EBS Tibetan New Year Celebration (Losar)
Bring your favorite food and join the EBS community in a potluck celebration of the Tibetan New Year – called Losar.
An occasion for starting fresh, Tibetan people mark Losar by cleaning their homes, receiving blessings and teachings at the monasteries, and partying together with family and friends. In this way, they put the past to rest and make a fresh start in the new year.
At EBS, we will view a short video about Losar (with an inspirational message from a Lama), followed by a traditional smoke purification ceremony, and then enjoy food together. Traditional foods are especially welcome if you know how to make Tibetan dishes, but bring whatever you like.
Children are also welcome – this is a very family-friendly event. Please join us if a fresh start is appealing to you. And to enjoy food and companionship with the EBS community.
Questions? Contact Mick Wiggins, Betsy Johnson, or Cheryl Woodard
Annual Community Meeting
It’s our tradition to gather once a year to reflect and communicate about all of our EBS activities and the health/status of our community. Over tea and cookies, we connect with one another, recognize and celebrate our volunteers and supporters, and elect members to next year’s Board of Directors. It’s like a family reunion!
Everyone is invited to attend. If you are new to EBS, here’s the time to learn about everything offered here and to make new EBS friends. If you’re a volunteer, donor or supporter of EBS, here’s the time to weigh in, share your thoughts, get involved.
Please join in-person OR on Zoom. Meeting ID: 897 372 8000 • Passcode: ebs
If joining in-person, we will have hot tea and sweet treats to share!
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind Virtual Retreat with Flint Sparks
Our local community will gather at EBS to practice with Flint Sparks who will join us by Zoom from his home in Hawaii. The retreat costs $150 for the whole weekend in-person, $100 for the weekend by Zoom,, or $25 for only the Friday dharma talk.
Anam Thubten Weekend Retreat: The Citadel of Awareness
ABOUT THE TEACHINGS: There is a realm in our consciousness that is unconditioned by negative mental patterns - a place where we feel peace, compassion, equilibrium, and joy. Called “the citadel of awareness” it can be accessed in every moment, when we know how to find it within.
In this two-day retreat, Anam Thubten will teach and offer guided meditations to help us connect with this inner state of mind. We recommend that you might want to read his book, Citadel of Awareness, in advance of the weekend teachings.
We will meet from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm on both Saturday and Sunday, with a mid-day break for lunch each day. Anam Thubten requests that we attend both days and there are no single-day registrations. This retreat is in-person only and there will be no Zoom access or recordings. Space is limited, so please register early.
ABOUT THE TEACHER: At an early age, Anam Thubten began to practice in the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He has been teaching at EBS for more than twenty years and we are delighted to welcome him back this year. He is founder and spiritual director of Dharmata Foundation, has authored many Dharma books, and teaches in the US, Europe and Asia.
REGISTER: Cost is $150 for the weekend, and some scholarships are available. Contact donations@ebslr.org for financial aid requests.
Anam Thubten Public Dharma Talk
At an early age, Anam Thubten began to practice in the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He has been teaching at EBS for more than twenty years and we are delighted to welcome him back this year. He is founder and spiritual director of Dharmata Foundation, has authored many Dharma books, and teaches in the US, Europe and Asia.
By special request, Anam Thubten has agreed to offer this Friday night event on Zoom as well as in person - for the benefit of those who cannot travel to Little Rock. Zoom information will be sent to those who register in advance.
The event is free but suggested donations are $10 to $20. All proceeds go to support the worldwide Dharma activities of Anam Thubten. Advanced registration is suggested and you can also register at the door.
Finding Your Own Path: An Exploration of Buddhist Teachings and Traditions
For those who want to seriously pursue Buddhism, we will consider the Buddha as example and explore his key teachings. Meeting in person at EBS and also on Zoom. Taught by Cheryl Woodard
Medicine Buddha Retreat with Dorje Löpon Dr. Hun Lye (Live and On Zoom)
Medicine Buddha is considered to embody all the healing powers of all the buddhas. Widely revered and practiced by health professionals and ailing patients alike, the Medicine Buddha practice transcends conventional concepts of health and wellness, sickness and death. In this weekend retreat, Dr. Lye will introduce the Tantric deity-yoga practices of Medicine Buddha as handed down through the Yutok Nyintik lineage that comes directly from the founder of traditional Tibetan medicine, Yutok Yonten Gonpo.
