Reading Peace discussion

Dear friends,

I've been busy on multiple projects at Parallax and haven't been able to get the reader's guides finished for "Healing" and started for "Being Peace." I am sorry for the delay, but please look for these guides next week as I will be devoting most of my time to making them.

Also, I will be at Deer Park Monastery's Holiday Retreat from Dec 30 - Jan 4. If you will be there, please feel free to post below and let's meet up at Deer Park!

Last, we have last-minute holiday sale that is set to go live on Parallax.org on Dec. 15, this coming Monday, for one day only. All our print titles will be 35% off with the code NORUSH. The sale hasn't yet been announced, so I thought I'd share this info with you because we love our book club members :)

Thanks and metta to you all,

Jason at Parallax

Jason, it will be good to see the guides whenever they manifest. Smiles to everyone who goes to the Holiday Retreat! I'm eager to check out the sale. It's been lovely looking into "Being Peace" again. It was one of my earliest reads when I fist found Thay.
Peace to all beings -
Elaine

When I first found Thay. Never raised a fist since.

I am also excited to read these guides, whenever they come about. I've been wanting to read Being Peace, and now I've been given the chance to do so as a group. =)

Anyone have suggestions on some Parallax Press books that are really worth having in a physical copy? I ask because I tend to buy eBooks, but some books are just beautiful in their physical form and worth investing in. =)

One of the loveliest covers is on "Opening the Heart of the Cosmos" in hardcover, but it's also published in paperback under the title, "Peaceful Action, Open Heart." It's about the Lotus Sutra and it's one of my favorites.

"The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings" is one I love to have in print form because I like to dog-ear pages and make margin notes. It's a sign of love, not disrespect. :)

I have an e-reader that I take to nursing homes because it's easier to clean but I have a deep tender spot for the feel, sound and smell of print books.

Thank you for the suggestions, Elaine! I too love print books, but at the rate I read I've found it to be cheaper/quicker to get the eBook versions when they're available. I sincerely wish it were possible to get an eBook with a print copy - I would definitely buy more print copies then!

I second having a copy of the Heart of the Buddha's Teachings at home. It's an excellent resource for Buddhist concepts, which are lovingly and concisely explained. I have been going to a bi-weekly Buddhism class, in which we read and work through one chapter per class. Very helpful book!

Lisa, that sounds like a great class - I wish we had something local like that. Is it a college class or a community offering where you live?

Awakening of the Heart is my "If you had to take one book to a deserted island to read" book. :) Though Understanding our Mind and Heart of the Buddha's Teaching are close seconds....

Jason wrote: "Dear friends,

I've been busy on multiple projects at Parallax and haven't been able to get the reader's guides finished for "Healing" and started for "Being Peace." I am sorry for the delay, but ..."

Enjoy your time at Deer Park, rest and breath!!

Namaste!

Tim wrote: "Awakening of the Heart is my "If you had to take one book to a deserted island to read" book. :) Though Understanding our Mind and Heart of the Buddha's Teaching are close seconds...."
HA! "Understanding Our Mind" helped me get a great price on a new car 7 years ago. I had the book with me when I visited the dealership and just calmly read during those breaks that are intended to intimidate the customer. Every standard manipulation the seller employed was transparent and ineffective. This practice of stopping and calming oneself has all kinds of helpful consequences.

That is hilarious! "Breathing in a long breath, I know I am buying a car. Breathing out a long breath, I know I am buying a car." ;)

And not craving that particular car!

Jason wrote: "Dear friends,

I've been busy on multiple projects at Parallax and haven't been able to get the reader's guides finished for "Healing" and started for "Being Peace." I am sorry for the delay, but ..."
Jason, say hi to Bobbie and Boz for me while you are there. I believe they are staying for the whole 3 months of the 'Rainy Season' retreat.

-Josh from Salt Lake

Could you please tell me if a book has been picked for January and what the dates are to read the book. I am new to this group.
Metta to all,
Diane

Lisa wrote: "I second having a copy of the Heart of the Buddha's Teachings at home. It's an excellent resource for Buddhist concepts, which are lovingly and concisely explained. I have been going to a bi-weekly..."


I've started 'Heart of the Buddha's Teachings', but had to stop to focus on books for school. Has that been a book read in this book club yet? Is the Buddhism class based on Thay's tradition or did they just choose that book because they liked it?

Elaine wrote: "Lisa, that sounds like a great class - I wish we had something local like that. Is it a college class or a community offering where you live?"

Hi Elaine, sorry for the delay in responding! It's actually a class offered by a nearby sangha in our tradition here in Western North Carolina. Generally 5-6 people participate. There's been a hiatus this fall, but I'm looking forward to getting back to class in 2015. :)

Jason,
Have a wonderful retreat. How wonderful to be at Deer Park this time of year. May you find the rest and clarity that you need. The closest Monastery for me is Blue Cliff Monastery in upstate New York. I dream right now, but maybe some day.
Metta always,
Diane

Lisa wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Lisa, that sounds like a great class - I wish we had something local like that. Is it a college class or a community offering where you live?"

Hi Elaine, sorry for the delay in res..."

Thanks, Lisa. I was just in Lake Lure, NC for a few days last week. Might you be speaking of Cloud Cottage? May you enjoy your group when it resumes!

