Monthly Archives: February 2025

Care Council Survey Results

The following is a summary of the findings from the survey developed by the Care Council sent to all on the Heart of the Valley Mindfulness Practice Center mailing list in early 2025. The complete survey results can be found HERE.

Analysis of Heart of the Valley Sangha Survey

The Care Council developed and published a survey that was sent out as a separate email to the 242 recipients of our weekly mailing and with a link incorporated in two successive weekly mailings. The purpose of the survey was to identify ways our sangha members could collectively deepen their practice and ways we might change our format and to better meet sangha members’ needs.

WHO RESPONDED?

We received 29 responses to the survey, an 13% response rate from the entire list and an 21% response rate based on those who opened the emails. 55% of the respondents attend the in-person sit and 31% attend the virtual sit. Most respondents (69%) were regular weekly attendees with 17% attending “a few times per year”.

HOW LONG AND WHEN SHOULD OUR IN-PERSON SITS BE?

  • 70% of the respondents were in favor or indifferent to reducing the length of the sits from 2 hours to 90 minutes with 30% expressing disagreement to change.
  • 56% were in favor of or indifferent to beginning earlier while 44% disagreed or strongly disagreed with changing the current start time.
  • 63% were in favor of or indifferent to moving the sit to the weekend, 37% disagreed or strongly disagreed with such a move.

RECOMMENDATION: Given the high percentage of those in support of or indifferent to changing the length of the sits and the comments offering other ideas and expressing an openness to further dialogue on these issues, the Care Council might identify some viable alternatives to explore further at our all-sangha meeting.  

DESIREABLE SANGHA ACTIVITIES

  • Just under 2/3 of the sangha members who responded to this question supported having guest teachers offer programs, by far the largest positive reaction. The other activities that garnered support from more than 1/3 of the respondents were deep relaxation and “potlucks and social gatherings” (35%). In response to a separate question, 85% expressed interest in an organized hike or other outdoor activity.
  • The sangha members with three exceptions would like to engage more frequently with monastics. This could be done in conjunction with Dartmouth College or as a group activity (see next bullet).
  • Sangha members expressed strong support for three group activities: an organized annual visit to Blue Cliff (80%); a weekend day of Mindfulness led by a Dharma teacher or monastic (92%); or a weekend retreat at Morning Sun (80%)

RECOMMENDATION: The Care Council in conjunction with the Facilitators, explore the possibility of scheduling a visit from a guest teacher for either our in-person or virtual weekly session(s). They should also explore the feasibility of an organized annual visit to Blue Cliff; a weekend day of Mindfulness led by a Dharma teacher or monastic; or a weekend retreat at Morning Sun. In terms of social activities, it is evident that a group hike elicited the strongest level of interest among members

 

 

Agenda for All Sangha Meetings – March 11, 12

AGENDA FOR ALL SANGHA MEETINGS

March 11 and 12, 2025

  1. Meeting Protocol: Joyce (5 minutes)
    1. Mindful Meeting Vow: We vow to go through this meeting in a spirit of togetherness as we review all ideas and consolidate them to reach a harmonious understanding or consensus.  We vow to use the methods of loving speech and deep listening in order to bring about the success of this meeting as an offering to all beings.  We vow not to hesitate to share our ideas and insights but also vow not to say anything when the feeling of irritation is present in us.  We are resolutely determined not to let tension build up in this meeting.  If any one of us senses the start of tension, we will stop immediately and ask themindfulness holder to invite the bell so that we may stop, take at least three long mindful breaths, and re-establish an atmosphere of togetherness and harmony.
    2. Meeting Bell Holder = Bineke
    3. Timekeeper = Matt
    4. Note Taker = Gail
    5. Overview of timing
  2. Purpose of Meeting: Joyce (5 minutes)
    1. Diagram of Sangha
  3. Introduction of those in attendance (name, where from, which sit): (5 minutes)
  4. Overview of survey findings (summary and details attached): Wayne (10 minutes)
    1. Reactions, feedback from those in attendance
    2. Questions we may have missed
  5. Additional Sit? (Discussion, not decision): Sami (30 minutes)
    1. Our challenge based on survey findings.
    2. Care Council recommendation: the sangha give serious consideration to accommodating people with traditional work schedules by launching an additional sit.
    3. Considerations in launching an additional sit
  6. Modifying format of Tuesday or Wed sit: Joyce (5 minutes)
  7. Determining how to organize activities of interest to the sangha: Wayne (10 minutes)
    1. Social action and engagement: brief introduction by Sami who will offer words from Thu Nguyen, seek input from sangha, get a sense of those who might be interested in participating/organizing with the CC.
    2. Activities of interest to sangha based on survey response.
      1. Guest teachers
      2. Weekend retreat at Morning Sun
      3. Weekend retreat at Blue Cliff
      4. Mindful Hikes
      5. Identifying individuals or “teams” who might facilitate these activities with help of the CC
          1. 4 Noble Truths and Eightfold Path
          2. 4/6 Paramitas
          3. 8 Realizations of Enlightened Beings; etc.Study Groups: Anyone interested in 3-to-6-week study groups – outside the regular sangha schedule – focusing on areas of our practice that we don’t usually get into during sangha gatherings, e.g.
          4. Identifying other activities to consider

8. Identifying issues to include in follow-up survey of entire sangha: (5 minutes)