Memorial for Dr Holly

Special event in memory of Dr Holly Dugan – Thursday June 16th

It is now just over a month since our good friend and inspiration Dr Holly passed away afer a short and relatively suffering-free cancer.

All the posts, photos and information on Holly are on this post : http://littlebang.org/2011/05/10/dr-holly-all-the-links/

As with all things, as they pass out of sight, they start to pass out of mind. The living make the necessary adjustments and carry on with the job of life. While Holly did not play a huge part in many lives, she certainly played a small but inspirational part for many people. She had a knack for letting herself be known, and for making a memorable and positive first impression. Her sister later said that their parents had always taught their children to look around the room at a party or gathering for the person who has no one to talk to, and to bring them into the conversation.

All people will be forgotten after a period of time, which is as it should be. So while memories are still fresh we will have a memorial gathering to remember Holly. All are welcome, not just close friends.

   First we will have 4 monks recite the Abhidhamma chanting, which is the traditional Pali for remembrance of the deceased. We’ll make some offerings to them as a support for the Sangha. The idea is that supporting the Sangha is a ‘meritorious’ act, as it helps to keep the teachings of the Buddha alive. These teachings are the only way to transcend living and dying, in the Buddhist Cosmology.

There will be a buffet, using the remaining funds that were donated at the funeral, followed by a few reflections from some of Holly’s friends.

After that we will head up to the Dhamma Hall for a Dharma talk with Steven Smith, about whom Holly was particularly enthusiastic. She really liked his teaching. Lastly we will have a group meditation, and  dedication of blessings.

Everyone is welcome to join. You did not have to be a close friend of Dr Holly… its a chance to reflect on living and dying. It will be a longer event than our usual dhamma talks, but there will be plenty of food/drink available so you won’t need to be rushing off for your evening meal.

We’ll be holding this event at Ariyasom Villa, Sukhumvit Soi 1

6:30 Meet at Ariyasom. Coffee and refreshments served

7:00 Abhidhamma Chanting

7:30 Buffet, and reflections

8:00 Dhamma Talk on ‘Living and Dying – using your time wisely’ with Vipassana Teacher Steven Smith

9:00 Meditation for 30 minutes or so.

9:30 pm finish.

      Steven Smith

Steven co-founded Vipassana Hawai’i in 1984 and in 1995 founded the MettaDana Project for educational and medical projects in Burma. Also in 1995 Steven helped establish the Kyaswa Valley Retreat Center in Burma, headed by Sayadaw U Lakkhana, Abbot of Kyaswa Monastery. This partnership helped usher in the beginnings of Vipassana Hawai’i’s Fusion Dhamma approach combining traditional and contemporary teaching styles in the same retreat. Anchored in the Theravadan Buddhist Burmese lineage of Mahasi Sayadaw since 1974, he was trained and sanctioned as a teacher by revered monk and meditation master Sayadaw U Pandita. Steven divides his time teaching Vipassana and the Divine Abodes (loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity) meditation retreats around the world, and assisting Burmese refugee communities along the Thai-Burma border. His long term vision for preserving the Dhamma is culminating in the beginnings of the Hawai’i Insight Meditation Center (HIMC) on the Big Island of Hawai’i’s remote North Kohala coast.

Directions

Could not be easier – go down Sukhumvit Soi One, right to the end, and Ariyasom is on the left. Skytrain BTS Station is Ploen Chit

Click the map for an even larger view (note that this map is proportional to actual distance, and has North at the top. It is less than a 10 minute walk from Ploen Chit BTS Station on Sukhumvit One