Here, Kodo Conlin approaches the teachings on karma, not as complicated abstractions, but as simple pointings, revealing a process that is clearly visible in our direct experience. How can we discern this process? And, how can it inform our Dharma practice, on and off the cushion?
Authenticity and Right Speech
Mei Elliott speaks on the topic of skillful communication and right speech grounded in the Buddhist teachings of not-self. How can we cultivate freedom in our relationships with others through honest and authentic dialogue? We investigate how zazen practice supports us in speaking with authenticity and ease, as well as different tools for knowing when and what to express.
Intimacy with Intimacy: Exploring Love, Relationships and Attraction
Mei Elliott explores intimacy with intimacy. How can we be free in the midst of love, romance, dating, commitment, and attraction? What is the relationship between practice and sexuality? American culture has a notable dearth of education on what authentic and awake relationship and sexuality can look like. With Valentine's Day rapidly encroaching, we'll have a chance to explore the way self-study, this process of becoming intimate with ourselves, provides a gateway to liberated love.
Intimacy #2: Cultivating intimacy
Simon continues the exploration of intimacy, and particularly how to cultivate intimacy with everything. What are the tools and practices to become intimate with our life?
Intimacy #1
Simon discusses the topic of Intimacy as a description of awakening, and what sets the ground of it to be realized.
Boundaries #2
Eli Brown-Stevenson investigates boundaries through the process of saying "yes" and saying "no."
Perceptions and Fixed Views #2
Mei Elliott continues the theme that we picked up last week, perception and mental formations. This week we will investigate the relationship between perception, not-knowing, and freedom from fixed-views. At the heart of this topic is the question how do we learn to love our life?
Perceptions and Fixed Views #1
Mei Elliott talks about how a deep understanding of perception and conceptualization can teach us to truly love our life. This conversation will weave in teachings on the five aggregates, as well as impermanence and emptiness.
Death and the New Year
Simon Moyes shares some of his experiences of the last 2 months and explores the immediacy of life to mark NYD:
As many of you know my father has been declining for a couple of years, and about 7 weeks ago I got a call saying that he was entering a new stage of departure. I flew to England and spent a couple of weeks with him before he passed. It was a remarkable time in so many ways, and also of course at times intense. There are many facets to how his passing is informing me, and one of them is the vibrancy of being alive. I look forward to exploring it with you on New Years Day.
Right use of Power #5: Boundaries
Guest speaker Eli Brown-Stevenson discusses boundaries.
Right use of Power #4: Dual Role Relationships
Mei Elliott discusses dual role relationships. Dual role relationships occur when there is a power differential in a relationship (e.g., employee/employee, teacher/student, doctor/patient) as well as another form of relationship within the same pairing (e.g., a boss and employee who are also friends or roommates). Dual role relationship highlight a complex and challenging example of power that calls for a skillful use of boundaries.
Right use of Power #3: Intention vs Impact
Guest speaker Siobhan Cassidy talks about how to have a courageous and vulnerable conversation aka a “difficult conversation”, using our personal power to communicate our needs.
Right use of Power #2: Empowering the Down Power Person
Guest Speaker Edward Suprenant will be talking about power differentials in our relationships with others, and how this study connects to the Dharma. Specifically, he will discuss how to connect with personal power when we find ourselves in down-power roles with less influence and authority.
Right use of Power #1: Three Types of Power
Mei Elliott introduces this six-week series called Conflict, Power, and Practice. In this first class, she discusses how our personal power, role power, and status power supports us in following the Zen precepts.
Details about the Conflict, Power and Practice series:
In spiritual communities, power can often be seen as an unwelcome source of inequity which can trump the spiritual value for humility, equality, and selflessness. However, this view fails to acknowledge that we all have power, whether we know it or not, and to live with it without recognizing our influence can itself be a misuse of power.
In a time of significant abuses of power, this series will help us identify our power and explore how it can be used ethically and compassionately. Throughout the series we will integrate Zen teachings on the precepts, while investigating themes such as conflict resolution, dual-role relationships, power differentials, boundaries, and skillful feedback. The series is designed to help participants find greater freedom and ease in relationship to power, and in doing so, to support the well-being of others.
This curriculum is largely inspired by the book Right Use of Power: The Heart of Ethics by Cedar Barstow, which is an innovative and comprehensive resource. The reading is not required, though the book is recommended for anyone interested in the theme.
Simplicity
Simon Moyes explores explores simplicity. What is it to find simplicity in the midst of a busy life? What is simplicity in zen? What is it to practice simplicity? What happens? What does not happen?