Elaine wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Lisa, that sounds like a great class - I wish we had something local like that. Is it a college class or a community offering where you live?"

Hi Elaine, sorry for the..."

Yes indeed, Cloud Cottage. :)

Lovely! I had a phone acquaintace a few years ago with Judith Toy. I live in NE Ohio and she comes up this way a couple times a year and we'd talk on the phone as she passed through. That's a very active center she runs and I'd love to visit sometime when I'm in NC for more than just a day or two! Her book, "Murder As a Call to Love," is very good.

I am new to this group and am just now figuring out how it works. Am I correct that we read a new book each month to discuss together? If so, what is the book for January's, 2015?

katbethell wrote: "I am new to this group and am just now firing out how it works. Am I correct that we read a new book each month to discuss together? If so, what is the book for January's, 2015?"

This is how it works, yes! As far as I know, a book for January hasn't been announced. Jason's been quite busy, though I'm sure there will be an update soon! =)

Thank you, Alexa! I am grateful to hear that I am making progress learning how this discussion-by-topic works.

Welcome Katbethell. I'm new to the group too. Looking forward to the discussions. Right now we are reading Being Peace. And good luck finding a Sangha in your area. Before I found our Sangha here I invited a few close friends to join me for tea, sitting, and walking meditation when we had some time to hang out. Thay says in several of his books that even sitting with one or two friends can be a wonderful Sangha that helps with the practice. I find that to be very true. Hope you are enjoying the holiday season.

Hello, Joshua. I am pleased to meet you. Your reminder that even two can make a community.

Joshua wrote: "Welcome Katbethell. I'm new to the group too. Looking forward to the discussions. Right now we are reading Being Peace. And good luck finding a Sangha in your area. Before I found our Sangha here I..."
I got it into my head that the successful Sangha was one that was big enough to offer Days of Mindfulness and retreats. I've come to realize that that was just an idea. Our Sangha is small but the energy generated is strong and lovely and we support one another. Live and learn.

What a wonderful suggestion. Tea with a couple friends is a great idea.
I am Denise, a new member, that is enjoying this group! I just finished Being Peace. Such a gem. Now, after just finishing Thich Nhat Hanh’s words, I will enjoy re-reading Being Peace. If I read and re-read then I shall smile. Thank you for the thoughts of loving speech and deep listening!

Hi Denise. Nice to meet you.

Greetings All, I am Franny, and new also. I haven't started to re-read Being Peace, and I am wondering if that is the current book. Thank you.

Hi Franny. I haven't started re-reading it either. I'm pretty sure that's still the book we are on though. Holidays have slowed things down a bit.

A lotus to you.

Hi all!

Thank you for your kind messages and happy new year!

I'm back from the retreat and will be starting things up again with gusto for the new year.

Please take a look at the new announcement about plans for the book club in 2015!

Parallax Press wrote: "Hi all!

Thank you for your kind messages and happy new year!

I'm back from the retreat and will be starting things up again with gusto for the new year.

Please take a look at the new announcem..."

Welcome Back! I hope you enjoyed the retreat. Looking forward to getting started with the book club.

Is the book club still active? I have just joined but can't find the book for this month and there don't seem to be current posts for this month.

We have been reading The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh. We have been reading slowly and responding slowly as well! I have been enjoying the discussions and hope to get myself into more active participation. You should be able to find the latest comments on another thread. (I'm sorry I can't remember the name of it at this moment but it will be clear when you see what we are discussing). If that doesn't help, I'll look up the thread name.

I am mostly a lurker, and I'm not up to date. I will say something off-topic, however. I had the very pleasant opportunity to have met Sister Dang Nghiem and Brother Phap Hai over the weekend, among other monastics from Plum Village, Deer Park, and Blue Cliff. Both of these monastics are Parallax authors ("Mindfulness as Medicine," a former book club selection, and the newly released "Nothing To It," respectively.

That's wonderful! I'm going to Magnolia Grove next week for the retreat so hope to talk to both of them. I have Sister Dang's previous book, which is lovely, and just bought the second one. She is so revealing and honest about her life and her struggles as she illustrates how mindfulness has helped her. I did not know about Brother Phap Hai's book so I will be looking for that.

I will look for Phap Hai's book on Parallax. Thank you for letting us know.

If anyone knows where the discussion is, I would like to know. Thank you.

Vicki, yes! So true. That is a tremendous gift that she shares. I also read her first book, and it is wonderful. Phap Hai is a gem. His book is based on the excellent Deer Park dharmacast series called the Ten Gates, which was released in the late fall of 2012 (12 weeks in all). This can also be googled or found on iTunes. Highly recommended. He is a treasure. I wish I were able to join the retreat!

You are welcome, Jtanyu.
I should get acquainted with this site. If I find the discussion, I will comment.

The book discussion is here...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

We're up to Chapter 7 in The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching, tho' not much has been said recently. I'd love for the discussion to pick up again.

I think folks just got busy over the summer; I certainly did. But now as the weather turns to fall, I find myself becoming slightly more inward & contemplative.

'Tis the season for contemplation; speaking of which, here is an apt poem to contemplate:

a poem about impermanence, in fact: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learn...