March 5 Session cancelled

The Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche Sangha session scheduled for Sunday, March 5 has been cancelled due to illness. The group will next meet on Sunday, April 2.

Liberation Park February 15

Liberation Park upcoming sessions:  February 15th & March 1st at Wesley UMC  

 

February 15th -- Wesley UMC at King & 8th Streets (see important details below).

Folks here and in other sanghas are continuing interest in the theme of "Weathering Life's Storms" and so am I. In keeping with our focus on the noble eightfold path of practice, we can reflect on how these two perspectives intertwine and strengthen each other. While facing whatever storm may be brewing and blowing inside or out, we also keep an eye on the deep potential for liberation from GAHFD.*
Following up on our first session of the year -- anumodana -- I will offer a guided meditation in appreciation. This is another way to ground ourselves, especially when the news coming at us is "bad." Appreciation balances other tendencies, such as envy and over-criticalness. A pleasant plus is that it tends to be joyful, though that isn't "the goal."
Following up from our last discussion, let's consider khanti, patient endurance and tolerance. Buddha described khanti as "the supreme crucible," tapas, the spiritual fire or austerity that incinerates "defilements" (GAHFD*). In preparation, please reflect on these questions:

• When you are perturbed, provoked, or having a button pushed, how are you able to settle and avoid harmful retaliation?
    
• Once skillfully contained, how do you endure the inner heat or turmoil?
   
• Are there particular perturbations, provocations, and buttons that require your most special care?

We will discuss such questions and related observations in the second half of the session.

* GAHFD is my current acronym for the kilesa, the volitional, reactive, destructive emotions such as greed, anger, hatred, fear, delusion, pride, and shame. (Note: Some of these -- anger and fear -- also have a non-volitional counterpart that is simply a biological response to threat and danger.)

Location information -- Important!  The church doors will be locked. The evening's hosts will arrive early to set up and meet you at the door. Please use the 721 King Street entrance, where one of us will be waiting to greet you. Knock if you don't see anyone. There will be plenty of parking on the street. The church also has parking space off of 8th St. 

Meditation starts at 6:30 pm. Please arrive 5-10 minutes before then. The "Lounge" where we will be meeting has many chairs. If you prefer to sit on the floor, please bring your own mat and cushion.

Dāna (donations, gifts, free-will offerings) to sustain Liberation Park and support our work are most welcome.

Doug McGill continues to post daily reflections from U Tejaniya. They are short, pithy, and often brilliant. A good way to return attention to core practice concerns. Click here to subscribe.

Next sessions:  March 1st and March 15th.

Free Pema Chodron downloads

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Liberation Park - Chicago Retreat

Mindful, natural breathing brings us to a grounded space in the center of our bodies. This grounding is superb for observing life with peacefulness, stability, and clarity. By reflecting on the nature of the breath, we can expand our awareness to encompass everything else. This retreat will explore the qualities of awareness centered in our bodies, on the breath, and on non-judgmentally opening to the space around us. Register for Retreat Here  

 

Thursday evening talk: Revealing Reality through Mindful Inquiry

  Explore the crucial role of inquiry within the spiritual path as we learn to pay more attention, focus on what's important, and look even more deeply within.