Live Oak Sangha

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
August 14, 2024


Interbeing

The sun has entered me.
The sun has entered me together with the cloud
and the river.
I myself have entered the river,
and I have entered the sun
with the cloud and the river.
There has not been a moment when we do not interpenetrate.

Thich Nhat Hanh in Call Me By My True Names

On- line participation will be available for those unable to join person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
August 7, 2024

Touching The Earth

The practice of Touching the Earth helps us return to the Earth and to our roots, and recognize that we are not alone but connected to a whole stream of spiritual and blood ancestors. We touch the Earth to let go of the idea that we are separate and to remind us that we are the Earth and part of life.

When we touch the Earth, we breathe in all the strength and stability of the Earth, and breathe out our suffering - our feelings of anger, hatred, fear, inadequacy and grief.
- from plumvillage.org

You may wish to bring a yoga mat or blanket to help you touch the Earth comfortably during our practice this evening. On-line participation will be available for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
July 31, 2024

Long Live Emptiness

“Emptiness means empty of a separate self. It is full of everything, full of life. The word “emptiness” should not scare us. It is a wonderful word. To be empty does not mean nonexistent. If the sheet of paper is not empty, how could the sunshine, the logger, and the forest come onto it? How could it be a sheet of paper?

Emptiness is the ground of everything. Thanks to emptiness, everything is possible.”

Thich Nhat Hanh
in
Awakening of the Heart: Essential Buddhist Sutras and Commentaries

On-line participation will be available this evening for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
July 24, 2024

Reality?

“…the innate tendencies of our mind, our predispositions and patterns of suffering and happiness, contribute greatly to what we call reality. We rarely see things as they are. Rather, it’s fair to say that we see things as we are.

As we continue along our path of practice, we become more sensitive to and aware of the fact that most of what we call reality is in fact interpretation, rather than bare experience. This is a precious skill for us to develop as practitioners of meditation.”

Brother Phap Hai
in
The Eight Realizations of Great Beings: Buddhist Wisdom for Waking Up to Who You Are

On-line participation will be available this evening for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
July 17, 2024

Mindful Steps

Whether we can
wake up or not
depends on whether we can
walk mindfully
on our Mother Earth.
The future of all life,
including our own,
depends on our mindful steps.

Thich Nhat Hanh
in
Moments of Mindfulness: Daily Inspiration

On-line participation will be available for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
July 10, 2024

Touching Nirvana

Nirvana means pacifying, silencing, or extinguishing the fire of suffering. Nirvana teaches that we are already what we want to become. We don’t have to run after anything anymore. We only need to return to ourselves and touch our true nature. When we do, we have real peace and joy.

Thich Nhat Hanh
in
The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching

On-line participation will be available this evening for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
July 3, 2024

Practicing the Five Mindfulness Trainings

“The Five Mindfulness Trainings are love itself. To love is to understand, protect, and bring well-being to the object of our love. The practice of the Mindfulness Trainings accomplishes this. We protect ourselves and we protect each other.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

On-line participation will be available for those unable to join in person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
June 26, 2024

Our True Selves

We should be able
to be our true selves.
This means we should be able
to be the river,
the forest.
We must do this to understand,
‘and to have hope for the future.

Thich Nhat Hanh
in
Moments of Mindfulness: Daily Inspiration

On-line participation is available for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
June 19, 2024

Calm Mind

Buddha is like the cool moon,
Crossing the immense clear sky.
When the lake of the mind is calm,
The moon reflects beautifully in it.

- Thich Nhat Hanh

On-line participation will be available this evening for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
June 12, 2024

Creating Harmony

The only way to achieve lasting peace is through mutual trust, respect, love, and kindness. The only way. How can a world of hatred and anger achieve real peace? External peace is impossible without inner peace. It is noble to work at external solutions, but they cannot be successfully implemented so long as people have hatred and anger in their minds. This is where profound change has to begin.
- Dalai Lama

On-line participation is available this evening for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
June 5, 2024

Touching The Earth

The practice of Touching the Earth helps us return to the Earth and to our roots, and recognize that we are not alone but connected to a whole stream of spiritual and blood ancestors. We touch the Earth to let go of the idea that we are separate and to remind us that we are the Earth and part of life.

