Winter 2015, Jan-Mar, Events at Meetingbrook

Note: All silent sittings and meditation practice takes place in Merton Bookshed/Winter Zendo. Please note changes in our Winter practice

Prologue: A word about Meetingbrook Hermitage Events:

All are welcome. All events at meetingbrook are free, open, and informal. 

Each conversation, each night, each practice stands by itself. 

Each silent sitting is just that, nothing more. 

Each event and conversation begins with a space of silence. 

 Residents along with Bill and Saskia are 

two dogs (Rokpa and Cody) and 

two cats (Panta and Chitta). 

1. Monday: No events. 

2. Tuesday: 

Tuesday Evening Conversation Practice, 5:30-6:30pm. Eastern Traditions focus (Taoism, Buddhism, Vedanta). Format: brief silent sitting, followed by circle reading, open reflection conversation, final circle.

3. Wednesday: No events

4. Thursday:

a) Morning Hospitality, 8:30 - 11AM (coffee, tea, toast, muffins or eggs)  

b) Thursday Evening Conversation Practice, 5:30pm-6:30pm.     Western (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Non-theism thought) Traditions focus. Format: brief silent sitting, followed by circle reading, open reflection conversation, final circle.

5. Friday:

a) Meetingbrook Conversation at Maine State Prison, (Only Bill, Saskia, Rokpa currently going in.) Warren ME. (7:30am--11:00am). 

b) Poetry, Tea, and Thee, at Quarry Hill  (Retirement/Assisted Living Facility, Camden ME) 1st, 3rd Fridays, (3-4pm) 

c) Friday Evening Conversation at Hermitage, 5:30pm--6:45pm. Format: Conversation focusing on Current Issues, Mystics, Poets, Philosophers, Non-traditional and Various Other Thinkers. Reading, or video, from various traditions, conversation, Soul-friend sharing. Currently open to whatever is suggested by whoever attends.

6. Saturday:

Saturday Morning Meditation Practice, 7:30am--8:45am, Buddhist/Meditative Focus. Format: 30min silent sitting, chant, reading, circle reflection, metta, (Coffee, tea, toast after available).

7. Sunday:

a) Sunday Morning Collation, An Interreligious Centering Prayer/Lectio Divina (focusing on contemplation, conversation, correspondence), 9:00-10:00am. Format: A silent period (10mins), followed by reading from particular scriptures of two traditions, then reflective conversation round-table.

b) Morning Hospitality 10:00am-noon. 

b) Sunday Evening Practice, (Practicing Between Contemplative/Meditative Traditions), 6:00pm--8:00pm. Format: 40min silent sitting; 5min mindful walking; Heart Sutra chant; 15min table reading; 10min silent eating; 15min open conversation; final circle.

..........

Note: See website, Today at Meetingbrook,http://meetingbrook.blogspot.com/ for any change/elaboration of schedule 

Epilogue:  

Meetingbrook Hermitage is a place of collation and recollection between 
Ragged and Bald Mountains. 

We practice, with simplicity, between traditions. 

We cultivate our promises of contemplation, conversation, and correspondence. 

This is attempted in the spirit of deep listening and loving speech. 

Stop by any time to visit cabin, bookshed, or yurt. 

Hiking trails of both mountains abound.

Meetingbrook Dogen & Francis Hermitage, is a Schola Gratiae et Contemplationis, i.e., a School of Gratefulness and Contemplation. It was formed as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in 1998 for the purpose of serving as a place of collation and recollection for the side-by-side practice and study of Buddhist Zen Meditation & Christian Contemplative Prayer, and the Engaged Service flowing from each. Central to Meetingbrook is its Schola dedicated to Interreligious Dialogue—Unveiling and Practicing Peace Between Ways. Donations are always gratefully accepted for the continuance and deepening of Meetingbrook.

Saskia Huising & Bill Halpin, co-founders &m.o.n.o.s (monastics of no other, silencio).

We are grateful for any assistance
in the ongoing creation