SCHEDULE: Friday 7 to 9 pm. Saturday 9 am to 5 pm with a break for lunch, please bring your lunch. Sunday 9 am to 2 pm. The Friday night is a general introduction to Medicine Buddha. You are welcome to attend only the Friday night talk, or stay for the whole weekend teachings. Everything will also be available via Zoom for those who cannot attend in person.
Registration is Required for live, in-person attendance as well as Zoom. The full weekend is $120 and includes the Friday talk. Please register separately if you only want to attend the Friday talk. Please register now You will receive a confirmation email.
Saturday Night at the Movies
The Buddha will be laughing at the showing of the Disney/Pixar animated classic, Inside Out, on Saturday, April 1st at 7pm! There is no charge and everyone (especially kids!) are invited!
Inside Out tells the story of Riley, a happy, hockey-loving 11-year-old Midwestern girl. Her world turns upside-down when she and her parents move to San Francisco. Critics and audiences alike have cheered and empathized with Riley's changing emotions -- led by the emotion, Joy, as she tries to guide Riley through this difficult, life-changing event. It’s a movie for the young AND the young at heart.
Meet other EBS families and youngsters. Everyone is encouraged to come dressed for a sleepover! Wear your jammies and bring sleeping bags, if you like. We will have a few pizzas but please bring your own (or whatever you like to eat). Popcorn and drinks will be also provided. We will eat and socialize at 7 with the movie starting about 7:30 and finishing at about 9.
Come and laugh and have fun with Buddha!
Mindful Eating Workshop with Professional Chef Dave Briggs
About the Workshop:
In this workshop, we will focus on food and eating as relationships to cultivate and continually explore. Like any relationship, they will change over time and can potentially lead us toward a better understanding of ourselves and the external world. We will start with curiosity, move into a space of joy and gratitude, and conclude by preparing and enjoying a vegetarian meal together. The workshop will also include meditation and light movement. If you would like to take a journey towards a new perspective on food and eating, join us!
For those participating on Zoom, we will provide you with a shopping list and recipes prior to the event so you can enjoy the process of cooking and eating along with our in-person group.
Cost:
$40 In Person; $10 Zoom
Limit 20 in-person participants.
Schedule:
Saturday, March 18th from 1 - 4 PM
Location:
Ecumenical Buddhist Society of Little Rock and online via Zoom
Registration:
Click Here to Register
Contact:
For questions about the workshop please contact Molly Carson at
mollykaycarson@gmail.com
Navigating A World of Uncertainties and Chaos
Bhante Jayasara, a Buddhist monk in the Theravada tradition, will be leading a retreat March 10th through the 12th at the Ecumenical Buddhist Society of Little Rock.
About the Retreat:
This retreat is intended to deepen the practice of the four brahma viharas: lovingkindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. During this vulnerable and destabilizing time in our inner and outer world, we are fortunate to be drawn to take refuge in the stabilizing and protective practices of the four brahma viharas. This event is organized by the Ecumenical Buddhist Society’s Theravada group.
There will be a Friday evening talk at 7:00 pm followed by two full day retreat sessions from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The talk and retreat can be attended in person or online via Zoom.
Cost:
This is a free retreat. While there is no cost to attend, donations in any amount are always welcome. Please help support the Ecumenical Buddhist Society of Little Rock and Bhante Jayasara. You can donate here: https://www.ebslr.org/donations
Registration:
Click Here to Register
About the Teacher:
Bhante Jayasara was born and raised in South Jersey and got his degree in anthropology. He received novice ordination from Ven. H. Gunaratana (Bhante G) at the Bhavana Society in 2014. He resided at the Bhavana Society in Hampshire County, West Virginia till 2020 and has been an itinerant monk since then. The term Bhante is an honorific which means Venerable.
Schedule:
Evening dharma talk:
Friday, 3/10/23: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Retreat:
Saturday, 3/11/23: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm (1 hour lunch)
Sunday, 3/12/23: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm (1 hour lunch)
Contact:
For questions about the retreat please contact Doug Holmes at
doug.holmes.42@gmail.com
501-517-4692
EBS 2023 Annual Meeting
Our annual meeting will be Sunday afternoon, January 15th 2023 at 3:00pm
It’s our tradition to gather once a year to reflect and communicate about all of our EBS activities and the health/status of our community. We also recognize and celebrate our volunteers and supporters. And members elect next year’s Board of Directors.
Everyone is invited to attend. You may attend in-person at EBS or via Zoom. The link will be found at the bottom of this page. We hope you will join us!
