Mindfulness Sangha at Pebble Hill

Practice Guidelines & Practicalities

The Pebble Hill Sangha dedicates itself to the practice of stillness. We are a malleable and non-authoritarian collection of participants interested in practicing mindfulness meditation influenced by the fundamental tenets of contemplative Buddhist and Yogic teachings, and supporting an active exploration of the possibility for awakening.

In this regard we seek to cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves in light of the foundational teachings of Buddhism based loosely on the following.

The Three Characteristics

All that exists in the universe is subject to three characteristics:

anicca. Everything is limited to a certain duration and, consequently, liable to disappear.

dukkha. Everything is unsatisfactory. There is nothing that can be relied upon; there is nothing that can bring true happiness.

anatta. Everything is deprived of a self. There is no self-inherent entity, nothing that can be controlled.

Further, we encourage and welcome liberation teachings from all sources and focus our practice time together on exploring the questions raised by these teachings and the impact that they have on our daily lives. We are not interested in proliferating any particular message or becoming Buddhists per se, we simply wish to create a welcoming space for others to practice stillness and discover what that practice means for them.

Practice

Our evening practice generally follows the format below. There are no fixed times for each of the segments, each facilitator enjoys some flexibility in guiding the group’s practice.

• Starting Time – 7:30 pm
• Sitting Practice
• Walking Practice (voluntary)
• Reading or Dharma Talk
• Sharing (we encourage speaking about the practice, rather than personal stories or updates)
• Closing circle
• End Time – 9:00 pm

Any special programs (i.e. a full evening of silent practice, chanting, introductions to practice, etc.) will be posted on the Pebble Hill website (pebblehillchurch.org) and announced in advance.

We may hold ½ day retreats (continuous sitting and walking practice) at members’ homes or at Pebble Hill Church from time to time on an informal basis.

Meetings

We hold a Facilitators / Members meeting four times each year (or as special circumstances may require) to discuss Sangha business and other pertinent issues.  These meetings begin at 6:30 pm at Pebble Hill Church in the Yellow Barn where we practice. Meeting dates will be announced and posted on the Pebble Hill website.

Governance

The Pebble Hill Sangha considers itself to be an independent collection of participants enjoying the generous privilege of practicing at the Pebble Hill Interfaith Church and not a Pebble Hill Church governed body. We share the same interests and core values of Pebble Hill Church (consensus self-governance) and our practice is open to all.

Giving Back

We all donate what we can to Pebble Hill Church for the use of the space and will also endeavor to contribute to Pebble Hill in other ways during the year by participating in clean-up days and other projects where our labor and time may be beneficially put to use.