Buddhist Mama's sangha

[mum21andtwins]

I just noticed there hasn't been a buddhist thread for awhile and thought I'd get one going

previous threads here and here

Some sites that might be of interest
buddhanet
mindful kids
family sangha

I'll add some more lateron

How is everyone doing?
Are you reading anything at the moment to inspire your practise? or (like me) is you ipod fulled to the brim with podcast dharma talks?
have you got a favourite podcast?

[mum21andtwins]

I'll reply to myself lol!
Currently I have the deer park dharma casts on my pod and am really enjoying them. the last book I bought for my practise was By Thich Nhat Hanh "Breathe! You Are Alive : Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing" I haven't started yet.


Now don't make me reply to myself again please

A lotus for you.....

[sky*hawk]

Hi!
Buddhism has been a big part of my spiritual practice in the recent past. I have begun integrating different things into that practice. I wanted to let you know about the hearth foundation. They offer free online classes that are family oriented. It's really great!

[mum21andtwins]

Thanks, I'll check the site out in a bit

[Mittsy]

Hello, I have recently come to Buddhism in the last few months! I don't have much to add at the moment, but thanks for all the great resources so far!

[javilu]

okay, i'm not a buddhist, but i have to say - that mindful kids page is awesome!

[mum21andtwins]

that site is made by monks & nuns from the plum village traditions. if you like that site you will probably like a lot of Thay's teachings. whilst he is buddhist he puts great emphasis on bringing the teachings to everyone no matter what their reigion is.
This is their site.

I am currently making 3 little zafu's so that my boyscan join in with my morning zazen

[sky*hawk]

Originally Posted by mum21andtwins

I am currently making 3 little zafu's so that my boyscan join in with my morning zazen

Are you following a pattern? I made a zafu for myself several years ago, but it was really hard and I had to have my MIL help me. She has been sewing almost her whole life and she found it hard to make. I'm wondering if you are having an easier time of it and what pattern you are using, if any...

[mum21andtwins]

Originally Posted by sky*hawk

Are you following a pattern? I made a zafu for myself several years ago, but it was really hard and I had to have my MIL help me. She has been sewing almost her whole life and she found it hard to make. I'm wondering if you are having an easier time of it and what pattern you are using, if any...

I took pictures as I went along i hope to have them up on my blog at the end of the week.
But no I don't use a pattern. For the boys I looked at the size of my zafu and kinda guessed how big a circle they needed theirs to be. I luckily guessed right lol! from that I took a length of fabric for the side and pleated it every 5 cms and made the pleats 1 cm wide then I sewed the whole thing together. It took 9 pleats for the small zafu's and I think mine has 14 but I do have wider pleats. I think they are an inch wide but I would have to check.
Also I prefer to sew by hand whilst I have 3 machines I find sewing by hand easier, especially something like this.
What exacty did you/your MIL find hard?

I have one zafu to go and I'm going to try this one without pleats just to see what, if any, difference the pleats make.

HTH!

[sky*hawk]

Originally Posted by mum21andtwins

What exacty did you/your MIL find hard?

It was the pleats. I think it was just that she doesn't like doing pleats and I had no idea what I was doing. Plus it probably doesn't help that she thinks I'm a fruitbat

When you post the pictures to your blog, can you post a link to it so I can check it out. I'm interested to hear how your zafu without pleats turns out.

[Mama2Xander]

Hi everyone! I am excited to find this thread - I have found myself feeling very drawn to Buddhism lately, and am *just* beginning to read some books I got. Thanks for those links you posted, mum21andtwins - they look great.

If any of you feel like it, I'd love to hear about how your journey with Buddhism began, which books you think are the best for a beginner, etc.

Thanks!

[greenmamapagan]

Oooh, a new thread. Lovely.
The little centre I'm involved with here is moving and setting up a library with all the books they've had in storage (old place was too small) so last night I started entering some of the books into a database. Feels good to do something without compromising my children's needs. It's too hard to get to teachings or volunteer actually at the centre because teachings happen when dh is at work etc etc. The new director is really cool and wants to start a children's dharma club

[mum21andtwins]

Originally Posted by Mama2Xander

H

If any of you feel like it, I'd love to hear about how your journey with Buddhism began, which books you think are the best for a beginner, etc.

Thanks!

Hi!
Well y journey into buddhism begon with old path white cloud by Thich Nhat Hanh, I loved his gentle style of writing and his name stuck in the back of my mind. At the time I didn't realise who Thay is. Then someone recommended one of his books to deal with my abusive childhood and I started to find out more about him,I found plum village and deer park and all the teachings avaiable on their website and I found my religion just when I had stopped actively looking to find it
I am planning a trip to london this August to sit in on a talk by Thay and hopefully will be going to PV next spring the twins wil be 3.5 then and hopefully they will accept daddy caring for them a little more than they do now

As for books it depends, what in buddhism are you drawn to?

