Weekly Email 9-22-23

Dear Common Ground Friends,
In their book, Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: The Path of Insight Meditation, Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield grapple with the question of how to be engaged and active in the world while also being committed to deep spiritual practice. They pose this: “Are the values we hold that lead us to giving and serving and caring for one another different from the values that lead us deep within ourselves on the journey of liberation and awakening?”

This question is undoubtedly important to each of us today and worthy of our ongoing consideration. There are many wise responses to the pain we feel in our hearts and to the pain that gets reflected in our relationships and in our wider social world. Mindfulness practice not only allows us to be brave in the face of pain, but brings into focus our habitual responses to pain. This takes practice and patience! When we feel into the many ways we move and respond to pain, we have a wonderful opportunity to develop more intentional habits. We can do this by simply asking if our spiritual practice is guiding our response in this moment. We might be called to appreciate the resounding yes to this inquiry! Or, we might be called to make an adjustment. Either way, our inquiry gets to be a moment where we return to an alignment with our deepest values and learn to live through them more often.

Glad to be on the path with you.
Warmly,
Shelly

The Practice of Generosity

Programs with our Co-Guiding Teachers
Visiting our online calendar is the best way to find the correct times and Zoom links. 

Fall Retreat with Mark Nunberg & Shelly Graf, Assisted by Stacy McClendon
Thursday afternoon, October 12th – Sunday midday October 15th
Zoom spots open
More info and registration here

Upcoming Teacher-Led Programs

Daylong Retreat for the BIPOC Community with Stacy McClendon & Jen Racho
Saturday, September 23rd | 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
In-person only
Register here

Our Common Values: A Listening Session with Patrice Koelsch
Sunday, September 24th | 1:00 – 2:30 PM
In-person only
No registration needed

Radical Dharma, Radical Belonging: Talk & Discussion with the BIPOC Community with Dr. Femi Akinnagbe
Friday, September 29th | 6:30 – 8:30 PM
No registration needed

Savoring the Simplicity of the Body: a Mindful Yoga Workshop with Dr. Femi Akinnagbe
Saturday, September 30th | 9:30 – 11:00 AM
In-person only
Register here

The Life-Changing Magic of Simplicity with Dr. Femi Akinnagbe
Saturday, September 30th | 2:30 – 4:30 PM
In-person and on Zoom
Register here

Self-Compassion Practices for Trying Times with Jean Haley and Jane Rauenhorst
Six Thursdays: November 2nd – December 14th | 6:30 – 8:00 PM
In-person only
Register here

Half-Day Retreat with Jean Haley
Saturday, November 4 | 1:00 – 5:00pm
In-person and on Zoom
Register here

Ongoing Teacher-Led Programs
As always, our online calendar is the best way to find the correct times and Zoom links. 

Open Meditation
Check our online calendar for times and details. There are many opportunities for silent meditation, 7 days a week, in-person and on Zoom.

Volunteer Opportunities

Fall Maintenance Day!
October 28, 9:30am – 12:45pm
Join us for a morning of fixing, cleaning and maintenance at the city center. We will end with a meal together.

Please contact Robin Major, at robin@commongroundmeditation.org if you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities:

• Audio Editing: For talks uploaded to dharmaseed. The audio editing is easy to learn, no previous experience required. 1-2 hours per week, or every other.
• Graphic design: One or two graphic designers to support the buildout for a new website. Experience with mobile-friendly graphic design preferred.
• Bell ringing: For a community member who is interested in training to be a practice leader at one of the morning in-person silent sits.
• Tree trimming: A community member with skill and experience trimming trees; for a tree at the city center.

Community News 

Community Potluck!
Sunday, October 8 | 12:00 – 1:30pm
Please join for the Common Ground quarterly potluck! Bring a vegetarian dish to share. All are welcome. Please email Robin at robin@commongroundmeditation.org if you are interested in coming early to help with set up or clean up.

Prison Volunteer Opportunities:

• The Shakopee women correctional facility volunteer group is looking for a female volunteer who can lead groups of 10-22 inmates in mindful meditation and mindful movements such as free style stretches, interplay, yoga or Qigong. Please email info@commongroundmeditation.org if you are interested and we will connect you with the organizer.
• Volunteer needed leading Buddhist group at Sandstone prison, ability to speak Spanish a plus. Contact Jeff; 952-474-4209, jeffroehl@outlook.com.

You See It, You Know It, It’s Gone

My teacher taught me: “If you know it,
be happy.” That really stuck with me.
I could be angry, or do something unskillful,
but when I became aware of it, I was happy.
When something unskillful came up
in the mind, with awareness it didn’t stay.
Right view is so powerful:
You see it, you know it, it’s gone.

 Thanks to The Daily Tejaniya for this quote