It seems our first Sangha+ gathering at Marchmont St Giles was a success as there were many smiles and a lovely atmosphere.

The plan is to have something of a theme for each week, for that theme to emerge from the participants and for everyone to feel at easy with contributing. To help this along we will try and have a blog post here beforehand with some background just in case anyone wants to follow up on what was said or have time to reflect beforehand. It is just an extra. Not required reading!!

The next meeting is on Tuesday 9th June (Marchmont St Giles 7-9pm) the theme will be the first of the Five Mindfulness Trainings.

• You can read all the Mindfulness Trainings on the Plum Village Website and in many other places.
• The Trainings are the concrete version of the five Precepts used by our tradition that are common across all Buddhist traditions. There is background on the Wikipedia Page.
• The book we read from was: “For a Future to Be Possible: Buddhist Ethics for Everyday Life: A Guide to the Five Mindfulness Trainings” which seems very expensive on Amazon but not so bad on Kindle. Which is a shame as I’d like a copy. I think it was probably bigger in the USA than here.
• The first Mindfulness Training is Reverence for Live and goes as follows.

Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating the insight of interbeing and compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, or in my way of life. Seeing that harmful actions arise from anger, fear, greed, and intolerance, which in turn come from dualistic and discriminative thinking, I will cultivate openness, non-discrimination, and non-attachment to views in order to transform violence, fanaticism, and dogmatism in myself and in the world.

• Worth noting is that this covers both not killing AND fanaticism/dogmatism. Here is a video of Thay linking the two together.

And finally a lovely poem Joelle wrote about the night

We’re friends who come together
to notice, and count our breath
without numbers.  Tonight
we gather, the first time
in this new upper room,
so that fresh ways to share
can form among us.
Around the building the wind
rattles the panes and wanders
like a mind finding its way.
The world is breathing –
and we are sitting, listening.

Any suggestions as of more I could add here please let me know.

We are hoping to hold a ‘Sangha Social’ on Sunday 21st June at the Botanics. The idea is to create the opportunity to meet with other Sangha members in an informal setting that is accessible to all, including those with families. Perhaps Thursday night regulars will meet Tuesday lunchtimers for the first time etc!  Also, as the Botanics brought so much joy to Ani it will be a wonderful chance to come together and think of her there. We will meet from 12 on the big grassy area by the Chinese Pavillion and pond.  Here is a link that will help with navigation http://stories.rbge.org.uk/archives/6364

Please bring some veggie food to share (or ‘munch’ as Ani would say!).  There is lots of space for the wee kids to run around and hopefully there will be lots of sun for us to enjoy as we chat!

Need more info? Contact Sally by email or on 07815 464 495.

N.B. Cakefest is occurring at the same time at the botanics so you will be able to wander up the hill see the cakes and, after 5pm, help eat them!

The retreat organised by the Border Collie Sangha at Wiston Lodge has just come to an end. Wonderful time had by all.

The Wild Geese Sangha offer an additional night of Dharma practice on Tuesday evenings between 7.00pm and 9.00pm at Marchmont St Giles on the corner of Marchmont Rd, Strathearn Rd, and Kilgraston Rd. Commencing the 2nd of June and every Tuesday thereafter. Buses 5, 24, and 41 serve this route.

It is planned the evenings will consist of an hour of Dharma discussion, and a separate 30 minute meditation. Plus 30 mins of general space to share tea, poetry, dharma readings and friendship. The Theme’s of the Dharma discussion will be set by the group itself.

We welcome your ideas and topics for exploration and discussion, using the vast array of the Buddha’s teachings and Thich Nhat Hanh’s practise of Interbeing. We are also able to draw on other writings, poetry is an example which can express the heart of the Dharma.

We hope you will join us on Tuesday and Thursday evenings as often as possible.

Ne’er cast a clout till May is out!

We had our first Mindfulness Day for some curious Wild Goslings today at Monimail Tower in North East Fife. Just a small gathering of goslings, 4 families in total. We had a really lovely time together, spirits not dampened at all by the weather. Highlights included a joyful yoga session, a mindful shared lunch and chocolate meditation, a nature walk amongst abundant wild garlic (see photo), colorful craft in the form of a “Mind in a Jar” and glorious bell ringing. A very successful day and we all left feeling that seeds of mindfulness had definitely been planted. We hope to repeat again when the opportunity arises in a different location next time to allow others to join us.

Orla & Sally

Meeting outside the commonwealth pool at 10.00am for a walk that is leisurely and wonderful. Wild Geese and friends are invited to come together to walk down from the pathway below Salisbury Crags leading to Holyrood Palace. Then a short distance onto Dunsapie Loch were you can feed the ducks, swans, and feathered Wild Geese. We loop Around passing the ruin of St Anthony’s Chapel taking the pathway that cuts between Arthurs seat and Salisbury Crags this is a lovely pathway which takes you away from the views of the city. Following the path takes us back gently where we started. At that point we can have our picnic at some grassy spot. The walk itself would be a very gentle hour and a half (approx.), the picnic as long as you wish. Of course we will be weather dependent but we could retire to the Himalaya Café for tea if the weather is to difficult. See you there.

I can hardly believe it’s been ten whole years since we first opened our doors at lunchtime on Tuesday 5th April 2005 at 12.15pm. Opening our doors to those of us seeking a short period of respite from a busy world and a busy mind. Sitting quietly on that first Tuesday at 12.15pm I had no idea if anyone would come in and sit with me – and so to all of you who have come on Tuesday’s a big thank you for making our practice of mindfulness together possible.

If you can, please come and join us on Tuesday 7th April to enjoy mindfully sharing our lunchtime together.  A lunchtime – breathing, sitting, walking and maybe eating birthday cake in celebration!

Warm greetings

Jon