By Kim Weeber, IPV Teacher

Many of us suffer with perfectionism, and we can bring that into our spiritual practice, assuming that we can use meditation to in some way become more perfect. Of course, we will be disappointed over and over again, as we fail to meet our standards. We can also hold our teachers to some standard of perfection, and be supremely disappointed when they fail us. 

How can we hold spiritual practice as skillful practice? A way to practice inclining more toward what is skillful and leads to happiness, while still acknowledging our human imperfections. Can we practice forgiveness and compassion as we and other around us make mistakes? 

Let's explore this together on Wednesday, February 19, 7pm. 

By Tara Mulay, IPV Teacher

Guided by the wise and compassionate voices of those who have practiced before us, we will explore the question: “What is insight?”  We will also meditate together, cultivating the perception of impermanence as the ground for experiencing freedom.

• What are the truths the practice is meant to reveal?
• How do insights that uncover these deeper truths show up in our practice?
• How can these insights into the truth empower us as individuals and as advocates for our communities?

Join me on Saturday, February 22, 9:00am-12:00pm for a half-day retreat.
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By Tuere Sala, Visiting Teacher

Often, we talk about our everyday difficulties as the problems and limitations to awakening. We wait until we are able to go on retreat to surrender and connect to a deeper stillness only to lose connection with it within days, or sometimes hours, after leaving the retreat center. In reality, we do not awaken outside of our difficulties nor in spite of them. We awaken within the difficulties and challenges of our everyday life experiences. 

What if the difficulties you go through in life had a nobler purpose?  What would your practice look like if you knew you could only find liberation within the naturally arising causes and conditions of an ordinary life?

During this evening talk, Tuere will share how the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha can capture our lives and turn a simple meditation practice into a driving force for awakening the mind and cultivating kindness in all things.

Please join Tuere for a meditation and Dharma talk on THURSDAY, February 13,  7pm. 
 

By Rebecca Bradshaw, IPV Teacher​

As the next decade begins, we are coming into a world that is manifesting huge amounts of greed, hatred, and delusion. We are going to need help navigating this coming year and beyond; we are going to need a strong and resilient heart. During a six month series of talks, we will explore the Buddha’s practices to develop this heart. Each month we will look at beautiful mind/heart states that the Buddha encourages us to nurture, including the four divine abodes (Brahmaviharas), forgiveness and gratitude.

Last month we engaged in our exploration of the beautiful heart quality of loving kindness. And there’s still so much to talk about! So we will continue this exploration at the February talk. Among other topics, we will look at how to develop metta for difficult people (or, more accurately put, people who we find difficult) and techniques to cultivate this quality in our daily lives.

Please join Rebecca for meditation and this Dharma talk on Wednesday, February 5,  7pm.