Saturday Mindfulness Retreats (SMR) are held each 3rd Saturday of the month. The 8.5 hours will focus on contemplative/meditative practice central to all traditions.
Bring nothing but willingness to practice with others. As with all events at Meetingbrook, the SMR is free, open, and informal.
..
· *
Light breakfast, (juice, coffee, tea, fruit, toast, muffins)
· ** Collation,
(as defined in the Oxford English Dictionary), is the light repast
or refection taken by those in a monastic setting, usually
at close of day, after reading, conference, or conversation, (quiche
or soup, bread and salad).
· ***
Metta means loving-kindness. In Metta the heart opens unconditionally,
encompassing all that is, with acceptance, awareness, and good will.
The word Metta is from Pali, the language of the earliest Buddhist
texts. Metta is universal, finding expression in all religions and
societies.
· **** The
most important one is this -- begins the Christ response when asked
the most important commandment. God longs simply that we love as
God loves. God is love and everything God does flows from this love.
Our love for God is a response to Gods grace and kindness for us.
It is a new freedom to love as God loves. This is gift of Spirit.
.
The Buddha's Words on Kindness (Metta Sutta)
This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who knows the path of peace:
Let them be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech.
Humble and not conceited,
Contented and easily satisfied.
Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.
Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,
Not proud and demanding in nature.
Let them not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.
Wishing: In gladness and in safety,
May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born,
May all beings be at ease!
Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.
Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings:
Radiating kindness over the entire world
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.
Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views,
The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,
Being freed from all sense desires,
Is not born again into this world.
The Words of Jesus about Love (Mark 12:28-34)
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good
answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: `Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your
strength.'
31 The second is this: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.
33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your
neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."
(New International Version)
Meetingbrook Dogen & Francis Hermitage is a Schola Gratiae et Contemplationis, i.e., a School of Gratefulness and Contemplation. It was formed as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in 1998 for the purpose of serving as a place of collation and recollection for the side-by-side practice and study of Buddhist Zen Meditation & Christian Contemplative Prayer, and the Engaged Service flowing from each. Central to Meetingbrook is its Schola dedicated to Interreligious DialogueUnveiling and Practicing Peace Between Ways. Donations are always gratefully accepted for the continuance and deepening of Meetingbrook.
64 Barnestown road (at snow bowl) Camden,
Maine 04843 207.236.6808 or 236.4346
www.meetingbrook.org mono@meetingbrook.org