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.

This extensive class will cover four major areas of the teachings over 20 weeks.

One can sign up for the whole 20 weeks or each part separately. As the class continues, it will inevitably become a supportive sangha.

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 program will be Online or In-Person.

Part 1: Unquenchable Thirst
Thursdays, September 8th – October 6th, 2022 from 10:00am – Noon ET (5 classes)
The Buddha said that he taught one thing, and one thing only—Dukkha (dis-content) and the end of Dukkha.
In this series, we will take a deep dive primarily into the 2nd Noble Truth about the cause of dukkha in our lives- namely craving and clinging. Until this is seen clearly, and truly known, freedom will be hard to achieve. As we explore this in our own practice and lives, we will be supported by the Buddha’s words and related commentary.

Part 2: Finding Freedom within the Changing Nature of Experience
Thursdays, October 13th – November 10th, 2022 from 10:00am – Noon ET (5 classes)
The Five Aggregates of Clinging will be the primary teaching explored in this part. This map of the self allows us to both understand and experience the quality of anatta – not-self- the key to freedom.

Part 3: Embodying Love
Thursdays, January 12th – February 9th, 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.

Part 4: Finding Balance in All That We Do
Thursdays, February 16th – March 16th, 2023 from 10:00am – Noon ET (5 classes)
The last of the Seven Awakening Factors, the last of the Paramis (Ten Perfections) and the Fourth of the Divine Abodes, equanimity is a quality of freedom which leads to appropriate response. In the world we live in this is a quality of strength and balance imbued with Lovingkindness

To register, click here.