Co-sponsored by the UUFSC and Insight Meditation Modesto, Ven. Pannavati will be visiting Modesto on Oct. 28th.

Ven. Pannavati will be offering two sermons on the morning of Oct. 28th, at the UUFSC (2172 Kiernan Ave., Modesto) at 9am and 11am:

1.  Overcoming fear, uncertainty and a sense of failure in an ever-changing world.  Ven. Pannavati will discuss the road less traveled…a path to overcoming the 8 worldly dhammas: praise & blame, loss & gain, fame & shame, pleasure & pain.

2.  Riding the paradox – Ven. Pannavati will discuss how to develop a framework for thought and action in the world that leads to a limitless compassion in which all disparity vanishes.

There will be a potluck vegetarian lunch (and meal offering to Ven. Pannavati) after the second service – please bring a meal to share, if you like

We will have an afternoon retreat with Ven. Pannavati from 1-3:30pm with sitting meditation, a Dharma talk and time for discussion

Venerable Dr. Pannavati, a yogini, former Christian pastor, founding Co-Abbot of Embracing Simplicity Hermitage, and a founding director of Sisters of Compassionate Wisdom (a 21st century trans-lineage Buddhist order), ordained in Theravada and Chan Schools, a Zen Dharma Holder and Vajrayana practitioner as well,  Ven. Pannavati’s insight is rich with compassion, wit and humor.   Known for her ordination of Thai and Cambodian nuns, work with homeless youth in Appalachia, and ministry to the “untouchables” in India, she is the recipient of multiple Outstanding Women in Buddhism Awards, and received a special commendation from HRH Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand for humanitarian service towards women and children.  A guest speaker at Buddhafest in Washington DC this year, and returning next year, in 2013, she also guest teaches at many communities including Insight NY and Spirit Rock’s CDL program. Venerable Pannavati has realized many outer accomplishments.  Yet, larger than all these put together, is her simple concern for and connection to all sentient beings.  She is, in a word, approachable.

If you would like to support her visit, (costs for her to fly to the West Coast are approx. $800), please consider making a donation which will be used for her travel expenses (any excess monies will be used for her work in India).  You can make a PayPal donation online on her website and read about the work she is supporting in India.

Insight Meditation Modesto operates on a generosity-based “all-donation” model. Please consider supporting Ven. Pannavati, the UUFSC and IMM to continue these kinds of offerings in Modesto.

For more information, please contact Lori at insightmeditationmodesto@gmail.com or 209-343-2748.

Printable Flyer

Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 
of Stanislaus County
2172 Kiernan Ave.
Modesto, CA

Is it possible to discover deep acceptance in your life, even in the midst of the ups and downs of human relationships?  The Buddha taught our lives are filled with 10,000 joys and 10,000 sorrows.  Nowhere is this more evident than in our relationships with our parents or children, our friends or coworkers, our lovers or spouse.
Relationships are rich opportunities to navigate the beauty and inevitable storms of our loving connections.  How do we meet them with increased acceptance and calm?

Through sitting, walking, writing, small and large group discussions, we will spend a day deepening our capacity to see that regardless of the circumstances and arising emotions, we actually can accept the truth of impermanence and further internalize that separation is a myth even though it often rules our lives and those we love and care for.
Our day of meditative practices is open to all ages, all levels of practice, all ethnicities and identities.  Please come and bring your honesty and experience.  Together, let’s learn more about how to love and be loved.  Equally important, let’s learn to love ourselves even more. This day is freely offered to all.  Donations are gladly accepted to support the teachers.
Joan Doyle founded the East Bay LGBT Vipassana group that has grown into East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC)’s Alphabet Sangha for LGBTQI and same-gender loving practitioners. In addition to co-teaching the Wednesday group at EBMC, she is active with the family programs at both EBMC and Spirit Rock, where she teaches meditation classes for young people. Joan has been meditating and practicing Dharma for over a decade, has sat many retreats and has completed Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioner Program and is in the Community Dharma Leaders Training Program at Spirit Rock.

John Mifsud is in the Community Dharma Leaders Training Program at Spirit Rock. Larry Yang is his mentor teacher. John is a leader of EBMC’s Deep Refuge Group for Alphabet Brothers of Color. He also studied with Rodney Smith at Seattle Insight Meditation, coordinated the Seattle Multicultural Sangha and Seattle Dharma Buddies. His current practicum includes teaching at the San Francisco Gay Buddhist Sangha, the SF Gay Buddhist Fellowship, San Francisco Insight and EBMC.

Please bring a vegetarian potluck dish to share for lunch, if you would like.  For the sake of those who may have sensitivities or allergies, please do not wear scented or perfumed products.  If you have a meditation cushion, please bring it. A very limited number of mats and cushions will be available.  Chairs will be available.  For additional information, please contact Lori Wong at 209-343-2748.

There is a printable flyer here.