******************************************************************
BSPG News and Meeting (No. 235) 
******************************************************************

Edited by Stony Brook Buddhism Study and Practice Group 

Meeting:
Tuesday 12/9/03
SAC 305 at 7:00 PM
Please be on time!

News:
1.Today, December 8th is Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) and commemorates the day 
in which the Buddha attained Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. 
 
2.On Sunday Dec. 14th the New York Buddhist Vihara will be celebrating 
Sanghamitta Day, which commemorates the establishment of the order of 
nuns (bhikkuni) in Sri Lanka by Bhikkuni Sanghamitta, the daughter of 
the great King Asoka.  It also celebrates the planting of a sapling 
from the Bodhi Tree brought to that country by Sanghamitta herself. 
For more information please visit:
 
http://www.newyorkbuddhist.org/viharanews.htm

3.The Dharma Drum Mountain Organization will be hosting a series of
upcomming events:


(i.) Ten-day Intensive Silent Illumination Retreat: Friday, November 
28,5:00 pm to Sunday, December 7, 10:00 am  Taught by world renowned 
Zen Master Sheng-Yen

 (ii.) Seven-day Intensive HuaTou Retreat: Friday, December 26, 5:00 pm 
to Friday, January 2, 10:00 am Instructed by CMC Abbot Guo-Yuan Fashi 
An opportunity to deepen our practice and investigate the meaning of 
life and who we are in ten days of intensive Chan retreat under the 
personal guidance of Chan Master Sheng Yen.  Scholarships and 
work-exchange payments are available.

 (iii.) A new program of  Dharma discussion and Q/A session on every 
Friday evening and Sunday afternoon hosted by Guo-Yuan Fashi or Master 
Sheng-Yen to accommodate all people in English. All are welcome to 
attend. 

 (iv.) Master Sheng-Yen will give lecture and  Zen retreat in Vancouver 
from Sat. December 20,  2 - 4:30 pm.  to Sunday,  Please contact 
Chan Meditation Center or Vancouver Chapter at  604-277-1357 for 
further information.

For more information regarding any of these activities, please visit:

http://www.chan1.org/activities.html

4.The Art of Sublime:contemporary Tangkas from Nepal.
The Art of Sublime features recent tangkas created in
Nepal. These modern examples continue to inspire awe
with their colorful beauty, religious symbolism, and
painstaking attention to detail. Images include
Mandalas, the Wheel of Life, BUddha, and deities.

Location:International Rescource Center Gallery, 
Flushing Library, 3rd floor. 41-17 main street,
flushing, NY, 11355.

For more information, visit:
http://http://www.queenslibrary.org/irc

5.The Buddhist Project is a series of currently 
ongoing exhibits which feature the Buddhist 
spirit in contemporary art in addition to exploring 
the many and varied relationships of Buddhism 
and the arts in contemporary American culture. 
Exhibitions, public forums, installations and 
literary events are taking place in the all over 
the New York City area and will run through 
March 2004. For specific details go to:

http://www.buddhismproject.org/


Do not lose yourself in the future.
The past no longer is.
The future has not yet come.
Looking deeply at life as it is.
In the very here and now,
the practitioner dwells
in stability and freedom.
We must be diligent today.
To wait until tomorrow is too late.
Death comes unexpectedly.
How can we bargain with it?
The sage calls a person who knows
how to dwell in mindfulness
night and day
'one who knows
the better way to live alone.'"

----"Bhaddekaratta Sutta," 
translated by Thich Nhat Hanh

Quote