“Centering ourselves in this present moment, we practice mindfulness and awareness with our own body and breadth, letting this lead us into a deeper connection with the Earth and all sentient beings.”

The day will be held in Noble Silence from 9:00AM to 4:30PM.  We will break for a pot luck meal at 11:00AM. Please bring food to share with the group.  There is no registration fee for this Retreat, but participants must pre-register at the Sangha.  Registration will begin in late September 2010.  There is a limit of 20 people and the Retreat is open to both women and men.  Dana will be graciously appreciated.

Taos Mountain Sangha is pleased to announce a one day, hiking/meditation retreat with renown teacher, Eric Kolvig on Sunday, September 26 2010.  The retreat is open to all who are reasonably fit and capable of doing easy to moderate hiking.  We will spend the day in the mountains near Taos hiking amongst the Fall colors, meditating, listening to a Dhamma talk, and in discussion. Registration is limited to 20 people and participants must register and pay for the retreat prior to Monday, September 20 2010. Registration is at the Sangha and all participants will be expected to sign a release of liability form prior to departure.  Plan to bring your own lunch, 2 liters of water, a Crazy Creek chair or similar chair for sitting, hiking boots, and poles if desired, rain gear and layered clothing as it may be cool during the day.  We will meet promptly at 8:00 AM at the Sangha for car pooling to the trail head and return by 5:00 PM to the Sangha.  The retreat will be held at the Sangha should inclement weather preclude hiking.  Further information is available by contacting Bob Parker at: rpa@newmex.com or 575-751-1963.  The fee for the retreat is $25 and is non-refundable.

While our wish is to provide all who come on retreat at TMS with an environment most conducive to deepening meditation practice, there are practical limitations regarding the level of support we can reasonably offer.  This is especially true for wilderness based retreats. In particular, we are unable to provide medical and psychological care. For this reason, we request that - apart from unforeseen emergencies - you take care of your own health needs while on retreat.  TMS reserves the right to review all applicants and advise them of their acceptance or non acceptance into a retreat. If you have any questions about your capabilities for participating in a retreat, it is important to discuss these concerns with the retreat leaders prior to submitting an application. Applications contain detailed questionaires on medical and psychological health and medication information that help the retreat leaders to make an assessment for participation.

We wish each of you a safe, peaceful and fruitful summer on your journey and in your practice wherever that may land you.

*The next Beginner-Intermediate Meditation classes at Taos Mountain Sangha will be led and taught by Sean Murphy on Tuesdays from 6:30pm to 8pm in September (7,14,21,28). All are welcome to attend one or all of the classes. Donation appreciated.
*For events at the Taos Mountain Sangha, a “reserved” sign will be placed at the last parking space on the street by the handicapped ramp for attendees who need special parking.

*The next Sangha planning meeting will be on September 8.

Ongoing Schedule

* Mondays, 4pm The Book/study group at the Center. All are welcome.
* Tuesdays, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Drop-in meditation.
* Wednesdays, 8am to 10am: Zen Style Meditation with 3 sitting and two walking periods (you can attend all or enter during one of the walking periods.) Sits are 35 minutes followed by 10 minute walks or Chi gong.
* 2nd Wednesday of each month (usually), 3:30 pm: Sangha Planning Meeting, open to all Sangha members. The next meeting will be held on September 8th.
* Thursdays, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Drop-in meditation.
* Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 pm., Meditation, talk, discussion (see schedule below).

JUNE 2010 Highlights
June 24th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk and discussion led by visiting teacher Chris Clifford. Donation

JULY 2010 Highlights
July 1, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk To Be Announced. Donation.
July 8th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk on “View,” and discussion led by Selah Chamberlain. Donation.

July 15th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk and discussion led by Julie Tato. Donation.

