5/09/2024 “The Paramis-Truthfulness” with Walt Opie

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According to Ajahn Sucitto in his book Parami: Ways to Cross Life’s Floods, the parami of truthfulness can be understood in two ways. The obvious way is that we do not tell lies or mislead others with our speech (including written communication). The other way, Ajahn Sucitto says, “refers to perception, to the ability to see or know things in an undistorted way.” This second way requires us to be totally honest with ourselves and to see with clarity, which involves bringing mindfulness to each moment.

(Part 9 of 10 of a series on The Paramis)

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5/02/2024 “The Paramis-Loving Kindness” with Seth Castleman

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(Part 8 of 10 of a series on The Paramis)

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4/25/2024 “The Paramis-Equanimity: Balanced, Spacious, and Engaged” with Rich Howard

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It can be hard to maintain an open-hearted balance in a world where we have access to immense suffering in every corner of the globe. We may be closed down into paralysis or panic. And yet our practice calls us to engage the suffering, the world’s and our own, with compassion. How can we withstand and even thrive as the “worldly winds” blow around us?  The quality of Equanimity can be the refuge we seek. We will explore Equanimity (upekkha in Pali) as one of the Paramis, as well as its place in the Brahmaviharas and the Seven Factors of Awakening.

(Part 7 of 10 of a series on The Paramis)

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4/18/2024 “The Paramis-Resolve In Daily Life as Practice” with Dennis Warren

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Resolve or Determination is considered a pivotal skill in Buddhism. It is essential to implementing and sustaining our intention. It helps us mobilize and stabilize focus, attention, and effort. That’s what makes it a Parami, a special quality of mind essential to deepening and maturing our meditation practice, as well as living a full and satisfying life.
This evening will be devoted to exploring the nature of Resolve, how to develop it and specific ways to use it in meditation and daily life.
The subject matter of this evening will be appropriate for all stages of practice.

(Part 6 of 10 of a series on The Paramis)

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4/11/2024 “The Paramis-Renunciation” with JD Doyle

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(Part 5 of 10 of a series on The Paramis)

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3/28/2024 “The Paramis-Patience” with Diana Clark

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We all know that having a sustained practice requires energy and effort.  But have you thought about the role of patience and how it can be a counter-balance to our energy and effort?  Join us as we explore the many ways patience is a support for our practice and our lives.

(Part 3 of 10 of a series on The Paramis)

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3/21/2024 “Generosity: A Mirror, A Doorway, A Path” with Dennis Warren

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The Historical Buddha considered Generosity the first and foundational parami (or essential quality of mind & heart that leads to awakening.) While the possibilities for giving and sharing are endless, we frequently not only miss the opportunity to be generous, but fail even to see the opportunities.

This evening will explore Generosity as a practice of spiritual development, rather than isolated and disconnected acts of giving or sharing. It will examine a model of doing this where Generosity serves as a mirror, a doorway and a path moving from a sense of separation to connectedness and inter-relationship. It will include discussion of the Historical Buddha’s advice that we should be generous in the way we think, and by thinking, create the world we live in.

The subject matter of this evening will be 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.

(Part 2 of 10 of a series on The Paramis)

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3/07/2024 “Aspects of Attention in Practice: A View From the Brain” with Rick Maddock

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We suggest you listen to talk and reference the slideshow available in .PDF format.

Select image to view slide deck (PDF 81 pages)
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2/29/2024 “Navigating Interpersonal Conflict” with Seth Castleman

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2/22/2024 “Three Truths and One Path” with Rich Howard

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In his latest book, “Noble Truths, Noble Path” (Wisdom Publications, 2023), American monk and translator Bhikkhu Bodhi describes the four noble truths as “the matrix of the teachings” and “not merely as one Buddhist doctrine among others, but more broadly as the implicit framework of the whole teaching.” The Thursday talk and discussion will address the first three Truths: 1) Dukkha (unsatisfactoriness/vulnerability/suffering), 2) the Cause of Dukkha (tanha, or craving/leaning in/turning away), and 3) the Cessation of Dukkha (nirodha, extinction, liberation). We will look at each Truth in detail, discuss how they are “ennobling,” and see how understanding them can be found in formal practice and daily life. This evening will lead us into the February 24 daylong retreat, where we will explore the fourth truth, the noble eightfold path, in both theory and practice.

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