At Middle Way School in Manjushri FIeld

We contacted Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche to ask for some words of wisdom to help us process the recent tragic events in the United States and we are fortunate that he was able to compose something for our community. Join us for a moment of silence followed by a reading of Rinpoche’s words to acknowledge the suffering of all of those affected by the events in both Buffalo and Texas. Any and all members of the Middle Way community are invited. 

Note that we will not be able to offer child care above and beyond our aftercare program. Please plan to attend with your child only if you feel it is appropriate for them to participate. 

It would be helpful to have a sense of how many might be attending. Please take a moment to RSVP here if you would like to join.

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https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87615465580?pwd=K2taalZPVUN6UjJGdUVwWGhOUERDdz09

Meeting ID: 876 1546 5580
Passcode: 212905

Our next Dharma Discussion Circle will center around Saul Bellow‘s short story A Father to Be, published in the New Yorker in 1955. You can listen to Camille Bordas read the story on the New Yorker podcast here or here. If you have a New Yorker subscription you can read it here.  Or you can download this PDF with not great formatting. As you take in the story, you can think about what the dharma themes might be teased from it. The meet up will be the day after Memorial Day so you can read on the beach! As always you do not need to have read to join the conversation.

Time: Three Sunday mornings from 8-9 a.m. EST
Dates: May 15, 22 and June 5

Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 841 0535 2124
Passcode: 276303

Back by popular demand!  During these weekly one hour sessions on Sunday mornings, we’ll begin with a brief meditation followed by a simple talk , followed by a discussion, questions, and answers.

Harry Einhorn is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and lifelong student of Buddhism currently based in Taipei, Taiwan. Trained in theater and theater in education at Northwestern University, he has worked as a museum educator at the Rubin Museum and for Museum Hack, where he has led workshops on storytelling and engagement for museums and companies around the world. Currently, he is a lecturer in the Buddhist Art Department in Hua Fan University in Taipei, Taiwan, where he teaches classes on buddhist music, Tibetan iconography, and buddhist English.

As an artist, he is interested in the integration of ancient wisdom traditions with modern life through art and culture, and has produced, directed, and composed works exploring the teachings of buddhism through music, dance, and installation. He has coordinated and taught at meditation and buddhist study retreats in India, France, Brazil, Taiwan, and the US, and is currently a member of the Milinda Program, a multi-year Buddhist teacher training sponsored by the Khyentse Foundation. His favorite food is pizza.

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Meeting ID: 878 6578 8119
Passcode: 913489

Join us for the second BIPOC parent’s meeting.  This meeting is open to all Middle Way parents who identify as BIPOC and for parents of BIPOC children.  This is the second meeting of three that will be held. We hope to have our final meeting in June on the sixth in person.

At our May 3rd meeting we will have an educational portion and then a Q and A.  We will assess the needs are for our community.  Please join us from 6-7:15.

Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 828 8521 1900
Passcode: 935383

Topic: Rebirth. Back in March, the Dharma Discussion Circle opened up a big discussion about death, rebirth and reincarnation. We realized that there was so much more to talk about so we will return to this subject. We will rely on the same texts and some participants have agreed to read other texts or listen to podcasts, which they will recap for the group next month. You can get acquainted with the content by downloading Chapter 9 here, listen to Noah Resheta’s podcast here. And you can watch the recap here. There is no need to have read even a single text to join the conversation.

Zoom Link TBD

Our previous Dharma Discussion Circle opened up the big discussion about death, rebirth and reincarnation, basing the conversation on Domonique Side’s Buddhism textbook chapter 9. What followed was a rich discussion with some excellent questions. We realized that there was so much more to talk about so we will return to this subject for our next discussion. You can get acquainted with the content by downloading Chapter 9 here. We also recommend listening to the “What Happens When We Die?” episode of Noah Resheta’s Secular Buddhism podcast. To watch the recap of our previous discussion,

You can watch the recap of our previous discussion here.

