CTC meeting, Sunday, Sept 9th, 2018
Present: Laura Silbernick, Gina Matkin, Colleen Brown, Mike McGann, Mike McMahon
Absent: Mark Watson, Beth Bross, Dave Watts
We began with a brief sitting meditation, check in, and the reading of Thay’s “Meditation before Meetings”.
1) Ongoing reflection and discussion regarding 501c3 status and compliance issues. This will likely be an ongoing topic of consideration for a while, as we seek expert advice, consult with other sanghas, reflect on our own experience, and generally make our way in this terrain which is new for our sangha. No changes were made from what had been previously decided. We agreed to continue the discussion at our next meeting.
2) Discussion regarding changing the monthly CTC meeting from the 2nd Sunday of the month to the 3rd Sunday of each month. This would allow the monthly OI meeting to precede the CTC meeting and would allow OI to check in regarding the topics of the meeting. We had gotten pre-approval from the current council members who were not present at the meeting. We voted to approve the change.
3) Discussion regarding monthly half-DOM. In the past this included an E-talk by Chan Huy and was being held at Patrice's house, with Patrice doing all of the organizational and hosting work on the DOM - Thank you Patrice!!!. There had been a contemplation of moving the DOM to the Yoga Path, of stopping our participation in the Chan Huy talks and doing something else for the dharma talk. We had previously voted to no longer participate in the Chan Huy talk. Patrice has continued to host and to share TNH talks as part of the day. We voted to continue having the monthly half DOM at Patrice's house, and to move it the the 4th Saturday of the month so it would not be in conflict with the OI aspirancy meeting.
The meeting was closed with Mike McMahon reading this prayer from Teilhard de Chardin
(with apologies to non-theists- most Buddhists, I guess). Please substitute "true nature" or ultimate nature" or "the cosmos" or a sign of your choice for the word "God" if you wish
Trust in the Slow Work of God
Above all, trust in the slow work of God
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
to reach the end without delay
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something
unknown, something new. And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through
some stages of instability
and that it may take a very long time. And so I think it is with you.
your ideas mature gradually – let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste. Don’t try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances
acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow. Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be. Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.
- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. (1881-1955)
Present: Laura Silbernick, Gina Matkin, Colleen Brown, Mike McGann, Mike McMahon
Absent: Mark Watson, Beth Bross, Dave Watts
We began with a brief sitting meditation, check in, and the reading of Thay’s “Meditation before Meetings”.
1) Ongoing reflection and discussion regarding 501c3 status and compliance issues. This will likely be an ongoing topic of consideration for a while, as we seek expert advice, consult with other sanghas, reflect on our own experience, and generally make our way in this terrain which is new for our sangha. No changes were made from what had been previously decided. We agreed to continue the discussion at our next meeting.
2) Discussion regarding changing the monthly CTC meeting from the 2nd Sunday of the month to the 3rd Sunday of each month. This would allow the monthly OI meeting to precede the CTC meeting and would allow OI to check in regarding the topics of the meeting. We had gotten pre-approval from the current council members who were not present at the meeting. We voted to approve the change.
3) Discussion regarding monthly half-DOM. In the past this included an E-talk by Chan Huy and was being held at Patrice's house, with Patrice doing all of the organizational and hosting work on the DOM - Thank you Patrice!!!. There had been a contemplation of moving the DOM to the Yoga Path, of stopping our participation in the Chan Huy talks and doing something else for the dharma talk. We had previously voted to no longer participate in the Chan Huy talk. Patrice has continued to host and to share TNH talks as part of the day. We voted to continue having the monthly half DOM at Patrice's house, and to move it the the 4th Saturday of the month so it would not be in conflict with the OI aspirancy meeting.
The meeting was closed with Mike McMahon reading this prayer from Teilhard de Chardin
(with apologies to non-theists- most Buddhists, I guess). Please substitute "true nature" or ultimate nature" or "the cosmos" or a sign of your choice for the word "God" if you wish
Trust in the Slow Work of God
Above all, trust in the slow work of God
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
to reach the end without delay
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something
unknown, something new. And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through
some stages of instability
and that it may take a very long time. And so I think it is with you.
your ideas mature gradually – let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste. Don’t try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances
acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow. Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be. Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.
- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. (1881-1955)