06/30/2022 “Revisiting Fundamentals: Thinking” with Dennis Warren

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“Thinking is a good servant but a poor master.”
This short, well-known statement sums up the conflicting potentials inherent in thought. But what does it mean, specifically, in terms of our how we conduct our spiritual practices and live our lives?
Buddhist practice is designed to develop a fundamentally different, more helpful relationship with thinking. This evening will look at the possibilities available to us as practitioner.
We’ll work with a number of familiar situations to explore these themes. In particular, we’ll look at how thinking can turn a simple, straight-forward situation into one that is complex, confusing and problematic…and how work with it.

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06/23/2022 “TBA: Navigating Uncertainty with Awareness” with Rich Howard

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We sometimes resort to strategies of planning and controlling as a refuge in times of uncertainty, but changing conditions often render this strategy ineffective at best, or frustrating and disappointing or perhaps even depressing. Our practice teaches us the value of continuous mindfulness, so why not adopt a more reliable strategy: TBA – To Be Aware!! Allowing awareness to connect with the changing nature of present moment experience keeps us from speculating about future outcomes that may never happen and saves us from punishing judgements about what has already happened. We will explore how TBA can help us reduce our dissatisfaction and discontentment and be more present to our life.

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06/16/2022 “Happiness and the Path of Practice” with Diana Clark

Buddhist practice is sometimes considered to be primarily about working with “suffering.” However, happiness, joy and well-being are also integral parts of the path of practice. How might we cultivate and integrate happiness and well-being so that they rightfully take a seat at the practice table?

DHARMA TALK
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GUIDED MEDITATION
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06/09/2022 “Deep Listening” with Seth Castleman

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06/02/2022 “The Joy of Seclusion” with Walt Opie

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05/28/2022 “Practicing for Real Change: A day of deepening meditation” with Seth Castleman

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05/26/2022 “Is it possible to be ’empty’ of self in daily life?” with Diane Wilde

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Resolving the conflict between a “healthy ego” and the Buddhist goal of experiencing the truth of “no permanent abiding self” can be a confusing process. Yet, if we don’t undertake the process, our suffering continues. For example, we sit on our cushions cultivating patience and tolerance, yet in our daily life we find ourselves frustrated with others’ opinions that do not reliably conform to our way of thinking. The Buddhist solution is to explore the path which leads towards understanding and experiencing “no permanent abiding self.” Not easy in a world which cannot even agree on basic scientific truths. We will discuss some practical applications for the cultivation of “no permanent self”, or “emptiness,” on the cushion and in daily life.

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05/19/2022 “Vesak: Religious Celebration, Practice Opportunity” with Rich Howard

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Vesak is the most important holiday of the year for Buddhists. It celebrates the Buddha’s birth, awakening, and passing into nibbana (parinibbana) at death. In many countries, it is recognized on the Full Moon Day of May as a national holiday. We will look at how the day is celebrated throughout the world, and then look at how we might take inspiration from these celebrations and from the life of the Buddha for our own practice.

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05/12/2022 “Taking the One Seat:  In the Body, In Stillness, With All Experience” with Heather Sundberg

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Teachings and practices on the following expressions of Taking the One Seat will be offered: Somatically, Steadying the mind and Working with non-reactivity at the sense doors.

This evening Talk will serve as an introduction to the June 25th daylong retreat, covering foundational topics from which the daylong will deepen into and expand upon.

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04/28/2022 “Revisiting Fundamentals: The Meaning of ‘The Middle Way’” with Dennis Warren

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The Historical Buddha explicitly described the three trainings of the Eight-Fold Path as “the Middle Way.” At first glance, this description seems to provide a clear and tangible guide to evaluating elements of practice: What practice represents the middle point between extremes?

Is this what is meant by this teaching? Is it that simple? What standard would we use to make this seemly straight-forward evaluation? Or is there something more? How does the notion of “the Middle Way” fit into the Buddha’s finely woven net of teachings, psychology, methods and values.

During this evening we’ll examine the historical factors that led to this teaching. The context in which it was first introduced. And practical and powerful applications which provide a more expansive basis for understanding the role of the Middle Way in practice and life. The subject matter of this evening is appropriate for all stages of practice.

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