UPCOMING EVENTS
Full Moon Dharma Talk
Wednesday, October 20 at 5 PM
Meeting ID: 864 2730 0089
Passcode: 827954
Let’s Gather Together as Sangha
Zuisei Goddard will be giving the Full Moon Dharma Talk this Wednesday, October 20 at 5 PM to the Middle Way School Community. Zuisei will lead a meditation, give a talk, and then open up the forum for questions.
As the children and teachers approach the third thematic unit of the year—Refuge—this talk will give us an opportunity to explore what it is that we take refuge in. What do we turn to for clarity and solace, for ease and stability? At Middle Way we seek to convey the essence of refuge—a sense of reverence, protection, and inspiration—in ways that are appropriate to a child’s developmental stage, noting that what each of us takes refuge in can be different based on our identities, beliefs, and values. At the same time, there’s a common ground that we share when we take refuge in the dharma, and this is what we’ll explore together.
Zuisei is a writer and lay Zen teacher currently based in the south of Mexico. She was in residence at Zen Mountain Monastery in Mt. Tremper, where she trained full time from 1995 to 2014, fourteen of those years as a Zen monk. In 2018, Geoffrey Shugen Arnold Roshi, who is an advisor at the school, gave Zuisei dharma transmission (authorization to teach). She teaches meditation, particularly focusing on the application of dharma teachings to our daily lives. She offers retreats and workshops for children, teenagers, and adults—all based on her conviction that there are few tools as powerful as meditation to transform, empower, and clarify.
Her articles have appeared in Tricycle, Lion’s Roar, Buddhadharma, and Parabola, and her first book, Still Running: The Art of Meditation in Motion, was published by Shambhala Publications in August of 2020. She is Tricycle Magazine’s Teachings Editor and sits on the board of Trustees at Middle Way.
Book Club | November 4, 2021 5 PM
Meeting ID: 891 5140 3454
Passcode: 642174
PAST EVENTS
Book Club | October 6, 2021
For the first book club we will be listening to an interview with John Wellwood (transcript also available), a best-selling author, psychologist, and lecturer who is known for his work on relationships as a spiritual path, as well as his pioneering work bridging spiritual wisdom lineages and developmental psychology. He was a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Tsoknyi Rinpoche, and has been an inspiration to countless practitioners in both traditional and modern contexts.Virtual Open House
MWS Community Dharma Talk
Monday, September 20, 8:00 PM
The first of Middle Way’s 2021-2022 monthly Full Moon Dharma Talks, especially designed for MWS families, is on Monday, September 20 at 8 p.m. Harry Einhorn will be leading a discussion on the 3 episodes of Noah Resheta’s Secular Buddhism podcast, which were assigned listening for MWS parents and guardians over the summer. He will summarize the podcasts and touch on what secular means within a Buddhist context, as well as discuss the Buddhist approach to faith and ways we can make the dharma meaningful in every day life. There will be ample time to ask questions if you have them. This discussion is a very important step in helping our community come together, linking home and school through a shared vision.
The talk will be on Zoom, recorded, and made available to those who missed it. This counts as one of the minimum of 2 dharma activities we ask every adult in our community to participate in every year. There will be much to choose from, including Karma’s weekly meditation class (starting next week! See below), other full moon discussions, book club and more. Our October talk will be led by board trustee Zuisei Sensei and November we welcome Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel. Harry led a full day of teacher development in August and we are delighted that he can meet with parents too.
“I am a relatively new student of the dharma. Harry’s teachings were incredibly accessible. Through storytelling and luminous visualizations, Harry brought the dharma to life. He taught in way that has offered me the deep kind of understanding that I’ll not soon forget. I was so inspired, and hope to be able to share these dharma concepts with my students!”
— A Middle Way School Teacher
Virtual Open House
Saturday, January 23, 2021
10-11 AM
ZOOM
Learn about the history of the school, our curriculum, and what we have planned for next year. There will be ample time to meet the teachers an ask questions. We are looking forward to seeing new faces.
Tara Puja
Tara Puja (ceremony)
Friday, January 15
10 AM-2PM
In-person event not open to the public
ZOOM FOR LIVESTREAM
Meeting ID: 890 2533 6243
Passcode: 687660
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Passcode: 687660
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During the break, our patron and guide, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, instructed us to host a group of 10 Bhutanese and Tibetans to conduct a Tara Puja for the benefit of all beings on Friday, January 15. This will be happening parallel to regular school activities and we will invite children to listen and observe from a distance. Anyone who wishes to contribute to this wonderful ceremony can send flowers or fruits (quality over quantity). We will livestream the event to the best of our ability.
You can read more about the concept of Tara on the Khyentse Foundation website.
Rinpoche said: “All the buddhas and bodhisattvas are in essence the same. Buddhas transcend all kinds of shape, color, form, and labels like gender. Likewise Tara comes in many manifestations. Tara is ultimately none other than the nature of your own mind. She is not really a he or a she or green or white. She doesn’t necessarily have many hands or two hands. But since we are so deluded, we can only understand through references like numbers, colors, shape, tangible things, which is why we have Aryatara and the other 21 manifestations. These are the principle mandala of the puja we are doing this time.”
—Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Parent-organized Anti-Racism Group
A Conversation with Staceyann Chin
The MWS Community’s Parent-led Anti-Racism Group invites you to bring this family friendly conversation into your home on Thursday, December 3 at 6:00 PM. Brought to you by Little Chairs Big Differences, Staceyann Chin and her daughter, Zuri will talk about raising children to be critically minded, socially conscious and inclusive, along with teaching children about the importance of activism and how they can influence change.
Link: Event Brite (more information and sign up here):
Please consider listening in and then joining us for our next MWS Anti-Racism Community meeting on Thursday December 17 @ 6:00 when we will open the door to discussion based on this event. Many have asked, “how do I bring up the heavy topics associated with anti-racism work with my kids?” We hope that this opens up that conversation. Hope to see you there! Please email Stephanie(Sabina’s mom) if you’d like to be added to the MWS Anti-Racism Group mailing list!
Q&A With Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Monday, May 25, 11 AM EST
YouTube
We are thrilled to announce that on Monday, May 25, Middle Way Education and Middle Way School are co-hosting a Q&A by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Rinpoche is our advisor and the inspiration behind both organizations. This talk is open to the public but for Buddhists who are parents, parents whose children go to a Buddhist school, and teachers, whose questions have been collected and given to Rinpoche.
The broadcast will be live streamed at 11:00am Eastern Time (8:30pm Indian Standard Time) over YouTube. You can click here to watch.
We hope you can attend, if not, the recording will remain on the MWS YouTube channel for you to watch. Please note: Rinpoche will be speaking to us from the labrang in Bir, in Northern India, where there have been reports of intermittent internet due to weather. There is a possibility that the broadcast will be choppy or not work at all. In that case, we will upload a recording as soon as we are able. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
Fostering Resilient Communities in Times of Rapid Change
A Virtual Open House
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
1:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Interested in Middle Way? Want to learn more? On Wednesday, May 13, at 1 PM Eastern Time, we will present a history of the school, outline some of our program, take questions, and then break into smaller groups so you can spend time with the teachers. This is a Zoom call so please log in a few minutes early to make sure your technology is set.
Fostering Resilient Communities in Times of Rapid Change
A Virtual Conversation with Lama Karma
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
8:30 PM Eastern Standard Time
RECORDING
At this time when much of our social support and sense of belonging is being channeled into thin virtual exchanges, it is critically important to remain connected to one another in heart and mind. It’s a time to look at the stories we tell ourselves about who we are as individuals and as global citizens. When we discern what aspects of these stories no longer serve us, we can participate more fully in the beloved communities that link us together in kindness, generosity, and wisdom.
This talk will be open to the extended Middle Way community, and to anyone who cares about the school and wishes to connect and share their current challenges and inspirations for nurturing healthy families and communities.
Karma joined Middle Way this year in a role we playfully call “Keeper of the Ground”, because he has been responsible for maintaining an uplifted, safe physical environment, as well as tending to the ground of the dharma at the school. He leads meditation for students and families, teaches the teachers, guided students in their altar keeping, leads book club, and helps us host other lamas and teachers. Karma’s commitment to daily practice and his clear written and spoken explanations of dharma concepts bring something unique and essential to Middle Way School.
A parent expressed her appreciation for Karma’s teaching style: As a Middle Way parent, I have truly enjoyed the chance to be a student right alongside my child. The weekly discussions with Karma have refreshed my relationship with timeless ideas. I really relate to his conversational approach and I appreciate his own practice of parenting. He humbly embodies centuries of knowledge, and manages to distill each idea into low-key simplicity. The school seems to attract gifted teachers who can weave big ideas into shiny moments of discovery—for eager learners of any age.
Short Guided Meditation with Karma
Friday, March 27, 2020 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
ZOOM: https://zoom.us/j/250459697
One tap mobile +19292056099,,250459697#
Or dial in: 929 205 6099
DHARMA TALK: Refuge in Uncertain Times
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
The Middle Way School hosted a live webcast program with Lama Karma Justin Wall on Tuesday, March 17 at 8:30 PM.
A talk to help support parents and caregivers during this unprecedented era of uncertainty. Phrases like self-quarantine, social distancing, and global pandemic have entered our minds and the minds our children. How can we not only weather these challenges, but use them as causes for deepening wisdom and compassion? How can we relate to the pull of extreme thinking? How can we remain present for the small delights opening up as our schedules and lifestyles shift and change?
This online talk touches on these questions drawing resources and guidance from the Buddhist teachings on refuge, working with fear, and bringing adverse conditions onto the path of awakening. Lama Karma is a parent himself and a dharma holder. He supports the Middle Way School with morning meditation, advises on the curriculum, and helps in a thousand other ways to keep our campus uplifted and safe. We are very happy to be able to share this talk with our global community. He speaks in terms that are practical and easily accessible for people of any faith or belief system.
OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES
SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2020 2 PM – 4 PM
Meet the teachers and staff of the Middle Way School at an informal open house gathering on Sunday, March 8, 2020 from 2-4 PM. Tea and coffee will be served. We are happy to open our doors to you! Children most welcome. There will be art supplies for them but no designated childcare.
OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES
JANUARY 25, 2020
Meet the teachers and staff of the Middle Way School at an informal open house gathering on Saturday, January 20, 2020 from 2-4 PM. Tea and coffee will be served. We are happy to open our doors to you! Children most welcome! There will be art supplies for them but no designated childcare.
2019 Solstice Event and Performance
December 20, 2019
Extended friends and family are invited to our annual solstice event. Premiere performance of the first two scenes of the Life of the Buddha play will be followed by a fireside singalong (dress warmly!) and vegetarian potluck dinner. The PCA is signing up volunteers for various tasks. Please contact Fukiko. RSVP!
Kingston Farmer's Market
May 25, 2019
MWS will have an information booth and face painting at the Kingston Farmer’s Market on Saturday May 25th. Stop by and say hi!
Open House for Prospective Families
March 16, 2019
Meet the teachers and staff of the Middle Way School at an informal open house gathering on Saturday, March 16, 2019. Tea and coffee will be served. We are happy to open our doors to you! Children most welcome there will be art supplies for them but no designated childcare.
Fall Festival
October 22, 2018
Fall Festival! 5:30-7 families and extended families invited to tour the school, make a little art, learn what we’ve learned, and participate in a short fire ceremony. We’ll be ending on the early side. Snacks served. RSVP.
Parent's information meeting
March 22, 2018
Parent Information Evening at the Middle Way School, 268 West Saugerties Road.
6-8 p.m. Please RSVP.
More information to come.
Compassion in Education
April 26, 2018
Public talk for parents and teachers with Kristin Lhatso, founder of Snow Lion School in Boulder, Colorado. How can the cultivation of compassion bring depth and breadth to the experience of learning? Free. Reception/Doors at 6 p.m. Please RSVP.
Play Date for Interested Pre-K Families
Saturday, August 3, 2019 | 10 AM -11:30 AM
A wonderful opportunity to meet families and spend time in our pre-K classroom while learning more about our program from Grace Louis, lead pre-K teacher. Please RSVP at contact@middlewayschool.org.
Open House for Prospective Families
February 2, 2019
Meet the teachers and staff of the Middle Way School at an informal open house gathering on Saturday, February 2, 2019. Tea and coffee will be served. We are happy to open our doors to you! Children most welcome there will be art supplies for them but no designated childcare.
TALK with Sensei goddard
October 22, 2018
Vanessa Zuisei Goddard, Sensei, was in full-time residential training at John Daido Loori’s Mountains and Rivers Order (MRO) Zen Mountain Monastery (ZMM) in Mt. Tremper from 1995 to 2014, fourteen of those years as a monastic. She’s now a dharma holder in the MRO, as well as the monastery’s work supervisor. She is in charge of the Zen Teens and Zen Kids programs at ZMM. She will speak with parents and children at MWS. Free. Reception/Doors at 10 a.m. Please RSVP.
Winter Solstice Event
Thursday, December 20, 2019
Celebrating the interconnection between the sun and the earth, welcoming ceaseless change, inviting the advent of longer days.
MWS PCA Summer Dance Party
Sunday, July 7, 2019 | 4 PM -8 PM
26 Downs Street, Kingston, NY
Celebrate summer at our first ever Middle Way School Parent Community Association event. A kid-friendly dance party in Kingston! Potluck dinner, pizzan DJ, BYOB. Bring your friends! Please RSVP at contact@middlewayschool.org.
Dharma Talk
March 14, 2019
Teaching with Khenpo Choying Dorjee. (Time TBD) Khenpo Choying Dorjee is a distinguished Tibetan Buddhist scholar and teacher, in particular, specialized in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy (Madhyamaka). He received his degree as Khenpo in 2004, roughly equivalent to a Western Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies. Since then, he has held several leadership positions at Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö Institute, which is Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s monastic university in India. He served as Abbot for several years and initiated a number of educational innovations. He was a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley in 2011 and serves on the Khyentse Foundation India Program Committee.
OPEN HOUSE
April 28, 2018
Middle Way School Open House and India Celebration. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. We will start the day with a short ceremony. Children are welcome to participate in offering flowers, lamps, and incense while Shubhraji performs a short ceremony in praise of Saraswati, the swan-borne goddess of wisdom and the arts. Then Woodstock’s woman of the North Woods, Catherine Sklarsky, will spend time with the children doing colorful block printing with blocks offered by our friends at Kurma in Dehradun, India. We’ll have fabric to print on or bring your own. Things might get messy so children are encouraged to wear clothes that can be painted on. We’ll wrap up the day with storytelling by Kristin Lhatso. There will be ample time to mingle and ask questions. Chai will be served.
Japan Festival
May 19, 2019
Meet MWS families, teachers and friends at an informal open house Japan-themed event on Sunday, May 19 2019. Children most welcome there will be art supplies for them but no designated childcare. Please RSVP!
