Center for Urban Peace
Residential Meditation Community
Northern California, Berkeley

Seeks Temporary Resident Beginning mid-July to Sep. 30, 2008

Center for Urban Peace is looking for a temporary
(2-month) resident from mid-July to September 30. We are a
spiritual center/nonprofit/intentional community that
supports the spiritual evolution of people who're working
to change the world. We believe doing so will alter the
way social justice work is done everywhere.

Fearless Meditation I: practice of the body
Friday, 11 JULY 2008
7 PM to 9:30 PM

FREE for those who've taken this course in the past.

"Taking your seat in the world...literally and figuratively, is the first step of warriorship. The first step to freedom."
-- Rev. angel Kyodo williams

This public class is open to everyone, whether this is your first time sitting
or you've been a regular. This is Part I of a 3 Part Series.

In-depth introduction and orientation to meditation practice.
Gain confidence, balance and insight through "Fearless Sitting"
technique developed by master meditation instructor,
angel Kyodo williams. Find your own steady, comfortable posture.
Address challenges and start or strengthen a home practice.

Led by Instructor chandrashekara thuy tran

***Be a warrior. Get your meditation on.***

Bring a friend, bring your sangha.

Testimonials from those who've gone before. . .

"I've been meditating for years and no one ever told me this.
I can now work with my practice rather than just suffering
through endless pain."
--Eric Reed

"You must record this. People everywhere need it...the most precise instruction."
--carol cooper,
Village Voice, NYC

"Easily the best meditation instruction I've ever had."
--Patti Hirota-Cohen
Yoga Instructor

Space is limited.
RSVP REQUIRED (510) 549 3733 | ext 1

FEE | $30-20. Members: $15.
FREE for those who have taken this course in the past.


======

New Dharma Community warmly invites you to participate
in, and support, an Historic Jukai ceremony. This year's
annual New Dharma sesshin will culminate in the most
racially diverse Jukai (Zen lay ordination ceremony) in US
history, as far as we know.

"Circle of Giving & Receiving | Going Back, Being of Service"

Having returned to the comfort of one's cocoons,
here are a few testimonials from those who participated in
New Dharma Community's Oakland Street Retreat:

Just Being
by luna

I knew the street retreat involved lots of walking and sleeping
on the street, in the cold. As a person who has rheumatoid
arthritis, is overweight, and does not exercise or walk much,
I also knew this would be a challenge for me. But I am used
to challenges and I decided to trust that whatever happened,
we would all be in it together and make it through. I also
decided to trust myself--trust that I would deal with what
happened, when it happened and not worry before it happened.

My life has been about taking risks; as an activist and in my
personal life I have risked my life many times to support
people who were in danger. I have had the privilege of
touching the pain of other people's suffering, intimately,
and committed to devoting my life to relieve suffering at
the age of fourteen. But I have also used risk taking and
challenges as a way of proving myself and setting myself
apart from others, above others. I believed that these
challenges proved my strength and made me worthy of
being alive. There are reasons for this, of course. But
in the end I am responsible for the effect of using challenge
in my life in this way. The separation I have created has
not been useful and has caused suffering for others and myself.

So, on the first evening of the street retreat, I decided to do
something that would have been inconceivable to me in the
past. I left the street retreat. After walking for many hours
that day and after trying unsuccessfully for a few hours to
sleep in the cold, (I shivered instead) and realizing that I
would be walking all day the next day and would have to
try to sleep on the street again on a night that promised to
be even colder, I decided to leave. Yes, I was sad to go.
I wanted to share the experience with my friends on the path.
But really, I wanted to take care of myself. So I left.

Looking back, I could have stayed. The participants worked out
sleeping in the cold the next night in a better way. But I am
happy with my choice. I did not approach the street retreat
as a way to gain or achieve something, another addition to
my list of challenges. I let the street retreat be a way for me
to lose something and prove nothing. This reflects a recent
overall shift in my perspective of what my practice is: rather
than achieving, succeeding, etc. my practice is to let go of
delusions, hindrances, and all the things I allow to keep me
from freedom. For me the gift of the street retreat was letting
go of fixed ideas about my identity as the strong one, and
instead just being.

