I try to convey that the wisdom and compassion we are looking for is already inside of us. I see practice as learning how to purify our mind and heart so we can hear the Buddha inside. In doing so, we naturally embody the dharma and help awaken that understanding and love in others we meet.
I try to use the formal teachings as a doorway for people to see the truth in themselves. I feel I'm doing my job when people look into themselves to come to their own deep understandings of the truth, access their own inner wisdom and trust in their "Buddha-knowing," as Ajahn Chah called it, which is different from their intellectual knowing.
The Buddha-knowing is a deeper place, underneath the concepts, which is in touch with the truth, with our seed of awakening. I want practitioners to have more and more confidence in, and familiarity with, that deeper place of knowing. It is accessing this dimension of our being that becomes the guide to cutting through the confusion caused by greed and fear. We have everything we need inside ourselves. We do not need to look to a teacher when we remember who we really are.
In Tibetan teachings the Lion's Roar is the "fearless proclamation that every situation is workable." Being humbled can lead to a profound, wise humility, doubt can lead to strong confidence and vulnerability can be the path to fearlessness.
James and co-writer of Awakening Joy Shoshana Alexander, plus many friends from the 10-month course--dharma teachers, happiness experts, neuroscientists, musicians and more--share their thoughts on true happiness. This is the PM Session which includes Syvia Boorstein, and Anam Thubten Rinpoche.
James and co-writer of Awakening Joy Shoshana Alexander, plus many friends from the 10-month course--dharma teachers, happiness experts, neuroscientists, musicians and more--share their thoughts on true happiness. This is the AM Session which includes Rick Foster and Greg Hicks, Rick Hansen, and performances by Eve Decker, Betsy Rose and Jennifer Berezen.
This is a talk about establishing healing and reconciliation on both a personal and a community level.
The Buddha taught was "As long as followers of the Way hold regular and frequent assemblies, they may be expected to prosper and not decline. As long as they meet in harmony, carry on their business in harmony, and break up in harmony, they may be expected to prosper and not decline."
The body is where we store emotions and register deep insights. This talk explores the implication of those facts: how we keep getting caught in thoughts that we know don’t serve us and why it takes time and patience to embody the wisdom our mind knows is true
While the mind has many thoughts and confusing tendencies that cause suffering, there is a pure awareness that is our true nature holding it all. We’ll explore staying in touch with this reality while we are navigating through the confusions of mind.
We are each the star of our own movie. Practice invites us to honor every member of the cast of characters in our life, remembering that they have their own reality. And through it all we can wake up from the dream.
We are each the star of our own movie. Practice invites us to honor every member of the cast of characters in our life, remembering that they have their own reality. And through it all we can wake up from the dream.
Ananda, the Buddha's disciple, while on a mission for the Buddha, requested water to drink from a woman of low cast. The woman protested out of fear that her low caste would contaminate Ananda's holiness; to which Ananada replied, "I ask not for caste but for water." A version of the Buddhist text of this story is available here: http://www.mountainman.com.au/buddha/carus_76.htm
Tonight James finishes his series on the Faith Mind by the 3rd Zen Patriarch of China. One of the most meaningful lines in this section is:
”To live in this (highest) realization is to be without anxiety about non-perfection.”
Cultivating that attitude is a key to freedom. To let ourselves be perfectly imperfect.
Affectionately known as “the Storytelling Monk,” Swami Sarveshwarananda Giri is a French-born Kriya Yoga teacher and founder of the Hariharananda Mission in the USA and in India, and the Ark of Love in South America. For the last sixteen years, he has traveled around the globe teaching Yoga, composing and chanting sacred chants, and providing education and shelter to poor children, widows, and senior citizens in India and South America.
Tonight James continues his discussion of Verses on the Faith Mind by Sengstan (3rd Zen Patriarch of China), his favorite piece of dharma wisdom. This week one of the lines from the passage is the source of Joseph Goldstein’s book One Dharma.
"There is one Dharma not many; distinctions arise from the clinging needs of the ignorant."
Tonight James begins a series on his favorite piece of dharma wisdom: Verses on the Faith Mind by Sengstan, otherwise known as the 3rd Zen Patriarch of China. This is one of the best treatises on the non-dual approach to practice. A few choice lines:
“The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences.”
