2018 Fall Book Discussion

September 6 – October 4, 2018 

Thursday Evenings 7:45 – 9:00 PM

Sadness, Love, Openness: The Buddhist Path Of Joy by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche

Accessible, playful, and genuine, this concise guide shows how we can incorporate our own daily experiences into our spiritual path and awaken to how things truly are. By embracing sadness, love, and openness in our lives, we develop an altruistic attitude to help all beings who suffer and to reduce our own greed and aggression.

“Different traditions differ in how they understand and use the term mindfulness, yet they agree on the nondual nature of mind and the need for authentic instruction and practice. As venerable Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche describes in this elegant, succinct, and extremely useful primer on essential Dharma as a way of being, there are many different methods in the universe of meditation, but in the end—and from the beginning—those that are authentic and trustworthy serve one purpose, and that is realized, embodied wakefulness.” — Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Full Catastrophe Living

“Here we learn how to truly appreciate all of life—in full sadness and full happiness—with the simple recipe of being calm, kind, and aware, and full of joy in everything.” — Piet Hut, professor of astrophysics and head of the program in Interdisciplinary Studies, Institute of Advanced Studies, Princeton

Copies of this book may be ordered at the Epic Book Shop or
Sam & Eddie’s Open Books in Yellow Springs

For more information call 937-767-1034

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SPRING 2018 BOOK DISCUSSION

THE FIVE INVITATIONS:
DISCOVERING WHAT DEATH CAN TEACH US ABOUT LIVING FULLY

Life and death are a package deal.  They cannot be pulled apart and we cannot truly live unless we are aware of death.  The Five Invitations is an exhilarating meditation on the meaning of life and how maintaining an ever-present consciousness of death can bring us closer to our truest selves.  As a renowned teacher of compassionate caregiving and the cofounder of the Zen Hospice Project, Frank Ostaseski has sat on the precipice of death with more than a thousand people.  In The Five Invitations, he distills the lessons gleaned over the course of his career, offering an evocative and stirring guide that points to a radical path to transformation.

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2018 Winter Book Discussion

Thursday evenings; Jan. 18 – Mar. 8, 2018

Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators by Guy Armstrong

It may seem odd for emptiness to serve as a central idea in Buddhist thought and practice. In fact, emptiness points to something quite different than “nothingness” or “vacancy.” And by developing a richer understanding of this complex topic, we can experience freedom as we live consciously in the world. Guy Armstrong has been a leading figure and beloved teacher of insight meditation for decades. In this book, he makes difficult Buddhist topics easy to understand, weaving together Theravada and Mahayana teachings on emptiness to show how we can liberate our minds and manifest compassion in our lives.

“Armstrong’s book is an insightful exploration of one of the most confusing Buddhist teachings; inexperienced and experienced practitioners alike will find it very rewarding and thought-provoking.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Emptiness is a brilliant and practical introduction to the practice and attainment of liberation. Encapsulating Guy Armstrong’s decades of dedicated Buddhist practice and study, Emptiness presents profound Buddhist teachings and describes ways practitioners can experience them for themselves. This is an important foundation for anyone interested in the meditation practices of Buddhism.” (Gil Fronsdal, author of The Buddha before Buddhism)

Copies of Emptiness may be ordered at Open Books in Yellow Springs or from the publisher at wisdompubs.org

January 18: Introduction and Chapters 1&2

January 25: Chapters 3&4

February 1: Chapters 5&6

February 8: Chapters 7,8&9

February 15: Chapters 10,11&12

February 22: Chapters 13,14&15

March 1: Chapters 16,17&18

March 8: Chapters 19,20&21

For more information, call Linda at 572-9077.

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2017 Fall Book Discussion

Thursday nights: Sept. 21 – Nov. 9 from 7:45-9:00 PM

Why Buddhism is True by Robert Wright

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March 9 – May 4, 2017
The Intelligent Heart

Compassion arises naturally when one comes to perceive the lack of solid distinction between self and other. The Buddhist practice known as tonglen—in which one consciously exchanges self for other—is a skillful method for getting to that truthful perception. In this, his commentary on the renowned Tibetan lojong (mind training) text the Seven Points of Mind Training, Dzigar Kongtrul reveals tonglen to be the true heart and essence of all mind-training practices. He shows how to train the mind in a way that infuses every moment of life with uncontrived kindness toward all.

“Before starting a revolution, you must first have a resistance movement.  And for that, you need concrete, intelligent reasons for resisting.  It won’t help your resistance to rely on unclear, emotional, abstract reasoning.  When the reasons for resistance or a revolution are not clear and precise, the movement can be easily infiltrated and bought by the enemy, as has happened many times in human history.”  Dzigar Kongtrul in,  The Intelligent Heart.  

“The Intelligent Heart shines a clear light on the method for exchanging self for other, developing compassion, and freeing one’s heart. In addition, it’s fun to read, with helpful illustrations and a keen sense of humor.” —Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Happiness

The following are the pages that will be discussed at each meeting.

March 9, Forward, Introduction and Point One: pp 11-22
March 16, Point Two: pp 23-58
March 23, Point Three: pp 59-83
March 30, No Meeting
April 6, Point Four: pp 85-103
April 13, Point Five: pp 105-115
April 20, Point Six: pp 117-143
April 27, Point Seven, part one: pp 145-157
May 4, Point Seven, part two: pp 157-168 and Conclusion: pp 169-170

Copies of this book may be ordered at Open Books in Yellow Springs or from the publisher at shambhala.com

For More information call 937-767-1034

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The Dharma Center is collaborating with the Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions to offer

Eco-Sattva Training

An Audio Course for aspiring Eco-Sattvas

Thursdays, 7:45 – 9:00PM, Jan. 12 – Feb. 16, 2017

How will we act on climate disruption with wisdom, courage and compassion?

What does it mean to express a Buddhist response to climate change? What does our wisdom tradition and our love for this life call us to do? How can we respond with wisdom, compassion and courage?

The term “EcoSattva” is a blend of “eco” or “ecology” with “Boddhisattva,” an enlightened being wholly dedicated to the freedom and well-being of others. We hope to support aspiring EcoSattvas in a diverse and powerful body of response, tailored to their aspirations and abilities and grounded in the demands of their local situations. Specifically, the course will endeavor to

1. Root action on climate in Dharma practice
2. Develop Sangha by connecting EcoSattvas with each other and outside partners
3. Inspire and inform “appropriate response”

For more information on the course teachers and content go here.

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Group begins Thursday Sept. 15

Making Friends With Yourself
Discussion, Readings, and Video teachings with Pema Chodron
Thursday Evenings 7:45 – 9:00pm
Sept. 15 ~ 22 ~ 29, Oct. 6 ~ 13 ~ 20, Nov. 3~ 10~17

Among video topics to be discussed are:

 Understanding Ignorance: Where Suffering Begins
 Samsara is a Cycle: the Twelve Nidanas
 Nowness Gives Rise to Bodhichitta: Connecting to Sacred World

ALL READINGS WILL BE PROVIDED ELECTRONICALLY

For more information: vajrayana@ysdharma.org