Generosity from the Heart, Generosity in the Body: Exploring the Three Kinds of Gifts With Dharma Teacher Kaira Jewel Lingo  

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In Buddhism, we say there are three kinds of gifts. The first is the gift of material resources. The second is to help people rely on themselves, to offer them the technology and know-how to stand on their own feet. Helping people with the Dharma so they can transform their fear, anger, and depression belongs to the second kind of gift. The third is the gift of non-fear. We are afraid of many things. We feel insecure, afraid of being alone, afraid of sickness and dying. To help people not be destroyed by their fears, we practice the third kind of gift-giving. —Thich Nhat Hanh

In this day of practice we will explore the practice of generosity, both in giving and receiving. We will investigate how we can give and receive from our heart with wisdom and discernment, while also staying embodied and in touch with our body wisdom. Experiential, interactive, hands-on practices will help us learn how to allow the 3 kinds of gifts–material resources, the gift of the Dharma, and the gift of non-fear–to flow abundantly through all aspects of our lives.

After 15 years as a Buddhist nun, and most of my adult life without any personal income, I am finding it very fruitful to explore how I can relate with more freedom and less attachment to money, material possessions and my fears around financial security. During a silent retreat last year, I decided to make the practice of generosity my focus for 2016, and to give away 10% of my income and time. I am looking forward to practicing and cultivating generosity with you!

At the end of the day, there will be a gift-giving ceremony. Please bring a small gift to give away.

 We will meet in the Octagon at Blueberry Gardens in Ashton, Maryland. The suggested dana (donation) is $50-$90. Dana is a gift from the heart that supports the community and the teachings; please feel free to contribute less or more depending on your circumstances.

We hope you can join us! All experience levels, including no meditation experience, are welcome. If you have questions, please email our registrar, Gene Klinger, at gklinger@verizon.net or call 240-731-3732.

Kaira Jewel Lingo teaches Buddhist meditation, mindfulness, and compassion internationally, with a focus on activists, people of color, artists, educators, families, and youth. She began practicing mindfulness in 1997. An ordained nun of 15 years in Thich Nhat Hanh’s Order of Interbeing, she is now a lay Dharma teacher based in Washington, D.C. She edited Thich Nhat Hanh’s, Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children and helped to start and develop Wake Up Schools, cultivating mindfulness in education. She explores the interweaving of art, play, ecology and spiritual practice and is a certified yoga teacher and InterPlay leader. Visit kairajewel.com to learn more.

Register now.