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Issue
16 ~ August
2013
In
this Issue
Dhamma
Pakasa Seeks
Center Manager
A
position will
be opening for
Center Manager
in December,
with training
beginning
November 1,
2013. The
general role
of a center
manager is to
organize the
maintenance of
the center and
support
servers
through the
processes of
course
service. This
can take the
form of
administrative
support or
hands-on
instruction.
In this varied
and constantly
changing role,
it is always
the goal of
managers to
apply the
principles of
the practice
and be a role
model for
newer servers
in approaching
problems with
ingenuity and
energy and
above all,
equanimity. It
is important
that
candidates for
center manager
be well
established in
their practice
and have
experience in
serving
several
courses.
The
Trust would
like potential
center
managers to
make a
commitment of
six months to
a year. In
some cases,
center
managers may
be allowed to
extend their
service for up
to one more
additional
year. Duties
will involve
close
coordination
with the Trust
Committees
about the
day-to-day
operation of
the center and
needed
improvements.
It will be
helpful if
prospective
center
managers have
their own
transportation
for off-duty
periods.
Serious
meditators
have found
that service
given in the
center manager
role quickly
deepens their
practice,
preparing them
for longer
courses, and
provides a
thorough
understanding
of how centers
and trusts
operate.
If
you are
interested in
applying or
learning more,
please contact
either the
Managers at
[email protected]
or Lucia
Meijer at [email protected]
Visitors Learn About Dhamma Pakasa
at 10th
Anniversary
Open House
Dhamma
Pakasa
celebrated its
10th
Anniversary
Open House on
May 11th from
12-4 pm. The
event was a
great success
with over 90
visitors in
attendance.
Guests were
served
delicious
food, guided
through a tour
of the
grounds,
viewed
Goenkaji�s
introductory
talk on video,
and
participated
in a question
and answer
period led by
an Assistant
Teacher. The
day was served
by at least 15
old students
who groomed
the grounds,
served in the
kitchen, led
tours, and
served as
greeters.
Guests enjoyed
greetings from
four goslings,
born at Dhamma
Pakasa a week
before the
Open House.
One
visitor wrote:
�Thanks for a
wonderful Open
House session.
Right from the
start, as soon
as we parked
our car, we
got a warm
welcome�Your
volunteers
were super
nice.
Goenkaji's
video was very
inspiring�[and]
the food was
so delicious.
My son and my
wife also
enjoyed the
beautiful
surroundings
and your warm
hospitality.
Thanks for
this great
facility and
service you
provide.�
Updates
from 2013 Work
Periods
Dhamma
Pakasa has
hosted three
work periods
over the past
four
months.
Servers came
from around the
Midwest to
plant, weed, cut
grass, deep
clean, launder
and continue
renovations in
the dhamma
hall.
Special projects
included
preparation for
the 10th
Anniversary Open
House, as well
as removing the
Dhamma Hall
chimney and
rearranging
walls and
doorways as part
of the male
break room
expansion
project.
Maintenance,
grounds work,
renovations and
deep cleaning
are on-going
rewarding
service projects
at Dhamma
Pakasa.
Old students are
invited to
participate in
the next work
period Oct 7-13
(apply
here).
Or contact
management if
you have
availability to
offer service
between courses
[email protected]
Teen
and Children's
Courses
Dhamma
Pakasa hosted
this season�s
first courses
for youth over
Memorial Day
Weekend and on
July 14th. The
May teen's
courses were
served by 18 old
students
supporting 11
teen girls and
boys in their
practice of
Anapana. The
July course
welcomed 16
children ages 8
� 12, supported
by 15 servers.
Ten youth were
returning to
deepen their
practice of
Anapana, 17
students came
for their first
taste of dhamma.
Enthusiasm was
strong. Several
teen students
asked for longer
courses in the
future.
