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        q(~?~)p
The LAUGHING BUDDHA MEDITATION SANGHA ~ Santa Monica CA 90405 

A more Outside-The-Box Buddhism ~for~
a much more Maverick Spirited Inner-Quest
thru Buddhist Insight Meditation that will Nourish
an Iconoclast Intelligence and A Good-Hearted Mind.

PART ONE ~   

*Taking up a Buddhist Meditation Practice and sticking with it, is WORK !

Yet, the long-time, long-range results are so peacefully, quietly worth it.
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Buddha always said:
" What is accepted by the majority of people ~ does not mean it is Real."

Buddha's CORE Philosophy is that...
"The most common attachment-mistake
in creating one's own personal Suffering -
- is to keep taking the Impermanent for Permanent."

Why are you so unhappy ?
Because 99.9 per cent
of everything you think,
and of everything you do,
is ultimately about yourSelf –
and there isn't one.            ~ Wei Wu Wei

Meditation helps to keep us from so identifying with our
own self-fabricated 'movies' of the mind." ~ Joan Borysenko, M.D.
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To be Buddhist: is to be both delightfully perplexed,
awakened and sweetened by the strangely sane,
refreshingly 'rational' path Buddha created.

Buddhism's all about experiential, natural, uncompromised Truth.
Buddhism is so much closer to real 'science' than it is to any 'theology'.

Buddhist practice literally has 'Nothing' to offer you –
other than what is in THIS very moment. That’s all.
God(s), Goddesses, religion, entities and the ego-self
can certainly attract you with so, so, so much more! ~ Henri Van Zeyst

Practice Remembering :: Whatever 'It' is – It's just a "Thought".

When I see I am Nothing – that is Wisdom.
When I see I am Everything – that is Love.
And between these two, my life flows         ~ Nisargadatta

So -- How's about Growing a 'Mind' you actually like !

So ask yourself...
“How Far Down The Rabbit Hole Do You Really Want To Go ?"
~ Lewis Carroll - 'Alice Through The Looking Glass'

PART TWO ~  

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CONTACT ♦ 310-450-2268
Best 'Live' Phone Time to Inquire:
Noon to 6pm, Mon/Fri 
Email: AkasaLeviZZ@msn.com
Please Visit our Briefer Buddha.blog-site  
http://www.DharmaHere.blogspot.com/  
or just continue to read right here & enjoy 

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" Buddhist practice is like having

a single flower in an empty room.

Some people don't see the point

of the empty room –

but it is the empty room that

brings out the beauty of the flower."

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Our BASIC APPROACH to Buddhist Meditation Practice

at The Laughing Buddha Sangha is centered around...

Getting Really, Really, Really QUIET Inside ....

" Only in quiet waters

do things mirror themselves undistorted.

Only in a quiet mind

is there a more complete perception of the world "   ~ Hans Margolius

BUDDHIST MEDITATION develops A Quieter Mind:

Simply The Power of Much More Inner-Silence

" Good timber does not grow with ease.

The stronger the wind ~ the stronger the trees."  ~ Willard Marriot 

♦ The Purpose of Vipassana Insight Meditation Practice

Veh.poss.ana in the Pali-language of the original Buddha's teachings,
is the simple and direct practice of ‘moment-to-moment’ mindfulness.
Through careful 'sustained observation', we experience directly
for ourselves the ever-changing flow of the mind/body process.

This keen awareness leads us to accept more fully the pleasure and pain,
fear and joy, sadness and happiness that life inevitably brings to all
our ‘experiences’. As Insight-Awareness deepens, we develop
greater equanimity and peace - in the face of Change.
Wisdom and Compassion increasingly become the
major Dharma guiding-principles ‘informing’ our lives. ~ Joseph Goldstein

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♦ The LAUGHING BUDDHA SANGHA

 
~ A Path With Heart ~

Keep me away
from the wisdom
which does not cry,
the philosophy
which does not laugh,
and the greatness
which does not
bow before little children . . . ~ Kahlil Gibran
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Here's Buddha's Unconventional 'APPROACH' to The Mind 
at The Laughing Buddha Sangha Class in a little nutshell...   
  
