Tuesday, November 12th

And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
T.S.Eliot

For next Tuesday we will be exploring noting as a practice. Here are some links to help you start your exploration of this subject:

You can find a couple of talks on noting by Gil Fronsdal here and here – and there is also a Transcribed and Lightly Edited talk on noting by Gil (which includes the audio).

Instructions to Insight Meditation by Mahasi Sayadaw is a transcription of a talk by the Burmese teacher of many of the early American pioneers of insight meditation.

We meet at BIBS and the schedule for the evening is:

6:00 – 6:30 sitting
6:30 – 7:15 discussion
7:15 – 7:30 sitting

Tuesday, November 5th

This coming Tuesday evening is our Back to Basics night. We will be available starting at 5pm to instruct and assist any one who would like to learn about and/or deepen their understanding of Insight practice and meditation.

We talked about balancing our study of ecodharma with nourishing and healing practices. Joanna Macy and her Work That Reconnects offer some suggestions that we will explore, starting with Gratitude practice and discussion.  We also have her short film The Great Turning that we may want to watch and discuss as a group in conjunction with our book discussion.

Speaking of Gratitude, a reminder of the Gratefulness Gatherings that are starting in November.

We meet at BIBS and the schedule for the evening is:

6:00 – 6:30 sitting
6:30 – 7:15 discussion
7:15 – 7:30 sitting

Tuesday, October 22nd

Having no destination, I am never lost.
Ikkyu

Next Tuesday we will be discussing mindfulness in everyday life. Here are a couple of things that you can use as starting points for your exploration of this subject:

The first is from J. Krishnamurti:

Can I remain with intense sorrow, pain or shock without any single movement of thought, that is, to give complete attention to it? You cannot give complete attention to it if you are trying to escape. That is a waste of energy. Whereas, if you give your total attention, you are then all the energy focused on a point you call suffering. When you do that, you understand the whole significance, depth and beauty of such an extraordinary fact. And suffering ends. With the ending of suffering are passion and love.

… and the second is from The Guardian: Nir Eyal on how to beat tech addiction: ‘We need a new skill set’

We meet at BIBS and the schedule for the evening is:

6:00 – 6:30 sitting
6:30 – 7:15 discussion
7:15 – 7:30 sitting

Tuesday, October 15th

Because the sage doesn’t know who he is,
people recognize themselves in him.
Because he has no goal in mind,
everything he does succeeds.
                           Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

Another third Tuesday comes around and we will be sitting, walking and sitting – the evening will be silent. No discussion is planned, so no reading.

The schedule is:

6:00 – 6:30 sitting
6:30 – 7:00 walking
7:00 – 7:30 sitting

We meet at BIBS – location in the sidebar.

Tuesday, October 8th

The essence of Buddhism is, if you can, to help others.
If not, then at least refrain from hurting others.
Dalai Lama

Next Tuesday we will be discussing non-clinging. Here are a couple of places that you might start your exploration of this subject:

Joseph Goldstein – Insight Hour Ep. 60 – The Satipatthāna Sutta: Not Clinging to Anything

Gil Fronsdal: Nothing Is Worth Clinging To

We meet at BIBS and the schedule for the evening is:

6:00 – 6:30 sitting
6:30 – 7:15 discussion
7:15 – 7:30 sitting

Tuesday, August 20th

All my ancient, twisted karma,
from beginningless greed, hate, and delusion,
born through body, speech, and mind,
I now fully avow.
                                                                                                     chanted at Full Moon ceremonies

Another third Tuesday comes around and we will be sitting, walking and sitting – the evening will be silent. No discussion is planned, so no reading.

The schedule is:

6:00 – 6:30 sitting
6:30 – 7:00 walking
7:00 – 7:30 sitting

We meet at BIBS – location in the sidebar.

Tuesday, June 18th

Generosity, kind words,
doing a good turn for others,
and treating all people alike:
these bonds of sympathy are to the world
what the linchpin is to the chariot wheel.
Jātaka 20

Another third Tuesday comes around and we will be sitting, walking and sitting – the evening will be silent. No discussion is planned, so no reading.

The schedule is:

6:00 – 6:30 sitting
6:30 – 7:00 walking
7:00 – 7:30 sitting

We meet at BIBS – location in the sidebar.