Kelowna, BC

If you are a woman at midlife, there is no question that there are adjustments required to improve the quality of life and health at this time.

While there is increased awareness and helpful information, it can be difficult to access needed support. Solid Professional assistance can be lacking in knowledge and understanding of progressive integrative medicine & what is truly helpful.

Each woman must find her way - a time to call deeply into our own inner wisdom. For some the transition is a lonely journey.

Let's join our strengths together!

A longing for joining,support and understanding is at our core finding the new life of this process.

Meditation is a valuable tool promoting physical, mental and spiritual benefits. A Women's Midlife Support Group will gather:

• weekly at the Yitung Buddhist Temple, a beautiful facility for gathering & meditation
• for & by women at or nearing midlife, or beyond.
• meditation, support, sharing
• non-religious
• By Donation

MONDAYS STARTING MARCH 24/08 7PM

YITUNG TEMPLE - 1370 Lawrence Ave. Kelowna (please do not call the temple)

email living-spaces@hotmail.com for information

MORE INFO

A girl of 10 in Taiwan, Ru met with a deeply saddening disappointment of separation that was to impact her life. From a classroom of 45 students, classes of 5 were created, separating her from her wonderful friend. The only girl in a family with 4 brothers, she felt alone. Now she was alone again. There was no other opportunity to be with her friend again.

The disconnection from her one girl friend so affected her, that she "..became quiet...", hardly speaking for the following 15 years. She wanted 'forever' - always to be with her friend - always to be connected.

"What is forever? Who can tell me that?" She wanted 'forever', 'no change'! She thought by doing certain deeds and acts that she would eventually be able to go 'somewhere' that would be 'forever'.

At age 25, she became a nun. Always troubled by the separation, it was at this time she discovered the answer to her questions.

She discovered the meaning of Nirvana. She found "'Forever' 'No Change'! No suffering, no dying, no increase, no decrease".

Nirvana is considered the highest state of consciousness, beyond personal consciousness, in which the soul is freed from desires and attachments (writer's note - release from attachment to desires)

To be continued in part 2.

LINKS TO MORE ABOUT XHING RU AND YITUNG TEMPLE

A Parable From Xhing Ru

No Talking Is Talking!

Kelowna Yitung Buddhist Temple

Deborah Pearce of Living Spaces Design, Interior Designer Stager & Artist has an established business record with locals and internationals in various aspects of Interiors, Art, and Business for over 20 years in Kelowna. Returning to Interiors & staging, she is pleased to again offer the specialized services of Real Estate Property Presentation.

You may use the contact link here above right or at Living Spaces website for services. Also find over 80 ARTICLES on Staging, Art and Interiors. http://www.living-spaces-design.com/interiordesign.html

Photo courtesy of Catherine Kennedy

Visitors may comment or address any enquiries in the comment box below - thanks for visiting!

It was my first discussion of any length with Xhing Ru. We had previously greeted one another with 'O mi to fo' and hello many times. A cheery and wise woman, trained in Pureland Zen.

At the end she related a marvelous parable. (speaking in her charming Taiwanese Mandarine dialect)

"I come here and go into a room. Ah, the room is nice, big, lots and lots of space! I like it! I stay here. Then everyday I go and bring one thing. In one month I have 30 things in the room.

Now the room is small! I want a new room.

I take a shower. Then I need a towel. So I get a towel. Then I want something to keep the towel in. In one year I have 365 things!

This is the creation of desire." she said. "We only need few things."

The more we have, the more desire grows for more, and more is required to maintain those things which came previously. In a minimalist phase of life, I have unloaded a lot of things that take time and energy to maintain. My focal priorities have shifted away from what I once thought I 'needed'. Now I value life experiences and people.

How much do we really need?

Xhing Ru's teachings are profoundly wise in their simplicity. Looking for complex teaching, one may miss the lesson altogether.

Master Xhing Ru is the spiritual leader of Yitung Temple in Kelowna BC at 1370 Lawrence Ave. For more information on Yitung Temple click here

No Talking Is Talking!

Kelowna Yitung Buddhist Temple

Deborah Pearce has been established in Interiors, Art, Sales and Business for over 20 years in Kelowna. Deborah's blog frequently features community, environmental, and human interests. Also find over 140 ARTICLES on Staging, Art and Interior Design, as well as leads to supply throughout the site at http://living-spaces-design.com

Photo courtesy of Catherine Kennedy

Located at 1370 Lawrence Avenue, Yitung Temple has been in operation since 1999.

Sunday services are held at 10:30

If you've never experienced a Buddhist service, you may have some questions.

• You do not need to be Buddhist or hold the beliefs
• There is no pressure whatever to be Buddhist or anything else
• The statues are not objects of worship, but symbols of the divine life in each of us
• Buddhism is a way of living, more than it is religion.

You are always welcome. When you arrive you may wish to ask for instruction to orient yourself. The following will help you to know some customs:

• The services are casual. Comfortable clothing (pants) is recommended for the meditation and bowing.
• Shoes are removed at the entrance.
• Bow when entering and leaving the sanctuary
• Feel free to ask for help
• Basically follow what everyone else is doing
• It is very easy - not to worry!

The weekly services differ:

• First Sunday of the month - officiated service, sometimes silent
• Second Sunday is unofficiated personal meditation
• Third Sunday - officated service with lunch following
• Fourth Sunday - personal meditation
• When there are 5 Sundays in a month, there is an extra personal meditation

Someone may bow to you and say "O-Mi-To-Fo" which means they acknowledge the light and divine life in you. You may bow in return and say "O-Mi-To-Fo" OR they may just say "Hello!"

Deborah Pearce of Living Spaces Design, Interior Designer Stager & Artist has an established business record with locals and internationals in various aspects of Interiors, Art, and Business for over 20 years in Kelowna.

You may use the contact link here above right or at Living Spaces website for services. Also find over 140 ARTICLES on Staging, Art and Interiors.

"No Talking is Talking?" Master Ru had me at her opening statement.

All year she was not giving her teachings during the services at Yitung Temple. She is wonderful to listen to - her wisdom and beauty shines through her speaking dialect. I missed her simply wise teachings.

My aha! came clearly at the opening celebration of the Chinese New Year Jan 20.

Last year she spoke of silence. I didn't expect a year of it! But now I realize that was her intention!

"No Teaching is Teaching"

She wanted us to learn to empty ourselves. She explained how Buddha sat under the Bodhi Tree for six years in silence. At the end he realized we are all enlightened - the divine nature is in us all. He was not, is not, god any more than the rest of us - or any less. The golden statues in the temple are reminders of the golden inner life, not idols of worship.

I find much value in the practices and teachings. Bowing is an expression of honoring the light and life of the divine in humanity, connectedly and collectively.

Even though the lesson went right over my head for the year, it did impact me. I have been learning to become more aware of the sacred inner nature where life truly lives, while emptying out the temporal daily trappings.

My discovery - Being full is being empty - and empty, full. Then after this disovery, as puzzling as it may sound, is this - there is no emptiness and likewise, no fullness! Life is.

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Apparently in Chinese Buddhist tradition there are 3 New Year ceremonies, each 2 weeks apart.

Yitung Temple Kelowna

KELOWNA WOMEN MIDLIFE MEDITATION

Deborah Pearce of Living Spaces Design, Interior Designer Stager & Artist has an established business record with locals and internationals in various aspects of Interiors, Art, and Business for over 20 years in Kelowna.

You may use the contact link here above right or at Living Spaces website for services. Also find over 140 ARTICLES on Staging, Art and Interiors. http://www.living-spaces-design.com/interiordesign.html