Synopsis of April meeting and Much, Much More.....

      We found ourselves in relative agreement that Batchelor's teachings resonate for all of us, and if you are interested you can listen to them at the following website: http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/169/
      Our discussion led us on a merry trip beginning with his idea that the Four Noble Truths were an outgrowth of the Buddha's meditative and aesthetic search and in particular, that his awakening to the process of Contingent-Arising emerged as the linchpin of what was to become his teachings. We discussed the existential nature of a meditation practice versus simply a rote learning about the Four Noble Truths. We discussed how a continually practiced realization of Impermanence in our lives can be seen as a logical outgrowth of one's deep undertanding of Contingent-Arising as the true nature of our universe. We noted how Right Action as well, can be seen as arising out of one's embracing these truths along with Emptiness and No-self, both of which are logical outgrowths from an understanding of the nature of universal contingency. 
      This morphed into another thorough discussion as to the definition of, and a necessity for, having a teacher. I think it is safe to say that we all found Martine Batchelor's statement in her book Meditation for Life, to be a wonderful definition of what should be the role of anyone we choose to call our teacher.
                     "The task of a teacher is to empower you to wake up to your own inner teacher. The true teacher works to make himself or herself redundant. And life itself is the supreme teacher presenting you with challenges at every turn." - Martine Batchelor

Next Meeting: May 22, 2011 at Constance's in High Point. A 10:00 am discussion followed by lunch at 11:30 by Chef Constance.
Subject: What does the statement "wake up to your own inner teacher" mean to you personally? (Some have been known to identify this inner teacher with a term like "heart-knowing" or perhaps refer to it as an "inner voice," or some other phrase that resonates for them.)

New Full Day Meditation: A new full day meditation is being planned for Sunday, June 19th, at Ken and Luann's (spelling? sorry!). It will be in conjunction with the June Book Club and will be formatted similar to the last full day at their home.  The idea is that this might be a quarterly affair. Specific details will follow as they are decided upon.   
  

Meeting Sunday April 16th

We will meet at Nadine's house at 10am. See topic below.