“To live in the realization is to be without anxiety about non-perfection.”
During this series, James reads through the text and discusses how we can apply it in our lives.
If you are interested in reading the actual text of this sutra Click Here.
This is a three part series of talks on James’ basic meditation instructions: “Receive the moment with a relaxed, interested and kind awareness.
What does a kind awareness mean? How can we meet each moment—including moments of fear or physical discomfort—with this attitude? This is a key issue for deepening our practice.
This is a three part series of talks on James’ basic meditation instructions: “Receive the moment with a relaxed, interested and kind awareness.”
Note: The first talk of this series was not recorded. Therefore this is a talk on the same topic that James gave during the month-long retreat at Spirit Rock on 2/10/2009.
Faith is one of the Five Spiritual faculties. This talk explores the elements of faith, sources of our faith and the ingredients we bring to deepen our trust and faith in the Dharma.
One aspect of Wise Effort is maintaining and increasing wholesome states that have arisen. This is supported by being present for the wholesome state without clinging. How to integrate wholesome states such as sincere intention, gratitude, being compassionate with suffering, and others into our practice is explored.
Suffering is often what brings people to the Dharma as well as opening us up to resources inside we didn't know were there. Looking at hindrances and difficulties in this way allows us to relate to them wisely and realize the gifts that they bring and the ways they help us grow.
A central attitude of dharma practice is learning to open to experience instead of the typical contraction of grasping at pleasant or aversion towards unpleasant. Qualitites of opening include forgiveness, patience, sense of humor, presence and loving kindness are explored.
An introduction to next week's (1-15-08) guest Paul Ekman, psychologist, leading expert on human emotions and facial expressions and co-author with the Dalai Lama on the recent book Emotional Awareness
A discussion with community member Janet Keyes about a proposal to create a community support network with the intention of helping the IMCB sangha grow in caring and connection. The evening includes an invitation to attend an introductory meeting to help identify priorities and move forward in creating a more caring community. The talk also includes James reading a moving letter from Barack Obama to a 4-year old girl.
This week I will complete the Shantideva series with his final chapter on the power of dedicating your actions as an act of generosity. We often end the sittings or a period of practice by sharing any merit for the benefit of all beings. This practice can be used in very simple but potent ways as a method for brining a heartfelt sincerity to your practice for the benefit of specific individuals. For instance if you’re trying to change a habit, offering the merit of that wholesome change to someone who is having a hard time in their life.
This practice of dedicating merit both connects you with others and motivates you beyond mere self-improvement. We’ll be exploring just how this can work in our daily life to give energy and enthusiasm to our practice.
This week we will continue with our series on Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. The next chapter is on Enthusiasm, Zeal or Heroic Perseverance. What keeps us inspired to practice? How can we counter-act the three causes for laziness? What are the three inspiring causes for happiness? What’s the difference between negative and positive pride? What are the four powers that can fuel our practice?
This talk is continuing our series with Chapter 6 of Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. The theme is “Working with Anger” specifically cultivating Patience.
The talk is about the next chapter 5 of Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life. This chapter is about the three disciplines: not causing harm, gathering virtue, and benefiting others. The title is translated has been translated as Vigilant Introspection or Guarding Alertness.
The chapter we'll be exploring is Awareness, what Pema Chodron calls Using Our Intelligence. It has also been translated as Carefulness. The theme is how we can use wise attention to prevent us from getting caught in afflictive emotions (kilesas or kleshas). Even when we know better we may still find ourselves going down a road of action we will later regret. This chapter is how as bodhisattvas we deepen our commitment to refrain from unskillful action.
Part 3 of Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. Commitment. Just what are we committing to when we decide to become bodhisattvas.
One stanza from this chapter is as follows:
“For all those ailing in the world,
Until every sickness has been healed,
May I myself become for them
The doctor nurse, the medicine itself.”
This is the second chapter of Shantideva's "Bodhisattva's Way of Life" and discusses the importance of developing an attitude of reverence and devotion as well as purifying our past actions in order to plant the seed of awakening in fertile soil. We’ll be discussing not only the ideas but ways to incorporate them in your dharma practice.
I just received teachings with the Dalai Lama last week on the topic,
I'm going to start a series on Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way
of Life. This is one of the Dalai Lama's central teachings. As he says, "If
I have any understanding of compassion and the practice of the bodhisattva path, it is entirely on the basis of this text that I possess it."
