Peace Village
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
The summer is what it is: hot. I see us wilting under its heat. Attendance at zazen is down, our study group only had three people (and I was one of them) last night, and our energy levels seem just plain flat.
On the other hand, children are growing! They are absolutely thriving! Its as if we watered them with the sun. Goodness. I know this only because for the second year now, Zen Center offered two classes in meditation at Peace Village hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces.
Our two classes were both full to the brim with at least 25 kiddos per class. The first class were the Wee Ones and the second class were the Middle Schoolers. The Wee Ones sat in full lotus, they say upright, and wiggled with their hands, heads and fingers. The older ones, sat with more difficulty and wiggled at the waist.
Yet, both groups were both attentive and respectful. Several children came to me at the conclusion and bowed. It was a good thing to teach them zazen. We sat for short periods in differing ways. We did walking meditation with the Middle Schoolers. And Mr. Richens offered a demonstration of clearing the water to the Wee Ones.
As always, children are welcome at our Zen Center anytime. I have found the presence of children to be a real asset to our practice and a great benifit to the children themselves.
I didn't do this alone. My thanks to Rev, Dai Shin who graciously gave up her lunch hour to teach tea ceremony, and to Dharma Teacher Reba Montera and Zen Living Virtual Sangha member Rich Richens for assisting me in the Zazen class. A bow to each of you!
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
The summer is what it is: hot. I see us wilting under its heat. Attendance at zazen is down, our study group only had three people (and I was one of them) last night, and our energy levels seem just plain flat.
On the other hand, children are growing! They are absolutely thriving! Its as if we watered them with the sun. Goodness. I know this only because for the second year now, Zen Center offered two classes in meditation at Peace Village hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces.
Our two classes were both full to the brim with at least 25 kiddos per class. The first class were the Wee Ones and the second class were the Middle Schoolers. The Wee Ones sat in full lotus, they say upright, and wiggled with their hands, heads and fingers. The older ones, sat with more difficulty and wiggled at the waist.
Yet, both groups were both attentive and respectful. Several children came to me at the conclusion and bowed. It was a good thing to teach them zazen. We sat for short periods in differing ways. We did walking meditation with the Middle Schoolers. And Mr. Richens offered a demonstration of clearing the water to the Wee Ones.
As always, children are welcome at our Zen Center anytime. I have found the presence of children to be a real asset to our practice and a great benifit to the children themselves.
I didn't do this alone. My thanks to Rev, Dai Shin who graciously gave up her lunch hour to teach tea ceremony, and to Dharma Teacher Reba Montera and Zen Living Virtual Sangha member Rich Richens for assisting me in the Zazen class. A bow to each of you!
Be well.