Dear Common Ground Friends,

There is much moving these days including important leadership changes at Common Ground. At this month’s meeting of Common Ground’s Board of Directors three members finished their six years of service on the Board including retiring Board Chair Stacy McClendon, retiring Treasurer Dave Halsey and retiring Secretary Gabe Keller Flores. I have great gratitude for their wise and loving service, they will be missed. We are fortunate that they will continue to lead in other ways. Stacy has become an important Dharma Teacher at the center since her graduation in June 2018 from Common Ground’s first Dhama Leadership Training. You can connect with Stacy in her teaching role every Tuesday at 12 noon for a Community Practice Check-in, the fourth Friday of the month for the Lovingkindness Practice Group, and as one of the lead teachers for the twice monthly Black, Indigenous, People of Color Practice Group on Thursday evenings. Stacy will also be partnering with Ayo Yetunde and several other local and national Black Buddhist teachers to lead a weekly Truth & Justice Vigil. It begins tonight and will continue on Tuesday evenings as a place for us all to gather in a wise, compassionate and grounded community space during the trials of the officers involved in the killing of George Floyd. More info here.

Dave Halsey spent much of his six years as Treasurer on the Board of Directors shepherding the process of purchasing, renovating, and developing Common Ground’s Retreat Property in Prairie Farm, Wisconsin. He plans to continue to support the retreat property by serving as one of the Practice Leaders on the land now that we will soon be reopening the retreat property. And, most of you know that Gabe Keller Flores is continuing in his paid staff role as Common Ground’s Office Manager and our primary communications hub. Gabe also continues in his role as a Dharma Teacher at the center. He is currently helping to lead the Teen Practice Group, the Millennials Sangha Community Group and has recently helped to initiate a Sunday evening, Dharma Friends Sit & Discussion.

One of the real joys of having been in the middle of this community for so many years is seeing how so many wise and kind people show up to lead and carry us all forward. We are so fortunate to have four new Board members starting their board service this month. Arleta Little will be serving as the Vice Chair of the Board, joining our new Board Chair Ramesh Sairam and myself as the executive committee that sets the agenda for the Board of Directors. Rick Condon will be serving as the Board’s new Treasurer. Phillip Cryan will be serving as the Secretary of the Board and Meski Mebastian will be a director at large. You can find photos and bio’s of all the current and retiring Board members here.

Much Gratitude for the Generous People and Beneficent Forces that Support Us All,

Mark Nunberg

Upcoming Program Highlights

MONDAY, MARCH 29TH

AYO YETUNDE & STACY MCCLENDON will lead the Opening Night of the Truth & Justice Vigil. 6:00-7:15pm. Zoom link here.

TUESDAY, MARCH 30TH

STACY MCCLENDON & MARK NUNBERG lead the weekly Community Practice Check-In. 12:00-1:00pm. Zoom link here.

• SHELLY GRAF leads the weekly Community Practice Check-In. 9:00-10:00am.Zoom link here.
• The bimonthly Black, Indigenous, People of Color Practice Group meets 6:30-8:00pm. Zoom link here.

• MARK NUNBERG will lead the Weekly Practice Group. 10:30-11:45am. Zoom link here.
• WYNN FRICKE & MARK NUNBERG lead the weekly Community Practice Check-In. 4:30-5:30pm. Zoom link here.

Please note that all times listed are in Central time. For complete, up-to-date program information, visit the online calendar. We recommend you bookmark it for easy access during the week. You might also want to bookmark our Youtube channel. 

The Practice of Generosity

Continuing in the tradition of Buddhist monasteries in Southeast Asia, all programs at Common Ground, including these online programs, are offered free of charge in the spirit of generosity. This offering is possible because of the generosity of people like you—from the Buddha on down to all the people in our community—who contribute their practice, time, and financial resources to support the continuation of the center.

To learn how to support the center and our teachers, visit this page. Let us know if you have any questions.

Community News 

Community Groups Meeting this Week

• Mindfulness & Depression Community Group, Sun. Apr. 4th, 4:00-5:30pm. Zoom link here.

See the calendar for more info about these community groups.

Please Fill Out Our Communications Survey!
We are considering making changes to our website and weekly email and would like your feedback on our communications systems. Please take 5 minutes to fill out the survey here. Thank you!

Openings in CG Sutta Study Groups
Common Ground has two Sutta Study Groups that meet on the first Saturday morning of each month to study the teachings of the Buddha and to strengthen relationships among committed practitioners and leaders. The groups are now accepting applications for new members, who will join the groups starting in May. There are 6 open slots in the existing groups for which a lottery will be run on April 12th. Additionally, we are starting a new, online-only sutta study group with meeting time TBD by the participants. For more info and to apply, click here.

Looking for Donations for Prairie Farm
We’re looking for the following items to be donated to Prairie Farm, if anyone has them:

• twin bed frame
• toaster
• 2 nightstands
• 2 lamps for nightstands
• wool area rugs (5×9 or smaller)

Please email gabe@commongroundmeditation.org if you have these items to donate.
Weekly Tejaniya
When I say “Do the work,” what I
really mean is simply step back and
allow the mind to do its own work,
which is meditate. This is what the
mind does. This is its nature.

Thanks to The Daily Tejaniya for this quote

photo of Prairie Farm Retreat by Ari Lindquist