"Change Your Mind Day" Comes to Reno NV

What, When, and Where

The Nevada Center for Cultural and Martial Arts is sponsoring the first Change Your Mind Day in Reno, NV in 2004. The event will take place June 5th, 2004 from 12:30 to 5:30 pm. CYM  in Reno, NV  , at Whitaker Park 550 Universiry Terrace.  The event will feature speakers and performers with a strong commitment to strengthening peace in our own hearts and building peace in the world.

An afternoon of meditation instruction, inspirational talks, contemplative practices, poetry, and music from a variety of traditions will take place in dozens of cities across the United States on Saturday, June 5th, 2004, as part of the eleventh annual Change Your Mind Day, sponsored by Tricycle magazine. Change Your Mind Day events are expected in more than fifty cities and communities in 2004.

"You don't have to be a Buddhist to share in the afternoon. As when Buddha taught, sitting under a tree in a forest grove, everyone is welcome," said Rande Brown, national Change Your Mind Day coordinator. "Because the teachings and meditation focus on awareness and compassion, they can be appreciated by anyone wanting more spiritual understanding. Change Your Mind Day reflects the Buddhist concept that if we transform our thinking from confusion to wisdom, we will have much happier lives."

Change Your Mind Day is unique because it presents a tapestry of beliefs and approaches found only in Western Buddhism. In many Asian countries, only one or two streams of Buddhism are represented. However, in the United States and Europe, many different streams of Buddhism are intermingling and converging, creating a very rich environment of spiritual practices and teachings. The afternoon of ecumenical discussions and practices reflects a growing spiritual trend.

Who'll Be There?

A number of well-known and respected Buddhist teachers from a variety of traditions, as well as musicians and teachers from related disciplines have agreed to participate, including:

• Christy Tews/ Dharma Talk
• Marv Treiger/ Dharma Talk on 
• “The Inner Unity of the  Th eravadin and Tibetan Traditions”
• Movement/chant: Bill Bartlett, Phil Bryan, & Reno Buddhist Church
• Crystal Ptak/ Poetry & Prose of a recent Tibetan pilgrim
• Music/ Bill Miller
• Becky Mueller/ Zen Sangha
• Richard Flyer/ Sarvodaya & Enlightenment for All
• Lama Jigme

and others!

A number of other teachers from different Buddhist traditions, and other speakers, musicians and artists are currently being approached. Please contact John Mariotti at nvcama@gbis.com or 775-338-2412 for more information.

How to Co-Sponsor

We are inviting organizations to co-sponsor CYM day 2004 .  If your organization would like to co-sponsor the event or support in other ways, please contact John Mariotti at nvcama@gbis.com

How to Contribute

Organizing CYM day will cost money for publicity and outreach, media work, tents,sound equipment, staging, etc.  Please contact John Mariotti at nvcama@gbis.com or 775-338-2412 for more information  or to contribute  .

How to Help

If you have skills in logistical planning or are interested in helping in any other areas of organizing for CYM 2004, please contact John Mariotti at nvcama@gbis.com or 775-338-2412

Next planning meetings:

Please contact John Mariotti at nvcama@gbis.com or 775-338-2412 for more information.  The next planning meeting is scheduled for Thursday May 15 at 11:30 am.