WHERE IS THE DHARMA in community?
what really matters to us in this life?
How we answer this question depends on our vantage point, in the first two thirds of our lives we are accelerating along multiple, often overlapping paths – school, careers, relationships, having children, and other life passions. As we mature our spiritual practice takes on more significance. How can we weave this element more meaningfully into our lives? What opportunities and possibilities does a shift in focus open up?
Over the course of our lives we have faced many challenges that extend far beyond the surface level of material things. Relationships have come and gone, careers may have ended too soon. Children have grown and embraced following their own self directed lives. Our enduring sense of physical well being may have been irrevocably upended. And who among us has not had the shadow of death land within our families and wider social networks?
This is the human ecosystem, dynamic and ever-changing. It is a flow of relationships, actions, speech, and ideas — the structural framework that supports our goals. Creating a healthy human ecosystem is as simple as starting to pay attention. This does not mean it is easy. And yet, we can do more than we think. Putting ourselves in a setting that brings us to the edge of our comfort zone will open up new opportunities for growth. This will include strengthening our skills of deep listening, wise speech, and resolving conflict through the practice of non violence. The key to using these tools successfully comes through their regular use and learning over time, rather than applying a quick-fix (and quickly forgotten) technique. How a group works together greatly impacts what it can accomplish.
The foundation for all of this is mindfulness. It is the essential tool for monitoring what is going on moment to moment, without judgment. With mindfulness we see clearly the fluid, ever-changing nature of our world and can make wiser decisions amidst uncertainty.
Mindfulness reveals the rich interplay of body, speech, and mind as intention forms and then gives way to one action after another. Seeing is freeing.
Mindfulness lets us deeply explore what comes up when we ask, “What is really going on here?” At first glance, it’s an easy question to ask and answer, but like the petals of a flower bud, when one layer is peeled away, another is revealed. Only with careful listening and reflection will the heart of the flower be revealed. From genuine insight, our actions emerge with clarity.
We will develop programs that are woven into the fabric of the community to support a vibrant culture of dharma practice. Of particular importance are a strong commitment to healthy communication practices, working with conflict skillfully. Some suggestions include retreats, workshops, classes, arranging for visiting guest teachers, and weekly sittings, to name a few possibilities.