NYZ: Living Life Through the Dharma

This class is taught by Jon Aaron of New York Insight. It is a hybrid class — meeting in person at Shobo-ji, with the option to participate online.

The teachings of the Dharma are teachings about life. When we truly take the Dharma in and take refuge in the Dharma, our life changes—sometimes in obvious ways, sometimes in ways we don’t even see. In formal practice, we experience the dharma in one way, but it is how we take it into our life—our work, our relationships, our illnesses etc—that is truly important.

If you are new to the Dharma, this will be an ideal introduction, and like any great teachings, if you have been practicing for many years, your relationship to the teachings will have changed as well.

This course will be In-Person and Online.

Embodying Love
Thursdays, February 16th – March 16th, 2023 from 10:00am – Noon ET (5 classes)
As our practice deepens, and the boundary between self and other softens, the unconditional nature of love arises. At the same time, mindful cultivation through formal practice of the boundless qualities of lovingkindness, compassion, resonant joy and equanimity can open the lens of wisdom and break through the barriers which have accumulated over lifetimes. For many, resentments are a common obstruction to opening the heart and the practice of forgiveness becomes an essential key to these abodes. We will explore take a dive into the traditional Karaniya Metta Sutta and the other original teachings on Metta as we as exploring some of the Kuan Yin Dharmas and teachings from the Yogacara tradition.

Each class will include some chanting, meditation, dharma talk and discussion. There will be weekly readings and practices.

A follow-up course: Finding Balance in the Midst of it All
Thursdays, March 23 – April 20, 2023, from 10:00am – 12:00pm ET (5 classes)
In the book “In the Lap of the Buddha” Gavin Harrison wrote, “In spiritual freedom, we do not become free from events, but we become free within events. Circumstances lose their power to lacerate our minds”. In these five weeks, we will look closely at how the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path and other teachings from both the early and later teachings can bring us to a place of ease, balance and equanimity.

Classes will include some chanting, meditation, dharma talk and discussion. There will be weekly readings and practices.

To register, click here.