Dear Friends:

Effective March 14, 2020, the District of West Vancouver has temporarily closed the Seniors’ Activity Centre to protect the health and well-being of our community.  As a result, Sangha gatherings of  North Shore Mindfulness are suspended. 

It is especially important during times of trouble to continue our healthy meditation practice. During the coming weeks, there are resources for us to access from home, including the Plum Village website https://plumvillage.org and the free Plum Village App. This app can support us to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and joy through guided meditations, deep relaxations, practice poems, and bells of mindfulness. 

Finally, there will be a first-of-its-kind free online event presented March 25-29 by the Lion’s Roar and Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation, called In the Footsteps of Thich Nhat Hanh.  To learn more, see https://promo.lionsroar.com/free-summit-thich-nhat-hanh/.

During this uncertain and turbulent time, the health authorities advise us to practice ‘social distancing’, such as avoid public gatherings and work from home.  Freed from some of our usual busyness and social obligations, different opportunities arise. One such opportunity is to reconnect with Nature.  Imagine yourself mindfully walking in one of the many north shore parks, beach walks or hiking trails.  Breathe in the abundant fresh air, gaze at the grandness of the sky above you and reflect how the trees along your path have patiently and stoically stood through all kinds of elements, such as the wind, rain, and hot sun.  Many of the trees existed before we set foot on this earth and will continue to live long after we’re gone.  Without Nature, there would not be humankind. We may have been complacent sometimes about the natural beauty that surrounds and supports our wellbeing. Let’s take this time now to wake up our senses in Nature!

We can also take this opportunity to spend more quality time with close family members and friends.  Please take care of yourself and stay well. 🙏

Warmly,
Linda and Janet on behalf of 

North Shore Mindfulness
Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:30 PM (temporarily canceled)
Audio Visual Room West Van Seniors’ Activity Centre (SAC)
695 21^st Street, West Vancouver, BC

We are aware that real happiness depends primarily on our mental attitude and not on external conditions, and that we can live happily in the present moment simply by remembering that we already have more than enough conditions to be happy. – Thich Nhat Hanh

This photo is of an altar Janice Walker made outside her window.  If you look closely, you can see a string of mini twinkle lights which Jan turns on at night.  Do you see the peaceful Buddha at the front?  The North Shore Mindfulness sangha gave this to Jan and Bob when they moved from Vancouver to Victoria in August 2017.

Dear Friends 
Despite the coolness of the morning air, spring is just around the corner.  🌸🌹💐🌷

Come join us on Tuesday evenings to practice sitting and walking meditation, as well as for the following activities:

Mar 3 –   Deep Relaxation – Mats and cushions are provided.  Please bring a blanket or an extra layer of clothing to make yourself comfortable.
Mar 10 – Five Mindfulness Trainings 
Mar 17 – Dharma Reading 
Mar 24 – Mindful Tea 
Mar 31 – Mindfulness Songs from Plum Village

Warmly,

Linda on behalf of 

North Shore Mindfulness
Tuesday 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Audio Visual Room @ West Van Seniors’ Activity Centre (SAC)
695 21^st Street, West Vancouver

http://www.northshoremindfulness.com

Dear Friends:
Because we have been advised that registration is filling up, we are forwarding you the  April retreat info one more time. We look forward to having an enriching time together at this Washington oceanside location. There will likely be a lot of younger and Vietnamese folks at this retreat. So far, several members of our sangha have already registered!  If you are interested in attending please register right away to ensure your spot.  If you are not entirely sure, don’t worry because their refund policy is: ‘If you cancel one week before the arrival date, we will fully refund your payment’.

Register at http://www.sites.google.com/site/khoatuvn/

Here are some tips about registering: 

• when you first arrive at the registration page please note that most of the top portion is in Vietnamese.  Scroll down a bit and you will see the English portion
• in the box for ‘….would you like to have a round trip transportation to the retreat’, they are referring to busing to and from the Seattle area, not from Vancouver so please answer ‘NO’
• under the NOTE section (the second to last box), please state:  I AM PART OF THE NORTH SHORE MINDFULNESS SANGHA GROUP so you can qualify for NSM’s group rate
• register for yourself only.  Therefore in the last question where it says “would you like to register for additional people?” your answer is “0”
• you will receive an automatic email after you register as an individual, stating your fee is US$150, but we DO qualify for the US$120 group rate, as we have established this with the organizer
• E-transfer does not work between Canadian and US Banks so paying by PayPal is the best option
• please inform us once you have registered because the retreat organizer has asked for a list of names of people registering as our Sangha group
• we will contact you about possible carpooling closer to the time of the retreat.

