The Pluralism Project at Harvard UniversityCenter Profile
Blue Iris Sangha (2006)
Vietnamese Zen (Buddhism)
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Description
History
Founded in 1993, the Blue Iris Sangha is a fellowship for the practice of mindfulness inspired by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and by the precepts of the Order of Interbeing (Tiep Hien). The Blue Iris Sangha was founded in New Orleans, and meets in the home of Dewain Belgard. The meetings usually attract between eight and twenty practitioners, including a few who have participated for over ten years. In 2000 a sister group was formed named the Wisdom Dharma Circle. This is a Buddhist reading and discussion group which meets every week at a book store in the New Orleans area.Activities and Schedule
Meetings are Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Members begin arriving at 6:50 and practice begins at 7:10. A recitation, short dharma lecture and discussion follow. Sitting and walking meditation take place from 7:40 to 8:30. (For the most current information on the schedule visit their webpage. ) Formal practice includes sitting and walking meditation, dharma discussion, and recitation of the Five Precepts. Every service begins with a recitation of the Threefold Refuge and ends with an excerpt from the Metta Sutta. Formal practice concludes at 8:30. Once or twice a year the group meets for dinner at a restaurant on the West Bank. Other outings include retreats which may include up to 30 members of the sangha, as well as others interested in Buddhist meditation. The sangha maintains a mailing list of about 300 individuals.Description
A coral-colored gate leads to the house. Meditation takes place in a pleasant room complimented by incense and many plants. French doors along the wall look into the courtyard located in the center of the household. The meditation hall is set up each week by rearranging the normal living space. Members sit on cushions in two lines facing each other. A rectangle is completed by a pair of chairs on each end, provided for those who find cross-legged meditation difficult. A new altar was purchased at a sale of used church furniture in the summer of 2003. The Blue Iris Sangha has many members who come from Christian backgrounds. Mr. Dewain Belgard was once the pastor of a Southern Baptist church and he feels that his Christian identity is deepened through his practice of Buddhist meditation. He remarks quite candidly that the practice of mindfulness has enriched and informed his life as a Christian.Hurricane Katrina Update
The house which hosts the Blue Iris Sangha suffered minimal damage during the hurricane. Services were interrupted for a time, but as the population of the city gradually returned the Sangha began its usual Monday practice. The sangha's leader, Dewain Belgard, was unable to return to his home for two full months after the hurricane since it shares the zip code of the badly flooded Ninth Ward.Date Center Founded
December 13, 1993
Membership
About 70-80 people have attended at various times; 40-50 are still active.
Ethnic Composition
Mostly white with some international representation.
Affiliation with Other Communities/Organizations
Affiliated to The Community of Mindful Living, Berkeley. Blue Iris Sangha's sister group is Wisdom Dharma Circle, a Buddhist reading and discussion group.