Withered Tree: A Mindfulness Meditation Community

03/20/2026

Weekly Reading

On Sunday, March 22, we'll continue our exploration of Steve Hagen's timeless book, Buddhism Plain and Simple, by discussing the end of Chapter 6 and possibly the beginning of Chapter 7 (pages 77- 94). A review of this book appears at the end of this email, and everyone is welcome to join these discussions!

Withered Tree's Offerings

Withered Tree Sangha's meetings are now offered in online modality. There are different links for Wednesdays & Sundays, but the same links are valid each week. All meetings are held via Zoom, which is free and easy to use from a computer or smartphone.*

Sundays, 4-6 pm: Three independent sessions - attend any or all!

4:00 - 4:20pm Informal conversation (social time)

4:20 –4:50pm Book discussion (see more info under “Weekly reading”)

5:00 - 6:00pm Sitting & Walking meditation (two 20-minute sessions of sitting meditation with 10 minutes of walking meditation between)

Wednesdays, 7-8pm: Mindfulness Circle (integrated practice)

Includes introduction to sitting and walking meditation, a brief reading from an esteemed teacher, and discussion of the joys and challenges of living more mindfully.

Recitation of Thich Nhat Hahn's Five Mindfulness Trainings is included on first Wednesday of each month. Everyone is welcome to attend, and here's a pdf of the Five Mindfulness Trainings for those who'd like to actively participate:

03/05/2026

Weekly Reading

On Sunday, March 8, we'll continue our exploration of Steve Hagen's timeless book, Buddhism Plain and Simple, by discussing the end of Chapter 4 as well as Chapter 5 (pages 53 - 65) and everyone is welcome to join these discussions!

Withered Tree's Offerings

Withered Tree Sangha's meetings are now offered in online modality. There are different links for Wednesdays & Sundays, but the same links are valid each week. All meetings are held via Zoom, which is free and easy to use from a computer or smartphone.*

Sundays, 4-6 pm: Three independent sessions - attend any or all!

4:00 - 4:20pm Informal conversation (social time)

4:20 –4:50pm Book discussion (see more info under “Weekly reading”)

5:00 - 6:00pm Sitting & Walking meditation (two 20-minute sessions of sitting meditation with 10 minutes of walking meditation between)

02/25/2026

https://plumvillage.org/articles/solid-as-a-mountain-parallel-verses-for-the-year-of-the-horse

Plum Village offers these parallel verses to mark Tết, the Lunar New Year 2026.

02/02/2024

"Mindfulness is deliberately paying full attention to what is happening around you and within you - in your body, heart, and mind. Mindfulness is awareness without criticism or judgment." - Jan Chozen Bays

On Sunday, February 4, we'll continue discussing Tara Brach's Trusting the Gold: Uncovering Your Natural Goodness of pages 140-162.

We'll likely complete our consideration of this book this week. Our next book will be Larry Yang's, Awakening Together. We'll likely begin discussing this book on February 11.

12/07/2023

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world." - The Dhammapada

We hope you will join us for Sundays and Wednesdays meditation.

New Book - On Sunday, December 10, we'll begin our consideration of Tara Brach's Trusting the Gold: Uncovering Your Natural Goodness, starting with "An Opening Invitation" and continuing through "This Too."

10/01/2023

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. - Marcus Aurelius

On October 1, we'll begin discussing our new book, Real Life by Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzberg, by discussing pp. 1-21 (the introduction and first part of Chapter 1).

09/12/2023

On Sunday, September 17, we'll continue our consideration of the book, Mindful of Race by Buddhist teacher Ruth King by discussing pp. 223-242 (the end of Chapter 16 and all of Chapter 17).

We are nearing the end of this book and expect to begin our new book on October 1.

08/09/2023

This year's Fall Great Lakes Mindfulness Retreat is just 6 weeks away - please register if you are planning on attending!

06/22/2023

On Sunday, June 25, we'll continue our consideration of the book, Mindful of Race by Buddhist teacher Ruth King by discussing Chapter 8, "Kindness Meditation" (pp 93-103).

Withered Tree Sangha's Wednesday evening Mindfulness Circle is currently online and all of Sunday afternoon activities are now offered in hybrid modality, with both in-person and online options.

05/02/2023

Trial run of hybrid meetings:

Based on the results of a recent survey, we'll experiment with hybrid Sunday meetings during May 2023; people may attend either in-person or online beginning Sunday, May 7. (Wednesdays will remain virtual) We will reassess at the end of May to decide whether to continue hybrid meetings.

Sundays, 4-6PM: online AND in person at The Yoga Studio (959 Lake Dr SE, Suite 206 in Grand Rapids, MI 49506.

03/02/2023

"Inspiration comes not from conquering new horizons of thought or acquiring skills you had been lacking, but from relaxing into a more spacious view." - Susan Piver

On Sunday, March 5, we'll continue our consideration of Karia Jewel Lingo's book, We Were Born for These Times by discussing pages 49-61.

We hope you will join us for Sundays and Wednesdays meditation.

01/03/2023

"The only power our thoughts have is the power we give them." - Joseph Goldstein

We are nearing the end of our current book. We anticipate beginning our next book, We Were Born for These Times by Kaira Jewel Lingo, by January 30 or February 5.