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Meeting ID: 790 6974 8107
Passcode: bA2XTA

The MWS BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) Educators Group will conduct our first gathering of BIPOC parents and parents of BIPOC children. Our goal is to unite BIPOC initiatives in the parent community, inform the BIPOC parent community of the work that is happening at Middle Way, and to assess the needs of this section of the community. We will also have time for Q and A. Open to parents that identify as BIPOC or parents of children that identify as non-white or BIPOC.

Questions we will be exploring:

1. What are some of the needs that you identify for your family?
2. What is your overall experience around Race here at Middle Way School?
3. Would you be interested in a space just for you?

Chötrul Düchen is one of the four Buddhist festivals commemorating events in the life of the Buddha, according to Tibetan traditions. Lama Karma Wall will give an in-person outdoor talk on “Magic and Miracles” including the causes and conditions that lead to seemingly sudden, or unexpected events. There will be a Q&A and time for tea at the end. Childcare will be provided for up to 6 children, please reserve asap here (if you have the option of sending your child home before the talk, please do!). We’re so looking forward to gathering together on campus. 

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Meeting ID: 833 5849 4449
Passcode: 705138

Interested in Middle Way? Want to learn more? All are welcome to join us as we 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.

Time: Six Sunday mornings from 8-9 a.m. EST
Dates: January 16, 23, February 6, 13, 27, March 6 and 13

Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 964 4462 1447
Passcode: 736181

Back by popular demand! Harry’s six week drop in class is back on Sundays one hour earlier at 8:00 AM. The schedule will be two weeks on, one week off. Over the course of these sessions, we’ll be exploring topics like developing a peaceful mind and equanimity in everyday life, how dharma can help families to grow closer and more resilient, and how studying buddhism can help us meet the challenges of the world with skill and compassion.

During these weekly one hour sessions on Sunday mornings, we’ll begin with a brief meditation followed by a simple talk , followed by a discussion, questions, and answers.

Harry Einhorn is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and lifelong student of Buddhism currently based in Taipei, Taiwan. Trained in theater and theater in education at Northwestern University, he has worked as a museum educator at the Rubin Museum and for Museum Hack, where he has led workshops on storytelling and engagement for museums and companies around the world. Currently, he is a lecturer in the Buddhist Art Department in Hua Fan University in Taipei, Taiwan, where he teaches classes on buddhist music, Tibetan iconography, and buddhist English.

As an artist, he is interested in the integration of ancient wisdom traditions with modern life through art and culture, and has produced, directed, and composed works exploring the teachings of buddhism through music, dance, and installation. He has coordinated and taught at meditation and buddhist study retreats in India, France, Brazil, Taiwan, and the US, and is currently a member of the Milinda Program, a multi-year Buddhist teacher training sponsored by the Khyentse Foundation. His favorite food is pizza.

Lama Karma Wall will lead an in-person fire offering practice at Middle Way called “Mountain Smoke Offering.” He will give instruction on the meaning of the practice and the way Buddhist ritual practice reveals and celebrates the inherent purity of our being and the natural environment around us. This will be an in-person event, taking the place of our Feb Full Moon Dharma Talk. Participants are invited to bring and arrange offerings for the fire. Flowers, incense, herbal medicines, and vegetarian foods are welcome. RSVPs are appreciated, you can write to karma (karma@middlewayschool.org) so he can coordinate the offerings or you can also just come as you are. We will repeat this practice for the Lunar New Year on March 4th early in the morning before school (details TBD). These gatherings will be outdoors. Participants will be asked to stay masked or physically distanced. We have some seating but blankets, cushions, and/or chairs are recommended.

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Meeting ID: 949 0812 7325
Passcode: 392351

These monthly open discussions will focus on a text, recording, or film and engage in a discussion led by members of the Dharma Committee. Participants are welcome to suggest a text or material to discuss and even to lead the discussion.

