Open Circle
Lila Wells presents “The Genius of Dave Eggers: Two Stories” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, July 15, 10:30 a.m. on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society.
Eggers was a finalist for the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius,” his memoir of raising his younger brother after the death of their parents. Two other works have been made into motion pictures. Lila will read two selections 
from Eggers’ short story collection, “How We Are Hungry.” In “She Waits, Seething, Blooming,” a single mother spikes her red wine with gin, alone in the wee hours awaiting her teenage son’s return. The second story, “After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned,” is told in the first person by Steven, a self-described “fast fast dog.”
Wells had over 50 years experience in community theater before coming to lakeside from the United States in 2015. She loves readers’ theater, and currently serves as actor, director and board member at The Naked Stage Theatre in Riberas del Pilar.
For more information on Open Circle, see opencircleajijic.org.
Science of Mind Convention
The annual convention of the Center for Spiritual Living is scheduled for July 17-21 at Hotel Montecarlo in Chapala.
The spiritual movement known as Religious Science was founded by Ernest Holmes. Religious Science is part of the greater New Thought movement and Science of Mind is its spiritual philosophy and also the name of Holmes’ book, written in 1926. The church’s name, Religious Science, was changed eight years ago to Center for Spiritual Living.
Reverend Dr. Kenn Gordon, spiritual leader for Centers for Spiritual Living globally, will be one of five keynote speakers. He is a monthly contributor to Science of Mind magazine, the author of “Mind and Manifestation” and the founding minister of the Centre for Spiritual Living in Kelowna, British Columbia.
All the talks are simultaneously translated from English to Spanish into audio phones.
Peggy Shinn, a bilingual, licensed Religious Science practitioner, is leading this event for the fifth year at Lakeside.
“What Science of Mind teaches is that God is everywhere, God is in each of us, and each of us is God,” says Shinn.
Information at vidaespiritual.org/chapala. Day passes are available.
LCS TED Talks
Neuroscientist Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. presents “Growing Evidence of Brain Plasticity” Tuesday, July 17, noon to 1:15 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Society Sala.
Merzenich looks at one of the secrets of the brain’s incredible power: its ability to actively rewire itself. He’s researching ways to harness the brain’s plasticity to enhance our skills and recover lost function.
Wheel of Life Conference
Geshe Michael Roach is the keynote teacher at the seven-day Wheel of Life retreat starting Wednesday, July 18, at Monte Coxala Spa in San Juan Cosalá.
Santiago Cumplido, a local opera singer and artistic director of the retreat, explained that the schedule of sessions consists not only of teaching sessions given by Geshe Michael, “the first westerner to receive this title [geshe, an academic title],” but also various types of yoga and meditation and workshops in art, singing, dance, cooking, mantras and more.
A local producer of the event, Alejandro Julien, says “People are coming from all over the world just to learn from this guy. We’re expecting about 100 people – students and teachers – 12 hours a day in this premium hotel and spa. You can come on a day pass that includes three meals and full access to the retreat and hot springs.”
All the events will be in English with translations using headphones available in many languages – Spanish, Chinese, Russian, German and more. Other teachers will be at the event, including shaman Don Jesús, once featured in a National Geographic documentary.
The cost of seven days at the spa with all the events and meals is about $US1,000. Day passes, including everything but a private room at the hotel, cost 1,700 pesos.
Information at asianclassicsinstitute.org/#upcoming-events-2018. Information on day passes and other options at acimexico.org/link-more-optionses.
Lakeside Freethinkers
A discussion on the “Affirmation of Humanism” will be on tap at the next meeting of the Lakeside Freethinkers, Wednesday, July 18, 4-6 p.m. at La Nueva Posada.
In the 195 countries, with the exception of the United States, which have a semblance of humanist ideals arising from their past history, how do the arts portray humanist values?
The Lakeside Freethinkers define a “freethinker” as a person who is an atheist, agnostic, secular humanist, or skeptic. Freethinkers reject supernatural and other unsupported claims and rely instead on reason applied to evidence to guide their lives.
To attend, or for more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Yoga
One-hour yoga classes by certified instructor Delia, featuring both chair and mat techniques, are held Wednesdays, 9 a.m., at American Legion Post 7 in Chapala. To sign up, or for more information, call 331-222-0438.
