The Dewdrop Digest

Clouds in Water Zen Center
The Dewdrop Digest
Connecting Children, Youth and Sangha
Sunday, March 14, 2004

PLEASE REGISTER FOR SPRING QUARTER TODAY (details in Bulletin)

IN CLASS TODAY:
All classes are studying and practicing Right Action, which, together with Right Speech and Right Livelihood, comprise the Wholesome Behavior aspect of the Noble Eightfold Path of Peace and Freedom. We will also continue practicing Heart-to-Heart Listening and Speaking (our name for Right Speech) by guessing the feelings and needs of the characters in the stories we hear - as well as each other's feelings and needs during class.

Right Action can be described in various ways:
Being kind and helpful
Acting in accord with the Precepts
Making peacemaking choices

The preschool class will hear some stories from "Animalia" by Barbara Berger (highly recommended). The Middle School class will be filming "peacemaking choices" for the Peace Table project. See write up in Sunday Bulletin.

HOME PRACTICE:
(1) Every day: Note - in the moment and at the end of the day - when you, your children and other folks perform Right Actions. Note how you feel
(a) in the moment, when performing or observing the Right Action
(b) later, when recalling the Right Action
(2) Participate in the Peace Table project by signing the table and making a your Peacemakers vow. Keep one vow card on the family altar. Make a poster of your vow to display in a central area. Then live out your vow with joy!
(3) Keep a Right Action journal for a week or two. These could be personal diaries, a family scrapbook, a just a list on a piece of paper. If your family has made Peace Table Vows, you could call this your Peaceful Choices Journal. Students are invited to bring their journals to class on the first day of Spring Quarter, April 4.
(4) Continue to practice Heart-to-Heart Listening and Speaking.
(a) Note when you are giving from the heart (rather than giving in some other way).
(b) Invite the free expression of feelings and needs. Say your feelings and needs out loud and guess each other's feelings and needs.

APPRECIATION
Let us extend our heartfelt thanks to the wonderful folks who serve the next generation as volunteer Children's and Youth Practice Teachers:
Nursery: Heidi Farnham
Preschool: Ian Fretheim, Erik Riesenberg and Tracey Walen
K-1: Darin Smith and Steph Wenderski
2nd/3rd grade: Shonen Neetha Guneratne and Bob Clegg
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: Liz Allen, Bob Fleming, Kris Fretheim, Robbie Gunther, Sosan Theresa Flynn, Sandra Knaeble, Carol Patt, Mary Petrie, Carol Souter, Michelle Sugiyama, Aaron Tovo, Bob Zeglovitch

Spring Theme: Peacemaking and the Four Noble Truths
In the Four Noble Truths, the Buddha teaches us about making peace and being peace:
Peace and joy is our natural state (3rd Truth).
Since everything changes, we experience dis-equilibrium: peace is interrupted (1st Truth).
Mindful of our feelings and needs, we begin letting go and our sense of peace increases. Understanding the causes of our dis-ease, we create less pain for ourselves. (2nd Truth).
The Eightfold Path describes the way of peace - for me, us and the whole world. (4th Truth).

In spring we'll study the Wisdom aspect of the Eightfold Path. Wisdom is realizing that we do not exist separately, but rather inter-be with all things, lovingly connected and wholly interdependent. Realizing inter-being, we find peace. Realizing inter-being, we wholeheartedly aspire to make peace for all beings.

We'll express inter-being by:
Doing Right Actions including a peacemaking project for Mother Earth
Speaking and Listening from the heart (Nonviolent Communication)

SONG
Oh what a glad and glorious feeling, glorious feeling
To hear the bells of peace peeling, peace peeling
Peace on earth, Peace on earth.

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


posted by webmaster on 3/14/2004 05:07:00 PM | link