THE RETREAT IS ALREADY FULL... THOUGH YOU CAN PARTICIPATE AS A COMMUTER & GET ON THE WAITING LIST :-) http://www.spiritrock.org/calendar/display.asp?id=254R07 _______ TEACHERS: Gina Sharpe, Larry Yang, Bhante Buddharakkhita, Michele Benzamin-Miki, Konda Mason (yoga) DURATION: Mon, Aug 13, 3:00 pm - Sun, Aug 19, 12:00 pm (6 nights) LOCATION: Upper Retreat Hall REGISTRATION: This retreat is offered on a donation basis.

i teach my highest aspiration
was what i was chanting to myself
and vibrating out to the universe...

and the message and opportunity
that opened up seems to be just what
i wanted...

but...
what about if
the new opportunity
involves
an unforeseen
"paycut" --- a big one too???

didn't consider this aspect of it??!?!?!?

thank you Universe for the opportunity
to see how clearly i see and speak
the things which i desire to manifest

we'll see what ends up of this...

i teach
i teach
i teach
my highest aspirations
(and receive abundant compensations!)

A group will be facilitated by Noah Levine for those interested in dedicated group study of the Buddhadharma and to cultivate a daily meditation praktis.

Group will begin on the first Saturday of June, 2007 and will continue each month for a year's time.  It will take place at the Dharma Bum Center in San Diego

See www.dharmapunx.com for more information or email noahlevine@msn.com
See also www.thedharmabums.org . . . Noah Levine in San Diego The Path of the Spiritual Revolutionary Hosted by: The Dharma Bum Center A Year Long Program Starting Saturday June 9th, 2007 This year long group will meet once a month. Participants will study Buddhist literature, commit to developing daily meditation practices, meet with Noah each month for personal guidance and attend a residential retreat as well as gathering to support each other in the process. If you have been interested in Buddhism for a while and would like to deepen your commitment to the Buddhist path, this is the group you have been waiting for. All classes will be on a Saturday from 2pm - 5pm. The tentative dates for the rest of 2007 are: June 9th July 7th July 28th Sept 1st Oct 6th Nov 10th Dec 1st Dates for 2008 will be determined at a later time. Cost - A registration fee of $250 for rent and expenses and $100 per month, which includes monthly group meeting, handouts and an individual session with Noah each month. Texts - Against The Stream (Levine), Gradual Awakening (Levine Sr), Teachings of the Buddha (Nanamoli), A path with Heart (Kornfield), Loving-Kindness (Salzberg), and more. If you are interested in this group please pre-register by sending the $250 registration fee to (address below or in person at a the DBC). We will only have space for 20 students, so please pre-register ASAP to secure your spot in the class. Noah Levine c/o Dharma Bum Center 541 2nd Ave Suite A San Diego, CA 92101 Please contact the DBC with any questions… www.thedharmabums.org peace@thedharmabums.org Namaste, Dharma Bum Center (www.thedharmabums.org) ///

What's on my to-do list for spring break???

1)  Front yard cleaning

2)  Raise prayer flags --- just saw the film, Recalling a Buddha about the 16th Karmapa and there is a prayer flag (blue and yellow design, earth/sky) that he designed from a dream.  Would like to bring that out in the homespace somehow.  How?  How?  How?

3)  Finally get car tuned up, etc.

4)  I should, by this time, have sent out my applications for summer/fall... (too much thinking in the future?)

5)  Re-read Dharma Punx by Noah Levine

6)  Garage?  Paint?

7)  Gardening at TN?

8)  Washer/dryer?
.
.
.
.
9)  Watch "A Matter of Heart" recommended viewing about Carl Jung...I don't know much about Jung, but my friend highly recommends viewing this film...

10)  REST :-) and HAVE FUN :-) GET OUT, GO OUT!  Last year this time, a friend and I had a magical roadtrip to Colorado/New Mexico area.  It was a lot of fun, a lot of inspired ideas, visiting friends along the way and making some new ones too!  We saw Lila Downs in concert in Santa Fe, and looked around for some possible getaway properties.  THANKS ONELOVETRUST FOR THAT MEMORY. 

This year, well, staying put and taking care of what I have here in front of me. 

YES TO THAT...

noah levine in san diego
friday, march 23rd, 2007

Meditation and Lecture
At the Dharma Bum Center
541 2nd Ave San Diego, CA
92101
$15 suggested donation
(all are welcome. regardless of ability to pay)

____

yesterday i was thinking about br. true speech
an old friend who entered the stream a few years ago
first in the vietnamese zen tradition and now in the
thai forest tradition (where you now brother? wishing you well...)

