[Discussion-AZC] Festival of Buddhist Communities - May 3

[kathygoodwin at mail.utexas.edu]

Dear Person with an interest in the Buddhist Peace Fellowship,

Below is information about the upcoming Festival of Buddhist Communities. We
need your support for this event by having you come to the event for even a
part of it and by telling your friends about it.

If you would like to volunteer for the event, we need volunteers to make cookies
and other snacks that don't need refrigeration and bring them the day of the
event to the Austin Zen Center at 3014 Washington Square (one block west of
Guadalupe at the corner of 31st street and Washington Square).

We also need volunteers to staff the food table and to distribute posters in
your neighborhood. If you would like to help, please contact the festival
coordinator, Nuba Shores at shoresnuba at yahoo.com.



A Festival of Buddhist Communities (formally Change Your Mind Day) is
again celebrated in Austin
Saturday, May 3, 2008
11 AM - 4 PM
at the Austin Zen Center


Meditation teachings..... Contemplative exercises..... A sampling of
Buddhist perspectives

Teachers from various Buddhist traditions will give introductory talks
and lead participants in silent meditation and Buddhist chanting.  The
Festival of Buddhist Communities will provide an introduction to various
meditation and chanting practices in a friendly, public setting - free
of charge. A ceremony of the ringing of 108 bells will open the event and a tea
ceremony will close the event.

Participants are invited to relax and enjoy the event.

This will be Austin's fifth year for a gathering of Buddhist sangha's or
organizations.  We will be joining numerous cities throughout the United
States and the world this Spring in celebrating a day of mindfulness and
meditation within the Buddhist tradition.  Now in it's 13th year nation
wide, it attracts thousands of participants curious about meditation
practice and Buddhism.

Here in Austin, participating groups will include:  Austin Zen Center
(event location), Austin Shambhala Meditation Center, Plum Blossom
Sangha, Palri Pema Od Ling, Falun Dafa, Soka Gakai, Diamond Way of
Austin, Metta Zen Center, Dharmata Sangha, The Zen Center/Living
Compassion and more are expected.

There will be talks by Tom Spencer (of Central Texas Gardner) and David Zuniga
(on Buddhism and Death).

More and more, Austinites are expressing interest in meditation and
Buddhist practice.  The 2008 Festival of Buddhist Communities offers an
unique opportunity to experience many different styles of practice
within the Buddhist Path.

For more information, contact: Nuba Shores  at  shoresnuba at yahoo.com