EBS is happy to host an event celebrating Melissa Gill and her art.

For more than a decade, Melissa has volunteered as practice leader for two groups at EBS: the local Dharmata students of Anam Thubten Rinpoche, and followers of Dr. Hun Lye Rinpoche. We are deeply grateful for her steadfast service to our community over all these years.

Now, after leaving her teaching post in the Art department at Hendrix College, Melissa is moving to Tuscon, Arizona to be closer to family as she pursues her art and coaching businesses. We will miss her. And we wish her all the best in every future endeavor.

Before she loads the moving van, Melissa has agreed to offer the EBS community an opportunity to celebrate her and her artwork, and possibly purchase something. Please come by. Light refreshments will be served.

Melissa’s website has other examples of her work.

Join us for an afternoon and evening of community fun.

Starting with a Contra Dance session at 4:30 pm. No experience? No problem. Two left feet?  No problem. Curious but a bit nervous? No problem. Bringing a child or parent? No problem. Rob and Ellen from the River Valley Sangha make it fun for all.

Followed up with a Potluck Supper at 6:00 pm. Pizza will be provide and you can also bring drinks, deserts, or vegetarian dishes to share.

Movie screening at 7:00 pm.  Kundun

Kundun is a film released in 1997 directed by Martin Scorsese that explores the life of the 14th Dalai Lama, particularly focusing on his early years and his spiritual journey. Through a Buddhist lens, the film portrays themes of samsara, the cycle of suffering and rebirth, as the Dalai Lama is forced into exile after Chinese forces invade Tibet. His pursuit of nirvana—the liberation from suffering and the attainment of enlightenment—shapes his role as both a political and spiritual leader. The movie also delves into compassion (karuṇā), a central tenet of Mahayana Buddhism, as the Dalai Lama seeks peace and understanding amidst violence and oppression. His commitment to ahimsa (nonviolence) and bodhicitta (the awakened mind focused on the welfare of all beings) is evident in his unwavering dedication to the Tibetan people, despite the personal and political challenges he faces. Kundun ultimately represents a journey of spiritual resilience and the manifestation of Buddhist ideals in the face of adversity.

Braver Angels is a national non-profit organization devoted to ending extreme polarization in America by promoting mutual respect and civil dialogue, seeking common ground with those who hold opposing views, and supporting principles and behaviors that bring us together. Dr. Glen White is a co-founder of the Arkansas chapter. 

EBS is happy to host an afternoon presentation and group discussion with Dr. Glen White where we will learn how polarization can cause dysfunction—both in ourselves and others, basic skills for bridging this seemingly impassable divide, and how we may be able to find more peace among the chaos. 

This is a free event open to everyone. Light refreshments will be served. To be able to plan ahead and make sure we have enough tea and cookies, we ask you to reserve a seat by registering for a free ticket. 

REGISTER HERE

You can learn more about Braver Angels Arkansas at their website. 

Join us for an afternoon and evening of community fun.

Starting with a Contra Dance session at 4:30 pm. Live music and calling. No experience needed. Kick up your heels, shake off your stress and DANCE!

Followed up with a Potluck Supper at 6:00 pm. Pizza will be provide and you can also bring drinks, deserts, or vegetarian dishes to share.

Movie screening at 7:00 pm.  WALL-E

WALL-E is a 2008 animated science fiction film produced by Pixar, featuring a lonely robot tasked with cleaning up a polluted Earth. The film explores themes of love, environmental neglect, and consumerism, and is celebrated for its minimal dialogue and emotional storytelling.

By tradition, the EBS community gathers once a year to reflect and communicate about all of our 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. And everyone is invited.

If you are new to EBS, here’s an opportunity to learn about the entire community and to make new EBS friends. If you’re a volunteer, donor or supporter of EBS, you are invited to weigh in, ask questions, share your thoughts, get involved.

We will Zoom this event for those who cannot attend in person. Here is the Zoom link
Meeting ID: 897 372 8000 Passcode: ebs

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS

This year, EBS marks 30 years since it was founded. Over all those years, supporters and volunteers have sustained a continuous program of meditating, studying, and practicing Buddhism in the warmth of community. All those volunteers who keep the lights on and the doors open! All those remarkable teachers who come to guide us! Countless people have participated, benefited, and supported EBS! We are blessed.

Our annual holiday party will include a special acknowledgement of that remarkable history, and we will hear from some of our founders. There will be sweet foods - including a birthday cake - and sweet company to warm us during the holidays.

Please join us to celebrate our past and to enjoy all that we do together now.