Originally Posted by greenmamapagan

Oooh, a new thread. Lovely.
The little centre I'm involved with here is moving and setting up a library with all the books they've had in storage (old place was too small) so last night I started entering some of the books into a database. Feels good to do something without compromising my children's needs. It's too hard to get to teachings or volunteer actually at the centre because teachings happen when dh is at work etc etc. The new director is really cool and wants to start a children's dharma club

That sounds fantastic! Where are you?

[greenmamapagan]

I'm just outside Sydney (Australia )

Originally Posted by mum21andtwins

Hi!
Well y journey into buddhism begon with old path white cloud by Thich Nhat Hanh

Lovely book. So gentle and quiet

[mum21andtwins]

yeah I should have checked and not been so hopeful lol!

I wish there was something closer to us that is childfriendly and more than zazen. There is on Ch'an group near me but they come together for zazen only 1 night a week. I would love to have somewhere where there are regularly days of mindfulness and family days. where I can go meditate with others and take my kids knowing that everyone would understand if they make noise. Guess I'm feeling a bit isolated lol!

[sky*hawk]

My journey into Buddhism began when I started questioning my family's religion. I could not connect to their ideas of "only one right way" and "everyone who doesn't believe what we believe is doomed to hell" etc., etc. I found a book by the Dalai Lama. I think I was drawn to his smile I have also been struggling with depression all my life and just found myself really drawn to the peacefulness of Buddhism.
So I started with the Dalai Lama, got a book called "Buddhism for Dummies" and then started reading "Peace is Every Step" by Thay (I can never spell his full name correctly). I also discovered Pema Chodron. I absolutely love her and I love to hear her speak.
I also found the Hearth Foundation. Jacquelyn offers online classes, free of charge. These classes were really helpful.
Anyway, I hope that helps a bit. Beginning a journey is exciting and frightening all at the same time, but so worth it.

[Keeta]

I've been lurking here for a while, but I wanted to post a book rec - one of my favorite books on the subject is Faith by Sharon Salzberg. It's just fantastic - well-written, easy to understand, and inspiring!

I'm also a fan of Sylvia Boorstein - very down-to-earth and easy to understand. I like her books It's Easier Than You Think and Happiness is an Inside Job.

I find myself drawn to the Vipassana tradition more than others, although I do really like some Zen writings as well. But in terms of being accessible to Westerners, I find Vipassana is very good and non-threatening. I've been lucky enough to participate in a parent's buddhist group for the past year or so - it is nice to be able to discuss dharma issues with other parents, because I think parenting is one of the most overlooked subjects in the tradition (I guess because of its strong ties to monastcism). I'll be taking a break from the group for at least the next 6 months or so, as I'm about to have baby #2 and not up for really being away for scheduled things like this for a while. But I feel really lucky to have had the experience with it so far.

[greenmamapagan]

Just wanted to say thanks for the Hearth foundation link. It's nice to read of practitioners who see parenting as part of their practice

[mum21andtwins]

Originally Posted by sky*hawk

When you post the pictures to your blog, can you post a link to it so I can check it out. I'm interested to hear how your zafu without pleats turns out.

I don't think I am allowed to post my blog since I have a bussiness subscription but the link is in my sig. I put the pictures up this morning.

I got an email back from the hearth this morning so hopefully I'll be allowed in over the weekend. Their is also a yahoogroup on the site I *think* I joined but I'm unsire now.
I found a bhuddist parents list & a buddhist hs list on yahoo too neither seem to be very active so far.
I'm listening to buddhism for mothers at the moment and am actually really enjoying it

[sky*hawk]

Originally Posted by mum21andtwins

I got an email back from the hearth this morning so hopefully I'll be allowed in over the weekend. Their is also a yahoogroup on the site I *think* I joined but I'm unsire now.
I found a bhuddist parents list & a buddhist hs list on yahoo too neither seem to be very active so far.
I'm listening to buddhism for mothers at the moment and am actually really enjoying it

I don't think the yahoogroup for the hearth foundation is very active as far as discussion goes. I think she uses it mostly to post her newsletter. You will be having a lot of discussion if you join a lesson anyway.
Did you download buddhism for mothers to listen to it? I have buddhism for mothers of small children but have not been able to read it all the way through...

Wow! Your blog is great too! Thanks for posting pics of the zafus. For some reason you make it look easier than I remember it being