The Heart of Christianity Sunday School Lesson Notes and Questions at First United Methodist Church in San Diego, California, United States from Kay Gilbert for Saturday, October 31, 2015 - Class Sunday, 1 November 2015

The Heart of Christianity Sunday School Lesson Notes and Questions at First United Methodist Church in San Diego, California, United States from Kay Gilbert for Saturday, October 31, 2015 - Sunday, 1 November 2015
As you may remember, we will be completing chapter 8 of our book tomorrow. Below are our questions for that chapter. In addition, Marla sent a link to me with a video of Oprah interviewing Thick Nhat Hanh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ9UtuWfs3U . I encourage you to watch it.
Happy Halloween!
Kay
LIVING BUDDHA; LIVING CHRIST
THICK NHAT HANH
CHAPTER 8
A SAFE ISLAND
What is the difference in devotional practice & transformational practice?
What is the difference between mindfulness & enlightenment?
MINDFULNESS IS THE REFUGE
How does Hanh say one can take refuge in transformational practice?
THE FOUNDATIONS OF STABILITY & CALM
How does one take refuge in mindfulness?
How does “being mindful” in sitting, standing, eating, breathing make a difference in us?
Where might conscious breathing practice lead us?
EMBRACING, NOT FIGHTING
How does Hanh suggest that Christians take refuge in the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit?
How did the Dharma (teachings) become nirvana for Buddhists?
What do you think of Hanh’s statement that human beings are created to participate in the divinity of God?
How does Hanh suggest that mindfulness can embrace evil & transform it?
TOUCHING THE LIVING CHRIST
What is the difference in practicing the FORM versus practicing the ESSENCE of mindfulness or “The Prayer of the Heart?”
A MINI-PURE LAND
Compare & contrast the difference between a Pure Land in Buddhism & the Kingdom of God in Christianity??
DEVOTIONAL & TRANSFORMATIONAL PRACTICE
What is the “practice of taking refuge?” How is it to be done? How does mindful breathing fit into it?
How can we “take refuge in the Trinity? How are devotional & transformational practices interwoven in this “taking refuge?”
How are mindfulness & the Holy Spirit at the heart of these practices?
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