Red Clay Sangha Buddhism & Meditation Group

With election day a little over a week in the past, anticipation of confusion and societal challenges in its aftermath, and the holiday season almost upon us, this is likely going to be a turbulent and stressful time for us all. But the world we experience is the world that our minds create, and this is a really important time to remind ourselves of that, and to cultivate practices that will help us ground and find peace, so that we can be an island of peace, not just for ourselves but for those around us. This one-day retreat will offer us a period of silence and seclusion to settle into peace, and Gareth will be focusing the talk and discussion on this topic and relevant practices.

Gareth Young is a co-founder and the guiding teacher of Red Clay Sangha. He has maintained a committed meditation practice for over 20 years in the Zen and Vipassana traditions, and integrates over 10 years of interfaith engagement into his teaching.
Gareth's teaching authorization is in the Thai Forest lineage of Ajahn Chah, Jack Kornfield and Lisa Ernst.

Every Sunday, we meet to conduct our Buddhist practice together through sitting/walking meditation, chanting, lecture, and discussion. Our service is open to people of all backgrounds. This event is available in-person and online.

What to expect:

• 9:00 to 10:30 - seated meditation (25 minute meditation periods separated by 5 minutes of walking meditation)
• 10:30 to 10:45 - chanting service and brief break
• 10:45 to 11:30 - Dharma talk followed by Q&A/ Discussion

At 11:30 all are invited to participate in a group lunch; most weeks we go out together, usually to Mamak Vegan (just around the corner); once a month (see our redclaysangha.org for specific dates) we have a pot-luck lunch at our space, and all are welcome - whether or not you bring food!

What if I never meditated before?
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." We love to welcome beginners! Let us know that you have never meditated before and we can provide some guidance.

Tai Chi is an ancient form of martial arts originating out of China and rooted in the Taoist principle of yin and yang. Characteristic for the tai chi form are slow and well-practiced movements and postures. These can be performed by all age groups and makes tai chi a popular low-impact exercise. Never done tai chi before? Beginners are welcome!

The practice of tai chi has proven health benefits as it increases flexibility and stamina. It is also connected with the attainment of Chi - the Chinese concept for life energy. Synchronizing the movements with the breath is an important aspect of the tai chi flow.

The most practiced tai chi is the 24-posture form. At Red Clay Sangha, the form is taught by Markus Wilms. He has over 20 years of experience and has practiced the last 5 years extensively with a Chinese teacher. His motto is: “Every teacher is a student; every student is a teacher”.

The RCS Tai Chi group meets every Tuesday at 7:30pm at the Sangha's physical location for one hour. Please RSVP if you plan to attend!

This reading group centers around books on Buddhist teachings & practice from a diverse range of authors and traditions. The current book we are reading is "Receiving the Marrow" by Ed Eido Frances Carney, which we started on June 26, 2024.

The reading group is an open gathering (all are welcome) that meets every Wednesday evening on Zoom.

What to Expect:
We begin at 8:00p with 30 minutes of meditation, and at 8:30p move on to a conversation for an hour focused on our current book selection. We know life can get busy, so you are welcome to participate as you wish, whether it's for meditation + book discussion or just book discussion!

Learn more at our site: https://redclaysangha.org/event-5133342

Reading Schedule:

| Dates | Topic/Material |
| ----- | --------------- |
| June 26th | Receiving the Marrow (Ed. Eido Frances Carney) (Begin) Dancing the Dharma-Bendowa by Teijo Munnich, p. 1-14 |
| July 3rd | Receiving the Marrow - One Bright Jewel by Shotai De LaRosa, p. 15-35 |
| July 10th | Receiving the Marrow - Not Doing Evils by Seisen Saunders, p. 37-55 |
| July 17th | Receiving the Marrow - Dogen's Seven Arguments for Empowering Zen Women, p. 57-68 |
| July 24th | Receiving the Marrow - Astride the Highest Mountain: Dogen's Being/Time, A Practitioner's Guide by Shinshu Roberts, p. 69-97 |
| July 31st | Receiving the Marrow - Great Realization by Byakuren Judith Ragir, p. 99-124 |
| August 7th | Receiving the Marrow - Polishing a Tile, Actualizing A Mirror by Josho Pat Phelan, p.125-138 |