"There was once a wise woman traveling in the mountains who found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and she opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked if she might give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But only a few days later he came back to return the stone to the woman who had given it to him.

"I've been thinking," he said, "I know how valuable the stone is, but I'm giving it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. I want you to give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."

— Author Unknown

Natural Perfection
www.surya.org/sounds/natural.ram
1997 Lama Surya Das. All rights reserved.

Peace Talks
Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D, Nonviolent Communication
www.goodradioshows.org/ramFil...g75.mp3

“What I want in my life is compassion, a flow between myself and others based on a mutual giving from the heart.”
— Marshall B. Rosenberg

Four components of nonviolent communication:
1. observation
2. feeling
3. needs
4. request

"How delightful the fishes are enjoying themselves," exclaimed Soshi. 
 

"You are not a fish," commented his friend. "How do you know that the fishes are enjoying themselves?" 
 

"You are not myself," ansered Soshi; "How do you know that I do not know that the fishes are enjoying themseves?"


 
– Taoist dialogue

Sundays 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. at
St. Louis YogaSource

1500 Big Bend Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63177
[just south of I-64/Hwy 40 on Big Bend]

Christine Schutz:
drcms@earthlink.net

This vipassana meditation is a silent sitting with occasional periods of instruction and guided meditation designed to deepen the practice.

"We are constantly being astonished these days at the amazing discoveries in the field of violence. But I maintain that far more undreamt of and seemingly impossible discoveries will be made in the field of nonviolence."
— M.K. Gandhi

Please note, the Sunday Sangha group that meets at St. Louis YogaSource now has a website:

www.stlouisyogasource.com/medit...n.html

Thank you for visiting us here. And there...

Om Shanti Shanti.

Living life more fully, more productively, more lovingly
Experiencing the joy and peace of Mindfulness Meditation

Whether an experienced meditator or a beginner, we offer a space and time for relaxation and meditation instruction on Sunday mornings. You will find clear and easy-to-follow instructions that aid in the meditation process. Join us in meditation and sharing, and the experience of insight and renewed energy. Please bring a sitting cushion if you choose. Chairs are available. The sitting is free and offered in the tradition of “dana”, whereby participants give a donation as they choose [$10 suggested]. All proceeds go to the Mitrata-Nepal Foundation, a nonprofit child sponsorship program in Nepal [ www.mitrata.org/ ]

Link to this profile: people.tribe.net/sun_sangha_stl

Silent meditation, sitting meditation, Sunday mornings in the STL.

Sundays 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. at
St. Louis YogaSource

1500 Big Bend Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63177
[just south of I-64/Hwy 40 on Big Bend]

Christine Schutz
drcms@earthlink.net

Greetings to all.

March 1 – Sue
March 8, 15, 29 – Chris
March 22 – Pedro
April 5, 12 – Chris
April 19, 26 – Pedro or Sue
May 3 & 10 – Pedro or Sue
May 17, 24, 31 – Chris

Thank you.

SANSKRIT POEM:
Each today, well-lived, makes yesterday a dream of happiness
and each tomorrow a vision of hope. Look, therefore, to this
one day, for it and it alone is life.

Letting go is not to stop caring—it means I can't do it for someone else.

Letting go is not to cut myself off—it's the realization that I can't control another.

Letting go is not to enable—but to allow learning from natural consequences.

Letting go is not to admit powerlessness—which means the outcome is not in my hands.

Letting go is not to change or blame another—it's to make the most of myself.

Letting go is not to fix—but to be supportive; it's not to judge—but to allow another to be a human being.

Letting go is not to be in the middle, arranging the outcome—but to allow others to effect their own destinies.

Letting go is not to be protective—it's to permit another to face reality.

Letting go is not to deny—but to accept.

Letting go is not to nag, scold, or argue—but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

Letting go is not to criticize and regulate anybody—but to try to become what I dream I can be.

Letting go is not to regret the past or fear the future—but to grow and live for the moment.

Letting go is to fear less and live more.

Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong- sometimes it's letting go.


thedailybuddha.zaadz.com/blog/...ing_go

Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu
Buddhist, sufi, or zen. Not any religion

or cultural system. I am not from the East
or the West, not out of the ocean or up

from the ground, not natural or ethereal, not
composed of elements at all. I do not exist,

am not an entity in this world or in the next,
did not descend from Adam and Eve or any

origin story. My place is placeless, a trace
of the traceless. Neither body or soul.

I belong to the beloved, have seen the two
worlds as one and that one call to and know,

first, last, outer, inner, only that
breath breathing human being.

— Rumi

[Rumi was born Jalaluddin Balkhi, September 30, 1207, in Balkh, Afghanistan which was part of the Persian empire back then. One of the most beloved and read mystical poets in America and all over the world.]

Meditation is the act of restoring the balance between being and doing.

1. Correct thought: avoiding covetousness, the wish to harm others and wrong views (like thinking: actions have no consequences, I never have any problems, there are no ways to end suffering etc.)

2. Correct speech: avoid lying, divisive and harsh speech and idle gossip.

3. Correct actions: avoid killing, stealing and sexual misconduct

4. Correct livelihood: try to make a living with the above attitude of thought, speech and actions.

5. Correct understanding: developing genuine wisdom.

[The last three aspects refer mainly to the practice of meditation]
6. Correct effort: after the first real step we need joyful perseverance to continue.

7. Correct mindfulness: try to be aware of the "here and now", instead of dreaming in the "there and then".

8. Correct concentration: to keep a steady, calm and attentive state of mind.



Right Speech - Samma Vacca
1. Abstaining from false speech (Speaking the truth)
2. Abstaining from slanderous speech (Avoiding malicious talk)
3. Abstaining from harsh speech
4. Abstaining from idle chatter



Meditation:

May my words be true;
May my words be just -- fair to all concerned;
May my words be endearing;
May my words be well-spoken -- may they bring no harm to me or to others.