As usual, we have a lot to talk about. Here’s a partial list:
how to modify and optimize our programming in a perpetual-Covid existence
how to engage more volunteers to help
potential retreats/events/speakers for 2023
new board members and officers
2022 brought us continued challenges. As we look to 2023, we hope to learn from these lessons and remain relevant and accessible to everyone who might benefit from our precious Buddhist traditions of mindfulness and compassionate community.
For those that want to attend virtually, here is the Zoom information.
Topic: EBS 2023 Community Meeting
Time: Jan 15, 2023 03:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87370158493?pwd=ZU5JL21XSHlFeERRdllqcGJNRW5IUT09
Meeting ID: 873 7015 8493
Passcode: ebs
One tap mobile
+16469313860,,87370158493#,,,,*785342# US
Below is the recording of the 2022 Annual Meeting. Refresh your memory as we look forward to our 2023 meeting!
Eight-Part Introduction to Buddhism Class with Dr. Hun Lye
Dr. Hun Lye is a popular teacher here at EBS. He is thoroughly practiced in the western academic discipline of Religious Studies plus traditional Buddhist teachings. He draws from the best of both worlds, offering a unique and engaging approach to the rich contemplative, intellectual, cultural and spiritual heritage of Buddhism.
Suitable for everyone - from interested newcomers to advanced Buddhist practitioners.
Class will meet on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 pm (Central time) on the following dates: December 1, 8, 15, 22, January 5, 19, 26, and February 2.
Watch the class from home on Zoom, or join a group in the EBS bookstore watching together. Hosted by Cheryl Woodard and Doug Holmes. Contact Cheryl if you have questions.
A suggested donation of $8 per class or $50 for the whole series supports Dr. Lye’s home center, Urban Dharma of North Carolina in Asheville.
Advance registration is required. Register at Urban Dharma
Finding Our Way Home: Walking the Bodhisattva Path When Our World is Spinning
Zen retreat with Flint Sparks exploring the Bodhisattva path of living fully and lovingly for all beings
Three Days of Buddhist Teachings with Dr. Lye (In-Person Sold Out)
Registration is open for our summer 2022 retreat with Dr. Hun Lye. Dr. Lye is the founder of Urban Dharma NC, based in Asheville. The title and position of Dorjé Lopön (Vajra Master) was bestowed upon him by His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoché, the leader of the Drikung Kagyü lineage of Tibetan Buddhism at Drikung Kagyü Institute in Dehradun, India. He has been a teacher at EBS since 2015. Dr. Lye brings a refreshing approach to Buddhism for all students.
ZOOM ATTENDANCE IS STILL AVAILABLE
In-person attendance has sold out, but the retreat can still be attended via Zoom. Due to rising Covid case numbers, in-person attendance was limited to 30 people and advance registration was required. In-person attendees should bring proof of vaccination. A Zoom link will be sent to everyone who registers.
COMMUNITY RENEWAL REFUGE CEREMONY
Friday, July 29, 7:00-8:30 pm
Free
"Going for Refuge" is a formal ceremony for affirming our trust in the guidance and support of the Buddha's example, teachings, and community. Open to anyone who wants to take refuge for the first time, those who want to renew their commitment and those who just want to observe this heart-warming Buddhist ceremony. Every EBS practice group will participate and share the refuge traditions of their lineages.
MAITRI: THE PATH OF LOVING KINDNESS
Saturday, July 30, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Suggested donation: $65 for Sat., $120 for Sat. and Sun.
Please bring a sack lunch; EBS provides tea, water and coffee.
The Buddha praised Loving Kindness as a supreme armor against harms, a release of heart that frees us from fear, and a state of being that is loved and protected. Dr. Lye will teach loving kindness meditation practices drawn from the most ancient Buddhist traditions.
A FEW WORDS ON MAHAMUDRA
Sun. July 31, 9:00-2:00
Suggested donation: $65 for Sat., $120 for Sat. and Sun.
Please bring a sack lunch; EBS provides tea, water and coffee.
Reading from a newly translated text, we will look at the key points of Mahamudra practice for progressively moving from a confused, ordinary state of mind to the awakened state of a Buddha.
Questions?
Please Contact Melissa Gill at meegill@gmail.com or at 520-425-2773.
Registration & Donation
Send a check to: EBS, PO Box 561 , Little Rock, AR 72203
Donate with Zelle:
Use the app store to download the Zelle app on your phone.
