The Dewdrop Digest

The Dewdrop Digest
Connecting Children, Youth and Sangha
Clouds in Water Zen Center
Sunday, September 21, 2003

Yay! The first day of autumn and the first day of Fall Quarter for children and youth at Clouds. We have seven classes meeting today, from nursery to Middle School. Zen for Teens, our high school group, meets weekly starting October 12.

We have a number of families and children visiting Clouds in Water for the first time. A warm welcome! Also a special welcome to children and families returning after a long summer. I hear that many of you "couldn't wait" for today ?.and we are glad to see you too!

This is The Dewdrop, which will tell you what we're learning and doing. Plus ideas for Home Practice and "homework" for the next session. The Dewdrop is published on most Childrens and Youth Practice Sundays and is archived on the wonderful Clouds website: www.cloudsinwater.org.


2003-2004 theme: Peace-making and the Four Noble Truths
This year, our aim is that each student will:
· Be empowered to be an everyday peace-maker
· Connect with his/her own Buddha-nature, where true peace resides
· Gain, or deepen, understanding of the Four Noble Truths, as age appropriate
· Make friends and enjoy a sense of belongness in this sangha
· Look forward to being here, for learning, connection, fun and more

This quarter, our teaching message will be "Peace-making begins with me," with Mind Training (mindfulness and meditation practice, as age appropriate) at center stage. Mind Training is one aspect of the Eightfold Path of peace of freedom, the Fourth Noble Truth.

Future Dewdrops will lay out our notion of "peace-making as Buddhist practice", as we explore the theme in class. For now, here a thought: "If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, in our entire society, will benefit from our peace." (Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace).


October 19: All-Ages Workshop: Families Creating A Legacy Of Peace
One great opportunity to empower ourselves as everyday peacemakers will be on Sunday, October 19, when peacemaker Rebecca Janke will lead an all-ages workshop in everyday peacemaking here from 11am - 12:30pm. See flyer for details. Sign up soon to ensure your spot in the workshop.

Today's Lesson: Today the students are making Sensory Gardens to take home. The plants are chosen for engaging smell, taste and look. Each garden has two perennial herbs, such as mint or rosemary or lavender, and seeds that will grow into an annual flower such as marigold.

Cultivating mindfulness of the senses is a joyful and natural practice for all ages, and gardening is innately peaceful and meditative and multi-sensory. So, magically, these "Mindfulness Gardens" are metaphor for and an embodiment of the connection between "Peace begins with me" and mindfulness.

So, perhaps you can place them in a sunny window, and observe and interact with the plants daily -- share the taste and smell with friends, cook with them, care for them. In the spring, you could transplant the herbs to your garden. The flowers (from seed) may not last until spring; pinch them off regularly this winter to keep them from becoming rangy.

Home Practice and "homework": Enjoy some autumn walks! What do you see, hear, feel and smell that is "all about autumn"? What are you reminded of (perhaps memories of previous autumns)? For older students: What emotions do you associate with autumn? How are you feeling now?

On October 5, bring a drawing or writing or a "tell story" or ?? about autumn. Also bring a handful of colorful autumn leaves, especially flat, fresh ones. Younger children will make something with the leaves; older students may simply enjoy them on their class altar. We will have extras in case you forget.

Spread the word: Zen for Teens: The High School Group at Clouds in Water
How can or does a spiritual practice affect your life? Does Buddhism have anything to offer you? What are the key elements of Buddhist philosophy and practice? Teaching, discussion, meditation, and more on Sundays for teens in grades 9-12, led by Sosan Theresa Flynn and Steve Wilson. Meets weekly beginning Sunday, October 12. FFI, contact Sosan at sosan@cloudsinwater.org

Let us extend our appreciation to Fall Quarter Volunteer Teachers:
Nursery: Carol Soutor
"Moon" Preschool (in Compassion Hall): Mary Petrie and Greg Struve
"Sun" Preschool (in Great Patience Hall): Ian Fretheim and Robbie Gunther
K-1: Darin Smith and Steph Wenderski
2nd/3rd grade: Shonen Neetha Guneratne and Erik Riesenberg
4th/5th grade: Jeff Kelley and Nicki Zeidner
Middle School (6th, 7th & 8th): Marc Anderson and Janene Glyn
Zen for Teens (9th- 12th): Sosan Theresa Flynn and Steve Wilson
Substitute teachers: Sosan Theresa Flynn, Carl Kosinski, Carol Patt, Michelle Sugiyama, Bob Zeglovitch.

Question, suggestion, problem? Contact Children's and Youth Practice Coordinator Katharine Krueger at 651.222.6968 x10 or cp@cloudsinwater.org.


posted by webmaster on 9/21/2003 01:07:00 PM | link