This month the family program met at Live Earth Farms near Corralitos. The small group that participated had a great time. The highlights included chasing chickens that had escaped, and interacting with several baby goats that nibbled on our hair, shoe laces, and shirts. We also spent some time weeding a section of peppers, and raking out woodchips onto the small farm road. The brief tour of a small yurt with outdoor kitchen and living room reminded us of how much joy one can have in a less materialistic and far more simple world. Overall, the morning was fun, interesting, and peaceful. The best part of course was just spending time with each other.

Directions to farm added below to have in blog record-

172 Litchfield Lane, Watsonville

If you’re coming from Santa Cruz on Highway 1, take the Freedom Blvd. exit. Take Freedom Blvd. east for 5 miles. At the stop sign, turn left onto Corralitos Blvd., then soon thereafter turn right onto Varni. Varni becomes Pioneer at 4-way intersection. Continue straight onto Pioneer. At the T-intersection with Green Valley Rd, turn left. After a sharp right-hand bend on Green Valley, Litchfield Lane will be on your left, at the bottom of the hill. Turn onto Litchfield Lane and follow the signs to “L.E.F.” (the farm is approx. 3/4 mi. in from Green Valley).

Hello VSC Families,

This past Sunday we had a very sweet program.  Since this is the month of Vesak- the celebration of the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment , and death, we had a few special activities. The Buddha’s life was reviewed and improvisationally acted out. It was very fun and very informal. A long banner was collaboratively colored that said, “Happy Birthday Buddha.” Each time the bell was rung (mostly by children) we would all move to a new letter and continue where someone else left off. Hopefully, it will be hung in the center for the month of May. We also participated in an activity that focused on the “not knowing” mind. Part of this included sending metta to those who are suffering in these hard economic times when there is so much “not knowing.” And of course, we opened and closed with the song “My Mind is Like a Clear Blue Sky.” Two new families joined us and we welcome them to the family program and hope to see them back.

 With Much Metta,
Steffen (one of the program volunteers)

 Related Resources

PDF buddhist stories and coloring books including the life of the Buddha-  http://www.buddhanet.net/ebooks_childrens.htm

Our VSC Family Page- http://vscfamily.edublogs.org/ with more links.

What is the exact date for Vesak Day in years 2009 and 2010? In: Buddhism [Edit categories]

[Edit]

[Edit]

 

Vesak in 2009 is on Saturday, the 2nd of May. Vesak in 2010 is on Friday, the 21st of May.

From http://www.when-is.com

Not exactly, for 2009, Thailand Vesaka Bucha is at 8 May, Singapore is 9 May. It may depend on latitude and longitude.

It’s on May 8th 2009.In Sri Lanka they use to make wesak lanterns using bamboo and tissue papers.

http://image46.webshots.com/46/0/14/922226014920011159810LvaHpp_ph.jpg

A Rainy Fall Creek Hike

It was a glorious rainy day as we walked along the Fall Creek Trail to the limestone kilns. Lots of exploring under oaks and redwoods, in the creek, across bridges, and looking eye to eye with bright banana slugs. In such a place it is hard not to be mindful.

On the first Sunday of December we visited the La Posada Retirement Home on Frederick street in Santa Cruz. It was a special time for the children to share and interact with an older generation. We re-inacated  the story of the quilt maker with one of the residents playing the role of the king. He played his part very well and thoroughly enjoyed it, as did the few other residents that joined us. We also sang a few of our regular songs including “My Mind is Like a Clear Blue Sky.” There was a brief time for movement where we all acted out different animals.  The children also showed their paintings on canvases from an earlier sunday Family Program . Christi read how each child had described their art the day they created it. The theme of that project was to express happiness through painting. Finally, the children spent some time talking to the residents and played a game of cards. The residents were deeply appreciative of the visit and encouraged us to return in the future.

AN ART SHOW CELEBRATING THE BUDDHA?!!!!!!

Dear Vipassana Santa Cruz Families and Sangha Friends,

The next Vipassana Santa Cruz (VSC) Family Program will be focused on
creating art that can be displayed in an exhibit at the County Building in
November.  Come join us for a morning of painting and collage at the VSC Center (1010
Swift Street) on Sunday October 5, 2008 from 10:30am until 12:30pm.  Please
arrive early for this special day.  Instruction, paint, brushes, glue, canvas and some images to collage
will be provided.  Artists can create paintings as individuals or families.

This event is free.  Materials were funded by a grant from the Vipassana Santa Cruz Board.
Come wearing paint friendly clothes and a sun hat since we may set up tables
outside.  If you like, bring a plate of healthy snack food to share and some magazines or newsletters with images you may want to us in your arworkt.

