Free Daylong Retreat, Los Angeles (Jan. 13)

Ven. Sumitta (DhammaUSA), Thabarwa Nature Center, LA; Ellie, Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly

All (and that means you, too) are invited to join an inspiring One Day Retreat with Ven. Sumitta. This is an introductory-level meditation daylong. All are welcome to this FREE event. Volunteer donations are welcome to support the newly opened Thabarwa Mindfulness and Detachment Meditation Center in Baldwin Park and the instructor leading it from the nearby Buddhist University of the West (uwest.edu). More info: DhammaUSA.com

• FREE: Dharma Meditation Initiative
• Thabarwa Nature Meditation Center
• 13212 Francisquito Ave., Baldwin Park
• San Gabriel Valley, L.A. 91706
• Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM

What happened today

LOS ANGELES, California - Twenty-five meditators arrived in the morning. The previous night's rain had broken, and the sun peered through the clouds. We sat in a warm meditation hall of the new Thabarwa Nature Center in the center of the San Gabriel Valley, where the 10 and 605 Freeways meet.

One group went on alms round in Temple City and Alhambra, while others came in, sat down, got a short orientation, and took the Eight Precepts from Ven. Sumitta ("good friend") from the Buddhist University of the West and Dhammausa.com (which has a number of talks and presentations for viewing).

Then came the Dharma talk on the Five Hindrances to meditation and happiness. This was followed by meditation practice then a donated lunch courtesy of donors with so many options and delights that it was hard to stay awake during the next sit. So we did walking meditation in the center's yard and large parking area.

Then came a Powerpoint presentation on emotions and their affect on brain structures, such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, and how meditation changes the brain to make emotions more manageable and easy to endure. Some, like anger, ruin meditation, and so it is a hindrance. Others change in the meditating brain and cease to scatter attention. Then came questions and answers, the sharing of merits, and taking the Five Precepts.

Meditation Teacher
Ven. Nivitigala Sumitta is a Ph.D. student and pillar of the community at University of the West. He founded the UWest Pali Society and the community organization Dhamma USA (facebook.com/dhammausa). He also offers services at the Lankarama Buddhist Institute in the nearby City of La Puente, in suburban Los Angeles.

(Buddhist) University of the West
UWest is a private, non-profit campus located on a beautiful hillside in Rosemead, California Itis accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and offers whole-person education in its curriculum, tending to students' intellectual, spiritual, and physical well-being. Email: info@uwest.edu. Info: (855) GO-UWEST (1-855-468-9378).