| PINE
GATE SANGHA
The Pine Gate Sangha practices engaged Buddhism in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. The community has a major commitment to peace and environmental crises, quality of life issues, mindfulness practice in schools as well as supporting charities locally and internationally. The sangha is part of two Citizen Coalitions to protect the environment and to promote peace. The engaged nature of sangha practice is an essential defining feature of the Pine Gate Sangha. It exists as a community of resistance in order to transform a cruel and exploitative world where Love, Compassion and Understanding are not in abundant supply. The foundation of practice is to bring these qualities to the forefront of expression through individual and collective example. The resident teacher is Dharmacharya Ian Prattis - True Body of Wisdom. Ian is a poet, scholar, peace and environmental activist. As a professor at Carleton University he teaches courses on Ecology, Symbols, Globalization and Consciousness – reflected in his 2002 book "The Essential Spiral: Ecology and Consciousness After 9/11," published by University Press of America. As an ordained meditation teacher he encourages people to find their true nature so that humanity and the world may be renewed. He has trained with masters in Buddhist, Vedic and Shamanic traditions. Ian Prattis writes “ Our engagement with society and the environment rests on our quality of being. When that quality is rooted in stillness there is a different ground for subsequent actions and so events take a different course. We simply go home to ourselves, to our true nature. We are very active in this way and bring harmony to those we interact with. The most significant interaction is with our true nature. To connect to its boundless quality in daily life and then connect to others and the world in the same way is surely the ticket to ride!”
The homily from this story is that no matter what demons we struggle with, externally or internally, there is always a sangha member there to open the Pine Gate and provide sanctuary when we are overwhelmed and heavy burdened. The naming of the meditation hall is in keeping with "Taking Refuge in the Sangha," which is where the Buddha and Dharma most strongly manifest. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh provided a gift of calligraphy, naming The Pine Gate Meditation Hall. This now hangs on the wall for all to see. The new meditation hall has become a source of sanctuary for many friends, There are regular meetings for meditation and study every Thursday evening from 7.00pm – 9.00pm. Qi-Gong classes and introductions to mindfulness practice are held on Monday evenings from 7.00pm – 8.30pm. On the first Saturday of each month the Pine Gate sangha offers a gathering with meditation at 5.00pm, then a dharma talk, followed by a potluck vegetarian supper. Hikes, Sweat Lodges, Pilgrimages, Days of Mindfulness, and Meditation Retreats are organized on a regular basis. The voice of the sangha can be heard through its newsletter – Pine Gate - available online at: http://www.ianprattis.com/pinegate.htm The Pine Gate Sangha and Friends For Peace is a coalition of meditation, environmental and peace groups, which has created inclusive multi-ethnic, inter-faith events. The annual Peace Song Circles and Peace Prayer Days in our northern city bring together a wide community, to acknowledge the value of local social activism, and to promote peace in a non-dualistic and peaceful way. This coalition (formed in December 2002) organized silent peace vigils across the National Capital Region before the Iraq war and the Peace Song Circle on Parliament Hill after war had broken out. The intent is to create a different form of peaceful expression, non-dualistic in tone in order to appeal to a broader cross section of Canadian citizens who support a major role for Canada as a peacekeeping nation. The peace vigils drew 4,000 people, the Song Circle on a miserably wet, cold day, had 5,000 people participating. A sea of multi colored umbrellas on a rain swept morning welcomed all those gathering. As other peace protests joined us and sang "All Within Me Peaceful" the crowd covered the grounds of Canada’s seat of government, all meditating at the end in total silence as the rain poured down on our heads. Choirs, soloists and dancers gave their hearts for peace. The pouring rain was strangely welcome, for it symbolized the tears of Iraqi children, our tears, your tears – transformed into hope through singing for peace with one another and experiencing deep peace. There was a transformation of anger, hatred, anguish and violence into a determined clarity to be peace. From there we know the wise actions to take. Many participants had never protested before. It was all in the singing and was totally awesome in the correct use of the term "awe." The Pine Gate Sangha and their friends for peace