" One very common mistake is
to think that 'your' reality is THE Reality.
You must always bravely be prepared to
leave 'your' reality for a greater one "

" What does it ultimately all really mean ? " . . . . Nothing

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PART THREE ~

http://www.DharmaHere.blogspot.com  


ABOUT US ~  This part is a must read . . . 

We're Dedicated Iconoclasts* . . .
So here's some important points
you may wish to know about us . . . . 

* icon ( image/idea ) + to break :: to deconstruct,
dismantle, break away from... ( one who breaks with
an out-dated idea or image, or mind-set, or paradigm )   
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With a strong regard for individual spiritual experiences -
an open heart and free thought and creative expression -
The Laughing Buddha Sangha strives to be both erudite,
eclectic, enlightening and entertaining
in it's relation to the "illusory".

Yet, most importantly, The Laughing Buddha Sangha still offers
the ancient original, traditional Buddhist Theravada Lineage-based
practice of Vipassana Insight Meditation for an empty,
un-decorated, un-romanticized, un-embellished clarity of view
to The Presence of Mindfulness' within This Very Present Moment.

BUDDHA: A JOYOUS ICONOCLAST • The 'Buddhism Class' Series

A Dharma-Study Series that offers a much more outside-the-box Buddhism !
Rebellious, heart-filled 'heresy' for a more maverick spirited inner-quest --
by nourishing an iconoclast intelligence & compassionate critical thinking
with a tender, caring heart - thru some refreshing, risky, even some
'radical' spiritual considerations of Absolute 'Reality' - that opens us up
to the uncompromised truths of a developing "Dharma 'informed' Mind" ~
when the mind goes spiritually rogue, it goes Iconoclastic ...

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In these very troubled times -- meditation can really help !

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We're a Buddhist Teaching Resource ~ 

Well, We're Traditionally -
Very, Very Non-Traditional...
Unconventional

Through Much Lively Discussion, our DHARMA SATSANG
is a Group 'CONVERSATION' on Radical AWAKEN.MENT ~    

We repeatedly Discuss & 'Practice' getting ourselves out from
behind the Conditioned-illusion of The Matrix of "Belief" itself !  

Yes, Hard to Do: especially "The Really Big One" -

The Grand Delusion of One's Very Own "SELF" ~
~ Yet with gentle, consistent Meditation Sitting Practice 
and Dharma-theory Study, the obsessive monkey-mind
can and will gradually quiet down, subside and diminish...
The Mind actually prefers Wisdom ! 

So, we offer you BUDDHISM WITHOUT ANY BELIEFS:
only a 'pointing' towards >>> a more natural, authentic
uncompromised Inner-Awakening. We do not do 'religion' ..
.. the Buddha didn't !

♦ The LAUGHING BUDDHA SANGHA offers 
a very eclectic 'Inquiry into Self'. A meditation practice
combining the calm sobriety and 'observation-approach' of
traditional Vipassana Mindfulness with the 'crazy wisdom'
irrationality of Zen Non-Duality - which short-circuits the
tenaciously obsessive, self-involved, self-centered,
self identified, self-absorbed mind.

This practice-group encourages highly inquisitive, unruffled,
curious people with a natural, deep love of learning -- who invite
and even relish the profoundly abstract, and even the absurd,
with a genuine taste for the indefinable 'existential' stuff.

Classes are certainly very suitable for both Beginners
-or- mediators more familiar with the sitting experience.

Or you may be a more 'experienced meditator' who is now seeking
a deeper questioning into the 'Idea of Self' - and a more de-mystifying,
open-minded, caring 'conversation' into Wisdom, Empathy and what is
Spiritual 'Reality' in our Western life-style today + poetry, and laughing !
Yet our modern, eclectic practice is well informed by the unembellished,
ancient, traditional Theravada Buddha Dharma for clarity of view.

Learning 'INNER-STILLNESS' ITSELF ! . . .
is really what Awakens Your Deep Radiant Heart
of Natural Grace, Compassion and Wisdom.

That's really all it's ever, ever been about !