____

NOTES TO SELF FROM WEEKEND


spoken word
the energy of words
talismanic words
the charge of words

poetry as shamanism
as calling into reality BEing

mindfulness as listening
listening to one's self
listening and following through
from the wisdom and "guidance" received
loving oneself
LOVING ONESELF
mindfulness as listening

dharma discussion
dharma discussion
as mini dharma talks

visions and completions
seeing what is to be done
and doing it
while in the process
completions and new beginnings
come into focus

powerful weekend
solar eclipse
and spring equinox transformation to follow

i'll be blogging on and off here about my new topic
learning environments
small learning communities
academies

the latest talk around high school reform
and what to do about big comprehensive (read: anonymous creating)
schools where students come and feel disconnected in the midst
of the overpopulation because someTHINGS just don't seem to work any longer...

OK

attended this conference this past weekend
and met with some interesting, passionate, committed
talented teachers of high school youth

they have created academies within their large comprehensive schools
and have generated curriculum, teaching praktises, projects, "fieldtrips" and
the total, learning-schooling experience, except with deep personalization
and well-crafted relevance for our "21st century student." 

inspired still during these post-conference days to say the least
notes to be transcribed and organized and 'action-plans' to be developed
and attempted...

possible funding opportunities to explore
and other good things to surrender and release into...

would like to add to my goals:
i teach my highest aspiration by creating conditions that demand my highest and truest expressions. 

____
i teach in community, and am given birth in this sangha of praktis.


wordsforthepeople.com (march 12th edition)
Taurus - You can reliably gauge your success at this time in your life by how much service you provide to your community. In the consensus reality as currently configured, we can choose from many models of community: professional, religious, political, virtual, neighborhood, family, spiritual, etc. Yes, money and security are indicators of success, but we can't have - or keep - either of these without being integrated into the communities of our choice. An individual who gives generously to his community knows a wealth and security the miser can only dream of. What is happening to you now is strange - and wonderful. You are opening your heart and acting on your desire to share more deeply and meaningfully with the important people in your life. This means letting go and giving up some control. But - as you are seeing - the more you let go of the need to control, the more true wealth flows to you.


____

dear U

remember this note today
remember the abundance opportunity and intention making
that has led U to this point
to knowing what U have left behind
to returning to your deep soul's purpose
and intention for entering the world of teaching as a profession
to communities of teachers you've met who have shown the path to progress transformation enjoyment and learning
to giving back from where you have come
to finding community
community
community 
in students and colleagues
in space and location
neighborhood cultures and traditions
remember dear ONE
that this is the path U
are walking towards
the return journey back to
TRIBE ANCESTRY CULTURE
PLACE & PEACE
your desire to seek this transition transformation
is because U know this is another way to LIVE
that truth lives elsewhere for U
and where that is
IS what U need to find
BELONGING
UNDERSTANDING
CREATING
TEACHING
BEING
DOING
RECEIVING  
happiness is knowing where HOME is
and finally, finally, finally making the committed
journey to get there  
happiness is knowing the way HOME
stepping in the direction of FREEDOM
wholeness oneness joyfulness  
i am here today to notice my connections
and to share myself with those who bring me to LIFE
to peoples and places that see me ---
where i come into being and wholeness
to those peoples places and communities
to THIS NOW
this is my greatest joy
to know this is where i live
to know this is what is my life
to take root here
and begin
to craft the gardens, flowers, fruits and blossoms
TO MY LIFE in the here and now  
releasing
releasing
releasing
into the vastness
releasing and receiving
through the giving and surrendering 
 
at my recent conference i came to understand what a joy it will be to craft a learning / teaching environment for me and the students in my academy to work with others in my sangha of teachers and staff and parents and students to bring about a learning experience a transformational growing experience which will become our praktis center and a space of refuge for us to be seen, for us to be heard for us to be celebrated for us to be challenged and provoked for us to grow beyond ourselves to grow into the other as plant, as vegetable, as rock as sun, as bird, as cloud, as air as OTHER   to craft this to sustain this to praktis this   (and i know we'll be able to do this) wow! wow! wow! what a wonderful experience it will be to craft and sustain a deepened and awakened learning/teaching environment for all of us to benefit...

(future title: how small schools saved my life as a teacher)  

as spring comes around
the restlessness at school begins
(it's always there actually...)
but even moreso with seniors
and what is called 'senioritis'

the kids have been good thus far
but i can feel it coming...
two more weeks then only half of april
then may...the last stretch and then BOOM!
graduation for the class of 2007!