Enter your mobile number and Visa or Mastercard debit card.
Send your donation via Zelle to our email: donations@ebslr.org
EBS 2022 Annual Meeting
Our annual meeting will be Sunday, January 16th, 2022 at 3:00pm
It’s our tradition to gather once a year to reflect and communicate about all of our EBS activities and the health/status of our community. We also recognize and celebrate our volunteers and supporters. And members elect next year’s Board of Directors.
Everyone is invited to attend. This will be a Zoom meeting only! We hope you will join us!
This year, we have a lot to talk about: how to safely reassemble post-Covid, how people can get more involved with EBS, what you want from the organization, and preliminary plans for the building that we purchased.
This time last year we thought the worst was behind us. Then 2021 brought us more challenges, loss, and suffering. For the future, we hope to learn from these lessons and remain relevant and accessible to everyone who might benefit from our precious Buddhist traditions of mindfulness and compassionate community.
Below is the recording on 2022 Annual Meeting
Blessing For Our EBS Home
Join Us Virtually for an Orgyen Medicine Buddha Blessing
Saturday, September 11, 2021 • 2:00 PM
Mark your calendar! We'll offer an Orgyen Medicine Buddha Blessing for our EBS building as it becomes OUR home. Anna Cox (Lama Tsultrim Palmo) and Ellis Widner will lead us, and all are welcome. There is no cost, although donations to support our EBS programs are most appreciated.
The Zoom link and practice guide for the event are at ebslr.org/2021medicinebuddha
EBS (Virtual) Community Meeting
We will have a special community meeting on Sunday afternoon, August 15th, 2021 at 3:00pm on Zoom. Everyone is welcome! The topic of the conversation will be the upcoming purchase of the building we are currently renting.
MAKING A HOME
EBS is taking the historic step of purchasing the beautiful building at 1516 W. 3rd Street.
This fulfills the dreams of our founders and all the people who’ve been supporting the community all these years.
Owning this property allows us to modify the space and accommodate more people. We can put outdoor practice space in the vacant lot, for example, or build additional bathrooms downstairs, or make kid-friendly space for families with children. There are many possibilities.
THE MEETING
Please join us to celebrate the moment and to consider together what this step means for the future.
The EBS board will share the details of the purchase, answer your questions, and hear your ideas about how we might make the building more suitable for a growing EBS community. We have already begun developing a plan and look forward to sharing it with you!
Please join us on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/8973728000 (Meeting ID: 897 372 8000; Password: ebs)
We truly look forward to seeing you and hearing your thoughts and ideas!
Meeting Uncertainty With Compassion and Wisdom
May 8th, 2021
8:30am - 5:00pm CDT
On ZOOM
Meeting Uncertainty With Compassion and Wisdom
With Terry Furstenau and Joe McCormack
We live in times where there has been continual change and flux. Facing uncertainty is one of the most difficult experiences we encounter as human beings. It also is potentially one of the most fruitful opportunities for practice. The Buddha taught that uncertainty is inherent in the way life is, impermanent, containing unease, and not completely within our control.
In this daylong retreat we will explore how to open to the reality of uncertainty as a condition of life. We will explore the process of meeting our discomfort with compassion and spaciousness, and to use the uncertainty we meet to develop deeper insight into how life unfolds. We will have alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, practice conferences, and question/answer times. Practitioners of all levels of experience--seasoned and beginners--are welcome.
Click Here for the online retreat registration form
NOTE: There will be a one hour lunch break from 12 - 1
Retreat cost: No set fee but a suggested Dana (donation to the teachers) of $25 is appreciated. Please go here to donate.
For more information or connection assistance contact Doug Holmes (doug.holmes.42@gmail.com) or 501-376-7056
About the Teachers:
Terry Furstenau has been a member of the Show Me Dharma sangha since 2001 and on the teachers council since 2004. He has led Insight Dialogue and Dharma Contemplation groups for the sangha. His teachings reflect retreat experience and study with Eastern and Western Vipassana teachers, Advaita Vedanta, Dzogchen, Insight Dialogue and the non-dual teachings of Adyashanti, Richard Miller and Matt Flickstein.
Joe McCormack has practice insight meditation since 1995. He has been a member of the Show Me Dharma Teachers Council since 2002. Joe leads an insight meditation group and has taught insight meditation to prison inmate since 1998. His teachers include Ginny Morgan, Phil Jones, and Matthew Flickstein. In his dharma instruction, Joe draws from Theravada Buddhist teachings, Zen and Dzogchen practice, Advaita teachings, and the Diamond Approach.
