Welcome to our UUBF Website, where we provide spiritual and practical resources to all who are interested in Unitarian Universalist Buddhism.
You might be a Buddhist exploring Unitarian Universalism or a UU interested in learning more about Buddhist practice within our faith tradition. For those who have a clear commitment to Buddhist practice within Unitarian Universalism, you can find connections to practice groups in UU congregations, to the biennial Convocation sponsored by UUBF, sermons about UU Buddhism, and links to our newsletter, Facebook group, and other resources. Explore, Enjoy, and Contact us if we can help with you with questions about UUBF or UU Buddhist practice.
Since the introduction of the first Buddhist texts to America in the mid-nineteenth century, Buddhism has been an extremely influential force among Unitarians and, over the last thirty years, Unitarian Universalists. Early Unitarians, such as Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, and Ralph Waldo Emerson responded with great enthusiasm to Buddhism’s emphasis on individual experience, rather than appeal to scriptures or belief in miraculous events, as the basis for authority in spiritual matters.In recent years, Unitarian Universalists have increasingly been drawn to explore Buddhist religious practices, especially seated meditation, in order to ground the “free and responsible search for truth and meaning” that is one of the guiding principles of the UU tradition. Meditation invites a direct and immediate experience of reality and provides a balance to purely intellectual inquiry.
In person registration has closed. Virtual participation using Zoom is still available. See below to register as a virtual participant.
3:00 PM…………………Registration Opens at Bon Secours for Thursday Arrivals
4:30 PM…………………Board Members on site Check – Potel Room
6:00-7:00 PM………..Dinner w/ informal introductions/ welcome to Retreat
7:15 PM…………………In-Gathering Liturgy for Personal Retreat Participants in the Potel Rm (Zoomed)
7:30-8:00 PM………..Sitting Meditation together
8:30 PM………………..Closing Chant (Zen liturgy)
7:30-9:00 AM Breakfast
9:15 AM Board in Gathering/Meeting – Personal Retreat Time for All
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch – Personal Retreat Time
3:00 PM Room Check-In Opens for Convo Arrivals
5:00-5:45 PM Informal Welcome/Orientation/Social Time
6:00-7:00 PM Dinner (with 3 Table signs indicating Vipassana, Vajrayana and Zen conversations – other tables no signs)
7:15-7:50 PM Welcome and In-gathering (Zoomed) With some opening exercises, and conversations in pairs
7:50-8:00 PM Break
8:00-9:00 PM Lama Rod Owens Intro and Dharma Talk + Q & A (Zoomed)
9:00PM Closing End of Day Yoga until 9:30 –OR Late night individual Sitting Meditation: Room TBA
7:00 AM Early morning Practices:(optional) Sitting Meditation OR Qi Gong with Valerie Grigg-Devis – Room TBA
7:30-9:00 AM Breakfast available in the Dining Room
9:00-9:15 AM Bio-break or Gather in Silence for Program
9:15-10:45 AM Lama Rod Owens Dharma Talk + Q & A (Zoomed)
10:45-11:00 AM Break
11:00-12:00 AM Small Group Discussion Deeper discussion with four small groups available in four different rooms.
…..1. Discuss Lama Rod’s talk (Zoomed)
…..2. In your practice – what ease or challenges do you encounter now?
…..3. How do you bring your UU and Buddhist practice and compassionate action into relationship with current events?
…..4. How does or – how can – our Buddhist practice inform our UU congregations?
Where/how do you feel supported and where/how do you NOT feel supported by Unitarian Universalism?
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch
An Announcement or Easel Posting of Locations for Afternoon Workshops will be made. No Large Group gathering after Lunch.
1:15-2:45 PM Workshops Pick 1: each is a separate Zoom link
…..1. Starting a Practice Group in a UU Congregation – -Terry Kinsey
Terry is a leader in the sangha that meets at Unity Temple in Oak Park IL. He will focus on starting up a
sitting group from scratch and strategies for expanding and deepening participation.
