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We are a Theravada Buddhist community based in New Haven, Connecticut that seeks to create an inclusive space for all to learn about and practice meditation. |
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Dear Sangha,
This Saturday, June 13, from 10:30 am to Noon, we will meet for meditation, small group discussion on the Four Immeasureables, "The Four Faces of Love: The Brahma Viharas, " and a dhamma talk by Marinela.
Join us in person at the New Haven Free Public Library or online by clicking below:
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Geese appear high over us, pass, and the sky closes.
Abandon, as in love or sleep, holds
them to their way, clear
in the ancient faith: what we need
is here.
And we pray, not
for new earth or heaven, but to be
quiet in heart, and in eye, clear.
What we need is here. "What We Need Is Here", Wendell Berry, Poetry of Presence
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The Four Faces of Love
by Gil Fronsdal
The heart has four faces. Each sees the world in a different way and speaks with a different purpose. Yet, as each aspect belongs to the same heart, they are inseparable, like the four directions of a compass.
This image of a four-faced heart is borrowed from the Buddhist myth of the god Brahma, who had four faces, one for each of the four kinds of unselfish love championed in Buddhism. In the language of the Buddha, these are metta, karuna, mudita, and upekkha. In English they are commonly known as loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity. Because the god Brahma is said to dwell (vihara) in these four forms of love, they are known as Brahmaviharas, translated in English as “divine abidings.”
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Book Recommendation:
The Way of Tenderness: Awakening through Race, Sexuality, and Gender
As we meditate through Pride Month, the four faced heart can bring peace, comfort, and change. In The Way of Tenderness , Zen priest Zenju Earthlyn Manuel brings Buddhist philosophies of emptiness and appearance to bear on race, sexuality, and gender, using wisdom forged through personal experience and practice to rethink problems of identity and privilege.
To learn more about this publication: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22609231-the-way-of-tenderness
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ECI Weekday Morning Sits
- Community meditation
- Monday through Friday, 7:30–8:30am
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Sangha NOTES
Dana
Dana, the practice of generosity, supports teachers in continuing practice and the lineage of Buddhist teachings. If you benefit from these practices and from this community, please consider supporting us. Dana is currently used to support our website, arrange visiting dhamma teachers, help to feed the New Haven community in need, and support the New Haven Free Public Library in gratitude for their generosity in providing our Saturday meeting space.
The easiest way to contribute is through this link where you can make a donation via Venmo or with a credit or debit card (via PayPal, no account required). Alternatively, if you want to send a check, please address it to:
Elm Community Insight
PO Box 6195
40 Putnam Ave
Hamden, CT 06517
Volunteering
We are seeking volunteers to assist with future Saturday Sangha meetings, including setting up, greeting visitors, and providing technical support at the Library. One way to help is to arrive early at the Library (~10:10 am) to help set up the room for Saturday Sangha. Thank you!
Community Resources
Annette Szczesiul is the Sangha's Goodwill Ambassador: if have a need for concrete support (e.g., dog care, food, furniture moving) or emotional support (e.g., going through a hard time, would appreciate check-ins or visits), please reach out to her for coordination at annettesaid22@gmail.com.
For supportive telephone conversation, warm lines are another resource. These phone lines are staffed by people with expertise in providing mutual aid. A list of Connecticut's warm lines is available here.
Our Community
Find more information about us, learn more about community meditation resources, or subscribe to our newsletter, visit our website at: elmcommunityinsight.org
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