Registering saves a spot and will ensure that we can email you log-in instructions for the retreat.
Guided Breathwork Retreat
Guided Breathwork Retreat (with Justin Watts)
Saturday, April 17th from 10 - 11:30 am CDT
This all-levels* workshop is for anyone who wants to learn the tools to feel energized and focused, as well as reduce stress and alleviate anxiety.
The power to shift your mood and energy is already in you. Using simple techniques from ancient traditions and modern science, you’ll learn to unlock it on demand by consciously controlling your breath.
These powerful practices can help calm your nervous system, boost your immune system, and strengthen your mindset so you can more skillfully navigate the uncertainty and stress of everyday life.
Potential Benefits of Breathwork:
Reduced Anxiety
Emotional Balance
Clarity and Focus
Strengthened Immune System
Deep, Inner Peace
About The Teacher
A former CFO turned life and executive coach, Justin Watts began a breathwork practice following a cancer diagnosis almost 10 years ago. He is dedicated to helping others create positive change in their lives by activating the best parts of themselves.
*Health Disclaimer: This class is suitable for everyone, but does require a basic level of health. Anyone with a health condition should always consult a medical professional before starting breathwork.
Platform: Zoom (link will be emailed after registration)
Retreat Fee: $25
Scholarships are available, apply to donations@ebslr.org.
Register by clicking the button below.
Zen Retreat with Flint Sparks: Not Knowing
Zen Retreat and Talk with Flint Sparks: Not Knowing
Talk: Friday, Feb. 19th at 7-9pm
Retreat: Saturday, Feb. 20th from 10am - 6pm
(all times CDT)
Here is a Zen ancestor story from 9th century China — a koan as they are called in our tradition. It is one of the greatest teaching stories in all of Zen and it is one that my own Zen teacher would often tell. It records an exchange between a monk (Fayan) and his teacher (Dizang) as the student is preparing to leave the monastery and travel on foot to another temple to further his study and practice. As the monk puts on his sandals and gathers his belongings to depart, his teacher approaches him and asks what seems like a straightforward question: "Where are you going?”
The young man replies, “I’m going around on pilgrimage.” This would have been an expected and natural thing for training monks to do. They would walk from mountain temple to mountain temple seeking the teachings and Masters with whom to study.
Being a Zen Master, the old man doesn’t want to miss the chance to send the young man off without a final teaching, so he turns the conversation by asking, "What is the purpose of pilgrimage?” Stunned by this more penetrating question the young monk replies, "I don't know.”
The old man finishes the conversation with the statement that my teacher would often use. He simply said, "Not knowing is most intimate.”
We all tend to look for answers we can count on, some ground on which to stand, scrambling for knowledge while squandering wisdom. Spiritual practice challenges this conventional approach just as Dizang surprised Fayan. His question was not just about spiritual practice, but about life itself, for life is, after all, nothing but a pilgrimage. What's the purpose? Why are we born, why do we die, why is life so difficult, why are we always longing for something else? What do we really know of our mysterious and fleeting experience? Through their interchange Fayan suddenly recognizes, as one often does in spiritual practice, that he had what he needed all along, only he didn't know it. The way is right beneath your feet, and in every blade of grass.
But what does this all mean and how can we make use of it for our lives? This will be our practice question — our koan — for this retreat. Our practice path will provide the opportunity for real intimacy by going beyond ordinary knowing which is the direction in which Zen points. Please join us on this sacred pilgrimage.
Platform: Zoom (link will be emailed after registration)
Retreat and Talk Fee: $150
Talk-only Fee: $25
Scholarships are available, apply to donations@ebslr.org.
About The Teacher:
Flint Sparks is a Soto Zen teacher who leads retreats throughout the United States and Europe. His traditional Zen training began at the San Francisco Zen Center and continued at the Austin Zen Center which he founded and nourished as a leader in its early years. He was ordained in 2001 by Zenkei Blanche Hartman of the San Francisco Zen Center and was given Teacher Acknowledgment in a ceremony at the Austin Zen Center in 2007.
Flint also spent decades in the practice and teaching of psychotherapy.
His early research and counseling experience with the terminally ill inspired him to continue investigating the influence of consciousness in physical healing and emotional well-being.
Today, Flint’s teaching and consulting bridge the fields of health psychology, the psychology of contemplative practices, and traditional Zen Buddhist practice.
