Founders Day Message 2023

Founders Day Message 2023

Celebrations are an important event in that they offer mindful recognition for a meaningful event or an important mile stone. 

Founders Day is a day where I renew my commitment to serving you and to those suffering. It is also a time of mindful reflection on all of the good Blue Lotus Meditation and Mindfulness Center has provided individuals, our community, and the world. Although our practitioners come from all over the world, varying occupations and ages, they all experience suffering. Through Buddhas teachings, we have helped ease the suffering of people coping with addiction, trauma, homelessness, anxiety, stress, relationships, and PTSD to name only a few. 

The work and support we offer is important and meaningful. 

And, most importantly, there is never a fee for any of our offerings.

How we serve others.

Each week we offer virtual sangha's for those that may have experienced trauma, LGBQT+ community, veterans, teens, and a general 'welcoming' sangha. All meetings are conducted via Skype and anonymity, if desired, is always maintained. 

We also offer several developmental classes, Resiliency+, for example. Being resilient is important to survival however when one only survives one misses the true beauty that is around us, even during those hard times.

Our Sutra Study is a weekly meeting where were explore one of the 84,000 Buddhist sutras, their meaning, and how they provide a necessary vehicle for beings to walk a noble path towards enlightenment.

In the summer we also offer a Teen Mindfulness camp. For one week teens from all communities are welcome to camp in our 'outdoor' meditation hall to disconnect from the harmful distractions of life so that they may learn the necessary mindfulness skills to help them navigate the challenges they will face in their adult life. 

Also on the last day of each month from May to September we offer Silent Retreats. Here practitioners from all ages and skill levels are invited to sit in silent contemplation, disconnect from their hectic lives so that they may reconnect to their being. A free vegetarian lunch is served as well. 

How are we able to provide our services at no cost?

Imagine a child or elderly person falling to the ground and in pain. Would you say 'I'll pick you up off the ground but only if you pay me'?

Of course not. You would assist them up, ask if they were OK, and comfort them as needed. 

We are compassionate towards all beings. We have empathy towards all beings. We know that all beings are suffering and we have the means to offer some relief of their suffering. So we do.

We are entirely donation based and warmly welcome all forms of generosity.

Our message?

Simply put, our message, my message, is the same as the Buddhas. It is one of hope. It is one of compassion. It is one of love for all living beings, including yourself.

So as you move about your day look at the stranger with welcoming eyes and a warm smile.

Make a donation to a local charity or animal shelter. 

Perhaps even embracing 'noble silence' when a stressful situation arises.

Being kind to those that need it is a wonderful way to share in the joy of this Founders day. 

   

Wishing you continued peace and wellbeing,

 

Vladimir

 

You are warmly invited to follow on us on Facebook and Instagram at @bluelotuscenter for more ways to improve your mindfulness practice and wellbeing.

Blue Lotus Meditation and Mindfulness Center is a registered 501(c)(3) religious organization.

Website and monthly newsletter: www.bluelotusmeditation.us

For guided meditations and Dharma talks, please visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Mindfulness And The Philosophy Of Dana

Dana (Dah - Na) is a Pali word meaning generosity. Dana is the basis of Buddhism especially when we warmly look at the roots of this valuable principle. When we think of generosity, especially in the West, we often think of a financial gift and although it certainly can be, this first or second line of thought is a result of the type of society we live in. So much of what we do daily is based upon some form of commercial transaction. 'If I buy this expensive gift for them then they will get me something expensive in return'. Is that truly a gift of Dana? It's not and certainly represents a disconnect between money and Dana. 

When we look into the true meaning of Dana we see it's much, much more than money. Dana is unrestricted generosity, it is vulnerability, it is love. Let's consider you, your being for a moment. No matter where you are at this very moment, you have a body, you have a mind, you are alive. No matter what your position is on life and creation, you exist and that is a gift whether purposeful endowment or universal chemical mishap, it matters not.

When the Buddha transmitted the Dharma he often talked about generosity. But since Dana doesn't always include money how are we supposed to be 'generous'? 

We may simply start with ourselves. When we live an ethically guided life others cultivate trust in us. They trust our words. They trust our actions. And they trust our decisions. Being trustworthy is a wonderful gift we may give to others.

Presence is another generous gift we may offer. If we choose to have a child we expect to offer them a significant portion of our time. We love them. Nurture them. Bathe them. Feed them. Help them with homework as they enter school, and more. But is there more we may offer? Of course there is. Perhaps at your job they offer volunteer work with various humanitarian organizations. Helping others that you know have no way to help you back is truly generous.

Spiritual friendship is another wonderful gift we may offer. The third jewel of Buddhism is the Sangha. Although originally a Sangha was the monastic community we may lovingly expand that definition to include the community we live in. We support our neighborhood by maintaining our homes and yard if we have one. A well maintained home supports the entire neighborhood by being aesthetically pleasing. We are there for our neighbors in times of celebration, like a birthday party or births, and we are there for them in times of grief like the passing of a loved one. Spiritual friendship develops a well bonded community. 

We follow the Buddhas teachings as well as his example of living a wholesome life, not for any other kamma or merit than to help others. We were gifted our life so that we may help others ease their suffering. For easing some ones suffering makes the world a better place. And when some ones suffering has been eased they are likely to help another. This then becomes a wonderful chain reaction that is propagated through out the world. 

Wishing you continued peace and wellbeing,

Vladimir

You are warmly invited to follow on us on Facebook and Instagram @bluelotuscenter for more ways to improve your mindfulness practice and wellbeing.

Blue Lotus Meditation and Mindfulness Center is a registered 501(c)(3) religious organization.

Website and monthly newsletter: www.bluelotusmeditation.us

For guided meditations and Dharma talks, please visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Facebook

Instagram 

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