Why would you do a silent meditation retreat? This talk explores the value
and experience of silent retreat practice. Along with James, Kate Janke, who returned from sitting a month at the Forest Refuge in Barre, Massachusetts, a few days before this was recorded, shares her thoughts and personal experience of retreat practice.
With our thoughts we make the world,"says the Buddha. What limiting beliefs do you have about yourself and practice? What would it be like if you were not constrained by them. This talk also explores the different temperaments that people bring to practice, seeing there is no one right personality style that is required for awakening.
The source of our awakening is right inside us. As we learn to listen deeply to the wisdom and purity of heart that is connected to the truth we are following the Buddha's instructions to be "be a lamp unto yourself."
Practice is more than a mere dry analysis of reality. A heartfelt spirit in practice not only give us enthusiasm and confidence but can flowers as deep devotion to the Dharma.
This is number ten in a ten-part series on Buddhadharma as a Path of Happiness. This series covers the ten principles discussed in James' Awakening Joy Course from a dharma perspective.
This is number six in a ten-part series on Buddhadharma as a Path of Happiness. This series covers the ten principles discussed in James' Awakening Joy Course from a dharma perspective. James's dog "Pal" died this week.
This is number eight in a ten-part series on Buddhadharma as a Path of Happiness. This series covers the ten principles discussed in James' Awakening Joy Course from a dharma perspective.
This is number seven in a ten-part series on Buddhadharma as a Path of Happiness. This series covers the ten principles discussed in James' Awakening Joy Course from a dharma perspective.
This is number six in a ten-part series on Buddhadharma as a Path of Happiness. This series covers the ten principles discussed in James' Awakening Joy Course from a dharma perspective. www.AwakeningJoy.net
This is number four in a ten-part series on Buddhadharma as a Path of Happiness. This series covers the ten principles discussed in James' Awakening Joy Course from a dharma perspective.
This is the third of a series based on cultivating the wholesome states that I share in my Awakening Joy Class. This first week we’ll explore the theme of Opening to Suffering.
This is the second of a series based on cultivating the wholesome states that I share in my Awakening Joy Class. This first week we’ll explore the theme of Mindfulness as a path for well-being. We will share some practical exercises to use in daily life as well as understand why mindfulness is called by the Buddha “the most direct way to overcome sorrow and despair and realize the highest happiness.”
This is the first of a series based on cultivating the wholesome states that I share in my Awakening Joy Class. I intend to explore these principles from a more traditional Buddhist perspective and show how they reveal Buddhadharma as a path of happiness. I’ll be suggesting techniques that can be practiced in daily life in addition to formal meditation.
This first week we’ll explore the theme of Intention. “Intending is karma,” said the Buddha. Through intention we create our reality. The clearer we are on our intention, the greater influence we have on the direction of our lives.
Mindfulness practice helps us see clearly how we’re creating suffering for ourselves with our insecurities, self-judgments, judgments of others or other conditioned reactions. But often seeing these isn’t enough to release their hold on us. In fact, sometimes it’s more frustrating to see them but still feel as stuck as ever. We’ll explore how to work with this predicament wisely so we 1) don’t have to be at the mercy of our lofty ideals of good practice can use some simple but effective methods for moving to a greater place of well-being.
We are not practicing for ourselves alone. Everyone benefits from the fruits of our practice. This talk explores how to actively and skillfully express our compassion, held with equanimity, in the world.
Forgiveness is an essential part of Metta practice so that the heart can stay open and the kindness flows out easily. In this talk forgiveness toward ourselves, asking and extending forgiveness with others and forgiveness towards life are explored.
Passion for practice fuels our effort. There are different sources of spiritual passion (four Iddhipadas) that correspond to different temperaments: zeal, effort, love of the Dharma and urgency.
The five Spiritual Faculties describe the importance of balance as well as explain the process of intensive practice. Faith leads to effort which develops mindfulness, which cultivates concentration which flowers as wisdom.
The Seven Factors of Enlightenment are mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, calm, concentration and equanimity. When brought to fruition they lead to the highest happiness we can experience. How can we cultivate these qualities consciously in our meditation practice and in our life?