When we touch the Earth, we breathe in all the strength and stability of the Earth, and breathe out our suffering - our feelings of anger, hatred, fear, inadequacy and grief.
- from plumvillage.org

You may wish to bring a yoga mat or blanket to help you touch the Earth comfortably during our practice this evening. On-line participation will be available for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
May 29, 2024

This Is The Time For Community

“My happiness can’t exist without your happiness. I can’t be truly happy if you’re suffering.” Our teacher has shared his insight that the real Buddha, the real manifestation of wisdom for this time is not an individual but a community. I don’t know about you, but looking at the situation of the world, I see that. This is the time for community, and more than just community, for the welling up of collective insight and action.

Brother Phap Hai
in
The Eight Realizations of Great Beings: Buddhist Wisdom for Waking Up to Who You Are

On-line participation will be available for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
May 22, 2024

Happy Continuation

Tomorrow, I will continue to be. But you will have to be very attentive to see me. I will be a flower, or a leaf. I will be in these forms and I will say hello to you. If you are attentive enough, you will recognize me, and you may greet me. I will be very happy.

Thich Nhat Hanh
in
The Heart of Understanding: Commentaries on the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra

On-line participation will be available for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
May 15, 2024

Am I Sure?

As practitioners, the thing we most need, the thing that will be most helpful for us, is the willingness to question every single one of our ideas. The beginning of insight is the understanding that we’ll always have more to learn and discover. As it says in the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing, “We are aware that the knowledge we presently possess is not changeless, absolute truth…. Truth is found in life, and we will observe life within and around us in every moment, ready to learn throughout our lives.”

Brother Phap Hai
in
The Eight Realizations of Great Beings: Buddhist Wisdom for Waking Up to Who You Are

On-line participation will be available this evening for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
May 8, 2024

Meditation Brings Happiness

“Meditation brings happiness. This happiness comes, first of all, from the fact you are master of yourself, no longer caught up in forgetfulness. If you follow your breathing and allow a half-smile to blossom, mindful of your feelings and thoughts, the movements of your body will naturally become more gentle and relaxed, harmony will be there, and true happiness will arise. Keeping your mind present in each moment is the foundation of meditation practice. When we achieve this, we live our lives fully and deeply, seeing things that others, in forgetfulness, do not.”

Thich Nhat Hanh
in
The Sun My Heart

On-line participation will be available this evening for those unable to join in person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
May 1, 2024

Practicing the Five Mindfulness Trainings

“The Five Mindfulness Trainings are love itself. To love is to understand, protect, and bring well-being to the object of our love. The practice of the Mindfulness Trainings accomplishes this. We protect ourselves and we protect each other.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

On-line participation will be available for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
April 24, 2024

To Be Is Enough

“A flower does not have to do anything to be of service, it only has to be a flower. That is enough. A human being, a true human being, is enough to make the whole world rejoice.”

Thich Nhat Hanh
in
Moments of Mindfulness: Daily Inspiration

On-line participation will be available for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
April 17, 2024

The Energy of Mindfulness

“With mindfulness, we can change the world and bring happiness to many people. This is not abstract. It is possible for every one of us to generate the energy of mindfulness in each moment of our lives.”

Thich Nhat Hanh
in
The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation

On-line participation will be available for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

We are happy to announce that registration is now open for our Earth, Our True Nature Retreat taking place in Estes Park, Colorado.

Hosted by over 50 monastics traveling by bus from Deer Park Monastery, California, this retreat will give us a chance to restore our connection to nature and bring about transformational healing in ourselves, in our relationships, and in the world.

August 18-23, 2024.

This retreat is open to all seekers of healing and connection, whether you’re a climate activist, educator, healthcare professional, social service worker, or anyone else passionate about fostering positive change.

We happily welcome you to join our diverse community, united in our shared aspiration of bringing peace to ourselves so we may bring peace to the world.

Come together with the Plum Village community as we embark on a journey of restoration, connection, and mindfulness—let’s rediscover our true nature, together.

Register here: https://deerparkmonastery.org/event/earth-our-true-nature-retreat-at-the-ymca-of-the-rockies-in-colorado/

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
April 10, 2024

Collective Practice

“When we practice together as a group, we generate a collective energy of mindfulness and peace that can help nourish us and our children. Practicing together, we have the opportunity to produce the powerful, collective energy of mindfulness, compassion, concentration, insight, and joy that can help change the world. We don’t need more money, fame, or wealth in order to be happy. Just generating these kinds of energies, we can create freedom and happiness for ourselves and for many people around us. We have a chance to be together. Walking from one place to another, why don’t we enjoy every step? We are here for that. Enjoy every step. Give yourself pleasure, joy, and freedom with every step.”

