12/26/2019 “Dana in Theory and Practice” with Rich Howard

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Dana is one of the core practices of our Insight/Vipassana tradition, and it is fraught with potential baggage. On this evening, we will examine dana and related concepts (giving, generosity, renunciation), its place on various Buddhist lists, and how it might fit into our contemporary practice. Rich will include some of the classical stories of dana from the Pali Canon and invite discussion of how this practice, which like many Buddhist practices runs “against the stream” of current American culture, has been working for you.

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12/19/2019 “Craving and Clinging” with Dennis Warren

Craving and Clinging (Attachment) – Stepping Stones on The Path of Both Suffering and Awakening

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The historical Buddha taught that the primary cause of suffering is “Craving.” But a careful examination of his nuanced and interconnected teachings reveals that this basic, and apparently simple, teaching is really about a chain of reactions that lead to suffering. Why did the Buddha designate craving as the second Noble Truth, the origin of suffering? This seems like a surprising simple question, but isn’t?
This evening will involve an examination of the historical parameters defining “craving” and its role in the chain-reaction of suffering. We’ll explore the differences between craving and “clinging”? Should these two experiences be understood as separate and independent experiences? Are they related experiences on a continuum of experience that leads to suffering? Or does craving morph into clinging?
Why being able to feel the difference between craving and clinging – the moment of discernment that sets the conditions for everything that follows and what may be possible – is the key to both managing and being liberated from suffering.
Dennis discusses a new 2020 SIM course entitled “Living and Practicing on the Other Side of Suffering” that is directly related to these questions and their answers.

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12/05/2019 “Mindfulness of Mind” with Greg Scharf

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This talk explores the nature of mind and will look at the Buddha’s instructions in the Third Establishment of Mindfulness in the Satipatthana Sutta.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most revered teachings in the Pali Canon and forms the Buddha’s single most comprehensive set of instructions for Vipassana Meditation. In the 3rd section of this discourse, Mindfulness of Mind, the Buddha describes simple but extremely powerful & liberating ways to bring awareness to the mind in meditation. This talk explores our direct experience of the mind as process, as well as offering reflections for the practical application of the Buddha’s instructions in this core teaching.

Additionally, here is a link to a similar Mindfulness of Mind talk that Greg Scharf gave last year at Spirit Rock (during a month-long intensive meditation retreat).

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11/14/2019 “When the Mind is Clear…” with Tony Bernhard

When the Mind is Clear, the Heart is Benevolent

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10/17/2019 “A Lump of Foam: The Five Aggregates” with Rich Howard

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The five Aggregates of Clinging are an excellent means for seeing the three universal characteristics: impermanence, conditionality/insubstantiality and suffering/stress. This phrase is repeated like a mantra in the many suttas about the aggregates: “This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.” We will discuss how to use the aggregates in our daily lives to foster insight into how we suffer.

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09/26/2019 “Essential Role of Context” with Dennis Warren

The Essential Role of Context or Framing in Buddhist Practice

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Context – the set of ideas, beliefs and principles which guide our understanding of ourselves, others, our relationships and how the world works – shapes our experience, our assessment of our experience and the choices we make. Context, in very real and tangible ways, determines how we relate to our experience.
In most cases, we don’t give context a second thought. It is the unseen foundation or groundwork of experience that lies just below our normal perception of events.
Buddhist practice involves a conscious and determined re-framing of the context we use to experience and relate to events. The elements of this re-framing – the ideas and principles – are significantly different than the psychological and emotional viewpoints that dominate conventional thinking. Some elements are radically different. In Buddhist practice we refer to this re—framing process as the “Cultivation of Right View.”
During this evening we’ll look at several areas of difference in fundamental context or View between conventional and Buddhist viewpoints; and how those differences translate into significant differences in how we relate to and understand experience – particularly suffering and satisfaction.

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09/19/2019 “Feminine Perspectives in Buddhism” with Ayya Santacitta

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09/05/2019 “Sati – Mindfulness or Awareness” with Tony Bernhard

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08/29/2019 “Framing Experience” with Dennis Warren

The Role of “Framing Experience” In Performance, Satisfaction and Happiness

NOTICE: the first eight seconds of this audio is poor quality and then improves.

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Every day we are presented with circumstances that can be opportunities, challenges or problems depending on how our mind frames the experience that is taking place. The way our mind frames an experience has enormous influence in determining how we relate to the experience, and how we feel about our capacity to deal with it skillfully and how we perform.
This event – how the mind frames what is it about to engage – is critical in guiding how, and whether, we can mobilize our inner resources to take on what life brings to us with determination, patience and satisfaction; or whether we struggle, suffer and are disappointed. This is the difference between feeling empowered and capable vs vulnerable and at risk.
This principle applies whether the circumstances, or life situation, involves our interior life, our relationship with others, or economic, cultural or political events taking place in our community, our country or the work.
Dennis’ talk Thursday night, and the related discussion, with focus on this critical, and frequently overlooked, element of practice. We will examine the what, why and how of framing events from a practice perspective using real life illustrations. How can we use our practice to improve the fundamental way we relate to our experience, improve our performance and feeling better about ourselves?

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08/22/2019 “Just let it go!” with Diane Wilde

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Where have you heard that before? These words have become as ubiquitous a phrase as “Have a nice day!” How seriously should we take it, and is this directive even possible OR desirable?
This rather prosaic statement is stating in colloquial terms the core Buddhist practice of “non-attachment” — which is often viewed as one of the most confusing and seemingly impossible Buddhist injunctions… especially as a lay practitioner. How can we become non-attached to our children? Personal relationships? The state of the world? The confusion may come from our misunderstanding about what this teaching really means. We will discuss the deeper meaning of this statement, and methods for its practical application — both on and off the cushion.

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