Thank You

Happy Thanksgiving! Let The Day Begin With Stillness

To each member and friend of Sweeping Heart Zen,  and to every subscriber to this blog,  thank you for your interest in the work of SHZ and for your generous support.

“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.” —Dalai Lama

You are always welcome to attend early morning meditation at Sweeping Heart Zen.  And you might consider how wonderful it could be to start your Thanksgiving celebration in meditation with others this year.

The first of three periods of seated meditation, or zazen, begins at 6:30 AM at SHZ.

Please arrive 5 minutes early for the first period to get comfortably settled before the bell rings.

Also, please know that it is not necessary to arrive for the first period of seated meditation or to stay for the whole time.

The periods of seated meditation are 30 minutes long with 10 minutes of walking meditation between them.

You are welcome to come and go during the meditations as your life requires. And, it is lovely, if you can manage it, to come or go during a time of walking meditation.

The morning together ends with a chanting service.  We chant in English.

Here is a link to the SHZ events calendar: sweepingheartzen.org/events/early-morning-meditation-2-2018-11-22/

“Can you see the holiness in those things you take for granted–a paved road or a washing machine? If you concentrate on finding what is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” —Rabbi Harold Kushner

Also, on Monday evening, November 19, at 7 PM, please join the Associated Clergy of Cape Ann for an Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service! Gratitude, Peace, and Justice. The event is hosted by The First Baptist Church, Gloucester.

“Silent gratitude isn’t very much to anyone.” —Gertrude Stein

May gratitude fill our hearts for everyone and everything that has made our lives possible and worth living.

If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to the SHZ Blog on our home page.  It’s free. sweepingheartzen.org

Please visit a Sweeping Heart Zen event.  Here’s a link to our calendar: sweepingheartzen.org/events/

We’re located in historic Gloucester which is about 40 miles north of Boston on Cape Ann. Cape Ann is on the far northeastern end of the North Shore of Massachusetts.

Gloucester_MA_-_harbour

The steeple on the left in the photo is on the Gloucester UU Church.  That’s where we meet.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family, friends and loved ones of every kind!