For the Buddha, practice was understood as involving three trainings, in wisdom, meditation, and ethics (sila). Ethics, typically under-emphasized in much of Western Buddhism, with sometimes clear negative consequences, had as its horizon helping others. The Buddha said: “Wander forth . . . for the welfare of the multitude, for the happiness of the multitude, out of compassion for the world.” The later emphasis on the bodhisattva develops this emphasis further. In this talk, we suggest a contemporary “Eightfold Path” for understanding and responding to the current difficult times in the society and world. It’s outlined in terms of three wisdom guidelines, two meditation guidelines, and three ethics guidelines. The talk is followed by discussion.

We begin with brief instructions for developing samadhi (“placing together” or “concentration”), followed by basic mindfulness instructions and then guidance for working with the feeling-tone of pleasant or unpleasant, when it appears in the moderate range. We are mindful of pleasant or unpleasant and look for grasping or pushing away in some form, guided by core wisdom teachings.

Guided Perspective Suggestions - Location/Direction within ourselves

Reflections on the Brahma Viharas and Wilderness Practice.

This talk explores various points of the Buddha's schema as they relate to a practice at a concentration retreat.

A meditation, reflection, and (just the) responses to questions on the theme of spacious intimacy: and what it reveals and opens about experience (wisdom), and creative well-being (samādhi), and positive action in the world

Reflection & Guided Meditation

A deep guided Brahmavihara meditation.