The Dewdrop Digest

Fall Quarter 2006: Home Practice and the Three Refuges

This year we will study and practice the Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts, beginning with the Three Refuges of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha We begin by encouraging children, youth and families to cultivate lovingkindness at an altar every day. Last week the students made or were given altar clothes and a lovingkindsness verse. Pick up another copy at the greeter table today. Please feel free to contact Katharine Krueger or any of the CP teachers to discuss home practice.

In class today: making Buddha images for home altar

This morning, all students will be invited to make a ceramic image of Buddha for their altar. Classes will begin with a mindful exploration of the sensory experience of working with clay. Many students will choose to make an image to honor the historical Shakyamuni Buddha, but we expect a variety of creative expression of Buddhanature to come forth. All images honor the Buddha in each of us and the Buddha that permeates all beings. The greenware will be on display in Great Patience Hall following Sunday Morning Meditation. The images will be glazed, fired, and returned to the students to take home for our next class.

Tea for Parents of Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers:Sunday November 12, 10:45 am in the Zendo

Parents of The-Big-Spirited-and-Small-Bodied are invited to meet for tea after the next Childrens Practice in two weeks. Childcare will be provided in Compassion Hall, or your children are welcome to hang out with you. Meet each other, discuss the agonies and ecstasies of mindful parenting with little ones, and discuss how you might want to support each other, with help from Clouds in Water. To reserve space for childcare, or just let us know to expect you, RSVP to Katherine.

Preschool Re-imagined

Our Preschool program this year will be more engaging and more intentionally-structured. We will set up a lovely imaginative scene for the children to “live in to “ when they arrive. We will do an opening ceremony each time, offering candle light, incense and Thich Nhat Hanh’s Two Promises song. Then we will have a circle time with songs, verses, and movement. Circle time is designed to include the whole world by including up and down, in and out, fast and slow, loud and quiet, as well as the four elements, the four beings (minerals, plants, animals, people), a wide range of emotions, honoring the season, and honoring the Three Treasures (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha). We do not intellectualize the teaching message, but convey it through stories and through the teachers’ awareness and embodiment.

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.Take three cleansing breaths, to bring your focus to the present moment.
7. Offer lovingkindness to yourself, to friends and loved ones, and to all beings.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.
8. If you have a bell, ring it once. Gassho.
9. 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 lovingkindness. 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?

Song: "THREE REFUGES" from Thich Nhat Hanh's songbook

I take refuge in the Buddha, the one who shows me the way in this life.

Namo Buddha-ya, Namo Buddha-ya, Namo Buddha-ya.

I take refuge in the Dharma, the way of understanding and love.

Namo Dharma-ya, Namo Dharma-ya, Namo Dharma-ya.

I take refuge in the Sangha, the community that lives in harmony.

Namo Sanga-ya, Namo Sanga-ya, Namo Sanga-ya

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

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