Activities
between
meditation
sessions
included
journaling,
drawing, sewing
meditation
cushions, nature
hikes,
volleyball and
juggling. A few
quotes from
student feedback
forms include:
�The
most rewarding
part of my
experience was
that I could
actually sit
down and get
in touch with
myself and my
mind.�
�It
will help me
control my
anger.�
�I
think it will
help me avoid
becoming
overwhelmed
which is very
big and
amazing for
me.�
�I
have learned
so much about
myself through
this.�
Upcoming
Children�s
Course:
September 1st,
Ages 8 � 15. Apply
Here
New Dhamma Center in Wisconsin
Early
this summer, the
Minnesota
Vipassana
Association
purchased
property to open
a new center
called Dhamma
Vissudhi. The
new center is
located in
Menomonie,
Wisconsin
- just 60
minutes from the
Twin Cities
(Saint
Paul-Minneapolis)
and 2.5 hours
north of
Madison.
The site
currently
accommodates 50
students.
The first 10 day
course has been
completed and
follows 27 years
of non-center
courses hosted
by the Minnesota
Vipassana
Association.
For more
information on
course
scheduling or
how you can help
serve the new
center, contact:
[email protected]
Reflections on
Long Term
Service
From the
day I arrived for
my course at
Dhamma Pakasa I
felt drawn to the
special atmosphere
at the center and
driven to engage
in the activities
there.
Becoming
increasingly
involved over
time, I was
heartened to see
how each and every
person, from the
overseeing
Teachers of the
region to the
newest old
students (like me)
embraced the
spirit of selfless
service. As
each of us
contributes to the
best of our
ability, we create
something truly
admirable; we
devote ourselves
to giving others
the opportunity
for a
life-changing
experience.
In the process, we
are changed.
Following my
course, I returned
to the center as
often as I was
able, ultimately
deciding to stay
there as a long
term server.
Each day of
service contained
gems of
inspiration,
insight and
encouragement, but
there were also
enough tasks to
elicit genuine
fatigue.
This experience is
commonly called
�an opportunity to
practice�; by
facing the things
we find difficult,
we put our
meditation to
practical
use. Over
time, the
challenges of long
term service
proved to be the
most effective
tools for
strengthening the
part of my mind
that observes,
while subduing the
part that
reacts.
Though it sounds
simple, doing so
required great
discipline, evoked
intense
experiences and
yielded profound
results.
I faced so many
challenges and
opportunities for
growth over the
course of my
service, gaining
confidence and
wisdom with each
lesson.
However, a few
months into my
service, I
encountered what
seemed to be a
paradox.
Like many others,
I came to Dhamma
Pakasa determined
to repay my debt
of gratitude for
the teachings I
received, yet the
longer I stayed,
the greater the
accumulation of
benefits I
acquired.
Ultimately, I
accepted the fact
that I can never
�repay my
debt.� I
realized that
gratitude is the
powerful
motivation
necessary to
continue serving
even though I have
returned to the
householder�s
life.
I have been
humbled by the
generosity,
dedication,
perseverance and
benevolence of my
fellow
servers. I
dedicate part of
my daily Metta
practice to all
those who came
before me,
creating and
sustaining the
Path and the very
center where I was
so fortunate to
serve. This
is one of the many
gifts of a Dhamma
center; engaging
in
self-reflection,
resisting the urge
to react and
accepting the
reality of what
is, we amplify one
another�s progress
on the Path.
By striving to do
our best, we bring
out the best in
others and as a
result, we are all
energized.
The impact of
giving service
continues to
strengthen my
practice long
after leaving the
center.
Seeking to
integrate that
experience with my
life as a
householder, I see
there are many
ways to continue
supporting the
center. As
old students, we
can serve by going
to the
center.
We serve by
participating in
committee
work. We
serve by talking
with friends and
family about this
wonderful
opportunity we all
have to free
ourselves from
negativities, and
live happy
lives. Most
importantly, we
serve by
maintaining our
daily practice.
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