BOOOM BOOOM transition transformation
for the kids in ways expected and unexpected
(the secret joy in seeing these butterflies of students
here spread their wings and make their journey)

BOOK TALK
noah levine ("punk-meditation-teacher")
will be visiting san diego this saturday, march 23rd
at the dharma bum center to offer a talk/meditation
and i'm hoping talk a bit about his upcoming book
against the stream (release date in early may, 2007)
(see www.againstthestream.com) for more information

i'm looking forward to listening to him and receiving
his presence and teachings.  "punkBUDDHA"  gotta love it.
___

yearbook deadline coming up!  finish now!  need to recruit students to yearbook next year!  ahhhh!
___

we are beginning to read the declaration of independence
with the students...interesting how they will all receive the foundational
document of our country...this, then onto the declaration of sentiments (women's suffrage statement and a great film with hillary swank called iron jawed angels).
_____

garden project this weekend with the terra nova crew.  it's been fun visiting the garden and helping out here and there.  things are shaping up with a site visit next week for some funding possibilities. 

in an easy and relaxed manner
in a healthy and positive way
in its own perfect time
for the highest good of all concerned

may favorable conditions shine upon the garden project
and make it be blessed with funding, support and energy
from people near and afar...

____

still on the conference high
with the sharing by jeremy rifkin
all these interesting people from all
walks and sectors of life...
i was a thomas friedman, the world is flat follower
and then there's all of those from that generation
who have cultivated similar work and perspectives
to share, provide insight and perspective, etc...

____

apps for transitions
love letters to self & friends

astrologie note for this week:  see wordsforthepeople.com (week of march 12th)

risk and release...
non-attachment
intention building
manifestation sciences
I BELIEVE I RECEIVE I ACHIEVE
goodness and abundance surrounds my life
and journeys with me
i transition smoothly completely and joyously
joyful completions

put it down for the community

isanghamahal

attended a conference with fellow teachers and others from the state to talk about "best praktises" within academy learning environments (ie small schools, less big comprehensive generic learning for high school students). 

inspiring.
good folks doing good things out there.
jeremy rifkin, tore it up on the keynote
digital safari academy
new friends, old friends
new opportunities
new ideas to integrate
teachers learning collectively TLC --- the protocol

these teachers who successfully run academies
create spaces of refuge empowerment enrichment and real learning as transformation
for the students...
and it's a dirty messy process
but it's all worth it
nothing....
ok
very few things feel like
they work in public education
(broad claim huh)
but things like this gathering
show there are good things happening
and at this point in time
these GOOD THINGS happen
because peoples make them happen
interesting relevant rigorous
creative empowering challenging
learning environments are made
sustained and crafted by dedicated folks
out there working with young people
to MTV maintain the vision
and provide refuge hope and inspiration
to the young ONES
being a newbie, i thought that was how it always been
well...being on the "inside" now, i see it ain't
and when it's something different
it's because you work to get it that way...

much respects to my colleagues
known and unknown for putting it down
for creating sanctuaries of learning
in this complicated test-crazy moment
we live in...

breathing in, i teach
breathing out, with wonderful powerful friends along the path

coooool conference
.
.
.

uncool computer
my laptop won't log me on to post on this...
UGH!

I've been trying to log on and I guess something's up with my computer, or at least Macs?  Hmmm...

Springtime's arriving! 
YES
YES
YES

BOOK TALK
A new book on the horizon that's got me all interesado.  "Against the Stream" by Noah Levine.  I was looking through some old books and realized how many texts I have from his father, Stephen Levine.  The one I've read over and over again, "Embracing the Beloved".  His way of writing leaves an impression inside of me.

I found another text, "A Year to Live". 

____

This morning, will be visiting the school garden project that's gotten me excited as well.   A few weeks ago, I helped to plant a sweet, lil' peach tree.  Today, I get to visit how the lil' one is doing.  The soil around the school is actually not very good at all.  So, composting and keeping the soil nourished has been the strategy to bring life back to the land there.  That and some positive thoughts and love to the plants?  That's as much as I can give considering I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE OR UNDERSTANDING of gardening --- but it's all good. 

There was a great conference last week in San Diego (Cultivating Food Justice) and it was good to see how earth bodhisattvas, gardeners, farmers, chef/cook/foodie "activists" organize. 

Gotta catch up with myself...
Promising myself to come back to myself, to come back to this "decompression" later...

Breathing in, I've been pulled into busy-ness
Breathing out, I release to return...