Email us if you have further questions. 
Warmly,

Linda and Janet on behalf of 

North Shore Mindfulness
Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Audio Visual Room @ West Van Seniors’ Activity Centre (SAC)
695 21^st Street, West Vancouver

www.northshoremindfulness.com

https://magnoliagrovemonastery.org/calendar/opening-the-door-of-your-heart-retreat-in-seattle-wa/ A MINDFULNESS RETREAT – led by eight Monastic Disciples of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh coming from Magnolia Grove Monastery. This retreat will be conducted in English & Vietnamese  OPENING THE DOOR OF YOUR HEART  Retreat is held at Fort Flagler Historical State Park. The retreat is open to families and individuals of all ages and backgrounds. This is a good opportunity for us to sow the seeds of mindfulness so that we can look deeply into the mind and revive our understanding and love for our loved ones. With the guidance of the monastics and the support of fellow practitioners, we will have a lot of transformations. Both beginning and experienced mindfulness practitioners are welcome. During break-outs, children are grouped by age. The children’s program will include singing, reading, playing games, and learning basic mindfulness skills. Adults will have opportunities to practice meditation together and engage in Dharma talks, silent sitting and walking meditation, mindful eating, community-building through singing, sports, and other practices that you can apply to your daily lives. TIME  Thursday, April 16th, 2020 – 3 PM until Sunday, April 19th, 2020 – 12 PM  LOCATION Fort Flagler Historical State Park 10541 Flagler Road Nordland, WA 98358  PRICING (Food & Lodging)  Adults (18+) – $150/person OR $120/person for group of 2 or more people Teenagers (13-17) – $80/person Children (6-12) – FREE REGISTRATION www.sites.google.com/site/khoatuvn/ HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? Ms. Minh Nguyen – (206) 920 – 4781 .   (425) 403 – 3456Mr. Hinh Tran, Mr. Luat Nguyen Mr. Sy Phan, Mr. Tien Hy vietwakeupwashington@gmail.com

Dear Friends,

Due to snowy driving conditions, we are cancelling tonight’s meditation gathering. Too bad to  have to miss our Deep Relaxation! I hope you will enjoy a relaxing evening at home instead.

Warmly,
Janet 

on behalf of North Shore Mindfulness
 
West Van Seniors’ Activity Centre (SAC)
Audio Visual Room
695 21st Street,  West Vancouver

TUESDAYS: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

www.northshoremindfulness.com

When times are tough, it is common wisdom to ‘take it one day at a time’. In his book, Peace is Every Step, Thich Nhat Hanh says beautifully: 

Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others.

Each morning, we can recite the gatha from the above picture to start our day in mindfulness. 

Please join us Tuesday evenings as we explore inspiring teachings by Zen Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh.  Every week we enjoy sitting and walking meditation, followed by these practices:

Feb 4    Deep Relaxation*  IF THERE IS TOO MUCH SNOW, WE WILL SEND A CANCELLATION NOTICE BY THE LATE AFTERNOON 

Feb 11   Five Mindfulness Trainings

Feb 18   Dharma Reading

Feb 25 – Mindful Tea

* Mats and cushions are provided for deep relaxation.  Bring a blanket or whatever you like to be comfortable.

Warmly,

Janet – on behalf of 

North Shore Mindfulness
Tuesday 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Audio Visual Room @ West Van Seniors’ Activity Centre (SAC)
695 21^st Street, West Vancouver

www.northshoremindfulness.com

We have an opportunity to join a retreat in April, led by eight monastics, in Washington State. Friends from North Shore Mindfulness are thinking about attending together. 
https://magnoliagrovemonastery.org/calendar/opening-the-door-of-your-heart-retreat-in-seattle-wa/

A MINDFULNESS RETREAT – led by eight Monastic Disciples of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh coming from Magnolia Grove Monastery. This retreat will be conducted in English & Vietnamese 

OPENING THE DOOR OF YOUR HEART 
retreat is held at Fort Flagler Historical State Park. The retreat is open to families and individuals of all ages and backgrounds. This is a good opportunity for us to sow the seeds of mindfulness so that we can look deeply into the mind and revive our understanding and love for our loved ones. With the guidance of the monastics and the support of fellow practitioners, we will have a lot of transformations. 

Both beginning and experienced mindfulness practitioners are welcome. During break-outs, children are grouped by age. The children’s program will include singing, reading, playing games, and learning basic mindfulness skills. 

Adults will have opportunities to practice meditation together and engage in Dharma talks, silent sitting and walking meditation, mindful eating, community-building through singing, sports, and other practices that you can apply to your daily lives. 

