A beggar had been sitting by the side of the road for over thirty years. One day a stranger walked by.
“Spare some change?” mumbled the beggar, mechanically holding out his baseball cap.“I have nothing to give you,” said the stranger. Then he added, “What’s that you are sitting on?”
“Nothing,” replied the beggar, “Just an old box.I have been sitting on it for as long as I can remember.”
“Ever look inside?” asked the stranger.

“What’s the point? There’s nothing in there.”

“Have a look inside,” insisted the stranger.

The beggar managed to pry open the lid.  

With astonishment, disbelief, and elation, he saw the box was filled with gold.Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, Novato CA, 1999; p. 9

Let’s come together this Sunday, January 8 and resume our practices of loving-kindness.  We begin in silence, so please remove your shoes and place them on the rack before you enter.  Come in, find an empty space and sit down.  We sit silently from 3pm until approximately 3:30, at which time we will begin discourse & discussion. 

Metta (loving-kindness) practice will start around 4:15pm. 

We’ll close with the following chant:

ॐ

असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।।
मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्ति ।। – बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद् 1.3.28.

om

asato mā sat gamaya
tamaso mā jyotir gamaya
mṛtyor mā amṛtaṁ gamaya
om śhānti śhānti śhāntihi – bṛhadāraṇyaka upaniṣada 1.3.28

Translation:

Lead Us From the Unreal To the Real,
Lead Us From Darkness To Light,
Lead Us From Death To Immortality,
Let There Be Peace Peace Peace. – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28.