Our youth reporting team in Kantolomba recently reported about participating in “Youth Week.” As I read their report, I was struck by how their experiences mirrored the offerings and experience of Practice!
Throughout the week they had a variety of tasks to assist with a communitywide cleanup, including taking ownership of their surroundings and tidying them up, going to the market to assist with food cleanup, and unblocking drainage that had been impacted by the heavy rain this year. Here, we have the farm stewardship program that supports taking responsibility for our environment through regenerative farming.
The youth also embarked on a group walk, gathering at their civic center and walking together to a local stadium. We have our annual Bridge Walk campaigns, where we walk together, heart to heart, in gasshō.
They listened to their peers share about their experiences and felt encouraged to continue in their endeavors. I project many, if not all of us, feel the same encouragement when we hear from Sangha on retreats and Open Air, through Reflective Listening Buddies, and more.
At the end of the report, the youth shared, “We are so grateful that we have our elders and leaders who take care of us each day. We know where to run to when we face challenges in our daily lives.” As the second bead and the third jewel of our Daily Recollection state:
Sangham saranam gacchami, dutiyampi, tatiyampi savaha. I turn to the Holy Order for guidance, again and yet again may it be so.
Gasshō,
Sreedevi