Joy is both a Factor of Enlightenment and one of the four Divine Abodes. Today, as we are bombarded with news that heightens our fear and sadness about the world, more than ever it’s vital to understand the importance of joy as a central aspect of spiritual practice. We need to remember how to stay connected to that place inside that makes life worth living. In this session we explore principles and practices from the teachings to incline the mind towards true well-being.
Discover more from the Dharma Library
-
Faith in the Three Jewels
Recorded :
February 24, 2019 Booker writes: “Growing up in the Baptist faith, I was taught to believe what I was taught, and to not have my own experience or exploration; to not know for myself. This didn’t sit well with me as a child! During this teaching, I will share my spiritual journey from Bright Faith to Verified Faith….
-
Daily Meditation Recordings, with Miles Kessler – Week of July 25, 2022
This week’s topic is “The 4 Noble Practices”. The 4 noble practices are practical instructions given by the Buddha in relation to the 4 noble truths. Namely, 1) The Noble Practice Of Acceptance, 2) The Noble Practice Of Letting Go, 3) The Noble Practice Of Realization, and 4) The Noble Practice Of Development. This week, Miles will lead you through these 4 noble practices, helping you to see how these 4 injunctions from the Buddha contain the entirety of the practical Dharma.
-
Wide Dharma, wide path.
Recorded :
November 13, 2016 Many of us long to experience the Buddhist path in all of our lives, but really only feel its aliveness when we meditate. There’s an incompleteness, a gap, when it comes to our everyday activities and our relationships, where we catch only a whiff of the truths of suffering and the Path. But when we…
-
The Human Face of the Buddha
Recorded :
February 28, 2021 Most of us know the Buddha as a revered spiritual sage. Less is known about the person, Siddhartha Gautama, who was also a social revolutionary. In this talk, we will explore how Gautama upended the caste system in India and examine his problematic relationship to women. We’ll see how understanding the Buddha as a human…
-
As wide as life and as open as space: practicing inclusivity.
Recorded :
March 22, 2015 As we get familiar with the practice of meditation and the language of Dharma teachings, we can find ourselves getting comfortable, even complacent. Yet our practice in many ways is designed to make us uncomfortable! Designed to keep us open to ambiguity and uncertainty, to invite us to question and explore rather than to settle…
-
Sajja: A Practice for Everyone
Recorded :
April 28, 2019 Vince writes: “In 2003 I took a one-month temporary ordination at Wat Thamkrabok, a unique monastery in central Thailand. My intention was to explore Buddhism and meditation, but what I got was not what I expected. I was given a ‘Sajja’ or a ‘truth’ to practice for 4-hours per day for the next 2-years. My…
-
Buddha’s toolbox: a spectrum of skilful means.
Recorded :
June 28, 2015 In this class we explore the various ways to diffuse difficult emotions, see through mental patterns, re-direct our attention, and understand the nature of experience.
-
Daily Meditation Recordings, with Sophie Boyer – Week of Nov 13, 2023
This week’s topic is “Entering Fall”. The autumn season can be a challenging (transitional) time of the year with darkness, rain, wind, mist, and a sense that the cycle of life is coming slowly to an end. Paradoxically, nature also offers intense scents and colors before heading into the coldness and barrenness of winter. This week is an invitation to experience autumn within us. A time to bring the mind momentarily to a stop and explore what can nurture and provide a refuge for the heart. Let’s explore the sparkling colors of autumn’s heart and mind together.
Discussion