10/27/2022 “Revisiting Fundamentals: Mindfulness of Direct Experience v Ideas” with Dennis Warren

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Buddhist practice is based on the idea of “directly” exploring experiences and events that come into our awareness. What does “directly” experiencing or “direct experience” really mean? How does it relate to thinking and conceptualizing? Is it different, and in what way, from the experience of ideas? The answers to these questions influence and shape our understanding of, and our ability to work with, all of the teachings and methods in practice. This will be the focus of our discussion this evening.
This subject is appropriate for all stages of practice. You can attend in person or by ZOOM. Dennis will be presenting in person and encourages you to be there in person as well.

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10/20/2022 “Reflections on Letting Go” with Gullu Singh

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10/13/2022 “Contemplating Impermanence through our Relation to Time” with Andrea Castillo

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“All conditioned things are impermanent.
They arise and they pass away.
Understanding this deeply brings
the greatest happiness, which is peace.”

The insight into impermanence, the first of the three universal characteristics, is essential in developing wisdom. In this talk we will be contemplating impermanence through the perspective of time and how we relate to time. 

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10/06/2022 “Fear of Freedom” with Diane Wilde with Eric Clark

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Everybody talks about freedom, demands freedom, struggles for freedom and are willing to fight for freedom. Freedom is in the news; people make stirring speeches insisting they be given their freedom. Demanding freedom is a much easier task than actually experiencing and practicing true freedom. Perhaps this is because true freedom can be frightening, painful and disorienting.  As Janice Joplin sang: “Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.” There is a lot of wisdom in that phrase.

Incarcerated people and ”returning citizens” who crave freedom may be the best source of understanding how we long for freedom, and yet find in the traditional sense, it is not what we/they expected.  Please join us for this important discussion.

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09/29/2022 “Settling the Mind” with Diana Clark

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Having a mind that is collected and settled is not only a pleasant experience, but it is also a support for greater wisdom and letting go.  Given this, how can we encourage the mind to settle without straining or bearing down?

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09/22/2022 “Apologies, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation” with Seth Castleman

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09/15/2022 “The Essential Dhamma” with Ayya Anandabodhi

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09/08/2022 “Various Aspects of Faith in Buddhism” with Walt Opie

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One of the attractive aspects of Buddhism to many of us is that it does not require blind faith in a teacher or the teachings. However, in several suttas, the Buddha referred to faith as a type of wealth or treasure. And Bhikkhu Bodhi has said the significance of faith is that it “serves as a spur to practice.” There are at least three different types of faith described in our Buddhist tradition, including bright faith, verified faith, and unshakeable faith. We will take a look at these and other facets of faith.

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09/01/2022 “The Dukkha Response” with Tony Bernhard

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08/27/2022 “Death As Our Teacher” with Ayya Santacitta and Diane Wilde

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Just as life is happening all around us, so is death. Human beings appear to be the only species that are conscious of our mortality. Yet most people ignore this fact of our existence, preferring to put efforts, thoughts and practice on “more pleasant things”. We want to “wake up”, to let go of our endless attachments and experience contentment and ease in our lives. Paradoxically, facing the death of our loved ones and ourselves, is one of the classic Buddhist teachings for accepting the truth of existence and waking up to impermanence. It is also a teaching that can greatly reduce and perhaps even eliminate the biggest delusion of all… that everyone else will die, except me.
This daylong retreat may not be suitable for those with anxiety, trauma or those who have recently experienced the death of a loved one.

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