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Last week, the description of the Buddha’s middle way — between asceticism and sensual indulgence — came up. This Sunday, with Sam’s guidance, we delved further into the Buddhist middle way as a path between ignorance and knowledge, and between existence and non-existence of the “self”. 

Sam played excerpts from the following four talks.

Sharon Salzberg, 6-19-87

https://dharmaseed.org/talks/player/43178.html

Ayya Medhanandi,  8-21-20

https://dharmaseed.org/talks/player/62510.html

Kirsten Kratz, 4-10-22

https://dharmaseed.org/talks/player/70646.html

Ajahn Sucitto, 10-7-23

https://dharmaseed.org/talks/player/80606.html

Living in light of the Dharma is often pictured as a journey, from here to there, with disruptions, detours, and difficulties along the way to be avoided as much as possible.  But interruptions to the journey and pauses in our progress can of themselves be of real value.  Michael guided our reflections as we explore what interruptions and pauses have to offer us in our practice.

The Eight worldly winds of pleasure/pain, gain/loss, fame/disrepute, and joy/sorrow seem to present us with the never ending problem of attachment to some of them and aversion to the others.  Can we see this problem as beautiful?

Drawing on a talk by Michele McDonald, Eric guided our reflections this week. One of the beautiful aspects of problems is that there are so many skillful teachers in the world, past and present, that are there to help guide us.  The best teachers don’t just show us how to solve a problem, but how to relate to them more skillfully and thus live more skillfully.

You can listen to the talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/33308/

Eric also recommended a book / movie combo:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_of_Your_Life

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrival_(film)

There is a melody, often with a repeating lyric that we encounter in the first level of mindfulness.  But there’s a second melody available too — much richer, easy to overlook, but always present.

Drawing on a talk by Brian LeSage, Don guided our reflections this week, focusing on this second melody, which we feel and touch as much as hear. This second melody is not confined to the meditation cushion, and is perhaps easier to hear sitting quietly in the woods or stroking the cat on your lap. It is there with you, riding your bike or paddling your kayak. You were born with this awareness. Chuck out all of those clunky old concepts. You don’t need them. Let go of your breath and just be.

You can listen to the talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/85479/

During the discussion, the painting The Song of the Lark was brought up, which you can look at and learn about here: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/94841/the-song-of-the-lark

Peace begins with our own hearts and minds.  As we treat ourselves, so we treat the world.

Continuing our study of the Brahma viharas, we’ll turn our attention to compassion, and specifically self compassion. Lorilee guided our reflections this week drawing on a dharma talk by Beth Sternlieb at Spirit Rock.

You can listen to the talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/60751/

An awakening and opening of the heart is central to how many of us experience the contemplative path. Loving-kindness and compassion are often spoken about in Buddhism, but what about the other ways that love and even heartbreak are present and necessary on our path of awakening? This week, Tucker guided our reflections, drawing talks and writings by dharma teacher and Zen master Henry Shukman.

You can listen to the interview that Henry gave here: https://soundcloud.com/guruviking/ep261-original-love-henry-shukman

Humility may seem like a subdued virtue, but exploring it in depth reveals the humor, the insight and the surprise that can come in discovering the subversive forces that alternately undermine and promote humility.  Eric guided our reflections this week, drawing on a talk by Cara Lai, offering fresh insights into this quality we are often so shy to discuss.

You can listen to the talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/59613/

Equanimity may appear at the summit of the Seven Factors of Awakening, the Ten Paramis, and the Four Brahma Viharas, but it can prove essential, and attainable, right in the midst of everyday life.  

 Jackie, guided our investigation of Equanimity this week, drawing on her own experience and a talk by Jill Shepherd.

A link to the talk is here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/player/79313.html

Our intentions align our interests, our focus, our efforts and our actions.  They can be felt in our bodies, emotions, thoughts, daily lives, and in our practice.  Clarifying our intentions is central to living a meaningful life.  Drawing on a talk by Brian LeSage and on the Five Mindfulness Trainings of Plum Village, Darryl guided our investigation of intention this Sunday. 

You can listen to the talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/81852/

Darryl also mentioned this upcoming workshop on Insight Dialog on October 4 – 6, 2024: https://insightdialogue.secure.retreat.guru/program/sirius-the-interconnectedness-of-all-life/

Mudita is described as feeling an inner wellspring of joy, delighting in the positive experiences of others without jealousy or envy. It is the third of the four “divine abodes” or brahmaviharas, the highest qualities of the heart. It is described as always available, no matter what the circumstances may be.  

However, how do we skillfully embody joy when we are facing our own difficulties and suffering? Why can feeling joy be so hard? Where does the line lie between wholesome joy and its near enemy excitement tied to craving?

Yuka Nakamura, in her talk, discusses the obstacles to mudita and the ways to further nurture it. Sonia facilitated our discussion this Sunday, playing the talk by Yuka and enjoining our group’s varied experiences of joy.

You can listen to Yuka’s talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/player/84320.html