| June 2009 |
| From The Hearth |
Someone recently asked me, “Where does Hearth get its students?” A simple question but
one that I didn’t have a ready answer for. After a moment of thought I replied, “Word of mouth I
suppose.” Hearth was created after the release of my book Buddha Mom. I started getting
emails from moms from around the world, who had read my book, asking if I give teachings in
their area. One woman in Canada wrote that she would like to take refuge with me. At the time
she was not meditating so I created the Shrine Room series to help her develop a home based
meditation practice and then the 3 refuges. Others were invited to join us and about 10 of us
began the journey. They wanted to stay on the road so I kept creating classes. I have never
advertised Hearth classes. The only time the classes got media play was when Mothering
Magazine wrote an e-article about our classes. That summer we held about eight Shrine room classes at the same
time.
Hearth grew up from the Earth. It was not an idea formed in my mind and then executed. Buddha Mom came up
from the same sort of impulse. I’ve been following the call, sometimes faint and sometimes strong, trying to hear what
is required as things change. I have learned to be a good servant.
Hearth is now at a resting stage, or so it appears. It seems to be slow going right now yet there is much inner
activity. We are like a chrysalis that appears dead while transformation is quietly taking place within. We are turning
inward, rebuilding the foundation so that it may carry more weight. The foundation, the corporation, is the structure
Hearth is housed in. The original foundation was hastily built as my father was dying in my home. The original lessons
were written on the fly as the classes were taking place. Everything was very seat of the pants. It is now time to
prepare the structure and classes to enter the world, and that means a lot of editing and restructuring. Grace has
stepped in and slowed down the demand for classes while this work is being done.
It’s easy to come to the conclusion that a relationship, a business, our own life trajectory, is dead when we do not
see movement. It can feel like it is time to move on to something or someone else. Anyone who has been in a long-
term relationship with a person or occupation knows this feeling. I remember a guitar teacher telling me that he
noticed that just as his students were about to take a leap in their ability they came to a place where, no matter how
hard and often they practiced, they seemed to be getting nowhere. I think that must be where the saying, “Don’t give
up five minutes before the miracle” came from. That state of being in a tight cocoon can be very uncomfortable. We
may want to escape, jump ship, run to the next thing, person or activity. Yet if we stay and continue to just put one
foot in front of the other things begin to unfold in surprising ways. There is magic in commitment.
I want to thank you for continuing to hold the vision of a home based spiritual practice with me as Hearth continues
to form itself through us. Please listen to your dreams. Let us know of any visions for Hearth that arise in your
sleeping or waking states. The more of us that have our ears to the ground, the wider the area of reception. Know
that although Hearth activity is slow now we are very much alive!
one that I didn’t have a ready answer for. After a moment of thought I replied, “Word of mouth I
suppose.” Hearth was created after the release of my book Buddha Mom. I started getting
emails from moms from around the world, who had read my book, asking if I give teachings in
their area. One woman in Canada wrote that she would like to take refuge with me. At the time
she was not meditating so I created the Shrine Room series to help her develop a home based
meditation practice and then the 3 refuges. Others were invited to join us and about 10 of us
began the journey. They wanted to stay on the road so I kept creating classes. I have never
advertised Hearth classes. The only time the classes got media play was when Mothering
Magazine wrote an e-article about our classes. That summer we held about eight Shrine room classes at the same
time.
Hearth grew up from the Earth. It was not an idea formed in my mind and then executed. Buddha Mom came up
from the same sort of impulse. I’ve been following the call, sometimes faint and sometimes strong, trying to hear what
is required as things change. I have learned to be a good servant.
Hearth is now at a resting stage, or so it appears. It seems to be slow going right now yet there is much inner
activity. We are like a chrysalis that appears dead while transformation is quietly taking place within. We are turning
inward, rebuilding the foundation so that it may carry more weight. The foundation, the corporation, is the structure
Hearth is housed in. The original foundation was hastily built as my father was dying in my home. The original lessons
were written on the fly as the classes were taking place. Everything was very seat of the pants. It is now time to
prepare the structure and classes to enter the world, and that means a lot of editing and restructuring. Grace has
stepped in and slowed down the demand for classes while this work is being done.
It’s easy to come to the conclusion that a relationship, a business, our own life trajectory, is dead when we do not
see movement. It can feel like it is time to move on to something or someone else. Anyone who has been in a long-
term relationship with a person or occupation knows this feeling. I remember a guitar teacher telling me that he
noticed that just as his students were about to take a leap in their ability they came to a place where, no matter how
hard and often they practiced, they seemed to be getting nowhere. I think that must be where the saying, “Don’t give
up five minutes before the miracle” came from. That state of being in a tight cocoon can be very uncomfortable. We
may want to escape, jump ship, run to the next thing, person or activity. Yet if we stay and continue to just put one
foot in front of the other things begin to unfold in surprising ways. There is magic in commitment.
I want to thank you for continuing to hold the vision of a home based spiritual practice with me as Hearth continues
to form itself through us. Please listen to your dreams. Let us know of any visions for Hearth that arise in your
sleeping or waking states. The more of us that have our ears to the ground, the wider the area of reception. Know
that although Hearth activity is slow now we are very much alive!
