We held an “Open Mike” style meeting on Sunday with over 20 trying to participate. We used “Zoom” which you may be seeing or already using if you are working or taking classes at home. We shared what we are doing and can do in these difficult times and agreed to host another networking meeting to check in on each other and share how we can make lemonade out of this event and use the precious time it gives us to deepen our practice and cultivation. I have scheduled another “Open Mike” for 9:00 am on Saturday April 4 with the waiting room being open at 8:30 to allow us to chat before the formal meeting. I will also be giving an on-line class on “What Is Cultivation?” on Sunday April 5 at 2:00 pm to continue the series of classes we have started at our Xuanfa Holy Heavenly Lakes Dharma Center in Hesperia. I have wanted to do something like this for some time and now this virus thing has forced me to do it. We will see where this goes.
I want to tell you that part of the inspiration for doing this came from our Chowchilla Sangha. I have not for some time been able to meet with these dedicated students who are currently in the Central California Women’s Correctional Facility. Last week Rabbi Gordon, a wonderful and dedicated chaplain at the prison, called because the women were worried about me and wanted to make sure I was ok. I was so ashamed, because I realized I should be expressing my concern about them.
Please consider how you can use this moment in history to help others and gain greater insight into your practice. I just got a notice that there is a new Dharma Discourse available that sounds like it may address this as well. We can share what this means to us on the fourth. I hope to see and hear from you then.
CLICK for links to Open Mike and other current ZOOM events.
Topic: Operation Lemonade Open Mike
Time: Apr 4, 2020 09:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Click to join meeting Operation Lemonade Open Mike https://zoom.us/j/709387938
Meeting ID: 709 387 938
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When will more classes be held in Hesperia?
Thank You!
I don’t know. We are still on lockdown and only allow one or two people to visit the temple at a time and still observing Shelter-in-Place Rules. I doubt if there will be any classes on site either here in Sanger or Hesperia or anywhere until summer. You can join us for the informal “Open Mike” sessions on Saturday mornings at 9:00 am or the more formal Sunday classes at 2:00 pm. You can also join us in our Sunday through Friday daily chanting at 6:00 am. Links for these ZOOM events are available on this BLOG.