The Dewdrop Digest

Fall Quarter 2006: Home Practice and the Three Refuges

Our 2006–2007 focus is Family Mindfulness and the Bodhisattva Way. The Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts guide us on the path of compassion and joyful living with family, friends and community. Children will live out the precepts with in-class service projects as well as simple all-ages home activities.

In Fall Quarter, we take the first steps on the Bodhisattva Way by encouraging children, youth and families to cultivate lovingkindness at an altar every day. We will also explore the Three Refuges of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

So Much Emerging in Children’s And Youth Practice this year!!
The August 29 Next Generation Action Planning, facilitated by Sue Laxdal and Nancy Lee, launched five catalytic committees: Teacher Support, Marketing and Networking, Empowering Kids, Parent Support, Intergenerational Integration. For Teacher Support (so far), we have initiated a $100 per quarter class credit, and have arranged for teachers to pre-order tapes or CDs of that morning’s dharma talk. For Parent Support (so far) we have scheduled a tea for parents of babies, toddlers and preschoolers for Sunday, November 12 at 10:45 am.

We have four new teachers this quarter: Ben Gavin Cain (4th–5th), Sigrid Finke (4th–5th), Amy Mahnke (2nd–3rd), and Amy Leintz (Preschool). THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

We have eight returning teachers this quarter: Heidi Farnham (nursery), Carrie Pomeroy (nursery), Kurt Errickson (Preschool), Matt Simonsen (K–1), Lisa Hyatt (K–1), Nathan Thompson (K–1), Sosan Flynn (Middle School), and Rob Hubbard (Middle School). THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have strengthened our teaching staff this year. Virtually all of these volunteers are open to teaching for the whole program year—continuity which is a huge benefit to the students. We are well-staffed for the Nursery for the first time in several years. We also have some substitute teachers—thanks to Laura Hedlund, Evelyn Kaiser, Bob Clegg, Bob Zeglovitch, Jeff Kelley, Cristina Stoeckel, Carol Patt, Diana Guire.

Rebecca Zaban has worked hard to put together a format for rebooting a High School class and for assembling a core group to get it launched. The core group hasn’t materialized yet, but we will be ready when it does!

Home Practice with Children

Today we focus on beginning a daily home practice. Kindergarten through 3rd graders will choose an altar cloth. Older students will cut their own cloth. Parents of preschoolers and youngers may help their child choose an altar cloth, if they like, after class. Next time, led by Ben Gavin Cain, we will make ceramic Buddha images.

Your Own Altar: Practice Suggestion

1. Begin with a gassho.
2. Optional: Offer something to the altar —such as pouring water into a bowl, or offering a leaf or flower
   Gassho again.
3. Say your lovingkindness verse, or another verse, if you wish.
4. Then choose some combination of the following:
5. Be seated (or remain standing).
6. If you have a bell, ring it slowly three times.
7. Take three cleansing breaths, to bring your focus to the present moment.
8. Offer lovingkindness to yourself, to friends and loved ones, and to all beings.
9. Then spend some time in meditation. You can follow you breath, or you can listen to the sounds all around you, or you can “listen” to your changing emotions. Or you can simply sit or stand quietly.
10. If you have a bell, ring it once.
11. Gassho.

Leave your altar with the intention to invite more lovingkindness into the world. Return to that intention throughout the day. Notice when you observe lovingkindness—whether in thoughts, speech or action, whether you offer it, or you receive it, or others exchange it. Notice how you feel when you give or receive loviingkindness. Notice how you feel when you observe it. Notice how you feel when you are missing it.

Students, parents, and all sangha members are invited to cultivate awareness and lovingkindness at an altar once or twice daily—morning and evening. If finding time is an obstacle on some days, how can you bring the intention into your hearts in a brief way?

Lovingkindness Verse for Home Practice with Children

Loving-kindness is the intention and capacity to bring joy and happiness to another person or living being

Here is a one very short lovingkindness verse. Other versions will be available at the greeting table today, and online.

May I be well and happy.
May my family and friends be well and happy.
May all beings be well and happy.
May there be peace. (3x)

Question, suggestion, problem? Contact Children's and Youth Practice Coordinator Katherine Krueger.

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