“My chest of books divide among my friends.” – John Keats
Please join us at Red Clay Sangha on the morning of August 29 at 11 a.m. to explore the transformative and awakening properties of written verse. Although Buddhism has a rich history of poetry that stretches across the globe and spans the length of more than 2,500 years, this short program is focused on finding the wisdom offered by poets from a variety of cultural backgrounds. The purpose of this practice is to highlight how Buddha nature can be observed within all poetic minds.
The practice will begin with a short 20-minute period of meditation to establish a calm mind before we then turn our attention to a short collection of poems that illustrate some simple Buddhist concepts. After a discussion, a collection of poetry books and magazines will be made available so that participants can find a piece that speaks to their inner wisdom. A second 20-minute period of meditation will provide everyone the opportunity to reflect deeply on the verses they selected. We will then close the practice with an opportunity for people to share any insights, thoughts, or feelings about their experience.
This program will be facilitated by Clay Roper, a member of the sangha and poetry enthusiast. Clay has been a Buddhist practitioner for roughly 4 years and is currently a graduate student of rehabilitation counseling at Mercer University. He has found poetry to be a powerful tool for gaining insight and alleviating suffering. This is his opportunity to share this experience with anyone interested in the healing properties of poetry.
