Dear Friends,

We are happy to announce that Lama Ole Nydahl is coming back to Seattle for the first time in 25 years!

Lama Ole will give a public lecture "Buddhism in the West" on Monday, the 24th of November at 8PM. The lecture will be held at Broadway Performance Hall (http://www.broadwayperfhall.com) in one of the most alive and groovy areas of Downtown Seattle.

We have limited sitting available for the lecture, tickets are now available online at:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/46967

If you have any questions or need more information please visit our website:

www.diamondway.org/seattle

or contact us at:

Seattle@diamondway.org or Olympia@diamondway.org or by phone 360.348.6969.

We very much look forward to seeing you all there.

Yours,

Seattle and Olympia Sangha

I want to share some wisdom that was recently shared with me. A friend printed up a couple cards, and the information that they contain really resonates deeply with me. One is some wisdom from Marshall Rosenberg, author of Nonviolent Communication. The other is wisdom from Buddhadasa, a Thai monk.

By the way, there are nonviolent communication courses being offered at locations throughout the Puget Sound region. Northwest Compassionate Communication

Here's the card on Buddhadasa, according to my transcription:

know the heart

know the heart
or essence
of your own
spirituality,
and encourage others
to know theirs.

share with others
at deeper levels,
don't dwell on the
differences,
recognize those things
held in common
and build on that

work together to
"drag humanity out from
under the power of
materialism."

sharings from
buddhadasa

servant of the
buddha

a thai monk

Now for the card based on Marshall Rosenberg's theory of nonviolent communication:

This sagely wisdom is applicable to how governments plan and develop, and how our economy is so quick to assume growth as a panacea - growth, seemingly, at all costs. This has local relevance in so far as local city officials are now considering many different development projects. There are objections to these projects based on the analysis that harm is being done and future generations will largely bear the burden of present day decisions:

Think of Future Generations - The Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama on the Duty to Earth and the Human Family

Via Harper's Magazine [linked]:


Bsod-nams-rgya-mtsho. The Three-Deity Mandala of Auspicious Beginning.

If humankind continues to approach its problems considering only temporary expediency, future generations will have to face tremendous difficulties. The global population is increasing, and our resources are being rapidly depleted. Look at the trees, for example. No one knows exactly what adverse effects massive deforestation will have on the climate, the soil, and global ecology as a whole. We are facing problems because people are concentrating only on their short-term, selfish interests, not thinking of the entire human family. They are not thinking of the earth and the long-term effects on universal life as a whole. If we of the present generation do not think about these now, future generations may not be able to cope with them.

–H.H. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, A Human Approach to World Peace (2006)

www.dalailama.com [official site]

A 4-session experience at Olympia Zen Center with a fully trained and ordained Zen Roshi, in a lovely natural setting, training in Zen meditation, other Zen practices, Starting April 2nd and spanning 2 weekday evenings and 2 Saturdays culminating in an all day retreat, April 12th. A great opportunity for those who are interested to experience Zen practice, meet other Zen students, and to slow yourself down a notch or two as the birds once again begin to sing you awake in the mornings. Call (360) 357-2835 or write to director@olympiazencenter.org.