This month, we will be using the beloved book Zen Shorts by local artist Jon Muth as a basis. Karma Wall will talk about the Buddhist figures and backstories of the tales, and some of the related Dharma themes. Even if you haven’t read the book, please join us. Here is a video read-aloud.

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Meeting ID: 992 9714 2289
Passcode: 704002

An Exploration of Community and Connection with Judy Lief

Saturday, December 18 at 7 PM EST
Zoom link 

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/95508441010?pwd=N0RscGx6eGhudHVJcmpTRjZwYXU1UT09 Meeting ID: 955 0844 1010 Passcode: 840170

“Only Connect!” —E.M. Forster

A school community is formed of relationships among students, teachers, parents, faculty, and staff. On top of that, each individual who enters into the community brings with them their own arrray of community ties, from family and friendship circles to interest groups based on religion, politics, and other dimensions. Community building is a dynamic process that brings together those diverse experiences and backgrounds in a common cause. It is a celebration of relationship and interconnection.

We will explore questions such as:
How can we nurture a kind and caring community?
How can we navigate the many intersecting communities we bring into the conversation?
What is a student-centered community?
What makes a community worthy of refuge?

“Our ancient experience confirms at every point that everything is linked together, everything is inseparable.” ― Dalai Lama XIV

Time: Six Sunday mornings from 9-10 a.m.
Dates: October 24, 31, November 14, 21, December 5, 12

Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 886 6598 7967
Passcode: 085831

Please join us for a six week class on the foundations of Buddhism with Harry. Over the course of these sessions, we’ll be exploring topics like developing a peaceful mind and equanimity in everyday life, how dharma can help families to grow closer and more resilient, and how studying buddhism can help us meet the challenges of the world with skill and compassion.

During these weekly one hour sessions on Sunday mornings, we’ll begin with a brief meditation followed by a simple talk , followed by a discussion, questions, and answers.

Harry Einhorn is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and lifelong student of Buddhism currently based in Taipei, Taiwan. Trained in theater and theater in education at Northwestern University, he has worked as a museum educator at the Rubin Museum and for Museum Hack, where he has led workshops on storytelling and engagement for museums and companies around the world. Currently, he is a lecturer in the Buddhist Art Department in Hua Fan University in Taipei, Taiwan, where he teaches classes on buddhist music, Tibetan iconography, and buddhist English.

As an artist, he is interested in the integration of ancient wisdom traditions with modern life through art and culture, and has produced, directed, and composed works exploring the teachings of buddhism through music, dance, and installation. He has coordinated and taught at meditation and buddhist study retreats in India, France, Brazil, Taiwan, and the US, and is currently a member of the Milinda Program, a multi-year Buddhist teacher training sponsored by the Khyentse Foundation. His favorite food is pizza.

An Explanation of the School’s Name from a Buddhist Perspective with Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel

Thursday, November 18 at 5 PM

Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 868 3056 6647
Passcode: 441437

Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel has studied and practiced the Buddhadharma for 35 years under the guidance of her teacher and husband Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. She is the retreat master of Samten Ling in Crestone, Colorado and has spent over six years in retreat. She holds a degree in anthropology and an M.A. in Buddhist Studies. She teaches throughout the U.S., Australia, Europe, and South America. She is the author of The Power of an Open Question: The Buddha’s Path to Freedom and The Logic of Faith: the Buddhist Path to Finding Certainty Beyond Belief and Doubt.

Elizabeth is known for her use of inquiry as a means to reach a place of genuine practice and awakening. She asks audiences to engage in the practice of open questioning with her while she takes a fresh look at all the assumptions and beliefs we have about spirituality. In particular, Elizabeth is fascinated with the Buddha’s essential teachings on the natural principle of pratityasamutpada, dependent arising. Audiences repeatedly comment on how her approach has reinvigorated their meditation practice and the way they relate to their lives as a whole.

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Meeting ID: 891 5140 3454
Passcode: 642174

Wednesday, October 20 at 5 PM

Zoom Meeting

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.

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.

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.

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.