" INNER-STILLNESS has Silenced the Noise of FEAR " 

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PART FOUR ~ 

 
http://www.DharmaHere.blogspot.com  

~ SO COME 'PRACTICE' BUDDHIST INSIGHT MEDITATION ~

             OPEN CLASS ~ 7:30 pm almost every MONDAY       

                   :: check our MeetUp calendar to be sure . . .  
 

   Monday Evenings Include:

• Buddhist Awareness Mindfulness Meditation Class
• Newcomer's Instruction 35 min. Silent Meditation & 'after-sit' pointers
• Deep Inner-Observation Mindfulness 'Process'-Work
• Dharma Discussion and Wisdom-Theory Study :: Satsang interaction
• Plenty of Q&A opportunities, lively Dialogue and absurd Laughing
• Metta-style 'Loving-Kindness' meditation or sacred poetry to conclude 

• 'A Path With Heart' by Jack Kornfield is the only 'required' text for study
• plus some optional, free online readings ~ links will be given to you... 

. . . GETTING REALLY QUIET & FEARLESS INSIDE !

Opening the "Iconoclastic-Mind" --
Buddhism Without ANY 'Beliefs' Whatsoever !

Explore and practice a basic Buddhist Awareness Meditation -
simple, direct, and powerful sitting Insight Meditation and
Dharma teachings that always invite your mindful-attention 
to be fully present in the moment. This moment !

In a gentle and caring class for students of All Levels of practice.
Beginners Very Welcome ! .. More experienced sitters also....
Learn to develop your patience and self-acceptance.

Benefits include improved decision-making, communication, health,
more empathy, kindness and a feeling of well-being and becoming
more effective in all areas of your life.

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This 'practice' group encourages highly inquisitive, curious people
with a natural, deep love of learning – who invite and even relish
the profoundly abstract, and even the absurd, with a genuine taste
for the indefinable 'existential' stuff...... Beginners very Welcome !
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teacher profile bio . . .

Akasa-Maitreya Levi, DhMA / D.Min
SUNY Harpur College / Binghamton University, New York –
an ex-pat American of the Sixties counter-culture generation
that went to live a full decade in Asia during the 1970s - to be
directly with the last living spiritual teachers of the pre-global era.
He was a Vipassana Buddhist forest monk for six years – trained
and ordained into the Theravada monastic lineage by the revered
Bhante Ananda Maitreya, the Amarapura Maha Nayake of Sri Lanka -
and by his disciple Kassapa Maha Thera.  Originally arriving overland,
hitch-hiking to India in 1972 as a filmmaker & student of the Gurdjieff 'Work'
-- Akasa became a Vajrayana initiate of Gelugpa Lama Thubten Yeshe and
Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery in Nepal – later, a Vipassana student
of Sri Anagarika Munindra and S.N. Goenka, and sitting Zazen with
Subhuti Shibuya Sensei: all in Bodhgaya, India – and practicing Non-Duality
Advaita in satsang with Nisargadatta Maharaj in Bombay. He is so very grateful
for the gift of these long ’practice’ experiences. Some of the 'transmission' stuck.
Akasa studied Western analytic therapy at UCLA after returning to America.
He teaches Mindfulness Insight-Meditation at The Laughing Buddha Sangha -
and leads ZEN•MEN inner-growth groups - and also offers private therapy
and counseling sessions at The Spiritual Adulthood Project.
Akasa is a 'Bodhi-Acharya' lineage-holder of
the Theravada teaching-transmission. 
He is known for his spontaneity, 
ready warmth and wry unpredictable humor.
 
1- 310- 450- 2268
 

When I see I am Nothing -- that is Wisdom.
When I see I am Everything -- that is Love.
And between these two, my life flows . . . . . ~ Nisargadatta 

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PART FIVE ~
 

NEW ?  JUST COME !...  

  ~ Hi NewComer ~    

If we haven't connected by phone, email or online yet, and you
DO want to attend: Please MeetUp RSVP & then Just Show Up !

Space does get limited -- so let us know you're coming.
Come ANY Monday... at least for a one-time visit ~
to see if it works for you, your heart and your intellect.

