Sky Creek Dharma Center All Sangha Spring Celebration
Opening the Heart-Mind in Stressful Times
Bathing the Baby Buddha
The weave of our sanghas create a beautiful tapestry that truly makes the Sky Creek Dharma Center a unique place.The day will be filled with meditation, baby Buddha bathing, sharing, food, movement and mindfulness. Follow the advice of your baby Buddha and join us. Your presence will improve our condition. All are welcome!
Saturday, June 7th
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Optional silent sitting or QiGong movement at 9 am
Theme Overview: Each Spring, we celebrate rebirth, renewal and the beauty of our community by gathering under our great Mother Oak Tree. Our meditation groups are all unique, but share a common core: the practice of silent meditation provides a broad path of opening ourselves to life. The ritual of ‘bathing the baby Buddha’ is to honor that deep fresh life that is always emerging, both within and without. Our theme for this year’s bathing is Opening the Heart-Mind in Stressful Times. Buddhist monk and scholar Thanissaro Bhikkhu suggested a modern translation of “suffering” in the Four Noble Truths is “stress.” We will come together to be together, and to discuss how our practices and traditions provide a refuge from stress.
Event Overview: Gathering as a community is itself a refuge from stress, and so all groups composing Sky Creek celebrate our good fortune by coming together each Spring. The ceremonial Bathing of the Baby Buddha embodies the gratitude and joy we find in this place. After a shared meal, we will hold a Dharma Discussion to share what each of our meditative traditions find helpful in stressful times. We will begin by introducing the practices and traditions that form the foundation of the different groups at the Center from the various group leaders or their chosen representative. Most of our stress is centered close to home – emerging in our daily encounters with others, both living and dead, and in that closest of encounters – the one with ourselves.
AGENDA: All Sangha Spring Celebration 2025
- 9:00am – 9:45am: Silent reflection or Movement time (Optional)
Offerings: Open meditation in Zendō or Qigong in Backyard - 10:00 am – 10:05 am: Board Welcome (Chris Gaffney)
- 10:05 am – 10:35 am: Silent Meditation
- 10:35 am – 11:00 am: Bathing the Baby Buddha Wesak Ceremony
- 11:00 am – 12:00 pm – Potluck Brunch
- 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm All Sangha Panel: Opening the Heart-Mind in Stressful Times
- 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm – Community Sharing
- 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm Short or Long Guided Outdoor Walking Meditation
- 2:00 pm – Ring out and Farewell