Suffusing the world with healing light

Beyond the walls of the mind. Power of clear intention. The unique potential within humanity

This talk explores the Buddha’s teaching of Anattā (Not-self) and ways to practice with the world experience or perception of self and how we can notice with mindfulness how this sense of self ebbs and flows with conditions. The Buddha also suggested beneficial ways to engage the self such as to use conceit as a tool to generate faith.

Kondañña's breakthrough contemplating guest/dust. As space is to form and silence is to sound, so is awareness to all phenomena.

Radical reflection — returning to the root. Contemplation of impermanence as a potent key leading to dispassion, and the heart returning to its on unshakeable nature; mantra as mind-ground practice

We start by reviewing briefly the two times' accounts of the foundations for practicing with differences and conflicts, first giving a definition of "conflict" as a difference of values, goals, or strategies, and not necessarily involving hostility or aggression. There's an invitation to focus on a conflict in one's life that is in the moderate range of difficulty, and bring this to mind as we work with ten foundations of skillful practice with conflict. We look again briefly at the multiple reasons why bringing our practice to conflicts is often difficult, and then review the more "inner" four foundations of skillful practice with conflict (1-4). We then bring in six further foundations which are more "outer," including (5) developing guidelines and agreements, especially in groups or organizations, but also with individuals; (6) clarifying a vision of a "win-win" or "both-and" approach to conflicts that meet the underlying interests or needs of all concerned; and (7) developing empathy. We offer two brief empathy practices, including one done in the context of one's own conflict. Three further foundations are offered: (8) grounding in Buddhist ethics, particularly the precepts and the understanding that one should bring care and kindness to all, and that all have Buddha Nature; (9) skillful speech (part of ethical training); and (10) the bringing of these ethical dimensions into collective life, through nonviolent action and the concept, in Dr. King's work, of the beloved community. After the talk, there is a discussion.

Perspectives on thinking, choice, and allowing the natural process to unfold.

Working with the Four Noble Truths in your practice.

Ajahn Chah taught there are two kinds of peace: the peace of calm and the peace of wisdom. With peace of calm we can turn toward the hindrances and sense how they manifest somatically and in the mind/heart. We may come to know the hindrances as dhamma or nature.