12/12/2016

Dear Friends,

Every year we hold the World Peace Gathering in Orange County to bring our community to a common purpose of generating goodness, wholesome energy, and love to a troubled world. Since 2009 to now, we have an increasing number of participants attending each year of WPG with great enthusiasm, care, and support. We know there is a great need for emotional support,

iolence. We know our community needs spiritual inspiration for its own wholeness and eel at home and included when we come together celebrating or praying.

COMPASS SPIRITMONTREAL

Newsletter volume 9 page 1

INVITATION TO THE 2016 WORLD PEACE GATHERING

especially in this world of unrest and vhealing. We know each of us wants to f

• Highlights of the 2016 World Peace Gathering include many educational and practical programs with the theme “Inner Peacefor World Peace” such as: Prayers, dharma talks, meditation, Exercise for world peace, Three-Steps-One Bow for world peace,Tea Meditation for world peace and Peace Mandala Ceremony.• Peace Mandala Ceremony, the main attraction of the World Peace Gathering, will be held on Sunday December 18, 2016.Mandala is a dharma assembly where the aggregation of spiritual power of myriads of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and thousandsof attendees takes place. The function of the Mandala is to bring peace and healing to the sick and the suffering and liberation tothose who have passed away. It also has the unique power to transform karmic obstructions of all those who attend. This year,each person joining Peace Mandala will help us make history as we attempt to set the world record for the Largest HumanMandala. The official result will be verified and recognized by RecordSetter, the new home of world record.

In addition, Compassionate Service Society also offers the 15-day Altruistic Home-Leaving retreat that provides the unique opportunity for participants to experience the transcending peHcodbFvStwPooo

We all want peace, first within our hearts, then within our family, then to our community, and the world. Our World Peace Gathering is just for these purposes. Compassionate Service Society and Venerable Master Heng Chang cordially invite you to join our 2016 World Peace Gathering on:

Friday December 16, Saturday December 17, and Sunday December 18, 2016 At the Long Beach Convention Center 100 S. Pine Ave., Long Beach, CA 90802

ath toward Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, and to inspire practitioners to integrate the ssence of Buddhism into their daily life. This short-term cultivation is called Altruistic ome-Leaving, or the practice of leaving home for 15 days with request for practitioners to

ultivate on behalf of one (or many) loved ones. The dedicated practice will also help lessen ur own karmic hindrances. But only when we cultivate “on behalf of others”, then we can evelop true loving-kindness and render our cultivation a manifestation of the altruistic

odhisattva practice.or more details about registration to attend the Dharma Assembly, participate in the retreats, olunteer, or donate, please visit our website: wpg.compassheart.com. The Organizing and ervice Committee sincerely requests all who wish to attend to register soon to help facilitate

heir meal and transportation planning for these three days. Meal tickets for lunch and dinner ill be distributed when you come to the Dharma Assembly. lease register at:Online: wpg.compassheart.comPhone: 714.605.2626In person at Integral Taichi Center: 12201 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove, CA 92840

May you and your family be well in body and mind, and your wishes be fulfilled. Namo Amitabha Buddha,

Venerable Master Heng Chang and Compassionate Service Society

o In person at CompaSS Center: 420 S. Brookhurst St., Anaheim, CA 92804

Collaboration with NDG Food DepotIt has been a tradition for CSS Montreal to help NDG food bank every year when we approach the holidays in December. On December 3rd, we gathered at Loyola High School on Sherbrooke street for the food day drive. After getting all the information, we separated into group of 3, including the driver to go to different roads that were assigned to us to collect the donations.

Newsletter volume 9 page 2 12/12/2016

We started to go from door to door at 10am. Many people already left their donations on the front door, we just picked up and brought to our car. Sometimes, we rang the doorbells of all the houses on one block of the street and no one opened the doors. Maybe people got up late on the weekends or they were out early? My 2 companions were a bit disappointed since this was their first experience. I had the same feeling but I told myself to be patient. When waiting at one house after few minutes, I was about to go to another house, then the door opened, the owner was a bit surprised looking at me, I apologized for disturbing him and told him the reason I was there. He told me he would sign a check for his children' s school, if I come back in 2 weeks, he will give me a $500 check. I thanked him and said I could not come back, however he could send his check directly to the food bank. For some reasons, he changed his mind, asked me to wait, then he came back and handed me a check in the amount of $300. He also encouraged me to continue the good work for good causes. I feel very thankful, the world needs more people with kindness like him. Uyên Vũ

Sometimes to collect the food for NDG food bank is similar to gabling, after ringing the doorbell, when no one opens the door, it's like 'even'; if somebody opens and gives, it's like 'win' and finally, if we are not welcome, and the door slams, that is like we are 'lost' ... Tho

This year we got less donations than last year, however we got many checks with big amount.., 3 of us were very happy! Our street was longer than the one of last year, we had to ask anh Long , anh Tu and anh Hanh for help. Finally, we filled up our car with 24 bags of food, some cash and checks... It was already passed noon, we were hungry and joking together that we should have asked people to give us some food too... Quỳnh Hương

The NDG Food Drive

Braving the elements of a typical winterAnd getting together, a bunch of bubbling volunteers- called Group KC (1) since the early days -Comprising many members of CSS

That morning, they were eager to serveCollecting durable foods and moneyFor the needy people living inThe district of Notre Dame de Grace

Several hours passing by too quickHouse after house, knocking we didSadly, quite a few did not openBut some did and give beyond our expectation

Although the collection was less than bountifulOur heart is still full of compassionSo we will come back again next yearTo maintain the CSS tradition of doing good deeds.

(1) KC was the nickname of the late and belovedMinh Sĩ who led the first CSS delegation to join the annual NDG Food Drive since 2012

Cooperation with the city of Longueil

Below are some stories people shared about this event:

This year, there were many new people in our group, unfortunately we did not get much donations as expected. Last year, we filled up the trunk as well as the back seats. Many households were not aware of the food day drive so they did not have anything ready for us, but they tried to get their reserves or cash to donate. When we finished our road , we brought all the donations to the church, where there were many people helping to bring all the bags of food inside. There were a team of boys and girls busy sorting all the foods. Everyone was very happy working together. It is such a good opportunity for us to open our hearts and to work together in harmony. Eventhough we were hungry because there was no food left, everyone was very joyful (usually NDG served pizza at lunch). Thủy

This year, we were assigned Decarie Blv. There are many apartment buildings on this street, therefore we did not get many donations. Many people were still sleeping when we rang the doorbells. Some people shut the doors when they saw us, maybe they have not had a joyful feeling of giving or sharing, some people were very generous. It is not important how much one gives when he opens his heart. Diėu Minh

Compass Montreal is pleased to collaborate with the city of Longueuil (Montreal suburb) in the project "On bouge à Le Moyne"

The project aims to encourage low-income people, isolated residents of Le Moyne region of this city to have a healthy lifestyle by organizing free activities to improve their health as well as their quality of life (http://www.onbougelemoyne.canic.ws/)

An Integral Taichi ( or Integral Taichi for seniors) will be offered every Wednesday morning, under the guidance of Nam and Thuy Van. According to Raphaelle Perreault, the project coordinator, the majority of participants will be women, mostly retired, average age of 50 to 70. Class will start on 11 January, 2017.All publications of "Montreal Spirit" are now posted on our website, please click the following link: CSS Montreal Spirit

Season's greetings :

May the wonderful time of Christmas's celebration with Thay, family members, dharma friends will bring you joy and peace.Take in the serene moments. Share that serenity with the ones who are less fortunate and spread out the healing energy to them. (The editorial team)