This 4-Meeting Series, taught by ISC Community Facilitator Shane Hill, is for those who are experiencing life challenges that result in emotional suffering, such as depressed mood, anxiety, negative thinking, low self-worth or feeling stuck. The aim is to explore how the Dharma and meditation can help to support us when emotional suffering is present. We will learn how to meet what is arising inside us with awareness and with kindness. Each meeting will include meditation, a dharma talk, and time for discussion. Attending all 4 meetings is suggested, however, not necessary. Each meeting will have a different topic and will include specific practices for that topic.

Half day of meditation and Dharma talk led by Insight Meditation teacher Carla Brennan.

2019-2020 Eightfold Path Program, Right Action. Lead primarily by Jim Memmott

ISC Eightfold Path Program : Right Speech, Leslie Tremaine and Community Facilitator Jace Freyman

ISC Eightfold Path Program : Right Intention, G Schultz and Jim Memmott

Half day of meditation and Dharma talk led by Insight Meditation teacher Carla Brennan.

This is a lightly guided, mostly silent meditation from the Friday night practice offered by Ajahn Karunadhammo. “Many of us approach Buddhist practice believing that the point is to learn mindfulness meditation. Yet there's so much more to understand and practice. The eight factors, or the eightfold path, allow for a complete and fully integrated program, leading toward liberation.”

Starting with chanting, this is the talk from the Friday night practice offered by Ajahn Karunadhammo. “Many of us approach Buddhist practice believing that the point is to learn mindfulness meditation. Yet there's so much more to understand and practice. The eight factors, or the eightfold path, allow for a complete and fully integrated program, leading toward liberation.”

“Our emotions can lead us to our greatest joys and most painful sorrows. In their most creative capacity, they are guides pointing us toward who we truly are and what is most meaningful in our lives. At their most destructive, we are caught by them: lost in the grip of anger, sadness, fear – we’re overwhelmed. This suffering is something we have all felt, but we can create more space, choice, and ease in the face of it. Spiritual Bypass refers to those times when we fall into the trap of misusing mindfulness practices to repress or avoid strong emotional states that we don’t want to face: anger, sadness, fear, or the feeling of being overwhelmed. Dave discusses how our practice can be used to understand and heal emotional suffering.”