MISSION: The Hearth Foundation is dedicated to the spiritual growth and well-being of mothers through study, practice and community building activities. While our core philosophy is very much shaped by Buddhist principles and practices, we are a non-sectarian organization which draws on all Wisdom traditions to further positive mothering experiences through spiritual awareness and enlightened actions. |
| IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE:
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| Copyright (c) 2009 by Hearth Foundation. All articles are the copyright of the particular writers and cannot be reprinted without their expressed permission. All rights reserved. International copyright laws prohibit reproduction of or distribution of this page by any means whatsoever, electronic or otherwise, without first obtaining the written permission of the copyright holder. Any advice given is for informational purposes only. |
| JACQUELINE'S DHARMA TALK A LETTER TO HEARTH by Jacqueline Kramer |
| MONTHLY REFLECTION: JUNE: MEDITATION - by Destiny Masters |
| “To meditate does not mean to fight with a problem. To meditate means to observe. Your smile proves it. It proves that you are being gentle with yourself, that the sun of awareness is shining in you, that you have control of your situation. You are yourself, and you have acquired some peace.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh |
| ANNOUNCEMENTS: FROM THE HEARTH NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS: If you subscribed to receive From the Hearth in your email in-box, but did not receive April's edition, please contact Wendy Myers to verify your email address. If you aren't subscribed to receive From the Hearth in your in-box, but would like to be, please CLICK HERE. SUBMISSIONS NEEDED: The Monthly Reflections article is a reflection by a student of The Hearth Foundation on a pre-set monthly theme. If any of the themes below call to you for reflection, regardless of where we are in the calendar, please write your reflection down and submit them to Jacqueline. Each month we will publish one reflection based on that month's theme. Don't hesitate - we could use submissions right away! As with all submissions, The Hearth Foundation reserves the right to decide which submissions are to be published. January: Beginner's Mind February: Love March: Transformation April: Service May: Joy June: Meditation July: Interdependence August: Abundance September: Learning/Growing October: Death November: Gratitude December: Generosity |
| UPCOMING EVENTS AND CLASSES: CLASSES: ONLINE BOOK GROUP: VOLUNTARY SIMPLICITY: With these difficult economic times, many of us are looking at how we can simplify our lives and our finances. Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin, is a book about how one family deliberately simplified their lives. If you are interested in doing a book group on this book, with the possibility of other similar books to follow, please contact Heather via email to sign-up. ONLINE CLASSES: Registrations for all classes are taken year-round. When a class fills up, it begins. To sign up for any of the classes or with further questions on the specific classes, please email Heather Thornton. EVENTS: In addition to announcing upcoming Hearth classes, this segment of the newsletter will also highlight upcoming local, national and international events which fit in with the Mission of the Hearth Foundation, such as spirituality, meditation, pregnancy and birthing, Buddhism, parenting, women's issues, ecology, education and homemaking. These events need to be submitted by you, our readers, so that others may know of opportunities which will help us grow as a community and perhaps give us the ability to meet face-to-face. If you know of any events either within your community or without, please email them to us so we may all benefit. To submit events, please email Wendy Myers. |
| As with all submissions, The Hearth Foundation reserves the right to decide which events and articles are to be published. |
| You are receiving From the Hearth because you have previously registered to do so. If you would like to change your email address or unsubscribe, please CLICK HERE. |
| I personally feel that the right way to meditate is the way that works for the individual. With meditation, we strive to be fully present, fully focused on what we are doing, whatever it is. We can meditate while doing. It does not have to be a situation of total quiet, specific postures and helpful mantras. These things are good, of course, but not necessary. Meditation is more practice to enable ourselves to more easily be mindful, to concentrate, to pay attention. It begs that we stay in the moment and if we leave the moment, we learn to automatically pull ourselves back. If we meditate while taking a walk, it means we’re acutely aware of each noise under our feet as they land on the ground. The color of the blades of grass beside our path. The sound of the birds, frogs, squirrels, cars, other people. Every step is done mindfully with full awareness of their effect. If we’re doing dishes we’re aware of each bubble from the soap, the feel of the soap on the dish, the warmth of the water as it washes the soap away, everything. When we’re doing something we love or something that is cathartic for us, we enter the zone of no time or space. Embracing the discomforts, the distractions and the annoyances while meditating is every bit as important as embracing the tranquility and the zone of no time nor space. Meditation isn’t the “act” of doing or sitting and trying to focus, forcing our thoughts. Meditation is observing, intending peace and compassion – both towards oneself and all other living beings – and becoming meditative. That is, becoming the mindset that comes about from the doing and focusing. |
| Oftentimes one will ask “How do I meditate? I cannot clear my mind and make it blank.” Meditation is a very simple thing. However, our minds are so busy and cluttered meditation seems impossible. If it is truly so simple and brings so much peace, tranquility, relief and joy, why does it feel like such a challenge?? Meditation instructions may differ for different individuals. Some suggestions to those starting a practice of meditation may be to focus on the breath. Breathing in peace, breathing out love, continuing this over and over to not only share the intention of peace and love but also to create the habit of focus on things other than the clutter of our mind. Of course, as a thought enters, if we think to ourselves, “Oh no, there’s a thought and now my mind isn’t empty and I’m not meditating properly. This is frustrating!” then we’re simply cluttering our mind more. If we greet the thought, acknowledge it then allow them to dissolve, releasing that clutter is much more realistic. Why then, is meditation such a struggle for many? Perhaps it’s because when many of us meditate, we attempt to do it the way someone told us it should be done. The “right” way. Is there a “right” or a “wrong” way? Must we sit, cross-legged in silence, repeating a mantra or sound and escaping? Is that the “right” way to meditate? |
