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Impermanence
This Sunday was our last in-person meeting at the Lojong Space, the physical home for our sangha for many years. Appropriately, Eric, who will lead this last meeting, chose the topic of Impermanence as the theme for meditation and discussion. Eric writes, As I was listening to this talk I was contemplating how associative our minds are. Similar… Read more
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Tapping into Joy
It may seem at times hard to believe that we each have an unlimited reservoir of joy available at all times. But we touch into it spontaneously — during a sunset, seeing a newborn child, hearing a favorite song or catching a wonderful aroma. Lorilee guided our session this Sunday, drawing on and sharing the teachings of… Read more
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Nature as Dharma Teacher
We often seek out individual dharma teachers as guides along the path— wise figures on the face of the planet. But what happens when we reverse that perspective and accept the planet itself as dharma teacher? We can realize great truths without the use of words simply by walking in a redwood forest, or gazing… Read more
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Impermanence and Joy
In the Dhammapada, the Buddha says: “All conditioned things are impermanent. When one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering” (v 277). Jack Kornfeld says: “There is some sense that when you know that things change, and accept it, or you find composure in it … you find yourself in Nirvana.” The… Read more
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Dukkha
At the foundation of the Dharma is an ever-shifting relation to Dukkha. Though simply being human means that dukkha will be a part of our life, the ways in which we meet it vary widely. Even recognizing it can be a challenge, not to mention dealing with it, practicing with it. And if we vow to free all… Read more
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Dignity Embodied
Somewhat surprisingly, the Buddha listed the Four Dignities of the Human Being as Sitting, Standing, Walking, and Lying Down. Sitting and Walking have been extensively explored as meditation postures. What of the other two? Suzuki Roshi (of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind) encouraged his students to study Sensory Awareness of Standing and Lying Down as ways… Read more
