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Paying Attention No Matter What
by Domyo Burk
 When the ability to be fully present in our life eludes us, it is usually because we cannot possibly believe the mundane or frustrating experience in front of us merits our attention. This bowl of cereal? This tax form? This stop-and-go traffic? This irritating co-worker? Surely these are just experiences we have to pass through on the way to what really matters.
This approach to life ends up feeling profoundly dissatisfying when a) we realize we are “just passing through” a majority of our experiences, and b) when it begins to seem like “what really matters” is beyond our grasp, impermanent, or not quite what it was cracked up to be.
Zen recommends that we remedy this situation by turning our attention toward every moment of our life, without discriminating about which moments are mundane or frustrating, and which ones really matter. Zen suggests they all matter. But what does this mean? Keep reading...
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Help Care for the
Cedar Mill Wetland
Sat., July 19th
10-1pm
Meet in our parking lot at Bright Way Zen.
We'll have an opportunity to help care for the wetlands right outside our door! The Cedar Mill Preserve is owned and managed by the Wetland Conservancy, which relies on volunteers to help maintain it. Learn More. We'll be removing invasive plants, so wear durable outdoor work clothing (avoid knits which get snagged). Tools, gloves, water, a snack, and an introduction to the preserve will be provided.
Bring friends and family if you like. You are also welcome to bring your own gloves, water bottles, or tools.
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Potluck Supper in the Country
Sat., July 19th
5:30-8pm
We are having a BWZ potluck dinner - also on Saturday, July 19th. It will be from 5:30-8:00 pm. Bring along your friends and family--all will be welcome. This summer social event will be held at a member's house out in the country; Domyo will email directions to Bright Way members; email her if you are not yet a formal member but would like to attend. Bring a vegetarian dish or a beverage to share.
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Thursday, July 24th, 7-8:30 pm
(most 2nd of 4th Thursdays of the month)
How do we actively fulfill the bodhisattva vow in the world, doing whatever we can to help save all beings, and still maintain our spiritual center? How do we address the suffering and injustice in the world without becoming discouraged, overwhelmed, depressed, burned out, angry, judgmental, or attached to our opinions?
Visit our Indra's Net website for more information, including resources and a report on our past meetings.
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 Embodying Sustainability & Ecological Consciousness
as Buddhists
This workshop is geared toward Buddhist practitioners, and is an invitation to explore our relationship with ourselves, our planet, and the state of the world with compassionate awareness as our guide. Meditation - as an engaged practice and an attitude of mind - has the capacity to heal and transform our relationship with the self, with one another, and with the world at large.
Through sitting meditation, relational mindfulness, writing exercises, guided imagery, a Dharma talk, and facilitated group discussion, we will engage in a process to transform our pain for the world into empowered presence and compassionate action. We will allow our Dharma practice to deepen our embodiment of sustainability and ecological consciousness. This work integrates meditation and mindfulness practice with The Work That Reconnects, as created by eco-philosopher Joanna Macy, and inspiration/teachings from the natural world.
Cost: $50 (or pay what you can)
Register by contacting Domyo at info@brightwayzen.org or at 971-207-1843. Space is limited!
Click here for more info, including a bio of the workshop leader.
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Monday Secular Zen Study
 On Secular Zen Mondays we read something out loud together and then discuss it. What we are reading often changes, but for at least a few weeks we are going to be using Charlotte Joko Beck's book Everyday Zen.
- July 14th – The Fire of Attention (in Part II, Practice)
- July 21st – The Price of Practice & The Reward of Practice (in Part II, Practice)
- July 28th – A Bigger Container (in Part III, Feelings)
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Tuesday Evening Study
 Tuesday study is reading aloud from the book we are studying, so you don't have to read ahead unless you want to. We are now reading Domyo's book, Zen Living.
- July 15th – The Zen Path: Studying the Self
- July 22nd – The Zen Path: Taking It Deeper
- July 29th – The Zen Path: Enlightened about Delusion
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Recently Posted Audio Files
More coming soon...
Visit our website for a large selection of past audio of Dharma talks, classes and discussions.
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Write Something for Our Website Or Enewsletter
 It's nice to hear the thoughts and insights of ordinary people we know and sit with!
Please consider submitting your thoughts, musings, experiences, struggles, book reviews, etc. to Domyo for posting on the BWZ website and in the weekly bulletin. Send it to info@brightwayzen.org.
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