Saturday, November 21, 2015 at First United Mehtodist Church of San Diego, California, United States' Hearts Class for Sunday, 22 November 2015

Saturday, November 21, 2015 at First United Mehtodist Church of San Diego, California, United States' Hearts Class for Sunday, 22 November 2015
Good Morning Hearts!
This week, we have several orders of business:
1) The church pastors & staff are requesting a "point person" or "key contact" for the Hearts class. The duties would be:
listing (with email address) on church website
easy referral by church staff for inquiries about the class
in case of issues re: scheduling and facilities (very rare)
to represent the class in conversations about overall education program (very rare)
to represent class at a table in Linder Hall on "Cultivate Sunday" (annual event, first one scheduled for Jan 31, 2016)
Please think about this AND VOLUNTEER!
2) The Academy that is starting in January needs additional members of the Leadership Team to function as in further developing the Academy for the future. We are looking for persons with the following skill sets:

• Finance
• Legal
• Administration (particularly policies, procedures, protocols)
• Fund raising/Grant writing
• Branding 

Who do you know who would/might be interested in this exciting adventure. Please volunteer yourself of provide suggestions of who could be contacted.
3) This week's lesson:

LIVING BUDDHA; LIVING CHRIST

THICK NHAT HANH

CHAPTER 9

Faith and Practice

Penetrating the heart of reality

Why does Hahn say that we must abandon our notions of God, Buddha, self, non-self, birth, death, being, & non-being?
Only the Son & the Holy Spirit know him
Why?
The substance of faith
How is the practice of cultivating the mind & the heart to be done?
What two things are essential?
Taking refuge
Buddhist practice is taking refuge in Buddha, Dharma, & Sangha. How is this done? What does it do for them?
Interior recollection
What are analogous practices in Christianity? How are these practiced in Christianity? What are your experiences with them?
Afflictions block the way
What part does focus & concentration play in these practices?
What are the 5 hindrances that block “the Buddha nature,” “the seed of enlightenment,” “the original mind,” “the Holy Spirit within?”
What then is the practice to be?
How does transformation take place? How do we reach “inter-being”, “the non-self?”
The abyss of doubt
Why should your practice not be stopped when some peace is achieved?
The original mind
Hahn says the Christian layperson should live a simple life & that a life of prayer & contemplation can be filled with joy & happiness. Do you agree?
He also says that if care is not taken, even apostolic ministry can lead one away from the original mind, the mind of practice & love. Do you agree?
An expression of love
What is needed for living the contemplative life while also doing the work that must be done?
How not to lose the contemplative life
What is the heart of meditation?
Hahn says the question is not whether to be engaged or not, but how to engage without losing the contemplative life. Do you agree?
Mindful living is possible
What are ways Hahn says that mindful living can be truly done?
Our original purpose
When one allows oneself to mindfully embrace suffering or allow the Holy Spirit to work within, the individual will come to really understand the nature of that suffering and no longer impose dogmas that cause further suffering. Is this analogous to “love one another?”
The well is within us
How do we discover the well that is within us?
Religious experience is human experience
As human religious practice deepens & mindfulness becomes more sustained, what follows?
How is this different from “habit energy?” How can “habit energy” be transformed?
Loving God is loving living beings
What does it mean “to rest in God?”
Empty of what
Hahn says every time we pray or invoke the name of God, the Holy Spirit is manifest in us as a seed, a mustard seed. We begin to see things around us & within us more deeply. Do you agree?
What are two Buddhist concepts that are doors that open to the “true nature of reality?”
How does delusion cause us to suffer?
The nature of interbeing
How does Hahn say the notions of impermanence & non-being become a direct experience for the practitioner?
What do you think of this concept:
Nirvana, the ultimate dimension of being, is touched when the reality of the non-self is realized. Then one is free of fear, attachment, illusion, and craving.
The ground of experience
What is the true deep meaning of “being born again” actually mean to Hahn? How does Merton explain it?
What is the ground that makes this possible?
Concrete prayer
What is “stream-winning?” How might this lead to “enlightenment?”
Total surrender
Hahn says touching nirvana, the ultimate dimension, is total & unconditional surrender to God. How does Thomas Merton help us understand that?
Two types of causation
Hahn says that once the ultimate is touched, all notions are transcended. What does he mean by that?
According to Buddhism, there are two types of causation:
causation within the historical dimension and
causation between the historical dimension and the ultimate dimension.
Explain these concepts.
Who is not unique?
Hahn says that the notion that Christianity is the only path to salvation & other religions are of no use, excludes dialogue, fosters religious intolerance, & is of no help. Your thoughts?
The difference is in emphasis
Hahn says the true body of Jesus is his teaching and the only way to touch Him is to practice his teaching. What does he mean by that?
Religious experience is above all human experience. Both similarities & differences are present in varying religions. They only differ in emphasis. Your thoughts?
Real dialogue brings tolerance
The absence of true experience brings forth intolerance & lack of understanding. Organized religions must bring forth conditions that create true practice & true experience to flower. How is studying this book suggesting that true dialogue within & between religions can bring true love & true peace?
--
Kay Gilbert, CNM, Ph.D.
Retired, School of Nursing
San Diego State University
4935 Dorena Court
San Diego, CA 92122
Email kayg@mail.sdsu.edu
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Saturday, November 21, 2015 at First United Mehtodist Church of San Diego, California, United States' Hearts Class for Sunday, 22 November 2015 

