Author Archives: dharmadancer

Lovingkindness – links and readings from 8/18/09

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Here are some links and readings to complement the talk we listened to this evening.

Here’s the link to the talk we listened to by Joseph Goldstein on Lovingkindness.

Here is the handout that was passed out on the Perfection of Loving-Kindness.

Here is a page from IMC with audio talks and articles on metta (lovingkindness).

And some additional readings:

Metta Phrases from Leigh Brasington

10 Ways to Increase Acts of Kindness by Sharon Salzberg

Opening the Heart by Sharon Salzberg

Kindness (poem) by Naomi Shihab Nye

And a couple of book suggestions:

A Short Course in Kindness by Margot Silk Forrest – inspirational short stories of kindness – the link is to her website which has excerpts of the book.

Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzberg

The Eight-fold Path – links and readings from 8/4/09

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Here are links to the materials presented in the 8/4/09 meeting:

Eight-fold Path summary

Audio talk by Gil Fronsdal: The Eightfold Path – The Way of Harmlessness

Two recommended books on the Eight-fold path:

Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Buddha’s Path
by Bhante Gunaratana

The Buddha’s Eightfold Path to freedom from suffering is skillfully delineated in accessible language with key points highlighted at the end of each chapter.

The Noble Eightfold Path: The Way to the End of Suffering, by Bhikkhu Bodhi (1994; first published in 1984 as WH 308/311; 238k/79pp)
Using simple and clear language, the author presents a concise yet thorough explanation of the Eightfold Path, the practical method the Buddha prescribed to uproot and eliminate the underlying causes of suffering. Basing himself solidly upon the Buddha’s own words, the author examines each factor of the path to determine exactly what it implies in the way of practical training. Finally, in the concluding chapter, he shows how all eight factors of the path function together to bring about the realization of the Buddhist goal: enlightenment and liberation.

The Four Noble Truths – talk and reading links from 7/28/09

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Tonight, we listened to a talk by Steve Armstrong on the Four Noble Truths.  For those of you who would like to listen again, here is the link to that talk:

Understanding the Four Noble Truths

Here is another reading that might be of interest that was not in the handouts tonight:

The Buddha and his Dhamma

The handouts tonight included this article:

The Nobility of the Truths

and this outline on the Four Noble Truths by Kim Allen from Insight Meditation South Bay.

Next week’s topic will be the Eightfold Noble Path.

Metta,
Lori

6-week intro course to be offered again in August

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The 6-week Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation course will be offered again in August.  The classes will start on August 5th and continue on Wednesday mornings from 10-11:30am at the UU Fellowship church at 2172 Kiernan Rd., Modesto as part of their religious education program.  If you missed the 6-week course or want a review or to catch a class you missed in the last series of the course, please come.  I will be not be using any recordings for this series, but will use the same handout materials from the previous course.

Suggested posting guidelines

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Dear all:

Please try to post only comments that are relevant to the group or this website, rather than posting content that perhaps would be better put in a personal e-mail.  We haven’t talked about “right speech” yet, but it’s helpful to review what you’re about to post and see if it’s useful or relevant for the group.  If so, please feel free to post comments here.

If you need to reach me directly, please send e-mail to insightmeditationmodesto@gmail.com.

with kind regards and thanks,

Lori

Weekly meditation group meets on Tuesday evenings at the Modesto Unity Church on Veneman Ave.

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I am leading a meditation group that meets on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm at the Unity Church on 2467 Veneman Avenue, Modesto, California.  We will be meeting in the large building behind the house that faces the street, in the children’s classroom to the right of the sanctuary. (Note the change of location – we met the first two weeks at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on 2172 Kiernan Rd., Modesto, CA, but due to a lack of air conditioning there, we have moved.) If you want to be on the mailing list for this group or have questions, please contact me (Lori Wong) by email (insightmeditationmodesto@gmail.com) or phone (209.343.2748).

This group will focus on Buddhist teachings in the Theravada tradition, most specifically those teachings which support the practice of insight and insight meditation.  We will meet for two hours weekly (although this could change).  Typically, we will start with a period of meditation, followed by listening to a dharma talk and/or discussion.  Initially, we will start with a 6-week series of beginning mindfulness meditation instruction (the audio course from Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City) for those new to the practice – or as review for those who are not new to the practice.  If you have attended an MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction) course (offered at some hospitals) or the Mind-Body Medicine course (offered at Kaiser), you may find this group to be a useful on-going support for what you learned in those courses.

Our first meeting was on June 9th.  The 6-week series started on the 16th and will end on July 21st.  We will continue beyond July 21st with recorded teachings and talks by various Insight/Theravadan teachers.

All are welcome to drop-in, although the greatest benefit will be for those who can attend all of the 6-week series.

The teachings and this group are offered in the spirit of dana – the Pali (language in the time of the Buddha) word for generosity.  The teachings and meetings are offered freely, without charge, as a gift to all who wish to come.

Donations are gratefully accepted, but the wish is for those donations to come joyfully from whatever generosity may arise naturally from your heart as an expression of gratitude. There is no expectation or obligation to make a donation.

Directions to the Unity church:

The address is: 2467 Veneman Avenue, Modesto, California

The church is on the north side of Veneman Avenue between Viader Dr. and Marsala Way, just east of Dale Rd. (near Vintage Faire Mall) in a residential neighborhood.  Veneman Avenue is between Standiford and Snyder Avenues.

If you are coming from the east on Standiford Avenue, you can turn right on Conant Ave. (there is a signal light there) and go north on Conant to Veneman (it ends at Veneman).  Turn left on Veneman and it will be on your right after two streets.

If you are coming from the west on Standiford Ave., turn left on Dale Rd. and proceed north to the stoplight at Veneman and turn right.  Continue east on Veneman past two streets on your left – the church will be on your left after Viader Dr.
If you are coming from North of Modesto, take Highway 99 south to either Pelandale Ave. or Standiford Ave.

If you take Pelandale, make a right at Dale Rd. and proceed south to the stoplight at Veneman and turn left. Follow the directions above.
If you take Standiford, make a left at Dale Rd. and proceed north to the stoplight at Veneman and turn right.  Follow the directions above.

See the map below: