Retreat

Something about the retreat really touched my heart. On Monday morning I felt satisfied and nourished, but also a little teary. How lucky to have a chance to explore basic and intimate questions about our futures, and to set the practical and spiritual ground for possibly bringing them together. I was moved by what seems to be everyone's interest in being decent with each other and in creating something decent in the world. Again, all I can think of is how lucky we are.

Eric

Retreat thoughts from Claudia and John

1. Purpose of retreat:

     Define vision/mission 

     Draw on both sides of everybody's experience -- excitements and hesitations

     Ritual beginnings -- Lhasang?  Others?

2. Develop threads, ID next steps & roles:

     People (planners = residents + advisers)

     Legal structure, governance (nonprofit? LLC?)

     Livelihood and finances

     Physical space (Western mass?  NY side of MA border? Appropriate existing building wherever we find it?)

     Spiritual orientation, relationship to Buddhism, Buddhist organizations? 

     Expectations of each other (residents, nonresidents)

3. Make an object to capture it all - posterboard, pins, index cards, what else?

     Use what we know to create structure, what we don't to create space for creative exploration

4. Recognize and rejoice in the small community we have formed!

     Cook, eat, play music, laugh

Planning reatreat in Guilford

Claudia says: my free weekends this summer are July 2-3, 9-10 and 16-17.  Or Labor Day.
John: I can do any of these.

Getting Started

Things we know we agree on as pillars of a mission statement:
1. Mindfulness
2. Community
3. Right livelihood

Things we're agreeing to do by the time of our guilford meeting:
EH:
- Suss out the nonprofit paperwork, come with a clear idea of what's needed
JB:
- Look at places
- Set up at least the place for a blog
CC:
- Write this email (check)
JL:
- Survive St. George Day in one piece! (check!!!)
All of us:
- Think who else should go on the blog viewer list and/or planning group.
- Look into, what else is being done in this area already?