GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT
The Bear River Meditation Group is supported by donations. If you would like to help with this support, you may do so by sending a check made out to the Bear River Meditation Group to P.O. Box 1374, Meadow Vista, CA 95722. All donations are tax deductible. Your support goes to rental of the hall and operating expenses as well as for support of our Resident Monk and toward the support of the monastic community of Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery with whom we are affiliated. From the time of the Buddha, a relationship of dana (generosity of spirit), mutual aid and trust has endured between the laity and the monastic members of the Buddhist Sangha. This reciprocal respect and kindness and depth of commitment to help each other is what enables Buddhism to survive and grow. We are all deeply grateful for your support, in whatever form it is given.
SUPPORTING OUR RESIDENT MONK
The meditation group is fortunate to currently have Reverend Vivian Gruenenfelder with us as a Resident Monk and Senior Teacher of Buddhism. Offerings to support her basic needs, including medical, clothing, food and travel can be made either to the meditation group or directly to Still Flowing Water Hermitage at P.O. Box 1374, Meadow Vista, CA 95722. A list of Reverend Vivian’s current needs is below. Offerings of your skills and assistance are also extremely helpful, as are offerings of meals, food for her pantry and basic necessities. Whether a piece of fruit, a sack of potatoes or an entire meal, food offerings are wonderful expressions of dana.
CURRENT LIST FOR REVEREND VIVIAN
From Rev. Vivian: “I would like to express my profound gratitude for all the offerings of dana made to me by so many in so many ways. It moves me beyond words. All our expressions of generosity of spirit and love of the Dharma come together in the glorious organism that is our collective training. Thank you!”
Reverend Vivian can use the following food items: decaf coffee, toilet paper, black pepper, olive oil, firm tofu, cream of wheat or cream of rice (breakfast porridge), salad dressing, dried cranberries, polenta (the dry variety), crunchy peanut butter, brown rice cakes and/or other whole grain crackers, laundry soap (fragrance free), and the occasional surprise (you can use your imagination). Fresh fruit and vegetables are always welcome.
(Just a reminder that she is unable to eat walnuts and pecans due to a serious allergy. Thank you.)
Other items that would be helpful include: 2 sponge dishes, greeting cards with Buddhist or nature imagery, or “thank you” cards, all blank inside, a kitchen knife sharpener (non-electric), and regular business letter envelopes (the kind that are about 4 inches by 9 1/2 inches; are they called legal-sized?). If anyone has a used immersion blender (a wand you can stick into things like soup to blend them up) that they’d like to move on, it would be very helpful.
Please make arrangements with Reverend Vivian to drop donations by the cottage in Meadow Vista.