Parallax Press’s Comments (group member since Sep 26, 2014)

Parallax Press’s comments from the Reading Peace group.

From Thich Nhat Hanh's "The Sun My Heart"

Bathing a Newborn Buddha

To my mind, the idea that doing dishes is unpleasant can occur only when you aren’t doing them. Once you are standing in front of the sink with your sleeves rolled up and your hands in warm water, it really isn’t so bad.

I enjoy taking my time with each dish, being fully aware of the dish, the water, and each movement of my hands. I know that if I hurry in order to go and have a cup of tea, the time will be unpleasant, and not worth living. That would be a pity, for each minute, each second of life is a miracle. The dishes themselves and the fact that I am here washing them are miracles!

I wrote about this in The Miracle of Mindfulness. Each bowl I wash, each poem I compose, each time I invite a bell to sound is a miracle, and each has exactly the same value. One day, while washing a bowl, I felt that my movements were as sacred and respectful as bathing a newborn Buddha. If he were to read this, that newborn Buddha would certainly be happy for me, and not at all insulted at being compared with a bowl.

Each thought, each action in the sunlight of awareness becomes sacred. In this light, no boundary exists between the sacred and the profane.

I must confess it takes me a bit longer to do the dishes, but I live fully in every moment, and I am happy. Washing the dishes is at the same time a means and an end —that is, not only do we do the dishes in order to have clean dishes, we also do the dishes just to do the dishes, to live fully in each moment while washing them.

If I am incapable of washing dishes joyfully, if I want to finish them quickly so I can go and have a cup of tea, I will be equally incapable of drinking the tea joyfully. With the cup in my hands I will be thinking about what to do next, and the fragrance and the flavor of the tea, together with the pleasure of drinking it, will be lost. I will always be dragged into the future, never able to live in the present moment.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

B.j. wrote: "I just got the eBook today. Chapter 1 & 2 is what I need to read this week or should I read more?"

Hi B.J.! Yes, you can read Chapters 1 & 2 this week if you wish to coincide with the guide, which will be released every Wednesday.

If you'd like you can read more as the next guide will be for chapters 3 & 4.

Thanks for sharing Hepburn! I'll add that to our Reader's Guide (available here and on our blog at http://www.parallax.org/blog/category...)

What Buddhist school is it, if I may ask? I've never heard of such a thing and am very curious.

Dear Reading Peace members!

We are giving away 5 free books of our upcoming title "Parenting in the Present Moment" by Carla Naumburg, PhD to celebrate its release on October 14. The giveaway is being done right here on Goodreads.

You have until Nov. 1st to enter the giveaway to win!

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...

Dear friends,

We hope you enjoyed the first week of reading our October pick! And if you haven't yet gotten a hold of your copy (whether through us, the library, borrowing from a friend, etc.), don't worry —there's still 3 more weeks!

Here are some questions for reflection for Chapters 1 and 2. Please feel free to respond here or add your own questions or thoughts as a separate thread. If you are reading with a local book club or sangha, you can use these to get the ball rolling.

All guides are also available at: http://www.parallax.org/blog/category...

Reflections

1. The title of the book is The Mindfulness Survival Kit. Besides the 5 practices outlined in these introductory chapters, what else would you include in your own personal mindfulness survival kit (be they objects, practices, books, etc.) and why? Be creative!

2. We are all works in progress. Of the Five Mindfulness Trainings, which one do you think you need to work on the most? What makes you feel that way?

3. Pick 1 of the Five Mindfulness Trainings to practice this week with loving intention. Write it down, and put it in your pocket, purse, wallet, or even on a wall at your work desk.

You are already well on your way to ease your own suffering and the suffering of those around you. Thank you.


Food for Thought

"Mindfulness is the awareness of what is going on in us and around us in the present moment. It requires stopping, looking deeply, and recognizing both the uniqueness of the moment and its connection to everything that has gone on before and will go on in the future." pg. 9

"Buddhism was developed as a teaching path, rather than a religion." pg. 11

"Suffering has many faces. If we discover the roots of one suffering, we are at the same time discovering the roots of other[s]." pg. 16-7.

"Interbeing describes the awareness that all human beings and all phenomena are intricately connected to each other and interdependent." pg. 19

"The Five Mindfulness Trainings are called trainings because they are something to practice each day, not something we're expected to do perfectly all the time." pg. 23

Thay's Continuation Day is coming up next week (Oct 11) and I thought it'd be nice if we could all share our favorite Thich Nhat Hanh quotes to help celebrate his 88th year.

Please post them all week below!

Tim wrote: "thanks for doing this! will the weeks run Wednesday to Wednesday? cheers. just got the title for my kindle."

Hi Tim! Thanks for being here and participating!

Yes, the schedule is more a general guideline more than it is a formal requirement -- it will take some people some days to receive the physical book, and many will want to read at their own pace, or with their sitting groups offline (and online).

We hope in the future as the group becomes more established and club members get settled in, the discussion and pace will come naturally.

An interactive book talk live show (on Google Hangouts and Youtube) is planned for the end of the month, so look out for that as we end our reading of our October pick!

Dear friends,

Because the new month is upon us, we've decided to act quickly on choosing our club pick for the month to give people enough time to get and read the book.

We will be reading: The Mindfulness Survival Kit: Five Essential Practices

Use the code PEACE1 for a club exclusive 25% off at http://www.parallax.org/the-mindfulne...

Non-US residents may find more affordable options elsewhere due to the cost of international shipping. You are encouraged to shop around.

If you don't have much time to read this month, placing more of an emphasis on Part One of the book (the first 2/3rds) is recommended.

Proposed Reading Schedule
Week 1: Ch. 1 & 2: Introduction and Overview of Five Mindfulness Trainings
Week 2: Ch. 3 & 4: Reverence for Life and True Happiness
Week 3: Ch. 5 - 8: True Love, Deep Listening and Loving Speech, and Nourishment
Week 4: Part Two OR Catch-up Reading

Enjoy reading as a sangha and remember to post questions, favorite passages, or even random thoughts on our discussion board as you read!

Wonderful! That is a quick and accessible read. Also the banner for this group is partly inspired by the cover



Of course, for those who already have the book it is a great idea to follow along since reading and discussing as a group is an entirely different reading experience :)

Dear friends,

As October nears, do you have a Parallax title in mind that you want to read with our reading sangha members as our first pick?

New title or timeless classic, let's hear what you have to say!

Keep in mind whatever book we select will be read during the month of October, with discussion of the book online and offline throughout. The selected book will also be offered to our club members at a significant discount for the duration of the month so that as many people as possible can participate.

http://www.parallax.org/learn/book/ has a handy list of possible titles (though some titles, such as "The Art of Communication" aren't actually published by Parallax and so we can't offer discounts on those books).

It is wonderful to see so many practitioners here. Thank you for your precious practice and presence!

I guess I'll start!

My name is Jason and I am the Digital Media Director at Parallax. I create content for and maintain all of Parallax's digital and social media in addition to working on the marketing side.

I also teach part-time as an adjunct professor.

I consider my home sanghas the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, CA as well as Deer Park Monastery.

My favorite Parallax title is Together We Are One: Honoring Our Diversity, Celebrating Our Connection and my favorite work of fiction is "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco. I am also an avid reader of sci-fi and fantasy novels.

Pleased to meet you all!

Welcome to the freshly created Reading Peace book club, hosted and maintained by Parallax Press!

Please introduce yourselves in this thread, including any pertinent info you'd like to share about your favorite books, sangha affiliation, and/or mindfulness practice.