******
Report from the Streets of Oakland
By
Erica Grevemeyer
I am filled with gratitude to the kind streets of Oakland, to
the men who shared their stories, to the residents, guests
and volunteers at City Team (especially D. who thought to
ask if we needed blankets Saturday night), to J. who welcomed
us to his 'spot' and looked forward to being our neighbor, to
the teachers who guided us out of the wind, and away from
danger (and away from the brief temptation to get arrested
in order to be assured a bed for the night), and to my companions
whose spirits shone at every turn. I am also grateful to the men
and women of Oakland who said 'yes' when we asked for help,
and particularly to those who refused --with energy-- and
challenged me to stretch my heart open just a little bit wider.
'Gratitude' seems such a little word for what I am experiencing.
It somehow doesn't even begin to describe it.

I arrived home Sunday, sunburned, tired, and particularly
appreciative of my easy unscheduled access to food, shower,
restroom and the like.

The time on the street left me openhearted and open-mouthed
at the beauty of my fellow human beings when they allow
themselves to be touched by another. I have integrated much
more deeply how interdependent we truly are. Whether we
choose to see it or not, our lives fundamentally depend on
all of us expanding our awareness and dropping the belief
that any one of us exists in isolation.

I have been gifted too with an expanded view of just a few
more of the "invisible" fingers of privilege that support me.

I see how easy it is to lose one's home (it really is just a
short walk --literally and figuratively-- from my cushy life
to another) and also how much harder it is to get out than
it is to get in... The veil that separates us is much thinner
than I ever really imagined.

******
Street Retreat Reflection
By
chandrashekara thuy tran

I was really surprised by my experience of the Street Retreat.
I went into it feeling pretty fearful. The thing that I was most
fearful of was begging. I imagined that in the process of begging,
I would have to expose myself and make myself vulnerable,
which felt scary.

One memorable experience from the Street Retreat took place
on Saturday afternoon before lunch:

We were at the Lakeshore Farmer's Market just before closing
and we were going around to vendors telling them what we
were doing and asking them for contributions for our lunch.
I was worn out from the sun and from walking. I felt scared
to approach the vendors. I was afraid they were not going to
take me seriously, nor would they want to give food. But I
was hungrier than I was scared.

So I went up to the first vendor I saw-an apple vendor--and said,
“Hi. My friends and I are doing a Street Retreat this weekend,
which means we're living on the street and relying on the generosity
of the street to supply us with food, a place to sleep, and so on.
I was wondering if you'd be willing to donate some apples for our
lunch today?” The vendor immediately replied, “Yes,” and walked
over to the apples and started filling a bag. He asked if we had a
license to do the retreat and I said no, acknowledging that it is
illegal to sleep on the streets of Oakland. He asked how many
of us were doing it. I said, “Ten.” By this point he had filled
most of a plastic grocery bag with apples. I thanked him and
he wished me luck.

As I walked away from the booth, I felt emotion well up in my
throat and tears rush to my eyes. How grateful I was that this
person had listened to me and been willing to trust me and
extend his generosity towards me. I felt so vulnerable and
small at that point. I felt the presence of something beyond me,
something unspeakable, something greater than me. I was grateful
to feel its presence and grateful to feel it moving through me.

Give Live
By
Simhanandi Evan Stubblefield

When I was a kid growing up in L.A. we used to sing a song
at the parochial school I went to: “Ask and it shall be given,
seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened.”
It was the 70s and we were all very hip, so the song was
sung with this old school, pseudo-Jackson Five beat. I found
myself humming it a little after the retreat, which I feel
reaffirmed my belief in the magic of the world.

On the second day of the retreat, after a long, loud, cold night
sleeping in a large alcove at the Oakland Public Library, we went
over to the farmer's market on Grand and Lakeshore. We were
instructed to beg vendors for our lunch; we asked for jam, dates,
oranges, popcorn, chard, and strawberries. Many people gave.
We came back to the group with an enormous amount of food,
more than we could eat.

Through begging, I learned how amazing it could be to receive
things from folks, especially from those who give without
interest in getting something back. Going out on the street
and asking for what I needed, made me feel as Bob Marley
might say, “like a sweepstakes winner” even when folks just
gave $2.00. Here was the universe supporting me in what I
needed. I came to a wordless understanding that everything
I ever need is just there waiting for me to ask for or discover it.

If we expect to see things a certain way, chances are we'll
miss all of the other opportunities standing waiting for us
to receive them. The world is a cornucopia. The world is a
freewill zone, you can have anything you want. Just be open
to receiving it.

