Change Your Mind Day 2010 - Tampa Bay

A day of coming together by Buddhists in the Tampa Bay Area.

Sharing ideas about philosophy, traditions and practices

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When: Saturday, March 6, 2010 10 am - 4 pm

(arrive and leave at any time)

Where:
Philippe Park Shelter #1
2525 Philippe Pkwy,
Safety Harbor, FL 34695

MAP

(shelter #1 is the first shelter on the left after you enter the park and turn right at the bay)

What:
Presentations by local Buddhists.

Pot-luck vegetarian lunch.

Free books and other literature.

Who: Anyone interested in Buddhism -- you don't need to rsvp or be a member of the meetup -- come as you are!

Cost: No charge or obligation

Sponsored by: Buddhist Peace Fellowship of Tampa Bay

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Contact:
Rick Ferriss [masked] (cell phone on site)
or
Tom Lacey [masked]
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For the seventh year, the Buddhist Peace Fellowship of Tampa Bay is sponsoring "Change Your Mind Day." A diverse group of Buddhists and friends of Buddhists are gathering from different communities and traditions to rejoice in their shared heritage and to learn about their differences.

If you are not a Buddhist, this is a great opportunity to discover the richness and variety of Dharma/Dhamma (there's more than one way to spell it) as represented in the Tampa Bay area. You will not be pressured or proselytized, just welcomed.

If you are a Buddhist, this is a chance to see what is going on outside your tradition or community.

-- from Michael Segers' article at Examiner.com.

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This year's CYMD will use a topic format to encourage interaction. For each topic, each of 3 or 4 panelists will give a 5 to 10 minute presentation, and then we will have an open discussion. We will sit in a circle (some cushions and chairs will be available), and will welcome comments/questions by anyone who would like to speak.

CYMD has become established as an opportunity for Buddhists from many different lineages to meet and interact. By focusing on particular topics we hope to encourage this interaction to evolve. Buddhist traditions and ideas have much to offer our modern culture. By working together, we hope to better alleviate suffering.

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Tentative Schedule:
10:00-10:30 -- Opening ceremony, including Pali chanting led by Rev. Bhikkhini Sudarshana Peliyagoda.

10:30-11:45 -- Discussion 1 : The Three Marks of Existence (Suffering, Impermanence & No Self). Richard Weismann, Dr Juna Jinsei, John Daugirda, and Rev. Nicholas Ozuna.

11:45-1:00 -- pot-luck vegetarian lunch (hot tea will be available throughout the day; some lunch-time music is likely).

1:00-2:15 -- Panel 2 : What does 'To Practice' mean? Jatson Dolkar, Kelsang Chokyan, Michael Frydach and Angie Parrish.

2:15-2:30 -- break, including introduction to the bathing the baby Buddha ceremony by Dr Frank Tedesco

2:30-3:45 -- Panel 3 : Buddhism and Ecology. Ani Chime, Rick Ferriss, and Betsy Blaungtook.

3:45-4:00 -- Closing ceremony, including Zen chanting led by Betsy Blaungtook and Davy Woods.

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Free books and literature
The event will also feature an area where free literature from various Buddhist groups is made available. Also, donated books on Buddhism and related topics will be offered for free. Groups and individuals can set up their own own table or canopy for displays and/or sales (there is plenty of room at the site).

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We look forward to:

Volunteers to help with the literature area.

Updated literature from local groups -- please bring on March 6 or contact Tom or Rick to arrange mailing or pickup.

Volunteers to help with providing lunch-time entertainment (music, dance, poetry, etc, etc).

Volunteers to help with event setup starting at 8:30 am.

Groups and vendors to offer literature, information, art exhibits, items for sale, etc.

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ps: CYMD began in New York's Central Park in 1993 and is now celebrated in many cities (coordinated by Tricyle Magazine). The name, "Change Your Mind Day" reflects the fundamental Buddhist teaching that we can change our lives by changing our thoughts. It is the basis for the opening verse of The Dhammapada, a collection of sayings attributed to the Buddha:

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.
Speak or act with an impure mind
And trouble will follow you
As the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart.

In this world,
hate never yet dispelled hate.
Only love dispels hate.
This is the law,
ancient and inexhaustible.

-- Ascribed to The Buddha
from The Dhammapada, as rendered by Thomas Byrom