Monthly Morning Meditation

 Today at IBMC we had our regular morning meditation that we hold in the main hall on the first Sunday of the month from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM before our usual Sunday service that begins at 11:00 AM. We began with a short chanting session which included homage to the triple gem, refuge, and the five precepts. We then did a guided loving kindness meditation and then a period of breath meditation. We ended our meditation session with a dedication of merit.

 After our meditation, our group had a small discussion where the idea was brought up to begin a monthly daylong retreat on possibly the second Saturday of the month that would be conducted from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This was brought up by longtime IBMC member, Nam, who remembers such retreats held at IBMC fondly and would like to see them resume. It could very well be the case that we will be able to hold such retreats again soon!

 Nam also brought some food for us to enjoy after the Sunday service. There were a mix of offerings, but the veggie burgers seemed to be the highlight for those of us who joined in on the meal. Our hearts were warmed by his generosity and thoughtfulness. As is now usual for after the Sunday service, we also enjoyed some tea and cookies as we chatted with the people who came for the dharma talk.