What happens when we let go of expectations and open fully to life as it is? This talk explores the freedom that comes from releasing grasping and resistance, allowing us to meet each moment with wisdom, compassion, and ease.
Each moment, the mind takes on an attitude, perspective, or way of seeing. These perspectives will often color our vision such that reality is missed and we see everything through me-colored glasses. Tonight we will talk about skillful ways of regarding experience that support us to take off distorted lenses and see the world anew.
All of us wish to live in peace, yet we sometimes find ourselves in conflict with others. What can we learn from the Buddha’s teachings on how to effectively work with discord?
Sacramento Insight Meditation invites you to a special gathering where we’ll reflect on our journey as a community, share our vision for the next five years, and discuss the financial health of our sangha. This is an opportunity to connect with fellow practitioners, learn about our five-year plan, and explore how we can all contribute to creating a vibrant and sustainable future together.
Together, we’ll deepen our understanding of SIM’s initiatives in teaching, leadership, and infrastructure, and consider how our collective efforts will support future generations of Dharma practitioners.
Be honest. How well do you accept criticism or an admonishment? What is your response when an action you have taken, or a view you hold is challenged by another? or corrected? Have you ever investigated your physical and mental response when you have been in this situation?
According to Buddhist philosophy, a critique of an action or belief which is contrary to your own could be of strategic benefit to you… if you are able to hear it. One of the Buddha’s most well-known senior monks, Mahamoggallana, offered guidance on this subject — enumerating the qualities of someone who can and cannot be admonished. Equally important, how do we effectively offer another person a differing —and often challenging — point of view or advice. Will we endanger our relationship? Mahamoggallana’s reflections are as relevant today as they were 2,600 years ago.
The Buddha used the term “middle way” a bit differently than we do in everyday language. It is not splitting the difference, staying safely in a “middling” zone, or even the literal avoidance of extremes, but rather, a distinct mode of action that leads to a superior result.
In this talk we will explore how our perceptions are often conditioned by many assumptions, beliefs, habits, desires, attachments, misconceptions, resentments, and more. Through mindfulness practice, we can even begin to train our perceptions and counteract our conditioning, allowing us to respond to events with greater wisdom and less reactivity.
The new year often stirs a focus on “beginnings.” How might we align this fresh outlook with our practice and life in a way that feels uplifting and free?