Fitness walks
A walk for fitness will take place on the LCS gazebo every Wednesday, 10-11 a.m. through September 26. This activity will follow Leslie Sansone’s “Walk at Home” program – an activity endorsed by the American Heart Association. Contact Lisa O’Dell for more information at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Day of Presence
SatsangAjijic offers “A Day of Presence,” Saturday, July 21, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Blue Door, Aquiles Serdan 5 in Ajijic.
A Day of Presence is an opportunity to explore silence, meditation contemplation and self-inquiry in a supportive and quiet environment. The intention of a day of presence is to support spiritual seekers and those interested in spiritual self-realization, to have a day of investigation to deepen their own spiritual engagement.
This Day of Presence involves several meditation modalities to support everyone – practiced meditators and beginners alike. Noris Binet, a visual artist, author and spiritual teacher, will lead the event. She offers her Dharma poetry during Satsang (a gathering in truth) wherein she facilitates meditative self-awareness and self-inquiry to support spiritual awakening. She is in the non-dual tradition under the lineage of Ramana Maharshi and her root teacher is Gangaji.
Binet offers a monthly Satsang in Spanish and in English. Information and registration: 331-441-7715, (376) 766-0312, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
LCS bus trips
The Lake Chapala Society is headed to Galerias Mall and Costco, Thursday, July 26. The bus departs 9:30 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta. Wednesday, August 8, the trip is to Tlaquepaque, Forum Mall and Home Depot. The bus departs 10 a.m. Cost for either trip is 370 pesos for members and 470 pesos for non-members.
Lakeside Singles
The Lakeside Singles will hold a mixer Thursday, July 26, 4-6 p.m. at La Nueva Posada, Donato Guerra 9. National drinks will be 2x1. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you plan to attend.
Chapala Birders
The Chapala Birders meet Friday, July 13, 8 a.m., at Donas Donuts in Ajijic before heading to Agua Escondida and that area’s two dams (a 20-minute drive). Birds that might be seen include the fulvous whistling duck, the northern Jacana and a variety of other water birds, woodpeckers and orioles. At 10:15 a.m. the group takes breakfast at Las Delicias and completes the bird list.
To go (and/or offer to bring a vehicle for carpooling), contact John Keeling at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
LCS Prueba Mexico
The Lake Chapala Society is offering two courses on Mexican traditions in August.
Thursday, August 10, the Mexican Hat Dance Made Easy will be giving by Griselda Alcantar. The Deer Dance will also be taught. The class runs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and the cost is 300 pesos. A minimum of 12 students will need to sign up no later than August 3.
Thursday, August 31, the course is titled Temascal: ancient Mexican ritual (purifying spirit). It will be presented by Ricardo Yohualoceloth and Cesar Mata in the Tlatonal community near Ixtlahuacan from 2-6:30 p.m.. The fee is 650 pesos. A minimum of ten students will need to sign up by August 24.
Insight Meditation
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community offers multiple opportunities each week for silent meditation: Sundays, 9-10 a.m., Wednesdays at 4-4:45 p.m. and Thursdays, 11 a.m.-noon.
The Monday Movie Matinee feature, “By the Time It Gets Dark,” will be shown July 16, 3 p.m. In The Guardian review published June 18, 2017, the film was called “dazzling reflections on Thai history” and “A head-spinning tour de force, beginning with the attack on students in 1976 and turning to the nature of filmmaking itself.” (Time: 1:45.)
Wednesday, July 18, the meditation period will be followed by a video talk by Lewis Richmond, a Zen Buddhist priest and author who founded the Zen Buddhist meditation community in Mill Valley/Tiburon, California. His topic is “Aging as a Spiritual Practice.” You are welcome to come for just the meditation or the program and discussion or both. The session ends 6 p.m.
A yoga class is offered at The Heart of Awareness on Thursdays from 9-10:45 a.m.
A new practice and study group will meet for two hours on Tuesdays, beginning August 7, using Richmond’s book “Aging as a Spiritual Practice” for its text. Time of the meeting will be determined by those who sign up to participate. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or put your contact information on the sign-up sheet in the meditation hall.
The meditation center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic. Information: heartofawareness.org.