This week Sangha was facilitated by Sally from glorious East Lothian. The readings were from two books:

• Reconciliation: Healing the Inner Child Thich Nhat Han (2010)
• Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise Thich Nhat Han (2015)

The Scottish Sangha Spring Mini-Retreat Online Sat 20th March (afternoon) & Sun 21st March (morning) 2021

The capacity of the bodhisattva’s heart is very big, the capacity to embrace and to include. We have to practice the capacity to include, to embrace. If we practice, if we train, the capacity of our hearts will grow and we will suffer much less.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

This online “mini-retreat” is an opportunity for the Scottish Sangha to come together during this time of pandemic. We would be delighted if you could join us!

Thay uses the word Inclusiveness to convey patience, tolerance, and forbearance. It is the practice of keeping our hearts open, especially during difficult times, embracing our pain and joy as one. It provides balance and stability.

Our retreat will include our much-loved practices of sitting meditation, walking meditation & dharma sharing. Murray Corke, who was up with us from Cambridge last February, will offer us a dharma talk on our theme of inclusiveness and Susanne Olbrich will offer us a deep relaxation.

Action from the Heart

Last year we were able to share some of our funds with the monastic community to help support them through the covid crisis. Many of us also made contributions through Plum Village UK. For New Year the monastics have made a video saying thank you.

The monastics are still in need of support. If you would like to support them you can still do it via Plum Village UK. Thank you.

Sally facilitated this week and she shared her joy at walking in these winter days whilst enjoying the light and dark in a way she hadn’t done before. Here are some of her photos.

We’ve not updated the website much in the last year. So much of what we normally put here is based on the events we have held or hope to hold and all that has been on hold. To start 2021 on a different foot here is a lovely poem from one of the Sangha.

Christmas Poem for all in my heart

As 2020 leaked away through the sieve holes of day to day life,
I reflected on recent retirement and
wondered if torpor like this was usual….
As the days dripped by, then shone by, all the while eating cake,
my life passed before me…. several times

Friends, family, ancestors, colleagues, neighbours, all, would pop into my head
and I would revisit events and fond memories, smiling wistfully … sometimes a tear.
How are they doing in all of this?
Wouldn’t a chat or a letter be such a great idea ….
If only they were near (or alive) we could walk and talk…
I miss them all.
Aaah the busy thoughts of the idle mind, from where do they come and where do they go?

… After the bustle of the brief summer respite where we all came up gasping for air,
The leaves turned red and gold, and the geese departed,
and, like the bear my energy and initiative hibernates.
I miss them still.

By this time though it was clear, I was not alone…
There is little consolation that all humanity is catatonic together,
except perhaps as proof positive that we are all indeed one
and our illusions of separateness are finally in shreds at our rooted feet,
revealing the ache for our team mates in the team we didn’t even know we were in…

So… here we are, rushing expectantly towards Christmas trying to rekindle that optimism
and sparkle of childhood and sensing that, if we all sparkle together stoically,
we may just light up the world and feel some joy…
and then ,
well then,
we can go on to pour hope into 2021 … like there was no tomorrow..

Only kidding… of course there’ll be a tomorrow…
The catatonia will pass ….
But, we need to link arms, claim the path and stride into the sunshine.
It’s only possible together, all together …
Meanwhile,
Let’s link hearts ….

Ann Samuel Till, December 17, 2020

We inter-are with all humans, animals, plants and even minerals. Just now the spread of the Covid-19 virus is illustrating this very well.

At this time we need to be especially aware that our health and wellbeing is not separate from the health and wellbeing of every member of our society.

We must do what we can to slow the progress of the virus through the population and so help our health professionals cope with those who become very ill.

The Wild Geese intend to meet when we can to support each other and the wider community. When we do meet we must follow all the guidelines that are given by the authorities such as:

• Washing our hands before and after meeting.
• Avoiding physical contact with each other.
• Catching our coughs and sneezes – but not in our hands.
• Not coming to meetings if we have a cough or temperature or are in contact with people who have these symptoms

Some meetings will need to be cancelled or re-arranged. This page will be updated to show what’s going on.

• Mondays at Santosa – Cancelled till further notice.
• Tuesday Mindfulness@Lunchtime at St Marks – Cancelled till further notice.
• Thursday evenings at St Marks – Cancelled till further notice.
• Friday mornings Sitting at Dawn – Cancelled till further notice.

The Mindfulness Peace Walks we normally organised are cancelled for now. We hope we will be able to run one in the late summer or autumn.

We have arranged an on line Zoom meeting for Thursday evenings. If you are in the Edinburgh area and would like to join us please fill out the Contact Us form so we have your email address. We will then send you details of how to join the virtual group.

This page last updated Friday 19th June 2020

Unfortunately the heating is still broken in the church so we have decided to cancel this weeks meeting. It should be fixed by next week so hope to see you on Thursday 5th March at 7:15 as usual.