July 22nd, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk and discussion led by Julie Tato. Donation.
July 29th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation and discussion led by a Sangha member TBA. Donation

AUGUST 2010 Highlights
August 5th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation and discussion led by a Sangha member TBA. Donation.
August 12th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation and discussion led by a Sangha member TBA. Donation.
August 19th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation and talk on “Thought,” led by Selah Chamberlain. Donation.
August 26th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk on “Speech,” and discussion led by Selah Chamberlain. Donation.

Upcoming Regional Events of Interest

Taos Mountain Sangha Scholarship Fund has been established to help support sangha members’ practice through attendance at retreats. For each year, $1000 will be available for at least two scholarships of $50 - $300, depending upon need, to help pay costs for registration or transportation for retreats. Anyone interested in receiving a scholarship should apply in writing to Board chair Chris Wells (cwells@newmex.com) with the following information: name, address, phone; how long you have practiced; the name, date, and teacher of the retreat; the amount of financial support requested.

2010

*Beginner-Intermediate Meditation classes at Taos Mountain Sangha will be led and taught Sean Murphy on Tuesdays from 6:30pm to 8pm in September (7,14,21,28). All are welcome to attend one or all of the classes. Donation appreciated.

We encourage you to visit our website at www.TaosMountainSangha.org to be linked to other regional Sanghas and Centers who are offering residential and non residential retreats.

Taos Mountain Sangha Caring Committee has been organized and is ready to respond if you or someone you know in the sangha is in need of help. Please contact Holly Defani at 776-2906. If she is unable to assist, then she will contact another committee member to ensure that help comes promptly. Please note that we have volunteers in various regional areas: Taos, Ranchos, Blueberry Hill, El Prado, Lower Las Colonias, Upper Las Colonias, and Arroyo Seco.

Taos Mountain Sangha promotes the teachings of the Buddha and the practice of insight meditation, according to the tradition of Theravada Buddhism.

Taos Mountain Sangha is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

Taos Mountain Sangha Meditation Center
107 Plaza Garcia (street south of Michael’s Kitchen), Suite C, Taos, New Mexico

For more information, e-mail tmsangha@taosnet.com website www.TaosMountainSangha.org or mailing address: Taos Mountain Sangha, PO Box 2854, Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557.

What’s New

As Summer approaches, once again, we have decided to do one newsletter for the next three months. Note that many of our Sangha members travel during these months and in August we will have our regular meditation sits followed by discussions and perhaps a reading by a member. You will receive weekly emails to let you know what is happening that week.  If you are in town we hope you will continue to come to the Center for our evening sits which can help support your practice and build our Sangha Community.

We wish each of you a safe, peaceful and fruitful summer on your journey and in your practice wherever that may land you.

Sean Murphy will be offering a three part series on “Mindfulness of the Mind and The Path Beyond Suffering.” June 3, 10th and 17th.

Beginner-Intermediate Meditation classes at Taos Mountain Sangha will be led and taught by Sean Murphy on Tuesdays from 6:30pm to 8pm in September (7,14,21,28). All are welcome to attend one or all of the classes. Donation appreciated.

For events at the Taos Mountain Sangha, a “reserved” sign will be placed at the last parking space on the street by the handicapped ramp for attendees who need special parking.

The next Sangha planning meeting will be on September 8.

Ongoing Schedule

Mondays, 4pm The Book/study group at the Center.  All are welcome.

Tuesdays, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Drop-in meditation.

Wednesdays, 8am to 10am: Zen Style Meditation with 3 sitting and two walking periods (you can attend all or enter during one of the walking periods.) Sits are 35 minutes followed by 10 minute walks or Chi gong.

2nd Wednesday of each month (usually), 3:30 pm: Sangha Planning Meeting, open to all Sangha members. The next meeting will be held on September  8th.

Thursdays, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Drop-in meditation.

Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 pm, Meditation, talk, discussion (see schedule below).

JUNE 2010 Highlights

June 3rd, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk on Part One: “Mindfulness of the Mind and The Path Beyond Suffering,” and discussion led by Sean Murphy. Donation.

June 10th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk on Part Two: “Mindfulness of the Mind and The Path Beyond Suffering,” and discussion led by Sean Murphy. Donation.