organized the choirs, dancers and soloists on Parliament Hill and this will be an annual event in our northern city. The next venture of our coalition is to organize an inter-faith Peace Prayer Day with the following mission statement: The Peace Prayer Day offers the space for individuals coming together to share the experience of oneness. It is our intention to touch that place in each of us that recognizes that we are a Universal community. Worldwide, we join together for inspiration, communication, creative collaboration and divine expression through prayer, music and dance. Our goal is to reach as many people as possible as a global event and leader in the world peace movement. We honor every person and group in their unique offering in pursuit of peace in ourselves, peace in our environment, peace in our world, peace in our homes, and peace in our communities.The intent is to provide a day long celebration of peace prayers from different spiritual traditions. Briefs on the foundations of each tradition are given with simple prayers, dances, songs, creating and walking a labyrinth, first nations drum circles, invocations, chants and talks as some examples of what can be presented. The day closes with everyone walking together in silent meditation by the Rideau River after being met by runners starting from the eternal flame on Parliament Hill, carrying a flame of peace to symbolize that we are all eternal flames for peace. For further information on this coalition, please go to: www.friendsforpeace.ca It is hoped that these events in Ottawa will generate further impetus for the peace movement and lead to the development of a broad network of spiritual leaders committed to transforming our country’s current decision making process and to leading with compassion and wisdom. This is what the Council of Sages is all about for us. The emergence of a Council of Sages from our present work for peace is to acknowledge that our present leaders rarely have the skills to listen deeply to the suffering within the nation and the world. Friends with training and discipline in meditation are the ones to listen deeply, to look deeply and examine issues without a partisan flavor. The ability to reflect deeply and touch the core of wisdom and compassion that rests within all, is the usefulness of such a council. As they listen, reflect and look deeply, a Council of Sages can present the fruits of these skills to hard pressed politicians, bureaucrats, CEO's and other leaders. In this way there is a basis for transforming how decision making is effected in our nation. The alternative for peace can be articulated through such a council and provide a training for leaders who aspire to do the same. In a conversation with Thich Nhat Hanh, Daniel Berrigan quotes an Israeli civil rights activist: “
Remember that whatever they do to us is much less than what we do to ourselves
if we do not resist.”………This is what people don’t think of: what we do
to ourselves and our children and our communities when we give in.” (The
Raft Is Not The Shore. Orbis Books, 2001, p 79).
DIRECTIONS TO THE PINE GATE MEDITATION HALL: In Ottawa, take Queensway to Woodroffe South exit; go to Baseline Rd; RT on Baseline; RT on Highgate (next lights); RT on Westbury; LT on Rideout and follow the Crescent round to 1252, which is always lit up with Christmas lights in the winter! The
Pine Gate Meditation Hall,
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The
sangha, located in the west end of Ottawa, had very modest beginnings.
Inaugurated in 1997 following Ian’s return from teaching meditation in
India, early gatherings featured Ian, his wife Carolyn, and their pets
– Nikki the dog and Lady the cat. Since then the sangha has grown, and
presently has over 200 members on the e-mail list. In the summer of 2001
major renovations took place to the lower level of Ian and Carolyn’s home.
A new meditation hall emerged from the dust and knocked down walls - the
Pine
Gate Meditation Hall - named after Thich Nhat Hanh’s story in the book
"The Stone Boy and Other Stories." The Pine Gate story is about a young
swordsman who leaves his master’s mountain retreat to go into the world
and vanquish monsters and demons, not realizing that the biggest monsters
were his own. After many years he wearily returns to his master’s mountain
retreat, yet is unable to open the Pine Gate. He does not realize that
his heart could no longer open it. It was impassable to all his strength,
sword and anger. Next morning a younger brother, pure in heart, fetching
water from the river opened the Pine Gate easily and found his older brother
on the other side. After their initial joy at discovering one another,
they both came to realize with a terrible shock the monster that the swordsman
had allowed to manifest within himself. The younger brother helped his
older brother along the path, easily opening the Pine Gate for their passage
up the mountain.