Exploring how the wisdom of emptiness manifests as compassion and how both are developed in our practice.

What is the goal of the path? As we wisely discern what leads to more happiness and peace and what leads us away, this leads to greater degrees of freedom and the deepening of our wisdom and compassion.

Compassion is at the heart of understanding suffering and the way to its end.

To be able to enter deeply into relationship, it is necessary to be able both to forgive and to assert yourself skillfully. Forgiveness and assertiveness support each other. Forgiveness clears out ill will so you can assert yourself with compassion and Wise Speech. Self-assertion takes care of your own needs so forgiveness can emerge without the sense that you are a doormat. This experiential workshop will get into the nitty-gritty of how to bring the Buddha’s profound teachings on interrelatedness, lovingkindness, and virtue (sila) into the messy real world of relationships with family members, lovers, friends, bosses, and co-workers. This workshop - led by a world renowned expert on forgiveness, and by an experienced couples and family therapist and meditation teacher - will offer user-friendly information with lots of practical methods. We'll cover: -- The Buddha’s teachings on non-harming, wise speech, compassion and kindness, and releasing ill will -- as well as his teachings on self-care, respecting your own needs, and looking out for your own happiness -- The primacy of relationships in evolution, and the deep capacities for both loving altruism and fearful aggression -- The neural machinery of emotional reactivity and developing grievances with others -- Why forgiveness and assertiveness are both important -- The foundation of basic mindfulness, precepts, Wise Speech, compassion for oneself and others, and emotional self-care -- Forgiveness practices -- Assertiveness practices There will be some voluntary paired activities as well as time for questions and discussion. While the teachings are appropriate for use in health care professions, no background with psychology or meditation is needed. Also please know that this workshop is not psychotherapy or any substitute for professional care.

Howard Thurman, the great African American activist, mystic, and theologian, once said: “Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” In the spirit of this guidance, we continue exploring how to understand and respond some of the core issues related to the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001. We are further guided by (1) understanding the inter-relationships between individual, relational, and collective domains of practice; and (2) taking wisdom, compassion, and courage (and responsiveness) as three touchstones of our practice, both more inner and more outer.

Guided by several key teachings, particularly how we might bring together wisdom, compassion, and courage, we explore some of the issues raised in reflection on the last ten years. A focus is the parallel between personal practice and responding to larger social issues.

Whether you face chronic anxiety or more violent storms of fear and anger, you can cultivate the wings of freedom--the mindfulness and compassion--that free you. This talk explores how the habit of being reactive causes us suffering and the ways these tools of meditation can be applied to the inner weather systems that most challenge us.

When a heart of kindness meets suffering, the appropriate response is compassion.

Sylvia uses stories from popular culture to teach that, no matter what has happened in people’s past, there is the potential to achieve peace in the future, through the compassionate support of others.

Compassion supports the ability to open to suffering without closing down or striking out. In this clarity of mind/heart, wisdom is developed

How we develop a wise and compassionate approach to all aspects of our lives through learning how to have a wise and compassionate relationship to the hindrances.

Through silence and song, sitting practice. Dharma talks, and interactive exercises, we will affirm our capacity to take part in the healing of our world. Each of our lives is played against a backdrop of war-making, hunger, mass extinctions and increasing climate chaos. The Buddha's teachings show how we can respond to the suffering of our time in ways that bring courage, gladness, and deep community. Our day together will draw on the Work That Reconnects, developed by Joanna over the last 35 years, and on Jennifer's soul-expanding music, that has empowered activists the world over. Joanna Macy is known worldwide as a Gaian teacher whose trainings strengthen movements for global justice. Her books include Dharma and Development, Coming Back To Life, Mutual Causality in Buddhist Teachings and Systems Theory, and her memoir Widening Circles, as well as translations of Rilke's poetry. Jennifer Berezan is a renowned singer/songwriter whose work is informed by Buddhist and indigenous teachings as well as her adventures at the forefront of social change. Her concerts and recordings include Praises for the World and her most recent release In These Arms, a Song for All Beings, based on practices of loving kindness and compassion.

In this talk Heather discusses the wisdom aspects of compassion, such as the three characteristics of existence (change, stress, impersonality), explores obstacles to experiencing the compassionate heart, and presents daily life practices of compassion in action. The evening concludes with shares from the sangha on their personal compassion practices.

What else is there to do in this life but know the truth of what we are and deepen in wisdom and compassion. Our spiritual map leads us out of the darkness to a purity and clarity of understanding. Here we are, secure in the raft of the heart, braving the tempestuous currents of the world. Yet we are forever tuned to awareness of our true nature. We carefully examine our attachments and let go, guided to freedom from the poisons and dangers of the world. At last, we shall know the irreversible and liberating joys of the Way.

The inter-relationship of our inner life with the world around us.