Look forward to creating art with you!

christi@baymoon.com

Christi Voenell
“When I was a kid I drew like Michelangelo.  It took me years to
 learn to draw like a kid.”  Pablo Picasso

This morning we had a great time sharing the dharma with each other. We gently began a new focus on loving kindness practice. See the previous posting for a great link to resources for this practice with children. I highly encourage you to read it. Today we explored how all of us seek happiness, peace, and harmony in our lives. We also touched on how all beings want to be free with the example of caged birds that fly away when they get the chance. After a very brief review of the Buddha’s life, especially how the four messengers (sickness, old age, death, and the monk) moved him to seek liberation from suffering, we read the book A Special Trade. This is not a “Buddhist” book but it explores happiness, positive connections to others, caring, and change. It seemed to build a kid-friendly foundation to the more formal practice of metta (a word we shared with the children as well). We used the formal metta language as referenced in the previous posting. We also followed the predictable family program rituals of listening to the bell, singing “My Mind Is Like a Clear Blue Sky”, and closing with bows to each other. Feedback on the program was very positive. Feel free to make comments and suggestions through this blog, or simply through e-mail. The September program will most likely be at the center. It seems that some people would prefer a monthly program at the center and have the “fieldtrips” be done on other weekends. Let us know your preference.

A few parents asked about the coloring book style pages depicting the life of the Buddha I used this morning. They are from a site I just added to the list of resources to the left of this posting called “BuddaNet E-Books.” The particular story I referenced is Story of the Buddha Colouring Book -.Primary Students. This is one of the better family practice sites I have found.

Thank you for your participation and I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Steffen

Greetings VSC Families,
 
 Well, many of our families seem to be away this time of year for one last get away before school starts so it may be a rather small group this coming Sunday, August 3rd (10:30-12:00). Often the smaller groups turn out to be very sweet and precious experiences. This month we are meeting at the center and we will begin to explore the practice of metta, or loving kindness. You may want to check out the site linked below before the program. Be sure and click the “continue …” links at the bottom of each page. There are actually three seperate pieces. This is a theme we will work with for a few months. 
 
Loving Kindness Practice For Kids
http://www.metta.org/practices/LKwithChildrenMain.htm
 
Loving Kindness Meditation Text (in case you didn’t get there from the link above)
http://www.metta.org/practices/lk02-aMeditation.htm
 
If you will be coming and you have a desire to do something with the group let me know- lead movement, sing a song, read a story, do some art or a craft, etc.
 
May you be happy.
May you be peaceful.
May you be free.
 
Call if you have questions- 687-0685
 
Steffen and Family
 

Hope To See You Soon!

Come and frolic in Axel and Michelle’s orchard to sample the gifts of what Summer has to offer. We will tour the orchard, learn about permaculture, and, depending on the cooperation of Mother Nature, we will do some taste tests on plums and peaches, and possibly some blackberries and raspberries.
Sunday July 6th
Time: 11AM to 1PM 

Directions:

- Take The Pasatiempo exit on Hwy 17. If you’re coming from the south, go over the bridge and take a left. If you’re coming from the North, go straight. 
- Take a right on Pasatiempo Drive
- Keep to the right after you pass the gates
- Take the third left (also called Pasatiempo Drive – if you went all the way up to the Clubhouse, you went too far)
- Meander through the oaks, past the Golf course, and up the hill past the Eucalyptus
- Take the next left (Again, also called Pasatiempo Drive)
- As you start going down hill, look for a small street on the right with a small round sign saying “Panorama Lane”
- Take a right on Panorama Lane, go up hill, and we are #13 on the left, it’s the house with all the Tibetan prayer flags

We have a nice big and comfortable lawn in the middle of our orchard, and while most of the garden is pretty much child-friendly, there are a few hazards you should be aware of before you come. We have a bee hive (very friendly bees), and the orchard also has about 150 freshly made experimental grafts of different apple and pear varieties which are fragile and for which many branches have only two or three fruits, There are also a few steep stairs, lots of rock walls, and some spiny cacti and brambles. Oh, and most of the citrus trees have a thorn or two. So we’ll ask for everyone to watch their kids closely so that they don’t get hurt or break grafts or pick unripe fruits.

Our June family program was a very sweet celebration of Vesak- the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. Children placed flower offerings to the various images of the Buddha. Then the families walked around the alter chanting in Pali. Afterwards, the children acted out a guided skit depicting the life of the Buddha. It was a joy to celebrate the dharma with  our children!