Ozarks Dharma Community

Ayya Dipa shared this opportunity with us. Click on the photo to enlarge it and see contact telephone numbers, or download a pdf announcement HERE . ************ Dear Dhamma Friends, We will be conducting New Year Vipassana Meditation Retreat from December 22, 2012 to January 1, 2013 under the close guidance of the residing Sayadaw Ashin Eindardipati and Sayadaw Ashin Nyana Nanda. Interested yogis should contact the following persons as soon as possible for further information and registration. Yogis who would like to participate only parts of the retreat are also welcome. Please visit Chanmyay USA website Event Page for more information as well as other events information at SVA and please feel free to forward this email to anyone who may like to join New Year Vipassana Retreat.                   Retreat Location:                     Chanmyay Satipatthana Vihara    ...

Dear Friends, I just learned that Shaila Catherine will be leading a retreat in the Kansas City area. Here is a link with more information. This is a five day retreat. http://www.imsb.org/programs/retreatsWithShaila.php with friendliness, Ayya Dipa 

We just received the announcement that the January 2013 Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation course from Insight Meditation Center will open registration on December 4.  This is a great way to find support to begin or deepen your practice! Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation January 13 - February 23, 2013 Registration opens December 4, 2012 7:00am Pacific Standard Time  Insight Meditation Center's Audiodharma program will offer a 6-week web and email based Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation course from January 13 to February 23, 2013. You may either audit the course (no personal support) or sign up for weekly personal support sessions by phone, Skype, email or chat with Audiodharma teachers.  Those who have previously taken the course may take it again only if space permits.  The teacher support slots fill quickly, so plan to register early if you want that option.  More information and registration (opening Dec. 4) are at  http...

Recently our Saturday Group was visited by Nicolette Martin, a reporter for the MSU Standard.  She was accompanied by a photographer, Calvin Todd, and they observed as Rowena led the meditation and discussion.  You can read the article that was published with Nicolette's observations, a nice photo of the group, and quotes from an interview with Holly here.

Sister Dipa will receive ordination as a bhikkhuni in October 2012 . We are currently collecting donations to help support Sister Dipa, Mahajapati Monastery and the expenses associated with her upcoming ordination as a bhikkhuni. You can bring donations to our meditation sessions or give directly at Mahajapati Monastery's website .  We are very grateful to Sister Dipa for her generosity in leading the BOW Buddhist Meditation Group (2004-2009), her example in putting the Buddha's teachings into practice, and her willingness to share her time and thoughtful answers with us.  ****************     This embedded video can also be viewed at Youtube HERE .  A synopsis of Sister Dipa's answers can be found HERE (PDF) .   In this interview, Sister Dipa answers the following questions for our reflection: How long have you been practicing and what first inspired you to study and practice Buddhism?  What practices have been most helpf...

We received the invitation to the Official Opening and Blessing Ceremony of the Quan-Am Bodhisattva Statue at the new Dinh Quang Buddhist Temple at 10:00 AM on Sunday September 23rd, 2012. The invitation explains that: "The Quan-Am Bodhisattva (in Vietnamese) is the Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva of Compassion, who is mostly known as the resemblance figure of a mother with a great loving heart. He loves everyone, every living being as his own child, no discrimination of any kind. Therefore, in the grand plan of rebuilding and establishing the Dinh Quang Temple, we have completed the establishment of the Quan-Am Bodhisattva Statue in the outdoor Zen garden to represent the great compassion he brings to people at the temple, in the community, and in the world. ...  This event not only endeavors to provide an opportunity for spiritual strengthening but also would celebrate a community symbol for peace and compassion to better the lives of the people in need." You can als...

Our former group leader, Sister Dipa, will be ordained next month at Dharma Vijaya Vihara in Los Angeles, along with three other women. We have decided to send all the donations that will be collected from now until Saturday, October 6th to Sister Dipa's monastery, Mahapajapati Monastery, to help cover the expenses that will be incurred for the ordination. We'll be posting more details about the ordination soon. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to show our support for Sister Dipa for the dedication she has shown in the past by leading our group, as well as for her strong determination to lead a life dedicated to practice as a fully ordained bhikkhuni. Please consider making a donation for this joyous event! If you can't make it to the group, then you may send a donation directly to Mahapajapati Monastery. Here is their website, where you will find more information:  http://www.mahapaja pati.com/ Thank you all very much for your generosity!