Hi Had,

Nice to have you here. This makes 2 for Portland! Hope to hear from others too. Come on now, we know you’re there

Hello my community, or is it ‘parisa’ - the community of lay practitioners,
or Sangha for some.
My name is Had Walmer, I live in Lake Oswego and practice with
PIMC and often with Portland Friends of The Dhamma.

I was introduced to this practice in 1988, living in San Anselmo. A friend
invited me to sit at Spirit Rock - I loved it, it fit for me, and the path
continues opening following no trail. Moved to Oregon in 1992.  I am an
eager participant at PIMC. At PIMC,
I have gathered hundreds of items, donated, for our ‘Barking Dog Library’,
see it online at http://www.portlandinsight.org/library. Check out the books,
I love books - can you tell?
and lately am bringing the NWEI Global Warming CO2urse to our center
as a member of Focus The Nation - more on that throughout the year,
activism/concern.

I am a Tour-Guide, Docent for the Portland Japanese Garden. I love the garden’s
serenity and beauty (see http://www.japanesegarden.com/) Buddhist and Shinto
symbolism abounds - talk to me, we can schedule a tour. I’ve been
an appreciative reader of Gary Snyder’s writing since mid seventies
-Turtle Island. There’s one bridge to Japan and practice.

I deeply love this practice and the deep connection I get to have with
all of you in this world, now.
Metta, Had

Good day everyone,

Thanks for popping in. My name is Sakula, how do you do? I’m well and glad to be here. Please make yourself at home. Let me introduce myself and then, if you would, it would be nice to know a bit of yourself as well.

The short version and why I’m here: I love this practice. And I love sharing with others the challenges, embarrassment’s and well met feats that walking this path can highlight. I’m happy you’re here. Go grab yourself a warm drink, I’ll have coffee, and pull up a chair. Let’s chat.

I first came into contact with this lineage when Ajahn Amaro visited Portland, Oregon sometime ago, I think it was in 1996. Six months later I visited Abhayagiri and felt an immediate pull. I soon became a frequent visitor and formed friendships that have lasted to this day. Over time I and ten other friends of the Abhayagiri community graduated from a training program called “Community of Abhayagiri Lay Ministers” or CALM for short. One expression of this role that brings me a lot of joy is in encouraging atmospheres where people living by the five precepts (also known as Upasikas) can easily come into contact with others doing the same, hence this forum.

You are invited to reply to any post and/or start up your own topic. If its not obvious how to do so or if you have any questions please email me and I’ll walk you through.

I look forward to sharing our practices, challenges and journeys, whether that be up, down or sideways. This is a long journey, I’m grateful to be walking it in good company