We are all Newcomers to these 'American-style' Spiritual Journeys,
these Pilgrimages of Holy Shopping that we seem to be nationally on -
- sort of our own self-styled 'Fumbling Towards Enlightenment'. . . 
and sure, awkwardly at times. So Be Aware of your spiritual-longings,
your projections, and especially any of your impatient 'expectations'
that you may experience - even about our little class and odd teacher.

 
" In the stillness – space for a rebellious spirit "  ~ our friend Noah Levine  

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" Teachers and Teachings

only do but point the way >>>

the journey itself - is All yours."  ~ said The Buddha

Be Welcome to come begin to practice meditation, and stumble
with us for awhile...  It's a very long road .. we'll help you find
your own way through the beginner's notions and 'fascinations'
with all these newly emerging 'Spiritual'-technologies in the West.

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How Much ??? ... to help us all understand how we keep our door open 

:: CLASS FEE - 'DANA'* - Your continuing meditation in the class 
should never ever hang on your 'having' or 'not having' a donation.

Class is voluntarily $upported by meditator's open 'Gifting of Kindness'
( Dana* )

A 'Suggested' Donation of $15-$20 is sorta' standard for a full evening class,
here or anywhere - and does feel quite fair & reasonable to ask - AND - No one
is ever turned away for lesser or lack of funds.  And still, 'Money' in relation to
'donations' and 'giving' or 'receiving' is often an old loaded issue, for some folks -
and this too is an important part of one's own spiritual inner-growth development.
'Donating' gives a realistic 'practice-opportunity' to put into intentional-action
what is often so difficult for some of us - 'Giving' - even when we have it -
with an un-prompted generosity and un-begrudging, true open-heartedness.
Even in these troubled times some more fortunate folks are giving more in a way
that balances it for other meditators who are not - we are all offering up what we can.
~ Gracias ! 

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" The Greatest Risk Is Not Taking One " 
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Planning to Come ?  If you're a First-Timer - Bring a Willing Spirit
 
:: WHAT to BRING ? :: 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm  ::  Bring a Willing-Heart
 
Newcomers please come early at 7:15 pm the first time to meet the teacher
 
BRING: Water Bottle - Shawl or Light Blanket for your shoulder or lap -
Notebook/Pen - and Shoes that come off easy - wear non-binding clothes. 
Chair-sitting is very OK ~ we've got some chairs for you ~
or we have floor sitting set-ups or zen cushions, or bring your own.  Please
be very most welcome to phone and talk with us about really any issue at all !
AkasaLevi@msn.com  ~ 310-450-2268 ~ Noon-6 pm M/F is best phone times.

Driving DIRECTIONS & Parking Info ~ scroll down to bottom of this email.
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Many More Details, Info, Readings & Wisdom-Poetry at our Blogs:  

http://www.DharmaHere.blogspot.com ~ small brief site

  http://www.BuddhistMeditationSantaMonica.blogspot.com ~ large detailed site

~or~ just continue to read here for awhile...

Questions ?   Yes, Phone us, it's no bother. Ask away ! 310-450-2268  

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" While one person hesitates because they 'feel' inferior & 'think' insecure thoughts -
 the other is just busy making mistakes  a p l e n t y  - and becoming quite superior "  ~ The Tao

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Maybe we'll  C Ya' at Your First MONDAY CLASS... ~ Akasa

the end is insight 

the end is insight 

the end is insight 

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The SPIRITUAL ADULTHOOD Project - Buddhist Therapy & Counseling
Buddhist-based, more Alternative Approach to Relating with Your "Self"
Individual One-On-One Therapy & Relationship Counseling for Couples,
Marriages, Friendships & Workplace "Reaching Out to Reach Deep In"
www.BuddhistCounselingTherapy.blogspot.com  ( free phone consult )
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The ZEN MEN Inner-Growth Group explores a Man's Deeper Core-Issues
"Yup, Every Guy could use being in a Men's Group at some time in his life"
Men learning to trust & support each other in making important changes
www.ZenMensGroup.blogspot.com  "Good Men Becoming Better Men" 
 
    " BE the changes you want to see in the world." ~ Gandhi
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   A Great Idea + Meets Technology & Global Communication 

" Through Meetup we're starting a local community revolution !
Meetup helps people "use the internet to get OFF the internet"
and get face-to-face ( face-to-face meetings that happen in
real life in real time  between Members and Organizers.) because
live-interaction changes lives, and that can change the world —
by challenging people to self-organize their own national movement."      