Join us for an afternoon and evening of community fun.

Starting with a Contra Dance session at 4:30 pm. Live music and calling.

Followed up with a Potluck Supper at 6:00 pm. Bring vegetarian dishes to share.

Movie screening at 7:00 pm. “Mission Joy - Finding Happiness in Troubled Times” featuring the incredible friendship between His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet and Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. This is a laugh-out-loud film demonstrating how we can make happiness a habit, find joy in adversity, and create a better world.

Come watch a movie with us! A cynical TV weatherman finds himself reliving the same day over and over again when he goes on location to the small town of Punxsutawney to film a report about their annual Groundhog Day. His predicament drives him to distraction, until he sees a way of turning the situation to his advantage.

We love to eat and have great conversations at EBS! Come enjoy pizza from Vinos. This is a wonderful opportunity to share a meal and connect with our community.

 Come discover why contra dancing is delightful regardless of prior experience.

No experience?  No problem.  Two left feet?  No problem.  Curious but a bit nervous?  No problem.  Bringing a child or a parent?  No problem!  This is one of those things where simplicity is fun.

This class, held the first Monday of each month, is an excellent starting place for people with little or no knowledge about Buddhism. One of our members will present some history of Buddhism and talk about the different traditions of practice. Basic meditation technique is also covered. This session is informal and questions are welcomed.

If you plan to attend a session, kindly please let us know by sending an email to Doug Holmes or Cheryl Woodard and be sure to include the number of attendees. Advanced registration is requested, but not required. We look forward to having you!

Zoom Meeting ID: 259 027 126

Handout

Perfect Days is a delightfully profound film by legendary director Wim Wenders. Nominated for numerous international awards, including an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, the movie tells the story of Hirayama, a solitary man who cleans public toilets in upscale Tokyo. Despite his structured routine, he finds contentment in music, books, and photographing trees. Unexpected encounters reveal more about his past and challenge his conscious lifestyle. This deeply moving and poetic film reflects on finding beauty in the everyday world. Perfect Days boasts a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 89% audience score.

We love to eat and have great conversations at EBS! Bring a vegetarian dish if you can, but if not, come anyway. This is a wonderful opportunity to share a meal and connect with our community

You're invited! Contra dance: Fun for Plum Village monastics as well as laypeople.

This is a true story: we hosted a contra dance at the Plum Village Monastery in Bordeaux, France in July. About three hundred people joined in, including nuns. Come discover why contra dancing is delightful regardless of prior experience.

Calling by Ellen Hostetter and live music by Rob Matson (a/k/a Kind Understanding of the Source). Both practice with the River Valley group.

Ellen and Rob are experienced contra dance hosts, with over 38 contra dances including five at EBS in their pocket. They make it easy and fun for all. No experience? No problem. Two left feet? No problem. Curious but a bit nervous? No problem. Bringing a child or a parent? No problem! This is one of those things where simplicity is fun.

We are thrilled to welcome Paul Atkins, the pastor of Canvas Community, as our guest speaker. Paul is not only a United Methodist minister but also a dedicated practitioner at EBS. His mission congregation focuses on sharing life with neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Paul has been drawn to meditation for over a decade. EBS has played a crucial role in his spiritual development, helping him embrace the present moment and remain open to what is right in front of him. This practice has been essential in his relationships with friends experiencing homelessness, supporting a community vision of transforming lives through relationships with one another and with Jesus Christ. In his talk, Paul will discuss how mindfulness and meditation support him in his work and how these practices integrate well with his Christian spirituality.

On the first Saturday of each month EBS will have a half-day retreat lasting from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Each hour will consist of 40 minutes of sitting meditation and 10 minutes of walking meditation. One is welcomed to participate in all or only part of the event.

There is no cost.  Ten minute breaks are scheduled each hour (at 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 p.m.) to allow people to join later or leave earlier if they have other commitments.

For more information, contact Doug Holmes at doug.holmes.42@gmail.com

These events are in the spirit of the Uposatha days celebrated in Buddhist countries since the time of the Buddha.  It is a day when both monastics and lay people intensify their practice.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Half-Day Sit:

Q: Can I talk or get a drink or a snack?

A: Tea and conversation are allowed during the 10 minute breaks, and snacks too if someone happens to bring some to share.

Q: I’m new to meditation, should I attend?

A: You may want to check out the Wednesday night Mindfulness meditation class first, it is designed specifically for new meditators.

Q: I still have questions, who do I ask?

A: Please contact Doug Holmes at doug.holmes.42@gmail.com

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!