Greetings Friends,

The Buddha taught that cultivating wise intention is one of the most important and powerful ways to develop and strengthen wisdom in our hearts and in our lives. Another word we might use to describe intention is resolve, which I often prefer, as it reminds me of the power we have to choose non-greed, non-hatred, and non-cruelty again and again. It can often feel like the world is spinning out of our control and although this may be true in some ways, it is also true that we participate in our collective reality in every living moment. When we choose to live mindfully, we clarify our participation in life by aligning our intentions with our deepest values and collective healing potential. In our fast-paced reality, it can be difficult to feel the power to choose non-greed, non-hatred, and non-cruelty, but it is there for us and I have felt the power of such choice in seemingly impossible moments. Starting this evening and for the next 5 weeks I will be on retreat, going inward in a more intentional and dedicated way so as to clarify and cultivate wise and beneficial intentions for us all. Perhaps over this time, you will find your own unique daily practice or ritual to join me in aligning the heart with non-greed, non-hatred, and non-cruelty, and feel the goodness of the choices that emerge from there. See you in August.

Warmly,

Shelly

Upcoming Programs-In Person at Common Ground

If you missed our announcement about phase 2 of our reopening, to begin July 5th, you can read it here.

Community Tea and Dharma
Weekly on Tuesdays, 8:00am-9:00am. More info here.

• with Gabe Keller Flores Tuesday, June 29th
• with Mark Nunberg Tuesday, July 6th

• Metta Retreat at Prairie Farm with Patrice Koelsch, assisted by Tim Harlan-Marks
  Thursday, July 15 –  Sunday, July 18.
• Hybrid: Daylong In-Person and Online Retreat at Prairie Farm with Mark Nunberg & Wynn Fricke: Saturday, July 24th, 9:30am-4:30pm.
• Practice Period at Prairie Farm with Dave Redelman and co-practice leader TBD
  Thursday evening, July 29 – Sunday morning, August 1.

Upcoming Programs-Online

• MARK NUNBERG and STACY MCCLENDON lead the Community Practice Check-In, 12:00pm-1:00pm. On Zoom.
• This week the Truth & Justice Vigil hosts Marisela Gomez, a public health scholar, mindfulness practitioner, social justice activist, community builder, and author, 6:00pm-7:30pm. On Zoom.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30th
PATRICE KOELSCH will lead the Weekly Practice Group, 7:30-9:00pm. On Zoom.

THURSDAY, JULY 1ST

• The weekly Community Practice Check-In will be peer-led this week, while Shelly is on retreat. This week’s session will explore racism through an inquiry into whiteness. 9:00-10:00am. On Zoom.
• BIPOC Practice Group: The Black, Indigenous, People of Color Practice Group gathers to explore our spiritual path through meditation and the teachings of the Buddha, honoring our shared experience, while cultivating mindfulness, wisdom, and joy in our community. 6:30-8:00pm. On Zoom.

• MARK NUNBERG will lead the Weekly Practice Group. 10:30-11:45am. Attend on Zoom, Youtube, or gather in person at Common Ground to watch the livestream together on a screen in the meditation hall.
• WYNN FRICKE & MARK NUNBERG lead the weekly Community Practice Check-In. 4:30-5:30pm. On Zoom.

The Practice of Generosity

Continuing in the tradition of Buddhist monasteries in Southeast Asia, all programs at Common Ground 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.

Current Volunteer Needs

• Program Hosts for Sunday evening Weekly Practice Group with Mark Nunberg starting July 11th: if you have been coming to the center for a year or more and are interested in the program hosting role, please email Gabe@commongroundmeditation.org.  Program hosting involves opening and closing the building, greeting people, and generally being available to answer questions, etc. People usually have a monthly slot.
• Open meditation practice leaders: if you’ve been coming to the center for 6 months or more and would like to volunteer to lead open meditation in the mornings at the center, (6:30am-8:30am) please email Gabe@commongroundmeditation.org. Practice leading involves ringing the bell for the meditation, and, depending on the time slot, opening and closing the building. People can commit to one half-hour slot a week or more.

Community News 

Community Groups Meeting this Week
Find Zoom links at the public calendar.

• Zoom: Be Queer Now Meditation Sangha, Wed. June 30th, 7:30-9:00pm.
• Hybrid: Mindfulness and Depression Community Group, Sun. July 4th, 4:00-5:30pm.
• CANCELLED for the holiday: Dharma Friends Sit & Discussion, Sun. July 4th, 7:00-8:00pm.

Weekly Tejaniya
Do not practice too seriously, but
peacefully and respectfully.

Thanks to The Daily Tejaniya for this quote

The roses outside Common Ground!