In a world that often pulls us toward isolation, urgency, and self-protection, it can be difficult for many of us to integrate what we’re hearing in dharma talks and practicing on the cushion into our everyday lives.
We may long to be more generous, more grounded, more free – yet we find ourselves caught in habits of holding on, guarding, and turning away. And sometimes, we may find that these 2,600 year old teachings are hard to reconcile with the level of complexity and nuance of modern living.
The Buddha’s teachings on the Paramis – the 10 perfections or attainments of the heart – give us direct instruction on just how to do that. They invite us to reconnect with the essential, timeless teachings that help us live well with one another, and rediscover how the Buddha’s path can open the heart and steady us in our shared humanity.
In this Day of Practice with teacher and activist Leslie Booker, we’ll be exploring what we can offer, how we can care and what we can lay down in order to be released from our suffering.
Weaving together early Buddhist stories, lived experience and time for contemplation, we’ll reflect on what these teachings offer around living from a generous heart, to act ethically in a complex world, and to discover the freedom that comes from letting go – of possessions, identities, and views that keep us bound.
