(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Begins with a 30m meditation & includes a dharma talk. (Group discussion has been omitted.)
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) We continue the exploration from last week, beginning with Donald sharing a few of his experiences of being able to learn and practice when there have been differences of views and even conflicts. Then there is a review of some what we explored last week, including the importance in a functioning democracy of navigating differences of views, some of the factors making that harder in current times, and some of the practice supports for conversations when there are different views—both inner and outer (especially related to wise speech practice). We go further into exploring inner practices helpful when there are differences, including working with reactivity and difficult emotions, exploring views and options, and then the integrated inner and outer practice of cultivating empathy as a practice. The talk is followed by discussion, including several people sharing their own explorations with challenging conversations in the last week.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) We begin with settling and developing more concentration for about 10-12 minutes. Then we shift to mindfulness practice. In the last third of the session, there are instructions for exploring one's own views and opinions, including in relationship to others (connected with the talk).
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Meditation & Dharma Talk
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Begins with a 30m meditation & includes a dharma talk. (Group discussion has been omitted.)
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) How do we bring our practice to challenging conversations and discussions, including there are major differences in views and positions, whether on spiritual or social-politlcal or daily life matters? This is both a perennial practice question and a particularly important one in the current times. We begin our first of two explorations inviting the participants to explore both their most successful and their most difficult or painful discussions across differences, asking about the qualities present with both. We outline first some current social conditions that make discussions with differences more challenging, while acknowledging that such discussions are at the heart of a healthy democracy. Then we explore several supports for skillful conversations when there are differences, including shared agreements (among individuals or in a group or organization), wise speech practice, the vision of the "beloved community" or universal metta, and a commitment to align means and ends. The talk is followed by discussion.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Meditation, Dharma talk, & short Metta practice
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Begins with a 30m meditation & includes a dharma talk. (Group discussion has been omitted.)
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Includes a mixture of meditation and dharma talk. (Group discussion has been omitted.)
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Begins with a 30m meditation and is followed by a dharma talk. (Group discussion has been omitted).
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Singer ,Songwriter, Dharma Teacher, Betsy Rose shares some songs, poems and reflections on navigating our relationship to time. How many of us are experiencing time as a vanishing “commodity?” The speed and amount of digital inputs (email, activist alerts, webinars, headlines and more..) threaten to overwhelm us. Feeling pressured, squeezed, and overloaded can be a familiar experience. This talk explores practices and choices that can help restore a sense of spaciousness and wise view to the mysterious construct we call “time.”
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Includes a mixture of meditation, dharmettes and some select group discussion