To register for the Talk and/or the Retreat, click “Register” below:
Buddhist Teachings on Life, Death, In-between and Beyond
Buddhist Teachings on Life, Death, In-between and Beyond
Saturday, Jan. 30th: 9-12am, 12-1 BREAK, 1-5pm
Sunday, Jan. 31st: 9am-1pm
Urban Dharma North Carolina founder and spiritual director Dr. Lye will offer a two-day program on the Buddha’s teachings on death, dying and beyond, especially these teachings as transmitted in Tibetan Buddhism. Beyond presenting the foundational teachings common to all Buddhist traditions, Dr. Lye will highlight the principle & practice of Phowa.
Phowa is a well-known Tibetan Buddhist training for “a good death.” In particular, the Drikung Kagyu Lineage (which Dr. Lye is a part of) is famed throughout Tibet for its transmission of Phowa practice. Phowa practice can ensure not only a good death but also transform our life in the present–helping us live with joy & freedom, without fear & stress. Thus, these teachings are meant to be applied now and not just for when death comes.
This 2-day program is an excellent way for anyone who has received Phowa transmission to get a “refresher” and it is also appropriate for those who are new to Phowa.
[Note: While this program will have the Tibetan Buddhist practice of Phowa as a reference point, this is NOT a Phowa transmission in the traditional sense.]
(Note: There will be no Friday opening talk)
Platform: Zoom (link will be emailed to you after registration)
Fee: Saturday only: $100; Saturday and Sunday: $150. You can register now and choose to "pay later.”
Scholarships are available by emailing donations@ebslr.org
About Dr. Lye
Dorjé Lopön Dr. Lye grew up in a Buddhist home in Malaysia. From a young age, he studied and practiced Buddhism with teachers of various traditions. He met his first Tibetan teacher in the United States when he was an undergraduate student. After earning a doctorate degree in Buddhist Studies at University of Virginia and teaching for ten years in American academic institutions, Dr. Lye left academia to devote his energy fully to Dharma work. In 2013, he was appointed as a Dorjé Lopön (lit. “vajra-master”) of the Drikung Kagyü Lineage by His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoché (Head of the Lineage) and was formally enthroned in his home city, Penang, Malaysia. When not teaching, leading retreats, or serving the Lineage in Asia and North and South America, Dr. Lye teaches in Asheville, where he is founder and spiritual director at Urban Dharma North Carolina.
EBS 2021 Annual Meeting
Our annual meeting will be Sunday afternoon, January 17, 2021 at 3:00pm
Please join us on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/91208183241 (Meeting ID: 912 0818 3241)
2020 has been one for the history books—full of challenges, loss, and suffering. Throughout it all, EBS has strived to remain relevant and accessible to our community. We are proud of our efforts—and your support—and are not letting up in 2021. We hope you won’t either.
We will spend time talking about our move to online practices, our plans for the building in 2021, and our goal to reach more people in our community. Members will also elect the Board of Directors. We would greatly appreciate everyone’s participation and feedback. We hope you will join us!
2021 New Year's Day Dharma Talk
About the Talk:
One of our teachers, Ayya Sudhamma, is returning to EBS virtually! She will be giving a Dharma talk on New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1st , from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm CST. Come and join us in welcoming the new year on Zoom. This is a FREE talk, there is no cost to attend, but donations are always welcome. This event is sponsored by the EBS Vipassana group.
Register Here:
Please go to the link below to register. An email with the Zoom meeting information will be emailed to you: https://www.aplos.com/aws/events/ayya_sudhamma_teaching
Donations:
Any amount is welcomed. Please help support the Buddhist center and our visiting teacher. You can donate when you register.
About Ayya Sudhamma:
Ayya Sudhamma grew up in Charlotte, NC and practiced law in San Francisco for several years. She embraced Buddhism in 1993, when an encounter with cancer offered her a difficult lesson in impermanence.
She joined the monastic community in 1997, and after several years as a novice, she gained full Bhikkhuni ordination in Sri Lanka in 2003, becoming the first Western woman to do so in that country. Currently, she serves as abbess at the Charlotte Buddhist Vihara. She resides there as an alms-mendicant, teaching meditation and Buddhist suttas, offering spiritual counseling, and conducting traditional Southeast Asian Buddhist rituals. Her teaching style is direct and energetic. With clarity and insight she guides participants to deeper understandings of classic Buddhist teachings.
