03/23/2023 “Let the Women Speak: Buddhist Inspiration and Wisdom” with Rich Howard

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Women’s voices have brought inspiration and wisdom to our Vipassana/Insight tradition since the time of the Buddha. Our tradition has not always honored the contributions of their teachings, and in some cases, sadly, has put up roadblocks to full participation by women as teachers and practitioners. In this presentation, Rich will let Buddhist women speak through their own words, as presented in several sources: Leaving It All Behind (by Bhikkhuni Anandabodhi and Bhikkhuni Santacitta), The Hidden Lamp (edited by Florence Caplow and Susan Moon), Discovering Kwan Yin, Buddhist Goddess of Compassion (by Sandy Boucher), and others. The presentation will be enriched by poetry, from the verses of the enlightened women of the Buddha’s time (the Therigatha) to contemporary poets.

A list of the readings mentioned in this recording are included below:

  • 2023 Women’s History Month Theme: “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories”
  • Nona Olivia, editorial, Sati Journal, 2014, page 2
  • Therigatha, Ambapali, Disciples of the Buddha, page 301
  • Anoja Seeks the Self, The Hidden Lamp, page 20.
  • Discovering Kwan Yin, Sandy Boucher, page 5
  • Leaving It All Behind, Brahmavihara, page 44, Mitta, page 59
  • Lovingkindness, Sharon, The Gift of Equanimity, page 144
  • Pay Attention for Goodness Sake, Sylvia, Determination: The Powers of Practice, page 211
  • Poems:
    • Jane Kenyon, Otherwise
    • Edna St. Vincent Millay, Time Does Not Bring Relief
    • Jacqueline Suskin, The Relief of our Endless Becoming
    • Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, Never the Same
    • Ginger Clarkson, Asking Forgiveness
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03/16/2023 “How Perception and Memory Shape Experience” with Rick Maddock

How Perception and Memory Shape Experience – converging views from neuroscience and early Buddhist teachings

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Many of the Buddha’s teachings have close parallels in modern neuroscience. This talk will explore these parallels, with a particular focus on how perception and memory shape experience. Early Buddhist teachings on perception and emptiness point to insights that can be valuable supports for dharma practice. Similar insights emerge from modern studies of the perceptual circuits of the brain. Neuroplasticity, or how the brain is changed by experience, is viewed by neuroscientists as the basis of all forms of memory. Early Buddhist and Yogacara teachings on karma and the “storehouse” (alaya) emphasize how this principle affects our practice and well-being. A similar perspective underlies the effectiveness of many modern psychotherapies.

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03/09/2023 “The Compassion of Now” with Seth Castleman

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03/02/2023 “Cultivating the Five Spiritual Powers” with Tony Bernhard

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The 37 wings of awakening are the set of interrelated mental qualities that cultivate Right View and lead to the cessation of suffering. The five spiritual faculties are listed twice, both as ‘faculties’ and as ‘powers’. we will talk about what the spiritual faculties are and how they can be developed into the five spiritual powers.

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02/25/2023 “Taking Inspiration from the Buddha’s Life” with Walt Opie

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The Buddha represents the human potential to awaken that we all share. During this day of practice together, we will look at ways we can take inspiration from the life of the historical Buddha, as presented in the early discourses or suttas, as we travel on our own spiritual journey. We’ll look at some of the practices the Buddha tried before finding the path of awakening, as well as what led to his breakthrough, his decision to teach, and some of the important teachings he offered throughout his teaching career. Instructions will be offered in Mindfulness of Breathing, which was one of the Buddha’s favorite meditation practices. This day included sitting and walking instructions, dharma talks, and discussion/Q&A. Suitable for both beginning and more experienced meditators.

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02/23/2023 “How the Buddha Found the Path to Awakening” with Walt Opie

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Before he discovered the path to awakening, the Buddha tried various ascetic practices in accord with the beliefs of his time in ancient India. One belief was that “happiness cannot be gained through happiness, but instead requires going through (self-inflicted) pain,” according to Bhikkhu Analayo in his book A Meditator’s Life of the Buddha. However, at a certain point the Buddha saw that he was not achieving his goal of liberation, so he began looking for another way. This led him to a realization that certain types of wholesome joy or happiness related to meditation and renunciation might lead in the direction of awakening. The Saturday, February 25 daylong retreat will also touch on this theme and expand on it, but both events are standalone; you may attend one or both. Bhikkhu Analayo’s aforementioned book A Meditator’s Life of the Buddha (Windhorse Publications, 2017) is one of the main inspirations for this theme.

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02/16/2023 “Revisiting Fundamentals: Clear Comprehension – The Buddha’s Guide to Making Good Choices” with Dennis Warren

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Clear Comprehension, or “Clear Knowing,” is the Historical Buddha’s four (4) step process for making good choices. It can be used as a helpful tool during meditation and as a powerful resource in every day decision making. This evening will explore each step from a practical, hands-on perspective using examples from both meditation practice and daily life. (The subject matter of this evening is appropriate for all stages of practice.)

Listening-Notes (pdf file)Download
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02/09/2023 “The Role of Devotion on the Spiritual Path” with Heather Sundberg

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The Talk explores ways of re-languaging and accessing the spirit of Devotion when it doesn’t come naturally, the ‘near misses’ of Devotion and how to untangle ourselves from them, and ways to cultivate the richness Devotion in our daily lives.

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02/02/2023 “Would you recognize an enlightened person?” with Diane Wilde

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Would you recognize an enlightened person? This is a question that was asked frequently by people in the Buddha’s time as well as in today’s world. You might have been inspired by a teacher or a Dharma acquaintance, and wondered if that person might be “awake”. But how would you know? What are the criteria? Are the criteria the Buddha spoke about relevant today? What about those who claim to have transcendent knowledge?

Conversely, If we are not inspired by a particular Dharma acquaintance or a teacher, does that mean we ignore what they have to say because we don’t see them on the road to enlightenment?

In tonight’s talk we’ll investigate what the Buddha had to say regarding “encountering an awakened being”, beginning with a conversation he had with King Pasenadi. King Pasenadi was also puzzled on who was on the road to enlightenment and who wasn’t and how could he tell?

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01/26/2023 “Cling to Nothing: The Aggregates and Other Forms of I, Me, and Mine” with Rich Howard

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SIM Community Teacher Rich Howard will offer two connected events at the end of January with the theme “Cling to Nothing.” The Thursday January 26 presentation, “Cling to Nothing: The Aggregates and Other Forms of I, Me, and Mine” will look at the various ways in which clinging happens and creates an unhealthy sense of self. We will discuss the forms of clinging recognized by the Buddha, and how they lead to dissatisfaction.  The Saturday January 26 daylong will expand on these themes, but both events are standalone; you may attend one or both. The text inspiring this theme is “Untangling Self: A Buddhist Investigation of Who We Really Are” by Andrew Olendzki (Wisdom Publications, 2016). 

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