Event: SoundGate

SoundGate

February’s SoundGate meditation features Brian Sparks offering a healing symphony of Tibetan bowl harmonics. Brian has received his spiritual teaching from several masters in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. His teachers blessed his bowl work by giving him the specific “Prayer of Aspiration” and granted him many Buddhist empowerments. He has toured with notable Tibetan musicians, actors, and at the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in Arlee.

He offers his practice of playing bowls in service of healing, compassion and awakening. No registration necessary! Donations gratefully accepted. Any funds collected will be split evenly with Brian.

Dharma Thought: Greed, Judgment & Non-attachment

Dharma Thoughts

Steve Allison-Bunnell with Joining Rivers Sangha shares this dharma thought:

I like to think I am not a greedy person, but when it comes to photography, my greed knows no bounds. I love to make photographs and I hate to delete them. I faced this while trying to pick images for our annual family photo book. I wondered, “What does it mean to edit a photo collection mindfully?” On one hand, non-discrimination tempts me to think that all of the photos I made are beautiful in their own way. Keep them! But then, looking deeply and non-attachment lead me to joyfully throw away all but the few that most clearly evoke the moment that was the present. Ultimately, I can let go of the rest because those few are actually enough. The ones I keep are even more beautiful because they are not diluted by irrelevant variations. What collection do you dislike weeding? How do you see the truly special items?

Event: Zen half-day Sit

Half-Day Retreat, Zen

Sit with the Bozeman Zen Group on Saturday, January 20 from 9am-1pm. Bozeman Zen Group offers these half-day sittings monthly which are appropriate for beginners who wish to try a retreat practice opportunity as well as for experienced practitioners to deepen their practice. Regular retreat practice is a cornerstone of Zen practice. Join us for periods of sitting and walking meditation as well as a dharma talk with Zen priest, Karen DeCotis. Register here.

There will be 5 periods of meditation and breaks for stretching and tea.

Event: Poetry from Emptiness

Classes

Join MindSpace co-leader, Kerry Neal, for the reboot of our Mindful Creativity program on Sunday, January 14. Poetry from Emptiness is a technique from the Daoist literary tradition of China. It promotes creative friendship through shared verbal images and the pleasure of just quietly sitting in tranquility.

You do not have to think of yourself as a poet to enjoy Poetry from Emptiness. You only need to be open, curious, contemplative and spontaneous. Poetry from Emptiness is not based on a philosophy or religion. It only requires a mind empty of preconceptions.

Register here.

Event: Intro to Meditation

Classes

Come learn the essentials of a meditation practice. (It’s more than just mindfulness).

During three Wednesday evenings (Jan 10-24), Suzanne Colón will introduce three basic styles of meditation that make up the meditator’s toolkit:

  • Anchoring for calm, and tranquility of body and mind
  • Flowing with the changing sensory experience
  • Developing the heart’s innate Kindness, Compassion, Joy and Equanimity

Whether you’re just starting out or honing your skills, this class will clarify and motivate your practice. Register here.

Event: Open House

Programs

Explore the BDC, meet board members, group leaders, volunteers, staff and other like-minded people on Tuesday, January 9 from 5-7 PM. A great time to get your questions answered, receive basic meditation instruction and get accustomed to the space! Enjoy some snacks and socialize! No registration necessary. In person only. Bring a friend!

Note: Normally our Newcomer Orientations are on the first Tuesday, but this one is the Second Tuesday of the month.

Annual Appeal Update

Information

Thank you so much to everyone who donated to our annual appeal! We had 90 generous donors, some of whom gave more than once which allowed us to reach our $20,000 goal! We are so grateful for all of you who support us with monetary gifts, volunteering in the space, and offering your presence at our programs. Thank you for your practice!

Event: January SoundGate Meditation

SoundGate

Annika Sophia Grace, Jessie Solon and Marius Michael-George will be our guests again for the January SoundGate meditation on Friday, January 5 to share bells, bowls, gong, monochord, drums and vocalizations of healing mantras. All donations will be split between the BDC and the guest artists. Suggested donation between $10-$45. All are welcome regardless of funds. No registration necessary.

Event: Intro to Meditation

Classes, Non-denominational

Come learn the essentials of a meditation practice. (It’s more than just mindfulness).

During three Wednesday evenings (Jan 10-24), Suzanne Colón will introduce the three basic styles of meditation that make up the meditator’s toolkit:

  • Anchoring for calm, and tranquility of body and mind
  • Flowing with the changing sensory experience
  • Developing the heart’s innate Kindness, Compassion, Joy and Equanimity

Whether you’re just starting out or honing your skills, this class will clarify and motivate your practice.

Event: BDC Open House

Non-denominational, Programs

This newcomer orientation and open house allows you to explore the BDC, meet board members, group leaders, and other like-minded people. A great time to get your questions answered, receive basic meditation instruction and get accustomed to the space! No registration necessary. In person only.

Note: Normally our Newcomer Orientations are on the first Tuesday, but this one is the Second Tuesday of the month.