June 17th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk on Part Three: “Mindfulness of the Mind and The Path Beyond Suffering,” and discussion led by Sean Murphy. Donation

June 24th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk and discussion led by visiting teacher Chris Clifford. Donation

JULY 2010 Highlights

July 1, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk on “View,” and discussion led by Selah Chamberlain. Donation.

July 8th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk on “Thought,” and discussion led by Selah Chamberlain. Donation.

July 15th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk and discussion led by Julie Tato. Donation.

July 22nd, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk and discussion led by Julie Tato. Donation.

July 29th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation and discussion led by a Sangha member TBA. Donation

AUGUST 2010 Highlights

August 5th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation and discussion led by a Sangha member TBA. Donation.

August 12th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation and discussion led by a Sangha member TBA. Donation.

August 19th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation and discussion led by a Sangha member TBA. Donation.

August 26th, Thursday: 6:30 pm: meditation, talk on “Speech,” and discussion led by Selah Chamberlain. Donation.

Upcoming Regional Events of Interest

Taos Mountain Sangha Scholarship Fund has been established to help support sangha members’ practice through attendance at retreats. For each year, $1000 will be available for at least two scholarships of $50 - $300, depending upon need, to help pay costs for registration or transportation for retreats. Anyone interested in receiving a scholarship should apply in writing to Board chair Chris Wells (cwells@newmex.com) with the following information: name, address, phone; how long you have practiced; the name, date, and teacher of the retreat; the amount of financial support requested.

Fall 2010

Beginner-Intermediate Meditation classes at Taos Mountain Sangha will be led and   taught Sean Murphy on Tuesdays from 6:30pm to 8pm in September (7,14,21,28). All are welcome to attend one or all of the classes. Donation appreciated.

Taos Mountain Sangha Caring Committee has been organized and is ready to respond if you or someone you know in the sangha is in need of help. Please contact Holly Defani at 776-2906. If she is unable to assist, then she will contact another committee member to ensure that help comes promptly. Please note that we have volunteers in various regional areas: Taos, Ranchos, Blueberry Hill, El Prado, Lower Las Colonias, Upper Las Colonias, and Arroyo Seco.

Concentrating the Mind

Walking meditation can be a very powerful practice and is a wonderful way to help concentrate the mind.  It has been used in monastic traditions for centuries and is especially helpful when the mind is restless.  It is often done in conjunction with a rotation of sitting and walking meditations on retreats.

Select a level place, indoors or outdoors, where you can walk in a straight direction for about 100 feet or so.  In conjunction with each footstep, you silently note the count.

For example; the first step is one, the second step is one-two, the third step is one-two-three, the fourth step is one-two-three-four, and so on until you reach the count of ten.  Then, pause for a moment and reverse your direction and the counting. For example; ten, ten-nine, ten-nine-eight, ten-nine-eight-seven, descending back to one.

The practice can be repeated in a walking session for as long as you want. It is a good technique to free the mind from other thoughts and it can be done at a slow or moderate pace.

Bob Parker - 15 January 2010

Weisman, Arinna, and Jean Smith. The Beginner’s Guide to Insight Meditation (New York: Bell Tower, 2001). Clear explanations of the Buddha’s teachings with personal stories highlighting some of the challenges and insights of practice.

Smith, Jean. The Beginner’s Guide to Walking the Buddha’s Eightfold Path (New York: Bell Tower, 2002). An exploration of how the concepts central to practicing the Buddha’s teachings can be applied in daily life in such areas as environmental consciousness and interpersonal relations.

Salzberg, Sharon. Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness (Boston: Shambhala, 1995). This inspiring book by a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, introduces the West to the practice of metta, or lovingkindness, practice.

Salzberg, Sharon. A Heart as Wide as the World: Living with Mindfulness, Wisdom, and Compassion (Boston: Shambhala, 1997). Stories, anecdotes, and brief teachings that show how to live this spiritual practice in the everyday world, by a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA.