Fifth Precept Sangha

“As we change our own dysfunctional habits, we are simultaneously changing society.
Our own awakening is intertwined with the awakening of enlightened society.
If we can lose our personal appetite for aggression and addiction, the whole planet will rejoice.”

Pema Chödrön 
Taking the Leap : Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears [pages 98-99]

This is this week’s topic for contemplation, reflection and sharing at the online virtual ‘Sit-and-Share’ meditation meeting via Skype from 7:45 pm ready for a prompt start at 8 pm (UK time).

All welcome.

This week’s ‘Sit-and-Share’ host can be found here –
https://5th-precept.org/virtual-sit-and-share-meetings-via-skype/

Please read ‘How to attend a Virtual Sit-and-Share meeting’ –
https://5th-precept.org/how-to-attend-a-virtual-sit-and-share-meeting/

Closing dedication of Merit:

We dedicate the merits of this practice to all suffering beings.
May everyone be free of suffering, and the causes of suffering.
May everyone enjoy happiness, and the causes of happiness.
Keep sitting; and keep smiling.

“Our humanity is contingent on the humanity of our fellows. No person or group can be human alone. We rise above the animal together, or not at all. If we learned that lesson even this late in the day, we would have taken a truly millennial step forward.”

~ Chinua Achebe 1998 [Africa’s Tarnished Name]

This is this week’s topic for contemplation, reflection and sharing at the online virtual ‘Sit-and-Share’ meditation meeting via Skype from 7:45 pm ready for a prompt start at 8 pm (UK time).

All welcome.

This week’s ‘Sit-and-Share’ host can be found here –

https://5th-precept.org/virtual-sit-and-share-meetings-via-skype/

Please read ‘How to attend a Virtual Sit-and-Share meeting’ –

How to Attend a Virtual ‘Sit-and-Share’ Meeting

Closing dedication of Merit:

We dedicate the merits of this practice to all suffering beings.
May everyone be free of suffering, and the causes of suffering.
May everyone enjoy happiness, and the causes of happiness.
Keep sitting; and keep smiling.

“She spoke to him only occasionally and made sure not to laugh. He started to suffer the malnutrition of unalloyed seriousness. Someone to whom jokes are never told soon contracts enthusiasm deficiency.”

~ Hanif Kureishi [The Buddha of Suburbia]

This is this week’s topic for contemplation, reflection and sharing at the online virtual ‘Sit-and-Share’ meditation meeting via Skype from 7:45 pm ready for a prompt start at 8 pm (UK time).

All welcome.

This week’s ‘Sit-and-Share’ host can be found here –

https://5th-precept.org/virtual-sit-and-share-meetings-via-skype/

Please read ‘How to attend a Virtual Sit-and-Share meeting’ –

How to Attend a Virtual ‘Sit-and-Share’ Meeting

Closing dedication of Merit:

We dedicate the merits of this practice to all suffering beings.
May everyone be free of suffering, and the causes of suffering.
May everyone enjoy happiness, and the causes of happiness.
Keep sitting; and keep smiling.

“Make the most of your regrets; never smother your sorrow, but tend and cherish it till it comes to have a separate and integral interest. To regret deeply is to live afresh.”

~ Henry David Thoreau [July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862, an American essayist, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, yogi, and historian]

This is this week’s topic for contemplation, reflection and sharing at the online virtual ‘Sit-and-Share’ meditation meeting via Skype from 7:45 pm ready for a prompt start at 8 pm (UK time).

All welcome.

This week’s ‘Sit-and-Share’ host can be found here –

Please read ‘How to attend a Virtual Sit-and-Share meeting’ –

Closing dedication of Merit:

We dedicate the merits of this practice to all suffering beings.
May everyone be free of suffering, and the causes of suffering.
May everyone enjoy happiness, and the causes of happiness.
Keep sitting; and keep smiling.

“Remember, healing through forgiveness takes place in the soul and subconscious, not by a face to face confrontation that ends in hugging and tears of joy.

In fact, chances are that would never happen anyway, so you are setting yourself up for failure if that is your expectation.”

~ Sharon Critchfield, [Waking Up to Heal]

This week’s topic at the online virtual ‘Sit-and-Share’ meditation meeting via Skype from 7:45 pm ready for a prompt start at 8 pm (UK time).

All welcome.