In Samsara, It's the Body that Wanders
A Virtual Retreat on Mindfulness of the Body
Dorjé Lopön Dr. Hun Lye, will offer a retreat on Sep 4-6 on various Buddhist practices centered on the body.
Friday 7:30-9:30 pm
Saturday 8:30-10:30 am, 11 am-1 pm, and 3-5 pm
Sunday 8:30-10:30 am and 11 am-1 pm
While we often recognize that the Buddha considered the mind to be the main focus of spiritual training, the important role of the body is sometimes overlooked or even misunderstood. In this (ironically) virtual retreat, Dr. Lye will emphasize the benefits & power of an approach to Buddhist meditative practice that places embodiment at the center.
Practices covered in this retreat include mindfulness of breath as a body-centered practice, movement & embodiment practice, & body-as-mandala practice. The retreat will include both practice & teaching sessions.
Dr. Lye is one of the most popular teachers at EBS due to his warm and engaging teaching style. We are delighted that he can join us virtually for this retreat. Registration is open to everyone but seats are limited, and advance registration is required.
Dorjé Lopön Dr. Lye grew up in a Buddhist home in Malaysia. From a young age, he studied and practiced Buddhism with teachers of various traditions. He met his first Tibetan teacher in the United States when he was an undergraduate student. After earning a doctorate degree in Buddhist Studies at University of Virginia and teaching for ten years in American academic institutions, Dr. Lye left academia to devote his energy fully to Dharma work. In 2013, he was appointed as a Dorjé Lopön (lit. “vajra-master”) of the Drikung Kagyü Lineage by His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoché (Head of the Lineage) and was formally enthroned in his home city, Penang, Malaysia. When not teaching, leading retreats, or serving the Lineage in Asia and North and South America, Dr. Lye teaches in Asheville, where he is founder and spiritual director at Urban Dharma North Carolina.
$70 Suggested Fundraising Donation
"The Heart Can Only Take So Much," Zen Master Bon Hae of the Kwan Um School of Zen
About the Talk: "The Heart Can Only Take So Much"
We are living in the confluence of multiple disasters over varying periods of time: a worldwide pandemic (months); pending climate catastrophe (decades); and racial and ethnic discrimination and violence (centuries). From whatever our standpoint is: How can we keep our hearts open? How can we see clearly? How can we know what to do? There will be a 5 minute silent sitting at the beginning of the talk.
Date: Friday, July 10th
Time: 7:30 to 8:30pm CST
Suggested donation: $10 (pay during the registration process or choose “pay later”)
Registration Link: https://www.aplos.com/aws/events/kwanumzen_talk. We highly recommend registering to ensure that we have enough slots for everyone.
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/96926896190; Meeting ID: 969 2689 6190
About Zen Master Bon Hae:
Judy Roitman (Zen Master Bon Hae) is the guiding teacher of the Kansas Zen Center in Lawrence KS. She began practicing Zen in 1976 with Zen Master Seung Sahn at the Cambridge Zen Center, and helped found the Kansas Zen Center in 1978. She was granted authorization as a teacher (inka) in the Kwan Um School of Zen in 1998 and received dharma transmission in 2013. She is a poet and a retired mathematician.
Learn more about the Kwan Um School of Zen and the Kansas Zen Center.
Vesak (Buddha Day) Online Talk with Buddhist Nun, Ayya Sudhamma
About the Talk
Vesak is the most sacred holy day of Theravada Buddhism, and is widely celebrated throughout Asia every year on the full moon of the ancient lunar month of Vesakha. This year, Vesak falls on May 7.
On Vesak (or Buddha Day) Buddhists commemorate the birth of the Buddha-to-be, Siddhattha Gotama, his Enlightenment at the age of 35 when he became the Buddha, and his final 'passing' into Nirvana at the age of 80.
In these complex, difficult times, Ayya Sudhamma will offer a talk connecting the significance of Vesak to the conditions we are facing today, and exploring what Buddha’s teachings can offer to us now.
Join the talk on the EBS Zoom platform on Friday, May 8, 2020 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. The Zoom meeting link is: https://zoom.us/j/99485848205 If asked for the Meeting ID: 994 8584 8205.
The talk is free, but we welcome donations to support Charlotte Buddhist Vihara or EBS at www.ebslr.org/donations
About Ayya Sudhamma:
Ayya Sudhamma grew up in Charlotte, NC and practiced law in San Francisco for several years. She embraced Buddhism in 1993, when an encounter with cancer offered her a difficult lesson in impermanence.