Good Morning Hearts! This week, we have several orders of business: 1) The church pastors & staff are requesting a "point person" or "key contact" for the Hearts class.  The duties would be: listing (with email address) on church website easy referral by church staff for inquiries about the class in case of issues re: scheduling and facilities (very rare) to represent the class in conversations about overall education program (very rare) to represent class at a table in Linder Hall on "Cultivate Sunday" (annual event, first one scheduled for Jan 31, 2016) Please think about this AND VOLUNTEER! 2) The Academy that is starting in January needs additional members of the Leadership Team to function as in further developing the Academy for the future.  We are looking for persons with the following skill sets: Finance Legal Administration (particularly policies, procedures, protocols) Fund raising/Grant writing Branding  Who do you know who would/might be interested in this exciting adventure.  Please volunteer yourself of provide suggestions of who could be contacted. 3)  This week's lesson: LIVING BUDDHA; LIVING CHRIST THICK NHAT HANH CHAPTER 9 Faith and Practice Penetrating the heart of reality Why does Hahn say that we must abandon our notions of God, Buddha, self, non-self, birth, death, being, & non-being? Only the Son & the Holy Spirit know him Why? The substance of faith How is the practice of cultivating the mind & the heart to be done?   What two things are essential? Taking refuge Buddhist practice is taking refuge in Buddha, Dharma, & Sangha.  How is this done? What does it do for them? Interior recollection What are analogous practices in Christianity?  How are these practiced in Christianity?  What are your experiences with them? Afflictions block the way What part does focus & concentration play in these practices? What are the 5 hindrances that block “the Buddha nature,” “the seed of enlightenment,” “the original mind,” “the Holy Spirit within?”   What then is the practice to be? How does transformation take place?  How do we reach “inter-being”, “the non-self?” The abyss of doubt Why should your practice not be stopped when some peace is achieved? The original mind Hahn says the Christian layperson should live a simple life & that a life of prayer & contemplation can be filled with joy & happiness.  Do you agree? He also says that if care is not taken, even apostolic ministry can lead one away from the original mind, the mind of practice & love.  Do you agree? An expression of love What is needed for living the contemplative life while also doing the work that must be done? How not to lose the contemplative life  What is the heart of meditation? Hahn says the question is not whether to be engaged or not, but how to engage without losing the contemplative life.  Do you agree? Mindful living is possible What are ways Hahn says that mindful living can be truly done? Our original purpose When one allows oneself to mindfully embrace suffering or allow the Holy Spirit to work within, the individual will come to really understand the nature of that suffering and no longer impose dogmas that cause further suffering.  Is this analogous to “love one another?” The well is within us How do we discover the well that is within us? Religious experience is human experience As human religious practice deepens & mindfulness becomes more sustained, what follows? How is this different from “habit energy?”  How can “habit energy” be transformed? Loving God is loving living beings What does it mean “to rest in God?” Empty of what Hahn says every time we pray or invoke the name of God, the Holy Spirit is manifest in us as a seed, a mustard seed.  We begin to see things around us & within us more deeply.  Do you agree? What are two Buddhist concepts that are doors that open to the “true nature of reality?” How does delusion cause us to suffer? The nature of interbeing How does Hahn say the notions of impermanence & non-being become a direct experience for the practitioner? What do you think of this concept: Nirvana, the ultimate dimension of being, is touched when the reality of the non-self is realized.  Then one is free of fear, attachment, illusion, and craving.  The ground of experience What is the true deep meaning of “being born again” actually mean to Hahn?  How does Merton explain it? What is the ground that makes this possible? Concrete prayer What is “stream-winning?”  How might this lead to “enlightenment?” Total surrender Hahn says touching nirvana, the ultimate dimension, is total & unconditional surrender to God.  How does Thomas Merton help us understand that? Two types of causation Hahn says that once the ultimate is touched, all notions are transcended.  What does he mean by that? According to Buddhism, there are two types of causation:  causation within the historical dimension and  causation between the historical dimension and the ultimate dimension. Explain these concepts. Who is not unique? Hahn says that the notion that Christianity is the only path to salvation & other religions are of no use, excludes dialogue, fosters religious intolerance, & is of no help.  Your thoughts? The difference is in emphasis Hahn says the true body of Jesus is his teaching and the only way to touch Him is to practice his teaching.  What does he mean by that? Religious experience is above all human experience. Both similarities & differences are present in varying religions.  They only differ in emphasis.  Your thoughts? Real dialogue brings tolerance The absence of true experience brings forth intolerance & lack of understanding. Organized religions must bring forth conditions that create true practice & true experience to flower. How is studying this book suggesting that true dialogue within & between religions can bring true love & true peace? --  Kay Gilbert, CNM, Ph.D. Retired, School of Nursing San Diego State University4935 Dorena Court San Diego, CA  92122 Email    kayg@mail.sdsu.edu

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