Sutta Study AN 5.47

Sutta contemplation of AN 5.47

Sutta Contemplation

A four-part sutta study class (part 2 was not recorded)

A four part series on sutta teachings about Nibbana. (Session 2 was not recorded)

A four-part series on the teachings about Nibbana, Awakening, Enlightenment -- and the path to realizing this.

Fifth of five talk on the Five Aggregates

Fourth of a 5-part series on ways we identify

Third of a five-part series on areas of experience where we tend to identify and create suffering.

Five part series (part 2)

Five aspects of our experience where we tend to create suffering through how we relate to them. Tips on relating well to these five areas.

What is meant by investigation (damma vicaya in Pali) and how do we prepare ourselves to undertake it.

The Seven Factors of Awakening offer an effective framework for cultivating the mind, overcoming the hindrances, and balancing the energetic and calming forces that develop through meditation. When these seven factors are well developed, the mind is ripe for awakening. This series will explore each factor to reveal its importance, function, and role in the process of awakening.

Third of three in a series on what it means to let go as a layperson. Emphasis on letting go of self or identity.

Second of three in a series on lay renunciation: Letting go of mental patterns

A three-week series on what Renunciation means for laypeople, whose "field of practice" differs from that of monastics.

We identify with a lot of things - our bodies, what we like/dislike, our life stories, our values, our political views, and even our sense of knowing all of these things. This talk explores the shifting collage of identifications that make up our self-views; and the ways and whys of practicing with this rich realm of experience.

In this talk Kim Allen develops an ecological metaphor to help us cultivate our mind and develop our practice. She outlines four approaches to our practice grounded in terms of natural ecologies: 1) Broadening our focus 2) Revising our notions of good and bad 3) Developing a coherent sense of our goal by creating a healthy ecosystem and then letting go 4) Expanding from our inner ecology and balancing with the outer ecology.

The Buddha’s most explicit path of practice is the Eightfold Path. This is a set of eight practical approaches to bring Buddhist practice into the breadth and depth of our lives. The Eightfold Path Program is an introduction to each of the Eightfold factors so participants will discover how to apply each set of practices in ways that are personally meaningful. Participants have the opportunity to be mentored by a senior student during the program. Pre-requisite: Completion of ISC Introduction to Meditation course, an MBSR course, or the equivalent. Registration is required. Teachers: Kim Allen, Leslie Tremaine, G Schulz, & Other ICS Teachers

The Dhamma is meant to be embodied, both on the cushion and in our daily lives - this makes it "onward-leading." This monthlong program will enliven our practice for the new year. The Five Spiritual Faculties serve as tools to develop our Dhamma skills, and also to evaluate and balance our practice. We will explore the Faculties through weekly meetings consisting of group practice discussion, teachings, and sutta readings. There will also be reflections to deepen and integrate our Dhamma understanding, and the support of spiritual friendship.

Third of three classes on sutta study.

The intention of Renunciation or Letting Go. Questions and responses.

Introduction to practicing with Intention. The intentions of non-ill-will and non-cruelty.

Second of a 3-session class looking at situations where people ask the Buddha a question.

A way to understand and practice with difficult (reactive) emotions

Is all of Buddhist ethics contained in the Precepts? Probably not.

The first Sunday program for the Eightfold Path group, 2018-2019

First Sunday program for the Eightfold Path group, 2018-2019

Gregory Kramer's 5 tenets of making the Dharma a whole life practice.

Dwelling in the in-between

Kim Allen gave the second talk in a speaker series titled "Goals in Meditation." Kim advised that instead of spending time wishing for attending some future goals, we can just do the practice. When we develop and nurture the process of the liberating path, it will naturally lead us to the goal of the path.

The Buddha offers practice as an alternative to getting caught in a view.

Series on the Five Spiritual Faculties, emphasizing the links between the steps.

We invited several local teachers to share both the personal aims that guide their practice and their understanding of the goals of the Buddhist Path. We asked them the following questions: What is the goal of Buddhist practice? What do you personally hope to achieve through your practice? What is a reasonable way to assess our progress – how can we tell if we are on track? How can we work skillfully with goals in the context of mindfulness-based practices that emphasize present moment awareness? This series will explore both the ultimate and relative goals of Buddhist practice. It will address the benefits and limitations of having goals, and explore some related practice issues: comparing, expectations, craving for attainments, inspiration, and the potential for discouragement. Join us for an illuminating look into some aspects of your practice you may never have considered!

Given at the end of a Silent Daylong.

Third of a 3-part class on Wise Intention

Second session of a 3-week series on Wise Intention

First session of a 3-week series on Wise Intention

Q&A session for November 2017

Reflections on the Santa Rosa Fire

Questions and Final announcements

Talk on Karma

Given at the end of a Silent Daylong.