She joined the monastic community in 1997, and after several years as a novice, she gained full Bhikkhuni ordination in Sri Lanka in 2003, becoming the first Western woman to do so in that country. Currently, she serves as abbess at the Charlotte Buddhist Vihara. She resides there as an alms-mendicant, teaching meditation and Buddhist suttas, offering spiritual counseling, and conducting traditional Southeast Asian Buddhist rituals. Her teaching style is direct and energetic. With clarity and insight she guides participants to deeper understandings of classic Buddhist teachings.
Book Study Group with Jay McDaniel: Naked in the Zendo
NOTICE: This event has been postponed. Stay tuned for new dates and times when it is rescheduled.
Join Jay McDaniel for a book group about the Zen outlook on life and practice. The group is suitable for long-time practitioners, absolute newcomers, and people of any faith with an interest in Zen.
We will meet at EBS on five Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 pm: March 25 through April 22. Although free, we ask that you kindly register here.
For those who want to participate from home, the group will also be available online using the Zoom platform. We will send you a Zoom link when you register.
Wednesday, 3/25: One hour opening session with the author, Grace Shireson, giving us an overview of the book via Zoom!
Wednesday, 4/1: Part One
Wednesday, 4/8: Part Two
Wednesday, 4/15: Part Three
Wednesday, 4/22: Part Four
Copies of Naked in the Zendo are available at the EBS bookstore.
The class is free and donations to EBS are always appreciated.
Online Dharma Talk with Flint Sparks: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
Friday, March 20th, 7-8pm
As you may know, EBS was scheduled to host a retreat with renowned Zen teacher, Flint Sparks this coming weekend. Like everything else, the retreat was cancelled and Flint has returned home to Hawaii. However, we are able to offer the Friday night talk online using the Zoom platform. You are welcome to join in for free. Please email donations@ebslr.org so we can get a head count.
Perspective:
It is important to remember that we are facing a great contagion aside from the COVID19 virus, and that contagion is fear and uncertainty. There are four main streams which I believe fuel the profound vulnerability we all feel: terror, grief, helplessness, and rage. How do we contain these very infectious reactions and not spread them in our community? Buddhist practices are precisely designed to create this containment and this healing.
In addition, our current quarantine can be understood as a move toward temporary monastic practice. We are sequestered in our home temples, committed to continuing our practices, and offering the merit of our practice for the whole world and all beings. This is the function of a true monastic — not to turn away from the world, but to serve the world in a particular way. Now is our time. This is what is being asked of us.
Invitation:
All of the information you will need to participate in the Friday evening event is below. The talk is free and registration is not required although donations are gratefully accepted. Below you will find is a link for the Zoom event and a link for any donations you might want to offer.
Please Note: The presentation will not be a moderated event so remember a basic Zoom etiquette for larger groups — please mute your microphone when you come online so everyone does not hear your household noises, dogs barking, and phones ringing. I look forward to seeing your beautiful faces!
Join Zoom Meeting
Click this link: https://zoom.us/j/9732806043
When prompted, enter this Meeting ID: 973 280 6043
About the Talk:
Zen Mind Beginners Mind
"In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.”
This is one of the most famous quotations in all of contemporary Zen. It was offered by a transplanted Japanese Zen monk speaking to a very small group of his American students in 1965. The teachings of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi have continued to inspire Zen students for more than 50 years and the small volume of his talks, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, has helped shape the expression of Zen practice in the West. In this Zoom presentation, renowned contemporary Zen teacher Flint Sparks will lead us through a truthful and gentle exploration of our own “beginner’s mind” by revisiting the classic teachings of Suzuki Roshi, and investigating their relevance to the current moment.
About The Teacher:
Flint Sparks is a Soto Zen teacher who leads retreats throughout the United States and Europe. His traditional Zen training began at the San Francisco Zen Center and continued at the Austin Zen Center which he founded and nourished as a leader in its early years. He was ordained in 2001 by Zenkei Blanche Hartman of the San Francisco Zen Center and was given Teacher Acknowledgment in a ceremony at the Austin Zen Center in 2007.
Flint also spent decades in the practice and teaching of psychotherapy.
His early research and counseling experience with the terminally ill inspired him to continue investigating the influence of consciousness in physical healing and emotional well-being.
Today, Flint’s teaching and consulting bridge the fields of health psychology, the psychology of contemplative practices, and traditional Zen Buddhist practice.