J 'Bell - The Mindfulness Bell

Sangha Solstice Celebration
by Michel Colville & Fred Allendorf
Open Way Sangha in Montana has celebrated the Winter
Solstice together for the last four years. Winter Solstice
is the first day of winterand the longest nightof the year. It has
been an important ceremonial time for humanssincethe dawn
of our species.Our celebrationwas initiated by Roily Mei nholtz
to celebrate the beginning of the return of the sun inthe midst
ofthe snow—short days and long nights of a Montana winter.
Solstice gives us a wonderful opportunity to give gifts of
thespirit: retelling a seasonal memory, a songor instrumental
music, a poem, a painting, a dance or mime, or sharing a special
story; all to help celebrate the advent of winterand the return
of light.
Our celebration begins Saturday night closest to the solstice
with a sitting period and precept recitation. Last year our
celebration fell upon the full moon. Sunday morning begins
with a welcome to newcomers who did not spend the nightat
the lodge and a sitting period while waiting for the wintersun
to rise. Our walking meditation that follows this early morning
meditation is perhaps the most moving part of our solstice
festival. We walk through the woods toan evergreen tree that
has been selected by Roily. The snow is deep and we often have
to struggle to get to the tree. Once at the site, oneof us talks of
the hardships thatwild animals face in the winter: the cold, the
lackoffood, and the many accidents that can befall them. We
sing in celebration of these animals and each other. Each
person then places a gift to the animalson the tree to help them
survive until spring, and says a few words about what this
giving means for them. Then we return to the lodge to share in
a potluck that mirrors the giving of food to the animals.
In the afternoon, we come together for a formal tea ceremony
and a sharing of gifts of the heart. The ceremony that
Roily has developedfor this is beautiful and moving. The room
is dark except for the candles on the altar. As each person
comes forward to givetheir intangible gift, they light a candle
to symbolize the return of the light that heralds thecomingof
spring. They then share a song, a poem,or whateverthey wish
that has special meaning to them.
As each person comes forward the light in the room
becomes stronger, justas each dayadds a small amount of light
to bring us to the Spring Equinox. By the endof the ceremony,
the room is quite bright as the altar blazes withmany candles.
We end with songs of jubilation for the wonderful season and
the beautiful friends we are able to share it with.
Michel Colville and Fred Allendorf, members of the Order
of Interbeing, live in Missoula, Montana.
The Sangha Our Heart
by Alberto Annicchiarico
Last summer, Thich Nhat Hanh reminded us that the prac
tice is wherever we are. "Practicing is always possible," he
explained, "but one of the most important steps is to get in
touch with an existing Sangha or build a small one around us.
The teacher is a treasure, but without a Sangha the practice can
become very difficult." In Milan, we have experienced how
Sangha buildingcanbe both essential and exacting at the same
time. Our group was born in September 1993 and has gone
through positive times as well as negative ones. Since then new
people have joined us, while others have decided to leave
because they did not feelat ease. What is the secret to succeed?
Relying on the practice. In his book For A Future To Be
Possible, Thay writes,"If you feel unhappy in a Sangha, it is
better for you to makean effort and continue. We do notneed
a perfect Sangha.An imperfect one is already enough. We can
try our best to become the positive elements in the Sangha
ourselves and encourage the rest of the group to support our
efforts."
Sometimes we feel frustrated that not even the Sangha is the
ideal refuge from the feverish and aggressive reality. We
realize that a place of kindness, perfection, or bliss does not
exist. Meditation does not make us fly or make miracles. It
simply shows what is there. When we become aware that the
same things happen inside and outside the Sangha, we can see
that the problem depends on us, no one else. Maybe we catch
ourselves judging others or pretending to be what we are not.
Suddenly our companions along the path become mirrors of
what we think and do. We have a chance to learn and listen
more deeply. Hidden aspects of our character reveal themselves.
Therefore, it is only from relying on the practice, our
oneand only teacher, that wecan learn how to experience the
Sangha in its true dimension—a matchless arena where it is
possible to understand ourselves and others, to make positive
changes in our lives— in our family, at work,and in our society.
In the Milan Sangha, we have really touched what is the
meaning of accepting the differences—in ideas, characters,
aspirations. That is the reason why we continue trying hard to
understand not only with our brain, but with all our heart.
Thanks to the practice, during our weekly meetings,our Days
of Mindfulness, and retreats, we have experienced a fruitful
phase of common growth. Some of those who had left "to think
it over" have come back and shared their happiness to havefelt
that the Sangha was always there, available and ready to
welcome them. In Plum Village, Dharma teachers suggest that
we feel the Sangha as a family full of love and understanding,
a community rootedin its traditions and original culture, where
we can live guided by the Five Wonderful Precepts. This is
what we try and put into practice in our Sangha. Having taken
refuge in the Sangha has transformed our lives.
Alberto Annicchiarico is a member of the Milan Sangha.