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in Yardley. Sangha members are dressed in white, a traditional dress for Vesak Day,
honoring the birth and enlightenment of the Buddha. Reverend Carol Saunders stands
at center. We look forward to a continued relationship with Carol and the facility, as
well as expanding our Community Service committee to include projects that are in
keeping with the teaching of the Buddha.
Practice Buddhism, and To Provide Meditation Instruction and Community Service in a
Manner Consistent with the Teaching of the Buddha.
From the President: We first came to practice at the Yardley Friends Meeting in
March of 2001, but we have been organized with an active Board of Directors,
educational programs and community activities for about a year. We thank Bhante
Wimala, a wonderful monk from Sri Lanka, for helping us to develop our mission and
write our bylaws last year. Although we are no longer affiliated with Bhante, we
consider him a friend and expect to see him again. We have decided to keep the space
for ‘Spiritual Director’ open in our By-Laws, should the appropriate person be found and
determined by the Sangha to be helpful in meeting our mission. Until then, we are
involved in a cooperative effort in understanding and practicing the teaching of the
Buddha. Each week, any member of the Sangha may offer to lead the service, following
the liturgy with an option to add a discussion, reading or tape during the second sitting
portion.
In the past year, we have grown from an average weekly attendance of about 5 and a
mailing list of 30 to a mailing list of 120 and an average attendance of 20. We have
added time for tea after each sitting. We have enjoyed the presence of Jeff Shore, an
informative Zen teacher, now living in Japan. We were pleased to present public talks
by Bhante Wimala on four occasions. Recently, we benefited from the compassion and
words of Scott McBride, an American Buddhist Lama. Scott was the first presenter in a
regular series brought together by the Education Committee. The Education
Committee works from our mission to ‘provide educational programs that draw from
the wisdom of various Buddhist traditions, lineages and schools.’
In May of 2002, we worked hard on ‘Vesak Day’ to clean, paint and repair the ‘Aiding
Our Neighbors’ church in Yardley. We returned to do more work in June, and hope to
go back again. As part of the Interfaith Gathering of Lower Bucks, we cleaned up Black
Ditch Creek in Levittown. We also adopted and cleaned a section of highway in
Levittown. We meet with the Interfaith Gathering monthly, and have participated in a
Peace gathering at the anniversary of 9/11, an event honoring founders of many
traditions, and a Thanksgiving event.
We look forward to Jeff Shore’s return for a full day retreat this year on Monday, July
28, as well as regular visits by other teachers. We were so pleased by our 10-week
introductory course in Buddhism that we will be offering it again this spring, probably at
the meetinghouse on another night. We will soon be forming our Community Service
Committee to help determine and approach the most suitable opportunities for helping
others in the light of the Buddha’s teaching.
We invite you to visit us and become members, if you like. We hope that we can be a
conduit for your talents on our Education or Community Service Committee, or in some
other way. Please let us know how you would like to help. Membership is not required
to practice with us, and there are no fees. Our Sangha operates using voluntary
donations to cover rent, materials and supplies, and mailing costs. We are excited
about our future adventures in bringing Buddhism into our daily lives. Please join us!
-James Reis
President of the Board, 2002-2003
offered a series of educational talks on subjects including the
Noble Eightfold Path and practicing Buddhism in everyday life.
Bhante is currently involved in many projects throughout the world.
hard to clean up a long stretch
of highway in Levittown. We
will be there at least four times
per year.
Our new Community Service
Committee will soon begin
other projects. Your
suggestions and participation
are welcome.
participated in Change
Your Mind Day, a
Buddhist Expo
sponsored by Tricycle
magazine and held in
Clark Park in West
Philadelphia. We are
part of the planning
committee for Change
Your Mind Day 2003
and look forward to
seeing you there this
May.
2002-2003 Board of Directors:
President: James Reis
Vice President: Dan Lee
Secretary: Christina Higgins
Assistant Secretary: Ann Grossman
Treasurer: Jim Hild
Member-At-Large: Bill Regan
