Lively Thursdays:
Taking the Dharma into Your World

July 24

With Jeff Rubin

Generosity is often seen as simply being kind to those less fortunate than us, which, while beneficial, reinforces duality and separateness of giver and receiver. Once we understand the transcendent logic of true generosity, built upon the notion of no “me” and no “you”, then generosity is transformed into the limitless and effortless radiation of our inherent richness.

July 31

With Greg Goode

An ex-marine, an author, a teacher of non-dualism, a Western philosopher and a Buddhist. Greg will share his perspective and experience in working with discipline in his life. Whatever comes up in our lives can become the source of joyous growth or deeper suffering. How things turn out depends on how we apply ourselves in each circumstance.

August 7

With Rosemary Bakker

Rosemary will share with you her personal struggle caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s; through the practice of patience, she overcame anger and heartbreak and became her mother's best friend. Since then, Rosemary has become a national leader in the field of dementia care; five foundations now support her upcoming multimedia website, This Caring Home.

August 14

With Carlos Ferreyros & Tomas Sander

Being joyous and diligent doesn’t always come easy for those of us who struggle with the morning blues and lack of motivation in our lives. Having a deeper understanding of the qualities of diligence allows us to deeply connect with and transform our states of mind, no matter how "bad". Diligence allows us to act in conformance with valued directions even in the presence of morning depression, laziness or lack of motivation. In this way we can often kindle the joyous aliveness that seemed so out of reach.

August 21

With Jeff Thompson & Arnold Hammerschlag

Jeff is a Buddhist NYPD Officer and Arnold lived for two year in a monastery. Discover the experience of living in a monastic community and a work environment that at times can seem very much like the opposite of a calm mountain retreat. Two very different environments for how to work with mindfulness and awareness in everyday life.

August 28

By practicing the wisdom paramita, the mind is said to become more clear and peaceful. Insight grows and faith becomes solid and joyous. As luminous, transcendent wisdom develops, so too does compassion and an understanding of the interconnectedness of all things. Everyone from Milarepa to Yeshe Sogyal embodied it. But how can an ordinary person practice the wisdom paramita? In this session, we'll discuss how some of the great yogis and yoginis manifested their early wisdom experiences. We'll also share our own stories of the awakening mind. Please join us.