Religious Thinking
East & West
East & West
|
East & West | |
|
Hearing The BellOpening: We come together this morning to remind one another To rest for a moment on the forming edge of our lives, To resist the headlong tumble into the next moment, Until we claim for ourselves Awareness and gratitude, Taking the time to look into one another’s faces And see there communion: the reflection of our own eyes. This house of laughter and silence, memory and hope, is hallowed by our presence together. —Kathleen McTigue Bell Silent Meditation Bell Nourishment Offering (a cup of rice!) With humble awareness we offer this gift of life. May each precious grain come to nourish body, mind and spirit—in the Way of Oneness. Responsive Reading: It Matters What We Believe Leader: Some beliefs are like walled gardens. They encourage exclusiveness, and the feeling of being especially privileged. All: Other beliefs are expansive and lead the way into wider and deeper sympathies. Leader: Some beliefs are like shadows, clouding our days with fears of unknown calamities. All: Other beliefs are like sunshine, blessing us with the warmth of happiness. Leader: Some beliefs are divisive, separating the saved from the unsaved, friends from enemies.All: Other beliefs are bonds in a world community, where sincere differences beautify the pattern. Leader: Some beliefs are like blinders, shutting off the power to choose one’s own direction. All: Other beliefs are like gateways opening wide vistas for exploration. Leader: Some beliefs weaken a person’s self-hood. They blight the growth of resourcefulness. All: Other beliefs nurture self-confidence and enrich the feeling of personal worth. Leader: Some beliefs are rigid, like the body of death, impotent in a changing world.
All: Other beliefs are pliable, like the young sapling,
evergrowing with the upward thrust of life.
Dharma talk by Mr. C. C. Cheng (proprietor, Peking Book House) This is my song, people of all nations, a song of peace for lands afar and mine. This is my home, the country where my heart is; here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine; but other hearts in other lands are beating. My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean, and sunlight beams on clover leaf and pine; but other lands have sunlight too, and clover and skies are everywhere as blue as mine. O hear my song, people of all the nations. —Lloyd StoneBell Meditation: Beyond Words Existence is beyond the power of words to define: Terms may be used but are none of them absolute. In the beginning of heaven and earth there were no words, Words come out of the womb of matter; And whether we dispassionately see to the core of life or passionately see the surface, the core and the surface are essentially the same. Words making them seem different only to express appearance. If name be needed, wonder names them both: from wonder into wonder existence opens. —Lao-Tse Bell Presentation of the Heartland Sangha’s Nourishment Offering At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. —Albert SchweitzerClosing: Boundless Goodwill All: Let us cultivate boundless goodwill. Let none deceive another, or despise any being in any state. Let none in anger or ill-will wish another harm. Even as a mother watches over her child, so with boundless mind should one cherish all living beings, Radiating friendliness over the whole world, Above, below, and all around, without limit.Awakening Bell (THREE TIMES) Announcements: Refreshments/social hour |
Welcome to Heartland Sangha
Daily Dharma Practice
Sample Buddhist Services
Nourishment Offering
Engaged Buddhism
American Buddhism
Buddhist Quotes
Photo Gallery
Current Articles
Past Articles
Buddhist Book Reviews
Schedule of Events
Resources & Links
©2007, Heartland Sangha
All Rights Reserved