Thich Nhat Hanh
in
Peace of Mind: Becoming Fully Present

On-line participation will be available this evening for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
April 3, 2024

Touching The Earth

The practice of Touching the Earth helps us return to the Earth and to our roots, and recognize that we are not alone but connected to a whole stream of spiritual and blood ancestors. We touch the Earth to let go of the idea that we are separate and to remind us that we are the Earth and part of life.

When we touch the Earth, we breathe in all the strength and stability of the Earth, and breathe out our suffering - our feelings of anger, hatred, fear, inadequacy and grief.
- from plumvillage.org

You may wish to bring a yoga mat or blanket to help you touch the Earth comfortably during our practice this evening. On-line participation will be available for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
March 27, 2024

Riding Out The Storm

“When a storm comes up in you, get out of the treetop and go down to the trunk for safety. Your roots start down at your abdomen, slightly below the navel, at the energy point known as tan tien in Chinese medicine. Put all your attention on that part of your belly, and breathe deeply. Don’t think about anything, and you’ll be safe while the storm of emotions is blowing. Practice this every day for just five minutes, and after three weeks, you’ll be able to handle your emotions successfully whenever they rise up”.

Thich Nhat Hanh
in
Peace is Every Breath: A Practice For Our Busy Lives

On-line participation will be available this evening for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
March 20, 2024

Creating Happiness

“It’s possible to create joy and happiness right now. Using your breathing, your steps, your mindfulness, you produce that happiness. You can also help create happiness for the person beside you”.

Thich Nhat Hanh
in
Peace of Mind: Becoming Fully Present

On-line participation will be available this evening for those unable to join in person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
March 13, 2024

Taking Time for Meditation

To meditate is not to run away from life but to take the time to look deeply into ourselves or into a situation to see what is truly going on. Meditation is an opportunity to take care of our body and our mind; this is very important. We allow ourselves the time to calm our thinking, to sit, to walk, to breathe - not doing anything, just going back to ourselves and to what is around us. We allow ourselves time to release the tension in our body and our mind. Then, when we are peaceful and calm, we can take time to look deeply into ourselves and into the situation we are in. When our mind and body are calm we can see the situation more clearly. Our view is not obstructed.

Thich Nhat Hanh in How To See

On-line participation will be available this evening for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
March 6, 2024

Practicing the Five Mindfulness Trainings

“The Five Mindfulness Trainings are love itself. To love is to understand, protect, and bring well-being to the object of our love. The practice of the Mindfulness Trainings accomplishes this. We protect ourselves and we protect each other.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

On-line participation will be available for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

We gather to support one another in breathing, sitting, walking, listening, and looking deeply.

Mantra Lounge & Live Painting w/ Lama Tashi Norbu Tickets for Mantra Lounge & Live Painting w/ Lama Tashi Norbu in Gainesville from BrightStar | Events to Uplift. "Art After Dark" at the Harn Museum of Art. Offered in conjunction with the exhibition "Gateway to Himalayan Art" A Live Painting and Sound Healing Experien

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
February 28, 2024

Mindful Being

“It is not necessary to throw away your tradition or your family.
Keep everything and introduce mindfulness, peace, and joy into it.
Your friends will see the value of mindfulness through you -
not through what you say, but through your being.”

Thich Nhat Hanh in Moments of Mindfulness: Daily Inspiration

On-line participation will be available this evening for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace

Join us Monday, March 4, at the UF Field & Fork Farm and Gardens. This free session will focus on turning pain into compassion with Tonglen meditation. It will be a beautiful practice in a beautiful space! We gather @ 5:30pm.

Parking is easy, and the bats will be coming out just as we finish! Find information about getting here, https://fieldandfork.ufl.edu/about/getting-here-2/.

This Week With Live Oak Sangha
February 21, 2024

The Present Moment

Walk slowly.
Don’t rush.
Each step brings you
to the best moment of your life,
the present moment.

Thich Nhat Hanh in Moments of Mindfulness: Daily Inspiration

On-line participation is available this evening for those unable to join in-person.

May All Beings Be Well
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Dwell in Peace