TIME
Thursday, April 16th, 2020 – 3 PM until Sunday, April 19th, 2020 – 12 PM 

LOCATION
Fort Flagler Historical State Park 10541 Flagler Road Nordland, WA 98358 

PRICING (Food & Lodging) 
Adults (18+) – $150/person OR $120/person for group of 2 or more people Teenagers (13-17) – $80/person Children (6-12) – FREE 

REGISTRATION
www.sites.google.com/site/khoatuvn/

TENTATIVE TRANSPORTATION
Bus from Co Lam Pagoda to
Fort Flagler Park ($45-$60/person) if there are 20+ people requested 

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
Ms. Minh Nguyen – (206) 920 – 4781 .   (425) 403 – 3456

Mr. Hinh Tran, Mr. Luat Nguyen
Mr. Sy Phan, Mr. Tien Hy 

vietwakeupwashington@gmail.com

facebook.comvietwakeupwashington
(206) 383 – 0254 – (425) 246 – 7524 – (425) 443 – 5474 

The snow is spectacular, but driving conditions are poor. Therefore, we are cancelling the January 14th gathering, tomorrow evening. May you enjoy a peaceful evening at home!

Warmly,
Janet
on behalf of North Shore Mindfulness

Happy 2020 to All!

A great way to start off this new year and new decade is to be aware of all the positive elements in our daily life such as abundant clean drinking water, our doting pet(s), living in such a lush environment with the mountains and the sea…

Along with weekly sitting meditation, walking meditation, and dharma sharing, the additional scheduled activities for January are:

Jan 7 –   Deep Relaxation *
Jan 14 – Recitation of the 5 Mindfulness Trainings
Jan 21 – Dharma Reading
Jan 28 – Mindful Tea Meditation

* Mats and cushions are provided.  Bring a blanket or whatever you like to be comfortable.

Warmly,

Linda on behalf of 

North Shore Mindfulness
Tuesday 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Audio Visual Room @ West Van Seniors’ Activity Centre (SAC)
695 21^st Street, West Vancouver

Dear Friends:

Our beloved teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, continues to show us how to live with grace and courage at age 93! When I was fortunate to be in his presence in Hue, Vietnam last April, he turned his gaze towards the group of visitors, as you see in this photo. When he slowly looked from person to person, I felt an immense sense of calm and love sweep over me. Also during the visit, Thay teased the nuns by playfully posing with a frangipani flower. Everyone was smiling and laughing with him. Then Paul Davis, one of the leaders of our Loving Work Foundation travelling group, presented to Thay the photobook he created, A Way of Life: Zen Monastics at Work and at Play, 2017. He and Thay looked through some of the familiar photos together. What a memorable, precious time!! 

You might be interested to read a current account of Thay’s health and travels at the link below. He is visiting the Thailand monastery where our Loving Work Foundation group also spent a wonderful week during the spring retreat. https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/blog/2019/12/2/official-health-update-thay-travels-to-bangkok-for-health-check-ups

Now, on to our December schedule. I hope you will come and relax in the support of our Sangha on Tuesday evenings, or enjoy your practice in your warm home or in the quiet forest. Give yourself the gift of taking time to stop and take care of yourself. The Christmas season is for many of us a time of mixed emotions: happiness, distraction, loneliness.  How fortunate to know we can always touch that deeper joy available to us by coming back to our true selves. “There is a concentration on your in-breath that will make body and mind come together in just one moment. And suddenly you find yourself fully present, fully alive” (The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh, 2012).

We have the following three meetings this month. There is a social gathering planned for December 17.

Dec 3   – Deep Relaxation*

Dec 10 – Recitation of the Five Mindfulness Trainings

Dec 17 – Meditation for the first hour, followed by a social time with tea and treats. You are invited to bring a few snacks to share.

* Mats and cushions are provided for deep relaxation.  Bring a blanket or whatever you like to be comfortable.

Warmly,

Janet on behalf of 

North Shore Mindfulness
Tuesday 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Audio Visual Room @ West Van Seniors’ Activity Centre (SAC)
695 21^st Street, West Vancouver

www.northshoremindfulness.com

Dear Friends:

The weather is a bit nippy now but what glorious sunshine we’ve been having!  It has now been two months and we have fully embraced our mindfulness practice at our new location in the West Van Seniors’ Centre.  The AV room has allowed us to comfortably practice our sitting meditation, walking meditation, deep relaxation as well as Thich Nhat Hanh’s Mindful Movements, all in one spacious area.

At the start of the evening, please enter the meditation space with enough time to mindfully find a spot and be ready when the bell is invited at 7:00 PM. There are chairs and mats available but bring your own cushion or bench if that is your practice routine. If you are unavoidably late, you are welcome to quietly join the group. 

Along with weekly sitting meditation, walking meditation, and dharma sharing, the additional scheduled activities for November are:

Nov 5 –   Deep Relaxation *
Nov 12 – Recitation of the 5 Mindfulness Trainings
Nov 19 – Dharma Reading
Nov 26 – Mindful Tea Meditation

* Mats and cushions are provided.  Bring a blanket or whatever you like to be comfortable.

Warmly,

Linda and Janet on behalf of 

North Shore Mindfulness
Tuesday 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Audio Visual Room @ West Van Seniors’ Activity Centre (SAC)
695 21^st Street, West Vancouver