1015 W. 2nd St.
Little Rock, AR

(map)

Practice Groups

Tibetan

    Nyingma

    Sakya

Zen

    Kwan Um

    Mindfulness

    Rinzai

Theravada

    Vipassana

Others

    Journey Into Silence

    Silent Sitting

 

 

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The Ecumenical Buddhist Society of Little Rock is a non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

Mindfulness Practice
 Buddhist Practice in the Tradition
 of Zen Master Thich Nhất Hạnh

I take refuge in the Buddha, the one who shows me the way in this life.
I take refuge in the Dharma, the way of understanding and of love.
I take refuge in the Sangha, the community that lives in harmony and awareness.

Welcome to River Valley Sangha

A community of Buddhist practice and values
Meeting each Sunday 5:30—6:30 p.m.



Visitors are very welcome at our Sunday Sangha meetings. Mats and cushions are provided, or you may bring your own. Chairs are also available for those who prefer them.

Weekly practice consists of
 •  Sitting meditation
 •  Walking meditation
 •  Reading and mindful discussion

Second-Sunday practice includes recitation or chanting of
 •  Heart of the Prajnaparamita—The Heart Sutra
 •  The Three Refuges and The Two Promises
 •  The Five Mindfulness Trainings

To speak about attendance or practice, call Tom Neale 501.664.6052.



Study Groups
From time to time, our sangha forms study groups to expand our understanding of Mindfulness and Buddhism. Members participate in local and national retreats, and particularly enjoy the Buddhism classes taught at EBS.

Email Discussion and Information
River Valley Sangha also has an email discussion group that is intended to promote Dharma discussions among the sangha members and to post announcements. If you wish to become a member, just provide your name and email address to one of the sangha members who will forward it to group moderator Doug Barton. You can also email Doug at douglaskbarton@gmail.com, and he will add you as a member.

Our Teacher, Thich Nhất Hạnh

http://www.plumvillage.org/



Thich Nhất Hạnh (addressed by followers as Thây , or teacher) is a Zen Master, teacher, scholar, poet, human rights activist and has published more than 100 books, including more than 40 in English. He was born in Vietnam in 1926 and became a monk at the age of 16.
     During the Vietnam War, Thây maintained political neutrality. He steadfastly practiced Engaged Buddhism, founding the School of Youth for Social Service, rallying 10,000 young people throughout Vietnam to work with communities and war victims in the Buddhist spirit of compassion and nonviolence. In 1966 he toured the United States to speak out about the war and was nominated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1967 for the Nobel Peace Prize. Ultimately, he was exiled from his home country.
     In 1982, Thây established Plum Village, France, as his meditation center, monastery and sangha. He has subsequently established monasteries or meditation centers in the US and Europe, and for more than two decades he has toured the US every other year conducting retreats.


     Thây is an important influence in the development of Western Buddhism. His teachings and mindfulness practices appeal to people from various religious, spiritual, and political backgrounds. He continues to be active in the peace movement, promoting non-violent solutions to conflict.

Magnolia Grove Monastery and Magnolia Village Mindfulness Practice Meditation Center
http://www.magnoliavillage.org/
Magnolia Grove in Batesville, Mississippi, is the realized dream of a compassionate community intent on establishing a center for mindfulness in the tradition of Thich Nhất Hạnh.



     Two other US monasteries also uphold the Buddhist practice as taught by Thich Nhất Hạnh: Deer Park Monastery in California and Blue Cliff Monastery in New York. Now, Thây’s teaching and methods of practice are taking root in Mississippi.
     Magnolia Grove Monastery is the newest and nearest US monastery to teach Mindfulness and support practitioners in Arkansas.
     On September 27, 2009 nearly 400 Buddhist monks and nuns, members of the Plum Village tradition founded by Thây, were violently expelled from Bat Nha Monastery in the central highlands of Vietnam. In 2010, more than thirty monastics from Thich Nhất Hạnh’s monasteries, most of them from Bat Nha, took permanent residence at the Magnolia Grove Monastery.
     Magnolia Grove is approximately 3.5 hours from Little Rock. It offers regular retreats and welcomes practitioners to visit.

Seminal and Favorite Works by Thich Nhất Hạnh, and Mindfulness Resources
THE HEART OF THE BUDDHA’S TEACHING
OLD PATH WHITE CLOUDS
THE MIRACLE OF MINDFULNESS
PEACE IS EVERY STEP
TEACHINGS ON LOVE
THE DIAMOND THAT CUTS THROUGH ILLUSION
UNDERSTANDING THE MIND

Dharma talks from retreats, presentations and ceremonies are often accessible on YouTube and at
http://www.plumvillage.org/
http://www.pvom.org
http://interbeing.org.uk/
http://www.interbeing.org.uk/manual/



Other Favorites by Buddhist Practitioners and Traditions
REAL HAPPINESS by Sharon Salzberg
WISE HEART by Jack Kornfield
BUDDHISM FOR DUMMIES by Jonathan Landaw and Stephan Bodian
Shambahla Sun Magazine
Tricycle Magazine
Snow Lion Magazine
http://www.dharmaseed.org/ 
http://viewonbuddhism.org/

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