Sakka, the king of the gods came to the Buddha and asked a perennial question that is now acutely relevant:
“Why do gods, humans, and all other kinds of beings who wish to live without hate, harming, and in peace, end up hating and harming one another?”
In the dialogue with Sakka, the Buddha points to the process by which the mind solidifies a view of self under the illusion of identification and ownership. Propelled by this illusion, we – as a culture – have descended into the underworld.
And now, it is to the underworld that we must travel to seek guidance.
This will be our path in a Day of Practice led by senior Dharma teacher and social activist Thanissara. By drawing from the Buddha’s words on the root cause of strife, division, and war, we will focus on meeting these challenging times with awareness, intention and the invitation to shift into an ensouled world where all is resident within one awareness.
During this session, there will be Dharma reflections, a chance to share in small groups, and a Q&A with Thanissara. There will also be guided meditations, an introduction to protection chants, the use of rituals, and focusing intentions that align with our deepest values.