The Grounds of Living Compassion

The Grounds of Living Compassion

A critical question on the spiritual path is how we can bring the loving presence awakened by meditation into every facet of daily life. This talk explores the conditioning that keeps us in reactive trance and the ways we can deepen our attention and align our lives with our hearts.

Genuine Acceptance

Genuine Acceptance

Our capacity to accept this life is key to our freedom, yet there are many misconceptions about acceptance: People wonder, if acceptance makes us a doormat in relationships? Isn’t acceptance akin to resignation? Doesn’t it make us passive when what is needed is action? This talk explores some of the misunderstandings about acceptance and offers teachings on the nature of genuine and liberating acceptance.

Charla: Aceptación Genuina

Charla: Aceptación Genuina

Nuestra capacidad para aceptar esta vida es la clave de nuestra liberación, y aún así hay muchos conceptos erróneos con respecto a la aceptación. Muchas personas creen que aceptar nos convierte en un felpudo que todos pueden pisotear en nuestras relaciones. Muchos se...
The Grounds of Living Compassion

Enchantment and Freedom

When caught in suffering we are perceiving reality through a distorted lens. We are unable to see what we really are, and we latch on to the surface appearances of others. By training our minds to pay attention we begin to recognize the conditioning that entraps us, and the love and awareness that shines through these changing forms.

The Grounds of Living Compassion

Happiness

The Buddha taught of two dimensions of happiness–that which is based on particular circumstances, and that which arises from unconditional presence. This talk explores the ways we block happiness; the attitude and meditative practice that give rise to worldly happiness and the state of Being that is experienced as pure happiness and freedom.

(Note: Judy Brown’s poem, “Fire,” can be found at:
http://www.judysorumbrown.com/resources/poems.html

The Grounds of Living Compassion

Let Everything Happen to You

The now common adage “what you resist, persists” is a deep and important truth. This talk explores the often unconscious ways that we avoid the difficult parts of our experience, and the meditative strategies for cultivating an accepting and healing presence.

The Grounds of Living Compassion

Part 4 – Wise Practice – Taking Refuge in Awareness

This four week series reviews many key components of Buddhist meditation practice. Beginning with intention and attitude, we cover the strategies that help us arrive in presence, the key elements of mindfulness, working with difficult emotional states and the practices that awaken our heart. Each week will include guided meditations and reflections.

The Grounds of Living Compassion

Part 3 – Wise Practice – The Heart of Buddhism

This four week series reviews many key components of Buddhist meditation practice. Beginning with intention and attitude, we cover the strategies that help us arrive in presence, the key elements of mindfulness, working with difficult emotional states and the practices that awaken our heart. Each week will include guided meditations and reflections.

The Grounds of Living Compassion

Part 2 – Wise Practice

This four week series reviews many key components of Buddhist meditation practice. Beginning with intention and attitude, we cover the strategies that help us arrive in presence, the key elements of mindfulness, working with difficult emotional states and the practices that awaken our heart. Each week will include guided meditations and reflections.

The Grounds of Living Compassion

Part 1 – Wise Practice

This four week series reviews many key components of Buddhist meditation practice. Beginning with intention and attitude, we cover the strategies that help us arrive in presence, the key elements of mindfulness, working with difficult emotional states and the practices that awaken our heart. Each week will include guided meditations and reflections.

The Grounds of Living Compassion

Don’t Know Mind

Thoughts, and more broadly, conceptual knowledge, cannot lead to the direct realization of truth, of reality. While thoughts are an essential part of surviving and thriving, spiritual awakening only becomes possible when we step out of the trance of thinking. This talk invites listeners into the radical openness and freedom of not-knowing.

The Grounds of Living Compassion

The Attitude that Perpetuates Suffering

Our conditioning is to conclude that “something is wrong” when we encounter difficulty. This way of relating to experience binds us in a trance–it locks in the identification with a separate, victimized, self; it leads to unwise action and it removes us from presence. This talk guides us in recognizing our often unconscious attitude towards what is happening, and arriving in the unconditional presence that is the source of love, wisdom and freedom.