******

Going Back, Being of Service
click on "read more"

Kado: The Way of Flowers with Uma Marie Morohoshi
Saturday, MAY 17
12pm to 2pm

Join us for an introductory course on flower arrangement in the western tradition.
Whether you're arranging flowers for a an altar, event/reception or the foyer of
your home, this 2 hour workshop will provide you with the basic principles of flower arrangement for any occasion. Using seasonal flowers and foiliage, you will receive hands-on experience, including a bouquet to take home by the end of the workshop.

Please bring your own:
- vase
- shears
- kenzan (frog), if possible

Materials Fee: $20
Sliding Scale Course Fee: $20-45
To View Workshop only: $10
No one turned away due to lack of funds,
but materials fee of $20 to be collected.

Space is limited | PRE-Registration REQUIRED | 866.PEACE2008

No drop-ins please.

About the Instructor
(click on "read more")

Spring Cleaning & Well-Being Cleanse Week
Begins Week of 24 March

Every Practice Period we engage in a cleanse week where individuals are given an opportunity to participate in a
number of cleanses with group support and check ins.

During this upcoming Spring Practice Period, we have
available the following cleansing products from from
Dr. Schulze:

Intestinal Formula #1
Intestinal Formula #2
Superfood Powder
Echinacea Plus Tincture

For more information about our cleanse programs, please contact our Wellness Coordinator, chandrashekhara thuy tran at dinosaurthuy[at]yahoo[dot]com.

OAKLAND STREET RETREAT:
Bearing Witness to Homelessness
hosted by New Dharma Community
with Sensei Grover Genro Gauntt, Sensei Paco Genkoji Lugoviña
& Rev. angel Kyodo williams

The practice of the street retreat is a "plunge" - the intentional
placement of participants into a completely groundless situation
in which anything could happen, while anchored by spiritual
practice. It is a way of bearing witness to the unknown and
to the wholeness of life. It is a way of erasing our separation
from the homeless living on the streets. It is a way of facing
fears and asking questions of ourselves and others that shift
our assumption and habitual ways of thinking. It's a major
opportunity for self-inquiry and discovery.

Participants will live on the streets without money, bedding,
change of clothing, books or watches. We eat in soup kitchens
and beg for money or food at times when soup kitchens are not
open. We do not say we are homeless; rather we are relying on
the generosity of the streets to take care of us for a few days.

urbanRETREAT Weekend | Wake Up for Change
a weekend retreat led by dharma teacher, author and activist
angel Kyodo williams

FRI to SUN | 21-23 March 2008
This weekend retreat will focus on applying inner awareness to broad-based social change. The intention is to change the way that change is done by starting with ourselves first. By holding this retreat, in the context of the 27 Day Practice Period, we will further deepen our intentions and commitment to our purpose and practice.

For more info about the Spring Practice Period and how you can participate, please go to:
http://newdharma.urbanpeace.org/pp/practice-period-letter.pdf

To print out the Intention Form, please go to:
www.newdharma.com/staticpages/index.php?page=Spring2008PerfectIntentionForm

urbanRETREAT Schedule
FRI | MARCH 21: Begins with an Opening Ceremony & Meditation | 7pm-9:30pm
SAT | MARCH 22: Daylong Intensive (Zazenkai) w/face-to-face interviews.
Meals included | 5:30am-9:30pm
SUN | MARCH 23: Early Morning Meditation & Closing | 5:30am-10:30am
1-hour Sadhana Yoga from 10:30am - 11:30am

Sleepovers during the retreat can also be arranged.
Please contact Guest Services Liaison: Alonzo Young at:

(510) 549 3733 | ext 6

Space is limited.
RSVP REQUIRED: (866) PEACE2008

Donation: $125-$85. Members: $65

Dana (generous giving) for teaching welcome.
No one turned away.
All are welcome.

FLYER:
http://images.urbanpeace.net/flyers/YSlanguage-mar08.pdf

Language of Freedom: Introduction to Sanskrit Weekend
led by dharma teacher, author and activist
angel Kyodo williams

Saturday & Sunday | March 15 & 16
12pm-7pm

The subtle vibrations of each sound in sanskrit gives us the
opportunity to experience the mind/body resonance of an
ancient language that was designed and rened to acheive
higher consciousness. The challenge is that most of us fear
it is too difcult to learn. By establishing ourselves in
Abhayavidya, or Fearless Learning, inspired by the work of
Vyaas Houston, founder of the American Sanskrit Institute, you
will be able to set internal fear and critique aside, making
way for open, dynamic, uninhibited learning of any new
information, including this profound and powerful language.