~ excerpted quotes from Meetup HQ.

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  "80% of Success Is Just Showing Up."  ~ Woody Allen
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D I R E C T I O N S  &  P A R K I N G
 
Maybe Print Out this part - DIRECTIONS - PARKING in Santa Monica
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

Meditation Classes are currently held near 14th St. & PICO Blvd
in Santa Monica, CA 90405 at a Sunset Park private residence.
We are a block west of Santa Monica College.  Leave Time !
Leave yourself plenty of time to find us on your first visit.
Ask us about ANY other Details that may concern you.
Best phone times are Noon to 6 pm - Mon/Fri.
  
AkasaLeviZZ@msn.com  ~ 310-450-2268 ~

Akasa Levi
The Laughing Buddha Sangha
2046  14th Street,
Suite # 4
near 14th & Pico Blvd.   
Santa Monica, CA 90405
 
10 Fwy West -- to 26th Street / Cloverfield Exit -
top of ramp go Left - go down Pico towards beach.
at 14th Street - just past Santa Monica College
Turn Left onto 14th Street (going south) about 1/2 block near YWCA.
 
2032-2046-2048 is a long white building complex on west side of street

Across from YWCA.  See a pair of grey security gates almost together -

tap GATE CODE hit # then 6 4 0 2.  Unit 4 is on LEFT side of courtyard.

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PARKING :: EVENING CLASSES / GROUPS

please follow Parking Directions very carefully !!!

PARKING ::  Where & Where Not !!  

NO :: Anywhere SOUTH of Pico & 14th ~ is a NO  .... 

YES NORTH of Pico & 14th ~ YES

 
Because of Residential Restrictions due to Santa Monica College nearby

+ NO PARKING:  DO NOT PARK ON 14th Street SOUTH of Pico Blvd. No !

  NO Parking on any of the SOUTH of Pico side streets either. Never !
 
+ BEST Parking is now arranged at Byron Woodley TIRE DEALERS lot
   on Pico just West of 14th, west of gas station - just around the corner
   from us. Park tight, make space for others. Yet don't worry about blocking
   someone in, it's just us meditation monkey-minds that park there.
 
+ Only for The WOMEN ~
   Sometimes easy parking can happen at the YWCA lot
   right across the street from us on 14th -
   this is NOT for the Guys !   Girlz only !
   Ladies, you can park here, if they don't shoo you away -- 
   but they will never, ever tow. Try...

+ NORTH of PICO on 14th is very OK. Parking can be found
   ON 14th Street NORTH of  Pico blvd alongside
   the Cemetery -- the 'eastside' of 14th St has no meters -
   the 'westside' meters end at 6 PM. 
   But always check signs !
 
+ PARKING CAN ALSO BE FOUND -
   ON Pico ITSELF, mostly WEST of 14th - and between 16th & Euclid -
   meters end at 6 PM.
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Parking during DAY-TIME APPOINTMENTS - Parking ONLY 
for individual visits or couple's day-time sessions, business or interviews -
We have 'PARKING PERMITS' for you, so you can park right out front. 
or Cell Phone us from your car 310-450-2268 - and we will come out
to open gate -- or use the GATE CODE punch in # 6 4 0 2 yourself.
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*Taking up a New Meditation Practice and sticking with it, is Work !
   The long-time, long-range results are peacefully, quietly worth it.
    Please read at our Buddha-blog-sites awhile ~ and Thanks....
 
 
Many More Details, Info, Readings & Wisdom-Poetry at 
www.buddhistmeditationsantamonica.blogspot.com/ < Main site
or for a QUICKer-Read site > www.DharmaHere.blogspot.com

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