This week’s ‘Sit-and-Share’ host can be found here

Please read ‘How to attend a Virtual Sit-and-Share meeting’.

Closing dedication of Merit:

We dedicate the merits of this practice to all suffering beings.
May everyone be free of suffering, and the causes of suffering.
May everyone enjoy happiness, and the causes of happiness.
Keep sitting; and keep smiling.

“Beauty is the reflection of the appearance of truth.
Better to seek truth than the reflection of its appearance.
But better to seek beauty than nothing.”

~ Robert Fripp [Born 16 May 1946, an English guitarist, composer and record producer]

This is this week’s topic for contemplation, reflection and sharing at the online virtual ‘Sit-and-Share’ meditation meeting via Skype from 7:45 pm ready for a prompt start at 8 pm (UK time).

All welcome.

This week’s ‘Sit-and-Share’ host can be found here –

Please read ‘How to attend a Virtual Sit-and-Share meeting’ –

Closing dedication of Merit:

We dedicate the merits of this practice to all suffering beings.
May everyone be free of suffering, and the causes of suffering.
May everyone enjoy happiness, and the causes of happiness.
Keep sitting; and keep smiling.

“The only way to ease our fear and be truly happy is to acknowledge our fear and look deeply at its source. Instead of trying to escape from our fear, we can invite it up to our awareness and look at it clearly and deeply.”

~ Thích Nhất Hạnh [Born October 11, 1926 – a Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist, founder of the Plum Village Tradition]

This is this week’s topic for contemplation, reflection and sharing at the online virtual ‘Sit-and-Share’ meditation meeting via Skype from 7:45 pm ready for a prompt start at 8 pm (UK time).

All welcome.

This week’s ‘Sit-and-Share’ host can be found here –

Please read ‘How to attend a Virtual Sit-and-Share meeting’ –

Closing dedication of Merit:

We dedicate the merits of this practice to all suffering beings.
May everyone be free of suffering, and the causes of suffering.
May everyone enjoy happiness, and the causes of happiness.
Keep sitting; and keep smiling.

“Without ethics, you cannot accomplish your own well being.
So wanting to accomplish others’ is laughable.
Therefore without worldly aspirations,
Safeguard your ethical discipline.”

‘The 37 Practices of Bodhisattvas’ ~ Bodhisattva Gyelsay Togmay Zangpo (1295-1369)

This is this week’s topic for contemplation, reflection and sharing at the online virtual ‘Sit-and-Share’ meditation meeting via Skype from 7:45 pm ready for a prompt start at 8 pm (UK time).

All welcome.

This week’s ‘Sit-and-Share’ host can be found here –

Please read ‘How to attend a Virtual Sit-and-Share meeting’ –

Closing dedication of Merit:

We dedicate the merits of this practice to all suffering beings.
May everyone be free of suffering, and the causes of suffering.
May everyone enjoy happiness, and the causes of happiness.
Keep sitting; and keep smiling.

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish”

~ John Quincy Adams (American President)

“Patience and forebearance are the best practice”

~ Buddha (Wandering Ascetic)

These are this week’s topic for contemplation, reflection and sharing at the online virtual ‘Sit-and-Share’ meditation meeting via Skype from 7:45 pm ready for a prompt start at 8 pm (UK time).

All welcome.

This week’s ‘Sit-and-Share’ host can be found here –

Please read ‘How to attend a Virtual Sit-and-Share meeting’ –

Closing dedication of Merit:

We dedicate the merits of this practice to all suffering beings.
May everyone be free of suffering, and the causes of suffering.
May everyone enjoy happiness, and the causes of happiness.
Keep sitting; and keep smiling.

“The way out is in.”

~ Thích Nhất Hạnh [Born October 11, 1926 – a Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist, founder of the Plum Village Tradition]

This is this week’s topic for contemplation, reflection and sharing at the online virtual ‘Sit-and-Share’ meditation meeting via Skype from 7:45 pm ready for a prompt start at 8 pm (UK time).

All welcome.

This week’s ‘Sit-and-Share’ host can be found here –

Please read ‘How to attend a Virtual Sit-and-Share meeting’ –

Closing dedication of Merit:

We dedicate the merits of this practice to all suffering beings.
May everyone be free of suffering, and the causes of suffering.
May everyone enjoy happiness, and the causes of happiness.
Keep sitting; and keep smiling.