The circumstances of everyone’s life will include unpleasant experiences. But these are not in themselves what the Buddha meant by dukkha [unsatisfactoriness or suffering]. It’s the aversion to the unpleasantness that is dukkha. Three Kinds of Dukkha Eplained ~ Toni Bernhard
Author: Jon Swanson
Sangha News 6/25/24
Thursday evening Info: The Thursday night talks over the next couple of months will explore the Buddha’s first and most important teachings, on stress and suffering, the causes of stress and suffering, and the path that can lead to relief from them. A resource that we’ll draw on for the talks and discussion is Phillip… Continue reading Sangha News 6/25/24
Updated Resources for Meditation and Support
Sean Oakes, a student of Jack Kornfield, produced a number of short Practice Guides on the concepts and practice of Insight Meditation that are available on the Spirit Rock website. One of them is a good introduction to the Four Noble Truths. You can find that Practice Guide here: The Four Noble Truths The other… Continue reading Updated Resources for Meditation and Support
Quote for the Week
The Buddha began his most central teaching, the Four Noble Truths, not with a claim about our true nature, but with the plain truth that pain, loss, dissatisfaction, and disappointment are part of what we get in this human life. Famously called “the great physician,” the Buddha’s formulation of the problem of suffering and his… Continue reading Quote for the Week
Meditation Support Group Meets at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center 6/20
We’ll continue our monthly mindfulness meditation support group meeting at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center in May. The Cancer Center is located at 7350 West Deschutes Avenue, Kennewick and the next meeting will be Thursday, 6/20/2024. The sessions, which are held on the third Thursday of each month, are meant for cancer patients, cancer survivors, and their caregivers. The session will begin at 12:00 pm… Continue reading Meditation Support Group Meets at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center 6/20
Sangha News 6/11/24
Thursday evening Info: The Thursday night talks explore topics related to meditation, with the current focus on exploring the role of core values, intention, and purpose in our lives. After the 7:00 pm online meditation on Thursday, 6/13/24, Chris will give a talk on the ways in which a sense of purpose and meaning can… Continue reading Sangha News 6/11/24
Updated Resources for Meditation and Support
Gil Fronsdal looks at Dharma practice and the path of non-harming and the way that they facilitate the arising of beautiful qualities of the heart. Those practices and the qualities that arise can allow us to see the meaning and purpose in our lives more clearly. You can find the article here: The Dharma and… Continue reading Updated Resources for Meditation and Support
Quote for the Week
It is helpful to appreciate that empathy, caring, attention, and wisdom occur not only because we consciously decide to have them occur, but also because conditions are in place to activate them. When we practice the Dharma we create the conditions for our best qualities to function. The Dharma and the Path of Harmlessness ~ Gil… Continue reading Quote for the Week
Sangha News 5/21/24
Thursday evening Info: The Thursday night talks explore topics related to meditation, with the current focus on exploring the role of core values, intention, and purpose in our lives. After the 7:00 pm online meditation on Thursday, 5/30/24, Chris will give a talk on identifying our core values in life and living with the intention… Continue reading Sangha News 5/21/24
Updated Resources for Meditation and Support
Phillip Moffitt is well known for his work in helping practitioners to identify their core values and to live with intention, seeking to express their core values in each moment. You can find a page describing his approach to core values and some additional resources here: Core Values and Essential Intentions