06/18/2020 “Generosity” with Dennis Warren

Generosity – What Is So Badly Needed at This Moment

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It is reported that the Historical Buddha, when speaking to community groups and practitioners, would always begin his talks with a discussion of the meaning and importance of generosity. This is because the Buddha considered generosity the pathway to compassion, wisdom and ethical conduct.
This evening with be an exploration and discussion of this quality of mind and heart which seems so badly needed at this particular moment in our country’s history.
This will include an examination of the meaning of generosity; a practical model for evaluating the role generosity plays in our individual lives; and realistic ways to experiment with bringing more of it into our lives, relationships and our engagement with social, economic, cultural and political issues.

Here’s the flyer to a 9-week course that Dennis Warren will be teaching, Living on the Other Side of Suffering – An Experiment in Opening the Heart and Becoming More Fully Human.

(Click image to expand)

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06/11/2020 “Freedom” with Rich Howard

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The word “freedom” means different things to different people, depending on what limits are imposed on them. Currently, many people are calling for “freedom” from the public health guidelines that ask us to keep physical distance from others and not gather in large groups. The idea of “freedom” in the Buddhist psychology has a very different context. For many, the aspiration for practicing meditative awareness is freedom from greed hatred and delusion, freedom from “suffering.” This freedom has the potential to lead to cessation, “the unshakeable liberation of mind.” Let’s explore some meanings of freedom, the ways recommended by the Buddha for approaching and finding freedom, and how we might apply these teachings to our current cirumstances.

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06/04/2020 “Two Kinds of Thought” with Walt Opie

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Here are a few points that were mentioned in this talk:

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05/28/2020 “Gratefulness…” with Dennis Warren

Gratefulness – One of the Most Unrated and Important Practices

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The Historical Buddha said that one of the rarest persons to appear on this planet is one who is grateful and who responds with an urge to help. That’s quite a statement given the Buddha’s habit of understatement.
If the appearance of Grateful people on the planet is so rare, why does it seem to be such an unrated and infrequently taught quality of mind? What is Gratefulness from a Buddhist perspective? Why is it so important?
We’ll explore these questions, specific ways to experiment with bringing more Gratefulness into our lives, and the role Gratefulness plays in encouraging and supporting Loving-Kindness, Compassion, Equanimity and Joy.

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05/21/2020 “Practical Dharma During the Pandemic” with Jeff Hardin

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05/14/2020 “TBD” with Rich Howard

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TBD is an acronym that stands for “To Be Determined.” So many aspects of our lives right now are “to be determined”: When will schools re-open? When will a vaccine for COVID-19 be developed? When will I be able to visit [insert your favorite person’s name here]? When will I be able to go to a retreat center? The answers to all these questions and so many more will flow from a complex set of causes and conditions over which we have no control. So, how does that feel? How can we use the practice of meditative awareness to develop a sense of ease with changing and uncertain conditions? How can we apply both wisdom and compassion to work with this question?

We will also explore an alternate interpretation of “To Be Determined.” One of the ten paramis is adhitthana, or determination, in the sense of resoluteness or resolve. It may be helpful as the stay-at-home orders continue to cultivate an attitude of determination lightened by patience and kindness. We will look at how these qualities of mind might be applied to the way things are right now.

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05/07/2020 “Energy Practices and Teachings for COVID-19 Times” with Heather Sundberg

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Body, Nervous System, and Energy Practices and Teachings for COVID-19 Times and For Anytime

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04/30/2020 “Paradox of Physical Distancing” Community Meeting

The Paradox of Physical Distancing…Finding Connection

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Join co-hosts Rev. Diane Wilde and Rich Howard on Zoom for a community evening looking at how we can connect in this extraordinary time of physical distancing and potential isolation. After we sit together, Diane and Rich will give short “dharmettes” to introduce the theme. The rest of the evening will be a chance for community members to share their experience and wisdom on how we are using the practice of meditative awareness in this time and what we are learning about our attachments in the process.

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04/25/2020 “Take Us Home To Safety” with Dennis Warren

What Do We Need Now To Take Us Home To Safety?

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Handout: Characteristics Suffering and (Present Moment) AwakeningDownload
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04/23/2020 “Sensory Awareness and Intuition” with Dennis Warren

The Foundational Role of “Sensory Awareness” and “Intuition” In Practice & Daily Life

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Handout: The Nature of Insight by Joseph GoldsteinDownload

This evening will be devoted to exploring the meaning and indispensable roles of “Sensory Awareness” and “Intuition” in formal meditation practice and enriching our daily life.
For many, the practice of Mindfulness as described in beautiful detail in the teachings of the Historical Buddha seem rational, logical and linear. While having a clear intellectual understanding and framework for practice is essential, in actual application we open our experience to the vast and multi-dimensional world of direct experience through Sensory Awareness and Intuition. We go far beyond the limited potential of language, concept and thought when we move in the direction of becoming fully human through the cultivation and integration of these experiences in our practice and life.
The importance of this examination is focused by our reaction to, and relationship with, the current international health crisis. It must be clear to all of us that logical and rational problem solving, by itself, will not be enough for each of us to get through this situation with a sense of wholeness, healing and meaning.
If you have time, it might be helpful to listen to Dennis’ last talk on March 26. The discussion on this Thursday will be an extension of the themes in his prior talk.

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