WHAT IS A SANGHA?

“Sangha” means “the community of monks, nuns, novices, and laypeople that follow the Buddha’s teachings.” It is our spiritual community–a group of people who are on the same path.  As a Sangha we are a support and a refuge for one another. In fact, Sangha is one of the Three Refuges of Buddhism, along with the Buddha–not only the historical teacher, Buddha Shakyamuni, but also our own enlightened Buddha-nature–and the Dharma, which are the teachings of the Buddha.

SANGHA SITS

Monday, August 24, 2026 

9:00 a.m.  IN PERSON  at The Body Based Mindfulness Center 

and 5:30 p.m. on ZOOM

AND

Thursday Evening, August 27, 2026 

5:30 p.m. IN PERSON at The Body Based Mindfulness Center

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This week we will read the chapter titled Friendship in Stephen Batchelor’s book Buddhism Without Beliefs. Bachelor opens the chapter with “Dharma practice is not just a question of cultivating resolve and integrity in the privacy of our hearts. It is embodied in friendships. Our practice is nourished, sustained, and challenged through ongoing contact with friends and mentors who seek to realize the Dharma in their own lives.”

 HERE’S THE ZOOM INFORMATION FOR MONDAY AT 5:30:

MEETING ID: 826 8659 1987==PASSCODE: 065090

THE BODY BASED MINDFULNESS CENTER, WHERE WE MEET IN PERSON ON MONDAY AT 9:00 A.M. AND THURSDAY AT 5:30 P.M., IS LOCATED AT :

1414 N. NEVADA AVENUE 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80907.

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AUGUST SELF-DIRECTED METTA AND KARUNA PRACTICE

For the month of July we will practice Metta (Lovingkindness or Unconditional Friendliness) together. Metta is the first of the Four Divine Abidings. The other three are Karuna (compassion),  Mudita (sympathetic joy) and Upeksha (equanimity). 

This will be Metta and Karuna for ourselves–exclusively… a self-directed Metta and Kauna Practice everyday. Practice as long as feels comfortable and possible. Practice at any time. Practice whenever you feel the need to offer yourself lovingkindness or compassion. 

We can support one another over the month by checking in with each other. We’re all busy and it’s often difficult to remember that we have a commitment to a certain practice. So, think of someone–in the sangha or out–that could help you remember to practice loving kindness for yourself daily. 

If there’s someone in the sangha you’d like to check in with and you don’t have their email address(es), let me know and I’ll connect you. I don’t want to open the entire list without your permission. 

Another sangha member sent me this, saying that it resonates deeply with her. It resonates deeply with me as well:

May I be at peace

May my heart be open

May I know the joy of my own true being

May I be healed

May I be a source of healing in the world

May I know love

I have added: May I be free from the pain of attachment, aversion and ignorance.

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 INDIVIDUAL DHARMA TEACHINGS

DURING THE WEEK, I OFFER 30 TO 60 MINUTE INDIVIDUAL DHARMA TEACHINGS EITHER IN PERSON OR ON ZOOM. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR DETAILS AND APPOINTMENT TIMES.

We meet IN PERSON on Monday mornings at 9:00 a.m. at The Body-Based Mindfulness Center, and on ZOOM on Monday evenings at 5:30. We also meet on Thursday evenings IN PERSON at 5:30 at The Body-Based Mindfulness Center, 1414 N. Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80907.