….2. Zen Peace Makers “Being Present to Auschwitz”- – Sensei Robert Ertman
Sensei Bob will talk about his experiences leading both group and personal street retreats in the US and
pilgrimages to Auschwitz in Poland as part of the Zen Peacemakers.
…..3. How Compatible is UU and Buddhism? – – Rev. Sam Trumbore and Rev. Pamela Patton
Conversation and Discussion on how do UU and Buddhism belong together and how do they resist each other?
Where are they compatible and how might they oppose each other? How do they interact in different settings,
say small, mid-sized, and larger congregations? Would a UU congregation that centers around Buddhist worship
styles make sense? If so, why, if not, why not? How connected does a UU Buddhist sitting group need to be to be
an activity of the congregation? What if it is led by a Buddhist ordained person from a non-UU tradition?
When might having a UU Buddhist group become divisive for a congregation?
2:45-3:30 PM Break Sitting Meditation, Walking Meditation, Nap
3:30-5:00 PM Workshops Pick 1, each is a separate Zoom link
…..4. Engaged Buddhism: a conversation on Buddhism and Social Justice – – Roshi Erich Moraine
America has always featured a commitment to social justice as a form of practice, undertaken without demonizing
the “other”. Can we sustain this “unconditional kind regard” in our social justice practice in these polarized times.
Roshi Erich Moraine, who leads a sangha in the Lake Country UU congregation in Wisconsin, will convene this
conversation.
….5. Long Haul Sanghas Leading Effective and Creative UUBF Sanghas in UU Congregations Long Term – – Phyllis Culham
Phyllis is one of the leaders of the Mindfulness Practice Group at the UU Congregation of Annapolis, MD.
Based in Thich Nhat Hanh’s community of practice, but expansive in their diverse offerings, this sangha has had many
years of sustained inclusive practice, Leaders from other long haul sanghas will chime in as well.
…..6. Conversation and Reflections on Catholicism and Buddhism – – Sister Bernadette Clapp and Rev. Wayne Arnason
The Sisters of Bon Secours, an apostolic Catholic order of women, operate our retreat center but primarily work in
vocations of healing and justice work in the world. This conversational workshop will compare notes about the spiritual
formation process for becoming a sister and a Buddhist monk, the work in the world that both traditions undertake, and
the contemplative life that they share.
5:00-6:00 PM Personal Time or Spiritual Practices Time
Personal Sitting Meditation Room TBA OR
Outdoor walking meditation Tai Chi together, for all who know a form. Room TBA or Outdoors
5:45 Gather for Group Photo Location TBA
6:00-7:00 PM Dinner / Affinity Groups Tables Possible – Create your own Table Tent!
7:15- 8:45 PM Lama Rod Owens Dharma Talk + Q & A (Zoomed)
8:45 PM Closing – Sound the bell – short chant
8:50 PM Evening Spiritual Practice Time End of Day Yoga until 9:30 –OR Late night individual Sitting Meditation: Room
7:00 PM Early morning Practices Sitting OR Qi Gong (Rooms same as Saturday)
7:30-9:00 AM Breakfast
9:00-9:15 AM Bio-break or Gather in Silence for Program – Sound the bell
9:15-10:30 AM Lama Rod Owens Talk + Q & A (Zoomed)
10:30-11:00 AM Pack up / clean up rooms <<11:00 AM Room check-out deadline>>
11:00 AM Closing Time Together (Zoomed) A “Worshipful Container” to end the Convocation and look ahead to the future! This will include a “Closing Circle” time, some pair or small group time to consider what you will you bring back to your congregations, your sanghas, and your practice.
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch
1:15 PM Departure
UUBF has sponsored several gatherings on Zoom to hear speakers and panels representing the different traditions represented among us. Watch for announcements about future gatherings here.
J
Past Zoom meeting recordings:
Rev. Sam Trumbore Jan 14 2024
Rev. Florence Caplow Nov 12,2023
Read some good news for a change. The latest edition of our newsletter UUSangha is now available for download as well as viewing online below. For previous editions please see the UUSangha archive page.
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